Thursday, February 14, 2008 - Aunt Mag
I went to a funeral today. It was for my Aunt Mag. She was 83 years old and one of the Godliest women I've ever known. I loved her much. Here are some of my memories.
As a child, I loved going to her house. She lived a couple of hours away, but we visited often on weekends due to various circumstances during my adolescent years. She had a pool where my shoulders were fried every summer for a few years in a row. I remember sleeping in my cousin's bed with my sister and the clogged drain in the bathroom.
Once, around the age of 8 or 10, I saw a book of Spanish lessons on her living room table. I picked it up and was immediately enthralled. I had had a few Spanish lessons on the television at school during 3rd grade and loved learning the language. When I asked Aunt Mag whose book it was, she hesitated for a moment and then said, "Yours" and she smiled. Oh my. I cherished that book for a long time. It meant so much to me during a time when gifts were few and far between. Was the book really purchased for me? Or was it a decision-of-the-moment from a woman who saw a child's wishful gleam in her eye? I don't know. I do know it was a gift from a loving, caring, beautiful lady who meant a lot to me.
I remember pointy gold house slippers, a closet full of beautiful clothes and a vanity covered with lots and lots of makeup just begging me to play with it. I tried hard not to, but my sister and I had a very difficult time resisting. We did just "touch" it a few times. I remember elegant furnishings, a piano AND an organ in her house and, when I was very young, a color television.
Aunt Mag was my "rich" aunt. (It's very fun as a child to brag about your "rich" aunt.) It used to puzzle me to no end when we'd visit her house for holidays and she'd freeze ice in milk cartons. When it would get close to time to fill glasses at mealtime, out would come all the milk cartons from the freezer and someone would be directed to the back porch with the cartons and an ice pick to pound the ice out of them for tea. I just couldn’t understand why in the world she didn't just send someone to the nearest gas station and BUY ICE! My heavens, she could actually afford it! That's for sure what I would have done if I were "rich". :o)
But my most endearing memory is the time at church when, around the altar after service, Aunt Mag tearfully asked me if I had Jesus in my heart. I must admit that, at the time, it wasn't a priority in my life and I gave a satisfactory answer to simply get the situation over with. But I still remember it vividly 35 years later and have thought about it many, many times throughout my life.
Someone actually cried real tears over the state of my soul.
I don't recall that ever happening at any other time in my life. My grandmother (her mother) comes in a real close second with the same loving question on a different day and a different place (her kitchen), but I don't recall the tears in her eyes. I'm sure they had been there many times in her private conversations with God, but I just never saw them.
I saw my Aunt Mag's.
To think that someone cared that much for me overwhelmed me to the point that I remember even today the love of Jesus extending from her to me as she asked that question. I didn't see it then, but I do now.
As the years went by, we didn’t visit as often. As an adult, I usually only saw my Aunt Mag each year at the family reunion. I admired her love for the Lord, her beautiful laugh, her drive to get the job done (even if it was simply spreading the tablecloths and overseeing the food), and her zeal and love for life. I missed all those things as Alzheimer’s took over her mind and body in her final years. But she was always my beautiful Aunt Mag – to me.
Oftentimes over the years as a young wife and mother when faced with some kind of challenge, I would ask myself, “What would Aunt Mag do in this situation?” Usually, I was directed to my knees in prayer as my priorities were straightened out in the presence of Jesus. I feel very blessed to have had such a prayer warrior mentor in my life even though she never fully knew how much I admired and looked to her example whenever I was in need of direction.
At the funeral today, I was reminded of my “rich Pentecostal heritage” and I feel honored to be a part of such a heritage. A heritage where a desire to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit is nothing to be ashamed of. A heritage where tears are not to be hidden, but cried.
Never underestimate the power of tears when praying for a loved one's soul.
Yes, I DO have Jesus in my heart now, Aunt Mag. Thank you for caring so much and for playing such an integral part in directing me to Him.
