Our first Black Belt

Our family would like to announce that Leland is a 1st Degree Black Belt as of last night. He is the 1st in our family and the 1st in Effingham Taekwondo history to test straight through without any missed testings. It has taken him 2 years to achieve this goal and we couldn't be prouder of him.
Congratulations Lee!
We love you!
Mom, Dad and Greg

Happy New Year

The final days of this year have been so hectic. I really don't know where the time has gone and I don't really know where to start to catch all of you up :)

Christmas Projects
I managed to get all of my Christmas projects done. I am not real sure how but I did it. What a relief and a joy to be able to give all of my friends and family a little piece of me. I am already thinking of gift ideas for next year :)

Current Projects
Although my Christmas knitting is done, I still have things to do. Don't we always??? Anyway, I have 4 more shawls to make for Aunt B. I also have the yarn to make her a pair of socks and 2 pair for myself. I am also making scarves for the boys (camo). I have one done and have started the second. I am hoping to finish them up this week. Before July I need to make 4 baby blankets. I haven't choosen the yarn or patterns yet so I will need to do that.

Christmas
Christmas went well. I got a laptop (I am typing on it right now!) and a bo-staff and case from Norman and the boys. My mom got me luggage, a laptop bag, a gift card to Old Navy (now that I have lost almost 30 lbs. I will need that) and some other stuff that I can't think of right now. Everything was wonderful! Sometimes I miss the peacefulness of Christmas like when I was younger, but this year went really well and most of my family managed to keep most of their opinions to themselves (which really is a blessing).

I am working on my goals for the new year. I will post them as soon as I get them finalized. I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year!
Blessings,
Carie

Merry Christmas

It has taken me so long to get this post done that I decided I had better tell everyone Merry Christmas now in case I wasn't back before the New Year. I can't believe how busy I have been!!!!!

We made it through the week with family in southern IL after Thanksgiving. It is enjoyable, but I am always glad to get home. We were able to welcome the arrival of a new nephew while we were there :) The family seems to be growing in leaps and bounds......Norman's father now has 5 grandchildren, 4 boys and 1 girl.

After our return, my mom and I went to Indianapolis IN for a day of shopping. We stayed overnight and spent some time in the hotel's hot tub. I came home with contact dermititis....and allergy to something in the whirlpool. I had the worst rash all over my legs. I ended up with 2 shots and a pack of prednisone. I can't sleep while I take prednisone so I am still recovering from that. Then Greg got a stomach bug......and I stayed up all night with him. We have rounded out our week with a church dinner and Christmas carolling :)

School is going well. The boys are really buckling down and I am keeping them on task. That seems to be the worst part of the battle.....me keeping them on task :) I think that we have decided on next year's curriculum also. We like to plan way advance of purchase time so that we can save up the needed funds. Although I really liked the "method" of veritas press, the planning has just got to be to much for me. And the literature selections for the periods of history are too advanced for Lee to read on his own....he just isn't there yet. And I don't have time to use them all as read-alouds. I briefly contemplated Sonlight.....until Norman got sticker shock.....and we have settled on My Father's World Explorers-1850. Greg will also study American History using MFW Adventures in American History supplement that I already have from 2 years ago. I think that we will stay with MFW suggestions for grammar and writing. We will also stay with Math-U-See and Italic Handwriting. And now I can breathe a sigh of relief that the decisions are all made for another year.

I have been finishing up my Christmas knitting.....1 1/2 projects are left to go. I have a couple of new patterns that I am wanting to try out after Christmas and I am going to give my socks top priority as well. Norman has been working lots of overtime lately.......he has worked the last 48 out of 72 hours. He is beat and sleeping soundly in bed this a.m. But it is very hard to do housework while he is sleeping so I think that I will go knit for a while and clean tomorrow!

Be patient!!!! I promise I am around even if I am not posting!
Blessings,
Carie

Long overdue update

I can't believe that it has been so long since I posted!!!!! I really must be busy, or lazy......

Here is an update in the most organized manner possible:

Chicago
The tournament went well. It was by far the most un-organized event I have ever attended. I needed a Valium after about 10 mins. of being there. Everyone did well, though. Lee got a 2nd in weapons and a 4th in forms. Gregory scored 2 4th's (weapons and forms) and Norman won 1st in forms. Mr. G. got a 3rd in sparring. I was proud of them all :)
It was very late driving home. We didn't even leave Chicago until almost 7. I think that we got home around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

This past week......
Has been typical :) I got a shawl and the slipper socks mailed off to Aunt B. She called and said that she really enjoyed them. I was thankful to have them done. I won't be doing any more knitting for her until after my Christmas knitting is done. I finished the pink baby blanket and the scarf for A. The camo yarn that I ordered for N.'s scarf hasn't arrived yet. I am hoping that it will appear sometime tomorrow. I will really have to work but I think that I can get a scarf done by Friday. We went to the library today and I checked out 2 books. I have no idea when I think I will have time to read them :) Maybe while we are gone.

Current News
The doctor's office called the other day and the insurance has approved infertility treatments. I am excited and apprehensive all at the same time. I will call and arrange an appointment after we are back from our trip.
Which brings me to our plans for Thanksgiving :) We are going to visit Norman's family in Metropolis. The day after Thanksgiving is the annual family reunion and Christmas. It will hopefully be a relaxing few days.

My friend and I are working through a study of the book of Titus. We are currently reading chapter 2 and I have so many exciting insights to post, but it will have to wait until we are back. I hope that ya'll can stand the wait :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Carie

Posting from Chicago

We are having a wonderful time in Chicago! We just checked into our room (it is 9:31 p.m.) and I am on Mr. G's laptop playing around on the Wi-Fi while the boys are all downstairs swimming. We really are enjoying ourselves. We ate lunch at Olive Garden. We found Lake Shore Drive with no problem, missed our turn for the Aquarium, had to go way up and then way down. Norman really had to go...well you know....so we stopped at a port-a-potty.....then we drove down a very nice bicycle path! It was wide and had a center line and everything.....we were a good little ways down it before we realized what it really was :) I have never laughed so hard in my whole entire life!!!!!
We got to Shedd's Aquarium and parked pretty close. We saw the dolphin show and the Sponge Bob in 4-D. That was an experience :) All of the exibits were cool. Greg loved the dolphins and Lee was fascinated with the kimodo dragon. Norman and I liked the 4-D show :)
We ate at a little Mexican sea-food restuarant called El Pelicano's that Norman used to frequent when he worked in Chicago. The shrimp was excellent!
We got a little turned around going to the hotel, but now we are here and getting ready to be well rested for the tournament tomorrow. I am hoping to find a Jo-Ann's or Hobby Lobby to stop at on the way home for some more yarn.....I will be finished with my 2nd project that I brought with me by then :)

I will post some more about our trip on Monday!
Blessings,
Carie

Alternative to E-Bay

I have discovered a wonderful alternative to e-bay for those of us seeking homeschool or family-friendly products....and just in time for Christmas shopping :) It is called Homeschool Buy and it is run by the Suarez family (The Old Schoolhouse Magazine). It looks like a wonderful site!
Blessings,
Carie

Friday

Today has been a beautiful fall day!!!!

School went well this a.m. I was able to work on laundry and have all but 2 loads done. Norman was able to fix my dryer for me last weekend and I am so grateful! He truly is a blessing to me.

Norman let us bring the last of our kittens into the house. So we are enjoying the antics of a kitty again. I love to watch them play :) Sadie is a little disturbed about being displaced as "head" pet, but I have been showering her with love so I think that has made up for it.

We had a homeschool group meeting today. We discussed all of our different approaches to homeschooling. There are many in the group with whom we share curriculum choices, but we all use them differently. It amazes me how one thing can work so differently for different families....

Tomorrow is the last soccer game :) What a relief! I enjoy watching the boys play but it really throws off the balance of our schedule. Speech class ended last week as well, so we will be enjoying a new routine before long.....a little less busy, that is for sure.

We will be traveling to Chicago next weekend. I am really looking forward to the trip. Then again in 2 weeks we will be going to Metropolis for a few days. I will probably be really glad to get back home after all that :)

I am reworking some of our lessons plans to include some things that I would like us to be spending some time on. I really think that I am lacking in some review of material, especially math and memory work. My boys don't pick up things as fast as I would like them too :) Course, anymore I don't either! A little extra practice every day wouldn't hurt.

My mind seems kinda foggy today! I was looking for some encouragement on some online forums that I visit, but there doesn't seem to be much going on today.....so I decided to give some encouragement instead! Keep up all the good work ladies! Whether you are a wife, mother or single woman waiting on God's leading....God has a special place and work for you to do. No matter how tired or overworked you might get, just keep on going! God will always lead and lift you up when you think that you can't go on.

Have a wonderful night!
Blessings,
Carie

New book

Candy has a new ebook, The Joyful Homemaker, and best of all it is free!!!!! To view or download it you may go HERE.

Enjoy!!!!
Blessings,
Carie

Tuesday

What a beautiful fall day it is!!!!! I am so glad that we live where the season change. Although I joke about it, I think that I would get tired of living somewhere that was warm all the time. Remember that I said that this winter :)

Today has been very good. We began a unit on orderliness this morning. I am in as much need of this as the boys are. I am not an orderly person. I tend to micro-organize....one shelf or cabinet will be perfect while the rest of the room is a disaster. I have tried every program available, but the truth is....I am lazy. So I am working on that and my attitude toward the work that needs to be done. I find that I am much more peaceful when I don't try to rush everything.....and everything seems to get done anyway :) What a blessing!!!! God is so gracious to provide just what we need. We finished our laundry and got everything put away, the kitchen is clean and the boys went to their cousin's house to play for a while.....I am alone...and should really be knitting :) But I will get to that in a minute.

