The Battle for the Toy Box Contest!
I entered the Battle for the Toy Box Contest
on the HSB Company Porch.  I hope to win
over $100 worth of, Tales of Glory, Bible-based toys
from one2believe!!

 
Friends called last night and Monday morning their fifth child, 17months old, drowned in the bathtub. It is so incredibly sad. If you think of it, please remember the Shores in your prayers. The mother is completely blaming herself. The 9yo son was the one to find the baby and he carried her to Mom. The other children are all girls, 11.5yo, 6yo and 3yo.

Please don't leave your young children in the tub (or near any standing water) unattended, even for a minute, even if you're just in the next room. The stakes are too high.

I hurt for this family. I hate being 1000miles away - not that I could *do* anything to make them hurt less, but would just like to be able to step in and help, practically.

sorry to ramble. just too much death, too much loss this past year.

From what Laura (mom) said, this will be the second child this year to be buried with a blanket that I made for them. That's really depressing.

the news article. http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5715016

The past few years, this family has gone through an awful lot. Two years ago, about this time, they lost most everything in a house fire. The following year his sister lost everything in a house fire. The school system was failing their son miserably and she pulled him out to homeschool. Then the school retaliated by bringing up truancy charges for another child (due to tardies).

Go read this blog entry. I *LIKE* it!

http://mattchancey.blogspot.com/2006/10/greatest-generation-vs-generation-y.html

I've been reading, "a mom just like you" by vickie farris and thought i'd share a passage from it that i read this morning.........

From the chapter "home schooling a houseful" In Everything Give Thanks Whenever I speak publicly about the practicalities of home schooling a large family, I start off with two basic reminders for the mothers in the audience. The first is best illustrated by a letter I clipped from "The Teaching Home" several years ago. Written by a home schooling mother from NC, it reads: 'One morning I was trying to help seven-year-old ryan with his math, and our toddler, Earl, was repeatedly bother him despite my efforts to keep him entertained. He started to pull on tyan's pencil and would not let go. I let out a sigh and started looking out the window daydreaming about how it would be if I just had two or three chidlren and no little once around. I never said anything to anyone out loud, but I thought of all the hours of uniterrrupted schoolwork that we could get done, the great unit studies and crafts that we could do, and the great wealth of knowledge that my children could have. "Mommy," ryan called out, and his voice brought me back to reality. "I'd rather be dumb and have Earlie than be very smart and not have him." His words hit me like a ton of bricks. it occurred to me to make sure I kept my priorities the way they should be. Toddlers and babies take naps, and we can schedule subjects that demand complete attention for those times. We may not take all the field trips that we'd like, due to the sheer hassle of getting six young children ready, but it causes us to spend more relaxed time at home instead of rushing about. We spend more time reading out loud when there is a newborn who needs lots of nursing and cuddling. True, we may get fewer "projects" done, but my chidlren are developing into real servants who liek to help their siblings. Aren't our children our ultimate "projects" anyway? The joy that the little ones bring to us far surpasses any craft or science project or field trip. As for Ryan, he got his pencil back and finished his math. He has tested very well and gone on far above "grade level" in most subjects. As I thougth about his words that day, I realized that I have a very wise little boy who has a lot to teach his mother.' This moher learned a lesson that none of us should forget: our young children are a tremendous blessing for the entire family. the "challenge of multiple age levels" is a good problem to have! I have spoken with so many women who would love to have more children, but are unable to. Others, who have watched their youngest child leave home, would love to have some of those years back again. Be thankful for the time you have with your little ones. The time for getting "important projects" done will come all too soon. The time with your "ultimate projects" - your children - is shorter than you think.