Lawsy mercy. I love you.
Love, Paula
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - My First Tag
This has never happened to me before. I'm tagged! We are all about to find out just how techno-savvy I really am.
REInvestor has tagged me.
Here are the rules:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
I am having a bit of a time coming up with 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about myself because all of my things/habits/quirks are very important. But I'll try.
1. While cooking, I re-read the WHOLE recipe every time I do one step. This is to make sure I don't forget anything. (Can you see how this is really important?)
2. Before stepping out of the car as well as after I'm out, just before locking the door, I check and re-check to make sure I have my keys before actually locking it. (Again, very important.)
3. When staying with extended family at holidays, etc., NO ONE sees me before I have my makeup on. I stay hidden behind a closed bedroom door until a bathroom is free and then I run in. (Okay, vain, not important.)
4. I need a neat workspace and clutter-free home. A clutter-free home is not consistently the norm around here, but it contributes greatly to my overall well-being. When I am stressed, a quick pick-up of scattered this-and-that around the house helps me calm down a great deal. (IMPORTANT!)
5. I can't stand conflicting noises. If the tv is on when my son decides it's time to start playing his guitar, one of them must stop. (Not so important. Starting to flounder with ideas for this tag.)
6. I will do anything to avoid dusting. Remove the item, swipe, put it back...move another item, swipe, put it back...over and over again...arg! Having someone around to dust for you is a great reason to have children. (So very important.)
Here are my six random tags:
Mama's Oasis
Blessed Moments!
Turning Our Hearts To Home
Regina's Wonderful Life
Adding Arrows To Our Quiver
Treasured Time
This was fun!
Paula
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Monday, December 24, 2007 -
Merry Christmas, Friends!
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Saturday, December 22, 2007 - Mary is with Jesus
Mary at HomeschoolChristian has gone home to be with the Lord. She moderated the board at www.homeschoolchristian.com . See her pic on the Fellowship board.
Please be in prayer for her family!
Paula
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Monday, December 3, 2007 - Quotes on my Bookcase
I have these quotes hanging on the side of my bookcase:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein
"If parents pass enthusiasm along to their children, they will leave them as estate of incalculable value." Thomas Edison
"Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:12-13
"The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities, and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head." Noah Webster
What are your favorite quotes?
Paula
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Thursday, November 29, 2007 - Pecan Pie
I was really hoping to get this recipe posted before Thanksgiving, but naturally I didn't. Lyntley left a comment after I posted the Applesauce cake recipe and said she'd be interested in the pecan pie recipe with maple syrup, so hopefully it's not too late! Christmas is coming up and it's good for that, too! 
Pecan Pie
1 unbaked 9 " pie shell, chilled
2 T butter
3 eggs
1/2 c honey (or a little less)
1/3 c maple syrup
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c broken pecan pieces
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter and let cool. Beat eggs, then beat in honey, maple syrup and vanilla. Add cooled butter and nuts. Pour mix into pie shell and bake 10 minutes at 400, then reduce heat to 350. Bake for an additional 25 minutes, until set, but not dry. Cool to room temp before serving.
It's good!
Paula
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Monday, November 26, 2007 - Thanksgiving at the Farm
Hop over to my brother's blog (the entry dated Saturday, November 24) and see a pic of my parents' house and his summary of our Thanksgiving holiday. My sentiments exactly! (And a bit proud of my baby brother, too, if I might add.)
www.rolandgilbert.blogspot.com
Paula
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Monday, November 19, 2007 - Prayer for Mary
Mary is the moderator/owner of www.homeschoolchristian.com . She has become very ill with septic shock during a fight with breast cancer and at this point the prognosis is not good at all for recovery. You can find updated information, and a pic of her, on the *Fellowship Board* at HomeschoolChristian. (When you get to the home page, just click on Fellowship over on the right-hand side of the page.)
Please be in prayer for Mary and her family!
