• Aug. 19, 2008
I'm torn

So, every time I look at my littlest guy, since his first haircut last night, I'm totally torn!  He looks so precious with his new, improved boyishness.....but I loved his super fuzz, too.  His face seems to scream masculinity to me, now......I guess that's a good thing.  Maybe no one else will ask if he's a boy or a girl :)

On our second week of school here, and things are running fine, for now.  Turns out, the kids WILL be doing art with their grandmother again this year, so today will be the first day for that.  They love it, and are looking forward to it.....Isaac will be joining them this year, and he can't wait to get down and dirty :)

We went to a birthday party for a cousin last night, and have another birthday party for that same family on Sunday.  Friday we have birthday parties, and Saturday we have birthday party to go to in Madison, AL.  I'm reckonin' I'll have enough cake over the next few days to keep me smiling :)  I had some really yummy coconut cake Saturday night (and chocolate cake!), even if I did destroy it when I cut it.  I love cake, does it show?

A friend of ours had a brand new baby daughter last week!  We're excited to find the opportunity to go over and visit...and give her a helping hand, even :)  It's always awesome when good folks accept the beautiful blessings of children from God!!  It gives me much hope for the future of this nation.

When you think of how rapidly the homeschooling community is growing, and the fact that the majority are Christian families, then take into consideration how much more likely the children of those families are to vote and be involved than their peers who are better socialized....it's fabulous news :)  As long as we can just hold on to our freedoms and rights until these good and bad decisions of parents come full circle!!

I guess I should not spend any more time sharing the dull details of my existence, when there is so much to do!

Later, friends :)

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• Aug. 13, 2008
It's all downhill from here :)

It's officially 1:30 pm, and we have officially made it through our 3rd day of school for the 2008-2009 school year.  Things are going good, thus far.....we are managing to complete all the assignments in a reasonable amount of time even with the multiple and spontaneous baby boxing and screaming matches that seem to ALWAYS erupt right where we're working!  No complaints, though.....we're working more quickly than I had expected with the additional subjects and additional student this year...so I'm happy with that :)

Isaac is doing well, although he is not all hype about this whole school business.  This morning he says "I ALREADY know plenty of school!!  I don't need to learn anymore now.  I KNOW that 9 plus 4 equals 16, and I don't need ANYTHING else!!"  So the rest of us laugh at him, and I'm sure he thinks that it is because he's just so darn cute no matter what.......  Needless to say, he has to do school, and he does it, and it's all over with before he knows it  :)

Charles & Carly were working on mnemonic phrases to help them remember the order of the planets this afternoon....Carly was satisfied with using one that is not original...however, Charles was not satisfied till he came up with his own.  My Vacuum Easily Moves Junky Stuff Under Nasty Places.  It's certainly more entertaining than My Very Elderly Mother Just Swept Up Nine Pins.....but really, do any of us mothers want to referred to as elderly...much less VERY ELDERLY.  Well, as you can guess, that is the one Carly chose.....just affirmation that her mother truly IS too old to be a ballerina ;)

I have decided to do myself a favor and no longer wait until they finish a subject before moving on.  I give them a limited amount of time to complete independent, or class work for each subject, whatever they do not finish becomes homework to complete and turn into me before or the following morning.  That helps in making the school day move along...especially when the kids want to spend endless hours working on something they already know how to do! 

We took the kids to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN this past Saturday.  They had a blast!  We never made it to the water park portion of the park, there just was not enough time in the day....they were totally satisfied with the rides, though :)  It was an interesting place, the different sections of the park represented different holidays, Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter.....and surprisingly enough....in the little kiddie section, which was really neat with water sprinklers shooting up out of the ground and lots of other fun little guy stuff....they mingled Christian music in with the kid music that was playing.  AND, they have live performances, different genres at different hours, country, oldies, Praise & Gospel, and Karaoke.  It is definitely a different, much more family friendly theme park environment when you compare it to what you will find at any of the six flags parks.  The crowd was much more tolerable as well :)  Top that off with all you can drink sody pop, and really, what MORE could anyone ask for?

I got a lovely surprise from a lovely woman at last week's Mom's Night Out....a huge, sweet, yummy cake to celebrate our 12th anniversary!  It was so pretty, and so thoughtful, and definitely tasty :)  I love having such fantabulous friends!  Many thanks from me, the husband, and the kids...everyone has enjoyed having cake all made and ready to eat...muahahahahahaha

The current school term (for me) just wrapped up yesterday, so I am free from the burden of school work for the next week.  What will I ever do with my time?

