Hulett's Place

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 Monday

Today is really a turning point for me.  I have made the commitment to blog here daily.  Why the change? Well, after yesterdays post it got me to thinking more and more about the print I want to leave behind in this world.  NO, I am not dieing I am just thinking long term.  I want to have a positive impact on my world right now, so with that, here goes.

Life today is full of  "happenings", life is really to short to have them all cause distention in your life.  Bring your self and family home and focus on reconnecting with each one of them.  Mainly yourself.  Your family will function much smoother if you take care of yourself first.  The old addage of "take care of numero uno" is the key here.  Numero Uno is very important, if mom or dad aint happy aint nobody happy. 

Take care of you today and the rest will follow.

G~~~

Resolutions, Goals or Longings

The past years have been ok but I have to really be more realistic when I make my new years goals.  I want to blog more but how do I do that???  I know I need to make it a priority in my day but when do I blog?  I will be working hard on this wonderful outlet.  I have lots of thoughts floating around in my noggin that need to get out and into the world.  I know I can make an impact on someone elses life as others have impacted me.  I want to give back.

Life happens I know, but I want it to happen for the good and no just 'happen'.  Having a purpose in life is so rewarding.  I know that my purpose in my home is to make my home an oasis for my family and to homeschool my children but I want to also make myself more useful than just that.  I want to rise above this year and make a bigger difference.  I want to leave my mark so to speak.

I have been in a local goal making group for 3 months now and that has really helped in making my goals a reality so I now need to impliment this into that and move forward. 

Goals for 2009
Maintain my goal makers status
Work hard on each months goals and rise above what I have listed as goals
Move forward on yoga and other health enhancing goals
Move forward on local Friday morning bible study plans (Nancy Campbell studies)
Have more structure in our homeschool day
Invite core motivators for lunch weekly.

More goals will be added as I think of them.  I know its alot but I want all areas of my life to be affected positively.

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

2008 a year started with fun

We have been having some fun the last few days.  We have been making more lap books.  Olivia and I have worked on a few books so far.

My house
-at- Family Book
God's Creation

Nathan is working on a more extensive book about knights he is almost finished. 

So many exciting changes going on

better night

I was able to sleep all night last night but I am still having dizziness and a very mild headache.  I was able to get over to the Dr's office yesterday and fill out papers for file transfers from other Dr over the last 5 years.  I also took the kids to the Farmers market down town.  I came home and crashed.  I was wiped out. Not much of a supper last night just salad and other veggies.  I have totally come to terms with my brain tumor (meningioma)  and handed it over to God.  I don't know what he has planned for this but I will trust him on everything.

Gretchen

A blip in my life

Yesterday I sent myself to the ER after a week long, of what I thought was trouble with the heat here in SE Wyoming and dizziness and a migraine. They took some tests and then a cat scan and I have a meningioma on the front part of my scull between the lining of the brain and the scull.  The Dr said it is non cancerous but with my panic/anxiety I have had numerous attacks since 7:30pm last night. I have called the Dr this morning and have scheduled my MRI Monday at 3pm Mountain time and then go from there.

His approval

I have been working on my husband for 3 years now to have him totally involved in our HSing journey.  I took the advice of a dear friend of mine, Terrell, and I believe it has worked.  My DH hasn't really wanted this journey from the get-go but I have pressed on and just did what I feel God is wanting me to do. 

I have filled out our tentitive plan for the next year and presented it to DH for his input on if it looks good or if it needs more or less.  He finally asked tons of questions about it and I was able to finally tell him without stammering for an answer what it was and what I intended to do.  I felt him losen up alot during the questions and I feel he is fully on board now with this journey.  I explained that the books for next year are living books (not dumbed down ones) and he loved the idea of the kids learning about Sheakspears plays and his other writings. 

What a wonderful feeling this is.  I know know if will be less awkward next year.

God bless,
Gretchen

Nathan and Baseball

Nathan had his first baseball game last night so here are is a pic.  They had fun even though they didn't win 15-12.

07-08 schedule

I have been working on our 07-08 schedule by using the Tanlglewood Core book ($5) www.Tanglewoodeducation.com

I have gone throught the Mater Amabilis (www.materamabilis.org) level 2 curriculum and put in what they suggest and how many times per week.  It is only tentitive but I htink it will work just fine for our next years work.

I still have 10 more books to get but that will be worked out during the next few weeks.

God bless,
Gretchen

Thinking

Quite often I sit and think about my life and what I am here for.  I sometime wish I was somewhere else in this world that is warmer, a bigger house, more 'stuff' but then I step back and look at what I have and I am so happy to be right were I am. 

I have...

A husband who loves me just the way I am
3 children who look up to me and love me for the mother I have become over the last 17.5 years
I have a house, although very small, is just right for us.
Warm weather isn't to hot and cold weather isn't to cold
Food on the table
And all the modern conveniences (cable TV, Computer) anyone could use in a lifetime.

What more could I want?  Nothing really, I love my life and want to share it with my friends and family.

Books for 07-08

• Bible
  The First Christians
  National Catholic Registry Guide to the Rosary
  57 Stories of Saints
  Faith and Life
  Stories of child jesus from Many Lands
  My Path to Heaven
  Saint Jude
  
• English
  The Harp and Laurel Wreath
  Intermediate Language Lessons (Emma Serl)
  Primary Language Lessons (Serel)
  ETC 1-3
  ETC 5-8
  
  
• Literature
  The children's Homer
  The Aeneid for Boys and Girls
  
• History
  Our Island
  Famous Men of Greece
  
• Geography and Earth Studies
  Paddle to the Sea
  Seabird
  Where the flame tree bloom
  The Cay
  Secret of the Andes
  
  
  
• Science
  Science in Ancient Greece
  Archimedes and the Door of Science
  The librarian who measured the earth
  Simple Machines: Starting with Science
  
• Math
  MUS Alpha
  MUS Gamma

We will get all our read alouds from the library. They are...

Pollyanna
Where the Red Fern Grows
The midnight folk
Treasure Island

God Bless,
Gretchen