Dec. 17, 2009 - What I Don't Want for Christmas - A Gift Certificate of Death
Every year my mom and I play this game that we call, "What I don't want for Christmas." We just tell each other all the things we do not want, from singing fish mounts to hideous sweaters. I could be shopping in a store and something will catch my eye and I have to call my mom right away to tell her that I don't want the new Barry Manilow CD, because you never know, she may have forgotten that I despise Barry Manilow and she could be buying it for me at that very moment. I'm a good daughter for helping her to spend her money wisely.
But this . . . this is by far at the top of my I Do Not Want list. Planned Parenthood is now offering gift certificates that can be used for abortions. How would you like to get that gift? "Here Loved One, I don't want you to experience the joy a baby brings into your life because I think you're stupid and should just find your joy in material objects that don't return love, teach you valuable lessons, and brings you closer in a relationship with a Creator."
A sagerat salute to The Pilgrim over at Defending. Contending. The link in that blog post to the resource is no longer working but you can read more at Fox News.
Dec. 8, 2009 - Scouts sing for the residents
Riley and his Cub Scout pack go and sing for the residents of a nursing home each year at Christmas Time. This year was no different ~ the activities lady searches us out each year and asks us! For whatever reason, Riley took his guitar. After the cubs all sang several songs, Riley asked if he could play Joy To the World with Mr. Mark, one of our adult leaders. He had a few cubs join around them and sing while they played the song for the residents. This was Riley's 'debut' with his guitar. He has played for one or two people here and there, but never this many and never people he didn't know! SO proud of my boy!!
Dec. 13, 2009 - First Piano Recital ~ she made it through!!
Samantha had her very first, in front of tons of people, piano recital today! She was very nervous - she learned a new word some where - stage fright - and she had used it a time or two! She was dressed and ready to go and I was very proud that she didn't seem nervous about it. When got to the nursing home and she was number 8 on the list. She stood by waiting patiently! One younger girl before her messed up (scared the little girl) so I told Samantha that if she messes up, just pick up where she knows where she is and keep going. She watched her teacher and when it was her turn, she marched right up there and put her book up and started playing! She only missed 1 note, but had some issues with her book staying in place, so she had to adjust it a time or two. She did wonderful. When she was finished, she grabbed her book, walked back over where we were, found me and STARTED BAWLING!!!!! Her nerves must have gotten the best of her ~ she said that she was crying because she was glad it was over and she made it through! I did tell her once good thing was that she had made it through her 'first' and she would never have another one, so there should be no more stage fright issues - she said that she was going to be 'not so nervous' at the spring recital.
Dec. 18, 2009 - Maestro Classics ~ Children's Classical Music
Well, we got a CD in the mail from Maestro Classics and I showed it to the kiddos and it disappeared! I *thought* for some reason it was Peter and the Wolf, but when I look at the website, it may have been The Tortoise and The Hare. I haven't seen the thing since I opened it. I have had a rule that the items for review needed to be returned to 'the spot' once they were finished with it, until after the review and we found a new home for it ~ well, they haven't finished this one yet! They have it going when they are playing, they have it going when they are reading, they turn it on at night to go to sleep with it.... I hear it down the hall at various times.
Just confirmed ~ it was Tortoise and the Hare that we have ~ and since I brought it up, they went and turned it on. And they asked if they could listen to in the car when we go run errands!
Go check out the website ~ there are a few classic choices and I think they are running a pretty good deal right now!! I guess I am off to listen to the Tortoise and the Hare again while we do math!
*Disclaimer ~ By being part of the Homeschool Crew, I received this product free for use in return for my honest review on my blog. All of the above is strictly my thoughts and opinions. For more opinions and reviews on this product, please visit the Crew at the link above!
Dec. 12, 2009 - Will the Real Sage Rats Please Stand Up?
I was going through the photos on my camera card today and I found some pictures of sage rats from our property in Oregon. Of course my rat in my avatar and in my header doesn't look anything like these guys, but you don't find too many cartoon sage rats on the internet.
I kind of miss these little guys! We had enabled a large colony of them by feeding them scrap veggies that we threw out into our compost pile. Not a lot of it ever turned into compost, at least, not there in the pile itself. The sage rats were so cute as they nibbled and scurried about.