I'm off to do some cleaning now that the school day is done.  Hope everyone is doing well!!

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• Aug. 4, 2008
And Oh My Goodness AGAIN!

You know what JUST occurred to me?...well....just Sunday at least?!  Tuesday is August 5.  Do you know what that means?  No, it does not mean that it's MNO, although it is :)  August 5, 2008 marks 12 years of wedded bliss with my super stud-muffin :)  I sure do love that hunk of man!

It also marks 5 years from the very first MNO for our homeschool support group, in 2003.  Wow, it has been 5 years since it all started.  Charles was in 1st grade, he was my only kid in school at the time.  This year, I gain a 3rd OFFICIAL FULL TIME Kindergarten student.  I'm kinda wondering how all of this is going to work out..all I know at this point is that it most definitely will.

I've got oodles and oodles of stuff to accomplish today, so I'm cutting this short.  Later all Y'all.

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• Aug. 2, 2008
Oh My Goodness!

So, I'm visiting my own blog....and I'm reading my last entry and am totally overwhelmed at all the Is that are in that post!  I must be the  most self-absorbed person on the face of this earth!  You would think from reading that, that it's all about me and that I am all I ever think about!  Please disregard that last post, as I would hate for anyone to look at it and think that  I think that I am just so darn important.....sheesh!

Anyways, so our DSL is out till the first of next week sometime.  They have to come rebury our cable...because they are dimwits and they always bury JUST below the surface of the ground so that the rain washes the earth off and exposes the cable to everything.  How nuts is that?  I would have so totally learned MY lesson like 12 years ago, the first time it happened...but whatever.  I suppose I am and should be quite grateful that I even have access to DSL, since I'm like the only person around here who does.  Being so special does come with great sacrifice at times, so quit hatin'

Ok, I'm done now.  It's time for me to go do something for somebody else :)

TTFN

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• Jul. 31, 2008
Here we are again

After days and days of a messed up sewage system, we are finally back in business and able to use our water without fear of horrible, ugly backup problems!  It's amazing how quickly things get nuts when you can't use your water!  It's been a while since we've had water problems, and we're a larger family now....so it was blah!!  But it's over, and life is good.  We have spent the day, and will spend the remainder of the day cleaning house, all of it, since tomorrow will be a busy day and I don't want to have to worry about what all needs to be done.

I have a training session tomorrow evening....for my new "job"...assuming that training goes well, I guess.  Tentatively, I will be tutoring associate and bachelor's level students online with problems in the subjects of accounting and finance.  It's nowhere near lucrative, and will be only part-time...as if full-time is EVEN an option, but it gives me experience teaching at the college level which will benefit me when I finish my MBA and begin searching for positions as an adjunct instructor with online colleges and universities.  BUT, it DOES pay, and it DOES forward me toward my ultimate goal, so it's definitely a great thing :)  It ought to be interesting...a 3 hour training session?  Aye, aye, aye.

 I'm faced with it, now, instead of just thinking about it and hoping for it, which makes me nervous......now that it's almost a reality, I feel inadequate......but hopefully training goes well and I get over that really quickly!!

It's raining and storming here at the moment, which is nice...but not too much, please...my husband just got back to work!! 

We have a date with some friends tomorrow afternoon, everyone here is looking forward to that :)  I think we all need to get out of the house at this point.

I need to make a trip to Staples, in need of several school and office supplies, and got a really good coupon in the mail yesterday, offering an additional 25$ worth of products for free with a minimum purchase of $50.  I will surely spend $50, maybe I won't have to spend more! 

I need to get on the ball with Isaac and his phonics lessons, he's doing a good job reading, but we haven't done it in 2 or 3 weeks, and I'm hoping he hasn't forgotten anything!  I am slowing him down.....but I guess I'm gettin' back on the wagon :)  He refuses to hold his pencil correctly, so I'm going to attempt a normal size pencil with one of those ergonomic pencil grips to see if that helps him out. 

I guess that's enough for now, I know it isn't all, but it is all my brain can produce at the moment.

Later Y'all :)

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• Jul. 24, 2008
COTTON PICKIN!!

One of these days, I'm actually going to be able remember all things and complete thoughts and all that stuff. 

