Today was our first day of school!  We had a nice long break from the grind and it feels good to switch up the routine of having no routine....does that even makes sense??  My baby is an 8th grader!  Wow! 

    Today Bryan started with History, his study on the Book of Acts, and reading.  Not much, but we are waiting for our books to come in.  I did decide to go with a charter school and we waiting to meet our teacher and get curriculum ordered.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but, then, that is my specialty!  It should be interesting and we are looking forward to the experience.

    I hope you all have a good week and have a good time starting your new school year!  It's all good!!

Good News for California Homeschoolers!!!!  In these legal battles for freedom, every victory is a blessing!

Earlier today (Friday) the California Court of Appeal ruled that the state's education code allows parents to home school their children. That decision means parents do not have to obtain state credentials in order to home school. The court acknowledged that a state prohibition on home schooling would intrude on parents' constitutional right to direct their children's education, and that that any limit on that right would be presumed unconstitutional......the whole story:

PRAY FOR THE FISH!!!!

~I found this picture at christart.com~

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
all our sins and griefs to bear! 
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

    Well....I hesitate to report, in the event that the walls have ears, but we have been ant free for 3 days now.  It appears as though the tiny black troops have moved on to other hills...greener grass....hopefully far away.  I am thankful...almost gleefull at the moment, as I relish this victory!!   Every morning since moving into our new spot, I would peek into the kitchen, holding my breath, scanning the countertops, looking for traces of the enemy. Up until a few days ago, my heart would sink and my blood pressure would rise as I flew into combat!!  There is sweet peace now.  My efforts to rid my family of the pests have been rewarded.  But, I can't drop my guard...I must always be waiting, watching and looking for the enemy.

    That makes me ponder life....funny how all things tie in together with God's creation.  There are always so many trials that come our way and make our days stressfull in one way or another.  It could be finances, heartache, illness, disasters that come our way, or even ants invading our home.   We wake up in the morning, not suspecting a thing, and then something hits to bring in the clouds of gloom.  Trials hurt!  Trials weaken us as we feel their sting.  We can let these things consume us and make us so angry or so hurt that we forget the many, many,many blessings that God showers upon us.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the sting.  As Christians, we need to allow God to be our strength.  Keeping our minds fixed on Him is the key to surviving the many trials.  I know that I have to remember that myself, and not allow the frustrations to take root.  Nothing good can come from allowing dark times to take root in our lives!!!!!  Stay in the light!  Turn your face to Jesus and allow Him to fight for us.  Life is good, so very, very good and there is nothing that can remove us from God's loving care!!  We cannot avoid having problems, where the world peeks into our lives and shakes us up a bit...where people step on us and treat us like dirt...when finances are so messed up that we cannot see how anything will work out...when the storms seem to tear everything we have to shreds....bad things happen.  I know the storms of life make me so appreciate the calmness the sweeps over me.  The times where a cool breeze soothes me or when a trip to Starbucks for a frappie warms my heart...times when I can sit with family and friends and laugh so hard I hurt everywhere.  The good is so much better than the bad.  The enemy loves to lie in wait, looking for an opportunity to ruin our day and wipe the smile from our face.  What better way to ruin the ENEMY'S day, than to rejoice in the midst of those trials!!

 Even the best planned, most enjoyable, sunny-day kind of picnic will see it's share of ants.  Cover the food and go play....it is all good!!!!!

    So.....ants....here is the update...  As of this moment, we are ant free.  Day before yesterday, we were invaded badly!  The little black creatures found a weakness in our stronghold, and, in less than an hour, our kitchen was covered!  Thousands of them!  Bryan and I had served dinner, ate dinner and then went to clean up....and there they were.  Do they have cameras watching our movements?  How did they get in there so fast?  Where did they come from?  I have searched and searched and cannot find where they come in.  They are so sneaky!!  I got mad.  All games are over!  I was taken over by a mad desire to wipe them out...all of them!  The pesky little black crawly things must go! 

    In walking behind Da Cabin, I found thousands in a mad dash, going both directions, along the top of the fence.  They were excited and in a hurry to get to whereever.  They laughed at me!! Their path ended somewhere near our trailer, but they must have erected a top secret tunnel, because I could not find the opening.  The excited army went from the fence, down a pole to the rocks and then into the rockbed....from there...it is anyone's guess.  No matter...I had Ant Dust!  I sprinkled a bit here and there, following the trail of black crawlies, hoping to cover their trails and any tunnel entrance.  My enemy was not happy!  I caused instant chaos among the ranks!  Satisfied with my attack, feeling victorious, I waited.  After an hour or so, I saw nothing of the pesky little pests, inside OR outside!!!  I won another battle!  This last blast is still holding up, as we have not found any of the pests today, nor were they there last night.  I hesitate to speak so assuredly, because, as I sit here in the darkness, in the cool of night, I sense that they are watching, waiting and planning their next assualt. 