I just had a bowl of my new favorite thing.......sugar-free chocolate pudding and sugar-free Cool Whip. What a delight it is to a woman who craves chocolate and sweets and hasn't had any since Thursday (with the exception of fruit, but that doesn't really count to a choco-holic). I might be able to handle this diet after all......

Monday

Today was definately a Monday :)

I got up at 6 and ate egg beaters (southwestern style) and peaches for breakfast. I bathed Sadie and then myself and got hamburger out of the freezer to thaw. And talked to my mom on the phone (I talk to my mom on the phone every single morning at 7 a.m. unless they are traveling, or we are traveling).

At 8 I was beginning to mix the ingredients for Pilgrim's Bread (from the More with Less cookbook). I had my bible study time and got the boys up for breakfast. The bread was rising and the boys were fed by 9 a.m. and we started school.

I was able to begin lunch prep at 10:30 (diligence by the boys makes an earlier lunch!). We had meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. When I pulled the meatloaf out of the oven, I put the loaves of bread in (I had re-kneaded them during lunch prep). After lunch I skimmed my mail, folded a load of laundry....took the bread out and put an apple crisp in. I had a piece of fresh warm bread, butter and apple butter for a snack (that is one of the few things I can still enjoy in moderation!). When the apple crisp came out I finished Norman's lunch box up and then settled down to study some more Ancient Egypt with the boys. We had some company around 2 and everyone greatly enjoyed the apple crisp :)

Our company left around 3 and we were off to town.....drop trash off, drop off stuff at resale shop, walmart, drop off movies and then taekwondo. We are just now getting home :) I am tired, but something about the day just seemed calm and perfect. I love being a mother and being able to stay home and work and homeschool. I love the peaceful busy-ness of our days. Greg and I shared a story about Thanksgiving.................Lee worked so hard on his writing assignment this evening...........I love our shared history time (probably more than they do, but that's ok). I thank God every day that he has put me here, with my children and husband!!!!!!

Praising God,
Carie

The Latin Centered Curriculum

I thought that I would post some thoughts on how a Latin Centered Education looks at our house :)

Classical Languages

Leland (and I) are learning Latin. Lee is using Prima Latina and I am using Henle Latin Book 1. I will admit that Lee's studies are going better than mine :) I am thinking of folding Greg into Prima Latina come January since he has his English phonics concepts down pat. I am loving that Lee is learning English grammar through Latin....and he doesn't even really know it. What a blessing!

We haven't gotten to Greek yet :)

Math

LCC recommends Rod and Staff or Ray's Arithmetic for the early years. We use Math-U-See. Leland is working from Gamma (book 3) and Greg is just starting Beta (book 2). They are both working on their facts (addition for Greg and multiplication for Lee). We are using Wrap-Ups and Calculadders to help with drill.

English Studies

Gregory is finishing Alphaphonics. Lee has been finished with phonics for a couple of years now. I am thinking about doing a quick phonics review with him after Christmas just to get everything fresh again. For independent reading they are using the BoxCar Children and the Magic Tree House series. I haven't started suggesting the classics yet. We are working into them. For family reading we are using a Landmark Book, The Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt, which coordinates with our current history study.

For penmanship we use Italic Handwriting. Greg also works from the Copywork books from Memoria Press. We are working at Recitation. Since we took a speech class with our homeschool group I think that we have covered recitation there :)

For writing we are using Writing Stands. I know that this isn't at all one of the recommended resources for the progrymnasmata, but this is what we had on hand and it is working well for us. I may re-evaluate this for next year.

We haven't really gotten into the Literature section yet. For 1st and 4th grade there is a large amount of literature suggested. I think that we will try to read through The Real Mother Goose and The Random House Book of Nursery Stories. Both of these are kindergarten suggestions, but I thought that we would start there. LCC is a lot easier to implement if you have started from the beginning :) If we get those done, we will go on to the Fifty Famous Stories Retold and some of the Fairy Tales (both 1st grade recommendations). Shakespeare is recommended for 4th grade and we will see about that :) He may have to stay in England another year :)

Classical Studies

We are doing history chronologically rather than the way the Mr. Campbell recommends. I do have a book of Greek Myths that we will try to read in the evenings before bed.

Christian Studies

We are following the Bible program laid out by Veritas Press (grade 2). The readings so far have been from Genesis and will follow history as close as possible for a while, I think this year at least. The boys also get Bible instruction from Sunday School class.

Modern Studies

Like I said before, we are studying history chronologically, but we are trying to work in some other geography study this year. So far, we haven't done much, but we are going to work on it.

Science

Science is very laid back and hands on in LCC. I enjoy that. We are using some unit studies to cover some other things that the boys are interested in. So far we have covered the Days of Creation and reptiles. We are working on oceans and have dinosaurs yet to go. If we get all that finished, we will probably drop science from the "main studies" for the year and focus on nature study.

As you can see, a Latin Centered Curriculum can be very relaxing to a family that is tired of juggling all the different facets of a classical education. I am very freed in thinking that if we accomplish math, latin and some reading we have done good for the day. What a concept!!!!! Just think, we learn so much by reading, why shouldn't our children as well? And I say this as the mother of a very reluctant reader....but he isn't so reluctant to listen and we can explore all kinds of diferent topics through literature and good books that we get from the library. I firmly believe in following the desires of your children in certain areas. That thought is what guided our science topics for the year. They will learn more if it is something that they love. The interests of children change daily so you have multiple opportunities to teach millions of topics to your children. Feed their interested, their loves and desires. See where it takes you. I am certain that you will learn as much, if not more than your children.

And on the home front.....

I am knitting, reading and cleaning.....not necessarily in that order :)

I just recieved my newest issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine....so I will probably be carving out the time to read that through. We rented the newest version of Pride and Prejudice so I am looking forward to watching that while I knit this evening. I am about half finished with a baby blanket and have another to go before Thanksgiving. I am needing to order some camoflauge yarn for some scarves for the boys, but I am waiting to grub up some money. One of the children that I babysit won't be here for about 2 weeks, so that cuts into my spendable income :)

This evening I will work on my review of The Latin Centered Curriculum by Drew Campbell for TEACH magazine. I am sure that Julie will be glad to receive it :) Sorry it took so long!!!!

The boys are outside enjoying another wonderful, warm, fall day. Norman said that it is supposed to get very cool tomorrow. I guess that it is fall.

So far, no adverse side effects from the Metformin. Course, I should probably find some wood to knock on now.....I sure don't want to be sick.

Have a wonderful fall weekend!!!!!
Blessings,
Carie

On the school front.....

Things are going pretty well. Greg is wrapping up his phonics work. He is pleased and I am relieved. I seem to feel vindicated when I manage to teach them to read.....ha, ha, people who thought I couldn't do it.....my children can READ :) So, now that I am done gloating about that; we are learning loads of cool stuff this year.

History

We are using Veritas Press as our spine and learning history starting from the beginning. We are in Ancient Egypt right now and using so many supplements that it is taking awhile. The history pockets are really cool and I am just itching to get started on the History Kit that we got from Hands and Hearts (see ad in the right side-bar). I think that the hands-on projects will really pull the study together. We might even be able to go to the Field Museum in Chicago and see the King Tut exhibit there. We are taking a trip to Chicago in a few weeks, but we haven't finalized our agenda yet :)

Science

We quickly finished our units on the days of Creation, reptiles, and are now working on an oceanography unit. The boys are interested, but would rather that we get to the part about the whales and sharks than have to read about the waves, weather and tidal currents :) I guess that is to be expected. We still have a unit about dinosaurs to dig into, so they are anticipating that.

We are enjoying all the resources that we have for this year. I am really, really liking Veritas Press. I am so glad that I decided to go with them this year. I am also glad that I spent a little extra and got all the supplemental stuff from various places. We are using it all and loving it. Leland is slowly reading through the BoxCar Children series. Gregory has just discovered the Magic Tree House series. He is reading them though quick....about 1 every 2 days. He may be my reader :) Leland is having great success with his writing this year. We are using Writing Strands (Level 3). Last year we had such problems because the book instructed the student to do the assignment by himself. Lee would quickly get bogged down and I would get frustrated because he was "supposed" to be doing this himself....right? Anyway, we dropped it after about 3 months. This year, I blocked off 30 mins. every day that I work through the lesson with him.....2 times a week. Small bites. And most of the time he is getting it himself. I won't say that he likes it, anymore than he did last year, but he is doing it and learning that he CAN do it himself :) That is an achievement if I ever saw one. We are getting ready to really crack down and learn our math facts for the year.....addition for Gregory and multiplication for Leland. Of course, I am not hearing cheers of anticipation on this one, but I am hoping that it will manage to be as painless as possible.

Happy studies!

Diagnosis

At my dr's appointment this a.m. I finally received the diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Of course, I had suspected this for about 6 months, but to finally get the diagnosis means that I am being TREATED and finally can be on the road to good health again. I am on 500 mg Metformin for 7 days and then 1000 mg Metformin thereafter. I am also on a no-sugar low-carb diet. That is the hard part. I know that with prayer and help from God, family and friends that I will get accustomed to this way of eating. I hope and pray that this will help the symptoms of this disorder (unexplained weight gain, hormonal imbalances and infertility). My dr. is very hopefull of this.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their prayers for me. I really appreciate it.
Blessings,
Carie

A picture of us

I am trying my hand at a new talent (HA HA)...uploading pictures. If this works, let me tell you it was no easy feat on dial-up....oh how I long for satelite internet :) Anyway, here we are: (2nd try)




From left to right we have Leland, Norman, myself and Greg

Enjoy!

