Homeschool Co-op

Tuesday was our first day at the homeschool co-op we joined. It lasts from 10:45 to 4:05. Makes for a LONG day. G was in the 'nursery' section all day and I missed him terribly. But, my friend Robin teaches that age so I knew he was in good hands. Her little boy is in there too and I know G had a great time! I am helping in all of J's classes, only because the boy can't part from me! Although he did amazingly well when I would leave the room for this or that, so maybe I could get away with helping in some of H's classes? By the end of the day working with 4 & 5 year olds all day got to grate on my nerves. My friend Canaan is also in there all day with her children and we were at our wits end! But, J learned some sign language, Spanish and etiquette. He also has an All About Me/Math class, Music/ABCs and PE. PE consisted of playing on the playground while the older kids played soccer and Canaan and I were 'baby-sitting' the kids on the playground. Not what we thought it would be, but the kids had fun. Her son was Noah on the boat and J was God! H seemed like she had a blast! She had Home Ec where she is learning to crochet! She also had speech, sign language, Spanish, PE and Science. She saw one of her friends there who is also in all of those classes plus she met another little girl. All of us were exhausted when the day was over, but it is wonderful to get together with other homeschoolers and have my children learn other things from other people! It is 8 weeks long one day a week. I'm not sure we'll do it again next semester but maybe next year we will!

Vision Forum Goodies

You could be the lucky winner of a whole lot of goodies from Vision Forum! Kim at Life in a shoe is hosting a wonderful contest. If you've never heard of Vision Forum, check them out! We love their materials and are trying to add to our collection. This is a GREAT contest!!!!

Refined in the Potter's Hands

So alot has been going on in our lives, right? First I had the miscarriage. Zach's job is terrible (an understatement) and then the other day he was involved in a hit and run (he's fine, he was at the drive-thru when somebody hit him). I threw up my hands in the air and exclaimed, "What's next?" I wondered, "Who's going to die?" I don't even want to know what could be next. But then I got to thinking, and most importantly reading my Bible. And I know God is trying to teach us something. Something BIG. Why else do we go through trials? Every time we go through a period of trials it is always because God is trying to show us something. We've been quite stagnant in our walks for awhile now. Sure, we read our Bible (try to every day), pray and all of that, but we aren't producing a whole lot of good fruits (love, joy, peace patience, etc). The intent is there. We WANT to live righteous and holy and upright lives. But it is SO hard! And so God has been showing me the following:

Jeremiah 18:4

"But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."

So maybe we are a bit marred right now and God is trying to shape us into a whole new, more righteous being. It takes his hands to mold us and make us and sometimes that can hurt!

Malachi 3:2, 3

"But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness..."

I am reminded of the following story, and as I read it again I truly know without a doubt that God is working on and with us. I know He is here right beside us.

The Refiner's Fire Story
Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse. "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.
"But Sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes madam, " replied the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured." The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression,
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had still further to mention, that he only knows when the process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver. Beautiful example! When Christ shall see His own image in His people, His work of purifying will be accomplished.
Author Unknown

While these times may be trying I know that God is refining us to bring us to a 'higher level', to bring us nearer to Him and nearer to the place we desire to be. As I ponder all of this the following song plays in my head over and over again:

Hungry (Falling On My Knees)
Hungry, I come to you for I know you satisfy
I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry
And so I wait for You so I wait for You
I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for
Broken, I run to You for Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life
And so I wait for You so I wait for You

If you are also going through some trials know that God is there beside you (Joshua 1:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you"), wanting you to draw ever nearer to Him (Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest").

Where to Begin?

This is about my tenth attempt at this post. I could not get pictures to show up on here for a whole day. I am not sure what is/was going on but I am so annoyed. Anyway, here is my long post about my week...Let's just hope it turns out!