Our foreign exchange student, now from Korea, will be flying in on Sunday!

whooo-hoooo

I'd teach C2 to go around the house announcing the impending arrival - BUT, I haven't figured out how to pronounce her name yet!!!!! lol

well, we wait more.

the AYA lady spoke to a vice-principal in our town who said she could not add another student right now.

so she called teh principal of the next town over. who had to talk to the super. who said, "no". b/c she would be an inter-district transfer. principal had already filed a waiver to not take anymore and if they open it up for this student, they have to for any who want to go. *pout* i dont see why they couldnt say, "oh, we have room for one more - you, how lucky" :o9

soooooo, i went to see the principal of our high school. i am very grateful that he's a "good ole boy" b/c otherwise i would have been scared out of my wits to talk to him! rofl. The VICE principal, otoh, is a witch.

I left today with no more news than i went in with. i did leave knowing more and with a slim glimmer of hope, though.

AYA emailed the student's paperwork to the principal, who will look it over and the vice will see if she can fit her into some classes. The VP kept stating that it was more an issue that GERMANY wants the students to take certain classes and she cant fit her into those.

BUT AYA says that is not true. that they ONLY required courses are: US History, math and an English/Language Arts course.

I encouraged her to write that in the note to the principal. Praying that will make a difference.

In the meantime, someone in the AYA office purchased our student a plane ticket to the wrong place. AND after the second school told AYA "no" she began pursuing a placement in the town the plane was goign to. :o( so, we still may loose our student.

She says there are others, we're just praying for God's will in it all. and a peace about His will and knowing that even detours and stop signs are from Him.

In the meantime, my 6yo is going around the house singing, "[name] comes tomorrow! tomorrow! tomorrow!" even though we've told them, repeatedly, that it is not for certain.

How could we refuse such a face?

and she's 16years old.

Yes, I know, people already think we're crazy for having seven children.  So, how much worse could "public opinion" get for hosting a foreign exchange student for the academic year?

The minute details are still being worked on.  They have to call the high school to make sure they TAKE exchange students.  Then we have to meet our local coordinator and give them our paperwork and everything. THEN the student gets to review US to make sure she really wants to be a part of our family!

Should make for a fun year, huh?  We are reviewing three students, to bring one to our home.  All three are from Germany.

We will have to move the Ms into the Cs room and let the student have her own. OK, we dont *HAVE* to give her a room to herself. But, we figure she will NEED the space to decompress at the end of the day!  So, we need to get a bed, dresser and desk to go in there.

We start school tomorrow. I am debating what is best - to hold off on school until she is here or go ahead and start.  I might need these next few days to move all the furniture around and do some better cleaning.  The kids do the daily cleaning chores and every now and then it should actually be scrubbed really well - ya know? rofl!!!

Well, we're praying that God works it all out the way He wants it to be.  Even if that means we don't get a student at all, for whatever reasons.  We do pray she comes, though!

I've been busy, busy getting things ready for school to start.  We scheduled to start Aug 28th. This year I have:  C2, 1st grade; M2, 3rd grade; C1, 4th grade; and M1, 6th grade.  I'm going to try S1 in K this year. I think he's *ready* to learn, but not so sure he's ready to sit still! lol

We using Amble Side Online for our school curriculum.  We really enjoy it!  We'll be doing years 6, 4, 1 and 0 - both M2 and C1 are doing year 4.  C1, being older, will have a few things extra to do than M2 - like latin, plutarch and grammar. SHE asked for it, now she's trying to complain. rofl

We're also using Math U See with the girls, now.  We really enjoy Mr Demme.

I have the first six weeks planned out to daily lessons for C2, M2 and C1.  I'm having to do some creative "footwork" with M1, though.

anyway,

aside from my job as wife, mom, housekeeper, cook, teacher, etc  I'm working at a restraunt downtown.  I really enjoy working there.  The people are nice, the job is fun.  It's hard to be on my feet the whole time, but at least it's in short spurts on Fri and Sat.... Sunday is killer to the feet, though!

Well, I'll go now. Just thought I'd jot down a quick update as to why I hadn't been updating...

I know, things have been down on my blog lately.  There's has just been so much heartache that I needed to type out of me.

Through all of the heartache, life continues on, though.  And sometimes life is just fun.