Puttering around the house

I've been busy this a.m.
I cleaned and redecorated the tops of my main kitchen cabinets. I lined up my tea pots and added some 8 by 10 photos to the top. It looks soooo cute :) I wish that I could take a pic and show you :)

I am working on laundry. The kids are done with school. Talked to Aunt B and found out that she wants me to use something called Fray check on the ends of my yarn....so I am getting ready to order some of that. Declutted the kitchen and dining room, but now we have had lunch so it is a mess again. Gotta get to work on that I guess.

CB is here and I will be picking up SC at school in a while. Then we will be running to Walmart and then to taekwondo. This in the only class this week so I am doing the happy dance. It is always great to have a week off from the continual trips to town.....don't tell my instructor though :)

I hope to have some time to knit when I get home. I guess that I will try to get some socks on needles for Aunt B. while I am waiting for the Fray Check to get here. So many projects.......

Stocking Up

This seems to be a common theme in the blog-o-sphere this week. I have to admit that I have felt the urge as well. But I wonder....why doesn't this urge hit in the spring when I could plant a huge garden??? I worry and stew all winter long but come May....I forget.....I know that I am lazy, but my mind needs to overcome my will and just do it.

Since I don't have a big garden to bring in, I will have to resort to what the stores have to offer. We stocked up on veggies a couple of weeks ago.....4 cases of various kinds. We got our 1/4 of beef so the freezer is stuffed. Flour looks good, but I will need to get a hold of several bags of sugar. We could probably do without, in an emergency, but that would only make a bad situation worse. I need to go through my first-aid drawer and see what needs replenishing....and the medicine cabinet. Like my mother, I tend to assume that there will be a big snow/ice storm mid winter. I always aim to be prepared to not leave the house for at least 2 weeks. Now, mind you, this hasn't happened since 1978 (I was an infant) and even then my dad was able to get to the store, but doesn't hurt to be prepared. And there is always North Korea and their nuclear situation to consider.

I am wanting to get some more material for some jumpers that I want to make myself this winter. Mom and I will be going on our annual shopping trip soon and that will probably be a major purchase then. I am also getting ready to order some books for winter reading and some camoflauge yarn for some scarves for the boys. With my other projects, I am definately going to busy until at least Christmas.

I have been hoping to convice dh of our need for a generator, but he isn't as paranoid as I am :) We have a totally electric house so in the event of a power outage...we are done. Moving to my mom's house :) But I am trying not to dwell on that.

So, my thoughts this week are on stocking up....how about you?
Blessings,
Carie

I found these in our church bulletin this morning...

Recipe for a Miracle

2 cups LOVE
4 cups TIME
1 cup ATTENTION
3 T FAITH
1/2 cup UNDERSTANDING
Dash of DISCIPLINE
Add PRAYER to taste
Mix all thoroughly and provide generous portions to each child from birth.

A Poem

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do,

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done

My soul could rest at ease.....All day long I had no time

To spread a word of cheer

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God held a book;

It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said

"Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down.....

But never found the time."

Now do you have the time?

Is it winter already??

What is with this weather? I enjoy cold weather and all, but I generally appreciate a little bit of transition. We were going to go to the football game this evening, but the wind is freezing so we are going to pass. The boys are going to a friend's house for the night and I will be knitting :)

Candy has some wonderful posts at her blog regarding the condition of the heart for eternity. They are fantastic and very worth the read.

Guess that is all for the evening! Have a good weekend :)
Blessings,
Carie

Yesterday......and this morning

Yesterday we were in Evansville, IN for a taekwondo regional tournament. Everyone had a fabulous time and we finished up with a dinner and play time at Chuck E Cheese. Not exactly my favorite place in the world, but Norman and the kids loved it :)

Around 4:00 a.m. I rolled over in bed and heard my neck pop. The pain was indescribable. I finally managed to get out of bed and into a recliner. With the help of double doses of ibuprofin I am able to move my head very slowly from side to side. But it still hurts. I am afraid this might require a trip to the chiropracter in the morning.
I have never been to the chiropracter and I am really, really hoping that I won't have to go this time.

So, today will be spent on the couch. I might see if I can knit a little, but I doubt that it will be much. Hopefully the kids will be able to entertain themselves while Norman is at work.

Have a blessed Lord's day!
Carie

How do you like it????

My new blog format, that is. Janet at Pine Blossoms Websites did such a fantastic job with everything you see here. She worked and worked with me. I am sure that was no treat, as I had no idea what I wanted or what I was doing. I am still worried that I will mess it up somehow, but she assures me that she has it saved somewhere very safe. So please, leave me a comment and let me know how you like it.
I love it!
Thanks again Janet!!!!
Carie

Tuesday

On Tuesday's we are usually able to stay home all day. Today was no exception. I decided to clean the house, which I do occassionally....contrary to popular belief.....It really isn't my fault that nobody is ever there to see it.

I got up around 6.....did my bible study (I finished Leviticus) and then walked with Sadie for about a mile. Came home, checked email, talked on the phone to S.A. and then bathed Sadie. Started laundry then bathed myself :)

Hung out laundry and woke up boys. It was about 8:30. They finally go through with breakfast/dressed/teeth brushed and we started school. Finished Latin, Bible, Reading/Phonics, Handwriting, Writing, and Math by 11.

I hung out the rest of the laundry (2 more loads) and started lunch (baked chicken and rice with corn). C.B. arrived here on the bus from school (I babysit him). I cleaned the playroom while Norman helped the boys carve pumpkins. We all sat down and ate lunch. Got Norman off to work and C.B. laid down to rest while the boys and I worked through History (Ancient Egypt) and Science (Oceans).

I cleaned the boys bathroom, vaccummed the hallway and living room and swept the kitchen. C.B. killed a spider....with his shoe.....we had to "high 5" after that. Spiders are scary you know! Anyway, his grandmother came and got him about 3:30.

I folded laundry while the boys put it away. The boys worked on their speeches for a few minutes and are now outside playing. They had sandwiches for supper. I had leftover red beans and rice and popcorn for supper......nutritious I know. We are going to start some evening reading this evening and I plan to knit for a while....gotta get to work on the rest of those shawls for Aunt B.

Tomorrow I am going to take Uncle L. shopping. I am hoping and praying that I am not as busy tomorrow....I am soooo tired :)

Have a good evening :)
Carie

This is too funny.....The Toddler Diet

I am borrowing this from Mrs. Wilt at the Sparrow's Nest.......I laughed sooooo hard :)

Over the years you may have noticed that most 2 year olds are trim. It came to me one day over a cup of grapefruit juice and a carrot that perhaps their diet is the reason. After consultation with pediatricians, x-ray technicians and distraught mothers, I was able to formulate this new diet. It is inexpensive and offers great variety and sufficient quantity.
Day 1:Breakfast One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly. Eat 2 bites of egg using your fingers; dump the rest on the floor. Take 1 bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and clothes.
Lunch Four crayons (any color) a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk-3 sips, then spill the rest.
Dinner A dry stick, 2 pennies, 4 sips of flat diet pop.
Bedtime snack Toast piece of bread, butter it and toss it face down on the floor.

Day 2:BreakfastPick up stale toast from the floor and eat it. Drink 1/2 bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye.
Lunch Half tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and one ice cube, if desired.
Afternoon snack Lick an all day sucker until sticky, take it outside and drop in dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until clean again, then bring inside and drop on living room carpet.
Dinner A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril. Pour iced tea over mashed potatoes, eat with spoon.

Day 3: Breakfast 2 pancakes with plenty of syrup, eat with fingers, rub fingers in hair to clean. Glass of milk, drink half, stuff excess pancakes in glass.After breakfast,pick up yesterday's sucker from carpet, lick off fuzz until sticky again, then leave on cushion of your best chair.
Lunch Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several well-chewed bites onto the floor. Pour glass of milk onto table, then slurp up.
Dinner Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips, 1 sip of cold coffee.

Final Day: Breakfast1/4 tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bite of soap, one olive. Pour glass of milk over bowl of Cornflakes, add 1/2 cup of sugar. Wait until cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to dog wih your spoon.
Lunch Eat crumbs off the kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that sucker and finish eating it.
Dinner A plate of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on plate. Handful of cheese snacks, eat 2 and place the rest in bowling ball holes or any other convenient hiding place.

Isn't that toooo funny???? It truly does sound like a typical meal at my house sometimes :)

Proverbs 2

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou undersatnd the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and undersanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stanger which flattereth with her words;
Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

The unique-ness of me

Psalm 139:13-16

For thou has possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

This passage was used this morning during our worship time to help us identify how unique God has made us all. Our speaker was led to discuss with us all the ways that God can use each of our unique details to do His will. I may be the only person who has the unique ability to connect with someone else. Nobody else ever made by God will be exactly like me or have my unique set of gifts. I praise God for making me so unique and I ask Him to show me where I can do His work using the talents that He has given to me.

