That sums up our Memorial Day - We leave on Friday for Ohio for Ed's parent's 40th party and so Ed had planned to get lots of projects done this week with the prospect of not having to study for Sunday. We got the house organized and cleaned in areas to help put the shed contents in the basement and provide working space for Ed to finish my pantry and grout my floors. Things are all over the house and Abigail commented this morning - 'it's just like when we moved in, Mom!' - yep...
Ed took the 2 youngest to a tree sale in Utica and brought home 2 beautiful sugar maple and 1 crimson king maples home to plant. Sky worked on the farm cleaning out very heavy and packed sheep pens only to come home and dig the holes for the trees which are about 10-12 feet tall so needed fairly good sized holes. Good thing he's strong and muscular! I was tired for him but he said he was fine and did great! They look so homey and we love looking out the window and seeing them. Now if the wind will leave them be.... time will tell. Katelyn arrived at the farm from a friend's house after she stayed Sunday night and  met up with Sky but only to really ride the horse - learning to post and trot. She was talking non-stop about that when she got home. We had friends here in the afternoon - I took a walk with my encourager partner and then we both got back in time to get family ready and food cooked. We ate late due to the projects but in the end had about 7 guests for an impromtu celebration. The kid's played hard and the adults enjoyed the coffee and fellowship. 9:30 came and everyone started to talk about getting home...then Katelyn came in - in her usual hysteria when she gets hurt..complaining about her wrist...she fell backwards..used it to brace herself...landed on it with her body weight...(sob, scream, sniff) - at this point I was beyond any mood for drama and her propensity to exaggerate her symptoms, pain, etc. But alas, the movement and pain was reminiscent of the broken leg scenario we encountered with the young girl at our sledding party. The crowd dispersed...I couldn't blame them..I wanted to go somewhere else, too..and then we packed Kate up, tucking in the 3 others and headed to the ER. The ride always seems SOOO long when every bump causes the injury to shoot pain through the patient but Kate had calmed down and was able to get to the ER, get xrays and even have them move it around without the previous hysteria. .In the end, it was a fracture - splint was put on her hand and we got home around 1:30 am. The staff is beyond great in Cooperstown and I can't say enough about them. With the swelling, she will not see the orthopedic doctor to determine cast or not until we return from OH next week. Kate was exhausted before, during and after the incident from her late night at the sleepover and long day of riding and working... - she didn't move all night in her bed - something she was worried about but exhaustion kept her still. She got up and doesn't seem to have much pain - did some school but fell asleep at 11:30 am and at 2 pm, she's still asleep. With the fracture on her right hand, I'm SOO thankful we are almost done school and that we tested before this all happened....showing sheep, swimming at the upcoming pool, water park days planned, and riding her beloved horses all will be put aside for 6-8 weeks...not to mention writing....
I'm waiting for Ed to get the grout going in the livingroom so we can get that set for tomorrow when we will pull the kitchen apart to finish the floor before we leave on Friday. So exciting! Boys are both in baseball now - Sky is practicing for the first time with his Babe Ruth team tomorrow and Ethan has games and practices to fit into all this work and drama. Ethan is doing horse club today and Katelyn plans to attend to just do the book work with them - no riding for her.
Well...off I go to work before Ethan's class...hope everyone's Memorial Day was not as memorable as ours was....

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

On Friday, 9 ladies from our church drove up to the breathtaking area of Lake Placid for a retreat. It was so warm at home but the temps were much cooler up North. It didn't diminish the beauty that is the mountains of the Adirondacks and the beautiful Crowne Plaza hotel we stayed in that sits high up on a hill and overlooks the quaint town of Lake Placid and the water below. The one night stay just isn't enough..next year we committed to staying another night because for all the travel to get there and the beauty to take in - it's worth another day. The speakers were so wonderfully prepared to share after a last minute speaker change and when you are a woman of the Word - sharing is an overflow of a life saturated in It and it made a great impact on our ladies. We got home around 8 pm last night and it's been a quick 24 hours with getting ready for church, having kids play days, sleep overs tonight (no school tomorrow for some...Sky is going to try to get through his course work) and the anticipation of work days this week as we are headed to Ohio on Friday for Ed's parent's 40th wedding anniversary party. With the prospect of not having to preach - Ed is promising me grout for my floors...doors for the last few entry ways that need it...and a chicken coop ready and waiting for the 36 Rhode Island Reds that are coming in a few weeks. I am still not sure of what my tired is the result of (doctor thought I still was fighting a virus of some kind but did blood work to see for sure...stay tuned) but just thinking of all the work and the busy schedule that we have booked for the next 3 months...makes me tired. So - even though I took a nap this afternoon - I'm off to bed early to prepare for a busy day and week ahead.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

