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Blessings! ~ Nikki
It has been a while since I posted. I would like to say thanks to all who were praying for my requests.There has been a lot of improvement for all. We enjoyed our camping trip. We had almost 40 ... count 'em ... 40 black bear sightings. One Momma bear had four cubs with her which is unusual for our area. Of course this year we are having an increased black bear population. I have lived here all my life and have only seen about 10 to 12 black bear in Cades Cove , so seeing this many this year was very exciting. So if you want to see black bear and you are near the GSMNP then you should check out Cades Cove.
Tonight we had a tornado warning issued for our area. We were watching some rotating clouds over our house . It was such a weird sight. The storms passed us over though and for that I am thankful. The garden is growing and I have been harvesting some cucumbers and grape tomatoes. Pickle time!! I will be posting about my garden and canning exploits on my Homestead blog. There is a link on my right side bar. Its called "Dreamin' of the Farm"
I have a family of bluebirds hanging around my yard but can't find where they have nested. Not that I am complaining. I love bluebirds. We have a lot of young wildlife in our yard this year. We have several baby rabbits and squirrels.
I am trying to get some school plans going but for some reason I just can't seem to concentrate on them. We found some great deals at the annual library book sale this year. I purchased the Hooked on Phonics program for $ 1 . Yep ! $1. The only thing wrong with it is that tape number 6 is missing but I hope that I can find a copy somewhere. I'm going to have my youngest use it for review this summer as she still has some reading struggles. My youngest son struggled with reading too and he hated to even try to read. PTL though now he loves to read. It just took some time for him to find his rhythm. So if you have a child who struggles with reading, don't give up hope. It will come. Sometimes it just takes time. Well I am going to post on my Homestead blog. I hope to be back on schedule with my regular posts. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Here is a photo I took on landscape setting of a storm coming in over the Cove.
Please pray for my cousin Stephi's Daddy, Tommy. He is in the hospital and not looking too good right now. Also pray for our Deacon Randy. He is in the hospital with heart trouble also. Thanks ~ Blessings~ Nikki
Good morning all! Sorry there was no post for Monday's Website of the Week. We have been super busy around here. We spent last week enjoying all the free stuff in our area. It was very nice! We played mini golf, went to the aquarium and some other neat stuff too. School is finished for us for the year. I just have to get grades turned in and stuff filed away. Tman officially becomes a high schooler this year so congrats Tman! We will be having a little celebration for him when we return from vacation. My BIL and his family hired Toodles to pet sit for them while they are on vacation this week. They have invited our whole family to come and enjoy a little mini vacation at their house and go swimming. We look forward to this relaxing time together (thanks BIL and SIL). When we return from Georgia we will be home for a few days. Just long enough really to prepare for our annual family camping trip with my parents. I enjoy this so much! We never went camping as a family when I was young. I started camping in my teen years . So this is nice to get away with my parents, hopefully my Brotherman can come this year too. My parents share their campsite with us so no out of pocket expense for us. So God has really blessed us during Toodle's layoff. We were worried we wouldn't be able to "get away" this year. The lightning bugs will be synchronizing next week in the Cove . It is something to see! We watched it for the first time last year and it took my breath away. If you live near the Smokies you should head to Cades Cove Friday and Saturday of next week to catch the show.
Toodles is still among the ranks of the unemployed. We never thought it would be this long . But God has a plan and knows what He is doing so we will wait. Even though things are kinda tight and we will have to do some rearranging in some areas, I know we will be ok. Of course now I feel really bad about complaining last year that Toodles was working too much and that we never got to see him. This time together as a family has been awesome though. We needed it. So thank you Lord!
Pray for us as we will be doing some traveling.Take care and have a great time over the next couple of weeks. I will try to post while I am at my BIL house so that I can do Blog of the Week. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. I never did get those Spring pictures posted on my picture blog and here it is almost summer. But I will get to it! Goofing off in the flash room at Ripley's BION. Mini golfing... one of our fave pastimes. Family portrait in the mirror maze. That was cool. Hanging out in the Lethal Weapons exhibit at the Ripley's aquarium.
