Hulett's Place

Thank you Marilyn Rockett

I am reading "Homeschooling at the speed of life" by Marilyn Rockett and I just love her definition of Organized

Organization is making your life work for you
by bringing the dailiness of life under control
through yeilding to the Holy Spirit
concerning the wise ue of your time.

Developing a plan

There has been alot of things going on i(n the Hulett house these days.   Hubby (Hunky Monkey as I like to call him now) is still working for the UPRR but is out of town during the week.  This last week however he has been home.  It was a great week with him.  Nathan and Olivia have gone fishing, HM and I have been gone for a ride out to the lake on the Harley and had a picnic for 2 with the dog at our heels.  All in all it was a good week.

I have mapped out about the first 10 weeks for our 09-10 school year which will start on Sept 14, 2009.  We will be using AOP's Life Pac (LA, Hist/Geog & Science) for both kids along with Math U See and Writing Strands.  Our computer is dieing so we wont have much todo on there except for keeping grades.

I have started a bible study with some of the other local HSing mom's its called "Homeschooling at life speed" by Marilyn Rockett.  We are currently on chapter 3 and we will have this Thursday and then have 2 weeks off for county fair since most of our kids will have 4H projects to do durning those weeks.

Olivia is doing dog project and had already been involved in a dog show in Cheyenne at the beginning of the year and did very well. Out of the 6 events she came home with 2 First Places ribbons (Rally and Pole Bending), 1 Second Place Ribbon (Obsticale Course), 1 Third Place Ribbon (Obediance), 1 Fifth Place Ribbon (Costume). We were very proud of her and Frenchie.  She will have 3 events at fair, Showmanship, Obedience and either Rally or something else I am not familiar with (I am really hopeing its Rally).

Nathan is in Archary this year and took 5th place in County Shoot which is really cool since its also his first year.  He is finished with his classes which were held on Thursday evenings.  He is not sure if he wants to continue with this project next year or go on to dog project.

Some of you may not know but I am now a grandma, yup a 42yo grandma.  Hagen Lee is bringing lots of join and challenges to our home.  He is learning to crawl and we are now having to re-babyproof our home after 8yrs of not having a baby in the house. He pulls up on alot of things now too but finds himself backwards on his bum since he hasn't figured out how to gracefully get down from a standing.  Homeschool books and supplies are still with in reach but he is learning not to touch them.  I do have his toys down on a shelf so he can touch something there though.  He is expanding his food choices and really likes Cheerios, toast, green beans, peas, mac and cheese and alot more foods.

Well, that is about it for now, thanks for letting us update you on our home/family

Life changes so fast

Well, yesterday I was preparing lesson plans so for if someone were to come in and teach my kids after surgery.  Well, I am not having surgery any time in the near future but instead having an epidural cortisone injection.  I am rather nervous about this because I will be awake during it.

The kids have been rather antsy so today I shoo'd them out the back door in to the snow for about 30 mins and they had a blast. When they returned they were much calmer.  We got out our Origami book again (second day in a row) and made some fun water bombs and star boxes.  The kids put them on the Christmas tree for more decorations.

Today I was able to print out our Christmas letter, fold them and put them in the cards.  They are all ready to send out tomorrow.  I truly feel a sense of accomplishment now.

We are now waiting for Daddy to get home and he will make hamburgers.  Nathan was able to put a pan of fries in the oven and we will toss a salad for some added roughage.

Dispite being in my recliner for the last few days my house isn't falling down and it is still in rather good shape.

Back problems and more

Well, I have another herniated disk in my back and had to go for an MRI today Yowsers that hurts.  I will be having sergery in the next few days or weeks.  You know prayer really does help when you have panic/anxiety disorder, as well as beautiful Christmas music on the headphones. 

I am rather apprehensive with all this because I will have others homeschooling my kids for a few days while I recover in the hospital.  Nathan has 90% of his work on the computer (SOS) and Olivia is all work books (LifePac).  I know I have to write out my daily schooling schedule for someone but I really don't want to do it. 

