Wordless Wednesday

What matters most

You know, as we get older we realize that things we thought were important are not as important as we thought, and the things we neglected mean more than we ever knew. Now, I have always cherished family and thought it was VERY important. I just don't think I realized how much family meant to me. In September I found out I had a brother. Now, I say I found a brother I didn't know about, but I did know. My biological father had told me he existed, but that was all the info I ever got about him. Never a name, never his mother's name, never anything. Sometimes he told me he was older, sometimes younger, but never anything real. In my soul I *knew* he was out there even when I was told by my aunt that it was all false, that he didn't really exist, that my Dad was a pathological liar (he was) and to come to grips with it and understand I was the "one and only". I was right though, and we are now reunited (never united in the first place, but you know what I mean). I love him so much and have so much peace in my soul for having him and my precious niece and nephew in my life.

Then there is a long string of cousins that I long to visit with. I find myself with the urge to work and save so I can take trips to spend time with them. This is something I *will* do. Mark my words.

In January my aunt was very sick, and we knew the end was near. I took off and drove to be by her side and say things I needed to make sure she heard. I did this despite being told "she knows in her heart, you don't have to go" and various protests by my husband and other family and friends. I knew I *needed* to go. In the end, it was the right thing. I think I healed more over those few days than I have through anything else. By healing, I mean I got closure. I realized that there is a lot to be said about getting closure, and also that family is family and they matter. They REALLY REALLY matter. No matter how many years have lapsed, no matter the distance, no matter how long it has been since we spoke.

Things have been crazy around here!!!

I have a lot to update you all on, but right now, just checking in. Things have been insane around here. Seriously. It is all good though. I'll be back with you Monday and back to our regularly scheduled programming.

have a lot to update you all on, but right now, just checking in. Things have been insane around here. Seriously. It is all good though. I'll be back with you Monday and back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Schoolhouse Expo coming up-First session TONIGHT!!!

Tonight is the first session of the Schoolhouse Expo! It is not the main session, but some of the great material from the two bonus nights which are tonight and the 29th.

There is still time to register and along with it get your grab bag full of goodies worth over $300! There will also be doorprizes.

Malia Russell will speak tonight on: (from here)

Managing the Multi-Level Homeschool
With several children in different grades, it can be difficult to keep everyone on track and moving at the appropriate pace. This practical workshop will teach you the ideas and techniques we (and others) have employed to effectively manage many grades at once. While homeschooling my four children (and at times babysitting others full-time), I spent a significant amount of time researching and learning from mothers of many more children than I had. Using their wisdom, I put these ideas to work for me and am so glad I did! Change the mayhem to peace and order, and get the important things accomplished in your home school day.

Teaching the Difficult Child
Do you have a difficult child? Is everything a struggle? What do you do when one of your children is just “different” and you struggle daily with self-control, patience, and loving kindness?

Please pray...

We had a water line in our RV bust. Well, I guess it had been leaking since we got it, as the floor behind the panel is all mildewed and buckled. So, it has to go in for service. We have to go to the hotel. Our dogs have to go to foster homes until we can take them back.

On top of that, Michaela started public school today. I can hear the collective gasp. It broke my heart, as she doesn't want to be there but Daddy decided she has to "try" it until the end of the school year to see if she likes it here better than where we were. She cried when I left her, begging me not to. About killed me. So, I sobbed my way out the door. I just pray she does well and is okay for the next 7 weeks until she can be in the comfort zone of Momma again. :(

It's just been a rough day. :(

Lazy Saturday...

Today hanging with the kids, doing some shopping.

Tonight, Daddy & Son have a date to the baseball game. Mom & Daughter have a date to get pedi's and dinner. :D

So fun, I am excited.

TGIF!

Really, it is just engrained in me to feel this way. My life doesn't change day to day since I am a stay at home Mom and Wife. I could say it was because Chris would be home for the weekend, but nope. He is working Saturdays (despite the fact he was supposed to be off most saturdays with this new company). This Sunday he leaves for Dallas with his boss. So, we will get little time with him then also.

Still, all that being said Friday has a way of making me smile and revitalizing me. Kind of crazy, I know.

Accomplishments...

You know, I had been working really hard at making a to-do list daily and achieving it. For the first time in an shamingly long time our laundry stayed caught up and the house was CLEAN all the time. It was so comforting and nice. Then we moved. I have not gotten into a groove here yet. Having to drive to stores to get what I need every other day, if not every day is time consuming. Plus, we have to do the laundry in the facilities on site. That takes so much more time than one would think. It was so much easier to do one load a day and keep it done.

I am working hard but it seems like so much more work. Ugh. Oh well, I will press on. I am doing better today than most...

Wordless Wednesday

My Nemesis

I have a new nemesis. My hubby says it is a fruitless Mulberry tree, but I have googled them and have not found any that resemble what I have. They are everywhere. A perfect dusting of green. Gets in the dogs water, dusts my car with a fine green/yellow dust, gets in our hair, blows in the door anytime it is open. I despise it!

Up before the chickens

Well, it's not as if we really HAVE chickens, but you know what I mean.

The proverbial rooster crowed way too early this morning. Actually, had to put Chris on a plane. Hmm, okay. I digress, I did not put him ON the plane. Did not even drive him there. I just woke up with him and helped him get ready. His company has chartered a private jet for him and two other guys to jump around Texas all day shopping for equipment. Small planes make me nervous. I could tell he was nervous too, as he told me he loved me and kissed me like 20 times. He kissed the kids even though little T was still asleep and M was barely awake. He never chances waking them in the mornings.

So, Lord, please keep him safe and bring him home safely. Amen.

