I always want to give to those in need. I don't always have the money but the desire is there. So, I am always on the lookout for ways to give that are budget friendly. One that I was told about is iGive at www.igive.com. If your charity of choice is signed up with them, they will receive a percentage of the purchases you make online. They are connected with many major online retailers like Target, etc.. Another one that I just heard about is www.goodsearch.com. It is a search engine powered by Yahoo!. They donate about half of their profits to charity. When you search through their search engine, they will have you enter your chosen charity before you do your search. For every search you do, your charity will receive a donation. Doesn't sound like alot but if you tell alot of people about it plus ALL of the searches you do (and we all do our share!! LOL), it adds up quickly. If 500 people search 4 times a day that gives your charity about $7300 in one year. Not bad and virtually painless to your budget.

We donate our extras to LifeNets at www.lifenets.org. They work internationally as well as state side. If you don't have a specific charity in mind, please consider them. They do wonderful work for MANY people.

I thought I was done blogging but our youngest girl, Janae, just cracks me up!!! We live on almost 8 acres. The kids all love it here. I would have to say it has been our favorite home. Anyway, we have been trying to get the purchase on this place closed so we can build our new (and bigger) home so, we haven't done a whole bunch as far as outside stuff goes for the kids yet...i.e. swingset, tree fort etc... Janae was swinging on a rope swing we had on a big old tree in the front yard. She was being so thoughtful, really trying to put her words together. So, she says to me, "Mom, it would be really nice if I could actually have a real swing set while I am still five." STILL FIVE!!! Because when she turns six, she just won't be able to use a swing set...So I am looking at her with, I am sure, an absolutely incredulous look on my face, when she continues. " And when I grow up and I get to be a mom, my kids will have a swing set before they turn five years old. It will have a nice fort too." I was having such a hard time containing my laughter. She was so cute and very sure of what should be going on....even after nine children, their creative little minds never cease to amaze me. Still five....too funny!!

I was browsing through blogs early this morning...that amazing vortex that just sucks you in for hours if you aren't careful!!! You read one that is so interesting then, you look at their favorite blogs and a title catches your eye and... whoosh....you have been sucked in!!! Such a lovely time though. It's like visiting a neighbor and having a nice visit over tea....refreshing and, usually, a good excuse for not doing what you're SUPPOSED to be doing. Usually.

Anyway, as I was browsing I came across a blog that was raving about my area!!! I know the Portland area is on all of the maps but there is just something neat about reading about it from someone else perspective. I have found out about some of the best shops and restaurants that way. You know when you live in an area it seems you just don't get out to 'experience' it much. That is what my Sweetman and I did for our 18th anniversary this year. We spent the day in Portland walking and shopping. Then we went out to a very nice restaurant, El Gaucho...exquisite. If you're ever in town, it is a bit spendy but a lovely experience. I really enjoyed just spending time together and not having to be anywhere. Through all of our years in marriage and raising our children, that would have to be one of the most important things we have remembered to do...put our marriage first. Not above our relationship with God, of course, and not to the neglect of our children's needs but our children also know that Daddy and I put our marriage first. Next to our spiritual relationship, a strong marriage is an absolute for a firm foundation for a strong family. Putting your marriage first also means putting your husband first. I love doing things for him and seeing the love reflected back to me. It just fills me up with joy. It is also reaffirmed when I see any of our children doing that for him or each other. I know the teaching and example is taking hold in some way. Am I doing something right after all?!?!? It is so nice to see good fruits come from my labor...

Anyway, back on topic...I have found a few new places to visit in and around my hometown...Thank you bloggers!!!!

After 19 years of having beautiful blessings and giving up too many times on getting myself healthy, I have decided to persevere and actually do it. My Sweetman loves to be outside, i.e. hiking, fishing, camping, rock climbing..., and he wants me to go with him. I am not horribly out of shape but enough that it is more taxing on myself than I would like. So....healthy here I come. I also want to be a good example to my daughters of getting myself in better shape to be active and not just skinny. I keep telling myself that it took me 19 years to get here so to be patient with myself which, is very difficult to do.