These thoughts really touched me today. I am 29 years old. I still feel young and unexperienced, but then I see other godly women who are my age - and younger! - who are accomplishing so much for the kingdom of God. I am disgusted with myself for not being able to get my act together. I feel that I am letting down those around me. I wonder what lives I could have touched if only I had followed God's will for my life instead of going my own way. I have been leaning on many crutches over the years....the excuses for why I didn't have it together. No more excuses! The problems that I have are mine alone. I need to deal with them, rather than using them as an excuse for laziness. I will be searching God's word this week to see what God wants for me. I suspect that I already know, for the most part, the area that I will be focusing, but I feel that a time of prayer before I commence will be very appropriate. If you feel led, please pray with me that I will find God's will and direction for my life.

Last Day of September

Here it is the end of September..........where does the time go????? Sometimes I just want time to STOP!!!!! Maybe then I would get something done :)

Today we had soccer games. At overlapping times. At fields on opposite sides of town. I watched the first quarter of Lee's game, took Greg to his game and watched the first quarter. Then I drove back across town and watched the very last of Lee's game and picked him up and then we went back across town, watched the last 5 minutes of Greg's game...went to IGA and then HOME!!!!!

I finally got so sick of the kitchen being a cluttered, disorganized mess that I worked on it. It took about 1.5 hours but the kitchen is in pretty good shape now. I still need to get something with a long handle so that I can get the dustbunnies that live near the ceiling but other than that it is very livable. I might tackle the living room tomorrow. Out of exhaustion I finished knitting Aunt B's shawl. All I need to do is put on the fringe. I personally don't like fringe, but she does so fringe it is. I started working with some new yarn that I just got this evening. It is cool!!!! I can't tell about it because at least one of the recipients of the gifts it will become read this blog............so everyone will have to wait until Christmas :)

I am eagerly anticipating my new Knit Picks catalog....and my new Vision Forum catalog.....and my new Urban Homemaker catalog.........where, oh where are my catalogs :)

Tomorrow will be a typical Sunday....services in the a.m. and then maybe we will go to Grandma's in the afternoon. We will see.

Have a blessed Lord's Day!!!!
Carie

You Can Win.....$700 Worth of Vision Forum Products

This is a great contest!!!!! All that you have to do is go here and read the rules and details....one little email and you are entered!!!!!

Happy guessing!
Blessings,
Carie

Wednesday

Good morning!
Sorry that I haven't been around much lately....life tends to get in the way of blogging :)

We have been busy. Adding speech class and soccer to our already hectic schedule is almost more than I can bear. I guess that it will all be over soon. We are halfway through both. We have a tournament coming up in Evansville for taekwondo and I don't know all of my form....well, I know it, but not good enough for a tournament. In front of all those people I would definately go blank. So I really, really need to work on that.

Aunt B's first shawl is almost complete. I think that there are only 5 more, and a pair of socks to go. I also made up my list of things that I want to knit for Christmas gifts, so I will need to work on those sometime. I guess that I am going to have several projects going at a time for a while.

I went to a different dr. yesterday. He said that the first dr. didn't do the right bloodwork to test me for PCOS. So more blood was drawn. I started my first round of Clomid today. I am hoping that the side effects aren't too bad. It almost seems like I am in a dream. I never thought that I would have fertility problems. Please pray with us that this will work, without anything more invasive. Also, please pray that the insurance will cover the procedures....we are waiting on approval for most of them. I am scared and worried about the whole deal, but I am trying to remember to give it to God. He is bigger than infertility and insurance HMOs.

Thanks to Laura, I have found a wonderful new site for free knitting patterns. Like I need more patterns. (rolling eyes), but anyway, there it is.

Sitting in the doctor's office has given me loads of time to read The Latin Centered Curriculum by Mr. Drew Campbell for the review for TEACH magazine. I will post the link when I am done with that.

Greg's toe is healing nicely. It is still tender, but we aren't having to pad it anymore.

I guess that is all that I have for now. I will try to keep up more regularly, but I didn't really have much to post.
Have a good weekend!

My child in pain

We had to take Gregory to the doctor yesterday. He had dropped a concrete cinder block on his toe Sunday evening and the blood was beginning to spread up his toe. It was really swelled up and looked a lot worse on Wed. morning than it did on Monday. We thought that they would just drain the blood...........we were wrong. :(

First they stuck a needle under his toenail to give him some novacain. They said that this would hurt really, really bad (and for the dr. and nurse to say that.....well it was horribly bad). But the novacain was supposed to keep him from feeling the horrific part. They had to take a skinny pair of pliers and tear his toenail off. The novacain didn't work. I have never heard screaming so intense from anyone in my life. I tried to comfort him as Norman held him down. I was so glad that he was there.....I don't know how I would have handled it without him there. Lee, eager to watch the proceedings, had to turn away....he couldn't watch. When they were done, they discovered why the novacain didn't work.....he had a gash all the way across his toe in the nail bed. That is why there was so much internal blood pooling....the blood couldn't get out and it is still bleeding. Needless to say Greg is getting the royal treatment at this house. No school today.....for anyone.....

This whole experience reminds me of how God must have felt watching Jesus die on the cross for us. The agony for him must have been horrible as Jesus cried out in pain. I can't imagine. I know how I felt yesterday. It makes me ever the more thankful for the sacrifice that was made for me.

Blessings,
Carie

Some final thoughts this evening

In catching up on my reading, I worked through Chapter 4 of Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn. What follows is some thoughts on the subject matter that I thought I would share with you.

First, the Bluedorns describe the Trivium. "First the Grammar of the subject (is studied) - the facts - the who, what, where and when. Second, the Logic of the subject - the theory - the why. Third, the Rhetoric of the subject - the practice - the how."

The Bluedorns (and I for that matter) believe that the classical Trivium is rooted in our created nature. I was so impressed on Sat. at the science workshop (the title of which was Science and the Attributes of God) that the speaker was able to correlate so many parts of nature to the attributes of God. For example, 3 things make up the universe....space, time and matter. There are three dimensions to an object....length, width and height. God is in 3 persons....the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Our speaker refered to this chemical that we were using and in the presence of a alkaline substance it turned one color and in the presence of an acid it turned another color....always. The rule never changed....just like God and his love for us never changes. I believe that this is what the Bluedorns are trying to explain here.

The learning process for almost everything falls into three categories: Knowlege, Understanding and Wisdom. There are many bible verses that refer to these: Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3: 19-20 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

"""Our Creator worked the fundamental structure of the Trivium into the very fiber of our natural being. We come to know things in the natural world through our natural senses. We come to understand these things with our minds. We put our understanding into wise practice through our muscles."""" pg. 88

The Bluedorns go on the explore the problems with modern education.
"""Our first observation is that modern education majors on the minors. It pursues Trivia, not Trivium. True education should not be like filling an empty bucket. It should be like lighting a fire."""" pg. 93

This reminds me of a favorite book of mine....Ignite the Fire by Teri Camp. This was such an important book in explaining how to nurture the interests of my children. I still refer to this book often.

And continuing: """Our second observation is that modern education interrupts the natural progression of learning.""" pg. 94

And finally: """A true liberal arts education is the mastery of those skills which liberate us from our teachers so that we can learn on our own.""" pg. 99 I couldn't agree more. My goal as a parent/teacher/mentor is to give my children the basic skills and the love of learning. Then I can set them free to learn the things that they need or want to know. This doesn't mean that I don't teach them anything, it means that we leave room for the things that interest them. We follow the "rabbit trails" and see where they lead us. I will never know how the study of a subject will impact my children. God may use my children's special interests for His kingdom. What a shame if I passed by on an opportunity to explore the world that interests them.

In case you, like me, didn't receive a classical education, here are some tips that the Bluedorns give to get us started in the right direction (all taken from pgs. 102-103)
1. Kick the entertainment habit
2. Start reading
3. Ask the Lord to give you an inquiring mind
4. Build vocabulary
5. Have discussions with your children
6. Make sure your children obey you
7. Establish family worship

Happy learning :)

Daily happenings

Today has been a normal day...after a fairly normal weekend. We were very busy this weekend, which is fun for the boys and nerve racking for me :) We went to Lincoln Log Cabin on Friday and had a lovely tour visiting the home of Abe Lincoln's father Thomas Lincoln. On Saturday we went to a science workshop by David d'Armond. They boys had such a great time! They were thanking me the whole rest of the day for taking them. That could be partly due to the fact that I bought the next 2 volume's of Jonathon Park :) Norman had to take my van to work yesterday evening so that he could have the CD player. He hates when he gets behind us in the story :)

I started my Latin studies yesterday. I am using Henle Latin, First Year. It is tough, but very logical so far. I am hoping that it stays tough but logical. I can handle tough as long as it is logical :)

Tonight I will begin rereading The Latin Centered Curriculum by Drew Campbell for a review for TEACH magazine. I learned so many things from reading that book and recommend it heartily. I will save the rest of my opinion for the review :) Don't want to spoil the ending.

I have a dozen books that I am in the middle of reading :) Wouldn't it be nice to finish some up? But then what would I do with my precious spare time???? LOL I am going to start carrying all of my unfinished books in my bag and get to finishing them :) The yarn from my aunt should be here any day and I will have to get to knitting. Maybe I will look into some books on tape.....or I can just listen to more re-runs of Law and Order :)

Have a good week!

American Family Association

Please go over to the American Family Association and see how Walmart has joined forces with a homosexual coalition that promotes gay and lesbian issues. I think that every family needs to determine if they are willing to continue to support Walmart with their purchasing power. Every day I hear something more disturbing about Walmart.

Thanks!!!!!

