Journey into the Unknown..... - Homeschool Blogger

Sat, 1 Jul 2006 17:15:00 -0500

Well, last night I braved the fireworks with my kids. Daddy is a police officer in the Marines and he had to work (of course). I decided that we would find a spot in the grass near to the mobile command unit/truck that he was in just in case there was a problem.
Bug has sensory issues and doesn't do well with things like that. In fact last year was a total disaster. But, this year he assured me that he would be ok and he wanted to try it. I'm a sucker to please my kids if I can so I figured we could try it.
As the night went on, he started getting really nervous. He was obsessive about having a glow stick b/c he was afraid he wasn't going to be able to see. They were handing them out and we managed to get one. I thought that that would calm him enough. The fireworks started and I was so busy watching Beau to see how he would respond (he's 13 months) that I didn't watch Bug for a few minutes. When I did look over to him, he was covering his head with his blanket. I told him he could sit in my lap and pulled him to me covering his ears and talking about how pretty they were. He was trying so hard to be brave and not to embarss himself in front of his friends, but he started crying and said that he wanted to go home. I took him to his daddy where he could see a little but not hear them and he was ok.
He told me later that they are like bombs and he doesn't like them to explode like that.
I hate that for him. I'm glad that he handled it better than last year though, and I am pretty sure that next year we'll just skip that part of the festivities!

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:23:00 -0500

After all the talk about my sweetness son I thought I would post a pic of him. Couldn't you just eat him up?! God knew he had to be absolutely adorable so that I would melt when I looked at him.

Soooo tired

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:56:00 -0500

I think that I have written at other times about my son and some of his struggles... I am becoming more and more vocal about it for several reasons- one I need the support of other mothers myself, two- i know that other mothers need to know they aren't alone in this, and three- my writing - some of which will probably be public soon deals with a lot of it- soooo it will be public soon enough!

Bug has had several diagnoses over his short life of almost 5 years- ADHD, mood disorder Not otherwise specified, and sensory integration. all this means is that his poor little adorable body has a hard time processing things and that his moods are all over the place.

He doesn't sleep much. Doctors have no idea why as this is something that doesn't seem to fit with all the other diagnoses. Bug will often go to sleep around midnight and be awake by four for the day. Wide awake, ready to go. We have had him on some medication now for about 4 months to help with his sleeping, and it has helped some. But there are always those nights- they come fairly often and are very hard. Last night was one of them. He woke up at 1:30am and didn't go back to sleep (until 5 minutes ago- 10am) This isn't a power issue, he isn't coming to our bed, in fact he stays in his room and turns on his lamp and some classical music and plays legos until he either falls asleep again or the sun comes up. This was one of those all night times. I heard him raking through the legos several times and he even called out to me around 3:30 for some water. My husband left for work about 5 and he was still going at it. He finally called to me at 6:30 b/c the sun was up.
I hate this for him. I know he has a hard time- but yet he keeps a good attitude about it. He has had a decent morning and just started falling apart. So here he lays, on the floor at my feet- a superman cape made out of a blanket around his neck, his batman pjs and his red converse high tops. worn out, tired from the demands his brain makes on his slight body and at peace.
My beautiful son. How I wish I could help you.

I'm still alive!

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:31:00 -0500

Hey there!
I have a feeling I will be writing to myself for awhile as I'm sure most of you have given up checking in for new posts.

I have kept up with my other blog www.xanga.com/hippmama but have neglected this one... not sure why...

I just got back from a Speakers/Writers Conference called SheSpeaks - it is done with Proverbs 31 ministries. I pitched a book proposal and it went better than ok. I'll give more details as i can.
I was blessed beyond belief. Lots of good info in the workshops, and God moved mightily in my heart. Always a little painful, but always so wonderful too.

I met some great women, homeschoolers too! looking forward to finding them on here.

I need to get going for now- I want to hang out with my husband as I hadn't seen him since early last week.
I'm glad to be back!
I'll try much harder to stay up to date this time.

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:01:00 -0500

Daddy's home- obviously. :) it's been close to a week so far. We're doing well. I got sick immediately when he got home (well, over night) and spent the first two days in bed. It was like my body had been holding on until he could get there.

We're enjoying having him back with us. The boys are so much more secure with their Daddy home.

Not a whole lot to share- so much in the air, but so little that is concrete enough to "put on paper".

Tonight I am going to a friends scrapbook store who is going out of business. She has stamps for 5 cents, and paper for 5 cents and lots of other stuff- i'm totally excited! WHOO HOO! Hope i find some great stuff!

I should get going- i'm headed outside to put some of my growing seedlings into the ground!!

TODAY IS THE DAY

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 06:17:00 -0500

YAY!

Friends- today my husband comes home. WOW! I can hardly believe it's already here. He graduates from the school (with honors I might add) this morning at 10:30 and then he'll be leaving the area about 1:30 to head home. It takes him about 10 hours so I'll see him late tonight but he'll be here.
God has been so gracious to me while he's been gone. It's been almost 2 months and we have done well. Bug has had some major struggles with all of this, but I have been able to respond to him in love and patience the whole time- evidence of God's perfect grace.
I am not telling him that Daddy will be here when he wakes up, only that he's coming home tomorrow. I can't wait to see his little face. Priceless.