I took J to the doctor Monday morning. Later that day H began to get pinkeye. We got the tiniest bottle of drops that was supposed to last 5 days. It lasted about 3 as I used it on H too. Wednesday both of their eyes were fine, but now H has got it again so we had to go back to the doctor yesterday and get more drops. Now it has also gone into her other eye. I pray it will ease up and leave our home soon, this pinkeye monster. Zach, G and I never did get it (and I'm praying that continues). Go figure that the unimmunized child is the healthiest one right now. The rest of us are or have suffered from allergies or sinus trouble- coughing, sneezing, sore throat. I sound so hoarse.

This week was an awful week for Zach at work. Awful doesn't even come close to how bad it was. It is so bad that I couldn't even sleep well this week. Of course his work does affect me anyway, but this time it is a whole different level. Now he is seriously considering getting out of the military (still has about 2 years before that can happen). The thought scares the daylights out of me. Although I am tired of all of the military crap and rank that goes on, I feel comfort and stability in being a military family. But, is it worth all the junk he goes through? So please remember to pray for him. He is trying so hard to get out of the current job and into a different area here. It hasn't been good here from day 1, but this has been pretty much the last straw.

Even though he had such a horrible week, he was sweet enough to think of me. He told me last weekend that he had a surprise for me and this time I didn't guess it! Here is what he had made for me:

• Sorry for the glare on it. But it says, "Presented to (my name)...Teacher of the Year...2005-2006". He got it for me because he said I do such a great job teaching H and because I taught her to read. It was so thoughtful of him. He also took me out to dinner! What a great principle of our school he is!

We had a few days that weren't quite as humid and so we had a chance to play outdoors. While out we had some great hands-on science! I played in the garden and then H found a toad that she caught in her net. It was fun watching it and seeing it play dead! Then when the kids went for a walk with daddy they found a huge turtle, so of course they took it home to show mommy. They sure enjoyed getting those visits with God's creatures!

• 

H had her first piano lesson this week. My friend Canaan is her teacher and giving us a great deal! H seemed a bit shy, even though she knows Canaan but I think she'll enjoy it! I am excited to get her into piano again!

• 

I was saying how we had the chance to play outside. The boys sure had a fun time riding their bikes!

The boys have also really been playing well together, especially guns. This site here just always amuses me:

• G loves to stick his gun (a tiny water gun) in the back of his shorts, and sometimes it ends up in his diaper! J had fun outside shooting the bad guys with his gun!

I made our first lapbook this week. This week J learned about his five senses so we made a book on that. H and I are in the process of making one on the four seasons. It was rather fun, but I am not very creative or artistic. J sure loves the book though- which is the main goal!

We bought a cage for the mutt. One day out of the blue he just started peeing on the carpet! Boy, was I ticked. And not just a trickle. Then that night he puked on the carpet. He seems to puke every night. Zach thinks its because he is so hungry. How can a dog be that hungry? We feed him twice a day plus he gets some snacks once in awhile. Sometimes when he pukes its just spit, but this was not spit. And it left a mark. So I spent yesterday morning shampooing my carpets. The mark is still there. Dang mutt. Every day I say how much I hate that dog. We were using baby gates to lock him up by the back door but he would always manage to escape no matter what we did. Finally we got a cage and there is no escaping now! However, the boys really seem to like the cage more than the dog:

• 

I managed to get my hair cut this week. I think I like it. She was able to pretty much fix the mess from my last one! It is short, but at least I can wear it down now and not always have it up.

We took the kids to see the movie 'Everyone's Hero'. Very cute.

Ok, now that I wrote a book I am praying this thing actually posts. Every time I try to copy it it doesn't even work! Go figure! If you read this far- thanks. More power to ya!

Problems???

Is anybody else having trouble with blogger? It will not let me load pictures and when I try to do it from Picasa it doesn't work either...Not sure if its my comptuer or blogger, but its driving me nuts. I was all ready for my big long post and now this is all acting up! GRRRRRRR.......