Leopard shark
Crown of thorns starfish The jellies!
The octopus. Sorry about the flash. I had to turn it on. You couldn't see him without it.
I had to rescue this little fella. He was learning to fly at the same time a baby cardinal was learning. He ended up in the wrong side of the yard and a fight ensued between the parents of both birds and both babies were being attacked. So I moved him to the back yard where his sibling was waiting. Everything calmed down then and both babies were fine. The sibling.
The baby cardinal.
My parent's blubirds. They have been tenants for several years.
The babies!!
I almost forgot to post about this.
All Ripleys attractions in Sevier County are free til Thursday for those who live in or work in Sevier County. Just have id or check stub and a can of food for each person. All proceeds benefit Sevier County Food Ministry.
This includes:
Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripleys House of Mirrors
Old MacDonalds Mini Golf
Davey Crokett Mini Golf
Ripleys Believe It Or Not
This weeks website is full of great things to print. It is especially wonderful for someone with kids who are learning to read. Check it out and let me know what you think (that is a pitiful beg for a comment) Carl's Corner
Also in more news. I went back to the doctor today because I had no relief for my ear and I still can't hear well from it. She gave me another round of antibiotics (stronger) and some steroids which are supposed to help the fluid drain off (yeah). If there are no changes by Thursday then its off to see a specialist. So keep praying about that if you don't mind and keep my Momma, Daddy and my Brother in your prayers PLEASE!
Blessings ~ Nikki
OK nature lovers, this week's blog is for you. My friend Shirley at My Thr33 Sons made an amazing discovery with her boys the other day. They found a Mourning Cloak caterpillar. They put in in a jar and yesterday they made a great video of it making its chrysalis. You have to check it out ! It is awesome! Blessing! ~ Nikki
Our newer computer is working again! Praise The Lord! I prayed and prayed and felt led to try it again and it has been doing great. I wanted to give that praise report and to share a post with you that I added to my Homesteader blog. There are some pics of our garden in there and even our resident nuthatch. Stop by and say hello. Still no progress with my ear. If anything it seems worse so of course that means I will be going back to the Dr. to find out what is going on. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks and God Bless! ~ Nikki
POST: My Garden Blog
Hey everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day . Today I would like to remind you that Currclick is still offering some great Mother's Day freebies. You can get to the site through the button on my right sidebar. Today's website is Activity Village
They have everything from coloring pages to printable maps. Be sure to check it out ! ~ Blessings! ~ Nikki
While I am able to get online I thought I would add several blogs and websites for every one to check out since I haven't posted any lately (sorry :) ) Be sure to check these out and let me know if you like them . (Seriously, is anyone reading my poor neglected blog lately?)
