The Journey - Homeschool Blogger

having nothing yet possessing everything

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 02:49:00 -0600

"I have discovered that the friendliest, most welcoming people in the world are those who have little to offer. What they lack in possessions they make up for in spirit and love."

Read this today from Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist. Member National Speakers Association.Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

Have you found it to be true too?

Wonder why that is.

Oh, not ALL of those without, but probably more with less than those with much! Many with much do not even realize how blessed they are! I was speaking to a preteen on IM recently. Her mother had taken away privileges. The girl listed some saying, "even these!" Then she asked, "Are those even privileges?"

They had recently hosted some children from the Watoto Children's Choir so I asked her if she thought those children had all those things. And told her "yes", those were all privileges! Oh, what we take for granted!

Temper

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:44:00 -0600

I found this poem among some things that my mom gave to me when my Great Aunt Grace died. My mom's mom died when she was 23, looong before I was born (she was 33 when I was born). Great Aunt Grace was my Grandma's sister, so she was the closest thing to a Grandma I had. Not the same as a Grandma, but still pretty nice. I know she was a nice source of support to my Mom through the years.

I think of this poem very often. I do not have all of it memorized, but a fair amount of it. I think of it so often and it comes to mind so often. I feel it changed me, helped me be a better person.

I post it for your contemplation:

Temper

When I have lost my temper

I have lost my reason too.

I�m never proud of anything

Which angrily I do.

When I have talked in anger

And my cheeks were flaming red

I have always uttered something

Which I wish I hadn�t said.

In anger I have never done

A kindly deed or wise,

But many things for which

I felt I should apologize.

In looking back across my life

And all I�ve lost or made,

I can�t recall a single time

When fury ever paid.

So I struggle to be patient,

For I�ve reached a wiser age;

I do not want to do a thing

Or speak a word in rage,

I have learned by sad experience

That when my temper flies

I never do a worthy deed,

A decent deed or wise.

Unknown

I am going to use this for copy work for some of my children also. Would be a GREAT thing for one of them to memorize for a reward, talent show, etc.

Here is another gem I received the same way- I felt it spoke right directly to me and do feel called to inner city ministry even tho I am country to the core! I would go if He made a way cuz God loves people more than anything. . .

The Master Calleth for Thee

I said, �Let me walk in the fields!�

He said, �No, walk in the town.�

I said, �There are no flowers there.�

He said, �No flowers. A crown.�

I said, �But the sky is black

There is nothing but noise and din.�

He wept as he answered back,

�There is more,� he said, �there is sin.�

I said, �But the air is thick,

And fogs are veiling the sun.�

He said, �But souls are sick

And souls in the dark undone.�

I said, �But I shall miss the light,

And friends will miss me, they say.�

He answered, �Choose tonight,

If I shall miss you, or they.�

I pleaded for time to be given.

He said, �Is it hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in heaven

To have followed the steps of your Guide.�

G. Macdonald

Hannah

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:34:00 -0600

My daughter Hannah is going to get a blog on hsblogger - I will post the link when she gets it. She sure would be encouraged if any of you would read and comment her. This will be her first blog, it will start out mostly surveys and tickle test results, but hopefully I can move her into memes and prompts and maybe eventually a more journal type of writing. She is very shy.

Hannah did have a MySpace, but Daddy outlawed it here due to the ads. She has a battle cry, but I don't think battle cry is as easy to use as hsblogger.

My other daughter Sarah already has a blog here and she is an old hand at blogging. Here is her link rwacgurl45122 , it is also on here. Would you believe I have no idea what rwac means? LOL - oh, yes i do - rebel with a cause - from Franklin Graham's book! She is fun to read, I think you will enjoy it. And she would love a comment just to know she is being read.

Josh is about ready at 13 to be doing more on the computer. He is sharing Daddy's computer right now and is getting his poems and stories that are in his head down onto paper - er, floppy? hard drive? lol - anyway, I think he is ready to do more than play games on the computer, so that will be part of his schooling next semester. First thing is Mavis Beacon of course cuz I don't have 8 days to do everything! LOL!

Thanks for checking out my kids blogs. It ain't no fun to write if noone reads it! Now - I am going to go find my links to Angie's kids and comment them!