Announcement

I PROMISE a REAL post is coming up soon...so be prepared it is a week's worth of schtuff!

Free Museum Day!

Next Saturday, September 30 museums across the country are participating in a free museum day- where you get into a participating museum for free! I think we're going to check out the aquarium! So, check to see if a museum near you is participating!

Free Blog Design Contest

Ok, so I am entering another contest. I have been thinking for some time that I need a change, only I have no clue how to go about that. So, I am hoping maybe I will win this contest!

http://bluebirdblogs.blogspot.com/ is having this contest, so go on over and see what you have to do to win! Hurry, it ends tomorrow!

Hail the King!

This is my entry to win a camera in the "Capture the Educational Moment" Contest sponsored by Spunky and Academic Superstore.

In J's Bible time we have been talking about Joseph. I even managed to find some cartoons in the church library pertaining to what we were talking about, so last week we were engrossed in Joseph's life. Today as I was schooling H, J walked in and proclaimed, "I am from the kingdom of Joseph!" He then proceeded to walk around in his robe and oh so cool goggles as a King! I absolutely love when I see fruit from what I am teaching!

Kidspeak

J comes up to me earlier telling me, "My swallow hurts again". I don't think I've ever heard a child call their throat a swallow, but it sure makes sense (it hurts when you swallow). Poor boy. He has been such a good sport with everything, although he did cry pretty hard that he couldn't go to Cubbies. He cried more about not going to Cubbies than he did about missing the birthday party! He even laughs when I put drops in his eyes! I just hope my sweet boy gets better soon!

What a Weekend!

Well, this has been quite a weekend. First, our computer has a nasty terrible virus. Thankfully we have a friend who is fixing it for us and we are quite blessed by that! I guess it needs to be completely reformatted. But, then it will be like we have a brand new computer, right? I certainly hope so!

Last night we had some of our friends over and had a wonderful dinner. The guys went to the movie's and us ladies visited and watched the kids. J had a wonderful time playing with his buddy, Jacob. It was a nice time of fellowship. Later in the evening (while they were still here) J comes up to me and tells me his throat hurts. As I'm looking in his mouth I notice his eye has gunk coming out of it. Needless to say my boy has pinkeye. I feel horrible for him, but he is doing well. I bought him some drops from the store last night to treat it and he really hasn't had too much gunk coming out now but it still is pink. I am just praying it doesn't circulate through my house and if it does that it isn't a continuous cycle! So far H and G and good, but we stayed home from church this morning. I think H will go to Awana tonight and I have to teach, but the rest of the gang will stay home!

TGIF

This is probably my 10th attempt at posting this today. If it actually works I know it is my computer and not blogger (I am now on my laptop).

This has been the busiest, most upside-down week I have seen in awhile. We had meetings, appointments, and Zach's schedule has been whacked out all week (and that always throws me off). So, I haven't had much time to blog because of all of this. Yesterday I seemed to be having computer woes, but they seem to be better today, although I think my friend's hubby is going to be working on it this weekend.

I was planning a school lesson last night and realized it was lesson 15. I thought maybe I skipped some lessons so I went back in the book to make sure. It does not seem like H's school started 3 weeks ago! Boy, it is flying by! I thought it was only our second week! We all seem to be enjoying school, although I get irritated about things like the noise level when trying to read! I have told numerous people about the preschool program I am using and they are going out and buying it! I just love it!

G had his two year appointment on Wednesday. I have not really kept up on his appointments, but was planning to begin his immunizations. Well, the two days before he had some looser stools (possibly was teething, but not sure) so I decided to hold off. The doctor tells me that unimmunized children 'scare them'! You know, I bet this boy is healthier than most other immunized kids his age! Most states allow a religious exemption from immunizations, but Mississippi is one of two that does not! He is supposedly in the 95th% for his height. Not sure if I believe that. But he seems to have really sprouted some long legs recently and when I look at him lying down he seems so long!