Paula
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Monday, November 5, 2007 - Women of Faith
AMAZING FREEDOM 2007!
I went to Women of Faith this past weekend and was blessed yet again with The AMAZING Gift of Laughter. Oh, my goodness, did we laugh. Patsy Clairmont is the funniest woman over 65 on the planet. Anita Renfroe is the funniest woman under 65 on the planet . And the other speakers all ran a very close second!
I'll be cracking up every time I hear "You Raise Me Up" from now on until the day I die.
A good time was definitely had by all.
Paula
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - Let's Lighten the Mood
It's time to talk about something else.
I've been on a quest over the past couple of years to make desserts with more natural sugars, such as honey, maple syrup, raw sugar, etc. Lately, I have been making a variation of this applesauce cake and it's been great with the weather turning cooler and more Fall-ish. To give credit where credit is due, I found this recipe at www.honeyflowfarm.com.
Spicy Honey Applesauce Cake
1 c honey
1/2 c butter
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 c applesauce
1 t cinnamon
2 c flour
1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t powdered cloves
1/4 t ginger
1 c nuts
Cream honey and butter. Blend in eggs, vanilla and applesauce. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, then stir gradually into creamed mixture. Add to a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 325 for 25-40 minutes.
My variation is that I canned a BUNCH of pearsauce this year from pears given to me by neighbors of my parents, so I used my home-canned pearsauce instead of applesauce. We use local honey bought from a local beekeeper, and pecans (puh CAHNS) from our own front yard - they're flowing out of the trees this year! I feel very thrifty and down home when I'm able to use ingredients secured from somewhere besides the local Super WalMart. 
The original recipe called for 3 eggs, but I put down only 2 because I'm presently using a small toaster oven and can only make half a recipe, so I use 1 egg for half the recipe. I think 2 for the whole recipe would be plenty, but you can use the 3 if you prefer, of course. Also, I have no idea why they give such a wide range for the baking time, but it takes around 45 minutes at 350-375 in the toaster oven. Yours, of course, will vary.
I have a very good recipe using maple syrup to sweeten pecan (puh CAHN) pie, too! I'll post it closer to Thanksgiving for anyone who might be interested.
I hope you're having a wonderful day! 
Paula
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Monday, October 29, 2007 - I Am Loved
Within the last week, some very nice things have happened to me. First of all, my way to the Women of Faith conference this coming weekend has been paid in full by my church or some wonderful person - I don't know which.
Also, a friend slipped a $20 bill into my purse on Friday so I could take my kids to Burger King with the rest of the Friday Homeschool Enrichment crowd. (She had apparently noticed that we don't do lunch after enrichment very often with the group and she wanted to bless us.)
And to add even more blessings - during that same lunch, another mom asked me if it would be okay if she took my daughter with her and her daughter (best friends) to the dollar store for some things to help fill the Christmas shoe boxes that the kids are doing at our church this year. She said she'd give them each $10 to buy some things to fill the shoe boxes with. I said, yes, of course!
My first reaction to all these kinds of blessings is usually - Lord, why must my family be so pitied? (Is my humanity showing here?) But this time, immediately after that thought came this one - Paula, your friends are not showing you pity, they are showing you love.
Oh, thank you, Father, for helping me put it all in the proper perspective.
Paula
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Thursday, October 25, 2007 - Oswald Chambers
This is a quote from Tuesday's My Utmost for His Highest. (Sorry for the odd layout. I just did a cut-and-paste from my email account.)
--------------------
How are we going to get the
life that has no lust, no self-interest, no sensitiveness to pokes,
the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always
kind?
The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be
left; but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no
longer want God's blessings, but only want Himself. Have we come to
the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect
our trust in Him? (bold, italics and underline - mine)
--------------------
Wow! How many of us are there yet? (My hand is trying to go up.)
"...Oh, for grace to trust Him more."
Paula
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Monday, October 15, 2007 - Contentment and Surrender
All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him;
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all.
