The Heart of the Home seeks to equip women as they study God's Word and encourage them to treasure God with all of their heart (Matt 6:19-21), and guard their heart (Prov. 4:23), by recognizing that they are the heart of the home.

Thank goodness for Sitemeter or else I wouldn't know all 38 of you are still out there waiting
for me to post again!  I can account for some of those.....Hi Mom....but thank you to the others for checking in and seeing .....that same old post! 
We are surrounded (well not completely) by boxes and packing paper and things in the wrong room. 
We are in our own house (well, not "our" own but our own ) after living with friends for 4 months! 

So for the moment  we are digging our way out of packing paper
(I think the movers killed off a small forest just packing us)
and stacking  the boxes in the garage in prayerful anticipation of someday in the next year getting "our" own house (does any one else's husband  really like boxes?). 

So far, only one thing was broken (and easily fixed) and  there are a few chips here and there (the stuff was in storage for FIVE months!) and it only took us 4 days to find the screws for the boys bunk beds.  

I'll post soon (I missed you guys!).

Anyone want to come help me find the silverware tray?????





© Copyright 2008 Called Home

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Yesterday was a great day! My Hero and I were not looking forward to having to drop everything and go to the adoption seminar that was required for us to be able to continue with the adoption. We have been especially dreading it since my Hero got his deployment orders.

The trip started out badly. The hotel I had booked for us for Friday night had been switched to one in another town (30 min in the direction from which we had just traveled). The night in the hotel room was not good either. Our neighbor came into his room around 2 am and called someone- we could hear the loud conversation in our room. Then despite the fact that all the rooms were "non-smoking", someone next to us was definitely smoking shortly after the loud phone conversation. Of course after all that we heard every noise around us (toilets flushing, snoring, etc.) for the rest of the night.

When we woke up on Saturday, neither of us was planning for the day to go any better than our night had just gone. We were sorely mistaken. Praise the LORD!   Yesterday was great! It was not at all what we had expected. We are adopting through the African American Infant Adoption program. Part of the seminar was on hair and skin issues for our baby. Another part was gaining perspective from a birthmother who had chosen to give her baby to another family to raise. We also went through legal issues and so much more.

It was fun to get out of the house and focus completely on something other than the looming deployment for a while. It was great to be able to express some of our fears about the adoption and hear from other couples who were feeling the same way. It was wonderful to get a more clear understanding of how this adoption works from the legal perspective. The information we got from the class on hair and skin issues was amazing and so valuable.

I didn't think it was possible to get any more excited about this adoption than I already was. This seminar, that we initially felt dragged into, was great and fueled the fire of our passion and excitement for our newest family member. Now if only we didn't still have to WAIT an unknown amount of time.   I guess I need to practice patience and remember that the baby God has picked out to join our family is most definitely worth the wait!

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Theme -- Lazy

Deliciously lazy moments on the beach,
watching God's creation under a setting sun.

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Sorry for the lack of updates - our first two weeks in California have been a whirlwind. We have been visiting friends and family all up and down the coast. It's so great to see everyone and catch up on old friendships. I'll have another update soon for what we're doing now.

California - wow, I can't believe how much it feels like home. The golden, rolling hills, the oak trees, and the smell. I forgot (once again) that California has a unique smell unlike anywhere else. Of course, you have to actually get out into the country to really experience it.

Last week I was swinging in a hammock on a friend's ranch house in the country, contemplating the wonder and beauty of God's creation, singing worship songs of glory to Him. It was such a place of contentment that I haven't had in a long time. I'm going to treasure that moment for a long time.

I wish that God had California in our plans right now, but I'm willing to accept that He has something even more important for us. So, I'm enjoying the little time that I have here and I will treasure it in my heart. But, I am also looking forward to what's ahead for us.

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It's been over a year now..in fact we have been here 16 months and are very happy! I left Retail Management in the spring and found a job working at a school.....humm..since I homeschool it seemed a perfect FIT!

My MIL is STILL living with us...yes she had moved out for 3 weeks LAST year at this time and got kicked out by her roommate....she just can't get along w/women!

My husband wasn't going to let his mom live on the streets, so she "temporarily" moved in...that was a year ago! LOL  She is supposedly leaving the weekend before Thanksgiving.....the count down has begun! Of course, we have to move her back..that I'm still not thrilled about! She's been a handful and I will be glad to have my HOME back.

We've made a life here....and we enjoy it! Ashley is still being homeschooled, our youngest Nicole is at a great Charter School and is very happy! I am glad that I homeschooled her for Kindergarten...she's in the 1st grade now. I try to help at her school as well.

Our church is great..Ashley sings on the worship team and has taught herself to play the guitar and keyboards! I don't care what others say about homeschooling..it ROCKS! She has flourished and is well adjusted.