Fun, like Iben running! One of the bigger children will say, "I-guy, I'm gonna get you!" They don't even have to MOVE towards him and he starts giggling and running away from them!  When they DO chase him, he runs around and around in circles - lauging and laughing. The chaser usually gets a good laugh, too.

Or how about life is full of love.

Like when my 4yo wakes up and comes looking for me to snuggle! Oh, what a precious time. I know a day will come when that boy won't want to snuggle mama as much - so I'm storing these moments in my heart.  The 3yo does the same, btw - comes hunting for mama when he wakes up for a good snuggle. Iben, even! Not just upon waking, though.  Iben had been known to attack anyone's knee at any given moment with a great big bear hug!

Life is dancing! 

I only have a few songs on this computer. "technologic" and the sanctus real songs listed below are a few. The kids especially love "technologic" - they ask for it REPEATEDLY. Then they dance! Yes, ok, I dance too! lol Much to M1's horror.  It seems that the most horrifying thing for an 11yo is for her mom to dance! 

Yes, the floor's a mess! We'd had a "great" day with all sorts of fun! Iguy especially liked ripping apart a newspaper! :D

oooooooooor is it for her mom to share on her BLOG a picture of said 11yo wearing the 3yo's underpants ----- ON HER HEAD!!! (and YES, I told her the pic would be posted. she said, "I don't care" we'll see! lol)

Life is full of playing dressup.

Now, I know I'm not exactly up to standard on current fashion trends and all, BUT

I'm thinking hoop skirts went out a while back. Someone should mention that to m2? nah, if we just turn off the A/C it'll go back to being a normal skirt again! :D

Life is celebrations.

M2 just turned 8.  For now, I have two 8yos.  Do you think she likes her bday gifts?

OK, S1 says, "enough, mom!"

 

 

 

 

  Abi's life is being symbolized by butterflies.  They released butterflies at the gravesite.  Each of the sisters were given a special butterfly necklace. Rings, talks of a tatoo (for mom!), window decal for the van, etching on the gravestone.

It's all beautiful.  The butterfly is a beautiful creature.  They've always held a special place in my life.  Usually as a symbol of how life can be a struggle but we're changed by it and the hope of a bright and beautiful future for us.

I still hold to that. It's from the metamorphisis the caterpillar goes through.  The 'ugliness' life can have, the cocoon of transformation, then fight to get OUT of the cocoon and the beauty to soar afterwads. 

A MOMYS posted a poem she wrote onto Abi's CarePage that has added to the butterfly's meaning, to me, in a wonderful way.  I hope she doesn't mind my posting it here, credit is fully given to her.

Butterflies are beautiful creatures
Though brief their lives may be
They only have a few short months
To fly and flutter and be free

Our lives are like the butterflies
We don't have long to live
So we must make each moment count
And see what we can give

We should focus on eternal things
That's what really lasts
Our lives will soon be over
And all opportunities past

So when you see the butterfly
Think how short your life will be
Use you time in a wise way
Make your days count for eternity
by Pam B. True

OH, Pam, I love your poem. Thank you so much for sharing it!

I'm trying to find my own way of coping with Abi's death.  I'm not going for a tatoo - I'm way to chicken of needles.  But, a butterfly is certainly called for, don't you think???  I gave C2 (my 6-year-old) a necklace with a butterfly pendant yesterday.  And I'm thinking I will look for a decal for our van.  Not only to remember Abi. But, to remember to always pray for the Futterpeople.  and, as a reminder of how short life is and to make my days count for eternity.

------------------------------------------------------

I had a most sorrowful dream last night.

I dreamed that my S2 had died.  He's 3-years-old.  I dreamed that we were grieving so deeply for him, yet having to do the business end of things.  Choosing a casket, gravestone, etc.  Weeping, how could I think straight to make the best decisions?  The sorrow was so deep that it is still hanging about me now - and S2 has had a great lot of loving today!