To Mrs. B at Be Not Conformed for telling me how to do these hyper links. I am such a computer moron :) I need all the help that I can get. Thanks Mrs. B.!!!!!
Blessings,
Carie

September 11

I wasn't going to post about Sept. 11, 2001. I just wasn't going to. It isn't that I want to forget, it is just that I live with the panic and anxiety everyday....I don't generally go out of my way to rehash it. But other bloggers have been encouraging everyone to remember where they were and what they were doing on Sept. 11. So here is our story.

On Sept. 11, 2001 we were at a Day's Inn motel in Metropolis IL. The funeral of my dh's grandmother had been the day before. I got up and switched on CNN (after 9/11 I started watching Fox News) and there was smoke rolling from the first tower. It had just been hit and nobody on the news knew what was going on. Lee woke up also (he was 4) and I remember saying to him "look Lee, some idiot flew a plan in to the World Trade Center, you would think that they could miss that!". We were watching when the second tower was hit. I can't begin to describe the panic that I felt. I was so upset as I woke up Norman. He probably initially thought the hotel building was on fire. Imagine his attitude when he found our that he was awake so that he could watch the news! But quickly his irritation dawned into understanding of the seriousness of what was going on. He woke up his mom and step-dad in the next room and urged them to watch. They left almost immediately.
We watched the pentagon get hit. And wondered how many more plans there were. We watched the towers fall. I was so upset I was sick.....just sitting on the bed and bawling. Then I remembered.....my uncle is a pilot for United Airlines. So the phone calls to my parents began.....they weren't home. Panic turned to terror. Norman walked down to the lobby to get some doughnuts and was told that the Allied Chemical Plant in the area was shut down due to security threats. That was the final straw......we had to go HOME....NOW. I don't think that I have ever showered and dressed and packed so fast in my life. I wanted out of that place and back to the safety of my home and family.....about 3 hours away. We checked out and met up with my sil and got the kids some lunch from McDonald's. And hit the interstate. There was a lot of traffic. We stopped for gas around Rend Lake. It never occurred to us that the prices were raised and thankfully they weren't there. When we arrived back in Effingham though all kinds of problems awaited us. Gas prices had been inflated all over the area...by several dollars. Walmart was the only place that had the same price up and the lines there were snaking all over the parking lot. Thankfully we didn't need gas and hurried home........safe in the country. I got a hold of my parents and found out that my uncle wasn't flying that day. All of my family was safe.

I watched the news for weeks....all day long. It was my constant companion. Finally someone told my dh that the news was probably the cause of all my anxiety....I just couldn't get past my fear. And I think that they were right, when we quit watching the news I was able to control my fear and give it to God.

The repercussions are still here in my family. Sept 11 was my first panic attack. They are frequent companions now. I still watch the news, even for just a few minutes, every single morning. If there is news of a plane crash, I am glued to the TV. Fox News Alerts make my heart jump. And I cry when I watch the specials on TV....but I watch them, over and over.....because I can't forget. I talk to my children often about what happened. Lee doesn't remember that day anymore. Sometimes he will say that he does, but I know that he doesn't. Greg was just a baby. I don't want them to forget either. Nothing will ever be the same again.

I would love to read your 9/11 story. Please post in the comments section a link to your blog. Be Not Conformed has a wonderful 9/11 post and links to othes if you are interested.

Shawls, socks, reviews and kids....Oh My!!!!

Suddenly I have become a very busy woman :) My aunt, from Seattle, WA called and commissioned 3 shawls and a pair of knitted socks from me. She is sending the yarn for the shawls priority mail, last night or today, and wants the first one done ASAP. The other 2 and the socks (for which I will get the yarn) are to be done as I am able. I have another review due in Oct. I have read the book for it, The Latin Centered Curriculum by Andrew Campbell, but I will need to reread and get the review done. I love doing these reviews. I always have an opinion about something and it is great to have a venue to express my opinions :) I also just picked up another kid to babysit. It is only half days and he is a cousin so we are all familiar with each other. He has stayed here many times before, just nothing regular. I know that we will love having him here.

School is going good. Lee is really liking Latin. He is calling it our secret little language :) Hopefully we will have some phrases down so that we can actually talk to each other and keep the excitement going. Greg is wanting to join in the fun, but I told him that he needed to finish his phonics books first...he should wrap that up by Christmas at the latest. I never dreamed that Latin would go this smoothly. Lee grumps a little about the written exercises, but he jumps at the oral ones. And he is a flashcard junkie, so that is going well also. If you would have told me a year ago that Lee would like Latin I would have been on the ground laughing. I never would have believed it. It certainly pays to expand our horizons :)

Also on the homefront, I am beginning my first round of fertility treatments with Clomid in the next week or so. I am hoping and praying that one round is all that it will take, but trying to keep the disappointment level low. How often does this work on the first try anyway??? Prayers are certainly appreciated it you feel led.

That is about all for now....the boys must be awakened so that school can commence. Have a good day!

Praying for the Godfrey's

If you feel led please pray for the Godfrey family. I only know of them online, but they really need prayer right now. The following is taken from http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DandelionSeeds

Quote from Susan's
Blog on Sept. 6th: "This morning has been really rough. We are now
less than 1 week away from the baby's birth and on the way home from taking
Marty to work, it hit me pretty hard. I had to pull over and cry and pray for a
bit. I'm feeling better, but the tears are still just under the
surface..."Please join in prayer to uplift this family during this tough
time. Susan Godfrey (former blog
at homeschool blogger) will be induced on September 12th, with a potential
c-section if things don't go well. Because the baby has potter's syndrome,
it will die within hours of being born. They have known about it since the
beginning of June and her blog has contained many heart-wrenching posts about
the life alive within her that's safe until it enters the world

This just breaks my heart. Please pray if you feel led.

Blessings,

Carie

.

And now there are 2

Socks that is :) I finished the other one and amazingly it looks just like its mate. Life is good :)

On the downside, blogger has done something to my blog. I updated my links, etc. before my last post and previewed my blog and everything looked good and then I saved the changes, wrote the last entry and logged out. When I came back just now my whole side-bar is at the bottom of the page!!!!! ARRRRR!!!! I have no idea how to fix this. I have only enough knowledge of HTML to get myself in trouble (current problem is proof of that). If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Have a good evening!
Carie

A Meek and Quiet Spirit

Do you have a meek and quiet spirit?

I struggle with having a meek and quiet spirit. I complain....a lot. I fuss at the kids....a lot. I lose my patience...at everyone...a lot. I don't feel that I have the kind of attitude that God would want me to have.

I am working on this. If this is a problem area for you as well, I would encourage you to look at a few verses with me.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

"I" can do "all" things....everything....through Jesus Christ......He strengthens me. God will never give me anything that I can't handle. When I am stressed out the main reason generally is fear. I am afraid that I won't get everything done. I am afraid that I will be late, or that everything won't be prepared. I fear failure. But in Philippians we have this promise that God will be with us, standing with us, helping to bear our burdens. And lets face it, what is more important, being on time for another practice or the character/training of my children? I think that my children should come before any outside activity. My boys have been given to me by God to raise, they are my ministry. I should not neglect my ministry.

Teri Maxwell writes in her book Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit (www.titus2.com) that the key to our meek and quiet spirit is time with the Lord Jesus. Do you get the time you need to refuel your heart from God? I know that very often, I don't. I always think of a million other things that I can do with that time. God's word and time in prayer with Him is the most important thing!

Psalm 119:105 reads "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." How can God's word lead you if you are not receiving it daily? How can Jesus come into our hearts everyday if we are not talking and listening to Him?

2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
---Look at what the word of God can do for us! It leads us, guides us, corrects us, teaches us. From God's word we learn the importance of having a meek and quiet spirit.

Philippians 4:6
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Prayer and study of God's word can aid us in having a meek and quiet spirit. Teri Maxwell says "Plan to read your Bible each day.......I like to record what I read each day, plus copy out one verse that has personal meaning to me. Then I take it a step further and write out why I chose that verse.........A prayer journal is important too."

I have been reading my Bible many days. I find that the days that I do, I am calmer and more able to accept "interruptions" as they come. I feel less anxious and there is joy in my heart. I don't have a prayer journal right now, but I have kept one in the past, and feel the Lord leading me to start another one. I like to see my prayer requests written out with their answers beside them. Many of my prayers have been answered, but sometimes we forget! It is wonderful to have a remind of God's grace and mercy in our individual lives. I have a PINK highlighter that I am using to mark the verses in my Bible that seem to be "speaking" to me. God uses His word to speak to us.......I think that it is about time that I listen!!!!!!

Discussions at our House

We have had some interesting discussions here at my house lately. Greg has become fascinated with everything to do with babies. Where do babies come from? How did they get in there? How do they get out???? Don't you know mom?????? Yes, of course I do. Does dad???? Yeah, I told him :) He has also started singing our cocker spaniel to sleep in the afternoons. He is convinced that she can't take a nap unless he sings to her. And boy is he mad if someone accidentally wakes her up! So now that I have explained (in the least detailed way possible) the answers to all of his questions, he want to know what babies do while they are here. How much do they sleep, when and what do they eat, what do they wear, can they talk, etc. Now, this child has been around babies, several different babies, but I guess that maybe he never paid attention. Since he is the "baby" at our house, he doesn't have 1st hand knowledge of a lot of these things himself. ATTN: I am not at this time pregnant. I would love to be, but I am not. I am hoping that maybe this is some kind of prepartion for a surprise that God has for us :)

Also, we are studying history chronologically starting with Genesis this year. After 4 weeks, we have got to Noah (I am worried that ancient history may take as long to study as it did to occur). Anyway, Lee decided that people who believe that the flood was a localized event must be nuts because God promised never to send another flood and we have localized floods all the time.....and God never lies so He must have been referring to another WORLD WIDE flood. Fabulous thinking!!!!! I was so proud. Most of the time they just sit there and don't like to discuss anything. I always wonder if they are listening, but today they were!

