Posted in Thoughts

Hello all! I'm still alive! It's been a roller coaster at my house for a few months now!! Nothing crazily dramatic-just life! You can all relate, I'm sure!! I want to share something the Lord has done in my life! One of many!!!

I praise Him for the amazing power of His grace in restoring broken relationships!! Here I am 5 yrs later and He didn't forget! He didn't forget the pain and anquish when that friendship was torn from me. He didn't forget the anger and bitterness I struggled to get over. And He didn't forget the feeling of absolute loss and grief I suffered from.

I stand here today completely reconciled to that wonderful friend. We are working at restoring the beauty of that Godly relationship to a better place than it ever was!!!

I want to share a song that ministered to me during my trek in the desert w/this friendship!

(Turn my player off first. It helps!)

May you be blessed as I was!!!

"

Posted in Holidays

My brother sent this to me in June of this year and I have been chompin' at the bit to post this!! I can't wait any longer!!!! : }

Oh, by the way, you'll definitely want to turn my player off!!! IT'S WORTH IT!!! : }

"Oooooh, do you believe in love? " I love that line!!!

It's a very accurate statement on the times we live in!!

So, for me, it'll ALWAYS be MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"

Posted in Schooling Stuff

Hello all my wonderful bloggy friends!! I'm still alive!!! : }

I've been MIA for awhile! We started school a few weeks back and I wanted to get the kids and I in the 'habit' of doing school the right way for us!! (ie - getting up, doing devotions, getting right on school and THEN playing! )

Well, by the time it came to 'playing time', it was time to finish up the housework, do dinner, and then I  was just too tired to 'play'!!

Now that we're in a rhythym I thought I'd catch back up with everyone!!

We have been doing some crazy science experiments; music theory, and my 13 yr old has started writing persuasive papers!! Wow. He's getting pretty good at trying to persuade me! : }

We've also been doing some election stuff in our 50 states co-op. I'm really learning A LOT of stuff. Stuff I never really understood when I was in school!! I just love that about homeschooling!! I get to learn too!! : } 

Well, that's it for the short recap!! I hope to have pics up in a few days!!

As Tigger would say...TTFN!!

Ta Ta For Now!!!

"

Posted in Entertainment

I received this from a friend and I felt I needed to share the 'love' with ALL of my friends!!! he he he

If you need a good laugh, turn the player in my sidebar off and give it a listen...

Ok, are ya done laughing? So, whaddaya think?! he he he

Well, I'm sure at the time we were all ministered to by this. I'm not doubting their hearts or their intent. I just think it's fun to look back and see, in living color, how far we've come!!

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!!

"

Posted in Show and Tell Fridays

TGIF!!!!!!!! And if it's Friday, than this must be Show and Tell!! And if this is Show and Tell Friday, you'll need to please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl to get the details to join us for the fun!

We did it!! We started school this week!! WHAT?! I know. Some of you must be thinking...'Does she KNOW it's almost November?'

Yes, I know what time of the year it is. We school through the summer. It's WAAAAAYYYYY too hot in the summer here to do much outside so we do school. That way we can take time to play outside when it seems everyone else is holed up inside!!! It's a trade-off! : }

Here is what I had waiting for the boys on the first day of school...

They loved it. It seemed to make the day very enjoyable!! Kung Fu Panda even commented that they'd never gotten presents on the first day of school before!!! : }

I gave them their school supplies that we had purchased a few months ago when the stores were having their sales. The supplies have been sitting in one of the baskets I cleaned out earlier this year as part of my Anti-Procrastination project.

They didn't seem to care!! The idea of getting their 'stuff' as a gift was a HUGE hit. I'll probably do this every year!!

Well, this has been a great first week of school!! It only seems fitting to end it with a fun Show and Tell!!

"

Posted in Thoughts

I was recently asked 'How do you love someone who has disappointed you?' I really didn't know how to genuinely answer that. Oh, I could've given the 'good christian' answers. Ya know, like...'Through Jesus.' 'With grace and mercy.' And my personal favorite...'Pray about it and see where the Lord leads you.' I'm not saying these aren't good answers, but sometimes I throw these out there without truly seeking a specific answer. The 'grace and mercy' thing kept resonating with me though.