"I have learned to be content..." Philippians 4:11
How many of us grew up singing and quoting this song and Scripture? I did, for sure. I meant it, too. Every word of both of them. I sang the song and quoted the Scripture from the depths of my heart.
Until the fire of testing came upon me. Until it was time to prove the words. I stood strong for a time. A fairly long time, considering how weak I found that I really was as time marched on. Then I sank, and sank hard. Walking on rocks gets exhausting after a while, no matter how strong a person is. I thought my roots ran deep, until I came to the end of my roots.
A few years ago, I decided to make my Scripture goal - "I have learned to be content in whatever situation I find myself in" (my paraphrase). Little did I know at the time that the Lord had that goal for me also.
Over the past five years, we have left Middle Class America (albeit the lower end of middle class probably) and traded it for near poverty. My husband was laid off from his job and has yet to recuperate. He has started an insurance business (due to being unable to find other employment) and we live on small monthly commissions and a night-time cleaning job, in addition to a few hours I put in at our church's office. We have moved into a house half the size of where we were (from 2000 sf to 1000 sf which includes my husband's insurance office), have lost all savings including retirement, our van burned up on the side of the road so we took out a loan for another one that we could barely afford, we have no health insurance except for the two youngest children who are on the state's insurance plan for kids, and are simply existing from day-to-day financially at this point.
Here is an exerpt from my journal back in December, 2003:
"I try so hard to lay it at the feet of Jesus, but fear gets the best of me. I live in a constant state of fear these days. I had a couple of hours of actual happiness a couple of days ago. It was such a strange feeling and I really enjoyed it! I was thinking I was on the road to recovery after these last two years and was about to begin feeling happy again...I'm bummed again now and just can't shake it. Why can't I trust?? Why can't I shake this fear that controls my life?? I'm so tired and weary. It's taking too long. I want that happiness back that I was beginning to feel. It was so good. I know deep in my soul that the Lord is there and with us and will carry us through - is carrying us through. But I'm just so tired."
The end of my roots. Controlling, paralyzing fear. I have learned to be content? Hardly. I only thought I had. I surrender all? Not on purpose, no-sir-ree. I wanted it all back.
Here is another exerpt from a few months later in August, 2004:
"Thank You, Father, that I am reaching the point of thankfulness to You for Your teaching, for growing me deeper and deeper in Your love. Thank You, Father, for being more concerned with my character than my comfort. Thank You, Father, for taking my control from me. Through this I've learned to hand control over to You. Thank You, Father, for helping me to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself in ~ because You are there in the midst ~ in control. Thank You, Father, for helping me see that I have never had reason to fear, for You have always been my Provider, my Peace, my Comforter, even when I've not been so sure of it. Thank You, Father, because it's finally getting from my head to my heart. This could not have happened without trials to the point of despair, without learning to give up control, without learning to be content no matter the circumstance, without learning, through trials, to rest in You. It's all about You, Lord, it's all about You.
More of You, more of You. I've had it all, but what I need is more of You.
We have lost all monetary crutches, and have gained ~ You! We have no resources left to rely on ~ but we have You! Our assets have been cut in half, and we are left with You! You are truly all we need. Your faithfulness endures forever!"
What a change over just a few months! What caused the change? Well, I guess my roots grew. The trials, even though I was still in the midst of them - and still am - had not consumed me. They had helped me grow.
Andre Crouch's words:
"Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word!"
Yes, I can sing those words now and know what they mean. Because I've learned. Have you ever noticed how Paul said, "I've learned to be content?" Andre sang, "I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God...I've learned to depend upon His Word.
I still have my moments (as in last week's blog post). Most days, I've learned, but I am also still learning...
Please don't judge me for my periodic lapses. It continues to be hard, and harder still to continually present it as a prayer request to others in my circle who have heard it all several times before.
"I have learned to be content..." is still my Scripture goal and will continue to be for a very long time, because it's a goal that travels a very long, hard road before the finish line of accomplishment can be reached.