My favorite picture. Look at those cute little cheeks!
Of course, this one looks like me.
Wisps of grass are in the way, but I think he's smiling!
This would be Bluejane.
This one was feeling a bit more brave.
Here's Kekoa.
Stand tall and proud little guy!
Finally Eyebright!
Dec. 4, 2009 - A November update!
WOW! November was a C*R*A*Z*Y month at our house! I will give you a quick recap, so you will know why I was missing! The first weekend was Halloween, and we had church festivities and a FIRST birthday party on Nov 1. Then that next weekend was youth hunt. We spent a few days getting ready for that, and then a few days down there. Both of the kiddos went hunting, but neither got anything ~ Riley saw one, but he says he didn't have a good shot on it, so he let it walk. We returned from that weekend at deer camp to hurry up and get laundry done and repack so we could go back down for opening weekend. We spent opening weekend down there with Rog and his family ~ plus a good friend ~ 11 of us in the camper! ~ we had a great weekend! Once everyone else went home, we stuck around, went on with our school work, hung out and watched movies, and did some exploring out in the woods. We stayed til Wednesday, headed home that morning for our normal *which wasn't* routine!
That night, after the kiddos were in bed, my dog, Rascal seemed restless. I got up and sat with him in the floor until about 1:30am, until he died there beside me. I don't know why...he was 13 years old, and we had sorta been expecting it, but it was still hard. I called Rog at deer camp and told him ~ he loaded up to come home. We had a hard time telling the kiddos and they took it very hard. It was a very sad day around here and at that point, I decided we were officially on Thanksgiving break ~ we were all too emotional to focus.
From there, Friday night, I sent Ry around to his cousins house, then had a couple of Girl Scouts over to spend the night. I think there is nothing better than listening to a group of giggly girls! And I love that my GS Troop are friends besides scouts! Well, they were here because we had a scout thing the next morning, and it was just easier! They had a great time though! Their even the next morning ( an hour away) was CSI: Diamonds ~ really cute fake scene set up and the girls had to do some investigating to find out who forgot to sign the letter that said welcome to the event I have a surprise for you, come find me! The girls had a great time with it!
While we were an hour away having some Girl Scout fun, I got the call that Rog's grandpa had passed away. So, as soon as the girls finished up there, we hurried home so we could pack once again and head to Tennessee. We drove all day Saturday, spent Sun, Mon, Tues in TN and then drove all day Wednesday. The Tennessee trip was very emotional for me, as it has not been that long since I lost my grandpa. I had a really tough time with everything happening at once as well. It truly was a bittersweet trip ~ we had an awesome time visiting with and reconnecting with Rog's family, but would have wanted to do that under better circumstances.
On the way home we took a different route and went the Huntsville Alabama. We did take the opportunity to stop in and the space center. We did a super quick mini tour and decided it was definitely worth a trip to come back to!
Home barely in enough time to celebrate Thanksgiving ~ even though we really weren't in the mood to. We spent Thanksgiving Day with my family, had a good time visiting with everyone.
Rog spent the rest of Thanksgiving weekend in the deer woods, while the kiddos and I hung out here...
And that my friends was our C*R*A*Z*Y November! Praying December is a little more calm!
Dec. 5, 2009 - States I've Been To
visited 16 states (32%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
- Hawaii - Lived there for four years while Dear Man was in the Navy
- Washington - Living in Washington two separate times, once for the Navy and once after.
- Oregon - My home state.
- California - Lived in California while I was in the Navy.
- Idaho - Lived in Idaho for a whopping six months. My Papafather's family lives in Idaho.
- Nevada - Attended the Marine Corp Ball
- Arizona - Was unfortunate enough to "volunteer" for a couple of air dets to Yuma.
- Utah - Spent one night at a KOA Kampground en route to Kentucky.
- Wyoming - I've not spent a single night in Wyoming. We wanted to, but all the campgrounds were full in the area we had meant to stay.
- Colorado - We met and visited some wonderful friends! Stayed for a few nights.
- Kansas - Spent the night in Dodge City and Independence
- Missouri - Another state I've been in but not actually spent the night in. We were too anxious to keep going to Kentucky.