I have been walking 2 miles every other day except for Monday when I walked about 8 behind our lawn mower mowing our 'field'...not the most fun but at least the yard looks like a yard again. :D I actually enjoy mowing the lawn. It is meditative for me. The blaring mower drowns out all other noise and I can actually think!!!! It is wonderful when that happens.

We have been having the 'debate' again. Are we allowed to control how many children we have or just have however many we are blessed with? Is being a good steward limiting our family to what we can afford or trust(which we do) that God will provide? We trust He will provide for us but, again, how does it fall under being a good steward? I have read all of the applicable books, Nancy Campbell, the Hess'..., but it is still a quandary. We love having our brood and would be happy with more but we also have things we want to do with the children we have and with each other. We started out very young...18...and would like to enjoy our retirement and grandchildren with each other. Sounds so selfish, I know...but I am human!!! Opinions? Advice?  Anyone???

Pray for me.....

Hello all. This is my first blog...EVER. Seems odd to say that when I have been reading blogs for quite a long while. Well, okay, years!!!  So, for my first entry, I thought I would write down what I am hoping for this journal I will be sharing with any who want to read it and introduce myself. 

I hope I can share what little, humble knowledge I have of homeschooling and raising 9 (so far) blessings to the benefit of others the way I have learned so much from the blogs of others.  I am looking forward to getting to know others and sharing the adventures I have with my brood.

I strive to follow the Way set out for me through the Word of God and teach it to our children.

I adore my husband....my Sweetman...Darren. He is my best friend and I can't imagine life without him. He is a wonderful father to our kids and I am so thankful for him. He takes such good care of us. He is an adventurous fella and full of passion and drive. I run to keep up with him.

Our children have been such an adventure. I have loved the task of raising them. Our oldest, Joshua, turned 18 this year and will be graduating this summer from our humble homeschool. It really is so hard to believe that my sweet, little boy is almost done. I miss him being little though I have really enjoyed him so much. I was always a bit intimidated by the "teen years" because of what others have said but, I have found these years with him alot of fun. He is on the path to be a fine man, much like his father.

Now, we are surrounded by teen girls!!! Our daughters are Danielle, who is 16. Kaitlin, who is 14, and Emily is 13. We will soon be adding Olivia to that roster also. She is 11 and can hardly wait for the seemingly magical number of 13.

Then we get back to the boys...one anyway. Jacob is 9 and a very good big brother. He is a real help with the younger ones. He loves to catch snakes and lizards around our place. Last summer he and Olivia caught 23(!!!) in one afternoon. Janae is next at 5 and she adores her big brothers and sisters, most of the time. She is a very amusing child with an amazing imagination. She is such a funny bird. She loves to follow Jacob around on adventures in the 'jungle' (the forest behind our home).

Our last two are more boys...yeah!!!! Nothing against girls, we adore our girls. We are just enjoying having boys again after a gaggle of girls. This is the first time we have had two boys together. Caleb is almost 3 and as busy as that age suggests. He keeps us all very amused so, either he is a very bright boy or we are easily amused....I am going with  the former. My unbiased opinion, of course!! ;) Next is Gideon...he is a very quizzical 6 month old. Always watching and looking so serious at everything. He is a buster at 27 lbs.!!!!! He didn't  stay in the cute, little baby clothes for long. So sad...he is already in 12-18 month sizes. It won't be long and he will be as big as Caleb.

We have homeschooled our brood from the get go minus a 6 month stint in first grade for Joshua. Not a good experience for him or us. We are a bit eclectic in our homeschool though I do lean heavily towards Charlotte Mason and a mix of Classical and Principle approaches. It took me awhile to get it figured out. It dawned on me that I kept choosing books or curriculum with those ideas. So, I became more focused (finally!!!) but still flexible. 

The flexibility really came into play when my mom was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). My siblings and I helped my dad care for her for almost 4 years. So, obviously, we had to be flexible with our schedule. Sadly, my mom passed away two years ago. We all miss her horribly. It was difficult having Gideon after her passing. She always came over and took care of us after a birth. It was very strange without her.

Well, it is very late. I just wanted to intro myself to ya'll and say hello. I hope my blog won't bore anyone too much. Thanks for reading!!!