I pray God's blessings on the road you're travelling today, too.
Paula
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Sunday, October 14, 2007 - Eating Crow
After last week's poor-pitiful-me post, today at church found me signing up for the Women of Faith conference which is coming to OKC in November - compliments of the church or some anonymous church member. I have no idea who is paying my way, but it has been done and I am very excited.
The Lord continues to bless...
Praise His name!
Paula
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Monday, October 8, 2007 - Depression vs. The Gift of Laughter
Today I have been depressed. Very, very, extremely depressed. This has been an on-and-off thing over the past five years since we began walking the difficult road of what can only be described as near poverty. I will save the sad details for another day, but after five years, I can tell you that it begins to feel like something similar to what a chronic pain sufferer must feel on a daily basis.
At first, people are sympathetic. After all, you are going through a devastating time. The Lord gives people *a word* for you. Friends listen and sometimes slip you some cash, sometimes a lot of cash. The church prays and intercedes and cares deeply.
But after a while, it all dwindles down. Other people's lives go on. Yours, however, still seems to move very slowly. I don't mean to imply that people no longer care deeply. I know they do. But it becomes very difficult to bring yourself to constantly give the same story over and over and over. After all, it's been five years! Shouldn't my husband be making some kind of decent living again by now? After all, he's able-bodied, not injured or disabled or anything *understandable* like that. The explanations start sounding like woe-is-me complaints. So you just stop giving them and start saying "Fine! Doing well!" when people ask how things are going these days. It's just easier than saying the truth. You don't want to alienate friendships with the never-ending downers, so you paint on the smile and lie through your teeth. Sometimes you try and slip in that it's still painful and hard, just to test the waters and see how folks may respond. The glazed look gives the obvious answers. Either they don't understand what you're trying to tell them, or they're embarrassed about not knowing what to say. Whatever it is, it's not worth your own embarrassment that you've just exposed yourself and gotten a blank stare (or diverted eyes) in return.
So anyway, I was having one of those horrid days earlier today where nothing was good and all was bad. It is a paralyzing kind of emotion that curls you up in the bed and accepts no comfort from anyone.
However, the Father has been merciful (I actually prayed for mercy today - and have received it) and I am better this afternoon. I say merciful because in the past, I simply lived in the depression. It was not something that fell on me in the morning and dissipated by the evening. It permeated every moment of my life - for months.
And that is where The Gift of Laughter portion of my title comes in. I wrote in my journal in November, 2006 (last year) these words:
"Thank You for laughter ~ the gift of laughter. A gift is never more appreciated than when it is gone. You have given it back to me and I worship Your awesome name for such an incredible, beautiful gift. Your love for me is revealed to me everytime I am able to hear myself laugh again."
Indeed. Amen.
I hope before this day is over, I find myself laughing deeply with my children. Thank You, God, for your mercy toward Your child this day.
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Saturday, October 6, 2007 - Date? Or Court?
I have friends from one end of the spectrum to the other when it comes to the dating/courting issue. Many a discussion on this topic has found me quietly listening on the sidelines because I didn't really know where I fell regarding this issue. I'd read all the right the books and listened to the all the varying opinions. I knew which side I *leaned toward*. But what did I really believe regarding how my children should pursue relationships with the opposite gender? Should we follow this set of rules? Or that one? Does this person's view of dating make sense? Or does that person's view of courting sound better? Oops, here's another viewpoint with a different set of rules regarding courtship. Oh, dear, now what do we do? Two different ways to court! Uh-oh, I just read about another one - more decisions to make! How many ways to go about all this is there anyway??
Well, our boys are 19 and 16, and we have an up-and-coming 10 year old daughter, so I've decided it's time I put some more serious thought into this topic.
(I know some may be thinking that I should have put more thought into it about 10 years ago. Yes, that would be right. Although, 10 years ago, my thoughts would have been different than they are now, so I'm sorta glad that I didn't waste all those brain cells back then. I need them all right now.)
