I have made this to interact with my family and start blogging. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 7 Mar 2008 21:06:00 -0600 Fri, 7 Mar 2008 21:06:00 -0600 My youngest daughter, Emmy, had Band festival tonight.  She competes with other Macomb County Schools' 8th grade bands.  They are class A band and they got all 1's.  They were so awesome.  I could not believe how well they performed on the sight reading. The rules are:  they get 2 peices of music.  The instructor has 7 minutes to go through it with them.  He can sing it, note any partcular key changes etc. and then they play it.  I was totally blown away by this.  The kids sounded like they had played this for quite some time.  They were wonderful.  Mr. Vechinski is an awesome band instructor.  Emmy says he is very picky, but I guess that is why he gets all 1's in a class A band!!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/494667/ Fri, 7 Mar 2008 21:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/494667/ On Sunday, my oldest daughter, Christina,  finished her Girl Scout Gold Award.  For those of you that don't know, this is the highest award that a Girl Scout can earn.  It requires much planning, some money and 60 hours of service on the project.  I have been her GS leader since she was in the 1st grade. She is now in 11th grade.  Most people think that GS end after about 6th grade, but let me tell you after that is when the fun begins.  The opportunies for this age GS is endless.  Our troop has gone to Minnesota for the GS Jamboree. They stayed at St. Olaf College wtih GS from around the world.  Last year our troop took a trip to Tampa, FL to Busch Gardens on an Adventure camp.  That was one of the most incredible things I have ever done.  We got to shadow the zookeepers in carrying for the animals.  I got to hand feed girrafes, throw a melon in a hippo's mouth and I had lemurs all over me at one point.  The tuition for the camp is $375 for 5 days, 4 nights.  It includes lodging and all  food, 2 t-shirts and a fun day at the park.  We went through Spirit Airlines and got in the $9.00 airfare club and got round trip tickets (Detroit to Tampa) for $74.00!!  We did various fundraisers for about a year and we managed to get most of the money that way.  If anyone is interested in checking out the adventure camps here is the link:   http://www.seaworld.org/adventure-camps/index.htm.    Our girls finished builidng wood sheds for camp Hawthorn Hallow for their Gold Award.  We decided to do this as everytime we go to camp and have a campfire, there is wood but it sits out in the open and is usually quite wet.  So we decided to build these sheds for other GS to have the benefit of dry wood. We built 3 sheds that are 4x4x4 feet, shingles and all.  The girls got to work with chop saws, electric drills, hammers, nails, the works.  It was quite fun watching them pound nails and getting frustrations out. The sheds didn't give us enough hours so we also built benches for a fitness trail (that the girls built for their silver award as cadettes).  We placed these benches at various locations on the trail.  Here they worked hard.  We had to dig holes 3 feet deep.  We borrowed someone's auger, but we managed to get that stuck in the clay for about 2 hours.  It was frustrating at the time, but now we laugh.  These girls are quite the builders now. We have done a lot with our troop.  Some of my very best memories are with these girls and I will miss them very much.  We are done this year as some of our girls (and my other leader's daughter) will be graduating on to adult scouts. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/487978/ Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/487978/ Yesterday we had a birthday party for my nephew Nathan and neice Kathryn.  It was awesome.  My parents drove down from Atalanta, MI.  We ate pulled pork, coleslaw, rice and yes the very nectar of life, Diet Coke.  We topped it off with the cake I made.  It was good.  I am not much of a cake person but I did enjoy it.  We did presents and just sat and talked.  I love it because my brother and sister in law have 4 kids, I have 2 and I brought my daughters' sister, Paris, with us. so there were 7 kids, 5 adults.  Everyone talks at the same time. I have no idea what is being said half  the time, but I LOVE IT.  My dad was telling tales of "when I was a kid", the kids were all talking at once, Faith and Daisy the dogs were playing in the midst, and my brother, well he just makes a lot of noise.  These are the best times with my family.  I am sorry to say it to the rest of you, but I do have the best family.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/486263/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/486263/ Okay, So I tried baking today.  I love to cook but not bake.  I made the boxed cake recipe that my aunt told me about.   She used 1 chocolate boxed cake mix, 1 can of cherry pie filling and 2 eggs.  You mixed that stuff up and put it in a greased 9x13 pan and cook for 30-35 minutes at 350.   Well, I tried it with yellow cake mix and strawberries.  