I can't believe that it's getting towards the holidays again! I'm helping with the Pumpkin Patch at our church...I wasn't able to last year..and we had just started going to Champion, so I didn't feel ready to get involved(what a terrible thing to say!)I was also working soooo much that I never had a moment's peace(the holidays and retail..need I say more?)

Until next time!

Happy Outrageous October!

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There have been so many times that I've wanted to write a post, but then I'd either not know how to word things, or I'd change my mind for one reason or another or I'd just decide to be l-a-z-y.  Here is my semi-lazy bulleted post for your perspicuous perusal:

+  The boys started soccer this past weekend with 2 games a piece.  It was a full day (hopefully with pics to come soon) and they really enjoyed playing with their teammates- both old and new.  The kids always get to choose the name for their team.  This season, Dash plays with the Dynamos and Tank plays with the Bombers.  It's always fun to see what they'll come up with each season-- past teams have been Blue Thunder, Longhorns, Jets, Hurricanes, and Wild Panthers.  This is definitely one of those times that I'm glad it's not a co-ed team.  If the girls ever outnumbered the boys and decided to call themselves something pansy like "Fairies" or "Ladybugs", I would have to stay silent on the sidelines or just walk away from the field!

+  I finally packed this in the box.  And I've only pulled it out once... just to squeeze and smell.

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There is going to be a Homeschool Prom this year, and Kalene wants to go.

We went to the mall and tried on some dresses last week.  She chose one that was very pretty on her without being immodest.  It was so sweet to see her all dressed up.  She is not usually a dress wearing kind of girl. 

Practically all of the girls from the varsity and JV volleyball teams are going.  So that should be a ton of fun for them all.  They have really bonded this year.  I can see some of them being friends for life, and I think that is really a special thing to have.  They call each other family.

But back to the Prom plans.  I know it is not until the end of the year, but maybe I am almost as excited as she is about her going.

We will have to find some nice jewelry to compliment the dress she gets.  I have heard that bridesmaid jewelry is perfect for the occasion.  Kalene said she did not want to wear any jewelry.  But I told her that the right jewelry will make the dress look that much more beautiful. 

It is a good thing I do have quite a few months because it may take that long to convince her to wear the jewelry too.

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These potato chips were just to interesting to pass up. I invested about 50 cents just so I could bring them home and share them with you.



Apparently the Lonely God likes tomato flavored chips. We haven't tried them yet. The package is just too much fun to ruin!

I did have visions of Mars Hill when I saw these,  "The lonely god wants to befriend you!" (Of course, the Most High is not lonely, but I did consider what implications this strange English translation may have.)

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Have you missed me? Wondering where I've been?

Because of our current visa, we have to leave the country periodically. It's difficult to explain simply because it's so non-sensical to logical people. But I feel some obligation to explain why I'm always traversing the globe. Just so that you know, no, we're not independently wealthy and simply take trips whenever we get a whim. Most of the time these trips are actually necessary. But on this last exit from China, we stayed a little longer than we had to and took some time for a real vacation in Phuket, Thailand. It was wonderful!

A few days before the trip, I had a birthday. This cake cracked me up because it says wife!

DH and Sprite made it together. It was a hoot to listen to them making it.  I overheard things like

Sprite  "Mom uses milk when she makes it."
DH      "Well, I'm not mom. The recipe says water. We're using water. Where does your mom keep the measuring spoons? Is this baking powder or baking soda?"

I restrained myself well and did not interrupt their time in the kitchen together. They managed to find everything they needed and the cake was delicious!

They took me to this wonderful restaurant for some Frence food!

We also had a few very fun games of Clue that night.

On to highlights from the vacation ....

lots of fruity drinks


fragrant flower leis



horseback riding



hours and hours in the pool



walks on the beach

And a new avatar for me!

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Psst, you might want to turn my player in the sidebar off first!! I wouldn't want you to  miss the great music I've posted for you to hear! he he he

Ok, for those who missed today's chat on Talk-A-latte, this is what is now stuck in my head.

Thank you so very little, Valerie!! he he he

Hey, there's French in there. Hmmm, brain is churning with an idea... could this be a 'language' lesson?! HA HA HA! I crack myself up!!

Then there is the OTHER one stuck in my head...

Thank you Chasity! : }

Yes, I was hearing Alvin and the chipmunks singing this. (Probably because we own the newest movie!! :]  ) I didn't even remember what the name of the original group was until I looked it up!! This is a much better version!!

Ahhh, I feel much better now that I've shared the love with everyone else!! I'll sleep much better tonight! he he he

Enjoy!!

P.S. No, this isn't the only thing I caught from the seminar!! I did actually take quite a few notes!!

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