As we have discussed this topic in our household, and as we have been working our way through the Proverbs as a family lately, my husband and I have simply decided to direct our children beginning with this question - What's the wise thing to do? The answers to this question are subject to our own interpretations, so every household's answers will probably vary at least slightly. But in order to find the wisdom we seek, we must first ask the question and seriously pray about how it needs to be answered.
So here's what I'm thinking. First of all, the labels have been tossed out the window. We don't use the words *date* or *court* when we discuss this issue. We just talk with our boys, and daughter if she happens to be within earshot, about the wisdom, or lack thereof, of pursuing a *beyond friendship* relationship with someone before they are able to actually take responsibility for the emotions, financial commitments, promises and luuuuv they would be professing. If they, or the party of interest, are not yet able to fulfill these responsibilities and promises maturely and wisely, with at least the possibility of permanance, then what is even the point?
Why toy with emotions when they have nowhere constructive to go? Why begin a relationship when the pain of a breakup is most likely inevitable due to youth and inappropriateness of marriage at the time? Why in the world do parents even encourage these things when they surely must remember their own pain from their early, immature years when they were caught up in this vicious cycle that almost always turned ugly before all was said and done? Why have we fallen for the common concensus that all the pain of several different failed, immature relationships is good and necessary in order to eventually find the *right one* that we hope will last forever?
I believe we must answer all these questions by going back to the original question. What is the wise thing to do? I'll leave the answer up to your family to answer. We're also attempting to answer it here in our household as we travel down the road of life with our teenagers.
Fortunately, due to our tremendous parenting skills I'm sure, neither of our boys have yet become emotionally involved in a boy/girl relationship. I do know that they have had their eyes directed toward the opposite gender and I'm fine with that. It means they're developing normally and all is good and right in their thinking.
I pray in all seriousness that they are able to keep their thoughts and actions pure and respectful toward their female friends and that they will understand the need for maturity and at least a hint of life's direction before beginning an emotional relationship with a special young lady who eventually captures their attention in a way they can't ignore.
At which time, we will begin phase 2 of this process. How to proceed after they are mature and financially stable enough to make a lifetime commitment. Oh, wait. Then they'll be mature enough to make those decisions without their parents. Or will they?
Stay tuned. I don't have all those answers yet. I found out a long time ago that all my well-laid plans tend to unravel at the point of application, so I'm not making any grand statements at this point. But I do know one thing for sure. If our children honestly want to know the wise thing to do, they'll ask for advice from those who have gone before them and have some wisdom to offer. That would be us - their parents. We're not out to pasture yet, my friends! And we can't dismiss the example we are setting for them each and every day as we live out our marriage commitment in their presence. By the time they are ready to walk down the phase 2 road, they'll hopefully have hearts full of wisdom gleaned from the two adults who love them most in the world.
I am well aware that I have not presented very many specifics here. Every family is made up of a unique set of individuals, so every family is different in how they will make this particular issue work within their home. But this is what makes the most sense to me here in this household. If it sounds like we're flying by the seat of our pants, well, your wisdom is showing. :o)
Father, you know I look forward to being a mom-in-law someday. But until that time, keep our children's hearts pure and their eyes directed toward You. That - without a doubt - is the wisest possible thing to do.
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Long Time, No Blog
Well, it has been a while!
After it has been months since one has blogged, what does one say to flow back into the blogging world?
Do I update on what life has been like, lo, these many months since I've been gone? Do I simply begin again, never mentioning the lapse? Do I re-introduce myself? Or does it really even matter since I don't have a following anyway? (I must say, I really don't like the slim pickins on the icons these days. Am I doing something wrong here? Are there no more to be found? I miss the old icons!)
I am going to try and be more active here. I do enjoy writing and journaling very much, but my time just seems to be pulled in other directions most of the time. It takes major, uninterrupted, concentrated effort for me to sit down and blog and I don't seem to have many occasions to fit that kind of effort in!
