Chronicles of our nutty daily life as we seek to glorify God on our journey in homeschooling our children, one if which has significant special needs, and bring our sons home from Liberia. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 5 Nov 2008 20:15:00 -0600 Wed, 5 Nov 2008 20:15:00 -0600 Just want to send Kudos to my son, Dylan. He had his Eagle Board Of Review this past Saturday and is now officially an Eagle Scout!!  We are so very proud of him!  We will have his Eagle Court of Honor either in December or January, depending on when all the certificates come in. For his project he and many other volunteers built raised flower beds in a courtyard of a local nursing home. This really made the courtyard look nice, but also enables the residents who have trouble bending or are in wheelchairs the ability to work in the beds. This is something many of them still love to do, but are not able. It was a big project, but went wonderfully. We are so proud of you Dylan!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/615260/ Wed, 5 Nov 2008 20:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/615260/ I found this on Growing in Wisdom and Stature's blog and thought I would try it. 1. Where is your cell phone?  purse 2. Your significant other?  loving 3. Your hair?  frizzy 4. Your mother?  insane 5. Your father?  stubborn 6. Your favorite thing?  books 7. Your dream last night?  Liberia 8. Your favorite drink?  coffee 9. Your dream/goal?  adoption 10. The room you’re in?   hot 11. Your church?  different 12. Your fear?  Zack 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?  comfortable 14. Where were you last night?  computer 15. What you’re not?  skinny 16. Muffins?  blueberry 17. One of your wish list items?  refrigerator 18. Where you grew up?  Michigan 19. The last thing you did?  drove 20. What are you wearing?  leggings 21. Your TV?  off 22. Your pets?  dogs 23. Your computer?  desktop 24. Your life?  struggle 25. Your mood?  fearful 26. Missing someone? boys 27. Your car?  van 28. Something you’re not wearing?  earrings 29. Favorite store?  Martin's 30. Your summer?  hot 31. Like(love) someone?  deeply 32. Your favorite color?  purple 33. Last time you laughed?  yesterday 34. Last time you cried?  yesterday 35. Who will repost this?  dunno It's harder than it looks to just keep your answers to one word! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/559230/ Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/559230/ Please watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6WEcrfCIwI   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/557703/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/557703/ Dylan loves his long hair. I don't know whether it is because it fits the "guitar playing dude" that he is, or that he is hanging on to his hair as long as he can because he fears his Dad's fate...baldness. Either way, he really likes his long red hair. However, me...not so much. I like his hair neatly short so I can see those beautiful blue eyes. However, he is 16 and it is his hair and I try to respect his choices.  So I smiled and kept my mouth closed (well most of the time.) My only rule is that it must be clean and neat. However, as a sweet Mother's Day gift my precious son sacrificed his beloved long red hair. Part of me was sad because he changed something he loved for me...and then part of me was so touched because he loved me that much and made that sacrifice. Of course when I came around the corner and saw him for the first time after his haircut I cried. It was a precious gift, but like he says...it grows back.  Before and After                                                                                                                                                                          http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551360/ Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551360/ Wow did we have a doozy of a storm yesterday! We had been working outside at the nursing home on Dylan's Eagle Scout project most of the day (more about that in a later post.)  When we heard rain start we were just hot and sticky enough to say we were going to go outside and play in the rain. I had no sooner put my hand on the door to head out when we heard "tinkling". We looked out to find it HAILING!   It is June, about 90 degrees outside and there is ice falling from the sky!  Amazing!  We are so thankful we weren't already outside when the hail started...it might have made for a headache!  My poor purple petunia might not make it. However, I think my pitiful green, flowerless pots in the backgound will survive just fine though. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551198/ Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551198/ A lesson learned...double check to make sure you have your bowl pushed in all the way on your grain grinder before leaving the kitchen to do other chores...it could get bad.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551192/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/551192/ Well yes, we are still alive and kicking. When life isn't going the best, instead of reaching out to friends and family, I do the opposite and withdraw. That is what I have done for a big part of the last few months. Not to have a pity party, but it appears I have too much pride and think I can handle it...me and God. And yes, God can handle anything. Nothing that has happened in my life has caught him by surprise. However, I am learning (ever so slowly) that He has created us to live in fellowship with each other, to need each other.  