Happy 2008 Holidays from S & G Hulett

Happy Holidays,                                                                                             

As our year comes to a close I find great joy in reflecting on it.  As with all Christmas letters I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

Steve is still plugging away at his job with the Union Pacific Railroad and has moved to a position in Cheyenne.  He seems to really enjoy the drive to and from work as a time of prayer and reflection as well as a wind down time on the way home.  This year has been a big one for him (and I).  This summer he decided that it was time to take the plunge and purchase the long awaited Harley Davidson Fat Boy.  It's a beautiful darker red and is a 1995 model. We both love it, but since he is the only licensed driver to operate it I think he gets more joy out of it.  We attended the first University of Wyoming football game of the 2008/09 season in style, which was a Harley ride through town and then up to the stadium.  There were 70+ other riders and it was a blast.  I sat perched on the back with a  big smile and hoots and hollers for the other riders and those watching from the sidewalks.  The next day Steve and I did our first poker run through the Snowy Range and WOW was that fun.  We were able to go with some other friends of ours as well as meet and greet other Harley owners from around Laramie and neighboring states that came for the fun. 

Steve was also proud to take our son Nathan on his very first duck hunting trip this year.  In January Nathan and I took the hunter safety course and passed with flying colors (Nathan passed with a 91 and I with a 99).  This is Nathan’s first year to legally hunt birds and small game and with out fail it has proved to be a very pleasurable and lucky year for them both.  Many ducks have been brought home and frozen for later meals.   

Nathan is in the 5^th grade this year and is learning with great speed and joy.  He enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, shooting sports in the back yard with his  BB gun, tormenting his sisters and riding bikes like most boy of his age.  He is quite the little business man too.   For many weeks this year he saved up his money to purchase a Game Boy Advance and a few games.  He did extra chores around the house as well as shoveled snow in the late fall.  He proudly took his money to the GameStop and made his purchase.  What a happy young man he was that day.   He turned 11 this year and is very much the tweener.  He flirts with the girls but a also runs from them when he can’t take the heat.

Olivia turned 8 in January and has been very much the little lady of the house.  Despite not wanting to be daddy’s little girl anymore she does crawl up on his lap still in the evenings for her lap-lap time with him.  She is in 2^nd grade this year and has finally learned to read.  She loves math and spelling. Most days you can find her doodling and will come up with the most magnificent masterpieces.  She really is quite the little artist and we nurture that with lots of art supplies.  She is also growing into the little miss prissy with taking up her share of time in the bathroom in front of the mirror.

Alysha has brought us the greatest joy this year.  Upon her return home from Washington state in early February she brought with her a boyfriend, Jeramy.  On May 6^th they exchanged wedding vows.  They resided in a quaint little house just 7 block up the street from us.  On Oct 15 they presented Steve and I with our very first grandchild.  Hagen Lee Dye weighed 6lbs 14.5oz and was 19.5in long with blond hair and blue eyes.  We got to know him well until late November the three moved back to Washington state.  The are doing well and Hagen is now discovering his fingers and what TV is.  He laughs and coos at mommy and daddy.  We miss them greatly but get pictures daily and sometimes an occasional video.

As for me this year has been rather exciting.  I continue to homeschool they younger kids and make a home for them and Steve, but my greatest trial came in Sept when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  Strange as it is I am rather happy with the diagnosis because I have been able to really take time for me and focus on areas of my life that really had been neglected for many, many years.  I was able to attend several diabetic related functions and learned a great deal from books about this horrible disease.  I am blessed to say though that I am healthier now than I have been in years. 

Homeschooling, mother and grand-mothering is a hard job in and of itself but I truly wouldn’t change it for the world because my family is my world and God blesses me greatly each day with those roles. 

 So with that I will close and say, may God bless you richly this coming year. 

Much love and Happy Holidays
Gretchen

Ready for spring

I know we have another 6 weeks of winter but I am so ready for warmer weather.  We have plenty of sun but it is stuck below 40* here.  I have plenty of things todo during the day but I really want to be outside.  We had a dusting of snow last night and still have snow in the backyard from before Christmas.  OH wel at least I have a place to call home and food on the table.

A total money makeover

I started reading Dave Ramsey's book "The total money makeover" about 3 weeks ago and am now doing an envelope system along with the debt snowball. I am liking what I am accomplishing and how good it feels to know that we are only a few short payments away from being debt-free besides the mortgage.  I have a budget already worked up for February and feel confident we can stick to it.  Its not like we have a ton of debt but I just want to start saving for the future since we only have a little bit saved.  After the debt snowball we will have more money to put in to our Emergency Fund (EF).  I am working getting our EF up to 6 months worth of expenses so in the event DH gets injured or worse laid off we have enough to cover the basics. 