I've been meaning to share something with my homeschoolin' mommy buddies!  I have heard numerous mention that they'd love to have the opportunity to earn a little extra money from home and in my search for a legitimate work from home opportunity, I have found one!  If you're interested in more info. visit http://www.apply.westathome.com/ 

I have not tried this, because it's not what I'm looking for, and I'm holding out for what I'm looking for (meaning I will remain broke) at least for the time being.  So I can not swear by it, but I have done plenty of research and checked with BBB and all that jazz on the different opportunities available and from all I can gather, this is the real deal. 

Anyways, Wow!  Look how quickly I updated!!!   I know, I know...this doesn't count.

Later Y'all

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• Jul. 24, 2008
How does this happen?

I honestly don't know so much time passes between posts for me, because I THINK ABOUT updating all the time!  By the time I make it from where I was when the thought hits me till I actually sit down to do it, a diaper calls, a spill occurs, I get asked about 50 questions, or I run across something that must be taken care of right away and by the time it's done, I've moved on and forgotten where I was headed to begin with.  Sounds excitin', don't it ??

My husband is finally back to work after being broken down since the beginning of July, which is nice.  Now it's time to play catch-up, which will be the course of action until the next disaster, which will likely happen as soon as we think we're in the clear :) 

It's hot and nasty outside and I haven't been out there, nor do I plan to go.  My yard is nice and brown and ugly anyways, in the places where there was even grass to begin with......so why even look at it?  It's best to stay inside and pretend that outside does not exist :)  At least as far as I'm concerned.  The kids go out there......brave little souls.

We had a visit this past Tuesday from some friends we haven't seen in a while.  It was nice spending a little time with them, as always.  I miss having them live close.  Although we still didn't see each other that often, spur of the moment kinda stuff happened and was much more likely to be successful when it took 5 mins. vs. an hour to visit. Good news is, I have a terrific friend thinking of moving right next door to me!!! (wink, wink....tee hee hee)  Really, though....it was great seeing them and I am ever so thankful for their presence in our lives.  Just as I am with all my good buddies.

Speaking of good buddies, we all know that term from "10-4 good buddy" trucker talk over the cb.  Well, something I learned from being a once OTR trucker's wife is that they only call each other "good buddy" when they want to fight...because it implies that the "buddy" is lookin' for love in the wrong gender, if you catch my drift.  So do yourselves a favor, and don't use it, especially on truckers unless you're looking to get into a brawl :) 

OH!  And in case anyone is still waiting for me to share what "sengin" is.....confusion courtesy of the master confusatory himself (aka Daniel).....don't get all excited, because it's so disappointing to learn that "sengin" means "ginsenging"..or collecting, harvesting, looking for ginseng.  Yeah, I know....WOW, I'm soooooo glad I know that . *big ole eye roll*

OH! And PETA people, if you're reading this......DO NOT visit the blogs of my friends, I'd surely hate for a certain someone to have to take her kids to the prison to see their Dad.

I guess that's going to be it for now.......hopefully I'll update soon :)  *fingers crossed*

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• Jun. 30, 2008
Our "Summer" is almost over already :(

It is unbelievable that tomorrow is July 1st!  Today marks the 6th week of our 8 week summer vacation, if all goes as planned, we will begin our next school year on the 14th of July.  I'm going to attempt to take advantage of this week to do some things that really need done like cleaning out and organizing in the kids' rooms.  Clothes, especially, need to be sorted through and those clothes in waiting need to be put away in plastic totes, or something that keeps the little guys out of them! Lots of housework and bookkeeping to catch up on this week, hoping to make a decent dent today!

It's been a long week, my husband caught a really bad, long-lasting tummy bug that had him out of work for several days, and so weak once he returned that it was still a struggle to accomplish anything....especially in the heat....blech!  He's still having some problems, but slowly getting his strength and his appetite back.

Tomorrow is Mom's Night Out!  I am in dire need of it and can't wait to go :)  It's always such a good time, we have such a great bunch of moms in our homeschool group and I am always looking forward to spending time with them.

My mother finally came home from the hospital this past Friday, they spent a week testing her and never coming up with any sort of answer as to where all her blood went.  They just gave her a prescription for iron pills and sent her on her way....eventually.  There was lots, and lots, and lots of running back and forth between home, her home, and the hospital last week and we're glad she's home, but frustrated that they really never offered a reason for her sudden blood loss.  The whole environment at the hospital she was in in Athens was just so different from my experiences at Huntsville, but that's where she wanted to be.  If it happens again, though, we're not asking.....we're just taking her somewhere better.