Jo out

GOOD GRIEF

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:15:00 -0600

I am sooo glad we are only doing full school days 3 days a week! This is like pulling teeth! I did come up with a 2 hr Roo rotation schedule. I set the alarm on my phone 10 min before switch time and tell them to finish up what they are doing. It is working, but my 9-13yo crew is having a large adjustment!

boy #1 spent two hours on school and got one chapter in the bible read.

yes, that's it.

He did do some other reading, but it was not assigned for Tuesday! He found his Math page but could not find the right teacher book to do his story.

He is now writing his TY note for today on his task time. He also did his math paper during his task time.

I know we will get better. It is just an adjustment.

boy #2 had a meltdown in math when i said the answer was wrong. "I did it like you said!" he exclaimed! I never said he did it wrong, I just said the answer was wrong! He then threw my pillow on the floor (NOT GOOD!) and then fell to the floor being a drama man when I yelled at him regarding the pillow. We had quite an altercation and I almost called his Dad. Once he was calm, we talked about what Proverbs has to say about taking correction and how he did just what Adam did - tried to blame ME for his wrong answer. Just like Adam blamed God by saying "This woman YOU sent me. . . "

And we talked about those who do take correction become wise.

Because I had so much trouble regarding the math lesson, the paper was crumpled and tossed and he had to do the whole thing over.

And that's how we do things. LOL!

Next time I bet when I say "this answer looks wrong" he will say "Oh, let me go see if I can find what I did wrong."

School builds character. That is our primary use of it anyway. These issues are far more important than if he adds right or not.

Boy #3 did pretty good with his school. He has a book he could not find so that school is still on his list for Wed. We set up at church Wed and then have about an hour and a half until supper. The boys usually play outside or in the gym and if it rains they play an educational board game. However, if they do not complete all 5 of their subjects on Mon and Tues, then I write down what still needs done and that will be done on Wed when they would usu have free time. I try to let the consequences of their actions fall on their shoulders in a logical way. Work before play.

The twins were instructed carefully and at length about what was expected of them in regards to the thank you note and how/where they were to sit. They then took their notes to their room and did just what they were not supposed to do. LOL! So the notes were put up and they both got to copy this sentence: "When I write I will sit straight at a desk or table with my feet flat on the floor."

They both forgot the period at the end of the sentence, so they both got to write the sentence a second time. Then they put that paper in their folder and got back on their thank you notes.

Never a dull moment!

Those people who look at me and say "what do you do with your kids all day?" good grief! my kids can take all day to do the simplest things!!

We got the laundry room clean today. Really clean. I took out all the laundry hampers because the children were cleaning the floor by putting anything on it back in the laundry bins. Including folded clean clothes and any clean socks. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

so all their laundry is in their room supposed to be in a basket. The babies and mine I keep in the bathroom. Laundry is an ongoing pain in my side around here. Not even so much the keeping up with it, but the training. You know, if you wear clothes and never put them in the laundry and mom makes you change. . . you um, run out of clothes eventually!

And if you keep getting socks out of the sock basket but never put your dirty ones in the laundry, eventually the sock basket will be empty.

These things seem so self explanatory!

Oy!

All in all tho I am pleased with what we got done today. A lot of training, a fair amount of attitude adjusting (roo even got a spanking!), and even a little bit of school. ha ha - and 3 loads of laundry so far. 27 more to go of course. . .

And the dance goes on!

Love to all!

New School Schedule

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:04:00 -0600

Been reading other's school schedules.

Very interesting. Either I am slack or I do it different cuz I've been doing it so long.

Anyway, here is our new schedule I laid out this morning. It is for the boys (10 and 13), the girls are responsible for their own high school work altho I am going to put roo and his watcher on a 2 hr rotation so they have time to work w/o interruption. Zee gets hers here and there - she loves school and I don't feel any pressure to be terribly structured with her. (5)

Here it is:

M - 5 subjects - journal

T - 5 subjects - TY day

W - church

Th - 5 subjects - storytime

F - Co-op & handwriting

Broken out on another page which I will fill in for each boy individually:

M- Bible _______________

Reading 1 hour from reading list

Writing journal - diary, prayer or use a prompt __________________

Math next lesson _________

Science next lesson in book

Social Studies - sticker, encyc, and internet

T - Bible _______________

Reading - lighter fare, magazines, etc.

