I don't have your info, so email me and I will get this mailed out to you!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
And the winner is...
LISA K!!!
I don't have your info, so email me and I will get this mailed out to you!
I don't have your info, so email me and I will get this mailed out to you!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Exciting News...
Naomi got her very first Library Card today! She has been waiting "for forever" and I finally caved-in agreed.
She was so excited to have a card with her name on it. She stood there while they processed the number and giggled the whole time. She listened very solemnly to the instructions from the librarian and picked up her card like it was the Golden Ticket!!
She was just too sweet for words. She held my hand as we were walking to the car and said that getting her Library Card was just about the best thing ever! lol A girl after my own heart.
Then, reality hit me like a sack of books. One more card to keep track of means one more card that can rack up fines.
What was I thinking? Oh yeah, those big blue eyes!!
She was so excited to have a card with her name on it. She stood there while they processed the number and giggled the whole time. She listened very solemnly to the instructions from the librarian and picked up her card like it was the Golden Ticket!!
She was just too sweet for words. She held my hand as we were walking to the car and said that getting her Library Card was just about the best thing ever! lol A girl after my own heart.
Then, reality hit me like a sack of books. One more card to keep track of means one more card that can rack up fines.
What was I thinking? Oh yeah, those big blue eyes!!
Interesting Happenings
I have been getting phone calls lately from people that I have never met. They are getting my name from my church.
Why? How? What for? Are they crazy?
These are all questions that have paraded through my mind with each new phone call. It's not that I mind talking on the phone, really, I just hesitate talking to people that I don't know.
Okay, that's not entirely true either. I can strike up a conversation at the grocery store with a total stranger and walk away friends. But, strangers calling my home, is a little odd.
Until I found out the reason.
My name (and number!) have been given to the church as the 'go to' person for anyone calling and asking about homeschooling! Seriously. I wouldn't lie to you. They have a few other names as well, but I have been getting quite a few calls lately, and it's got me to thinking.
Is there really that big of surge in homeschooling in this area? And if so, why? I'm just curious.
The other thing I have been thinking about is putting together a post with links for anyone who might be searching out the option of homeschooling. There are so many resources out there and so many other bloggers who have done it better, but I think I will give it a try!
It will take some time since we have sickness making its rounds in the house, but I will get it done. Who knows, I may even make some links in the sidebar...
HMMM ideas, ideas, ideas...
Why? How? What for? Are they crazy?
These are all questions that have paraded through my mind with each new phone call. It's not that I mind talking on the phone, really, I just hesitate talking to people that I don't know.
Okay, that's not entirely true either. I can strike up a conversation at the grocery store with a total stranger and walk away friends. But, strangers calling my home, is a little odd.
Until I found out the reason.
My name (and number!) have been given to the church as the 'go to' person for anyone calling and asking about homeschooling! Seriously. I wouldn't lie to you. They have a few other names as well, but I have been getting quite a few calls lately, and it's got me to thinking.
Is there really that big of surge in homeschooling in this area? And if so, why? I'm just curious.
The other thing I have been thinking about is putting together a post with links for anyone who might be searching out the option of homeschooling. There are so many resources out there and so many other bloggers who have done it better, but I think I will give it a try!
It will take some time since we have sickness making its rounds in the house, but I will get it done. Who knows, I may even make some links in the sidebar...
HMMM ideas, ideas, ideas...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
School Projects and Pictures
We haven't done as many Hands-On projects this year as I would like, but we have done some. I just haven't posted pictures of our school happenings. :( I will try and update and then keep up because the kiddos like seeing their projects on here!
Starting with the most recent and working back...
The kids designed their own Seals. Studying the Ancients has been great fun and has been filled with copious amounts of information!
Starting with the most recent and working back...
The kids designed their own Seals. Studying the Ancients has been great fun and has been filled with copious amounts of information!
The 12 yo designed this one and while it is pretty, I didn't pay attention to what she wrote on it until it was too late to change it for this picture. Not cool!