    Bring it on........

I got an award...see on the right side...

The Medal of Awesomeness!!!!

Wow!  I feel honored...thank you Bryan.

    I am sitting out in the yard, listening to the crickets and enjoying the coolness. 

It was so hot today, but now all is calm and cool and pleasant.  It helps that I can chat with my dear friend, Patti.  If you think of it, pray for Patti, as she took a fall today and hurt her hip!  Technology....I said it before, how facinating it all is.  We can sit here and chat and feel like we are together...I love instant chatting!

    Today, Shirley's daughter, had her baby.  It was the usual pain and waiting before the precious miracle arrived!  Kylie Ann is here...well, sort of...she is far away in The Lone Star State, but I sense her presence.  It will be sweet to hold her one of these days.  I am enjoying my calm night, but I am guessing that Kristin and Kylie Ann are enjoying their night even more....a new Momma and her sweet baby girl.  ---sigh---

    Things are coming together here at our new home.  It doesn't "feel" like home yet, but it will.  Change happens and it just takes time to get used to it all.  I need to take pictures.  I have gotten out of my snap happy habit that I used to have.  Why is that?   Why do we go through periods of time where we never take photos?  Strange.  I have to get back into the groove.

    Well, it is getting late and I should go inside.  There are dishes to be done.  Have a restful night and a wonderful tomorrow!  Smile and be thankful for all you have....God is good!

Today is a good day to ponder what we will do for school this next year.  I have been thinking of that for a while, but, for some reason, today is the day for decisions!  We use Saxon Math and we love it.  I know, many have a love/hate...some just hate relationship with Saxon, but it has suited us well.  Bryan finished 76 and I planned on buying 87 for this year.  But, I am changing my mind.  There are many people that skipped 87 and went to Algebra 1/2, saying that students who have gone through the other books and do well could handle it.  Interesting!  Is there anyone out there in Blog World that has done this??  How did it work for you?  Hubby and I are thinking we will be rebels and skip!!  We will work a lot on History and Science this year.  I have said it before, we are not strong in those areas.  Eighth grade!!!!  So many subjects to cover!!  We are planning to use Further Up and Further In this year for the fun of it and I have heard good things about it.  More Narnia is always a good thing!!  Does anyone have ideas about History??  Ever heard of "The Mystery of History"?  We also like to use Christian Liberty Press.  My list is growing.

    In case you are wondering, the ant problem is getting better.  We have stopped most from getting in and I have conquered many a hill in our yard!  I am determined to be ant free!!!! 

    Well, that is the extent of my thinking today.  Life here in the new digs is okay and we are getting used to the change.  I found my swimming suit in the move...now I miss the pool!  Be well and have a wonderful day.

    We did it!  The move took place without a hitch....well, actually, there was a hitch involved to move Da Cabin from point A to point B.  Michael and Shirley arrived around 11:30 Saturday morning.  We had most things ready to go, but like anytime you move, there is so much to do right at the end.  We had lots of help from Patti and Frank and Eli.  The nice thing about living in an RV, is that you can toss all of your stuff inside, lock the door and hit the road.  When you get to your new digs, open the door, unload and WAALAA!  HOME!!  It is so strange waking up the next morning.  You are in your same house, but have different sounds and a different view.  Our little spot here is nice.  We have a yard and bushes and even grape vines.  Very homey!  After we add our homey touches, I think we will have a cozy little respite.