I am liking all of this discussion here at our house, but I would like to set some rules if you don't mind:
1. No questions about babies before 8:30 a.m. I am just not awake enough before then.
2. Discussions of all kinds should be limited to days when my brain is actually up to it. We should not sit like dummies on the days that mom is at peak brain production and then expect to have an intellectual conversation on the day when I am brain dead....Fair?
3. In retrospect, I think that I have had my fair share of baby questions, go ask your dad. He knows all the answers, I told him.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Carie

One Sock

I am sure that many of you remember that I have taken to knitting socks......well at least one sock anyway. I finished the first sock on Sunday. I started it's mate, but have already had to rip it out.....But that's ok, because as I told Lee, every time I have to take it apart and start over I have learned something. I must have patience and persevere so that my lone sock will have a mate :) Maybe by the end of the weekend I will have a pair.

I am learning more stitches and have a better understanding of how things are supposed to go together. I am getting valuable practice. Maybe I will be able to start something in that knitted lace book that is so intimidating! I will definately have to dig the book out and take a look again this winter. Unfortunately most of those patterns are in chart form and I am not very good at reading charts. Oh well, I guess that I will need to figure out a way to practice that also.....so much to do....so little time.

Blessings,
Carie

Teaching the Trivium

I am reading Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn with a group (yahoo group: BasicallyBluedorn). I thought that I would post some of the interesting things that I am learning here with the hope that they will benefit others as well.

Distinctives of the Biblical Model of Education
1. All true education must begin with the revelation of God.
The Scripture is sufficient to educate us in all necessary areas of life.
Psalms 119:97-104
Timothy 3:15-17
2. The family at home is given sole jurisdiction over the education of children.
Deuteronomy 11:18, 19
3. Education is to fully prepare children for adult life.
Proverbs 22:6
Genesis 18:19
Titus 2:2-6
1st Timothy 5:14
2nd Peter 1:3
4. The ultimate goal of education is holiness - separation to God for his service.
Leviticus 20:26
1st Thessalonians 4:7
1st Peter 1: 15, 16
All education is essentially religious, and the sooner we realize this, the better. (TTT pg. 39)
Scripture requires us to maintain a separation from the world and its ways. (TTT pg. 40)

Fabulous article

Stephanie at Getting Back to Basics (see link to right) has a wonderful article about worship and women's conferences on her blog. I would encourage anyone who is having trouble finding the time to "worship" God to take a second and read her article. Our lives can be lived in worship to God without a special time set aside. We are to do everything as unto the Lord. Let's live our lives for Him!!!!!

What we have been up to....

Today is the last day of our 4th week of school. So far we have "schooled" for 9 days......now do you understand why we start so early???? I am hopeful that with the arrival of "school time" and the removal of so many friends to play with that we will be able to buckle down to at least 3 or 4 days a week. I said I was hopeful....but not necessarily optimistic.....But I figure that it is ok....we will get it all done eventually.

Lee ( my 9 year old reluctant reader) has discoved the Box Car Children series. He is enthralled. Dh was such a sweetie and bought him a set of 26 from ebay last week and he has been happily reading ever since. Greg is looking forward to reading them also. I figure maybe by Christmas he will be able to. He loves to read and reads everything he gets ahold of. He isn't even discouraged by the big words...he just skips them and keeps on going. He gets the just of things anyway.

I was working on my first pair of socks. I almost had one sock done before I made terminal mistake and had to take the whole thing apart. But I have learned from that mistake and am perservering....I plan on working on it some more today....maybe I can get it finished up.

The house is relatively clean and I am working on the never ending laundry.

Taekwondo testing is tomorrow. We signed Greg up for the leadership program so he will be in classes with his older brother now. Norman and I are going to start teaching some. Norman more than I because I run the front desk for Mr. G.

Well, I guess that is all about us for now. We are trying to stay busy and out of trouble. Have a blessed weekend!

Educational opportunities

I try to take advantage of outside educational activities when they are presented to us. I realize that I might not always know the best way to present various bits of information and sometimes my children just take to things better when I am not the one teaching them.

Some of the "outside" educational opportunities that we are going to take part in this year are:

1. Our local homeschool group is featuring David D'Armond in September. He will be teaching classes to K-6th on topics and experiments relating to the days of the creation week and the attributes of God. I am very excited about this.

2. We are hoping to attend at least one concert by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. They host education concerts at a reduced cost to students and educators. They are divided into age groups and have different concerts on different days. Taken from the brochure: "All the education concerts involve active student participation, interaction and engagement. The older the age group, the greater the depth of the exploration: What is going on in the orchestra? How do composers evoke moods? What are the concepts upon which the music is grounded? Through active listening, students lock into the excitement of sound."
For more information you can visit www.slso.org

I am always on the lookout for other fun things to do during the year that will help teach a character trait, historical event or concept. We love historical reenactments (who doesn't like a good battle :)) and I have an intense fascination with old houses. I think that it is very practical to seek out opportunities that will engage your children in hands on learning and exploring. I would encourage you to do so as well.

Happy exploring!!!!!

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

That is my preliminary diagnosis. I don't have the whole "scoop" on the situation, but from what I can understand, my ovaries are insulin resistant. There are a ton of complications that can occur with this (infertility, type 2 diabetes, and thyroid problems for example). PCOS can be treated and managed and women who have this disorder can have children, but will probably need medical help (infertility drugs or treatment).

I am very relieved to have this diagnosis and to finally know what is wrong with me. My doctor is very knowledgable and willing to work with me in treatment. There are some nutritional areas that I need to explore further. All of my test results are not in yet, so I don't have a course of treatment.

For more information you can go to www.soulcysters.net

We Made it Back

Yeah!!!! We got back home about 12:30 last night.....Norman was such a gentleman and drove all the way home so that I could rest.

We brought home 10 trophies!!!!! All "place" trophies, not competitor trophies....although we are usually very proud of those too :) Lee got a 2nd in forms, 2nd in weapons and 3rd in sparring. Greg got a 1st in forms and 1st in weapons. Shannon got a 3rd in forms (fantastic for a first tournament). Norman got a 1st in forms, 1st in weapons and 2nd in sparring. I got a 3rd in sparring....although I admit that I don't know how. I never did score a point. The girl I was sparring had incredible balance and I never could get past her leg :) We had a good time. It is always very stressful for me and I don't handle stress well, but I think that I did pretty good. The problem occurs when I have more than one person in different rings all at the same time. Yesterday I was trying to take pics of Norman, Lee and Shannon in 3 different rings all at the same time, plus get pics of some friends who were also in different rings......ARRRRRRR!!!!! But I managed :) I think that maybe I get a little less stressed every time...maybe. Remind me of that next time :)

So today we are resting. Taking Shannon home sometime this a.m. And resting.
Did I mention that we were resting today????

I got a new "learn to knit socks" book in the mail while we were gone, so I might try to find some yarn and see if I can figure it out. I just can't get the hang of 3 double pointed needles.

I don't know if I told you.....but I have to go REST now :) Have a good Lord's day!
Blessings,
Carie

Getting Ready to Leave

Yesterday was Leland's 9th birthday! He received many wonderful gifts and I received the gift of having him be a part of our family for yet another year. I am so blessed to have healthy children :)

We are gearing up to leave for Lexington KY for a taekwondo tournament Saturday. It is a 6 hour drive, at least, so we are leaving bright and early Friday morning. We will drive home late Saturday night because Norman has to work Sunday. Wish us luck and safety while traveling!
See you when we get home!

I just want to Praise The Lord!!!!!

This morning, at 11:00 a.m., my oldest son, Lee asked Jesus to come into his life and was baptized at the Falmouth Church of Christ. My dh and I were crying so much......luckily a dear friend had hankies to share :) I am so blessed that he is a member of the family of God.

Norman, was able to attend, after working a 16 hour shift last night....he got off work at 7 a.m. and drove home, arriving around 8. He took a 30 min. nap and then went with us to the services. We got home, ate lunch and he went back to work for his regular shift. I am so lucky that he is a wonderful provider! I think that I am going to stay up late tonight and talk to him on the cells while he drives home to help keep him awake. I worry about him when he is so tired.

I should be able to complete the baby blanket that I am making for a friend this evening. It is striped, white, light blue and dark blue. I am doing it in a stockinette stitch, pattern of my own design. Nothing fancy...but I think that it is pretty cute. I ordered a new book with sock patterns. I am really wanting to know how to knit socks! So hopefully I will be able to figure it out. In the meantime I will work on a cross stitch project that I have started.

This week will be pretty calm, relatively speaking :) Lee's b-day get-together will be Wed. a.m. We will grill out and have cake and ice cream. We aren't inviting a hoard of kids....we are going to do that in a couple of weeks on a weekend when Norman can be home. LOL This weekend we are going to go to Lexington KY for a taekwondo tournament. This will be the first tournament where I will be able to spar competitively. I am not very good so I am not expecting much :) But the kids love it and the trip will be fun. We are staying at a Hyatt Regency (bobbing eyebrows) with a reduced ATA discount. So we will see how the "other half" lives :)

www.whirlwindhandspunshappenings.com Is a great website that I have just stumbled upon. Amanda does amazing things with yarn. Scroll down and see the pastel yellow/pink one. They are beautiful.