I am working up a budget for Allie so that when she gets her job and apartment she will know what to do and not get into debt trouble.  She is expected by her father and I to read the Dave Ramsey book too so she can understand the long term goal of life, and that is to retire with dignity and the only way to do that now is to live like no one can so she can live like no one later.

Nathan and Olivia are still very small but they are learning right along with DH and I.  I want them to be good stewards with their money and to be able to share it with those less fortunate.

Well thats about all for now,

God Bless you all in 2008

Back on track

Where did it come from and why can't I get rid of it

In Oct 2002 my husband was on a week long hunting trip.  I was doing well with the kids and then started feeling out of sorts.  I went to the Dr and he ran a battery of tests ranging from premenopause to thyroid disorder.  All came back normal but I was still feeling clamy hands and racing heart. Near the end of the week while I was in my PJ's for 3 days I called the Dr again and let her know that I was still not doing well.  She asked me to go on the back porch and sit in the sun for 15-20 min.  I couldn't even make it out the back door.  My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest, I couldn't catch my breath and I was sweating profusely. 

I was going through a major panic/anxiety attack and she knew I needed something strong to knock it out.  She ordered me som Xanex (.25mg), well that knocked it out but also knocked me out for the next 12 hours.  Since then I have only had to take it once but also since then I have been taking Celexa, which is an anti-depressant/anxiety/panic medication. 

I had tried to take myself off of the Celexa several times with out success until I started taking a thyroid activator and then switched to St. John's Wort.  I take these two suppliments daily along with calcium to calm my RLS (restless leg syndrom). 

During these last 4 years my faith in God has actually grown.  I have prayed that he would release me from this disorder but I don't think it is my time yet.  I sing, pray and read my bible daily to help calm me but there is still something going on inside me that I don't understand.  I so want to be normal again and to not have to take meds or suppliments to control this disorder. 

So where did it come from and why wont it go away?  I don't know but I do know that I have to keep believing that God will fully heal me one day. 

Oh what a Sunny day

I am so happy to report that the sun is shining in SE Wyoming.  I love these kinds of days compared to Seattle at this time of year.  Blue skies and clouds to the south are so beautiful.  Another perfect day for decluttering since it is still so bitter cold here.  We live at 7200 feet and winter will be around until late May.  I do wish for warmer weather so that I can start my square foot gardening plots but that will have to wait another 2 months.  Spring is my favorite time of year with the new growth and the warmer days.

~~~   Gretchen   ~~~

What happens when...

What happens when you wake up with a smile and read the word of God?

Your life is much brighter and you truely can do all thing through Christ.  I have tried long and hard to do things my way but today I woke up and read Prov. 4

Proverbs 4 (NIV)
Wisdom Is Supreme

Another beautiful day

I am so glad that this weekend is over.  I have been busy this morning with bakind homeschooling.  Check out my homesteadblogger page for home stuff.  I am working on getting my home under control and have joined a group on yahoo to do that.  Look at my homesteadblogger post called Joined the Challenge for more details.

2 days down and I am doing great.

I am on day 2 for two things.  I started South Beach yesterday and I also started having DH take the cable modem to work so I don't have that as a distraction during the day.  I did wake up with a head ache today but muddled through and did get several things done.  Dishes and dinner stuff are done and my jello for tomorrow is made.  I am sipping some Honey Vanilla Camomile tea and loving just sitting here.

I have also gotten alot more homeschooling done with the kids we have plugged through 9 science lessons with Nathan since yesterday and Olivia started her Abeka God's World Science book today.  Olivia is working on more letter work sheets and had fun with the counting bears today while Nathan and I did lesson 34 in Saxon Math 2.  He is reading real well and is flying through math like nothing.

I will post my updates each night from now on.

Easy Bake Oven Fun

DD6 got a brand new Easy Bake Oven for her birthday and we had another one from her big sister from about 8 years ago.  We pulled both out today and Nathan and Olivia made a cake and some cookies.  I was able to find some homemade recipes on the net and printed off 29 recipes for future fun.

Up Early

I am up early today and have made breakfast for everyone and all the dishes are done.  This is a very big rarity for me.  I am working towards a more vintage way of life so that my family and home are happy and healthy.  I have neglected this area of my life for a long time due to depression/anxiety/panic.  I believe my prayers have been answered by God, I am taking a suppliment called Thyroid Activator and I think it is starting to work.