As the day moved on, a song I recently came across on Michelle's site kept going through my mind...Mercy Seat by Vicki Yoh'e.

If you haven't heard it, I encourage you to listen all the way through. It truly ministers to me EVERY time I listen to it. Thank you Michelle! I hope you know how you have truly ministered to my heart with this song!!

You'll want to turn off the player in my sidebar. Trust me. It'll be worth it!

This is where I'll start! Runnin' to the Mercy Seat!!!

"

Posted in Show and Tell Fridays

What's today? You guessed it...It's Show and Tell Friday with our wonderful host Mary! If you'd like to join or want to visit other wonderful show and tells, please go see her over @ Canadagirl and check it out!!

Well, last Friday, Shani and I decided to take the boys to a  local pumpkin patch/corn maze! There were pumpkins, a bounce house, a corn maze, AND 95 DEGREE HEAT! I don't think that's even right in October!!

We had a great time!!

We started by splitting up to do the cornmaze! Guess who won?! None other that the moms!! WHOO HOO!

Oh, and I must add that her hubby was with us so technically he won too! Even if he IS directionally challenged!! he he he

Next came the 'littles'... don't tell them I said that. They wouldn't like it!

And last, but not least was the big boys...

After drinking MUCH water, IT WAS HOT, the boys decided to do the pedal cars...

I must insert here that Piper is almost 6' tall! It was hysterical watching him! I did get video! he he he

Oh, and he DID lap people!! Must be the long legs!!

Next came Cooper Kid...

...and then Kung Fu Panda...

Yes, that is my son with the BLACK beanie cap on in 95 degree heat!! Oh well!! What can I do?! His dad had just returned from a business trip the day before and that was his present. He HAD to wear it!! : }

And then we have Jigger... I was told he STRONGLY dislikes bikes because he has to pedal.

At one point, each of the other boys were trying to push, pull or 'bumper car' him to the finish line!! It was hysterical to watch!!!

All in all, we had a grand time!! And, it wouldn't be a pumpkin patch visit without this annual picture...

I don't care how old they get. I want that picture!! he he he

Valerie, you will be pleased to know that those around us ALSO had a grand time! (Except for the lady Shani got wet with the water bottle!! he he he)

I just hope it's cooler next year!!!

"

Posted in Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Hello all!!! This is my Anti Procrastination post. If you'd like to be encouraged in getting those pesky little jobs done, please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl and join us! : }

I did it!! Thank you, girls, for the wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement last week. I took 15 minute increments and worked on it!! And a BIG thank you to my wonderful friend mansemamma for that last little push last week. Thank you my sweet friend!! ; }

Here are the boys' desks BEFORE...

Cooper Kids. He must get that from his dad! : }

Kung Fu Panda's. I can hear it...'That's not messy.' Oh, but it is. He's just hiding it. You can't see it, that's all. He must get that from me. he he he

Cooper's AFTER...You can actually see the bottom of the desk! Whoo Hoo!!

See? I told you. This is Panda's AFTER!

I even spent time doing the first weeks lesson plans...

Kinda blurry, but it's there. I still need to order English for Cooper Kid and Writing Strands for Kung Fu Panda.

Do you even know how good this feels?! Whew. I'm in the last leg. Hmm, I wonder what I'll tackle next! : }

"

Posted in Tightwad Tuesday

Happy Tightwad Tuesday everyone!! If you'd like to join us in sharing a tightwaddy tip, please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl and join us!!

Ok. It's been a few weeks since I've had a tightwad tip so I'm excited about this one. I'm excited because I just stumbled upon it when I was making dinner last week!! How cool is that?!

I wanted to make Crockpot Italian Chicken for dinner, but I didn't have any Italian dressing. Well, I pulled out my trusty Pampered Chef Dressing Maker and...VOILA... recipe for Italian Dressing.

Here goes...

1/2 c white wine or balsamic vinegar (I didn't have either of these so I used what I had...apple cider vinegar. It was great!!)

1 c vegetable or olive oil  (I only use olive oil)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 pressed garlic cloves

1 Tbsp sugar

I put these together in this order in my 'mixer'...

Mixed it together and voila...

I have my own homemade Italian dressing!!! : }

It doesn't get much better than that!!! Oh, and dinner turned out fabulous! We had leftovers the next day and finished it off. ALL, let me stress ALL of us loved it!!