Websites
OK , it is Spring and of course that means Spring thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes. Check out these websites if you want to learn about tornadoes. Dan's Wild Weather Page
5 Minutes For Mom is having some great Mother's Day giveaways and can you believe it ... they are giving away a Toshiba laptop! I so hope i win this! Our newer computer went down last week and we are having to use our old (clearly unstable) one which may let you online and then again may not (not much posting because of this ). It would be so awesome to have a new laptop. I can't keep the other computer on long enough to get my files and stuff off of it and we can't afford to have Vista reloaded ( the computer tech guy said we now have a windows software corruption) *sigh*. Anyway you have to check out this and all the other great giveaways they are having. You will find the link at the top of my blog. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday we helped my parents with their roof. I was way too tired when we got home to blog. Monday night when we got home home I bent over to pick up something and I busted my eardrum.I have had a lot of fluid in my ears and vertigo for several years. Don't know why . I have never had a problem with my eardrum before but I do have a cold now so that may have something to do with it. Anyway I couldn't sleep Monday night because of the severe pain and nausea I was having. Yesterday I felt ok , I just can't hear well out of my left ear (barrel hearing if you know what I mean) but today I have had dizziness every time I stand, look up or close my eyes for a long time. I have had some ringing in the ear too. I didn't feel like making it to church tonight so Toodles took the kids. School is moving along. We are eager to finish our units and math. The weather has been so lovely here that we all want to be outside. As soon as I get new batteries I will post some pictures from our road trip we took earlier this month. My veggie garden is in and growing well. My flowers are blooming and they are lovely. I can't wait to post some pictures. Toodles still hasn't been called back to work but God has never ceased to provide. It is nice having Toodles home so much. Well I'm off to go read some more great posts. If you can remember, pray for me. I read that it could take several weeks for my ear to heal. Thanks and Blessings! ~ Nikki
Ok , I know today is not Monday but I was Spring cleaning yesterday and forgot to post the Website of the Week. So here it is ~ Coloring Book Fun. They have all kinds of great coloring pages. The have the alphabet, numbers plus hard to find stuff like furniture. Enjoy! ~ Blessings! ~ Nikki
Today is a two for one special! I was left a lovely comment by Jennifer at For Such A Time As This. You have to read her post for this week's BFS assignment. It's wonderful! While on her blog I found a link to this blog At The Well . It looks like there is some great stuff on there so I thought you might want to check it out. Blessings! ~ Nikki
P.S. Let me know if you like this week's blogs!
Memory Verse
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
(Genesis 2:20-23 KJV)
Introduction: Does She or Doesn’t She (Clairol Shampoo)The world sees Christianity as a male dominant religion. It’s seen as a religion dominated by men, for men. But we know that God loves women - God created woman, and has used women to bring about His plan for the world.
Assignment: Tell the world about your favourite woman in the Bible. Who is she? How did the world judge her? How does God see her? How did God use her? How has this woman affected your life? How does she inspire you to walk out your relationship with God?
I have to say my favorite woman in the Bible is the Woman with the issue of blood. Her faith astounds me sometimes. She was so sure that if she could just touch the hem of His garment (Tzit-tzit - fringe of His Tallit) she would be healed. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;(Malachi 4:2 KJV) I find that we are all like her in one way. She spent all she had to try and be healed and we try to do everything we can first before we ever give God the chance to fix it. The Scripture tells her story much better than I can .
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(Matthew 9:20-22 KJV)
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
(Luke 8:43-48 KJV)
I love the depiction of this woman in this painting by Simon Dewey.
We had some typical Tennessee weather today. After normal Spring like temps today turned cold with snow showers with some areas getting an inch or more. Spring is supposed to return tomorrow though. After school today we watched the snow fall and did some housework. We had drama practice tonight. I am supposed to do my post for BFS today but I have some more thinking to do over this week's assignment.So basically what I am trying to say is that I do not feel very productive today. It seems like we did a lot but accomplished very little. Ever had a day like that? Blessings! ~ Nikki
I found this week's site while searching for places to upload my videos of our crab. You can only upload a max video size of 100mb (that is why I had to post my longer video at youtube) but it seems like an excellent source for homeschoolers. Be sure to check it out and have a great week. Blessings! ~ Nikki
The first is about 10 minutes long. It is a video of our hermit crab cleaning out a new shell. I added music to it because while I was filming my phone started ringing and I'm sure you don't want to listen to the ringing phone:) Turn the volume down if you don't want to hear the music. The crab is the interesting thing anyway :)
The second video is of the crab changing shells . It is much shorter. Enjoy! Let me know if you like them. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Can you believe it is April already? Our Spring has sprung indeed as we prepare for our Spring showers and storms. We were due for some storms last night but thankfully we just had "April showers". Today's blog is just beautiful plus there are some yummy sounding recipes on there. Be sure to stop by and say hello. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Goofing off in the flash room at Ripley's BION.
Mini golfing... one of our fave pastimes.
Family portrait in the mirror maze. That was cool.
Hanging out in the Lethal Weapons exhibit at the Ripley's aquarium.
The jellies!
The sibling.