- Kentucky - We currently live here.
- Tennessee - Went to A School in Millington.
- Virginia - Another state I've not spent the night in. Just went here to help a friend get a Christmas tree.
- Florida - Went to Boot Camp in Orlando
Dec. 4, 2009 - Bye Baby Bunting, Dear Man's Spotted Something
Tonight as we were driving away from the house Dear Man perked up at the wheel and said, "Guess what I saw, right there? Right there!" He pointed excitedly at the road in front of the car.
The family started guessing, thinking it must be something unusual for us to see, "Opossum. Racoon. Turtle." We called to him. No, it wasn't any of those. So we started calling out more familiar creatures, "Cat. Dog." No, not those either.
"A bunny!" Dear Man said with delight.
The whole family just sat there for a moment--thinking--and then I said, "You know I don't think I've seen a bunny in forever." The family began to try and figure out the last time we had seen a bunny. It was in Kansas, in July, at the Dodge City camp ground we stayed at. A couple of bunnies had been trailing along behind a gaggle of geese.
I'm sure this is a rather odd conversation if you only see rabbits occasionally, but when we lived in Oregon we saw cottontails and jackrabbits on a daily basis. To think that all this time we've not seen a rabbit at all and until that moment didn't even realize we had been missing them! No wonder Dear Man had been so excited by it.
I'm sure one reason for not seeing very many bunnies is because we live in town, but we've done some traveling around the countryside and haven't seen any there either. Are bunnies rare in Kentucky?
Dec. 2, 2009 - Life in Kentucky - The Game Played for Medical Care
Several times since we've moved to Kentucky we've been asked if we have experienced any culture shock. At first I thought no, not really. I mean, aside from not finding the margarine we like to use, and discovering that the Goodwills don't have color tag, sale day, nothing has really changed for us. It's not like we've moved to Chile. People do talk differently but on the whole they are understandable and the currency is still the American buck, for what's worth.
Then my one of my aunts pointed out that our difficulties with government agencies and official businesses did in fact fall under the category of culture shock. So I'll bore you with some details of this culture shock, in case you are looking to move to Kentucky yourself. It may save you some irritation if you know ahead of time. Call it a cheat sheet to Kentucky life, if you will.
That's the thing here you see, everyone expects that I should know how to play the Live in Kentucky game. While it might be quite plain to you, it's all Kentuckyian to me.
Getting doctor appointments in Kentucky has been quite an experience. Now maybe what I'm about to blog about happens all over the U.S. now-a-days, but it had never happened to us before and we've lived in four other states. What made me so mad was how the receptionist treated me like I should know exactly what she was talking about.
Dear Man had a sinus infection and after it was evident that it was not going to go away on its own, I attempted to get a doctor appointment for him. (Don't any of you leave a comment saying that sinus infections can't go away on their own like we heard from countless people. Yes, they can go away on their own, Dear Man has had several do this, and just what do you think people did prior to antibiotics not more than 100 years ago? I've not read a single history story about people living in fear of getting a sinus infection.)
Moving on . . . so I find out which doctor's offices are ones we can visit on our insurance plan (which was an irritation all its own). I then call several offices only to be told that most of them are not taking new patients. Which is fine. What got me was that those who were taking new patients first had to have some information so they could find out if we were drug seekers. Which I find rather ironic. I mean, if Dear Man has a sinus infection is he not seeking to get drugs from the doctor to cure it? A week later we found out that we indeed were not drug addicts or makers, and we could now schedule an appointment. Except by now Dear Man no longer had a sinus infection. (See, yet again proving my point on that score.)
I tell the receptionist that we don't need the appointment anymore and she informs me that if I ever want to see the doctors in their office we have to have a physical. You can't just call up and say, "Hey, I think I've got a dastardly rash, can I come in and have you confirm my suspicions?" No, can't do that because first the doctor has to see you to make sure you aren't a drug seeker. Which is ridiculous, why can't they see that while seeing the patient when he has an actual need to be there?
Okay, fine, make me an appointment I told the receptionist. Only she can't get me one for two more weeks because we are new patients and they only see two of those a week and they are booked up on new patients that far out. If Dear Man would have still had a sinus infection at the time of making the appointment he surely would no longer have it in two more weeks. He'd be dead from gangrene of the sinuses as everyone was so keen on suggesting.