Enjoy!!

"

Posted in Show and Tell Fridays

Hello all!!! Welcome. Today is Show and Tell Friday!! If you'd like to participate or see what others are showing and telling today, please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl and check it out!!

Today I'm sure you'll utter the words..."She's a dork." That's ok. Today, I AM a dork!! I'm showing my new refrigerator. Well, it's not BRAND new, but it's new to me.

We have the most wonderful christian landlords. They purchased a new refrigerator and immediately thought of us when wondering what to do with the 'old' one! YEAH!!

Yes, that's the new one, complete w/my 'junk' already on it! he he he

See, I have the most wonderful hubby in the world. Not only did he go get it from them so they wouldn't have to pay a mover, he moved the old fridge out, reloaded the new one AND 'redecorated' for me!!

It's a side by side!! I LOVE THAT!!! (Whoa, you can certainly tell A LOT about a person when you peek into their fridge! ~hmm, maybe I shouldn't have shown this one. he he he  : }  )

It comes complete with an ice and water dispenser! WHOO HOO!! I've never had one of those before!! I'm totally loving it!!! (The kids are too!! )

Well, that's my show for today. Thanks for stoppin' by!!

"

Posted in Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Hello all! Welcome to Anti-Procrastination Wednesday!!! If you'd like to join us in encouraging each other to get those 'yucky, hanging over your head, I'll get to it later jobs', please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl!

I got nothin' this week!

I could tell you it's been a week full of science and 50 states co-op stuff. I could tell you my hubby is in Tn for 4 days and I didn't want to spend time cleaning. I could also tell you I had my first week of MIT prayer. But these are just excuses!!! I certainly have the time for the important things. You know, like blogging, chatting with my bloggy friends, or going to a Talk-A-Latte conference and chatting with my new bloggy friends there! Hi Valerie!! he he he

I'm ALMOST done!!! Gift bags and cleaning out their desks. Simple right?! HA HA HA HA

If it's so easy, why can't I just get to it? (insert HUGE sigh here! )

Oh well. Next week!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

"

Posted in Entertainment

Psst, you might want to turn my player in the sidebar off first!! I wouldn't want you to  miss the great music I've posted for you to hear! he he he

Ok, for those who missed today's chat on Talk-A-latte, this is what is now stuck in my head.

Thank you so very little, Valerie!! he he he

Hey, there's French in there. Hmmm, brain is churning with an idea... could this be a 'language' lesson?! HA HA HA! I crack myself up!!

Then there is the OTHER one stuck in my head...

Thank you Chasity! : }

Yes, I was hearing Alvin and the chipmunks singing this. (Probably because we own the newest movie!! :]  ) I didn't even remember what the name of the original group was until I looked it up!! This is a much better version!!

Ahhh, I feel much better now that I've shared the love with everyone else!! I'll sleep much better tonight! he he he

Enjoy!!

P.S. No, this isn't the only thing I caught from the seminar!! I did actually take quite a few notes!!

"

Posted in Misc.

Well, my wonderful friend, Michelle, tagged me and according to the rules I have to list 6 things about me. Here goes...

 The Rules: Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post. Let each person know he or she has been tagged. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1) I love living in the desert! Yes, even when the heat seems to drag on and on and on! : } We've been here since '05 when the Lord moved us here so I'm NOT going to complain!! : }

2) I have a twin brother. No, we're NOT identical! You would be shocked at the number of ADULTS that ask me that question! :}

3)I'm the fifth oldest of 30 FIRST cousins! No, none of them were adopted! : }

4)I don't mind lizards, but I hate mice!!! YUCK!! (nasty things : {  )

5)I really don't like watching baseball on T.V. but I LOVE playing it! (I think it's because I want to be out there doing it!! : } )

6)I just became a MIT prayer group leader for my co-op.

Whew! That's done. Do you even know how hard that was?! Now I'm going to tag Jenny, Pam, Tina, Suzanne, Jennifer, and Cerese!

Please go visit these wonderful ladies who have always blessed me when I stop by!

Enjoy!

"

Posted in Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Hello everyone!!! I'm glad you stopped by today!! If you'd like to hop on board for some encouragement in doing those yucky jobs, stop by our host Mary's blog, Canadagirl, and join us!!