The 8yo designed two because she loved it so much! heehee
Her second one.
The 10yo went for the simplistic pattern! This is pretty much like her personality, what you see is what you get! lol
This is a drawing of the Tabernacle.
These were inspired by the Egyptians. If you could see them up close, you could see the hieroglyphics on them.
I loved studying the Greek gods and goddesses in school and had just as much fun teaching them to the kids.
Cyclops
Medusa
A plaque for Aphrodite
Pegasus
Monday, February 22, 2010
Value Fiction For Your Spring Break Blog Tour
Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford
I have two books to review for this week! I hadn’t heard of either of these authors before, but I think I will seek out more books by both of them.
The first book is Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn.
The back of the book says this:
Jessica ran from her past…but can she hide from love?
My Opinion:
That was a little off putting to me because I don’t typically read romance novels, per se. I have read a few and they were fine, but they are not really my thing. (at least modern romance novels!) So, I began this book with a little trepidation. But from the first two pages, I was hooked! The author does a great job of presenting a mystery and then making me crave the answers. I had to know what the secret was.
The book is written in an easy reading style and the characters are very enjoyable. The story was fairly predictable, but I didn’t care. I liked them. I would like to read more about them and get to know them better. I guess it’s a good thing that this book is the first in The Glenbrooke Series! I will have to find these books to finish this series and then see what else this author has to offer.
The next book I have for review this week is Yesterday’s Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin.
Here is what is on the back of this book:
He fought to seek his fortune. Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?
My Opinion:
Another romance novel; oh goody! Surely I couldn’t like two romance novels in a row, could I?
Yup, I could and I did!
It took me a little longer to get into this book than the last one. The first few chapters were a little confusing to me with all the different characters and flashing back into the past, but I stuck with it and I am so glad. (I found out that this is the Second book in the series! Lol) I really enjoyed the authors writing style. It is detailed and intriguing. The characters are well thought out and full of life.
I have found another author that I will have to seek out!
You can buy both of these books at www.waterbrookmultnomah.com They are a great deal and a good read.
These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
I have two books to review for this week! I hadn’t heard of either of these authors before, but I think I will seek out more books by both of them.
The first book is Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn.
The back of the book says this:
Jessica ran from her past…but can she hide from love?
My Opinion:
That was a little off putting to me because I don’t typically read romance novels, per se. I have read a few and they were fine, but they are not really my thing. (at least modern romance novels!) So, I began this book with a little trepidation. But from the first two pages, I was hooked! The author does a great job of presenting a mystery and then making me crave the answers. I had to know what the secret was.
The book is written in an easy reading style and the characters are very enjoyable. The story was fairly predictable, but I didn’t care. I liked them. I would like to read more about them and get to know them better. I guess it’s a good thing that this book is the first in The Glenbrooke Series! I will have to find these books to finish this series and then see what else this author has to offer.
The next book I have for review this week is Yesterday’s Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin.
Here is what is on the back of this book:
He fought to seek his fortune. Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?
My Opinion:
Another romance novel; oh goody! Surely I couldn’t like two romance novels in a row, could I?
Yup, I could and I did!
It took me a little longer to get into this book than the last one. The first few chapters were a little confusing to me with all the different characters and flashing back into the past, but I stuck with it and I am so glad. (I found out that this is the Second book in the series! Lol) I really enjoyed the authors writing style. It is detailed and intriguing. The characters are well thought out and full of life.
I have found another author that I will have to seek out!
You can buy both of these books at www.waterbrookmultnomah.com They are a great deal and a good read.
These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
What a Wonderful Surprise!
My sister, Robin, Dad, and I went picture taking today. We went all around town and got some pretty cool pictures.
But, the coolest was when we went to the Keeper of the Plains to take pictures. We came up to the bridge and there was a couple in the middle, just standing there. The girl had a bright purple umbrella and they were standing together under it. It looked like a picture of lovers in Paris. It was beautiful.
I had to take pictures of them!