We tested this week and finally got to check that off the end of the year schedule. Now only a few more subjects and we'll be finished..praying in a few weeks. The weather has finally decided to turn warm - hot, actually, and I couldn't be happier! Miss Marion's work day produced some flowers for Katelyn to plant and she's been working long hours at it down by the road next to a nice stone wall and a lovely tree line for the backdrop. Ed planted some apple trees and so the two of them can be heard early morning (bird hours!) watering their plants. We have not had any rain with the hot sun and the ground sure does dry out fast with the heat!
Ed had a great time in Mass. with fellow pastor's on a quick 2 day trip to visit various locations - Jonathan Edward's Parkstreet pulpit, and other stops on an organized tour. He had hoped to see Spurgeon's Bible that was on display but it was not available by the time they arrived to see...another time.
While Ed was away, we did horse club, errands, baseball games (Sky's friends) and practice. He got home in time for the last two - just in time. Sky signed up for Babe Ruth at the game of his former teammates which means he starts playing every Tuesday and Thursday beginning on June 4th.
Ethan had two games this week and was 1-1. I had snack shack last night - they lost that one.
Schylar and Katelyn were evaluated for 4H districts for public speaking and got excellent feedback. They told Schylar his presentation was the first they have had in the 4 years of doing State competition that was qualified to attend from Herkimer County. Katelyn does not qualify due to her age - she is in the junior age bracket and Sky is in the senior. She would have qualified if she was older...another year. However, I think the State Fair will be during Jeremy's wedding so he won't get to go - another disappointment for me...what an honor and opportunity! We'll see about the dates...it still may happen.
Today I'm off to get a physical - hope to come to some resolution to my recent health woes..although, the minute I called for an appointment - I felt better and feel even better yet, just not myself..go figure. After I return, it's off to Lake Placid for the weekend with some ladies from our church. We are meeting up with another church for a conference entitled, 'More than Conquerors' a study on Romans 8. The main speaker was unable to attend due to health at the last minute so 3 ladies from Adirondack Bible Chapel are taking a session - poor things. I've been praying for them! What a task to undertake....
Well, the day is glorious, the children are up early despite going to bed late 3 nights in a row and I have to get packed and ready to go before my 9 am appointment...stay tuned!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

This was what Abigail was telling herself (out loud) yesterday when she was helping me plant potatoes before a big storm descended on our house. She was a hard worker yesterday -working with us at Miss Marion's work day and then got some new raspberry plants at the Brewer's and compost at the Clark's (year 3 - attempt #3 for a bumper raspberry crop!). She likes work (when it's outdoors and labor intensive - not book work.) and is like her mother when she likes to see it finished - doesn't give up until it's done.
Ethan had his baseball game canceled on Thursday night and had to reschedule for Friday - meaning he had to miss his friend's birthday party they had been planning for weeks. He was a bit weepy - We had some MAJOR rain and wind on Thursday - thought our roof was going to peel off - Ed was thinking of getting up on a ladder to nail it down where it was pulling up but couldn't keep the ladder from moving - thought I'd be able to hold it but since he couldn't do it - he didn't think I'd be able to. It was a good test of the basketball hoop as it tipped over in the storm without breaking. The kids have absolutely loved it and Ed and Abigail have a rivalry going - Abigail out-shot her dad a few times when playing knock out - Ed calls her the 'net slayer' :) Friday was super busy with turkey hunting for Sky, school, soccer and baseball. By the end of the day, I was exhausted. The kids were tired BEFORE the day began and school was lots of tears, soccer (ages 3-5) kids were tired and were done 20 minutes into our 1 1/2 session. Ethan got home just in time to go to his baseball game. They lost big to a team in the next town over. It ended fairly early because of it but the kids were starved after our big day and wanted a big meal so I made supper at 8 pm - and was in bed by 9:30 - telling Ed I felt so tired I could die...is that where 'dead tired' came from? I was there...
Saturday was early - went to Miss Marion's with about 15 others to get some outside and inside chores done for her. We had a picnic lunch with her on the lawn but just about blew away the wind was so intense. The kids put up some kites in her field - managing to get some in the nearby trees with the uncontrollable wind factor. Brought home some yellow primrose to plant down by our newly built stone wall by the road. Hope they cover well.
Today we had church and then a potluck lunch - impromptu style - with a few families from church. Ed leaves in the morning for a pastor's fellowship trip to Mass. to visit graves and churches of pastors long ago. He'll be back on Tuesday night.
The weather is COLD again...looking for the warm to stay for good!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Ed arrived around 10:30 pm and was greeted by his 3 oldest - who couldn't sleep because they wanted to be up to see his reaction to the decorated basketball hoop in the driveway - an early Father's Day present for him. He was thrilled and saw it just in time because the winds picked up and tore off the streamers and tried to rip off the oversized gift tag Kate had made to say "Happy Father's Day from your children" - it was cute and they had only been in bed for a few minutes since our day went VERY late. We did school and then Katelyn finished mowing the lawn for her dad while Ethan and Abigail made rhubarb concoctions (Nana June's bread and fruit squares - both were divine). I had to run into town to get Kate gas and then left them to meet with John's wife (the elder who was with Ed) for a couple of hours to talk and pray about our ladies ministries. I talked too long (shocking!) and so we were running behind to get to Ethan's baseball practice. I had promised to pick up Ms. Marion but had to call and say I didn't have time. We waited with him at the field and walked the grounds (beautiful paths and water in the woods, etc.) to pass the time. It was a warm, sunny evening - wonderful for walks and talks. Practice went late as they were anticipating a hard game tonight but with the wind and rain hurricane-like storm today...I'm not sure we'll have it? We took a beautiful loaf of Nana June's Oatmeal bread that Katelyn had made (she's a natural) to the Goodding's who have provided us with yummy eggs and a beautifully rototilled garden - got some more rhubarb to freeze from their bumper crop (Mine is coming but just a year into planting) and I got to see his raspberry plants that he transplanted from the Brewer's last year - I wanted to cry - they are thick, and tall - a great looking crop and then I see my two or three sticks and wonder - why?!?! I'm beside myself to figure this thing out...he suggested epsom salts..compost...soft mulch vs hard - etc. Maybe I'm not meant to have raspberries - but I want them so badly!! I'm going to try and transplant AGAIN for the 3rd year in a row and see if I can't try something different with the fertilizers. Stay tuned... We didn't get back until 9 pm and supper didn't finish until after 9:30 pm - the kids wanted to stay up for Ed but knowing the late hour I refused but in the end - they were still awake and it didn't take them but a nano second to call to each other and spring out of bed "He's home!" - Ed was overjoyed and had a great time away. Was a great encouragement to him and John. Glad to have him home. Today is busy as always - discipleship, school, Curves, maybe baseball? Time will tell. Hope you all have a great day!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