    The worst thing about leaving The Cove is leaving our dear friends.  That was heart breaking.  They are more than friends, they are family and always will be.  Patti and Frank, Eli and Elaine are so wonderful.  We grew to be so close.  Patti and Frank spoil Bryan like he is one of their own.  They bought an electric scooter, a fun little contraption that allows one to zip and zoom about.  Well, Bryan rode the thing quite a bit this past week...with permission, of course.  He fell in love with it.  The last day we were there, Patti tried and tried to get Frank to part with the thing...so she could give it to Bryan!  She wanted him to have it, but Frank was using it to go to work and back!  With the price of gas, it made for a cheap transport!!  Frank finally took Patti aside and agreed to let Bryan have the scooter.  How wonderful was that!!  I could be wrong, but, I think Frank worked out a deal that will still allow for some motorized fun to be had!!!!  So,Bryan is now the owner of a pretty cool ride.  We went to the park tonight so he coud zip along the pathways and he had the biggest smile!  It helps with the sting of missing The Cove.  Thank you Patti and Frank!  It will be hard not hearing Eli walking about, visiting and walking the dogs and to not be able to chat with Elaine.  Pood misses his grass and his hugs and smooches.  Sigh...change is hard.  We have moved so much and God blesses us with good people around us.  Leaving is always sad, but I have to remember that all happens for a reason and we have many seasons that comes and go.  God provides love and support whereever we go.  As we move in another direction, we will keep the connection to loves ones.

    Along with the sadness of missing friends, we also have the joy of being near our dear friends The Disbrows!!  We are closer to them now and that is a good thing.  Now we can drive up the road to visit!!  Also, Kent is closer to work and he can come home more often now.  Another good thing!  This space is a nice one, but we still pray it will only be a short time before we can get into a home.  If you think of it, pray for us as we search.  I would appreciate it.

    Oh...guess what I have been fighting since moving in!  ANTS!  MANY ANTS!  It is the first time we have been invaded like this and I mean invaded!  They found a way in and you know what that means....lines and lines of the black pests!  I have been spraying and killing and squishing little creepy crawlies for 2 days.  The strangest thing was staring at my laptop and seeing ants pour from the jacks and keyboard!  Talk about having a bug on your computer!  It took awhile to clear them out!!  We found a great spray to use.  It is organic...cinnamon, spearmint and rosemary oils...it works really well, but it is a strong odor!  It is pretty concentrated!! 

    Well, enough for tonight.  I pray that you are well and healthy!  Take all things in stride...you'll probably laugh about it all next week.

    Things are happening.  Another page is turning for us, starting a new chapter in the Sands lives.  It was a year ago that I started talking about moving from our sweet place here at The Cove.  We have searched and searched for homes and dealt with financial issues that thwarted our efforts.  We have been driven to find something, to move out of our trusty Cabin, the trailer that has been home for 3 years.  It isn't easy finding a place that we can afford.  As you know, life is expensive and it just gets worse!  Even so, we are confident that God has our best in mind and that all will work out just fine.  We didn't find the home we desire, but we found a place for Da Cabin.  After months of looking and waiting and praying, things are happening.

    This past weekend, Kent and I found a nice little park in the area we want to move to.  We drove into the park on a whim, just so Kent could see what I was looking at.  Lo, and behold, a space had just opened!  We put down a deposit and plans for the big move began.  Just like that.  We will be closer to our dear friends, The Disbrows, and Kent will be 2 hours closer to work!  We are hopeful that this will allow Kent to be home more often, when he is driving in the area.  So, this Saturday, Da Cabin will pull out of it's comfortable spot and hit the road for a new home.  Gone will be our beautiful view of the pond and the critters that live there. 

    All of this is exciting....it is also sad knowing we have to leave our friends here at The Cove.  We have developed lifetime friendships here.  There have been many laughs and good times.  We all got through the Crazy 19 phase and now that that problem is resolved, the air is so sweet here, even though it is smokey from nearby fires.  So, leaving is hard.  We will stay in touch, though, and in God, we are all together.

    Another thing I am thinking about, is the school year.  We will be near a good charter school and I am tempted to enroll Bryan.  There is good and bad about that.  I am praying about that whole thing, trying to make a wise decision. 

    That is the news from The Cove....I am still a member until Saturday!  Take care and enjoy your day!

    Life is funny.  We travel through our lives, meeting people, going through experiences...all of it helps to make us who we are today, good and bad.  Think of all the people you have known.  My grama and I had a talk, not too long ago, about how many people each one of us touches in our lifetime.  Family, friends, strangers...so many that we meet and influence in whatever way.  We remembered that when Grampa died, there were so many people that came to his funeral.   I remember looking back, from the car we rode in to the cemetery, and watching the line of cars, headlights beaming, winding along the route.  It was a long, long line of people making their way to pay their final respects and it struck me that Grampa knew so many people!  That thought stayed with me. 