I love helping, I just hate asking for help. (Pride, yuck!) So here's an update on the last 7 months or so.  Last October, after over 16 years with the same company, my dear hubby lost his job.  This sent us for a bit of a spin. We trust God and know it is ultimately HE who provides for us, yet in the flesh we saw so much loss. He had so much vested in that company and to see it gone in one day was a little difficult. However, God was so gracious. Kurt got a call then very next day and was offered a temporary job (which he STILL has.)  It has no benefits, only pays a fraction of what he was making, and is a temporary contract...but God is providing. Praise Him!  DH got a second job to supplement and provide insurance. Though this job is only part-time, it has great insurance....so we thought. They have denied coverage for Zack twice due to his mental handicap. We are continuing to appeal. So my hard-working dear husband rises at 5:15 works a full time job in a hot warehouse, then heads to his second job in another hot warehouse. He arrives home about 11:00 pm. How blessed I am that God gave me such a hard-working man! With the loss of Kurt's job we saw our dreams of bringing Michael and Moses home from Liberia slightly dimming. Immigration will not let you bring children into the country unless you make a minimum amount and can provide health insurance for them. Since dh getting a second job, we can now do that. However, the agency we were with took our money and did absolutely nothing on our adoption in a year and a half. Now Liberia has a moratorium on new adoptions. And every day our boys get older. The agency has now dropped us and we are working independently with a social worker in Liberia.   We are walking a fine line. We believe with all our heart that God can do a miracle and make it possible for us to bring our boys home. Yet with everything we (and they) have gone through, we are preparing our hearts for the possibility that they may not come home. Somehow that feels like a lack of faith. Yet, my heart is preparing itself becaue we have had so many let-downs and broken promises. We have gotten to know these boys over the last year and a half and I adore them. In my heart they are mine. However, I have to be ok with whatever God does. I have to trust in His sovereignty. He knows what is best for everyone and He loves Michael and Moses more that I can even imagine. Yet, we will continue to pray for that miracle.  Zack is doing fairly well. We have seen a little regression with all the stress going on and him not seeing his Daddy as much. He has been working at a local department store part time since last November. He puts up stock and generally helps with whatever they need. He enjoys this job and we are so thankful for this opportunity for him. Dylan is doing very well. He is begins his Eagle project in a few weeks. He is building raised flower beds around the courtyard of a local nursing home. This will enable the residents to work in the flower gardens as many of them enjoy doing. He is entering the 11th grade this fall. I can't believe my baby has grown up so fast. He is turning into such a fine young man. He loves the Lord and his family. It is such a joy to watch him walk out his own relationship with Christ. I am so blessed to be his mom.     Ok...that's the last few months in "Cliff Notes" form.  I can't guarantee the next post will be happen any faster than this one...but stranger things have happened.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/543344/ Thu, 5 Jun 2008 09:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/543344/ I am sure many of you have seen Facing the Giants. We truly enjoyed the movie, but there was one line in it that really helped us in what we are going through with this adoption. Well, in a nutshell and to the best of my recollection, it was the part where the man who was praying for revival told the coach about the two farmers who prayed for rain. and which one's prayers were answered...THE ONE WHO PREPARED FOR RAIN.  Well, that's what we have been doing for the many months...preparing for rain. The first thing we did was buy two additional chairs for our dining room table. So when we say our mealtime prayers, we reach our hands across two empty chairs. This reminds us that there are two members of our family missing from the dinner table.   It also makes us more thankful for the food we are eating because we know that our missing family members are not eating as well. Despite there being no new activity or nothing new to report on our adoption, we are still "preparing for rain." We finished their rooms last week. The only thing missing now are those two precious boys.  It does my heart so good to see their beds waiting for them. I often go in their and just pray they will be sleeping soundly in their very own beds soon. We talked to the boys this week and they are pretty discouraged. My heart hurts for them so much. Their good friend's adoption is final and he is on his way home to the US as I type this. I asked Michael if he misses his friend, he said "oh mom...so much." They are such great boys. I was telling them that we have their room all ready and waiting for them. After I told Moses this he said "oh mom, praise God!"  