Carly will only have a couple of piano lessons in the month of July because her instructor has plans to be somewhere.  She's still doing well, and always excited to go to class and learn more to improve.  Charles is still learning to play the guitar, doing good and learning lots.

Isaac is reading & writing some, wanting to play piano, guitar, and drums (Yeah right!  Until the whole pay attention and practice comes in!!)  He'll definitely have to wait on that.....but they're ALL looking forward to Upwards basketball which should be coming up now in about 2.5 to 3 mos!!  We're all hoping Daddy helps coach this year, the church has been after him to do it and he's not OTR this year....so hopefully..................

We will be finishing the second half of the Prairie Primer this year.  Isaac will be finishing Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, beginning "Little Hearts for his Glory" with Singapore Math.  Charles & Carly are going into 6th and 4th grades and we plan to add Beautiful Feet History and Apologia Astronomy & Botany to the curriculum list this year.  I wanted to do the D'ulaires Mythology study as well, but I don't want to kill them.  Perhaps next year we will do that since the Primer will be complete. I've made a promise to myself and my kids that we will spend more time at the library this year. Should we add Dewey Decimal to our list of things to learn?  Why does this list only get bigger the more they learn?  Why can't I teach them absolutely everything? There is so much out there for them to learn and understand, we could spend 12 hours a day at school and still feel inadequate, I suppose!

I'm sure that there is more, but I can't think of it right now and all that stuff that needs to be done while both me & the kids are out of school is so totally screamin' at me! 

Take care, all Y'all.

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• Jun. 4, 2008
It's been a while...

I know it's been a long time since I've posted!  I just haven't MADE the time to do it.  I began working on my MBA May 21st, and have kinda had my head somewhere else.  Before then, just attempting to keep all the different responsibilities associated with our lifestyle current so that I wouldn't feel overwhelmed by leaving other duties in a state of "catch up".   At least those are my excuses :)

Since we've last spoken, we've spent some fun time with some great friends, I've developed sports injuries, had a lovely late night after some fun trivia that was WAAY too difficult for my taste, and done lots of yard and housework.  Everyone here is doing just dandy, and life is normal....lots of stuff to do and lots of folks to love and laugh with while you do it (when everyone's in a good mood...tee hee hee).

I've also signed up with an online publishing thingy.  Because I often feel the urge to share my 2 cents, even though I know most people don't want to hear it.  It also gives me the opportunity to share my research for school with other and future students who are searching for the same information...only I will be their resource...Ha!  Anyways, it's nothing special by any means, and I don't plan to publish often, but if you're interested in reading my occasional 2 cents, or learning more about Accounting (ha ha), you can visit my almost empty and surely slow to grow collection at :

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/218107/misty_walker.html

Just click on "subscribe" and you will be notified anytime I post something. 

I will try to do a better job keeping up my blog, I'm sure everyone has been REAL disappointed that I haven't posted in a while.........

I must move on for now!  Talk to you all soon, I hope :)

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• May. 2, 2008
It's Friday......AGAIN!

I can't believe that it's already Friday again, but this has been a good week.  We got to spend some time with some friends on Thursday, and were visited by some friends we have not seen a while on Friday.  It's always nice to spend time with those you value, and nicer knowing God loves you enough to bless your life with these people :)

The garden got weeded this week, the laundry room got cleaned out and reorganized.  The weather played tricks on me today, and I never got around to mowing, but that grass ain't goin' anywhere...I'm certain of it! 

I had started reading "Created to Be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl for the 2nd time...and lost my book.  Carly gets double Christmas presents this year, because she found it for me!  I was certain I had inadvertantly trashed it, but it appears as though Gordon put it away for me.....deep within an empty china cabinet that is on its way out the door.  So, I'm reading on, and refreshing myself on my role and my attitude.  Amazingly enough, my husband said something that REALLY, REALLY made me realize that my appropriate role in our relationship is a gift to him.  He had an absolutely horrible day yesterday....everything that could go wrong, went wrong, he was feeling totally defeated...and still unsure of what is God's will vs. his will for his career.  Anyway, he called me on his way home from work yesterday and told me a little about his frustrations, and I listened and told him I understood and that I was sorry his day was so awful and blah blah blah.  Last night, after the kids were in bed, the both of us were sitting in the living room watching Fox News and he said, "It was so good to hear your voice today.  I called you because I really needed to hear your voice, and I knew that you would listen, you would understand, and you wouldn't unload on me." 

