We just watched the movie "Gifted Hands" last night and thought it was really good. It's a very touching and inspiring story about neurosurgeon Ben Carson. It will be airing on TNT in Feb. for those that have cable and don't mind waiting. But for the rest of us, it's available now on DVD from your library, local video store, or Redbox (this is where we got it - but you'll want to check online first for which one in your area will have it, because it was checked out of all but one in our town). I would recommend it for families w/teens, as some of the surgical scenes may be too much for young ones (the tv rating is TV14). Here's a short clip of it from Johnson & Johnson:
Remember back in elementary school, each new school year would prompt the infamous "What I did on my summer vacation" type of writing assignment? Well, here it is..all grown up, blogger style.
High: Phoenix is still absolutely gorgeous. I'd totally forgotten how much I love that place. Low: The water is still as hard as ever, and my entire family's skin and hair are paying to price for it now. Hello eczema and dandruff
High: My Grandma's nightmares of not having enough food were completely unfounded. We had WAY more than we could have imagined. Low: Apparently people aren't as in to leftovers as we are, and people were literally tossing out food by the pounds! What kinda thankfulness is that?! My hubby and I were begging family members to take home the food, freeze it to have throughout the year, anything! No such luck. People would take a tiny plate of food, wrap it up and turn their nose up at the HUGE army size helpings of food that were left. It really hurt our hearts to just toss the food (we were in a hotel and couldn't take it - though we took as much as out little fridge could handle!) . My hubby just had to walk away he was so upset...
High: There was SO much family there, some I hadn't seen in maybe 8-10 yrs. Low: The main family we were going to see didn't make it (my parents, bro, and sisters). Also my aunt (that was coordinating the whole thing) from Cali, and her fam didn't make it either...
Low: I..your faithful "make-everything-down-to-my-family's-seasonings-from-scratch" wannabe...are you ready for this?..made a cake......... from a box mix ...OH THE HORROR!!!! Anyone who knows me, knows that this is not an exaggeration of my feelings, lol. I haven't made a box cake, brownie, etc, anything in years! However, I was also cooking for people I hadn't seen in years, and this is what they wanted...*sigh* Gotta give the people what they want, right? I couldn't bring myself to actually eat the thing, on Thanksgiving though. It just sat there taunting me as people kept complimenting me on how "good" my cake was...Yeah, whatever, thank Betty, not me....
High: We vegged out watching TV Land, Animal Planet, & History Channel w/AJ, and he actually enjoyed all the oldy type shows, like Bonanza, Sanford & Son, Andy Griffith, etc... Since we don't have TV this was truly a treat for him, and with it being narrowed down to those being the "acceptable channels" he even felt like he had a bit of a choice in what to watch, and he enjoyed "choosing" to watch some very educational shows. Low: It was confirmed to us that even w/unlimited TV watching being available, one will never be satisfied. He would stay glued to that thing for hours and still have a touch of aggravation w/us when asked to turn it off. Oh well, it was good while it lasted...
Low: My aunt who is known for her Black Friday, doorbuster, shop-til-u-drop, sun up to sun down extravaganza's, and doesn't take no for an answer, recruited me this year as her shopping companion. High: She decided to go at midnight this year since the local malls were opening then, and also declared that she was only looking for a particular thing and didn't want to be out forever. She was true to her word! We even took the kids w/us (her daughter and my son) and were back home by 2:30am. It really wasn't bad, and I actually enjoyed spending the time w/her.
High: I finally got to meet my brother's girlfriend, and I really like her (we actually even look alike, lol)! Low: I wish he'd come to his senses and marry the woman!
High: I did all my laundry at the hotel, so that I wasn't overwhelmed when we got back home. Low: Unpacking still stinks, no matter how you slice it.
High: My SIL offered to keep our dog for us the entire time we were gone (a little over a week) Low: She secretly despises the dog, and called us daily asking when we were coming to get her. And she (the dog) was infested with fleas when we finally did pick her up.