The Last Song, saw the movie

It was a good movie. Maybe I should reconsider my position on always reading a book before seeing the movie. I would have rated this movie SO MUCH higher if I had seen it before reading the book. As it was, I kept comparing the movie to the book, and that detracted from enjoying the movie.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, whether you have read the book or not. Just be sure to take plenty of tissue.

Totally kid safe, only a couple of kisses.

Today is my Aunt Cherry's Memorial Service

And due to my MS flaring, I could not go to Arizona and be with the family. This breaks my heart. I loved my Aunt Cherry very much. This picture is she and I back when I was spending the summer with her as a child.

I hope my family knows that I wanted to be there, and I love them with all my heart.

Schoolhouse Expo speaker Todd Wilson

As I said a few days ago, I am really excited about the upcoming Schoolhouse Expo. One of the speakers I am especially excited about. I always love hearing things from the Homeschool Dads. They certainly share a different perspective. Also, it is easier to get my husband to listen to the guys for some reason. It's always nice for my husband to get some insight as his role in our family is very different than mine.

(Picture & Text from the Old Schoolhouse Expo page, found here)

Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Get REAL!

Are you convinced that every homeschooling family except yours is great? Do you believe the lie that others are more organized, better prepared, have smarter kids, are wiser parents, and have a child in the national spelling bee? Well, let me set the record straight . . . that's not the way it is! The truth is most moms feel inadequate. Homeschooling moms fear that they're letting their kids down in their education and in example. They feel like their house is out of control, their children are beasts, and the sizzle has left their marriage. Join us as we unleash the power in being REAL. You’ll never be the same again.

About Todd (from here):

Todd Wilson, author of Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe,Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom and The Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons, is a dad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and gut-honest realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family.

As founder of Familyman Ministries, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through a weekly e-mail for dads, seminars, and books that encourage parents. Todd is also a writer for The Homeschool Minute. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool their eight children in northern Indiana and travel around America in the Familyman Mobile. You can visit Familyman Ministries at www.familymanweb.com

Happy Easter!

We choose not to go to church on Easter morning. This has been our "thing" for about 4 years I suppose. We decided instead to allow all the once-a-yearers have seats instead. Pray maybe they *get* the message and become stronger in their walk, whether new to it or long time believer. We stay home and celebrate Christ's resurrection as a family.

Chris invited a friend from work and his family to the campground to cook out. We are going to be cooking: rib-eye steak, chicken, tuna steaks (gross, lol), potato salad, green bean casserole, cup cakes, and sour dough bread (courtesy of me, Ms. Betty Cracker).

I made biscuits and sausage this morning. Tried to make gravy. I have ALWAYS had the most amazing gravy. Something went really wrong today. It was horrendous. Burned your throat and was horrible. Chris thinks a chemical got in it somehow. I think the grease burned and combined with the wild taste from the hog sausage made it that way. Anyhow, we had to throw it out and my stomach is still turning from the 3 bites I took.

"The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks, Easter, and whatever

I saw the trailer for this movie and it looked awesome. I have a principle that if I *know* a movie is based on a book, I must read the book first. So, I went out and bought the book. I finally started it Thursday. I did not read any during the day yesterday, but finished it by staying up until 2 am this morning. I can honestly say it has been a long time since a book has moved me to so many tears. I mean...seriously, the last few chapters were constant waterworks.

So, am I saying you should avoid it? NO WAY! I cry pretty easy sometimes, but this book is beautiful. It wasn't sad so much, just moving. Yeah, there was some sadness and loss, but that is life. As the song goes "Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful life".

We are going to see the movie later today after we go egg huntin'. Hopefully it won't stray much from the book, cause I hate it when that happens.

One of these days I may actually see a movie BETTER than the book. That would be cool, but I am not sure it is possible.

Hubby invited a friend from work and his family over to have Easter dinner tomorrow. That is all well and good except my fridge is the size of a small cooler. So, when I grocery shop I must fill the cooler outside and ice it down so that I can cook enough for that many people.

Life between the RV and corporate housing

We have two option here...corporate housing and the RV. Our dogs are at the RV, so that makes it nice. Also having a playground, pool, dog park, and so forth. That makes it extra nice. So, we stay some at CH but find ourselves here at the RV more. Plus, we can cook real meals here. CH only has a micro and fridge (there is a grill downstairs, but REALLY?).

Anyhow, I am enjoying it. We are getting back on track with homeschooling (took a break for the pack and big move) and I am feeling revitalized and full of anticipation for what life holds for us here.

This park is super nice. We had went to another one but it was NASTY. I mean totally flat out NASTY. I sat at the table and I cried. Then the phone rang, it was the guy from this park letting me know a spot had opened up. PRAISE JESUS. I love how the Lord provided for us. Hubby and I both had a horrible feeling there, like something so bad would happen.

Schoolhouse Expo coming up

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has been an invaluable resource for my family in our homeschooling journey. I am so excited that this year they are having an online homeschooling exposition! Not only will they have wonderful speakers covering topics that can help enhance our lives, but along with registration there is a grab bag worth over $300 and there will also be door prizes. The Expo takes place on May 12 - 14th, but they have pre-registration workshops scheduled for April 13th and 29th, so the clock is ticking! They have some excellent speakers lined up! I'll be touching on the speakers in the days to come.

First up is Malia Russell. She will bring an Early Expo workshop on Managing the Multi-Level Homeschool and one on Teaching the Difficult Child on April 13! Malia is director of the website homemaking911.com where insight and tips for home management, parenting, homeschooling, and inspiration and encouragement for homeschooling moms can be found.

Yesterdays picture...

This picture makes me laugh. It is a picture of me (as a blond, lol) cheesing while sitting in my sister in law's lap. This was at my graduation party when I graduated from college. It seems like it was so long ago. We both look so young there.