Writing - Thank You note

Math - next lesson ________

Science - next lesson

Social Studies - work from papers Mom has assigned

W - Church - volunteer, PE, Rangers

Th - Bible ________________

Reading - read from papers Mom has printed out

Writing - papers Mom assigned

Social Studies - papers from Mom

Art Appreciation - internet

Music - Great Hymns

F - Co-op - class at co-op

Handwriting with Gram

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

That is it. Doesn't look as involved as others I see. For Bible, the twins are reading thru the New Testament, but one gets more into it than the other and is in 2nd Corinthians. The other goes steadily at a chapter each time and is in 1st Corinthians. I am back in John. I got behind.

Joshua is doing Proverbs. He reads a chapter and chooses one verse to copy, discuss, use for handwriting, etc. It is very interesting to see what he chooses and why.

For reading Josh is supposed to be working on our assigned reading for graduation, but he keeps losing his books. Dad is going to take over that for this year with him. Dads make all the difference with sons after about 9/10!!! Try it!

The twins aren't really ready for most of what is on the list, but they are into chapter books like Boxcar Children. My daughter Sarah recently went through our library and found a lot of books for them. They also read in reader's, like I used in school. I use ones from the 50's mostly and a few early 60's. Good wholesome stuff!

For writing I do my own. I teach them grammar as we go, and the steps to writing. They all have journals. I get a kids presidential prayer email each week and sometimes we work off of that for prayer. They can do pretty much anything they want in their journal. The twins journals contain some prompts in them. Younger kids I also let draw in their journals. Oh, the most precious things!! I will offer a prompt each week. Or they can do a diary type entry, eventually I help them move into more of a journal type entry recording their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. At first we use prompts, but they move on pretty quickly on their own. They also enjoy discussing it with mom. Note*I never read my children's journals unless I have their permission. I am not one of those "it is their space" types, I just do not want to discourage them or make them uncomfortable - if they are not comfortable with someone reading their writing I feel they would be hesitant to write freely. And the free writing and enjoyment of it is important to me. The way it has worked out is that all my children have asked me to read their journals eventually even if they first started off wanting it private. Once they get comfortable with what they are doing, they are eager to share.

Tuesday we do Thank You notes - something God impressed on me this morning and why I started writing this schedule. The note can be to anyone. I have some pretty cards and they may choose their own and write what they wish, but we are going to say "thanks"! What a good month for it huh? I am also getting stamps so the notes get mailed!

Thursday is storytime - meaning I want to encourage them to do their own writing. Stories, poems, etc. Some of them have made up songs, some have made up worlds. This is their time to work at getting those things onto paper for posterity. This is also where we will work on character development, settings, imagery, and other such writing basics. Monday is more for nonfiction, Thurs more towards fiction or fleshing out a thought.

Math is pretty self explanatory. We use BJU all the way through. It has worked well, the kids love it. We tried Saxon Algebra and my kids hated it! So I went back to BJU and John took off. Basically I hand them the book and say "see me if you have a question." We start 1st grade in K5 and do it for two years, then they go thru 6th grade and then move into Algebra I. Jr. Hi is all review and they don't need that. They take two years in their 4th grade also - at least everyone so far has except maybe Josh - learning the times tables. Josh learned his early and taught some to the twins too. He is our resident genius. He is ready for Algebra already. So is Hannah. In fact the way I got Hannah to move ahead in her Math book is by telling her Josh had 7 lessons and then he would need her book. She was appalled! LOL! Sarah is stuck in her Algebra, so what I am going to do is teach Algebra I to all 3 of them and maybe we will move ahead.

Science - each of them has an ABeka science book at current. We do lots of different things for science but this year I am concentrating more on social studies. They are always free to experiment and we learn a lot just by our lifestyle because I LOVE science and love to teach it. One of the twins is in a science class at co-op also.