Life is still plugging along and we will be starting up Official School again after Labor Day, per usual.
I'll be back with more riveting posts, just like this one, soon! I hope! Stay tuned. (Stupid icon.)
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Friday, January 12, 2007 - Backup Those Computers, Ladies!
A real bummer here. My husband's office computer crashed last week. 
It had been moving slowly for a few weeks and we kept talking about needing to back some things up. We never did. And then it crashed.
He has bought a new hard drive (which we could not afford but it's for work) and has gotten all the software, anti-virus stuff, etc. reloaded. But he has lost all his form letters to clients, labels, etc. that will have to be re-written, and we can agonize for hours over those types of things to get them sounding the way we want them.
The worst part of all is that he had written some poems on that computer that we had not backed up or printed off. He was hoping to contact an editor to see if there was any possibility at all of getting them published. We know there is probably not much of a Christian poetry market, but it was a dream nonetheless - a dream now shattered, or at least postponed. Those poems were written from the depths of his heart and sometimes from the pit of despair as we have been going through some difficult times. I thought they were quite good, although I realize I'm a bit biased. Fortunately, some of the poems were on a free website we had set up over a year ago, so those are not lost. And we had printed off one recent one (by God's providence I have no doubt) written about his father's death two years ago on January 10th. He was able to send that one to his mom via email a couple of days ago on the anniversary of his dad's death and I'm SO HAPPY that one had been printed off so we had a copy of it.
Hopefully there will be more poems forthcoming - and those WILL BE backed up!! But I'm still so bummed about the loss of the others that he had recently written. They were so good. I will miss them so much.
Paula
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Thursday, December 21, 2006 - A Quick Note
Just in case some of you click on my blog periodically to see if there's a new one, I'll just post real quick!
We're having a wonderful month celebrating Christmas. Our funds are extremely limited this year, so the bare basic minimums are being done. This gives opportunity to relax and enjoy the season. I'm having a great time listening to Christmas music, seeing all the lights and decorations around town as well as in/on my own home.
Our oldest son (18) put up Christmas lights this year all by himself (with our 9 yo daughter helping, of course). He did a fabulous job - better than my dh has ever cared or taken the time to do.
Our church has blessed us again this year with some wonderful gifts for the kids and funds for our household. We are so humbled by their generosity. Hopefully, we will be able to repay some day by blessing other families within our church body (or outside of it) ourselves. This time of financial stress has taken its toll and we are exhausted by it much of the time (it's been five years now since my dh lost his job and we've really been down a rough road since then) - but God continually shows us He's still taking care of us through the generosity of others.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season. I do read many of your blogs every day (and some of you are as bad as me at posting very often!) and pray for many of you - more than I take the time to comment on your blogs. 
Love to you all,
Paula
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Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Our Crazy Weather
Yesterday morning, it was mid-70's and clear. This morning, it's 30 with freezing rain and snow. I'll be serving a yummy pot of chili for supper tonight!
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - Another shocker
Remember a few days ago when I mentioned that my 18 yo son was playing Beethoven on his ipod? Well, get this, he was mentioning to me some things he'd love to have for Christmas and guess what one of the things was? A Tony Bennett cd. Yes, you heard that right. Tony Bennett. I almost fell over. Who has stolen my son??
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Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - Finding more time
It's just amazing how much time I seem to find when I decide to step away from the computer more often. 
Back on Tuesday, September 26, I posted a Tuesday Ten regarding what I'd do if I had more time. I am pleased to announce that I have completed #1 - my recipe book is now organized and looking good. 
Only 9 to go...
Paula
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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - My daughter's blog
My 9 yo daughter, the computer whiz, has a new blog. She set it up herself, put the pic up herself (not sure if I'm going to let it stay or not, though), and has figured out - on her own - a myriad of things that I can only dream about. 
I'm sure you can tell that she has two teenage brothers by reading about all her favorite things. 