    In the last 6 months, I have connected, thanks to technology, with people that I lost touch with years ago.  Two of them were dear to me and I thought they were gone forever. Thanks to an invention called Facebook, familiar faces have been found.  Lisa, a close friend from college, found me back in December and that was so exciting!  We have found that over the years, we have both looked for each other and came up empty.  Finally, we connected and it has been great to be in touch again.  A friend from high school sent me a message a few months ago and that was a surprise.  And, now, Julie!!  Julie was my stepsister, but our parents divorced in the 80's and our paths went in different directions.  That happens.  The common bond between us split and we went from being close friends/sisters to strangers.  I believe people come and go for a reason.   They are a apart of our lives for a season and then, time marches on.  Julie, my sister, Samantha and I had some good times.  I am remembering many happy memories.  It was a shock to see Julie's face in a Facebook message...I didn't recognize her at first.  How awesome it is  to hear from her and learn how life has been all of these years.  I am so happy to learn she homeschooled her children too!!  All of this is because of technology!  Nowadays, with computers and satelites, we can find almost anyone!!   It is truly amazing!!  Type in a name, a school, so many ways, and you can find your long lost pal!  I love it. 

    I have this picture of Kristopher, Julie's son, and he was barely walking.  It was taken on one of the college lawns, the Fall Julie and I went to Seattle Pacific University.  Kristopher had on a pair of sunglasses and was soooo cute!  Everyone loved having the little guy around.  I remember that time like it was yesterday and tonight I learned that Kristopher is now a  US Marine serving in Europe.  Wow! 

    It has been a nice couple of weeks.  We left Da Cabin and headed for The Disbrows 2 weeks ago and have had a wonderful time.  Yesterday, we drove to see our other dear friends in Nevada for a birthday party.  It was nice to visit and hang out with Andy and Renee and their boys.  The little guys get cuter and cuter!  Devon turns 15 tomorrow and his parents had a party for him to celebrate this time in his life....a time of entering manhood and learning what it is to be a Godly man in this crazy world.  They had several men stand up and offer words or wisdom to Devon.  It isn't a common way to celebrate a 15 year old's birthday, but one that more people might want to consider.  Very touching and uplifting! 

    We came back to Michael and Shirley's today and it felt so good to be home.  God has blessed us in so many ways.  We have friendships that are more valuable than gold and silver!!  This week, we start hunting again for houses or a place to park Da Cabin.  Maybe we will just bring the box to a park in the area as we look for our new home.  Hard to know what to do.  There are so many sweet friends at The Cove, it will be sad to leave them when the time comes.  Something will come up and God will direct us as He usuallly does.  All is good!!  Take care and find time to laugh until you cry!  It is medicinal to laugh, you know.

July 3rd is coming...Kent and I will have been married for 15 years on that day!  Amazing how time just marches on.  I like to think back on how crazy times were when we were first together.  It was not easy adjusting to marriage, especially, because we were older and set in our ways.  Can any of you relate?  But, God has really blessed us and has helped us in our walk together.  It all works out, but it takes work.  We are trying to decide on something to do to celebrate...what a boring couple!  Probably, we will have dinner and go home.  Not much imagination, I am afraid!!!!!!

    We are at The Disbrows again...it is our home away from home and we are happy to be back.  I am not sure for how long, but we are thankful to be here again.  May you all be blessed and have a fabulous day!!

    Well, it is offical, Ron Paul has ended his campaigning for the presidency.  I knew he wouldn't win, but I sure hoped all of this time that he could somehow make it.  I had faith.  Now, who will I support?  I do not trust the 2 candidates representing the major parties.  I cannot in good faith vote for them.  I have always been a rebublican, I was born into the party, as my grama used to say.  But, the GOP just ain't what it used to be anymore.  It is a strange year for politics.  It is a strange time for a lot of things!  Like, the gas prices, grocery prices, disasters around the world....times are tough aren't they!!  Well, the Bible tells us that things will change, that is for sure, and there is something big afoot, I believe!!