But, my dream didn't end here.  As we were doing this 'business', S2 lie dead, on a bed, in the same room.  The TV was on and a TV evangelist was preaching (I never watch those!).  The evangelist, in a manner that only TV-evanglist have, is hollering, "I say, RISE UP, ye are not dead!" and S2 DOES!  He sat up, groggy, as if he'd been sleeping a deep sleep and was awakened suddenly. 

In that 3-year-old way of talking when still partly asleep, he says, "mama, I want to run with the butterflies again."  Shocked that my dead son has 'awakened' from the dead, I dunno whether to believe it's real, a dream or that it was temporary.  The TV says, "it's true, God still DOES work miracles today, just believe."  I was loving on my baby. 

I remember nothing else about this dream. But this part was so real, so... I dunno.  I have no idea what it means, but feel like it surely means something VERY important!  Like I said, it still has me affected now, hours later.

Well, perhaps I should start by letting you know that I enjoy all music genres. There are some that I don't like as WELL, but I can enjoy a little of everything.

And tonight I came across this band Sanctus Real.  The sound is pretty nice.  But the words - I love.

I'm going to adopt this one as my motto:

"I'm Not Alright"
If weakness is a wound
That no one wants to speak of
Then “cool” is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune
I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth, I need to confess

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I’m open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
Cause honestly, I’m not that strong

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you

And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to you, leads me to you

I’m not alright, I’m not alright, I’m not alright...that’s why I need you

OK OK OK

and as my "sub motto" I can have this one:

"Eloquent"

I'm as eloquent as an elephant
I'm as headstrong as the Mighty King Kong
On a rampage throwing airplanes
I can't believe you haven't gone away
I am difficult, argumentative
I'm as thick skulled as the dinosaur bones on a display in a glass case
I can't believe you haven't run away

[Chorus:]
It must be different through your eyes
Because you look at me like it's the first time
That you've ever seen my face

I'm preoccupied with a crowded mind
I get off track like a train rolling back to the future
Never too sure who'll be here when I come back around
But I'm finding out

God was so good to me.  I'd been saving up money to have gas when such a time came that I would need to travel to Knoxville.  But things got bad enough that I *had* to spend it on the "now" and not the "someday soon".  That was a difficult day for me.

Anyway, God had a plan that I didn't know about at that time.  There was a MOMYS in a neighboring county that wanted to go to Abi's funeral, but didn't really want to make the drive alone.  Tisa put us together and the ride there and back was full of fellowship and kindred spirits getting to know each other.

We got lost a few times - ok not *lost* exactly, but we missed an exit and weren't sure of other turns and such.  So, when we finally figured out that we were where we needed to be, we considered getting lost again.  We did not want to actually DO what we'd come to do.  We did not want to lay to rest such a tiny soul.

If you want to read up on Abi, who she is and how all of this came to be,

  Here's a picture I found of the quilt before the binding was put on. It shows the whole thing.

Please just ignore/look over spelling and grammar errors. I get in too big of a hurry or am too tired often times.  Sometimes I see these mistakes and fix them, sometimes I don't see them. Sometimes I see them and still don't fix them! Just overlook that part, please.

and, it just sunk in my brain just now that i live in EASTERN standard time. *sigh* lol.... EST.  In my brain I *know* it's eastern, but when i've been writing it I've put "PST".  *sigh*

Yesterday, S2 had a dr appt.  He, too, has an ear infection. :o( poor baby. 

We had a busy day, yesterday.  We dropped Alex off for his first day of work.  He's working as a house painter. He likes it, so far - after ONE day! lol  Then we had to run errands all over town.  I took the kids to the park and let them run off some energy.

Alex got home just at suppertime.  And was it a goooood suppertime! We had chicken fried steak (made from scratch, not frozen) and succatash (fried okra, potatoes, onions and squash).  Such a man's meal! lol

Today, he left bright and early for day two. He should be home earlier today b/c they guy said, "we rarely ever work past 2 on a Friday." um, ok.