We officially have 2 weeks left of school before we take 8 weeks off.  We will start back mid-July so that we can take the entire Holiday season off and still finish our year in May.  I've been inventorying what I have that I know I will use next year, and what I need to get for next year.  I'd rather get started now and have more time to organize and prepare.  I'd LOVE to get other areas more organized, like making monthly menus and planning my shopping trips around it, and knowing what I can prepare ahead of time and blah blah blah (again)...we'll see, I reckon....I'll just have to take it one day at a time and see how it goes. 

I wanna give a shout out to Judy.....hope you're enjoying your new "job" :)  We miss you at Mom's Night!  Speaking of which......IS NEXT TUESDAY!!  Yeeehawwww!!  It's warming up out there, we've got NO REASON to make it home before 2 a.m.  Can't wait to hang with my homies :)

My little guys are done eating dinner, and they are in desparate need of a bath after their stint outside today.  I'm off.....

 

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• Apr. 30, 2008
I was tagged.........

I'm not going to do this right and post the rules, nor am I going to tag anyone else...but I will gladly list 10 things I love about my husband!!

1.  He has a terribly fine toosh

2. He is the most honest man I have ever known

3. He can stay cool and calm in any situation

4. His arms are just as fly and attractive as his bottom is

5. He is unwavering

6. He makes gorgeous children

7. He's intelligent, wise, and really funny

8. He supports my role as a wife and mother

9. He's a good dancer...and even has some REALLY hilarious dances (wonder where Isaac gets it?)

10. He doesn't drink, smoke, spit or chew

He also has great taste in wives...but I won't mention that since I've already done my 10 ;)

I need to post to my blog.....but it must wait till later! 

TTFN

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• Apr. 20, 2008
What a difference a day makes....

I didn't get anything done once we returned home late yesterday afternoon!  I came inside and my husband informed me that I had about 10 mins. to get ready to go somewhere.  He had arranged for our sitter (whom we do not see very often!!) to come watch the kids while we went to see Ben Stein's new film Expelled.  We totally enjoyed the film, he did an excellent job making his point and exposing the association of Darwinism with the Holocaust, Planned Parenthood, and Atheism.  It was TRULY amazing to hear some of the Darwinists attempt to explain away the many, many possibilities of the origin of life, because some were so ignorant and far fetched (much farther fetched than there being a one true God) that it brought laughter from the audience.  I applaud Ben Stein for taking this step and exposing the agenda to strip our children of the opportunity or option to believe in the Creator.

Perhaps I needed to be away for a few hours, or perhaps it was merely spending time with and talking to some very dear friends of mine yesterday...maybe even a combination of those...but I woke somewhat renewed this morning.  And YES, my husband's gooey butter cake was the first thing on my to do list :)  It is a good thing to feel normal and capable of tackling this life again.  Thanks to God, my husband, and my friends for their roles in helping me over my life crisis moments :)

While Charles was out mowing for his Papa today, he noticed one of the dogs chasing something around.  He got off the mower and went to look and it was a tiny little rabbit. So, looks like we have a new family member for the present, his name is Roger...OF COURSE!  If you don't get that, don't even ask me because I WILL make fun of you :)

Aside from helping the kids get their rooms cleaned up, the house is cleaned....mopped, dusted, laundry almost done...*sigh*  I love productive days!  We still have weeding to do in the garden, but at least that's the majority of the "yardwork" that lies ahead for today.  I have completely regenerated my (necessary) lost files from the reformat earlier in the week, as well as added to them and almost gotten myself caught up in the bookkeeping arena....so life is good :)  Who was that rotten attituded, joyless, lifeless, tired hunk of woman who called herself "Misty" yesterday? 

I guess I'll get back to it!

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• Apr. 17, 2008
I fought the lawn.....

Between Charles & myself we managed to get the whole yard done yesterday.  It was great getting it done and playing badminton with the kids.  I was a good mommy and remembered to put sunscreen on the kids, but totally neglected to myself the same favor.   OUCH already!  The past couple of days have surely been nice and quite conducive for outdoor activities.

We came home Sunday to a computer that wouldn't run a single program.....so I had the pleasure of reformatting and starting over ; except for a few files that I was able to recover beforehand.  I have a good bit of work to do on catching up this file and that file, but it's kinda ok.  I need the extra practice on creating workbooks Excel anyways...I reckon....

