Nov. 15, 2008
Thanksgiving..... 2008
What are your plans this Thanksgiving? Please share any ideas, traditions, special things that you do or will do. I love hearing and sharing with you.
I think I have realized with Thanksgiving & Christmas that I like the weeks leading up to the day as good or maybe better than the DAY of the holiday. I know that may sound weird but I plan special things and we space them out, we read our Advent stuff & decorate our tree.... we Christmas carol, read and watch Christmas specials. We tell what we are thankful for, read our Thanksgiving books, bake....
A friend shared that each Thanksgiving they take a sheet and use it as a table cloth. Each family member colors, writes and they trace their handprints. I really like this idea. Thanks, Janne!
We will read our "thanks" out of our "Thankful Box" on Thanksgiving day. We will be home Thanksgiving day this year. In years past we all went to my parents and had Thanksgiving with them and my sister. Then they came here for Christmas. It is hard to believe they (mom & dad) are both gone. This will be the first Christmas without my Mom. Our second Christmas without my Dad. I hope my sister comes up for Christmas (she is alone, no children and a widow). Life moves on.... with some tears, memories & more cherished moments with family.
Wesley & Papa (my dad) Christmas 2005
Make memories~
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Nov. 10, 2008
I am still here.....
yes.... here.
Lots going on....
We celebrated 28 yrs of marriage this past weekend. Our oldest will celebrate his 1st year of marriage tomorrow. I can not believe it was a year ago..... time moves on.
A dear friend of ours, Sandi ... went to be with Jesus this past week. A week ago tomorrow. My heart hurts. She impacted so many people. She glorified God in all she did.... her life, her illness, even in her death. I miss her. I am praying for her husband, daughter & son. Her son is my Dakota's age... they are friends. Sandi was 44. You can go here if you want to read about her testimony
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27586494235
Sandi..... 
I appreciate you stopping by..... your comments.... the holidays are coming. I will post soon and share some activities and ideas we will be doing.
Thank you.... and if you think of it could you pray for the Sears family. Did I say ... my heart hurts?
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Oct. 26, 2008
Yankee Candles, marshmellows, walks.... Fall....
My Wyatt became sick yesterday at our church's *small* Fall Festival. So this morning the little boys and I are home. The older children went to church. They went to eat at the mexican restraunt after church with Mike & Amber and Rick & Christie (our youth pastor & his wife). I know they enjoyed themselves.
The smell of yankee candles make my home smell wonderful. I love YANKEE candles. I have harvest, fall festival, buttercream & pumpkin pie tarts burning. It is cozy and nice.
This past week we went camping. We do this twice a year with other home schooling families. This time it was four other families and us. The weather was cold... each night it went down to around 45 degrees. Each day it was up to high 60's. We had a fire each night... roasted marshmellows and just talked and shared. The children played "Capture the Flag" and "Sardines" each night. During the day they played volleyball, went on long bike rides, walked the trail and just enjoyed all being together. Another great treat was a friend of one of the families came each night and would play the keyboard (yes one family brought one!). We would all sing. Some old time hymns and some praise & worship. Really a great time, I know our children will always remember our camping memories.
The last morning camping I decided to walk alone (each morning the ladies and I would walk together). I wanted to walk the trail (that we had walked the day before). It was around 8:30am and I could hear the birds, squirrels and leaves blowing.... there was a breeze and it was cool. The sunlight broke through the trees.... awesome time to just spend some time with the Lord. On the way back I sat on some benches and read some, talked to the Lord and just enjoyed the quiet for a few minutes. I am reading the book "Feminine Appeal" (Seven Virtues of a Godly wife and mother) by Carolyn Mahaney. It is a wonderful book. Here is a little of what I am reading...
"What is the ultimate purpose of a phileo kind of love? It is nothing less than the salvation of our children's souls. This is the chief end of mothering. Our goal is not that our children be happy, fulfilled and successful. Granted, we may desire these things for them. But our highest objective should bt that our children would repent from their sins, put their trust in Jesus Christ, and reflect the gospel to the world around them. "
This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all you do for your children. In every step you take about them, in every plan, and scheme, and arrangement that concerns them, do not leave out that mighty question, " ' How will this affect their souls?' " ~J. C Ryle
"I am convinced that no one has more potential to influence our children to receive and reflect the gospel than we do as mothers. What greater privilege could we possibly have in all the world than to lead our children to the Lord? Let us not for one moment underestimate the power of a tender love."
I am thankful for the *gift* of being a mother .... the *gift* that God has given me to teach my children... to sit with them and talk with them.....
May you too, embrace and enjoy this time for too soon it will be a memory~
our new mini~ Indy born 7/8/08 
Indy & his mom BB ~ 
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Home schooling mom of 18 yrs~ with 6 children and a daughter in law. Sharing our challenges and victories. Home schooling has become our lifestyle. We are more relaxed, fun, unschooling, unit study, less text-y then we use to be!