For Social Studies all 3 are working on geography/social studies in a sticker book we have. They choose a sticker, look it up in the encyclopedia and sometimes online if there is not a lot in the encyc or if there is more i want them to know, then they get to put the sticker on. Makes it interesting for them.

In addition to that, I am using several sites online and doing a monthly theme. Printing out papers and doing unit type studies on such subjects as The Constitution, 4th of July, Pilgrims/Indians, etc. Whatever I choose for the month.

For Art Appreciation I am doing what Angie does. I will try to post a link and explanation another time.

For Music we are using our Greatest Hymns books and reading about the hymn, then I will sing it for them. I WISH i had piano music for all the hymns. sigh. I know an excellent pianist, I need to get with her and see if she will make me a tape to go along with each book. I know she has the knowledge and skill!! I just need to get on it!

I think that is everything. We set up for the dinner every Wed, so that is our volunteer time and work time. The boys usu play basketball or football or some other game after setting up. If it is raining they bring board games. Then they go to Royal Rangers (they have an online site - really neat), it is a lot like scouts. You earn badges, say pledges, go camping, etc. It is a real boy thing and they enjoy it for the most part. Those things plus all the getting ready for Wed service at home is enough for one day for me! You would not . .. ok, yes you would . .. believe what an ordeal that is! sheesh!

I am with Leann in that I need to be more organized and structured. All of my boys seem to do better with more structure and sameness. My girls seem better able to handle a flexible schedule. so - this is my time to be serious also and buckle down and get more accomplished around here.

In addition to school, I am going to spartanize the boys room, reorganize my laundry room and change the way we do it, declutter the girls room and my LR, rearrange both entries, and hopefully do some painting. and then of course there is the Christmas shopping. . . lists, trips, etc. Let's just say we will be very busy! We usually take off school from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I am not sure we will do that this year. Co-op is taking off all that time until the New Year but I believe we will keep up this structure until Christmas and then take off between Christmas and on into January for a break. Not too much of a break tho cuz my boys need that structure. We took a lot of time off to play outside in Sept, then in Oct it was still nice out (even now it is 70* during day - In NOVEMBER) so I had them doing school at night and out during the day. Life is too short to waste a perfect day indoors! Esp when you are a kid!

We have a very unconventional schedule for many reasons, but I feel I have to be flexible to meet the needs of as many family members as I can. so we live an odd (to others) life. Works for us tho.

Well, is that clear as mud? LOL! That is our newest schedule and I will try to keep you updated as to how it is going. Oh, I also need to work on the daily time schedule and the two hour school/roo shifts. More, more, more.

Jo out and off to a hot bath or bed, whichever I get to first. LOL!

PTL Roo is now going to sleep waaaay earlier!!! Before midnite for two weeks now! GOD IS SO GOOD!! I actually have time every night to empty my brain and think organized thoughts. I even got up before everyone this am, was wide awake, and wrote out schedules, talked to God, etc. WOW!!

Roo is not regular

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 14:29:00 -0600

POTTY TRAINING WARNING

I, personally, am tired of hearing people's potty training trials, questions, etc. so i posted a warning for any similarly tired people. LOL

That said - this story is just interesting. It has been my experience usually kids have trouble making it STOP - not making it go! Roo seems to have the opposite! He has long been going only 4x a day and staying dry thru the night. I told the girls if we could just get him to go on the potty successfully 2 or 3 times, he would be so easy to train! (Isn't that a funny word? train? Isn't that what we do to dogs?)

This morning Roo was dry and had not gone all night. I know cuz he had no diaper on. He often goes diaperless at night because the diaper causes him to itch. so - dry all night you KNOW the kid needed to go potty!

I did too and knew he would go in with me, so I put him on first. Protest he did, but not loudly or successfully. I turned on the tub and the sink. I put warm water in a cup and put his hand in it. I even poured warm water over his you know. NOTHING! Can you even believe that?? How does he do it?

We were getting nowhere and I had to go, so I took his pants off and he stepped into the tub to play in the water. I figured if he would not do the toilet, then the tub would be a good 2nd. Certainly at least better than my floor! I guess he went in the tub finally. No plug in, he was just playing in the water while mommy sat potty.