I would say that I have been doing well on those 4 little thingys about myself that I have been working on....but this week has kinda blown it for me.  I've done better, and I've had a couple of successful weeks before this one...but my spark and my motivation burnt out somewhere on the road between here and PCB.  Maybe now that I know that everyone knows, I can fix it :)

Enough for now I guess.

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• Apr. 16, 2008
Do I NEED a Title?

What a week it has been since picking up my little brother last Tuesday.  It was good to see him, but I'm glad that the chaos of company and so much to do is all over!  We had some friends over last Thursday so the boys could have an airsoft war.  I'm pretty sure they all had a fabulous time hurting one another.  I guess it doesn't hurt bad enough ;)  My children are blessed, as am I, that we have some really great friends, and their families all get along with and enjoy each other so well. 

This past Friday we had our Keepers meeting.  The kids learned to play both volleyball and badminton.  I have been given the job of setting our net up once Charles gets the lawn mowed today...my kids can't wait to get out there and play these games.  So, I reckon once school is done for the day, we will all most likely find ourselves outside working...which is sooo totally fine with me :)  Some of the seeds in our garden have germinated.  The frost a couple of nights ago killed the leaves on the tomato and pepper plants, but the plants are still very alive and should spring right back.  No more late frosts, please.  I still need to plant another row of lettuce so that we can have a subsequent harvest, some spinach, garlic, potatoes and okra....I'll get right on that *snicker*.  Charles has been keeping the garden watered for us..which takes a while.  We all need to get out there and start weeding and pulling stray grass while it's still a relatively small job. 

I have lots of Iris blooms popping up, but only one has actually bloomed so far.  I LOVE bearded iris, and can't wait until they're all blooming and I can enjoy the many beautiful colors.  I reckon I must have every color known to man (or known to the iris....tee hee hee), except for that rusty orange color...blech.  I DO have Tennessee orange though!  Go Vols!!  OK, enough of that.

We left for PCB late Friday afternoon...only to take the rain and the cool with us.  We went to the beach on Saturday, and the children had a good time to spite the cold and the overcast, sporadically sprinkling skies.  No one spent much time in the water, or went out more than just a few feet because of the rip tide....bad waters that day.  They all enjoyed the sand, though.  And Isaac enjoyed chasing seagulls around....he was convinced he was going to catch one and bring it home with him :)

My husband got food poisoning from SOMEWHERE.  He was violently ill Saturday evening into Sunday morning.  It was a LOOOOONGGGGG trip home Sunday...needless to say.  He's still sore and has no appetite, but at least he is on his way back to normal. 

I have more that I'd like to talk about right now,  but I need to go jumpstart our morning if I actually intend on FINISHING the yard today.

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• Apr. 5, 2008
Where has the time gone?

Wow, so since I last posted, my little Levi turned 1...I would post pictures but for some reason (conspiracy against my sanity I'M SURE), my computer is not recognizing my camera and here we are!  It's hard to believe he has been with us for a year now, growing so quickly!  Like the rest of us, Levi loves to dance, even nursing doesn't stand in his way when the music is on....not that he stops nursing...he just does both at the same time :)  He's walking well and building a vocabulary and great sense of humor.  We wonder what he will look like when he gets a little older.  He's a carbon copy of his big sister...but looks an awful lot like his big brothers at the age of 1, too....so I guess we'll see!

MNO was this past Tuesday, and as always it was grand to be with my friends...it always ends too quickly.  My 13 yo brother is coming to visit for a few days.  He'll be here Tuesday night and we will take him home Friday night and spend Saturday and a small portion of Sunday with him in PCB.  The kids are looking forward to the beach...it's been a few years since we've been able to go visit.  My father will not be around, however, he's leaving for a bowling tournament once he helps his family sort through the death of my grandmother this past week. I will get to see my 23 yo brother, and meet his other half.  They are expecting a son in July or August.  I reckon I'll be taking them some baby stuff, too!  And A & W Cream Soda for him since they don't sell it down there...for whatever reason.