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts!
We are ready to welcome the man of our house back home.

Have a wonderful good Friday everyone- remember our Saviour and His sacrifice.

CONTEST WINNER

Sun, 9 Apr 2006 15:49:00 -0500

Ok- Although I am a day late It is time for the winner of the wonderful prize to be announced!

The winner of the best story is....

Redeemed !!!
You'll have to go back and read the stories, but Redeemed well... wet her pants in public. I felt that that story happening to an adult was worth the prize!

I had a blast doing the contest- so many great and funny stories!
Thanks to all of you for sharing your blush worthy tales with me!

Books, books, oh how I love books.....

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 09:46:00 -0500

I truly do love books. On a circulating email one of the questions asked is always "what store would you chose to max out a credit card if you had to"... my answer is always a BOOK STORE! it seems that no matter how many books I get, I always want more!

Ever since I was little and learned to read (my mom taught me by age 4) I have devoured books. I have several hundred of my own, but always desire more. I would read at the table during meals, under my covers with a flashlight at night, on the screened porch in the swing, in the bathtub, at stoplights when I'm driving, whenever I possibly can! When I was younger I wasn't allowed to read at the dinner table or if we were having a meal as a family (it wasn't a big deal if it was just me at the breakfast table with a bowl of cereal) And the few times I did bring one to the table, I would sit with my knee sticking up over the top of the table curled up in my chair. My dad would reach over with his fork and stab my knee! To this day I hate having my kneecap touched!

Anyways! There is a fabulous website- all about books- BUT with a twist! It is
http://www.bookcrossing.com/. This site is about hiding and finding and sharing books. Here's the deal in a nutshell- you get a book (can be a new one or something from a yard sale, or thrift store) you go to the website and "register" it. Give is an ID number in the front inside, and then post in the boards where you are going to leave it. Then... you wait! Hoping that someone finds it and gets on the website to tell you about how they found it etc, or what they think of the book- things like that. Also- you can go online and find books in your town- do the same thing and then hide it again if you like ! It is so fun! This is happening all over the world and is like a bibliophile's little secret. Of course, some places are more heavily covered than others (but anyone can change that!) and start hiding!
I'd love to hear from you all if you find or hide a book!

Go- spread literature, experience a wonderful journey of the written word! Share the wealth- and be sure to come back and tell me all about it!

LOL!

Loving this!

Sat, 1 Apr 2006 15:18:00 -0600

You guys are telling great stories!

I didn't do this contest because I like to tease other people, or make them feel uncomfortable, or to laugh at their expense, I did it b/c telling funny or embarrassing stories makes us all a bit more "human". We all have those moments, and we all wish we could melt into the floor- and hearing that other people have had those Oh Gosh moments too bonds us all.

I don't have to give the "most embarrassing" b/c I'm not competing- but thought I'd share one that happened around Christmas time.

We were visiting family for Christmas and many of my relatives were there. My siblings, sister in law, cousins and spouses, all their kids, my husband, our kids, my parents, aunt, uncle- you get the picture. We decided to watch old family movies on a big screen. It was great fun seeing ourselves 20-30 years ago, seeing how young my grandparents used to look, remembering great summers on the lake and skiing. Yes, the memories. they were beautiful.
Then there was this one- this one HORRIBLE movie that everyone remembers. It was me and one of my little brothers. I was probably about 8 years old and so cute. The camera was just on me, pretty close up and I.... SCRATCHED myself. Yes. I did. IN front of everyone. I was mortified. There was an embarrassed silence, and then the snickering started. I think my uncle said something like- Sure hope you got whatever you were looking for.
I wanted to die right then. How embarrassing. ACK!

So- there's mine. Try not to laugh out loud, I'm still sensitive to it- and I might be able to hear you.

CONTEST!!!

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:34:00 -0600

HI! I am having a contest. I am not sure how many readers I have out there, but want to make new friends and thought- why can't I offer a contest of sorts? Redeemed offered me a good thought- she was telling me a story of embarassment and so that got me thinking. We all have stories to tell- funny ones (NOW) that happened to us over the years- and so I want you to dust off your embarassing/and or unbelievably funny stories and send them in.
The RULES:
1. It has to be a story/circumstance that directly involves YOU.
2. It can't embarass anyone in your family unless they give you direct permission.
3. It has to be clean
4. I will stop it on April the 7th and annouce the winner.

Tell your friends- pop in and let me get to know you- the REAL you just a bit more!

I DO have a prize! That's the best part!
I have a (drum roll please.....)

Brand new, still in packaging, Live From Atlanta: Casting Crowns 2 Disc DVD/CD set.
If you've never heard them, you are missing something great. They have wonderful songs with powerful lyrics. I would consider it to be in the more modern worship style music! You'll love it!!

Can't wait to start reading all of your great stories! Good luck!!