This evening, I have my first day on the job.  I'm going to be a hostess at one of the resturants downtown.  It's a VERY busy place, so I need some prayers for clarity of mind, a smile, to learn quick, and concentration. (this is funny, b/c as i was writing that last sentence "concentration" came to mind at the beginning of the sentence, but by the time I got to it, I'd forgotten it already. **sigh**)

My friend works at the same resturant, but she's on days today. So, we'll not be working together - yet.  She's how I knew that they needed someone really bad.  I'd put in an application there about a month ago and never heard back from anyone.  BTW, that same friend I just mentioned said you cant do that in this town. YOU have to go back to the place and remind them that you put in an app and see if they've filled the position yet. **sigh**. anyway....

I went in and asked for the manager.  She came over and I said, "Hi, I'm Jenn.  I heard you need a hostess."  She shook hands, smiled and told me she'd get an application for me.  I got to, thankfully, tell her that I'd already done that! So, she just had to go to the office to retrieve it.  She looked over it briefly and told me the hours I'd need to work and if that was ok.  Then she said to be there a little early tonight to have time to get to know the place a little.

I told Alex that she seemed so desperate for help that I thought she would have hired HIM if he'd come in with his grubby camos, dirty shirt and said, "i hear you need a hostess."

I'll let ya know later how it goes tonight (or this weekend, depending on when i get back here).

Tomorrow's Abi's going-home service.  We'll not be able to attend.  I am ever so sad about it.  There's just not a way over the mountain for me.  I am praying that Abi's life will have eternal impact on people's lifes and that the service tomorrow will open the hearts of people to Him.

My heart is broken for the Futterman family. 

Precious, 6yo, Abi went to be with the LORD today around 4:30pm EST.

Please remember this family in your prayers. 

Abi received her miracle - on the other side of heaven.  She's now perfectly healed.  Her hair is grown back in.  And she dances at the feet of Jesus. Or maybe she's curled up in His lap, staring into his face.

Today, I-guy had a check-up.

It was a month ago that we took him in b/c he was so sick.  At that time, he had an ear infection and the doctor was very concerned about the possibility of pnuemonia.  He took a round of heavy-duty antibiotics and was better immediately.

Today, his temp was slightly elevated and he has another ear infection - possible the same infection, but his symptoms lessened for a while. At any rate, he'll be starting another round of antibiotics, not as stong this time - just regular ole everyday antibiotics.

So, he didn't get any shots b/c of that.  His feelings weren't hurt about that at all! They did stick his finger to check his iron, lead levels and run a cbc on him.  The lead test takes two weeks, so we'll know the results of that when he goes to recheck his ears.  His iron level was "borderline of low" which means 10.  They will restest that in three months. I don't anticipate any problems with it.  They said his cbc was a LOT better than last time.

Tomorrow, we go to Asheville.  There are several jobs for dh to apply for and I have an interview.  Thursday S2 has a doctor appointment.  Just a general checkup for him.

I should update on all that later.

Today we not only made it to church on time, but we were just a little early! yay!

The kids love their sunday school classes.  They are small classes and I think we may have doubled two of them! rofl

The big three girls are in a class downstairs, all together.

Then C2, S1 and S2 are all in a class together, upstairs.

when I dropped the upstairs kids off today the teacher told me I could take I down to the nursery and sit with him there. When I got there, the nursey teacher was more than happy to just take him, I didn't have to stay and he didn't have to go to SS with me.  He has been going with me.  The first two times it was great - he slept!  But last time he wiggled to get down and made a little distraction.  There's another little one who is his age that comes in there, too. 

anyway, the nursery teacher told me that she teaches through 3yos.  Well, that should be S2!  I-guy stayed, sat through the lesson and did a great job, btw. I then asked the other SS teacher if S2 was ok in there, since he was so young.  She had no idea that he was barely 3 (and still 2 when we first came!) anyway, she said that he does great and could stay.  In leiu of that, I left him in there.

Then off to my SS class, where I was, once again, the last to come in the class! How is it that we arrived before any of the teachers, but I'm still late to class?????