Feel free to visit and leave a comment or two. She's been checking hourly...
www.homeschoolblogger.com/bunniesrock
Paula
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Saturday, October 28, 2006 - A visit to the local Pumpkin Patch
On Thursday, 9 yo daughter and I went to a pumpkin patch with the local homeschool group. We got to walk around the patch and pick our two favorite pumpkins to bring home; we watched a pumpkin shoot out of a cannon (twice!); and we explored a fire truck. It was a fun hour and we were glad we went. We brought our pumpkins home, put them on display in the living room and enjoyed looking at them.
Later that afternoon, I picked up the city newspaper and saw a group of elementary children from a local public school who had been at the same pumpkin patch earlier this week. Underneath the picture of the kids in the newspaper, I read "P. Elementary students search the V. pumpkin patch Tuesday morning...The pumpkins were taken back to school where the students tested to see if they would sink or float, counted the ribs, measured the circumference and estimated and counted the seeds."
Oh my. So that's what I missed by not going to *teacher school*. It never even occurred to me to use our new pumpkins as a learning opportunity. What kind of homeschooling mother am I?
My daughter saw the article, too, and sighed. She remarked that if there is one drawback to being homeschooled, it's that public school kids get to do more fun experiments than we do. Then I sighed. I decided it was time to grab those pumpkins and get some learning done! We played Will It Float in the kitchen sink and learned all about circumference with a tape measure, as well as a string and ruler. We didn't count the ribs, though (*yawn* - she's 9 - boring!), nor did we estimate or count any seeds as we're not ready just yet to cut into them. (Remember I wanted to simply enjoy looking at them for a while.)
So now we have officially *learned something* with our pumpkins just like the school kids down the road. I feel so much better now.
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Monday, October 23, 2006 - I never thought I'd live to see the day
Our 18 yo high school senior is not the typical clean-cut homeschool boy. He wears a long ponytail and loves to listen to music by classic guitarists from eras gone by such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page (former lead guitarist for Led Zeppelin), Eric Johnson, etc. (And just in case you think Im a *way cool mom-in-the-know*, Ill tell you I had to do a google search just now to remember all those names.) He is a self-taught guitarist and spends hours trying to emulate his mentors. I used to stress when hed wear his beloved t-shirts bearing the faces of one of those guys to church or a homeschool family gathering, but I finally decided I could be fighting bigger battles, so now Im just thankful.
Anyway, on to my story. Today started out as a regular day. It was a good day with no bickering and we even had some nice thought-provoking conversation going among the four of us (me and three kids). It was a gorgeous day outside and we had the door and windows open letting in the marvelous weather. I was going about my normal routine when suddenly my son plugged his ipod into the cd player and said, "Mom, did you used to play this song on the piano?" (He knows I used to play classical music when I was young.) Well, I prepared myself to hear some guitar solo screaming out from the speakers and I already had my answer ready (No!), when lo and behold, to my utter surprise, I hear...get this...BEETHOVEN! He had downloaded BEETHOVEN onto his ipod and has been listening to piano and symphony music written by BEETHOVEN lately! Im still stunned.
You have to understand - I pulled this boy out of public school when he was in 6th grade. He had a LOT of ps running through his veins for a long time. He was very resistant to anything remotely *schoolish* and a relaxed style of learning has been very beneficial for him over the past few years that weve been homeschooling. I am confident that he is learning much more than he would be if he had stayed in a ps environment.
At first, as a new homeschool mom, and even lately as a more veteran homeschool mom, I have tried, tried, tried to sneak in some classical music throughout our days at home. It has always been met with moans and groans from all three kids. (The other two are 15 and 9.) Since it was not incredibly high on my priority list of things to force, er, teach, I usually let it go after a concerto or two and all was well with life again.
Im still in shock. I really cant believe my son is listening to classical music - on purpose! All my badgering, er, teaching is beginning to pay off. Its about time. He graduates in May.
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