High: We also had a neighborhood boy watch our chickens for us while away. Low: They appeared to be starving when we got back, like no one had checked on them in days, and they haven't laid an egg since we've been home...(7 hens, no eggs in the last 2 days)
High: We caught a red eye flight home (1am-9am), so that we were able to enjoy every last minute of our trip, and sleep on the plane. Low: The sleep thing never happened, a poor lady had her screaming baby 1 row in front of us. I felt more sorry for the mom, and how embarrassed she seemed, than I was for myself not getting any sleep. (BTW remind me if I ever have a baby, DO NOT FLY, lol) . Sooo, we got home about 11am and slept til 5-6pm....
Well, that just about sums it up. We had a great time, and truly enjoyed seeing so much family. It was kinda sad leaving again after being able to spend so much time w/my brother, especially. But, I'm praying I'll get to go back again soon for his wedding (*fingers crossed*). I'll just leave you all w/a pic my hubby took from my bro's apartment of the brightest rainbow, ever.
The other day, while getting showered and ready for the day, I heard some banging noises. This is actually not unusual, because the older gentleman that lives next door, is often hammering at one thing or another daily (he breaks down metal to sell or something). However, as I came out of the bedroom and into my kitchen, I noticed that the noises sounded a little closer than usual. I had the windows open on the backside of the house (where the chicken coop is) and it sounded as if the banging and screeching (at this point) sounds were coming from right outside of the window! Concerned, I went over to the window, while at the same time calling AJ's name to see if he was anywhere out there and could check on the girls for me, and investigate the source of the racket. Then he answered, and told me that HE was the source of the racket ...
All of those "motherly" thoughts began to run through my head of "oh my goodness, what is that child breaking now?" and "ugh! let me go out here and see what the damage is this time", etc... So, I throw on my outside adornments, gave myself a pep talk of how I'd try not to yell, and even grabbed the camera (mainly to have proof of what happens when an only child is left to his own devices for only a few moments, but saying out loud, that I may as well take some pics of the fall crops coming in). So I take a deep breath, round the corner (slowly, like a stealth ninja), and I see this...
He took it upon himself to build a latch for the chicken pen, "because Daddy hadn't gotten around to it", and he was "concerned about their safety".
Here's a pic of it before (yes, that tiny little yellow thing at the foot of the gate is what we've used for the last 3 mos to "secure" the gate, lol - it only gave us security, NOT the chickens!) (and yes, that's a chicken on the OUTSIDE of the pen ):
And after:
I must say he did a darn good job too, but man I felt lousy for all the thoughts that ran through my head! I was however, one proud momma!
Yesterday morning a friend called and invited us to a "family skate" party hosted by her church. Now we had pretty much relegated the words "family" and "skate" no longer went together in this "wicked and perverse" generation, as Jesus called it. I'm not sure how many of you have gone skating recently (on regular skate nights) but let me tell you it is a sight NOT to behold! My hubby and I decided to go on a skate date a few months back because a) we try to have more active dates, b) we used to have so much fun skating as kids, and c) we wanted to check it out as a potential fun thing to do with my son and younger siblings. Well, during the short amount of time that we were there, we saw plenty of young people hanging all over each other, dressed SUPER inappropriately, and the music...I wouldn't even want my dog to hear! (And it was a Monday, during the "school" year!!) So needless to say, we came back and gave the report to my parents, and anyone else who wanted to hear, how our child would never set foot in that place, and probably never get to enjoy the fun that we had as children attending the roller rink....
SO, with that said, I was quite pleased when my friend, Stacey, explained to me that only the church would be there, and ONLY christian music would be played. Our boy would skate, after all! So, I mentioned it to my hubby, and after convincing him that it would Christian based, he readily agreed. We didn't even tell my son where we were going, but he was pleasantly surprised when we a)pulled up and walked into a roller rink (which he knew we stood against), and b) his friend KJ skated over and tackled him w/a bear hug! We all ended up skating and having a good time, although it was our first time skating together as a family since my son was 4 (he's 12 now).
Hubby took pics on his Blackberry (while skating ) , so sorry they're a bit blurry....
Here's AJ chasing KJ around the rink
And our friends skating around the rink, while holding hands.. how cute! (And people always tease my hubby and I for dressing alike, lol!)