That same day before the appointment I took the kids to play at McDonald's. G was up playing and all of a sudden got scared, possibly because all of the other kids all of a sudden came out of there. He would not come down for nothing- not even with his sister. So, I had to crawl up the slide and slide down with him! Thankfully there weren’t' too many people there! Not sure what exactly freaked him out, but hoping I don't have to do that again!

Yesterday I won something off of the radio! I had just turned it on while driving down the road and he was talking about some movie and said to call and say who the hero in your life is. Of course, I kept trying, even though it was busy- but eventually I got through! I haven't won anything off of the radio since I was in high school! I won tickets to the movie called “Everyone’s Hero”.

Our weekend is going to be another busy one. Tonight Zach works, so it is out as far as doing anything. Tomorrow I'd like to get out in my flower beds and try to get those how I'd like them to be. We may also have company for dinner. Sunday we have Sunday School, church, a birthday party, CMP, and Awana! Sunday will be busy, busy, busy. It was so nice when our Sundays were relaxing- after all that is what Sunday is for- to worship the Lord, but also to rest! What are your weekend plans?

More pictures

Here are the boys at home. We made puppets last week and these are their results!














Here are the boys again, J shining G's shoes.














H and J are now News Anchors.














And I just love G in this hat! What is it with him and hats lately???
 

My Princess

Here is H, never too busy to smell the flowers. She also enjoyed driving a boat and dressing up.



 

J Boy

Last Friday we took the kids to Lynn Meadows, the local children's museum type place. They love it there! Here is J as a shrimp boat captain and also sitting in a tree.



 

I Promise, He is Not a Gangsta'

Just my cute 2 year old boy being silly...






 

Ticked

I just had a big post written and it disappeared when I tried to publish it. Funny (but not haha funny) because I remember recently reading how somebody copies their post, just in case. Guess I need to begin doing that. I am steamed that I lost my post. The other night the kids had fun in the tent. They all ended up coming in at 1 am and finishing their rest inside. I refuse to write more than that right now. I had a big synopsis as well as other things I wrote about but I don't have time to rewrite it all.

Roughin' It???

Well, my family is out in our backyard in the tent. They are supposedly going to rough it for the night. But so far Zach has been in about 10 times, G was in once and went back out and they asked for the laptop (which I'm on) to watch a movie. It is almost 11 pm and we have church in the morning! It is hot out and I wonder who will be in next and what time it will be. I just hope I can get a good night sleep as last night our smoke alarm started to beep indicating the battery needed to be changed. I also hope the kids have fun out there, despite their stinky, smelly bodies! Daddy will have fun bathing them again before church so they don't smell!!! Why am I not out there? For one, I don't wanna sweat out there. For another, it is nice and QUIET in here. I can enjoy my bed all to myself, for awhile anyway.

At This Very Moment

Ok, Anne has tagged me and it is naptime so I figure what else have I got to do?

1. Are you craving anything and if so, what?
I just ate a handful of chocolate chip cookies, but I sure could use a cherry pepsi right about now (don't forget the grenadine).

2. What is the weather outside, and do you wish it would change?
It is 82 and feels like 86 with 62% humidity. It is too hot to do much outdoors. I wish it would cool off. At 10 am it was still 73 and it felt SO wonderful. Was hoping it wouldn't get so humid. Good ol' southern weather;)

3. What two websites do you think you will go to next after you are finished here?
Probably check wunderground.com for the latest tropical information. Then I need to find some information on cicadas since we read about them in our reader today, so I'll probably do a search. Wow...I feel like such a nerd (no comment on that one Canaan).

4. Do you wish you were somewhere else and if so, where?
Anywhere but here;) No, I guess I am content being here right now, knowing we are here temporarily (although I wish it was only 1 year left instead of 2). I hope to move to Ohio, Illinois or Texas next. Or I wish I could be in Michigan so I could see family too.