I DID IT!! I'm ONE, yes ONE, step away from being completely ready for new books and the new school year!!!

We usually school through the summer and take October off to rest, play, and plan. Well, this year was different in that our co-op started before we were even done with the '07-'08 school year. Where did my break go?  Oh well, that's the adventures of home schooling!!!

My project was to clean up my desk area, the bookshelf and the boys' desks.  Here is what I did this week...

I completely reorganized my desk area. I took out computer games, cd's, unused books and unused paper. I love all the space it's now giving me!!!

Here's the other area I worked on this week...

I'm so excited!!!!! I have empty bookshelf space!!! (Knowing me, it won't last long! : }  ) I was able to pull out an entire tote full of books we are no longer using!!! (Hmmmm, I think I hear another AP project comin' on!)

This only leaves me that last step... THE DESKS!!! My wonderful and amazing hubby suggested the boys do their own desks!!! Hey, that's an absolutely SPLENDIFEROUS (like that word, Shani? : } ) idea!! That's what I think I'll do!!! Hey, does that mean I'm done?! he he he Just kidding!!!

My last step is the 'start of school gift bags' and the new books all ready to go!!! I hope to get those ordered this weekend!!! WHOO HOO!!

Thanks for stoppin' by. Until next time...

"

Posted in Show and Tell Fridays

Hello everyone!!! Welcome to another installment of Show and Tell. If you'd like to see what everyone is showing in 'class' today or you'd like to join in, please go see our wonderful host Mary over @ Canadagirl and join us!!!

Last Friday I took time 'off' from bloggland to 'play' with my hubby. It was his 40th birthday and the boys and I planned a surprise party for him!!! Let me tell ya, that was NOOOOO easy task. Just ask Shani ~ She heard my woes practically all week. Love you, my friend!! : }

My hubby is one who wants to be surprised, but has the penchant to dig into things ~ ask questions, make his OWN plans and tell me later, and become suspicious if I deter from what he calls my 'normal behavior' even a microscopic amount!!  Do you KNOW how hard it is to surprise a person like that?! NOT EASY!!!!

Well, let me tell ya.... First, he came home early from work EVERYDAY last week. What?! Ugh!!!!!

Then he decided to plan his own 'get together' with some of our friends. Yep, you guessed it, he started calling some of them to come over for 'fellowship' time on Friday. I had some of our friends come in from Kingman (yes, it was all part of my master plan! : } ) and Ned thought it would be great to have others come while they were here. Of course I'm trying to play damage control and contact people before he does, but low and behold he had beaten me to it. Hmmm, I wonder if he started calling BEFORE he said something to me. Hmmmm. Thankfully people were onto him and told him they had plans and couldn't make it! he he he!!

Then, on the day of the party I planned to get him out of the house by having all of us go to an advanced kicking seminar that our karate family was putting on. It worked allright, but on the way there our friends' vehicle broke down. Just up and stopped. Guess what I did? Laughed. HA HA HA HA HA HA What else was I going to do. If I didn't laugh I would've screamed!!! (or maybe hurt someone!! : } )

Needless to say, it was an adventure. We did go to the class, and we did go to dinner because that was the plan. Any deterring from that would've aroused suspicion! An hour past the scheduled time we arrived home to find my wonderful friends and family had decorated and were in the driveway singing a great rendition of Happy Birthday!! He was absolutely shocked!!!

Here are some of the pics of how great the house looked and the great gifts (insert sarcasm here : }  ) he received!!

We had a great time!!! He actually did get some great gifts!! We'll be eating out for quite awhile!! WHOO  HOOO!!!

He told me how absolutely shocked and surprised he was!! He had NO CLUE!!!! WHHOOOO HHHOOO I DID IT!!! Whew!!! Now I'm free until the 80th!!! he he he

"

Posted in Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Hello and welcome to Anti Procrastination Wednesday!! If you'd like to join me and others in encouraging each other to get those pesky little projects we keep putting off done, please go see our wonderful host Mary over @ Canadagirl!!!

Has it been a week already? (here you insert a visual picture of me hanging my head, hands behind my back and scuffing my foot in the dirt) I didn't get ANYTHING done this week. : {

I must ask, in all humbleness, for an extension. Not only do I feel I will not get it all done by next week, but we are financially unable to get all the things we need ordered at once. We are going to piece meal it out over the next few weeks. Hopefully by mid-October we will be up and fully homeschooling!