The receptionist did say Dear Man could go to the ER. I told her that was dumb, who goes to the ER for a sinus infection? This of course won me no points. She then began her litany of it could be more then just a sinus infection, in a way that said because I'm only a housewife I couldn't possibly understand medicine and illness.
Now aside from being treated guilty as a druggie until being proven innocent, a part of this conversation also covered just what happens after the physical. The way the receptionist was putting it, it sounded like that no matter when we called it would be two weeks or more until we could see the doctor, even after we had established that we weren't out for pharmaceuticals to maintain our drug habit. Again I thought this was pretty stupid, and I was trying to ask her what a person was supposed to do if they had something that needed to be taken care of but it was not an ER visit kind of problem. The receptionist was angry at my attempts to find out the next step of the Living in Kentucky game.
That's how the game is played here you see, only one rule at a time and once you know that rule and cover the obligatory steps to accomplishing that rule, then and only then can you know the next rule. Trust me, I've seen it played out from getting library cards to car registrations.
Finally I was able to drag it out of the receptionist that yes, once the physical was done we could call up and make an appointment for the same day for any of our non-ER needs. Whew! Now why couldn't she have just explained all of that from the beginning? I still say it's a stupid way to run a business but if they'd have just explained all the details I would have known what to expect.
So if you ever move to Kentucky I suggest that you make doctor appointments pronto to get that ridiculous physical out of the way. Otherwise you may be waiting weeks to get your owie looked at, by which time you'll either be dead or cured but with a scar that has cancerous properties because everything is dangerous to your health and must be looked at by a medical professional before it can be determined a non-threat.
Nov. 29, 2009 - Time of Giving
(everything in this blog post can be copied and pasted into your own blog. I give full permission! We all appreciate the word being spread about our adoption fund raising efforts. )
It is the time of year, when many people consider giving. Salvation Army bells are heard at every store. Canned food drives can be found everywhere. It is also the time of year, when families like ours, are anxiously awaiting the day when they will have their first Christmas with their new adopted child.
A lot of you have followed our journey this far, as we go through the process of adopting an infant from here in the United States. You are all familiar with the various fund raising efforts we have been making. Our puzzle fund raiser, selling coffee through Just Love Coffee Roasters, and selling T-shirts through Mission Threads. But did you know that there are TONS of other families from all over the world making the same efforts as us? I have met a few of these families, and encourage you all during this time of year, to consider these families when you go to support a charity. Just like us, they are doing all that they can to raise funds so they can give a child a home.
That Stever family is a beautiful family with a heart for orphans with down syndrome. There are so many special needs children around the world that need homes. The stever family is also raising funds for their adoption. I encourage you to visit their blog, and if you feel led, leave them a donation. Their donate button can be found toward the bottom of their site.
Dawn is an adoptive mommy of two little girls from China, and is raising funds to bring home two more children from Ethiopia. She is selling handmade blankets and custom wooden growth charts in order to raise funds for their upcoming adoption. Her items would make wonderful Christmas gifts! Stop by her blog, and take a look!
The Langton Family is another family anxiously waiting to bring their child home. They have already been matched with a little boy name Alex. You can follow their journey of bringing Alex home on their blog. Like us, I am sure they are dreaming of the day when they will have their little Alex home with them. Their donation button can be found in their sidebar. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will get the Langton family one step closer to bringing their little boy home where he belongs.
I was very blessed to also visit the Sisemore’s family blog. Just as the Stever family has a heart for orphans with down syndrome, the Sisemore’s have a heart for orphans with cerebral palsy. They have one adopted child from China, and they are doing a bunch of other fund raisers so they can bring their little boy Jeremiah home from China as well. Jeremiah has cerebral palsy. You can take part in any of their fund raisers, and get them one more step closer to bringing Jeremiah home. Here are all the links you need to know about. Jeremiah’s Promise, tax deductible sponsorship, magazine fund raiser, and they are also selling coffee like us!
