To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal ... a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance ... a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to lose and a time to seek; a time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:13:00 -0600 Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:13:00 -0600 Yes, we're back from Jerusalem.  Christmas was a very blessed event for our family. I don't like many aspects of the "holiday" flurry. The shopping, wrapping, putting out the tree and than taking it down again, has never really appealed to me. I do however like the focus on the day itself and the activity that leads up to it. Celebrating the birth of Jesus my savior, the gathering of friends and family, giving others gifts and the food. That last one I like a little too much! And now a new year has started. The presents have long since been handed out and received and last year is now the past. It is now time to focus on this new year. My prayer is that it is one focused more on Jesus, even though we have long since put away the tree. HAPPY NEW YEAR! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/643284/ Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:13:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/643284/ This post is LONG overdue. Sorry Angie! This FREE event was held in Townsend Tennessee. It was like walking into the past into the days of Jesus as a boy.  There were several booths where crafts and activities were being done. My cute little guy -- in his Jewish attire for the day. And he is that cutey again eating his unleavend bread that we made together. Below is on of the best activities. Pottery. It was messy but so fun!!! View from the top into the parking area. A Time of Praise and Worship. Hebrew dancers And now the video............. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/616305/ Sat, 8 Nov 2008 01:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/616305/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/603760/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:33:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/603760/ Stock up on the important things. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/593173/ Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/593173/ I know God won't give me anything I can't handle; I just wish He didn't trust me so much. ~~~~~Mother Teresa Updating.... since I  haven't in a while.  There are lots of bits and pieces in our lives right now I'll share a few. This is the newest thing at our house. A mini 4-wheeler. And I don't like it.  But I know it's NOT about me. We don't usually buy our children extravagant gifts and this is not a gift. My dh spent his Saturday working for a friend and this was what they agreed to as payment.  When I asked about payment dh said it was in the truck. I am always a little weary about things that are "in the truck". At first I was not excited. But seeing the kids faces and the fun they were having makes me a little better with it. Safety first though. That's my concern with this. The Re-enactment season has officially started.  More excitement!    I am not a camper so this is NOT for me. However, my family really enjoy these weekends away.   I was dreaming a bit while they were gone this last time and I had the two youngest home with me.  I was dreaming about the day they all go and I stay home alone.  What will I do with myself? I am sure that by that time I will have all the plans laid out. hehehe There is lots to see at these. Somethings you'd wish you didn't see. Like this..... Yes, that is indeed a nail in his nose. Is this not gross!!!?? He hammers it in and than later he pulls it out with a pliers. And these went all the way down his throat. All THREE swords at the same time. ICK! Dollywood is always fun and we made it to Homeschool Day this year.   We went hiking for the first time this year with several homeschool families. Look at this happy faced backpacker baby. Do you think he liked the idea? I am including this picture just because I want to remember this. And the fact that I am failing as a mother. This one snuck out with no shoe laces. UGH!! I love this picture but mostly I love this guy! He just so happened to be the only daddy on this hike. Oh good "NO CAMPING" I have one boy who loves to wear a tie to church.  And here he is in his Sunday best..Every picture i tried to take he had his eyes closed on. This one was a bit different. He had his eyes again closed but at least his mouth was open.   Gas is a shocking $4.49 - $4.99 this weekend!  So the thought of staying home after church was accepted without a second thought. However, Sami ended up going to Dollywood with some friends so  I decided it was a good day to spend with my little girl.  I took her to Starbucks where we played Scrabble, Hangman and Tic Tac Toe. She loves her mommy time and I love my  Sarah time. Busy Week Ahead We have school work to catch up on plus co-op classes. Than there is Boy Scouts, a tea Party, Dance, a homeschool picnic, my oldest sons birthday & a party, my daughter starts a new job that I need to drive her back and forth to.... and a moms night out squeezed in for good measure. Shew! AND  I thought last week was busy.  I need to sit back and see what we can cut out and what we can keep.  When the school year kicks off we always put to much on our plates. Life is full. Life is good. How full is your plate this year? Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. ~~~~Mother Teresa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/589880/ Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/589880/ This past week I have been in prayer with a heavy heart for the Drews Family. I was honored to meet Marsha when she and her family were visiting TN. I saw her on the ride that we were both on in Dollywood. How amazing is that!  You can read the tribute to her precious son "Dozer" Here. Christian's life here on this earth has ended but he is beginning his eternity in heaven with Jesus.  * Please keep this family in your prayers in the days and weeks to come. I lost my mother in a serious car accident years ago. It was my faith that got me through it. Knowing mom was now at peace with Jesus is  what has helped me to find that peace that surpasses all understanding.  Moms life ended here on earth but her life with Jesus has begun.   God is good!  All. The. Time. I titled this entry Beginnings & Endings  because that's how life is. We have beginnings and we have endings. This year my daughter Sami will end her homeschool journey. She will be graduating High School. I am excited to see what great things our awesome God has planned for her.  I added a playlist at the bottom of a song by Mark Harris called "Find Your Wings."   I think it is fitting for any parent.  If you get a minute please stay a while and listen to it. Let me know what you think of it.: ) May you find much joy & blessings at your beginnings & endings this school year. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:13 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/583243/ Mon, 1 Sep 2008 06:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/583243/ We started "back to school" this past Monday and took Friday off. It was the perfect day to be outdoors. A great We ended up in Gatlinburg. We did some window shopping. We had lunch just outside some fountains. Talked to the tourists. Visited the Aquarium (we have season passes) and caught up with some friends. The most exciting news of the day is the fact that I was able to park my vehicle without having to use a parking garage.  We've always been funny about paying for parking but with  having taken classes to the Aquarium this past school year we had to park in the lot several times and shell out  $3 - $5 each time.  Well that really isn't the only exciting news for that day for me. Only the half of it. THE most exciting news for the day is the fact that I not only found a parking space on the road but that I was able to successfully  parallel park my gigantic vehicle between two cars. Trust me this is an awesome feat for this woman. Now if I had been driving our little economical Nissan, there would be no need to bring this up. But this indeed is one for the record which I will not forget for years to come. Flowers along the river walk. While we walked to the Aquarium I noticed this lovely butterfly flying from flower to flower.  I immediately thought of  TNLisa who has posted some pictures of some beautiful butterflies that she has seen this summer. And one last thing. I am so proud of my daughter Sarah. She has taken such wonderful care of the  new flower beds her daddy started around our flag pole. It's brought me joy to watch her fill up her buckets and pull our little red wagon to keep these alive all summer. I have to admit, I am not that good. Flowers die in my care. I am not sure what is in store for us this school  year but I do believe this promise............. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/572658/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:34:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/572658/ We have been busy and rather lazy gardeners. Thankfully my neighbor came over last night and we toured each others gardens. We were able to pick a few things amongst our weeds. What you see is what we got. One ear of corn (there is more but I want to pick it fresh when we're ready to eat it), several green beans (DITTO) and some very sweet tomatoes. This morning Joe and I went blueberry picking. We left the house just before 7AM and came home with 6 pounds of blueberries. It was a great date! We all had a delicious breakfast of freshly baked blueberry muffins. From this .............  to this............. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” ~Lamentations 3:22-24 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/564979/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/564979/ Blogging has taken a serious back seat in my life. I have had many things I have wanted to sit down and blog about but the time is never there. Friends please call, or e-mail me if you would like to know what we're up to. So for now I will say farewell. I may return one day. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/553692/ Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/553692/ Yesterday, although our trip to the strawberry farm did not go as planned, we still made it a good day. After all every day is a beautiful gift from our Creator. So we made the best of our circumstances and quickly formed plan B. A trip to the park.  It was still cool as we arrived in town very early. This park happened to be a Greenway with lovely  trails along a creek.  I did remember to bring my camera so I got some nice candid pictures as we walked along the trails. and we're off.......................... Just me and my shadow. Beautiful! The trails and my baby girl posing on the bridge. My  beautiful boy! A Time to pause............ My Biggest Boy. Hand in hand. Hanging around. This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/545998/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:32:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS/545998/