This is going to be an interesting ride I think! It may well wait until next summer. I waited til all my boys were 3 after the first one. Why give myself the hassle? Roo will be 3 in May. The best way I've found to train is to let them go outside in training pants and when they have an accident, they come in and get cleaned up. They quickly learn if they come in and go they can get back to playing quicker. And all the mess is OUTside. Best method I've found so far. I just thought Roo might be ready now. And i think he is IF we can figure out his schedule and find a way to make him go successfully on the pot.

For #1 anyway. #2 is a whole nother matter cuz there is nothing regular about that part! I guess it has to do with what he eats, but there is sure no pattern! Some of mine were so regular I had that part trained before they were 2. They went at the same time everyday and it was very easy to get them trained and save myself the hassle of stinky diapers. Sweet!

Every kid sure is different huh? I am glad this is my 8th go round and I just don't stress about it. When I think of the time and energy I wasted on my first and then when he was 3 it was just like someone waved a magic wand and it was DONE! lol - pays to wait

John was disappointed

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 13:49:00 -0600

Laurie wrote a great blog remembering when her kids were little. In it she shares with us - "So many of you moms are on a wonderful path, journaling while your children are little. Don't give it up! You will be surprised at how reading it later will refresh memories for you and your children! Don't stop just because they are getting older, and not as "cute" every day. There are still things to treasure, wisdom showing itself for the first time, the trials of a child becoming independent. Don't delete your blogs! Print them out, scrapbook them. Keep journaling."

I wanted to share something I need to journal about one of my older kids. (He is still cute tho! lol) John was very disappointed this goround when his candidate lost - again. But more importantly, we lost the House (and finally the Senate also). It was hard. To work sooo hard and do so much and then have to accept defeat and loss.

One of his fellow campaigners said it best. Jeremy said, "The next two years are going to be rough, but God is good."

I praise God for the precious people he has put in my children's lives. I am moved to tears to think of it. People that help them keep the main thing the main thing, people that help them keep their eyes on God - even when the going is tough, people that inspire them to be more and do more, people that make them want to be better, people that encourage and edify and lift. God has so so richly blessed us.

While John was gone I was doing some reading on a group called Covenant Players. A missionary drama group that I am sure Mr. W will be with one day as soon as the Lord makes it possible health and financially wise. There were many stories in the anniversary newsletter and one in particular I shared with John after he said he felt like it was all for nothing. I share it here for you:

"Seattle, Washington, a 6:00 AM program for a Christian businessmen�s

group. The audience was busy during the play doing their daily reports and

talking to each other. This was one of those shows you walk away saying �they

didn�t get it�.

"Six months later... Seattle, Washington.

"We picked up our schedule and there it was � 6:00 AM Christian

businessmen�s group. I pulled into the hotel parking lot at 5:30, and went in to

find the room we would be working in. Standing in the empty lobby, hanging up

my coat, I heard someone yell, �Hey, you!� Since no one else was around I figured it was for me. Sure enough, a 30+ man in a three-piece suit and coat was rapidly descending on us.

"�You�re those Players from LA. Boy, you sure caused me to think. You did that play about what do you believe. I

pride myself in being well organized in my thinking, so I went to work, sat down at my desk to write out what I believe. I�d write something down, look at it, then tear it up and write again and again, until it finally dawned on me that I really didn�t know what I believed. Thanks. I�m working on getting it straight.�

"If my mind wasn�t in a swirl, I�m sure I could have heard God saying, �See? He got it.�

"This took place 40 years ago, and I�d have to say it was one of many messages the Lord let me get when I wasquestioning the value of my efforts. It was and is a very sustaining message that has kept me going over the years."

I shared that story with John and told him his efforts were not wasted. I told him we will never know this side of heaven all that was accomplished on his trip. But God knows. And nothing we ever do for God is wasted! He calls, we obey - nuff said. Leave all the details and outcome to Him - He's pretty good at all that stuff!

I did not tell John it was good for the experience it gave him, or that it was still fun. He is too old for that, and the overall picture matters to him. Of that I am glad. He is a man now.

These are some things I need to journal about my older kids. I think I will want to remember this.