It seems eerily familiar to be alone on the homefront..didn't Ed just sign a legal agreement to never leave me again?? I guess 2 nights isn't as bad as 2 1/2 weeks...It has been a busy few days...Mother's Day brought some nice gifts, flowers and a top 5 list from Ethan during the service (he was SOO scared to be up front and talk...but did great!). Didn't get a nap in but watched a movie and rested. Finished up the season finales but had to keep switching the channel for the Apprentice - couldn't handle all the drama and language... Monday morning was BRIGHT and early - what gorgeous weather we are having...just SUPER cold! Ed and elder, John, left at 6 am for a pastor's conference in Ohio. We got school going and took a trip to town mid-morning to get Sky's contacts assessed. He had to up the rx and we only ordered his glasses for now. When he tried to put them in this morning - one fell on the floor (they are trials) and when he went to pick it up it stuck to the floor and ripped so now he is without them totally...Ed will have to order them for him when he gets home - much to Sky's dismay - he never wants to go back to wearing glasses again. We did some errands and got home in time to have lunch and have Mr. Goodding rototill my garden up - it looks great. Loaded with sheep and horse manure this year. Have tried to put some coffee grounds on my raspberries to see if I can make the soil more acidic and thus more productive for them...time will tell. The lawn is growing expediently and so I need to get out there but when you have to wear winter gear to do lawn care...something is very wrong! Ethan began his horse club group yesterday and then ran right from that (courtesy of his taxi Mom) to baseball. It was a rough night and in the 4th inning it was looking dire (4-12) but they made a comeback (aka - long game) and only lost by 3 runs. I had taken the older two mid-game to the farm to work and they were home long before we got back. It was after 9 pm before the gang was in bed...my early morning was catching up. Today started just as early and the two older kids were off to see the resident horse, Oliver, go to a clinic with a equine vet who was going to sedate him and float his teeth. Should be educational. The other two got a slower start and are now waiting for me to get off the computer so they can start school. Yard work will hopefully happen this afternoon when the sun is warmer! Have a great day everyone.....DAD - look for an early Father's Day present to arrive soon! :)

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

After watching the geese for over a month sit on their eggs, the babies were on proud display today when I drove by the swamp. So cute...and so fun to watch the little family waddling around the grass and eating in a little line. Love spring!
Where to begin...so much to say and so the cliff notes will have to do..again!
I have had a bit of a chest infection that kept me low for a few days last week and then just when I was thinking I was getting better - I got some viral thing that put me in bed for 2 days straight. I finally went in to the dr but he said I was on the upswing so just rest and drink lots of fluids. I started to feel better the next day! I'm easily tired but am able to function - thank you, Lord!
The kids are working on their final school exams. Schylar tested for 10th grade and made the pass. He averaged a grade 13 in all the disciplines. I'm not sure what we'll do but he's anxious to more on to bigger and better things. We'll test Kate and Ethan this week and Sky will also test for the state requirements to pass 8th grade. I'm anxious to have school over with. Springtime brings so much lawn and garden work that I just find it more difficult to sit in the basement when I could be outside. Our friend, Ron, brought his new tractor over a few days ago and did some landscaping for us so we can bring in some fill and landscape up to the house and around the back - can't wait. Love my lawn, don't you know!
Katelyn and Schylar were selected to be evaluated for the 4H public presentation district level and will go and do their presentations again on the 21st to see if they are one of the 6 selected. Only 15 were chosen in all - so it is a great honor. It looks to interfere with a family event on the 30th of May - Schylar was thrilled...Ed and I were disappointed. It would be so great for them. Ahh..another year.
We have our garden all tilled and ready to plant but with last year's frozen tomato plants fresh in my mind...I'm not too eager to put in anything too tender. My garlic is up nicely and hopefully I'll get my onions and potatoes in before too long. We put mulch all around the yard yesterday courtesy of a gift from dear friends...delivered and all! What a deal.
Baseball has begun. Opening Day has led into very few practices and games to date. Normally it's rapid fire but with the loss of a practice field and some very poor organization this year - Ethan's only had 1 real game and 1 scrimmage. Both were wins - good games that kept you right til the end... Today they had the hit, throw and run competition where Ethan placed 2nd in running. He got edged out of batting for 4th place. Schylar is sad he's not participating and goes to all his practices to pitch and run bases - just to keep fit for Babe Ruth in June. He has been playing soccer (as have the others) with his homeschool league and is hoping to play some games with them over the year. Abigail must take after Sky - she schooled me when we played 'keep away' - she's a tough player. I am teaching the 4 & 5 year old soccer group for 2 weeks while the coach is in Florida on vacation.
Yesterday, we had lunch with a couple that had a great impact on Ed's life as a teen. They were driving from WOL and we met up in Utica for a quick lunch (I left early to make soccer...showing up late, anyway - but I was coaching so..had to go). They were on a trip with Ed when he was 16 - to think Sky is only 2 years away from that age - makes you feel old!
Ed and elder, John Brewer, are headed to OH on Monday for a pastor's conference. They'll come back on Wednesday. Ed will miss one of Ethan's games on Monday and Sky's follow up eye exam - he got contacts this week and is on a trial run - he loves them and is planning on getting them.
I have finished up my ladies Bible study and we will be going to Lake Placid on a retreat in a few weeks. Christian Bible Church has it's website up and running and so that's been a long year project finally coming to a close! We'll be celebrating 3 years this week (May 14th) - time flies.
Well, I'm desperately behind on work for tomorrow and need to get cracking...Happy Mother's Day to everyone and especially to my own much beloved, Mom. Wish I could be there to celebrate with her...