It was beautiful. :) Then our dad went over to the couple and told them that we were taking pictures of them and they told us that he had just proposed!! When they were on the bridge and we were taking pictures, he was proposing!!! How cool is that??
They were such a sweet couple. We wish them the best and many blessings in the years to come.
If you want to see more pics of this couple, check out Robin's blog. I will also try and get the ones from my dad and post them here. :)
But, the coolest was when we went to the Keeper of the Plains to take pictures. We came up to the bridge and there was a couple in the middle, just standing there. The girl had a bright purple umbrella and they were standing together under it. It looked like a picture of lovers in Paris. It was beautiful.
I had to take pictures of them!
It was beautiful. :) Then our dad went over to the couple and told them that we were taking pictures of them and they told us that he had just proposed!! When they were on the bridge and we were taking pictures, he was proposing!!! How cool is that??
They were such a sweet couple. We wish them the best and many blessings in the years to come.
If you want to see more pics of this couple, check out Robin's blog. I will also try and get the ones from my dad and post them here. :)
Friday, February 19, 2010
New foods, fingernail polish, and cake
This is my new favorite food! It was brought to our homeschool group and they poured this relish over a block of cream cheese and served with wheat thins. It is sooo yummy. It is addicting. BUT, it is $7.50 for this one little, bitty jar...so I won't be getting it that often. :(
Aunt Bobbie let the girls do her nails! heehee She didn't know what she was getting into.
I don't think I put any pics of her cake on here! She was so excited to see it. :)
Hear No Evil Blog Tour and Give-away
I rec'd this book to review today! The review is due today! lol You can imagine that I haven't read the book, right? Well, you are correct; I haven't.
Here’s a summary:
If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.
Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “ Music City ” Nashville , and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.
Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.
My thoughts:
Sounds interesting. I read through the first chapter which is entitled Overture and I think I will appreciate his writing style. It seems to be an easy conversational type of writing that is engaging to the reader. This book is listed as Christian Living/Memoir so I will be curious to see how it fullfills both of those categories.
I look forward to reading this book and will let you know my further thoughts when I get finished.
In the meantime, I have an extra copy to give away.
All you have to do is leave a comment and then I will draw for the winner next Saturday the 27th.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074723
Here’s a summary:
If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.
Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “ Music City ” Nashville , and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.
Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.
My thoughts:
Sounds interesting. I read through the first chapter which is entitled Overture and I think I will appreciate his writing style. It seems to be an easy conversational type of writing that is engaging to the reader. This book is listed as Christian Living/Memoir so I will be curious to see how it fullfills both of those categories.
I look forward to reading this book and will let you know my further thoughts when I get finished.
In the meantime, I have an extra copy to give away.
All you have to do is leave a comment and then I will draw for the winner next Saturday the 27th.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074723
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Really? Is this Necessary?
When we go to the doctor's office, he gives my children each a coin to get a toy from the little vending maching they have. He gives them a coin because they really need more useless things to leave around the house for me to pick up. That's all they are good for.
Until now.
Now, they have a new item to choose from. They continue to have rings, necklaces, tattooes, and some other 'girly' things. Do my four DAUGHTERS choose those 'girly' things?
NO!!
They choose the strange animals that grow when you put them in water.
Why?
Because they can leave them on the counter and scare me to death when I go into the kitchen and they are twice the size they were previously.
It is creepy. First it was a snake. I finally got them to throw it away after four days.
This is what is on my counter now:
A lizard of some kind and a spider. They both are continuing to grow and soon will render me incapable of going into the kitchen.
Until now.
Now, they have a new item to choose from. They continue to have rings, necklaces, tattooes, and some other 'girly' things. Do my four DAUGHTERS choose those 'girly' things?
NO!!
They choose the strange animals that grow when you put them in water.
Why?
Because they can leave them on the counter and scare me to death when I go into the kitchen and they are twice the size they were previously.
It is creepy. First it was a snake. I finally got them to throw it away after four days.