God has laid it upon the hearts of the Hodges family to pursue adoption. They too are going through the adoption journey. They were blessed with two biological children and are now praying that God will bless them with an adoptive child. You can follow the Hodges family as they do what they can to bring a child into their home. You can find their donation button in their sidebar.
Another family waiting to be united with their adoptive child, is the Calvaresi family. They are waiting, and raising funds so they can bring their little girl Ana-Sophia home. Ana-Sophia was diagnosed with developmental delays and autism. By sending a donation to the Calvaseri family, you are helping make it possible for them to bring Ana-Sophia home where she belongs. You can read their whole story, and leave a donation by visiting their site.
The Aus family is waiting to bring their son Chase home from China. They were blessed with two girls from China earlier, and now they are anxiously awaiting the day when they can add Chase to their family. You can follow their story, and even chip in a little toward Chase’s adoption by visiting their family blog.
The puzzle piece fund raiser, has been the most fun and rewarding fund raiser so far. We are not the only one’s doing it either! The Burgess family is also doing a puzzle piece fundraiser. Their puzzle is coming together really fast! They are doing an international adoption from China. You can donate through their chip in button, or you can make a tax deductible donation through Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministry. Just mention it’s a donation for Kevin and Karen Burgess’ adoption.
Adam, is an 11 year old boy in China, waiting for his family to pick him up. Beth and Mark are raising funds to be able to adopt this young man. It is very touching reading about their adoption journey, and the things they are doing to be able to scrape up the funds necessary to bring Adam home to them. You can help them to be able to afford their adoption by sending them a donation. By clicking their chip in button in their sidebar.
The Wibes family has two fund raisers going on so far. The are selling coffee through Just Love Coffee Roasters, and using onecause.com. Onecause.com (which I gotta look into for us!) is really neat! . You register and choose the national adoption foundation as the cause and then benefit crediting to babsie95@yahoo. com. Then you continue on with your online shopping like normal! Brilliant!
The Boettler’s are another family digging up financing. All of us families who are going down the adoption path, is familiar with bumps in the road. The Boettler’s have overcame obstacles, and are now waiting to be matched with a child from China! You can help the Boettler’s overcome the financial obstacle, by donating toward their adoption fund. Their chip in button can be found in their sidebar.
Taking in special needs children is a big undertaking. I was so inspired today by reading about the Boyd family. They have adopted 7 children from various places in Eastern Europe, and are now in a crunch trying to raise funds to bring home 3 more children waiting for them in Bulgaria. Their story is amazing!
These are just a small handful of families who have hearts for adoption. All of them are willing to go through this huge process, and spend all of their finances, in order to give a child a home. These children have the hope of having a forever family. There is no better way to support the orphans (James 1:27) than to help unite them with the families that are so desperate to reach them. Please consider helping some of these families!
Even if you are not able to donate to any of these families’ adoption funds, I do encourage you to at least stop by and read their stories. And if you are up to it, copy this blog post, and post it on your own blog! The more the word is spread the better. I pray that these families will be blessed.
The Telfer Family Puzzle Update
It’s been a while since I have posted any pictures of our puzzle, or given an update. I am sorry about that! Unfortunately, the only camera I have is on my phone. I wish I could be taking photographs with a really nice Nikon D90, but for now, all I have is my blackberry. So please excuse the blurryness!
I have had a couple of new sponsors over the last couple of months. One from my cousin in California, and the other today from a random blogger. Thank you so much! We have rounded the corners, and have the top and most of one side of the frame together.
Here is what it looks like so far! When ever we get a sponsorship come in, the kids get really excited. I always shout out ” We get to build on the puzzle today!” Then I tell the kids who sent the donation, and we write the name on the back of the puzzle piece. Here is Anna and Gable putting in today’s sponsored piece. And like I said, the picture is REALLY blurry. But oh well. I even caught the stroller and the baby swing in the shot! We have been storing baby items in the bedroom, anxiously waiting till we can have a new baby sleeping in there.
Thank you today, to Alison Lowry! We have 66 puzzle pieces sponsored. 996 to go! When we reach 1000 we will have half of our adoption paid for.
To read more about our adoption journey, and learn of other ways you could help us with our adoption fund raising efforts, come visit us at www.mygodgivenmissionfield.com
<- Last Page • Next Page ->