The week has been kinda depressing...with all the rain and sad events.  It has rained and rained and rained and rained....and my  husband is a logger...so you can see where the blah comes into the picture :)  Today, we're making some upside down tomato and bell pepper plants out of 5 gallon buckets.  We'd like to start our garden tomorrow...but not sure how that's going to work out yet...since the sun won't come up and attempt to do at least some slight drying!  Now that some of my children are older and more capable than 4 years ago (tee hee hee), I hope to have greater success keeping up with it.  The grass always takes over because weeding and pulling up things that aren't suppose to be there just couldn't happen enough.  Now, I have several extra, capable hands to help with that!  We plan to raise corn, green beans, onions, carrots, cantloupe, watermelon, cucumber, a couple of different types of lettuce, brocolli, banana peppers, and zucchini squash aside from our tomatos and bell peppers.  I'm sure I'm missing at least one other item there...but that's just going to have to serve as my list for now :)

Man, the grass already needs mowing!  At least the spots where we have grass....OH, and Daniel finally put my weeping willow in the ground yesterday!  I love them, and have wanted one forever....and thanks to a dear friend of mine, I have one!  They're suppose to grow quickly...like 8 to 10 feet per year...so I'm really hoping that I have an 8 to 10 foot willow before winter rolls around again :)  I've been keeping it heeled in the ground...I hope it makes it alright!

There is still much to do around here, move those two big cars out of my front yard, make more grass grow, build two concrate patios....argh!!  Is it ever gonna happen??  Surely, with time...as always :)  Dry up already, would ya?!

Later friends

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• Mar. 25, 2008
Happy Birthday to my Gordon!

Gordon is 3 years old today!  I am so grateful that he is a part of this family and that we are given the opportunity to give and receive the awesome love and affection that is wrapped up in this super tiny, somewhat miniature version of a 3 year old ;)  Gordon has the sweetest voice, and it joys me to just sit and hear him talk about things, not only because 3 year old stories are funny....but because the sound of his voice is just that precious.  I hope he shares his stories and his affections with me for the rest of MY life.

On other fronts, I'm still working on fixing all the little things about myself and my attitudes that need fixing.  It's a tall order to be the person that God instructs us to be...and to do it ALL THE TIME!!  But upon realization of the fact that God does not base his expectations of me on how I might compare with the rest of society, but strictly on his word that he has laid out in front of me in black & white......such a tall order...but surely, SURELY I can AT LEAST improve myself.  Perfection would be nice....but I gotta start somewhere, right?

OK, so I know you're all dying to know just what on earth is wrong with me anyways?!  Well, let's just say that lifetime habits are hard to break and these are the points that I will be working on within myself...and hopefully I can create new habits that will further me into walking more closely with God and becoming the person he wants me to be.

1.  Quit complaining!!  Not only does complaint communicate that I am ungrateful, but kids pick up on  their parents' habits....and the complaining thing just has to go altogether.  We are a very happy, very blessed, and very grateful family...but unfortunately, our words do not always communicate this.

2.  Love my enemies, bless those who curse me, turn the other cheek, etc......that's pretty self explanatory!  But, but........I guess there really is no excuse not to love, bless, and encourage others indiscriminately.

3.  No yelling, always correct in love, and BE CONSISTENT by golly!  I'm not like horrible at this or nothing, but there is definite, and evident room for improvement.

4.  Face all tasks before me with a happy heart!!  I wonder why the kids aren't doing back handsprings over chores?!  hmmmm.............  Really though, what a blessing it is to my family when things are done and there is peace and organization in the home.  Regardless of how I feel on any given day, I must get past my periodic selfishness and realize the good and the reward in a sometimes seemingly impossible task of running this household.  God has promised me that he will not give me more than I can handle....and I must have faith in his word and KNOW that I can and I WILL happily fulfill my role in this family at all times.

So that's only 4 things...but they are tough things...and I gotta start somewhere.  So, hold me accountable, would ya?  With God's guidance and strength, I hope to look back on this sooner than later, and be able to say that I have turned some old bad, habits into behaviors that are more becoming of a wife and mother striving to be a fine example of a child of God. 

Till then, I'm going to try to concentrate on these things....and not consistently add more to my list!!

Later Y'all

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• Mar. 11, 2008
Life

Life the past several days has been so unpredictable, with its ups and its downs and its all the way arounds.  Lots of paperwork to catch up on here which has been difficult since the loss of my husband's laptop, and the files therein, and the ability to work from anywhere in the house!  I will attempt tomorrow to put the harddrive into a portable harddrive "case" thingy and see if I can retrieve the data files from that bad boy....of course, first I must go pick it up from the service place since they won't even get to look at it till Thursday.  Hurry up and wait already!!!!