The teacher of my SS is the pastor's wife and we're doing some study on marriage.  Right now it's about marital intimacy - what a way to get to know your pastor's wife, huh? rofl

The four girls sit with their Daddy in service and I take the three boys into the nursery.  The boys sit on a couch with me, watching the service on the television. This is just to train them a little at a time until they, too, will sit in the service.  They usually make it through the welcome, music and offering and I let them get down to play when the pastor starts to preach.

BUT, today, the service went a little different from normal.  A missionary family is leaving to Ghana and they did special music, then ppl had questions for them. Finally, the pastor told the guy that he had the mic, he may as well preach the sermon too.  And he did.  The boys sat on the couch, wiggly, whiney and miserable for a good long time. They did get to play, but, man, they sat for a long time!

Two things the missionary said stuck in my head... First, he gave an illustration to help ppl remember to pray for him.  He asked who likes chocolate.  Then he asked that everytime we eat chocolate we remember that "brown" man who took his family to Ghana.  Then he asked who likes coconut.  He asked that we use coconut to remember his hard head that was having a difficult time learning the language. His wife is from Ghana and it's not as big of an issue for her, nor the children. It's kinda funny, b/c he has a big old black shiney bald head - reminded me much like a coconut, only less hairy. I will never see a "mounds" candy bar the same again.  On the drive home we were wondering if we  had the ingredients at home to concoct our own "mounds" candy bar!

The other thing he said, and I don't remember all of it b/c i was dealing with whiney, wiggly boys, was about our witness.  He asked who we'd offended lately, who found us annoying b/c we always brought up Christ to them.  He said, "or do you just walk on by them silently, in essence telling them to 'go to hell' b/c we're not willing to tell how NOT to?"  He also encouraged us to be a little less P.C. (politically correct) about it. rofl

On the way home, we put our last $10 in the gas tank.  Sure wish gas was at a lower rate and our vehicle got better gas mileage so that piddly $10 would go further.  Pray for a job - one that pays cash instantly. Pray that I remain sane through whatever is yet to come..... and I do mean that literally.  I can't sleep anymore, I rarely eat and when I do it's "comfort" (ie: junk) foods.  I'm forever "packing" in my mind - 'what will I leave behind this time?' 'where will we put our stuff?' etc.  The kids feel the stress in the house and they way that they deal with it is to misbehave.  It's especially bad in S1 and S2.

Sorry for the delay.  A week after my last post we left VA for a "long weekend" trip to NC.  On May 25th we signed a lease for a house.  We are now NC residents.

The house is amazing.  God was very good to allow us to live here.  The town is smaller, tourist attraction and I like it.  We have family here and wonderful friends that dh has had since childhood.

DH still doesn't have a job though and that is top of the prayer list right now. 

For the longest time, all my internetting was down at the public library.  Trips made infrequently and with all the children in tow.  For NOW we have access at home.

I hope to update this blog more often with some daily tidbits and goings on.  I hope that my family and friends who were left behind will read and feel like they are still a part of our lives, even with all the miles between us.  I aslo hope that Tia prints it out for Opa (ya, mixing languages there...lol).  I also HOPE to upload pictures more often, so you actually SEE the kids growing up right before your eyes ;oD.

Abi, the daughter of my dear friend, T,  is baffling the medical field with her improvements after they proclaimed her to have "not even a week to live" over THREE weeks ago! :oD Keep praying for Abi, Tisa asks for prayers of complete, miraculous healing.  Pray for the parents and each of the sisters as their lives are constantly turned upside by all that's going on.  I pray for the day that I can post on my blog that miracles of complete healing still happen in the 21st century.

Thanks for stopping by and I pray that my hopes for my blog will come to fruition.

not much time for anything else. Not to mention the four adults and one teen who all try to get time online.

We went to Richmond, VA for a job fair Wednesday. We figured, since we were only 1hr 45min from VABeach that we'd just head on over there.