John did do one cute thing. He left a 4 am wake up call for Wed - in the room he LEFT! He got moved from 303 to 314 Monday! LOL - he is such a stinker!

HS Resource meme

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 02:29:00 -0600

What is a meme??

1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED

- A Survivor's Guide to Homeschooling

even tho people make fun of this book, i found it very helpful, very realistic, and recommend it to any real homeschooler who lives in the day to day of being real and letting kids grow

2) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT

- GOD! He has been just totally amazing at the way He has brought things together for my children. Bringing just what each needs when they need it. From a real live snake on our property (NONpoisonous - GOOD God!) that John caught and we observed - to the RNC opportunity for John. Just amazing!

3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT

- Saxon math. my kids just hated it!

4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR

- the internet. Some interactive maps, research opportunities, and printable pages. It helped to stoke my fire to have new things at a great price - free!

5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING THIS YEAR

- edhelper.com My mom gifted us with a subscription here and this is what most of our school is coming from for this year.

6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY

- all the Weaver curriculum. That was my alltime favorite curriculum. We all learned SO MUCH using it. I just liked it all around.

I would also like to round out my curriculum by adding arts and music appreciation courses. someday. . .

7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED

- hmmmm, never considered this before. . .an online typing course.

8) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING

- Timberdoodle. neat stuff! I don't get any catalogs anymore tho. Finally just stopped ordering.

9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY

- edhelper.com

10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS

1. Angie

2. Norma

3. Robin

4. TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS

5. You!

HS meme

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 01:44:00 -0600

Three phrases heard the most in our household:

1. Put the dog out.

2. Do the dishes.

3. Where is Reuben?

Three cleaning rituals performed everyday without fail:

1. Straighten bathroom

2. Dishes

3. Change Roo's diaper

Three tv programs obsessed over

1. No tv, only videos

2. No VCR, only DVD

3. Elmo, Antz, and Joseph King of Dreams are the only kids DVD's we have. My older kids are SICK of all of them!

Three things I do to get peace and quiet:

1. Go to Punkintown alone (local quickstop and eatery)

2. Strap them all in the van, turn up the music, and drive

3. Go to the bathroom and leave the door open and the light off. It took them 15 minutes to find me the first time I did this!

Three foods I really can't do without:

1. Ice

2. Coffee

3. Meat

(are the first two foods??)

Three things I must make time for each week:

1. Date with hubby. Man is our week off if we miss this!

2. Church ( is that a given?)

3. See my mom (we chat every night on IM, but I have to SEE her too or life is just not right!)

Three things that have tested my patience lately:

1. This d__n disease - chronic Lyme. (excuse the language, but it is real.)

2. Our puppy

3. This mess in my house!!

finally

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 01:23:00 -0600

Well, i finally found a quick and easy way for me to get here to post.

1. i go to my bloglines - a quick click on my "links" bar ( if you are not using your links bar, you need to! As Wheezy (sp) says - "Loooooove it!")

2. I click on Leann's RSS feed

3. I click at top of her feed to go to her site

4. i read it then log in and come here.

LOL! I said quick and easy "for me"!!

At any rate, this way my bloglines get open and i switch to Angie's while Leann's page loads in a new window; I read Leann's, then post in my own plus I get Angie's read. And yes, those are the only two blogs in the entire vast blogosphere that I am able to keep up with. How sorry is that????

I purposed originally in this blog to try to do more day to day blogging. A few people have shared with me they would be interested in that, so I will try. Also, I really love reading Leann and Angie's blogs about their day to day so I hope mine will be interesting also.

Today John came home! WOO HOO! He was in Indiana campaigning with the RNC for Mike Sodrel. He went last year to Va. to campaign. What an awesome opportunity; it looks GREAT on his transcript; it prepares him for his future calling; and it is just plain fun! If you would like your HS child age 13-19 to have this opportunity, please go to HSLDA.org and hunt around for info on Generation Joshua. It is a group started by HSLDA and run by Patrick Henry students and it is a vast wealth of great opportunities and info. I will try to post a link here sometime when I have one handy.