And yes, that is sweat on his back, skating is a serious workout! We were all drenched!
Well, we are in the final week countdown before my parents and siblings move back to the other side of the earth (ok just a few states over, but it may as well be another country). As I walk through my home, and see rooms that were once well lived in, that now seen bare, I finally realize that its really gonna happen. You know how it is, even though you know its coming, it sometimes has to be staring you in the face before you realize that its here. I know, I know, I'm just rambling at this point, but I feel the empty nest syndrome coming on. It's kinda crazy that we'll go from a family of 8 to a family of 3 within a matter of minutes. It's not as if we haven't been apart before, but for the last 2 years, this home has been bubbling over with energy, laughs, dancing, (of course there were the typical spats occasionally with the kids, but no more than could be expected). All in all it has really been quite an experience for the kids as well as the parents I'm sure.
And although I know that we are all excited about what comes next, and what God has in store, I know that we will always look back fondly on these years of homeschooling our children together, baking half a dozen pies for Thanksgiving together, knitting together by the fireplace, camping, visiting Amish country (PA), worshiping together on Sabbath, homemade pizza and "Little House on the Prairie" every Thursday, the kids break-dancing....
Oh man, I said I'd try not to cry, so I'll have to stop now .....
Ah.... well, we will make promises to visit often, and we'll always have memories.......
My sister had a homeschool graduation party yesterday (and we had lots of fun) there was tons of food, laughing, dancing, praying, and more food! She is only fifteen (she'll be 16 in August) but she is very self motivated and had a goal to finish school by the age of 16. Well she accomplished that goal and more, and we are so proud of her. The other kids were of course very motivated by this as she is the first out of our close knit homeschool community to embark on this new path. As a gift, she also rec'd a new laptop from my parents, which she will need because she will be starting online classes this fall for the Veterinary field. She was very shocked (as well as everyone else), but she will need it, so it was very practical. My husband and I bought her a laptop bag that looks like a cute purse, so that she can carry it in style, lol. She is already up and about, playing around with it this morning and exploring all the features. She officially has the nicest computer in the house, lol (ours and my parents are older and super slow).
I baked her a cake for the occasion, according to her requests, it was a 3-layer sheet cake, yellow and chocolate marble, with whipped cream on the inside layers and chocolate frosting on the outside. I didn't know how I'd like whipped cream on marble cake, but OH MY GOSH that thing was yummy, what a combo!
We invited about 7 other homeschool families that we are close to, w/kids close in age to graduating, to share in the fun. I have to say that it was definitely different from my own (public school) gradutaion over a decade ago, yet it was so much better, Spirit led, and personal. No waiting for 450 people that your family has never heard of, just so that they can hear your name and clap quickly (if at all). No waiting for multiple speeches that may or may not fit the lifestyle that you have set forth, or would like for your self/ your child, and no going out w/all of your friends at the end of the night and celebrating your "adulthood" in a way that is still probably illegal in most states, lol. I know its sad, but this is the truth when comparing such a wholesome God, family, and fun oriented night like we had last night to something that is total opposite in the public school arena. My other brother and sister are 14 & 13, and my son is 11, so it was very nice for them to see something of that nature as normal, and something to look forward to.
I haven't blogged in forever it seems, so much has changed here recently. We have gone from being a family of 3 to a family of 9 - and I'm honestly loving it! I've always dreamed of having a large family and living on a farm, and the first part of that dream has come to pass. In Sept., our oldest "God-given" son (20 y.o) moved back home, and is considering staying for a while (our suggestion). My hubby (and our youngest son - 10 y.o) is loving having him back home and helping out with the family construction business. I know you're thinking, that only makes 4 people - but wait, there's more...