Anyway, I don't know if I will make it back this week, but have a glorious time with our Lord!

Blessings,
Carie

Infertility

I hesitated to post this....
Really I did. I don't like to bare my soul to the whole world. I don't like being vulnerable. But God really has placed it on my heart to open up about this in case there is someone else out there in need of encouragement in this situation.

Many of you know that I have 2 children, boys. The youngest is 6. Dh and I have "actively" been trying to conceive for about 3 years now. The problem is that I don't ovulate.....

So finally, after many hours of agonizing about what to do, what not to do, and many prayers to God for guidance; I broached the subject with my dr. I was crying as I tried to explain the problem. He was such a blessing.....he never condemned me for my desire, but immediately referred me to a specialist. So I have an appt there on the 17th. I am scared and hopeful and trying not to set myself up for disappointment.

The problem that I seem to face the most is with others who don't see that I have a problem. I have 2 beautiful boys.....what is the problem??? In the world today, 2 is more than enough. Some people think that I am crazy, some people think that I am unsatisfied (and maybe I am)....but I think that God placed this burning desire in my heart to have another baby for a reason. I struggle every day with whether or not this is God's will for us. Maybe we just weren't meant to have more children.....maybe I should just let it be......maybe, maybe, maybe.

I share all this with the hope that if there are other women out there with children, who are unable to have more, that they will realize that they aren't alone. We all need to seek God's will in our lives, seek guidance from our dh's. I know that I can live the rest of my life not having more children, if I know that that is God's will for me. So please pray for me. Please pray that if this is God's will that his hand will obviously be in this and please pray that I will have a peace in my heart and contentment with what I have. Please pray for the dr.s that will be treating me. Please pray for my dh as he is my strength during this time. He is such a dear, never belittling my desires. He has made my desires his on this subject and I am so blessed by that. And please, if you are also suffering from infertility and would like prayer please leave a comment (they are moderated, I won't post it if you don't want me to).

1st Week Down

Today was another Fabulous Friday, the last of the year. We had such a great time at the pond of a friend. We had a singing time, bible story, bible lesson, lunch, horseback rides and swimming. The boys and I are very tired!

Last night was the first meeting of a local homeschool group that I attend. I just joined this group this year and I have already been so blessed by it. They are such a wonderful group of ladies! It was a tremendous blessing just to sit and soak up their wisdom. They all had such sweet, quiet, humble spirits.

Speaking of sweet, quiet spirits, I believe that I will need to work on mine. It isn't exactly sweet or quiet. I am also dealing with laziness in my life. I am such a lazy person. So today, I am working on that. I am trying to mow part of the yard for dh....if only I could get the lawn mower restarted :) I think that I flooded it.

Tomorrow is laundry day. I will probably try to mow some more also. We push mow a very large yard and so it takes a while :) About 3 hours total, but dh couldn't do it on his days off because of the extreme heat and then the rain so we are just doing it an hour at a time. Hopefully we will be able to finish it tomorrow.

Till next time.........
Carie

My Wonderful Life

Yes, it is a wonderful life........

School is going good. There don't seem to be any bumps in the road at all. The kids seem to like the math drills and are actually having fun doing math. Lee seems to enjoy Latin and is picking it up a lot quicker than I do. I will really need to keep working ahead so that I can stay ahead of him :) My schedule (posted below) has been reworked slightly. The boys didn't need so much time for the a.m. subjects, so they have a much larger break before lunch. I am grateful that they are able to have this time, as they can spend it with their dad before he leaves for work.

Lee is thinking about dedicating his life to the Lord. I am so proud/pleased/scared for him. I know that the road isn't always easy, but I am so grateful that God is allowing him, as well as the rest of us, this opportunity to reach his throne. What a wonderful blessing........Praise be to God!!!!

It is so hot here....the boys are outside playing in the sprinkler......I am sitting in the central air....very thankful for that....working on school and whatnot. I really do have a wonderful life :)

I hope that everyone is having a blessed day!!!

Boxes, Bins and Bags

Lately, I have had this amazing fascination with boxes, bins, cubbies and bags. Now, the bags isn't that surprising, I love purses and bags, but this urge to buy boxes, bins and cubbies is a little distrubing. I have bought 4 "locker bin" type plastic boxes over the past 10 days or so. I also purchased a set of 4 plastic shoe box things today....what am I going to do with all of these???? What does this say about my sanity, 3 days before school starts???

I also received my order from Hearts and Hands today...early!!!! Now that is a box I like to receive :)

New Resources

Upon perusing the internet and the summer issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine (www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com) I have some "new" resources to share with you. First, are you having trouble keeping track of all those library books? Enter the library elf! All you have to do is enter your library bar code # and pin # and they will send you an email BEFORE your books are due. You can adjust the time to suit you. They will also send you an email (or a TXT message) notifying you if you have a new hold book available at the library. My library was part of their system, and I am in the middle of nowhere, so I imagine that many others are as well. The website is www.libraryelf.com

The second resource that I would like to share came from an article in TOS. It is the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. Members of the co-op will receive discounts from various suppliers and companies. One of the large companies is Dell Computers. This resource is also free!!! Fabulous! Their website is www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org.

Enjoy!

Countdown to D-Day

Here it is, one week from the start of our school year. Everyone seems to want to know why I would start so early. There are a myriad of reasons, but mainly 1) it is too hot to do anything else and 2) we take a lot of time off during the year when dh is on vacations. So we are starting. I have most everything ready to go. I ordered the rest of our books yesterday and am anticipating their arrival. I am hoping that at least the math books will be here by then :) We definately need them.

Tomorrow, I am cleaning the house, really, really good. I need to do the final organization in the school room and clean off my little workspace back there. And we will need to leave mid-afternoon for a little shopping before Taekwondo.

Here is my sample school schedule. I am sure that it will change a little after about 2 weeks :)
M= with mom, T=together

Leland (4th grade)
8:30 Bible Lesson (T)
9:00 Character (M)
9:30 Bible reading
10:00 Latin (M)
10:30 Math-u-see drill on the computer
11:00 Math

12:00 VDB/Math drill (M)
12:15 Study Spelling
12:30 Handwriting/copywork
1:00 Writing Strands (M)
1:30 History (T)
2:00 Science (T)
2:30 Reading
3:00 Geography Center

Greg (1st grade)
8:30 Bible Lesson (T)
9:00 Bible reading
9:30 Character (M)
10:00 Math-u-see drills on the computer
10:30 Math (M)

12:00 Study Spelling
12:15 VDB/Math drill (M)
12:30 Phonics/Reading (M)
1:00 Handwriting/copywork
1:30 History (T)
2:00 Science (T)
2:30 Geography Center
3:00 Reading (M)


I hope that everyone else is having fun getting ready for school. For me getting ready is the best part!

Saturday To-Do List

I am so happy today....I get to stay home :)

• up, dress and go to Grandma's (1/2 mile down road) to pick green beans and zucchini
• walk Sadie (short walk)
• check email and blogs
• pick up kitchen
• work on review
• cook lunch (fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, broccoli and fried zucchini)
• clean-up
• the boys are having friends over to stay the night
• work on review or work online getting things set-up for school
• supper is tacos and corn-on-the-cob
• quiet reading :)
• bed

I have really enjoyed doing this. I will post again tomorrow and then that will be it....unless someone tells me otherwise :) I will have to actually come up with something to write about!

Ladies Against Feminism

LAF has some great new articles posted. You can view them here: http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/

Enjoy!

Friday To-Do List

Well, today isn't really going to be a list I think. Here's the problem: Remember all that laundry I worked so hard to get hung out yesterday...because it was going to rain today? Well it rained yesterday morning, before the laundry ever got near dry. Where our new clothesline poles are set is bare dirt. So, the clothes got really, really wet most of them drug down to the dirt and got all muddy. See my problem for today? So I have to decide what clothes (mostly the towels, but maybe some others) need rewashed. And I have to see if I can get the others to dry. Outside or in...they have got to dry. What a deal.
Other than that, here is what I need to do:

• clean the living room (declutter and vaccum)
• find the kitchen table :)
• fix lunch.....maybe pork chops
• do something about laundry (see above)
• shower and get dressed
• last night of VBS

Have a good day everyone!

Thursday To-Do List

Here is my list for today:

• up and walk Sadie (5:30 a.m.)
• start laundry
• get dh up (to work on roof)
• check email
• hang out 1st load of laundry (I would like to have all of them out by 10)
• check blogs and post (now!)
• hang out 2nd load of laundry (I have 3 more to do today)
• shower and dress
• clean up kitchen and laundry room
• work on review book
• go to mom's house and prep lunch (around 10)
• Bible reading and devotional work
• fold and put away laundry
• boys- clean up for VBS
• pizza party at VBS before classes (leave at 4:30)
• bed :)

Have a great day!

Wednesday To-Do List

Sorry, I almost forgot to post this :)

• up and walk Sadie (5:30 a.m.)
• check email, talk to mom and shower
• get dh and kids up (this is dh's day off but he is helping my parents roof their house)
• got them off and vaccumed the living room
• cleaned ceiling fan
• shredded zucchini for the freezer
• loaded and ran dishwasher
• made an apple cobbler to take to mom's for lunch
• worked on my homemaking binder while listening to a Dr. Sharp CD
• checked email and blogs (now!)
• go to mom's for lunch
• got to town to pick up co-op order (1:30 p.m.)
• empty afternoon - probably work on book I am reviewing
• supper and VBS

Have a great day everyone!