It made coming home seem more real to him...like we really and truly believe he will come home.  As I was trying to encourage them Michael was trying to encourage me. He said "I know that with God, all things are possible."     I say Amen!! I saw this on the end of someone's email and I just loved it:  "Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone; but still miraculously my own."   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/402465/ Wed, 3 Oct 2007 22:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/402465/ FINISH... I HATE: my own sin I MISS: my friend Monti I HEAR: the washing machine agitating I REGRET: not having more children I LIKE: kisses from my husband I DANCE: whenever no one is looking! I GOT THIS SURVEY FROM: a sweet girl whose blog I read I SHOULD: lose more weight…sweep the kitchen…start supper…the list is endless.   IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, HAVE YOU... CRIED? Yes. HELPED SOMEONE? Yes. GOTTEN ILL? I am feeling that way now. GONE OUT FOR DINNER? Yes SAID "I LOVE YOU"? Many times WRITTEN A REAL LETTER? Yes. WRITTEN IN A JOURNAL? No FOUGHT WITH YOUR PARENTS?: No. WOULD YOU EVER... EAT AN INSECT? I suppose if I was hungry enough. BUNGEE JUMP?: NEVER! HANG GLIDE?: No. KILL SOMEONE? Well, the thought crossed my mind with a person who shall remain nameless...but I will say no. :-) WALK ON HOT COALS? What reason would I have??? GO OUT TO EAT WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER? Maybe GO OUT WITH SOMEONE FOR THEIR REPUTATION? It would ruin THEIR reputation to be seen with ME! BE A VEGETARIAN? Actually, I would be ok with that. I lean that direction as it is. PURPOSELY HURT SOMEONE? Once again, someone comes to mind who shall remain nameless (as in someone who is mistreating Liberian children.) RUN A RED LIGHT? The question should be “how many times have I”! DYE YOUR HAIR BLUE? Hey, I have shaved it, blue would not be that big of a deal. MAKE SOMEONE CRY? Oh I hope not! STAY UP ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT: Yes, cookie nights with my brother! THE LAST PERSON WHO... TALKED TO YOU?: Zack SAW YOU CRY? My boys (prayer time today) YOU SAW CRY? My mom, after she got off the phone with Michael in Liberia on Sunday. WENT TO THE CINEMA WITH? My husband??? Can’t remember! WENT TO DINNER/LUNCH WITH? Went to dinner with all my fellas on Saturday. THAT CALLED YOU ON THE PHONE: Kristi THAT YOU CALLED ON THE PHONE: Suzanne TEXTED YOU: Tracie MADE YOU LAUGH: Dylan…when I put my cold, cold hands on him this morning. DO YOU PREFER: FLOWERS OR CANDY? Flowers…candy(medjool dates are my candy)…no wait, flowers…I guess it depends on the occasion. GRAY OR BLACK? Neither, but if I MUST choose, it would be gray. COLOR OR BLACK? COLOR! SUNRISE OR SUNSET?: Sunset all the way! STAYING UP LATE OR WAKING UP EARLY? No brainer…staying up late! COKE OR PEPSI? Neither, don’t do soda. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, winter, winter!!! Did I say winter? Ok, there is a mindless, fun little tag. Do it if you feel inspired. Let me know if you do so I can read your responses. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/377132/ Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/377132/ A few weeks ago my dear "old" friend Monti came back for another visit!  TWO times in one year...woo hoo!   Her son, Brandon, plays with the Santa Clara Vanguard and he was performing here in at our university. So she traveled to see me... and watch her son perform of course. There was another reason she came. Her son has struck up a pen-pal friendship with a young man Zack plays sports with. His name is Adam, he is in his early 20's, he has Down Syndrome, and he LOVES everything drum and bugle corp.  Zack and Adam were playing basketball one day and I was talking with his mom. She told me how much he loves drum and bugle corps and I mentioned my friend's son plays for SCV...she said emphatically..."that's on of his favorites!!" So Brandon took that information and ran with it. He has been writing to Adam and sending him SCV stuff ever since. This has thrilled Adam to no end!  Well with SCV coming here, Brandon thought it would be great to meet him. So we arranged a meeting  and Brandon presented him a T-shirt signed by many of the SCV men and women. Adam presented him with a shirt as well. It was great. You can read more about the story and see a photo here. When I was taking Monti back to the airport we stopped at a ladies clothing shop in Nashville and decided to do a little "browsing". After a few minutes we both went to try some things on...we came out wearing the same shirt!!  Great minds think alike.    Here is the dressing room photo...(wonder what those ladies thought of us taking pictures in the dressing room?????  It took some skill...I held the camera, Monti pushed the button.   Of course we purchased the shirts. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/369438/ Tue, 7 Aug 2007 13:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Sonya/369438/