This is what is on my counter now:
A lizard of some kind and a spider. They both are continuing to grow and soon will render me incapable of going into the kitchen.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentine's Day
Steven brought home flowers for all of his girls for Valentine's Day. :) It was a surprise to all of us. I appreciated them, but to see the look on the girls' faces was absolutely priceless.
They felt so loved and treasured. I hope that when the time comes, that they will look for men that treat them with the same love and respect that their father does. He is an amaing father and husband.
The four roses are for the girls. He got me a wildflower grouping. I love wildflowers, they are my favorite.
They felt so loved and treasured. I hope that when the time comes, that they will look for men that treat them with the same love and respect that their father does. He is an amaing father and husband.
The four roses are for the girls. He got me a wildflower grouping. I love wildflowers, they are my favorite.
He got me a wildflower grouping. I love wildflowers, they are my favorite.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Stones of Rememberance
As we are reading through the Old Testament, we keep reading how the Lord commanded the Israelites to build altars as a way for the coming generations to remember the things He had done for them. God knew that they needed a constant visual reminder of His goodness.
I started thinking about our own journey with the Lord and wanted a way for our family to have a visual reminder of His goodness and provision.
So...
I bought a basket and we are making Stones of Rememberance. Each child started with three stones and they were to put on them things they were thankful for. Every time something significant happens, we will write it on a stone and place it in the basket. On each stone is the item of rememberance, the persons name, and the date.
Hopefully, this will be a continual reminder of everything that God does for us and we will learn to live in a state of thankfulness.
I started thinking about our own journey with the Lord and wanted a way for our family to have a visual reminder of His goodness and provision.
So...
I bought a basket and we are making Stones of Rememberance. Each child started with three stones and they were to put on them things they were thankful for. Every time something significant happens, we will write it on a stone and place it in the basket. On each stone is the item of rememberance, the persons name, and the date.
Hopefully, this will be a continual reminder of everything that God does for us and we will learn to live in a state of thankfulness.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Our Baby is FIVE!!
I am very behind in posting this, I know. Someday, she will use this against me and the story will be ten times worse to include phrases like "She forgot my birthday completely". I can already hear the girls giggling about it now!
What to say about our youngest daughter? There is almost too much to say for this short little post. She is a joy and a delight. She keeps us in stitches everday with her thoughts and ideas. God continually blesses me through her.
Especially since she wasn't going to happen. You see, we were done after our third. We were pretty content until we got pregnant and lost the baby. Then I knew that I could not do that again and was really done even though I knew that we weren't all here yet. I couldn't take the pain of losing another child.
God had other plans. The very next month we were preggo. I was in shock and scared to death. It was a time of crying and gnashing of teeth. No, really it was! I was terrified of being pregnant and losing it and then the thought of having four was beyond imagining.
But God knew best.
The pregnancy went smoothly but her delivery was wild! I went into labor while Steven was singing at church. I had to call and have the welcome lady go get him. She waited to long and I had a contraction while talking to her. I started screaming that I was in labor and needed my husband! She moved very quickly after that. :-)
By the time he got home, I was unable to walk. So, he called 911-seriously-for a police escort so that we could get to the hospital faster. Well, they must have heard me shrieking in the background because they sent an ambulance and a fire truck to our house!!! I'm not making this up. Four fireman carried me out of our house, after the paramedic checked me for the baby's head coming out, and put me on the stretcher. That was the longest ride of my life!
My sister, Robin, made it to the hospital in time; Bean was born about two hours later.
She was amazing, right from the beginning. We brought her home and life quickly normalized. She fit right in and the girls fawned over her every need. Life was good.
Then, our oldest asked me a question that made my heart stop. I had noticed something but hadn't said anything because I assumed that I was being a paranoid momma. Our daughter was very concerned and wouldn't let it drop.
"Why won't Bean look at me?"
It was true. She didn't really look at anyone or anything. She just kind of stared into space. I knew then that something was very wrong.
I took her to our doctor and his first reaction was to dismiss it, but he could see my concern so he proceeded to check her out. He shined his little light into her eyes and nothing. She had no reaction to the light. She didn't squint or turn away. Her pupils didn't react. Nothing.