End Times and Prophecy

I have been reading on several different blogs about the end times with everything going on in Israel. I have read the whole Left Behind series, some of them twice and I absolutely believed every word until I heard Gary DeMar speak. He urges us to use the literal interpretation of the Bible when discussing prophecy and to use the surrounding text of various passages when trying to determine meaning. I urge anyone who has any questions about what is going on in Israel to go to www.AmericanVision.org and take at look at what Mr. DeMar says about prophecy. I really feel that those who believe the Left Behind theory aren't getting all the information that they should.

VBS

This year we are attending VBS with a neighboring church. The boys are having a great time and there is an ADULT class! Can you believe it? The adults are being taught by Dr. G. Thomas Sharp from the Creation Truth Foundation. He is a fascinating speaker. I am eager to hear what he has to tell us tonight. If you would like more information you can go to www.creationtruth.com

Tuesday To-Do List

Well, I am doing a little better! At least I am posting this before lunch :)

• 5:30 up and walk Sadie
• gave Sadie a bath (every Tuesday)
• checked email and called my mom (we try to talk every morning)
• decluttered/swept kitchen
• dusted living room
• checked blogs and emails
• help boys work on VBS projects
• fix lunch
• get dh off to work
• read Bible and devotional book
• nap???
• have boys get cleaned up for VBS
• supper
• VBS

I hope that everyone has a blessed day!!!!!

Monday To-Do List

Hello everyone! Candy (see link) has urged many of us to post our daily to-do lists. I think that this is a fabulous idea! I love to "see" inside the daily lives of other homemakers.
It is afternoon (I forgot to post this morning) so this is mainly a list of the things that I have done already today. I will try to do better tomorrow!

• up, start first load of laundry (5:30 a.m.)
• walk with Sadie (cocker spaniel) for 30 minutes
• bake blackberry cobbler for the boys' breakfast
• shower,dress, etc
• swap laundry in washer, hang out first load
• check email
• get boys up and fed
• swap laundry and hang out 2nd load
• greet dh (he worked a double shift) (7:50 a.m.)
• vaccum living room
• swap laundry and hang out 3rd load
• check email and read 1 chapter from devotional book
• hang out last load of laundry
• go visit my mom (boys are already there) (8:45 a.m.)
• come home, change clothes and go to library for pizza party (11:30 a.m.)
• come back home, bring in laundry
• have boys clean out van and feed the dog
• fold laundry and have boys put away theirs
• boys go to my mom's house again to play, I took a short nap and checked the blogs (2:00 p.m.)
• boys are home, taking a bath, getting cleaned up. I am going to cook supper and we will eat and go to VBS tonight

I am glad that I was able to share a day-in-my-life with you :) See you tomorrow!

School Supplies

Guess what!! It is school supply time :) If you haven't already decided that I am off my rocker, this might just tip the scales for you.....

I love school supplies. I love boxes of brand new, never used crayons. I love to buy the little scissors, erasers, pencils, notebooks and folders. I could spend hours in an office supply store just wandering around....but it is like a holiday during the school supply sales. I wait for these all year long.

So today, I went grocery shopping alone. I stopped at some yard sales and then the 50% off sales at KMart....not really very good sales. Then I went to Dollar General. Found 2 plastic containers to organize the van (2/$3), 2 plastic stacking containers for I don't know what ($2 each), and 2 6-pack coolers for the boys to use as lunchboxes for field trips and taekwondo ($5.50 each). I am feeling pretty good about myself so I go to the Dollar Tree. Now, my husband hates this store, because he says that I will buy anything for a dollar, which is probably true, so I try to contain myself while I am there. Instead of getting a cart, I got a little carrying basket so that I couldn't buy so much.........yeah, right....should have went with the cart.....my arms where so tired by the time I got to the checkout! I was able to get thumbtacks (in a cute little container), 5 subject notebooks, an insulated lunchbag for me, an insulated water bottle holder for me, a coloring book, a book with a blank picture spot on top and lines under for a story, 2 ice pack things for the coolers, a cell phone charm (don't ask), 2 dictionaries, 2 thesaurases, and 2 small sling bags (the boys can use for their game boys at taekwondo). I guess that is all. They had a very large selection of school supplies, but I refrained for the most part because I had bought a bunch of new school supplies in May when they all went on clearance at Walgreens (hooray for new crayons!!!!!)

I am really wanting to go to a bigger town and indulge a little time at Staples or Office Depot. I think that I like August more than I like December in the stores :)

Now, you can officially have me committed.


P.S. I did finally make it to the grocery store...not nearly as exciting though.....

Our newest addition

Drumroll please.........

I now have clotheslines!!!!! When we moved into this new house, my clothes lines were taken down for the construction work and had never been put back up. As part of his home improvement crusade, Norman has replaced my poles and strung me new line.....So this morning I hung out my first load of laundry. I love line dried laundry :)

I think that my husband has been abducted.....

OK, before you decide that I have taken a leap off a tall building....hear me out. My dh (pre Jan. 2006) smoked, drank gallons of Mt. Dew everyday and wouldn't touch veggies or whole wheat bread with a 10 foot pole. In Dec. 2005 he was diagnosed with severe emphysema and told that if he didn't quit smoking he wouldn't see the boys grow up. Now, he had tried to quit before and hadn't ever been able to, but he was determined and I was praying so he quit smoking in mid-Dec. 2005. It was tough. He was very irritable. He ate enough Werther's Originals to fill our house. We all walked on eggshells around here.

In January, I started taekwondo. The boys have been taking taekwondo since Jan. 2005 so it was natural that I would eventually join....I am there for 4-5 hours 2 or 3 days a week anyway, might as well. Norman joined up with us in February. So now he is exercising. This is the guy that thinks a walk to the car is too far. Exercising. Okay, I am adjusting.

My husband hates to drive to town, let alone take a trip and yet we went on a 9 day 7 state vacation in May. He had a good time....all of us did. He conceeded that we might be able to do it again someday.

Then just a couple of weeks ago, he reads an article about proper hydration for the body and gives up Mt. Dew. Just like that. No more Mt. Dew. He used to drink gallons of the stuff and now he drinks gallons of water. He never used to be able to sleep at night and would sleep late into the morning (he works 2nd shift). Now he goes to bed after work and gets up early enough to work around the house and yard and spend time with the boys. What a blessing!

Now, all of this has been a great adjustment for me but I have managed. Until........the other day we had company and I made homemade whole wheat bread. My husband has always refused to eat homemade bread, even white bread and here I am sitting across from him at the table, cheerfully eating homemade whole wheat bread..........

Whoever took my old husband can keep him....I think that I like this one better :)
I love you honey!!!!!

Life Priorities

This weekend, I was reading Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund. I have read this book before, but I thought that a more thorough reading was required this time. Right off the bat, I came to some really good wisdom about priorities.
Here is how I have, over the last few years, attempted to classify my priorities:
1.God
2.Norman
3.Children
4.Others

I still think that this is a good arranging of my priorities, but I find that maybe this isn't exactly how things play out in my daily life....I think that sometimes it goes #3, #2, #4 and then #1....how sad is that??? So maybe that is why I decided to reread this book :) Here are some ways that Mrs. Ortlund suggests that I can make God the first priority in my life.
1. Practice his presence. Jesus did this (John 14:10). In my life, I must always be looking forward to God and his will and wishes for my life....everything that I do must be done acknowledging the presence of God.

2. Jealously guard a daily quiet time spent alone with God. This is the hard part for me. I worry about the million other things that could be done with that time....or I spend the time with my thoughts only half focused on God. I also need to be more discriminating about what I am using to supplement this quiet time.....prayer journal and Bible only. Other books, good books, like this one, can be read at different times. I need to hear from God...straight from God!

3. Seek the Lord in occasional longer hunks of time. I don't know exactly how this might play out in my life. I just don't know how I will fit this in, but I know that I should, so that will be a priority.

4. Be diligent in my attendance of public worship. I failed miserably this week. Norman is on vacation and we had company almost all weekend, and by Sunday morning I needed some me time....so I went to Walmart to run errands alone. I was finding my peace in something other than God (but that is a whole 'nother topic). Worshiping with other believers should give me the boost that I need to get through the week, support and encouragement. God wants this corporate praise and worship every week.....If I am putting Him first in my life, why would I deny Him this pleasure??? So obviously I need to work on that.

Next, Mrs. Ortlund lists priority #2 as to the body of Christ. I have to agree that these people, other believers are my spiritual family. I find it hard, though, to place them and time spent with them above time spent with my earthly family. Maybe it is easier if your earthly family is also your spiritual family, I don't know. I guess that this is something that I will need to pray about.

Priority #3 is the needy people of this world, those that don't know God and his wonderful abundant blessings. This is probably more where my family comes in. I tend to get anxious and fearful when called upon to witness to someone. I am afraid of botching it up and making things worse. I am afraid of mocking and ridicule. God says that he will be there for me. I need to spend more time with God so that I know what he wants me to do and say when an opportunity appears to spread the good news about Him. If #1 and #2 are there, then #3 will fall into place.

So now, I stand before God asking him to work ever more in my life. I want him to work and mold and shape me to be what he has in mind for me. Anyone else want to see the best of what God has to offer them??? Join me in my journey to stand in God's presence!
Blessings,
Carie