5. Do you wish you were someone else, and if so, who?
I don't really have anybody in particular I wish I were like, I just wish I could possess better Christian qualities in my life. Patience, kindness, joy. I wish I enjoyed every bit of my life all the time, most especially my children who seem to zap the patience, kindess and joy right out of me.

Now I will tag Canaan, Christine and Kay.

How Do You Spell Relief? N-A-P-T-I-M-E

That's right. If it wasn't for naptime I would not be a sane woman. I still make H, at 6, lay in her bed for awhile and have a quiet time. I need that time! This morning I am not sure what J's problem was, but he wanted to cry about every little thing. And it grated on me. I still have a headache. He and G seem to fight alot lately over toys. I need to really work with them on that one. I know the solution, I just need to get my butt in gear and do my work in it. But it is hard. Do you ever lay in bed at night and think over your day and what you could have done differently? Maybe I shouldn't have yelled. Maybe I should have played dollhouse. Why didn't I do this or that? And then I think, well tomorrow is a new day and I will ask God to give me strength not to yell and I will spend time doing what needs to be done (spending time with the children). The morning comes and immediately you are woken by a child banging on your wall or up too early or they are already fighting. And you wonder if you will have the strength to make it through one hour of the day. But today I have made it to naptime. Hooray!

And I know that this is all worth it. I have nowhere else I'd rather be, although sometimes I just wish I could send my kids away for a couple of hours for some peace and quiet. But that is ok. Before I know it it is time for Zach to come home and that seems to be a relief. Another adult to help with things!

Then there are times when I struggle to read something over so much noise, and I feel I am yelling to read and do school. But, eventually it quiets. Did I mention that I made our playroom more efficient for schooling? My closet in here ROCKS! I am going to get a childproof handle to put on the door- but I put special toys in there for the 2 year old to play with during school. Today he even did some school with us! So, we have our roller coaster moments here. Up. Down. Up. Down. Sometimes I feel I will puke, but I make sure to walk away and take a break from the dizziness of it all.

Another nuisance of my day is that yesterday I think I finally quit bleeding. It was 4 weeks on Friday that the whole ordeal happened. I called the doctor last week and talked to a nurse. Sunday I saw the doctor at church and he told me I could go on birth control to regulate my body. No way. I don't do birth control. So, I just prayed that God would regulate my body. Then I quit bleeding. However, today it seems to have possibly come back. I am SOOOO tired of it. I just want my body back to normal now.

To end on a funny note, yesterday I was doing math with H. I put a car on her desk and asked her how many cars there were. She said 'One'. Then I asked her how many giraffes there were (zero) and she answered 'One'. I look down at her desk and forget that the stenciling on her desk is of a Noah's Ark scene, and there as big as can be is a giraffe;) I thought it was too funny!

 

Will I make it

through the day? I. Am. Going. To. Lose. It. And it is only 11:20 am.

My Seal

I saw this over at Amie's site and had to give it a whirl by going to this site. Can you tell I am bored? I have things to do but am procrastinating. It's a holiday, I have a right!

Cross-Dressers at Wal-Mart

I was talking with a friend today and told her the latest with Wal-Mart. She told me she was in a local store today and that the managers were dressed as women in red dresses, nylons, the works. I was aghast! So, I called that Wal-Mart and asked a manager why. He told me it is for the American Heart Walk and they wear red for women (it is a women's thing I guess). I guess it is something all of the Wal-Marts here by us do. I could not believe my ears about that one! I then asked him about the recent news with their support of homosexual organizations and he said he has not heard anything about that, but a customer approached him today asking the same thing. Supposedly they get Wal-Mart news all the time and it is something they would have heard about and he said there are various organizations out there 'trying to bring Wal-Mart down'. He told me he doesn't think it is true. Who knows?

In the mean time I have been shopping everywhere but there the past two days. I just hope it is not true! Until then my business will be done elsewhere.