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Easter...wow...too much to write about. Easter was great - we had a nice visit with my Mom - got to visit some of her friends as well as spend time at Gettysburg (what a place! The new visitor's center is worth the visit!) and D.C. - we only got to walk the Mall on the day we left due to rain most of the time we were away, so it was a fast trip but we enjoyed our Smithsonian museum of American History and the highlight was seeing the 1812 Flag and the Abraham Lincoln display. We have had lots of invites for meals and have entertained just as much as ever making for a very busy time while Mom was here and before you knew it we were driving to the airport. However, the winds were so severe that they  canceled her flight and we got an extra day..Ethan was excited to see her pull in the driveway to get a few more card games in. He loves his hand and foot. School was back in session after a nice break and Sky has taken his CAT test in order to determine if he can skip some of his freshman level and go right to a sophomore. Just writing those names is alarming...I'm not sure I can admit I have a high school student in my home! He'll be 14 in June. Time is marching on.
The past weekend was super busy as always. Saturday was our first nice day for weather and so I purposed to wash my windows in case it is the ONLY nice day of the spring/summer. I am beginning to doubt we're going to have a spring/summer....it's been a super long winter. Ed got up early with Sky and drove him to Mr. Brewer's house where they went turkey hunting for youth day. At 9 am, they drove in (an hour later than last year) and proudly showed off Sky's 19 1/4 lb tom. He had a 9 1/2 inch beard and 1 inch spurs (for those who even KNOW what that means...) We marinated it up and Ed smoked it on the barbie yesterday for lunch. We shared it with our friends and a single girl in our church. Ron brought his newly purchased tractor and did some landscaping for us in anticipation of getting topsoil this month to work around the house and get the ground finished after all this time.... Ed is picking rocks as I write in preparation for the loads of topsoil. It already looks nicer and it's not even done.
Ethan's Little League opening day was Saturday and Schylar was shedding tears as this was his first year NOT to march or be involved in the sport. Abigail and I missed the actual parade for the first time - all in the name of making clean windows and putting back the curtains before leaving...but still waited over an hour to watch Ethan's team play the exhibition match that didn't end until almost 6 pm. By that time Katelyn was hot and had a headache after being there in the 80 degree sun since noon. Sky managed to get a tic and had to have it removed - praying successfully but time will tell. It was a stubborn sucker! I was beat and had trouble getting myself motivated to finish the work I had waiting...must have been all the fresh air. Makes you sleepy! Sunday was a fun day with friends over - Katelyn learned how to make paper bead necklaces. They were fun but so time consuming. She's still working on them in her spare time... Today, she and Sky are working at the farm and even though Katelyn's sheep, Terry, had aborted her lamb due to a virus, Katelyn has a new Southdown that was given to her as a replacement to show this summer. They are eager to go back to the 4H show in Cooperstown. Kate has also been showing an interest in riding and even though Ethan will begin his horsemanship class in a few weeks, Katelyn has been riding the Clark's horse, Oliver, every chance she gets.
This week will end my bible study for the ladies and soccer will begin for the homeschool league. Sky is chomping at the bit! He has been dilligently saving his pennies and working hard for local farmers so he can purchase a log load soon to cut and split to sell. He has reported back to 2 churches last week regarding his Guatemala trip and so when the newsletter to his supporters is in the mail tomorrow - the experience will officially come to a close for him (and his secretary!). Now he's looking to see where he'll go next.
Well, I'm off to get supper. It's so hot here today (85-90) it's going to be cold something! No ovens working here....