So we did!  We took the kids to see the Atlantic Ocean. I have pix, but not able to upload them yet. DH and kids built a huge sand castle and we stayed late enough to watch the tide carry it off.

It made for a late night getting in, but it was a wonderful family outing!

Thursday was another job fair, closer to where we're staying.  Afterward we decided to visit the Frontier Culture Museum. Until we found out that it would cost us $44. So, instead, I chatted with the gal in the tourism/information section and planned a different outing for us.

A drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

By the time we got to the exit off the highway for the Parkway the fog was so thick that we realized, with new meaning, why the "reflectors" in the road were lights - you couldnt see ANYTHING. We exited, got turned around and descended the mountain.

Our new route was to Dayton, VA. There we visited a Farmer's Market. Which, in this case, could best be defined as a arts and crafts flea market.  Not the place to purchase fresh produce.

Also in Dayton we drove by "Fort Harrison" and Silver Lake Mill where we saw the beautiful swans!

Friday we decided to take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Waaaaay beautiful. The way we'd planned to go cost $15, so we went South instead.

We ended up at a park site with hiking trails and decided to go on a nice nature walk through the national forest.

The guide at the post gave us a map and suggested a trail for our hike. "At milepost 6.0, you have your choice of a short trail detailing the geology and flora of the area or a longer more strenuous hike up Humpback Mountain and access to the Appalachian Trail." Our choice was the first - short trail. geology. flora. Not too steep, mostly flat and about 2mi around. That sounds much like the trails we went on at the Heard Nature Museum in McKinney, TX. So, we headed that way.

To get to the trailhead you go through this cute .25mi trail through a pioneer farmstead.

Well, we got to the trailhead and a gal coming out of the forest tells us of the trail she just came off of. Relatively flat and there's a scenic overlook. Sounds good, we headed off in that direction. We got a tad distracted by another hiker and his dog. We were supposed to turn left onto the same trail he headed down - but we didn't. We headed straight ahead, on a different path. And up, up, up we went. Winding around the mountain as we went higher and higher up. That would be the "longer and more strenuous" part. The trial was not too difficult, except for the tired, hungry people who needed to pee really bad walking on it (iow, US).

We finally reached the top! Humpback Rocks. Spectacular view! On the way up we saw: a toad, tons of birds, millipedes, chipmunks and a doe! She didn't act scared of us at all and we were quite surprised b/c we made a LOT of noise coming up that ridge! lol She just stood there, grazing. Wow!

Here's the description of the trail up to the Rocks, "Description
This quick, steep hike begins in Humpback Gap Parking lot along the Blue Ridge Parkway, 5 miles south of Rockfish Gap and Rt. 64. You accend very quickly up a well graded trail for about .4 and then begin to accend very quickly up the ridge on a rocky trail to the ledges above. The views are amazing, 360 deg. on top of slanted rock that juts out from the ridgeline. Enjoy the rocks, but be careful not to slip and fall, and watch out for kids.
The decent is quick - 20 mins. to the car. Well worth the short accent. Happy trails."

Except, we came in on the other side and this was our trail DOWN the mountain. EeeK!

"

Appalachian Trail (Humpback Gap parking area to Humpback Mtn., elevation - 3650 feet)

2

Strenuous

"

I'm going to end  now. Today we just hung around the house. We went out and ate pizza a local place - yummy and affordable!

Hopefully will update you this week with news of a place to live and a job. Both are in the balance this next week!!

Well, I think everything we planned to do on the way to Va didn't get done!

*We were going to dig for diamonds with my cousin in AR

BUT

we left TX 5hours late! we didnt even get to see my cousin at all. he's there going to college.

*We were going to stay in a cabin in a state park about an hour out of memphis.

BUT

that 5hr delay in leaving combined with only 4hours of sleep the night before made us to sleepy to make it that far. so, we stayed in a old, smokey, yucky motel in some tiny town. The price was the same as the cabin would have been. we had two adjoining rooms and it worked out. the adjoining door opened onto the main door of the kids room, so we felt comfortable laying them down in there with us in the next room.

we put 4.5yo, 6yo and 7yo all in one bed sleeping across the bed instead of IN it. the 11yo and 8yo in the other bed. baby in ours and 2yo on the floor next to us.