I just took it out of the oven and so far so good.  I am going to frost it with cream cheese frosting.  I will let you know how it tastes later.  I hear these are supposed to be wonderful. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/485645/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:55:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/485645/ Well I thought I would blog about the incredible communication that I had with our Lord last week. My youngest daughter, Emily, is really excited about going on her first youth mission trip this summer to Tijuana, Mexico. They will be gone from July 19-28. We have started making arrangements for this trip by getting her passport on February 1. Emily is also pretty gifted in music. She plays the bari sax and is planning on being a part of the Fraser High School Marching Band next year. It will be her freshman year at Fraser. I checked the marching band website to see if the dates for band camp were up and they were. The dates were July 28-August 1. I immediately thought, OH NO Emmy will be coming home from Mexico on the same day that Band Camp starts. Her heart is set on both Mexico and Marching Band. From the kids that I have spoken to, Band Camp is a must to be in the marching band, no exceptions. I was devistated. I thought Emmy would have to make a choice between band camp and the trip to Mexico and she wanted both very much. I called my brother, who told me to chill out, but I really am good at worrying, I chose to worry all night long and not get any sleep. I really tried praying and managed to get a few words to the Lord out but my mind was totally defeated. At about 6:00 a.m. I decided to e-mail Mr. Rodgers, the band director, and give him a head's up on our dilema. I let him know that I was willing to drive Emmy up to the camp on the morning of the 29th and she would jump right in. Well, I dropped Emmy off at school at about 7:30 a.m. I told her to pray that Mr. Rodger's heart would soften and would be able to receive this, and that is where we left it. Well when I got home 15 minutes later, I was so surprised to see that Mr. Rodgers had e-mailed me back. (I have heard that he is notorious for not responding quickly--might just be a rumor!) He told me in the words of the Beatles' song, "We can Work it out", not to worry!! I just about fell off my chair. I e-mailed this reply to my brother,Rob and he and Andrea know Mr. Jim Rodgers from band camp at Wayne State. I just about flipped out! I was so excited and praising God at this point that Emmy didn't have to make a choice, that she could do both. I also repented of my unbelief and acting so faithless. I was defeated before I even prayed. I couldn't wait for Emmy to get home. Then something even more miraculous happened, HER PASSPORT CAME IN THE MAIL!!! Now mind you, we applied for her passport on February 1. We were told that it takes 6-8 weeks to get it. This all happened on February 13, not even 2 weeks. Isn't that totally awesome of GOD? He let me know in no uncertain terms, Emmy is to go to Mexico. I am still beaming because this all happened. What a great day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/485639/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/485639/ Right now I am so angry I could explode.  My daughter receives chiropractic care for a herniated disc in her back. The care is helping her back.  My insurance limit is 24 visits per calander year--that's it-no exceptions.  We have reached that limit. I called them and tried to get an extension and there is no way.  I explained that I could go to a medical doctor and have her get surgery for thousands of dollars or do this less expensive and less invasive procedure and they said "that's right".  So now I will have to pay for the visits which I am sure I can't afford right now.  I am very thankful for my kid's medical insurance but sometimes I don't think they are very logical.      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/190177/ Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/190177/ Narnia Tag   1. Where would you live in Narnia? With the Beavers2. Which item would you like a healing cordial, bow and arrows and horn, or sword and shield? Healing Cordial 3. Who would you want for your brother or sister? Lucy, Edmund, Susan or Peter? Peter 4. If you were king or queen of Narnia what would your name be? (Ex. Edmund the Just) Lisa the Laugher5. What is your favorite Narnia creature? The beavers and Aslan6. Who is your favorite Narnia hero Peter or Aslan? Aslan7. What is your favorite Narnia scene? When the kids meet the beavers8. Having fun? so so 9. What is your favorite book? Right now I don't know10. Who are you going to tag? Me!   Here is another Tag by my wonderful daughter--   1. what is your favorite color?  