Yesterday was a good day, school went well, and quickly.  We flew kites and I did a good bit of working while going in between the yard and the office.  It was beautiful out there yesterday...and the yard is starting to get green!!!  I'm so excited that one day, I will have a concrete patio and not mud for a yard :)

My sweet husband is on his way to pick up a used King bedroom suite from a family.  It's in great shape, and really cheap...and I'm really excited because this will be the first time since we got married (in 1996) that we will have bedroom furniture outside of a bedframe, mattress & boxsprings, and some miscellaneous storage devices.  Of course, now we need a king mattress and boxspring...but progress is GOOOODDDD. 

Daniel's oldest sibling comes to visit his family for a week tomorrow.  I haven't met this sister.  She lives in CA, and I don't remember her age, but she's in her late 40s.  I'm looking forward to meeting her, I guess she's the only one I haven't met!  I'm sure I'll meet her before Thursday night, seeing as how we live SO close to my in-laws, but for sure we'll be joining the whole family Thursday night at Daniel's parents house.  12 kids, 12-16 adults....get togethers in this family are always a crowd.  I'm not complainin' though, I love Daniel's parents, and most of the others...tee hee hee ;)

I miss my friends, and my head hurts, but life is good.

See Y'all later!

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• Mar. 5, 2008
Back by Popular Demand...or harassment or something

So where am I?  I owe Charles a Happy 11th Birthday!  He turned 11 on February 12th, and I am totally not willing to entertain the idea that he is getting older.  He's getting this "older boy" kinda handsomish kinda look to him, that I only notice in pictures, and I'm really  not sure it's ok.  He's such a genuinely kind kid, and he's going to make some girl that I'm certain I will not like a fine husband one day.  Let's just hope she has a good sense of humor...hehehehe 

Charles is one of those easy, low-maintenance kinda kids...the kind where you know you could have dozens and it would be ok if they all came out as tame and eternally happy as this one.  He's a fabulous big brother, a great help to me, and luckily for him, not tall enough to put away dishes and reach all the way into the bottom of the washer without a stool...lol  DARNIT!!!

Mom's Night was tonight!  We had a good time and Miss Beautiful made me a cake so we could all celebrate my graduation together *sniff sniff*  How sweet is she?  AND, next month, her Mom will be joining us and I can't barely wait to see Judy again :)  Thanks, Laurie, for all you do and all you are.  Although I STILL do not appreciate you doing things that OBLIGATE me to up my game....really though...I'm tired and I wanna eat bon bons and watch soap operas!!

Ok, I'll write more later...it's late, and I've got a date with the doc in the a.m.  Take care all, and looking forward to seeing you soon, my friends :)

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• Feb. 2, 2008
I know, I know

Wow, am I ever behind :)

I guess I should start with my Carly and her 9th birthday!  Carly turned 9 on January 21st, and I can't believe my one and only girl is 9 years old!!  She is such a blessing to this family, and I am infinitely grateful that God gave her to me :) 

Carly has been very independent since birth, she came into this world knowing that she didn't need anyone's help with anything.....except maybe those minor things like feeding and cleaning until she was actually physically capable ;)  She is still a very independent and resolute person.  She has such a natural gift for physical humor,  athleticism., and is definitely our most artistic child; always creating.  She's awesome with the little guys around here, and she warms my heart with her sweet smile and her random acts of selflessness.  Although she tries to keep it under wraps, Carly has a huge heart that loves indiscriminately and tries to be a friend to everyone she meets.  We love our girl, and feel exceptionally blessed to have the honor to protect her, love her, and teach her to walk in truth. 

It's birthday season at our house, 2 down, 3 to go before the end of March!  I'm not complaining, though....I loves me some cake

That's all I can get done for now, will hopefully be back soon to catch up. 

Take care, friends :)

 

 

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• Jan. 9, 2008
Hello, New Visitor

I just wanted to say Hello to my CyberDaddy, who will now be visiting my blog :)  This man has been a great friend of our family now for 9 years!  Unbelievable that it has been that long!  The kids call him PawPaw, and here he is with Isaac during a visit to our home on Christmas Day just a few short weeks ago. 

I call him my cyber-daddy because (believe it or not) we met this man online, in a chat room, and his role in my life is much like that of a father figure.  Our family looks forward to many, many, many more years of this great friendship.

X's & O's Paw Paw :)

P.S.  Thanks for telling me how to add photos Miss Beautiful :)

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