*We were going to see the River Walk in Memphis. A five block long replica of the lower Mississippi River.

BUT

they're closed on Mondays - we were there on .......... Monday. *sigh* We walked along a nice sidewalk next to an arm of the river and the kids were satisfied - mostly. they wanted to touch the water - ICK! we didn't!

*We were going to visit this great little place called "Casey Jones" and spend time learning about him and see trains.
well, we DID stop at Casey Jones Village

BUT

it was not much to look at. :o( We ate at a buffet there. Not much variety, but an ok price. kids ate for 50c times their age. The waiter wouldnt believe me that I was only 10. ;o)

*We were supposed to arrive in Knoxville in time for a late supper, play with my friend, T's, girls (she has 5 aged 8-2). The next day we were going to spend a leisurely morning visting. T was going to even keep the girls out of school play with us.

BUT

The night before, Abi contracted a fever. Her white blood cells and platelets were waaaaaaaaaaaay low. Abi's has one more chemo treatment since being dx'd with brain cancer last spring. So, T's girls went to her mom's and Abi and she to the hospital.

T was gracious and let us stay the night in her house still. I took the girls to the school where T's girls attend and we had lunch with the 8yo and other 6yo (abi's twin). Dh stayed at T's with the boys and when we got back they didn't want to leave.

I told my 4.5yo that our NEXT stop we'd stay for a while and that they have a little boy just his age and would have tons of BOY toys, not all barbie like T's house. Then he was happy to leave. ;o)

------------------------
Once we crossed into VA we saw two other large families at rest stops! One was a family with 7kids driving one of those sprinter vans! I asked to see inside, waaaaaaaaay nice. They'd been on the road for 32 days! Suddenly I didn't feel so bad about my mere 3days!! They'd been camping in TX! :oD

At another rest stop there was a big-ole-van pulling a trailer and a family with 13 children. They'd been to visit friends in TN and then to AR to visit a church where the Duggars were.

---------------------
Let me tell you a tad about VA so far.

First off, it's absolutely beautiful here! And the ppl are so friendly. We went driving through mennonite country yesterday b/c they rent houses, but dont advertise. So we just wandered around looking for a "for rent" sign. beautiful houses, farms. we saw mennonite children riding bikes home from school, a sweet mennonite girl crossing the street waved and smiled big at us. we say a buggy repair shop, but no buggies!

VA smells right now. It's spring and planting season has arrived - along with that, fertilizer. It smells like Kansas here! IOW, cow-poop!

Our friends are amazingly kind. Very nice to stay here. M and I are kindred spirits and have known each other since my 11yo was born and we were in a home fellowship together.

They took us to a Mennonite restaurant last night. It's a buffet and good food, but very pricey. On the way there I saw my very first horse and buggy!! :o)

Today, we rent a storage bldg and put all our belongs in it. Our friends have called in some older-teenaged boys to come help after school.

The house that we were to look at yesterday and hoped it was IT so that they process would be so much easier - was rented the day before. Our friends are very upset about it b/c they'd been promised that the house would be held until thurs for us. ah, well, we see it as God's hand at work.

Please pray for DH to get a job NOW!!!!!! He's got to go in to one company for an interview, but he's beginning to have doubts about it b/c he hurt his back while loading the truck and the job includes heavy lifting. :o(

Please pray for a house to rent, SOOOOON. We dont want to become and imposition to our friends. We dont want to put any strain on the friendship. the longer we stay here, the more our kids feel at home. the more they feel at home, the more they'll show their 'true colors' and ...well... we rather like their current 'colors' just fine. ;o)

-----------------
we're here, safe, healthy and adjusting.

btw, gas prices from N.TX-VA were all about the same, averaging $2.75/gal.