I have a pretty extensive list of things set up for the '08-09 school year so piece-mealing it out works for me. We'll start the subject as soon as the book comes in. We, technically, have already started school this year. We are doing a 50 states and Apologia science class with our co-op which started Sept. 15th.

I appreciate all of you who are encouraging me along the way. Some days that's what helps me get these 'projects' done!! : }

I'll have great progress to report next week!!!

Until then....

"

Posted in Thoughts

I must tell you that I was humbled and honored to come back from my little 'bloggy vacation' to find that I had received this wonderful award from two absolutely wonderful friends ~ solidrock and Michelle122161. Wow!

 What I've learned is now I'm supposed to pass this on to three others.

There were many I could've chosen, but these three were the ones that were laid on my heart when I prayed about which ones to choose. 

patrizia ~ She is a Godly mom doing her best to raise her daughters to be Godly Proverbs 31 women and I commend her for that!!! She is ALWAYS forthright about her faith, yet transparently honest about her faithwalk!!! Gotta love that!! : }

diamondsintherough ~ Sally has been absolutely wonderful to this less that skilled html person and I love her for that!! Thanks Sally! :} I love 'visiting' for she is always encouraging and I can usually  get a great laugh when I go over there!! (I need laughs often!) I love how she is sold out to her husband and his call ~ so much so she moved to the desert. Not her most favorite place!! : }

mansemamma ~ I love how honest she is with the ups and downs of her faith walk!! This is the kind of person I want to surround myself with!! She always encourages me and I seemingly always get 'visits' when I need them most!! Thank you for that my friend!!

Like I said before, there are MANY who encourage me and I'm blessed by them ALL!

If you'd like to give the award to someone, feel free to pass it along and bless someone else the way I've been blessed!!!

"

Posted in Holidays

Hello everyone!!! I just wanted everyone to know I'll be 'offline' until next week!! Today is my hubby's 40th birthday!!! We have friends coming in and I need to get ready...(you know...finish cleaning, doing laundry, etc. )... without interruptions!!! (I like playing in bloggyland and I don't usually stay on task like I should! ~ insert sheepish grin here!!) 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Enjoy!!

In His Grip!!

"

Posted in Anti Procrastination Tuesday

Welcome to another Anti Procrastination Tuesday!!! Thanks for stopping by! I hope it encourages you!!! If you'd like to join me and others in our quest to encourage each other in getting to those nasty little projects that we continually put off, please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl for all the details!!

Well, I have my friend solidrock for helping me get some of my project done this week! Thank you!

She made a suggestion last week to work on it in 10 minute increments. That way it wouldn't be overwhelming. Well...I not only did it for my project, but for other wonderful housekeeping 'projects' as well.

Here is the end result...

Not only was I able to clean out the cart, but I sorted through the baskets on either side of the TV and gave it a new home.

After getting out...

 that's two, count them, TWO bags of garbage...JUST FROM THE CART!! WHEW!!! (Boy, am I glad that parts done!!) I now have this little treasure...

... six empty drawers!! WHOOO HOOOO!! I can be excited today. Hard tellin' what I'll find to fill 'em up with!!

It's one step closer to the goal!! YEAH!!!

"

Posted in Tightwad Tuesday

It's Tightwad Tuesday and I have a tip. If you'd like to give a tip or check out other great tips, please go see Mary over @ Canadagirl and join in!!!

My tip this week is for free curriculum. WHOO HOO!! Who doesn't like free?!!  Yes, it's free. You just need a computer!!!

We are doing the 50 states this year with our co-op. When discussing what curriculum we wanted to use, one of the mom's remembered she had attempted to do  '50 states' with her son last year. She found the site Our 50 Great States  which, after signing up to receive their e-mails, will send you two states every week. The e-mail comes complete with links for printables, fun things to create in the kitchen from that state and a printable quiz!!!  We did the first lesson in class last week and there was so much info I didn't have time to share it all.  And the best part... It's all free!!!

I know this may not help some of my readers who are not from the US, but I did a quick search @ About.com and found some things for our Northern neighbors, Canada!! Give it a try. What've ya got to lose?

Enjoy!!

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