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

We love Easter - in some ways more than Christmas. The kids are always so excited about our annual Good Friday re-enactment with clay figures, a tomb they made and painted and of course the best moment on Sunday morning when Jesus is no longer in the tomb and they can rush to see it for themselves. This year we are planning to do it with Nana who is coming on Thursday and we are also having a Sunrise service here at the house with the church fellowship. The build up has its busy aspects but we've enjoyed the preparation. School has been on light duty, we did some major summer shopping with the fab fam in Utica yesterday as we have some who are growing out of their clothes and some who have slimmed down so much they don't fit into their old clothes anymore. Ed taught a half a day at the school yesterday which made me laugh because when he walked into the hallway - all the kids were excited and yelling, "Hi, Mr. Reed! Are you teaching my class today?" - which made Ed think either 1. He's too easy on them or 2. They like having a substitute...less work? Either way - I have never had that response in all my teaching career...which is going on 10+ years...ouch.
Katelyn has begun Ed's candida regiment - having problems not unlike her dad and the ol' spit in the glass revealed a hidden yeast issue. She's not as radical - giving up ALL sugar would be like asking her to amputate her own limb but she is very disciplined to withhold the urge to eat more after she has had one treat for the day.
Today we are home trying to stay warm - it's a gale out there with snow and cold temps. We are cleaning for Nana's visit and then tomorrow I have a Bible study, groceries, church, and then hopefully on Thursday AM I'll drive to Syracuse to pick Mom up from the airport. Thursday night is our Bible study - Friday is our family day of recreating the events of the crucifixion and the hardest part it leaving Jesus on the cross all day and really sensing how long His suffering was. The relief is to read of the 'It is Finished' and then to seal the tomb in anticipation of the Sunday morning 'surprise'. Abigail is always good with the best reaction...this year we'll have a house full to celebrate with. Hope the spring temps return in time! Ethan's practice is a bit chilly on the baseball field when you need winter gear to show up in!
Well - I'm off to get back to work and see how my 'crew' is doing without me....I'm not anticiapating a studious or industrious bunch....they love to play when the Mother is away....kids

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I know Pups wants to know about the concert so I decided to write a quick note..I realized it's been awhile since I wrote about anything so I better get up to date first.
The kid's 4H presentations went great. Katelyn cried most of the day before the event due to nerves but after practicing it over and over again in front of us and a former 4H member who gave her great confidence... she ended up with a perfect score of 100. Schylar had a score of 99 for his public speech and had 1 point docked for not enough gestures...but it was said of them after we left that they both 'blew the judges socks off!' - we were able to go out to eat for a treat and even made prayer meeting on time. I was SO glad to have it over with - and since that major time commitment I've been working with them to get caught up with the school that had to be put aside for other things and get my 3rd Quarter reports in the mail this week. The kids have done a ton of tests and work to get up to speed so we can take the week after Easter off to go to Gettysburg and DC with my Mom who is coming to visit this next week.
Yesterday, Ed and I sent the kids with friend, Donna, so we could go to do our taxes and then rushed to get our dinner reservation at 5 pm before our concert with Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith. The taxes were bad..we owed...and we didn't  make the dinner reservation on time and so they gave our seat away and put us in the back of a very noisy bar/restaurant with NO light and a dirty table. The waitress was horrid and the prices were not worth the food. My dinner took 40 minutes (it was a salad!) to deliver and then it was missing key aspects of the advertized plate. It was overall a miserable experience from start to finish. I couldn't wait to leave. The concert was right next door so we just walked to the Stanley Theatre and was glad I did - Ed ran to take his shoe-leather steak to the car before we went in and got thoroughly soaked - the rains were torrential! While we were waiting - we spotted Melissa and Jonathan Jackson and got to talk with them. They had been given tickets and drove to NY from NH to spend the night and then return today. While we were talking... a couple came to sit in their seats which happened to be the ones WE were in - when we looked backed at the seats Ed had purchased - there was only one - the other seat was not there! Yep...this day was going swell....
The staff got me a chair and just sat me out a bit in the aisle and it was fine. There were no air guitarists next to us...nope - just a guy who kept boxing the air awkwardly.... good times! The concert was SOOO long. SCC was fabulous! He sang all my favs and I kicked myself for not remembering the kleenex - I knew I'd need them! Then they did an intermission and MWS did the next set which I was enjoying his newer songs but didn't really enjoy him so much and wish we had cut out early so I could get sleep but we did pay big bucks for my non-seat and it was our date night...even though it wasn't all it was anticipated to be....maybe it was the bad tax report...or the bad dinner...or the seat issue...either way - we crashed in bed at a little before midnight and were glad it was over.
Today Ethan had baseball practice in the rain - it was snowing up at our house. He and Ed were frozen when I picked them up after going to Curves and getting groceries. The other 3 stayed at the VanderGroef's while we were gone and then we went back at 11 am and picked them up and took the VG's 2 home with us. The wind is a brisk 40 mph and the woodstove is back in operation - it takes a day off and then works a day...
This week is less stress with no deadlines of projects or school so I'm thankful....hope to get some spring cleaning done but with the winter type weather predicted - maybe we'll just wait until after Mom leaves. Off to get my eggs at the Amish store...chow!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