They lost. bummer. but they worked their fannies off. John said they worked way harder this time than last year. Kudos to John for being top phone banker at 1,045! The average was 600-700 and the next highest was 800 - so he really worked! He said he had one Vault, one Mt. Dew, and 6 Cokes! (all diet) and one 15 min break. For being top caller EVER he got an autographed pic of Congressman Sodrel (he was congressman when John got the picture. lol, he isn't today! well, i don't actually know when they are sworn in but you know what i mean). There are only 20 in existence, so it is a big deal to him. He genuinely liked the guy.

He was again impressed with the Patrick Henry students. They run the Generation Joshua part of the campaign and work harder than the GenJ kids - who work ridiculous hours very hard! It is just a fantastic time and a great opportunity.

I was sick all the time John was gone. SO unusual for me! But I believe I am on the mend now - had to actually break down and take antibiotics which then gave me a yeast infection. I took Olive Leaf Extract and I felt better - literally - in HOURS! If you have a challenge with yeast, please do try the Olive Leaf Extract. It is amazing stuff.

We left Roo's shoes at McD's Sat. Mr. W went to get them Monday and they were gone, but I did not ask if he asked for them or just looked. So I will find that out and go from there. If they do not exist, I guess Roo will get new ones. Always something around here!

My mom and dad have had the twins all week and bought them tons of new clothes! Each got a winter jacket, socks, several tshirts, 2 ps jeans, 2 ps dress pants, and ski masks! Aren't grandparents great!? It comes from me letting my boys pack themselves mostly. LOL - I told Mom next time they come (they go every month and Papa takes them to get their hair cut - a blessing for all) she is to make them a list to pack by. If they do not have all on the list, they cannot go. For I am not going to pack for them - but after buying all these new clothes, I think she deserves to have them come with what they need. I have not addressed the issue of who will check the list yet. I vote Mr. W!! LOL - for he is also good at enforcement. They can lay them out neatly on Daddy's bed while he is at work, then it will be very easy for him to check the list off. Yes, I believe that will work. Think Mr. W will go for it? The man is truly just amazing and wonderful!! He really is! You deserve to meet him just cuz everyone should meet someone so wonderful!

My mom totally spoiled me today. You know I have been ill all week but had to go get John today. I asked her last night if I came over today (she is halfway in between my house and where I had to go to get John) would she make me pancakes? On her round cast iron (antique) griddle she still has from before I was born?! She said yes of course. So i did, and she did.

I was feeling pretty awful when I got there, so I ate my pancakes. ALONE! YES, REALLY! the kids were all watching the tv (we don't have "tv" here, only dvd's) and roo was asleep in the van! noone even wanted any pcakes, altho several had not eaten yet that day. oh well. . . then i went to take a hot bath. again, BY MYSELF! noone even knocked on the door - oh, well, yes, Josh did. Had to go potty. LOL - but still. Noone came in! ha ha ha.

I was still feeling poorly after the bath, so I had some chicken soup. I felt pretty rough clear up until after I got John. I think the meds finally did more or maybe it was just John. who knows. I was sick all the time he was gone - maybe he is just magic? He has a LOT of his Dad in him - he is quite close to wonderful himself!

N E way, now I am feeling quite almost well. About time! I have got NOTHING done all week! Oh me oh my. I also need sweeper bags and that is on the agenda for Friday. Sat is the football game and I will work concessions, so I won't get much done then. Of course we don't work on Sunday - so I guess this house will be a wreck until Monday when I have GREAT and GLORIOUS plans . . . to go to my friend's house and clean for her. Sheesh. Her 6yo daughter was recently diagnosed with diabetes and it has been unbelievable trying to get her on an even keel. She goes from 45 to 600. Ridiculous! So Robin has been pretty overwhelmed. I saw her house, and she needs help. She is to host Thanksgiving for 30-40, so she needs her house cleaned. I am hosting nothing, so mine can wait. I also have way more older kids than she does. Hers are 15, 7, and 6.

Well, Roo is up asking for me and needing his benadryl so I am going to close. I hope this has not bored you to tears! Pray for my house to self clean or something cuz my schedule is pretty full! (Do they make those? My freezer deices itself and my oven will clean itself, why not my house???)

Til next time - Jo out