About 2 weeks later my parents (who were in AZ, where we were planning to move) declared that they were leaving their farm and relocating - to which we began to holler "over here, over here!" So they packed up their belongings, threw most of it in storage there, and here they are! Oh, did I mention that they also have 3 kids (ages 12-14)? We were planning on moving to AZ to purchase some land and farm near them since we all have this farming bug, and our house has been on the market for quite some time now. Well, we were wondering why it wasn't selling (other than the extremely slow market), yet now we realize that God was slowly piecing this together Himself. He has brought us all together, which we wanted and now we are actually considering puchasing land on the East Coast, which all those west coast kiddos have fallen in love with.
We get the joys of homeschooling our children together, and I finally have some young ladies in the house! I love cooking, sewing, etc., but hadn't had anyone to share it with (my son interest in such things only last so long when he has a carpenter for a father-much more fun with him I suppose). But the girls 12 & 14 are just eating it up. They help me out sooo much around here and they are like sponges, when it comes to learning of these womanly duties. They even read my Beverly Lewis books with me (mom too) and we have our ladies book club type thing going on .
My son has a playmate (I don't think people realize the stress of homeschooling an only child - especially a little boy full of energy!) in his 12 y.o. "uncle" (yes, my son has grown up w/my siblings as if they're his own, when in actuality they're his aunts & uncles, lol).
My dad is even working w/my hubby (they've always been great friends) and learning how to work with his hands for the first time! He loves it, although his back was hurting pretty bad at first, but he's gotten much better now, thank God. And my mom is an absolute angel, and soooooooo creative when it comes to the kids and their schooling. I am so not like her, so my son is loving it, and I'm trying to learn a thing or two from her.
So, as I think on how the Lord has answered my prayers in this way for having a big family (although, to me, my quiver can never be too full!). We are continuing to pray that He guide us in the direction that He would have us to go, and if it is His will, that we can one day have some land that we all abide on together, raise some animals, and live off the land.
Until He does, though, we are knee deep in "Little House On the Prairie" episodes from the library (we've each checked them out the maximum amount of times on our library cards, lol)....
I'm a wannabe in every sense of the word. I wanna be good enough to make it to heaven, but Jesus died because I will never be. I wanna be a mom of ten living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, training my girls to honor God & their husbands, by being content, happy homemakers...yet God has seen fit to bless us with the opportunity to help rear for Him two boys (22 and 12), in the middle of suburbia ;) I wanna be a helpmate to my husband in every way possible, yet more often than not, I'm in his way, lol. I wanna be the perfect parent, that raises perfect children, yet I am constantly humbled by the fact that only He is perfect, and I must allow him to lead. I wanna be the ultimate caretaker of my temple, and the pinnacle of health to all around me, yet no amount of healthy eating/exercise keeps me from dropping to my knees often, in need of healing from the Great Physician. I could go on and on about the the things that I am trying to be, but I invite you instead to come and join me as I travel on my path toward virtue... ~Proverbs 31:10-31~
, it's available now on DVD from your library, local video store, or Redbox (this is where we got it - but you'll want to check online first for which one in your area will have it, because it was checked out of all but one in our town). I would recommend it for families w/teens, as some of the surgical scenes may be too much for young ones (the tv rating is TV14). Here's a short clip of it from Johnson & Johnson:
My hubby just had to walk away he was so upset... 
...OH THE HORROR!!!! Anyone who knows me, knows that this is not an exaggeration of my feelings, lol. I haven't made a box cake, brownie, etc, anything in years! However, I was also cooking for people I hadn't seen in years, and this is what they wanted...*sigh* Gotta give the people what they want, right? I couldn't bring myself to actually eat the thing, on Thanksgiving though. It just sat there taunting me as people kept complimenting me on how "good" my cake was...Yeah, whatever, thank Betty, not me....
... 
let me go out here and see what the damage is this time", etc... So, I throw on my outside adornments, gave myself a pep talk of how I'd try not to yell, and even grabbed the camera (mainly to have proof of what happens when an only child is left to his own devices for only a few moments, but saying out loud, that I may as well take some pics of the fall crops coming in). So I take a deep breath, round the corner (slowly, like a stealth ninja), and I see this...
):
I was however, one proud momma! 
). We are continuing to pray that He guide us in the direction that He would have us to go, and if it is His will, that we can one day have some land that we all abide on together, raise some animals, and live off the land. 