After the first day of spring, we're in a deep freeze! The woodstove is crankin' - Saturday Ed and I had a teacher's meeting for our Sunday school curriculum and then after we had lunch at home with the kids, I took the 2 boys to see friend, Nick, play in an all-county band performance. In the end, we had lots of other kids involved that we knew from other schools. It was fantastic and well worth our trip. I got home and started to cook to realize my oven element was burned out...oh, joy! Sunday was our first Sunday school format with our new material and I taught it. It was fast and furious and I took a 4 hour nap when I got home...it was late nights and early morning...Monday was 4H presentation prep with Kate and we didn't finish until almost 8 pm and we are still working on it today! They have their time slot tomorrow at the Herkimer highschool with Sky doing his at 5 pm and Kate at 5:20. Sky is done but Kate is still putting on the finishing touches. This has been WAY more work than I thought for me when I signed them up. I'm rethinking these extra curricular events! Well...Ed is off to do gym class in Mohawk and I'm still not dressed...must get going now that he's out the door. Have a great day everyone!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Schylar had been tossing this hypothesis around since his science teacher told about her experience and that it stayed up-end until her daughter knocked it down 2 days later. The theory was in the first few moments before spring officially starts, if you hold an egg upright that it'll stand on its own. Since the news we happened to be watching had a countdown of the clock signaling the official start of spring...we gave it a go. It took a few minutes but both Ed and Sky were successful (I'll post the proof on FB) - Schylar's lasted all day until his banshee mother was in a hurry and flustered to get ready for youth group and knocked it over in her attempt to clean the counter..he got it back up before they arrived. Ed's took a few more tries before it stayed up indefinitely... What makes it do that? You tell me....
This week has been crazy busy as always. Katelyn and Schylar are both doing a public presentation for 4H next Wednesday and we spent all of Tuesday getting prepared. It is SOOOO much work when you are the teacher AND the parent for both of them...so much help, instruction and suggestions my brain is jelly. Katelyn cried on Tuesday - "I'm so scared..." she sobbed. I didn't realize that for the past month she has been dragging her heels - not because she didn't remember it was coming but that she didn't want to do it. Schylar is a bit more at ease with his recent speaking engagements due to his mission's trip. We'll see how Kate handles the nerves as she is speaking on a subject she loves: wool. Her illustrated talk is entitled: "From sheep to sweater: working with wool" - it is a 6 step process she has props and wool to show and will be so much easier to keep her calm with things to handle and show instead of just standing in front of the judges. Schylar is doing a speech entitled: "Who was Benjamin Benneker?"
Wednesday was cleaning, laundry and getting caught up on some paperwork (writing a LONG letter to Delta with Ed took a few hours...complaining of the 8 days without his luggage last month) before heading to sit with elderly friend, Bea until prayer meeting. We took school with us and the kids did alot of catch up work in the 5 hours we were there as it was raining out and not a day to do much else but schoolwork! I'm sure they could have thought of more entertaining ways to spend a rainy afternoon but none so productive as Mom's idea...We ate McD's before heading to church to meet up with Sky and Ed and was reminded of how my aging body is not up to the standards of food as I once was - feeling like my dad and sister, Melissa, with their digestion issues with fried foods. I won't be frequenting that place again any time soon and the last time I ate there was so long ago - I can't even remember. Maybe a ban on the place is appropriate?
Thursday we got up and headed to Utica for the Theaterworks production of "Freedom Train'. It was an hour and a half of non-stop narration with singing, drama and comedy all woven through. It was excellent and at only $5 a ticket - a steal! It was first rate. After we left the Stanley Theater, we headed to the Chinese buffet for lunch to finish our fun field trip school day. We got home in the early afternoon and I worked on my Bible study while the kid's enjoyed a walk with Ed and the dog to work off the lunch. I ran on the treadmill - 30's and wind was not my idea of a good time...it may be spring but it's still chilly here!
Today we got up early, went to pick up Miss Marion and went for the final skating of the year at the ice rink in New Hartford. When we arrived, there was a scheduled hockey game that canceled the free public skate but since the game was canceled - they let the kid's skate - having a private rink all to themselves. We got a birthday cake and ice cream for youth group member, Seth's 15th birthday and then headed home. Made a mad dash to unload groceries, put supper in the oven and get to our final day to sit with Bea who is going to be admitted into a local nursing home within the week. Abigail loves her as she is always fun to talk to and sing to. Today she made up this sweet sounding but lyrically challenged song about God. Then she read out of her reading book about creation - and here Bea is a cynical atheist albeit  claims to believe in God...a bit of a double standard with her. Out of the mouth of babes was my thought as I watched them interact and Abigail adamantly declared that God created her...Bea has dementia and asked me 4 times if I had to cook supper when I got home. Yet, she remembers almost everything she talks about with Abigail...and who we are...We're the pastor's family. Funny how the mind remembers the things of the Lord and not the trivial...
Anyway, we'll miss Bea and the quiet it afford us to sit and do things without interruption but I won't miss the hauling of books and supplies to her house..nor the time it takes away from other things I can do WHILE doing school..like laundry, cleaning and cooking.
Tonight is the youth group meeting and I'm writing as they meet. Tomorrow is a Sunday school teacher's meeting and then Sunday is the first of our children's Sunday school curriculum and the new format that goes with it. I'm teaching the first week so I better close and start studying for it!
Happy First Day of Spring Everyone!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Yes, since I last wrote I have had a birthday and although I'm at the peak of the mid-30's at 35 - I'm feeling the rapid decline...tried to do Curves yesterday and almost died when I started my second loop - so unlike me! Hope it's not a sign of things to come for me this year...I'm already falling behind on my normal pace...Lord help me if I loose steam....
Last week was busy and all of us have felt yucky at some point over the past 2 weeks - mild symptoms but kept school attendance always adjusting. Some days I had no students and others just 1! I felt pretty lousy on Friday but we had to get into town to sign papers on our mortgage refinance and promptly took a 2 hour nap when I got home to try and recover. Katelyn had a birthday party on Friday night and we spent a good chunk of the rest of the day shopping for the very specific yet hard to find gift. What sweet victory when we walked out of the store with said gift in hand just hours before the event...The boys had a men's breakfast on Saturday morning and so I got up early with them and made a yummy batch of homemade homefries. Abigail and I enjoyed a leisure morning reading and talking and watching cartoons. Spring has sprung here and the birds are out in force. Abigail was so cute when she informed me as she always does, "Just to tell you Mom, the birds are signs - not like the signs on the highway - but ways God tell His creation that it's springtime..." She's a ticket...and always prefeces her comments by, "just to tell you". She was a bit sad on the ride to Katelyn's birthday party as she realized she doesn't have any friends her age to invite to her party and so she made an elaborate plan to have her party at Nana's so she could have her many girl cousins there to celebrate with her.
Sunday we began a new Sunday school class for the adults and this week we will begin a new format for the kids. I have been helping in the transition of the material and so have been a bit busy with lots of study and Bible studies. I have enjoyed my quiet days with elderly friend, Bea - as it has afforded me a house where no phone rings nor loud children activity vies for my attention.
The big question of the weekend was what I wanted to do for my birthday. As I don't really enjoy eating out nor the hype of celebrating for myself - the kids took it upon themselves to have a restaurant setting at home. They did the shopping, cooking and cleaning. Schylar was my waiter and Katelyn was the chef. We had a fabulous salad (just how I like it - no iceburg!) and sourdough bread with balsamic/olive oil dip. The main course was one of my all time favs - spaghetti. The candles, single rose from Abigail and the fancy glasses with sparkling cider made the meal very fun. Ed gave me my gift while we ate and I was over the moon at the concert tickets to Steven Curtis Chapmon on the 3rd. I wanted to go SOOO badly.... it made my day. The other fabulous part of my day was that I got to clean Ed's office (he told my mom that he wanted to allow me to do what I love to do and since cleaning is a favorite pastime...his office seemed like a birthday treat..) and while doing so got a call from dear friends, Garth and Carol Lombard from South Africa who remembered my birthday. Amazing to me that they remembered and so precious. After the cleaning session, I was allowed to have a long hot soak and read my book while the kids got supper ready and even banished to my room until it was completely ready - I think they knew I'd try to do something unless I was quarrantined... :) So in the end - turning 35 was pretty sweet and now I just hope I can return to Curves armed with my usual stamina and not huff and puff my way around the circuit!
The week is busy as usual - tomorrow I have to sit with Bea, Thursday we are going to the Stanley Theatre to watch the Freedom Train production on Harriet Tubman - Katelyn did her library research paper on her this year - I have my ladies study on Thursday night - Friday is Youth Group - Saturday is Sunday school prep at church and then Sunday marks the end of the week! Hope I can stay with it long enough to get there....I am 35 now you know...

• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

On Sunday we asked Schylar's mentor, Mr. Brewer and his wife, to come and share a Guatemalan dish with us as a thank you for all the support they gave to him prior and after his trip. The girls and I went to go get the ingredients for pipian but alas, I have NO idea what it was supposed to look or taste like so when I printed off a recipe on line it had some strange ingredients listed and we spent hours scouring the shops for them. I had to give up on 2 after I couldn't find them...We tried making homemade tortillas and they were so-so - it's an art for sure. It was fun as a group exercise as everyone made their own. We tried friend plantain for dessert as well and it was only made tolerable by the ice cream :) So..I'm thinking a class in how to cook that style of food is in order if we are ever to do it again. The pipian came out good and everyone loved it but I'm sure it was very different than they eat there. Today Ed is off to teach 8th grade English and I'm off to teach Grade 6, 4 and K...all together...at least I have a cranking wood stove (It's back in the 20's this morning!) and lots of java....ps - my new birthday present from Dad are fabulous! The knives are so sharp I'm not sure I should be allowed to use them!!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I am writing quickly before bed to just recap the weekend. We did have all our scheduled events take place as planned and enjoyed the arrival of the final bag (8 days later...) in time for Sky's presentation this morning in church. Yesterday Ed called in the early morning to check on the bag and they couldn't find it by noon - realizing that it arrived in Syracuse but it was delivered to another passenger with the last name Reed - an hour or so farther out from us! So by the time they retrieved the bag and brought it to us it was 10:30 pm - AND the guy got his GPS directions wrong - ending in Richfield Springs then calling to get the RIGHT address location and then proceeded to take the SEASONAL road and get his minivan stuck in the unplowed snow drift up to the frame! What possessed him to think he could make it through a road that was CLEARLY not open at such a late night hour - so after Ed brought a shovel and got the snow removed - the bag was delivered (sort of) and Ed's letter to Delta is getting more and more interesting and lengthy! I stayed up WAY too late last night getting ready for church but Sky was working all day on his presentation and so I got to burn the midnight oil. We did Sunday School at 9 am and Sky did the whole thing - it was excellent. A great public speaker and very comfortable with the powerpoint presenation style. We showed a 7 min video I had put together (one of my late night projects...) in the worship service and then served the coffee from As Green As It Gets in the fellowship time. Everyone loved it. I was shattered by the time we got home and took a nap ALL afternoon...not really wanting to get up to get supper but did and cleaned up the house so we can begin tomorrow without the clutter. Sky is going to have his mentor, Mr. Brewer, over for a thank you meal with Guatemalan food that we hopefully will get right (I took a recipe for Pipian off line...) tomorrow night. They will meet in the afternoon for his re-entry session. We are going to try to fry Plantains as well for dessert with some ice cream. Hope to fit in school somewhere??? We'll see... Praying your week will find you "walking worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;" Colossians 1:10-11