I don't know, I think its blue2. what is your favorite food? Now what kind of a question in that,  of course EVERYTHING3. what is your favorite clothes store? Sam's club 4. what have you eaten today? Coffee5. who are your heroes? Jesus, Christina, Emily, mom, dad6. what is your middle name? Marie7. what is/are your pet peevs? Whining and fighting children8. what was the saddest day of your life? happiest? Divorce saddest, happiest 10/31/91 and 7/14/949. what is the most necessary accessorie? (sorry about my spelling!) ex purse, jewerly? Diet Coke10. who is your favorite actor/actress? I don't know11. what is your favorite drink? cola, water?? Diet Coke12. do you like school? Diet Coke13. what is your favorite subject? Diet Coke14. are you annoyed with how long this quiz is? Diet Coke---- oh, I am sorry, what did you say, I think I nodded off.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/189520/ Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/189520/ Home is good.  I went up north to my parent's home this weekend to pick up my girls from an extended stay away from home.  The first week of August they were at Lost Valley Camp for christian camp.  It was very hot that week and my girls ran out of water.  I sent them each with a case of bottled water and a 12 pack of pop but they went through it all.  They did survive though.  My parnets, who live about 40 minutes away picked them up and  the girls stayed with them for a week.  Now, after a 4 hour ride home, they are home all safe and sound!!  They had a good time with their friends and hopefully met with Jesus.  They don't open up too much about that stuff to me, which I would love to hear more about.  I guess one way to get that sort of conversation going is for me to the set the example and talk with them about how I meet with the Lord.  Any thoughts?  I would also like to start a daily devotional with my girls.  Any suggestions?  I do my own devotionals with Niel Anderson but I think that may be a little too deep for them.  I would like something maybe geared for girls.  I don't know, any suggestions would be helfpul.  I would like to make my home God-centered rather than self-centered as I see it now.  Don't get me wrong, my girls and I love the Lord but I think the relationship with the Lord as a family could be deeper.  As we lack the "father/husband" in the home, we need a deeper relationship with Him!! Well that's all for now.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/184812/ Wed, 16 Aug 2006 09:19:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/184812/ No--Not that way-- Yesterday,  I got to hold a new baby, Eve.  She is a new member to our church.  She is about 2-3 months old.  She was soo cute I could have kissed her face off or eaten her alive.  Not literally--but you know what I mean.  Sometimes when I hold a baby, I am so enthralled with love and amazement that I just want to explode.  God's plan for children in our lives is so impecably perfect.  I just can't get over how He thought of it all.  He's a genious!!   The way they look at you, the way they talk to you in their baby talk, the way the smell (when the diaper is fresh!), all fills me with so much emotion.  When I held Eve, I was thinking that it is just so amazing that I am holding a person.  Someone who will be something someday, a person with emotions, feelings, and attitude.  Its incredible. It does just get better with time too.  My girls are in their teenage years now and they really bring me so much joy.  We laugh a lot nowdays.  Thank you Lord!!   What a privilege it is to be part of children's lives and help shape them.  I can't get over it.  I admit, I would have loved to have had more children, but that wasn't in the plan.  So I will patiently wait for grandchildren and love on other people's babies for the time being!!  Word of advice:  If your feeling low, hold a baby, it will remind you of how incredible our God is.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/181804/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/181804/ Hello--   My name is Lisa, or Aunt Lisa as my neices and nephews call me.  I am new to blogging.  I am not a homeschooler, but my neices and  nephews are and I think it is totally cool. They are such awesome kids and I LOVE them so much. Sometimes I feel though as if I am a homeschooler as I get really involved with my daughters' schooling. I seem to teach math to my girls every year.  I don't know if I have a knack for it or what, but my daughters have confessed to me that sometimes they don't even listen to the teacher because they don't understand, so they wait until they get home for me to teach it to them and they get it!!  Go figure.  I have two daughters, Christina and Emily. They are 14 and 12 respectively and the sunshine of my life.  I enjoy being a mom totally.  We love the Lord very much and are following after Him.  I am now in my early 40's and feel as if I have been in the wilderness for 40 years and finally have arrived in the promised land. I admit:   I am a control freak out of control!! I have decided it is better to let God handle things His way.  It took me a long time, but I am here and love learning new things about Him.  Well that is all for now.  Blog ya later!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/179990/ Mon, 7 Aug 2006 21:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AuntLisa/179990/