    Today, we did something I never thought I would do.  Never dreamed of it!!  Are you curious??  Bryan and I were invited to go to the Bodies Revealed exhibit, by our sweet neighbor Elaine.  Have you neard of it?  Oh my...it was a strange, yet facinating, thing to see!  Real bodies, preserved in a way that allows one to see their insides, all of the glory of God's creation!  We saw muscles, ligaments, nerves, organs, bones, all of it!  Truly amazing!!  How can anyone look at the body and believe that it came from some pond ooze...or that it just...happened...POOF!  There is no way!  None!!!  It is so obvious that there is an intelligent Grand Designer, our Creator and God, that knit each body, each living thing together with love and care.  It was facinating to move through the exhibit, each of us in awe!  Well, that was a good way to end the 7th grade! A huge science lesson in anatomy!  I have to share something, a little embarrassing, but, well....here goes.  We were standing there, looking at the skeletons and talking about it all.  There was one hanging, you know, like you see in the Dr's office?  Well, I looked around to see if there was a sign and I never saw one, nothing saying 'DO NOT TOUCH'.  So, me being me, I took the skeletal hand in mine and introduced myself.  Of course, Bryan did it too!  It was then that Elaine whispered," It says DO NOT TOUCH!"  We let go quickly and I had to stop the arm from swinging!!  Sure enough, right below the, er, gentleman's foot, was a clearly displayed sign with the instruction I missed.  I felt to stupid!  No harm was done, thankfully...can you imagine if....I do not want to go there!  We moved on with no longer existant ancestral tails between our legs!!  Isn't science grand! 

    I hope you are having a good week, wherever you are.  Take care and take the time to enjoy God's splendor!  He is so amazing and so generous to us all!

    It was a beautiful day yesterday.  We had a picnic/potluck for a few of us here at The Cove.  It was nice to hear laughter and funny stories as we fellowshipped on the lawn.  Good food and good friends always make for good times.  We were wondering what took us so long to have a get-together!

    Our search still continues for a house.  When did I first mention we were planning to move??  It seems like forever ago!  We have looked at many places, some wonderful and some not so nice, but nothing has gone our way.  We are not unhappy where we are, this is the best neighborhood we have ever, ever lived in!  I am constantly amazed at how blessed we are to have so many good people around us.  But our goal has been to be closer to our dear friends, The Disbrows, and also be a little closer to Kent's work.  Our two families have been through a lot together and we sure miss them.   So, we continue to look.  I have been waiting for 3 or so weeks now on a house in the mountains...so cute!...but there has been no word.  I have called and the owner assured me he would call as soon as his decision was made.  Well.....I think it is time to move on since that call has not come.  We found another hopeful today.  Pray for us, if you will.  We just want to have a home with more room to spread out.  Just today, I have whacked my knee 3 times, due to the lack of space around me.  I am not whining, well, maybe I am a alittle, but...a gal just wants to have a house!!  Hopefully, all will come together before long.

    I guess that is all I have for today.  Take care, enjoy your coffee and enjoy the view, wherever you are!

    Happy Birthday to sweet Katey Grace!  If there is one 13 year old girl that has it going on it is Katey!  She and I love to sneak downstairs, late at night, and grab a spoonfull of peanut butter!!  It is a grand celebration for the tastebuds and so sweet to share that with Katey.  

OOOPS

I don't think I was supposed to share that!  Oh well! 

    Katey, we love you and miss you and wish so much that we were there to celebrate you!!!!  We will have to make up for it when we get back to town, back home.

    What a beautiful day!!  I love it when it isn't too hot and a nice breeze blows through.  Bryan and I sat outside with Patti and Cyndi, chatting and sharing stories.  Good stuff.  It is so good to sit and relish moments like that.  After all of the drama we have had around here lately, it was nice to have the calm. 

    My laptop arrived too!  I sent it in to HP 2 weeks ago to be fixed.  For someone who spends a lot of time on her laptop, it was driving me crazy to be without it.  So, when it arrived, I was happy!!  Yahoo!!  The joy was short lived...one problem was fixed but the main issue had not been resolved.  They did not address it at all!  So, after another hour and a half with a technician, they said to send it in again.  Aaargh!  A frustration to be sure, but, I am thankful for warranties! 

    I just talked to Kent, my truck drivin', pedal to the metal, man.  He had a scare today.  If you live near Sacramento, you know about the freeway closures.  It is not fun to navigate, I hear, and if you are in a big rig, you do not want to miss your detour exit.....I repeat...you DO NOT want to miss it!  Well, Kent missed it.  He said the sun was glaring in his eyes and he missed the sign for the exit.  As he drove by it, he realized, "OH OH!"  He took another exit, praying it was a street he could get through without too much problem, and was ready to call the police to help him get back on the right detour for trucks.  Well, all went well, and after a few extra heavy heartbeats, he managed to get back on track.  Ain't road construction grand!!!

    I am praying for my dear friend, Shirley.  She is having a rough time right now and she could use prayer.  If you think of it, pray for her and her family as they go through these times.  It will all come out okay, but trials are trials!  I am also praying that we hear soon on the house.  Still, no word and I am thinking it is not a good sign.  We shall see. 

    Be well, and as my mom likes to say, "May your days be filled with green lights and blue skies!"