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

The last few days of the boys mission's trip were trying and I was on fumes by the time we left to pick them up on the 28th in Albany. They didn't have any luggage and still are missing a bag so it has been an interesting return trip without their 'show and tell' items. We went out to dinner in Albany and enjoyed catching up despite the insane crowds (an hour wait and hundreds of people coming and going!) and noisy atmosphere. Sunday was our the start of our first Sunday School class since starting the church and so it was an extra early and overly busy day added to the boys jetlag and exhaustion. Ed and Sky were given a surprise welcome home party by the church on Sunday night and we had fun eating and seeing the kid's hit the pinata. It was a late night and so Sky was given the day off on Monday from school to catch up on unpacking (of what he had!) and sleep. We quickly realized that Sky had grown out of his limited wardrobe and so off to Old Navy for the $12 jeans we went with Ethan. The boys and I spent the afternoon in Utica doing odds and ends while Katelyn was on the couch with a stomach bug (she had been throwing up all night but never came and woke me up...God bless her!) - Tuesday we did school in the morning and sat with Miss Bea in the afternoon. Wednesday we did school and I got to go to Curves for the first time in a long time...the weather was turning warmer and the kids were enjoying the outdoors. Thursday morning we took school to Miss Bea's to sit with her until her doctor's appt. in the afternoon. The kids went with Ed to watch a friend from church play in a basketball tournament at 4:30 pm and then when they got back I went to my ladies Bible study. Today Ed took the kids to Utica to ice skate while I did a Bible study with a young woman and then in a few minutes I'm off to Miss Bea's again to sit and do some reading and study with Katelyn. Tonight is sign language class for the kids and tomorrow we are working on Sky's Guate presentation he is doing for Sunday school. Praying the last bag will arrive with all the fun things he wants to show everyone! Time will tell...

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

You do not put time limits on the process - even though it seemed imminent after 2 hours we returned home without seeing a lambing. School is now behind schedule and although I got out the tractor to clean the pathways - my feet froze long before the drifts (that were over my head) were brought down. The wind is so strong  -  what I did blow is quickly being filled back in with more snow from the fields. I'm going to try again to brave the elements and then hopefully we'll not have any more snow until Ed returns. Hope to get into Curves today for the first time in weeks and Miss Marion wants to go into town. We're headed out for supper to friends to talk about Sunday and the start of our Sunday School - a first for our church. Sun is shining but cold...supposed to 4 degrees tonight....yikes!

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

The weekend went well - tiring but well. Sunday was a great service, had a great nap with Abigail, got the driveway plowed and enjoyed a yummy meal with friends from church. Monday was a nice change of pace - we stayed home amidst blowing snow and no visibility - there was a serious accident at the blinking light on 28 - had some call to make sure I was not leaving home - insisting I should not drive on the roads. I'm very blessed with such a loving fellowship here. Had some company, did some school with Katelyn after a week off - lots of catching up...she's working on a 4H public presentation entitled, Sheep to Sweater - working with wool. We did some internet research before she left to work at the barn. Ethan was low yesterday - didn't do school but did watch some Civil War Videos and Science dvds. Now it's Tuesday and the call has come in that a lamb is due to deliver so school is now in session...off to the barn! Should be fun - we have never seen a lamb born before....stay tuned!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Today marks 7 more sleeps until Ed and Sky return home to us...Yesterday was a pleasantly low key day for us as we didn't have to sit with Bea so we got to stay home all day. The snow and wind was intense and made for bad road and visibility issues. We had 2 of Kate's friends come over while their mom worked (school is out this week) and so they baked cookies and played together for the day. We had youth group here which allowed Mr. Connor to fix my snowblower sheer pin just in time to take down the 5 foot snow drifts that built up over the past 24 hours in the yard. I go up early this morning to get them down before we had to be at the barn to help host a 4H tour. The gas ran out and I had a terrible time getting the gas cap off - even had Mr. Clark try but alas, only a heated comfy cozy placed on the top - coaxed it off. The barn had 2 new mother/lamb combos - one had triplets and one had twins. Kate went early to help clean the barn and helped get the triplet lambs to nurse off their mother as she was rejecting them and their triplet was trying to die but was brought from the brink by a little TLC from Mrs. Clark and Kate. We had a nice sleigh ride on resident mule, Bea, and then we picked up Ethan's friends to spend the night before coming home. I have not been feeling well so got into bed and have barely been out all day - did manage to make homemade pizza and get the kids in bed. Tomorrow is church in the AM and dinner with friends in the PM. Hope to squeeze in a nap somewhere in there!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Today marks the official end of our 1st week without Ed and Sky. It's not pretty and I'm exhausted, over spent with too many outings to help people and not enough time to keep routine for Abigail as it has resulted in major meltdowns and general naughtiness that is very trying and emotionally draining for me. The snow has also descended for the 1st time since they left and so we are in the throws of snowblowing and shoveling, etc. and I broke a sheer pin on the tractor so only one half is working...oh, joy. My Bible study was canceled for the 2nd week in a row and I'm thankful. Not enough emotionally or physically strength for it. Today was busy with study, snowblowing and sitting with Miss Bea. Tomorrow is some of the same and then after Miss Bea the youth group is meeting here...unless it gets snowed in as well....stay tuned! It's cold now after warm temps all week so will be cranking up the woodstove tonight!!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link