The doctor then said that, yes indeed we have a problem. She appears to be blind. There was no reaction to the light at all. You need to see a specialist.
The next few months were a roller coaster of emotions. We had to wait almost three months to see the specialist. Those were pretty long months. While we were waiting, our homeschool group gathered around me and whenever we were together, they would pass Bean around and pray over her. It was an awesome experience to see these women pleading for my child. I am still brought to tears by the thought of it.
By the time we got to the specialists office, he declared that there was nothing wrong with her and that by the time she was one, she would be seeing normally.
GOD HEALED HER EYES!! It was amazing! It is amazing!
To this day, she has a way of looking at you that seems to penetrate and go deeper than the surface. She is such a smart child, wise beyond her years. She is compassionate, loving, sweet, thoughtful, joyful, and has a laugh that is infectious.
We are so blessed that God sent her to us. I can't imagine our lifes without her.
What to say about our youngest daughter? There is almost too much to say for this short little post. She is a joy and a delight. She keeps us in stitches everday with her thoughts and ideas. God continually blesses me through her.
Especially since she wasn't going to happen. You see, we were done after our third. We were pretty content until we got pregnant and lost the baby. Then I knew that I could not do that again and was really done even though I knew that we weren't all here yet. I couldn't take the pain of losing another child.
God had other plans. The very next month we were preggo. I was in shock and scared to death. It was a time of crying and gnashing of teeth. No, really it was! I was terrified of being pregnant and losing it and then the thought of having four was beyond imagining.
But God knew best.
The pregnancy went smoothly but her delivery was wild! I went into labor while Steven was singing at church. I had to call and have the welcome lady go get him. She waited to long and I had a contraction while talking to her. I started screaming that I was in labor and needed my husband! She moved very quickly after that. :-)
By the time he got home, I was unable to walk. So, he called 911-seriously-for a police escort so that we could get to the hospital faster. Well, they must have heard me shrieking in the background because they sent an ambulance and a fire truck to our house!!! I'm not making this up. Four fireman carried me out of our house, after the paramedic checked me for the baby's head coming out, and put me on the stretcher. That was the longest ride of my life!
My sister, Robin, made it to the hospital in time; Bean was born about two hours later.
She was amazing, right from the beginning. We brought her home and life quickly normalized. She fit right in and the girls fawned over her every need. Life was good.
Then, our oldest asked me a question that made my heart stop. I had noticed something but hadn't said anything because I assumed that I was being a paranoid momma. Our daughter was very concerned and wouldn't let it drop.
"Why won't Bean look at me?"
It was true. She didn't really look at anyone or anything. She just kind of stared into space. I knew then that something was very wrong.
I took her to our doctor and his first reaction was to dismiss it, but he could see my concern so he proceeded to check her out. He shined his little light into her eyes and nothing. She had no reaction to the light. She didn't squint or turn away. Her pupils didn't react. Nothing.
The doctor then said that, yes indeed we have a problem. She appears to be blind. There was no reaction to the light at all. You need to see a specialist.
The next few months were a roller coaster of emotions. We had to wait almost three months to see the specialist. Those were pretty long months. While we were waiting, our homeschool group gathered around me and whenever we were together, they would pass Bean around and pray over her. It was an awesome experience to see these women pleading for my child. I am still brought to tears by the thought of it.
By the time we got to the specialists office, he declared that there was nothing wrong with her and that by the time she was one, she would be seeing normally.
GOD HEALED HER EYES!! It was amazing! It is amazing!
To this day, she has a way of looking at you that seems to penetrate and go deeper than the surface. She is such a smart child, wise beyond her years. She is compassionate, loving, sweet, thoughtful, joyful, and has a laugh that is infectious.
We are so blessed that God sent her to us. I can't imagine our lifes without her.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Snow Pictures and other Things...
I took these pictures in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep and so I did this!
Our youngest was given a necklace for her bday by her grandmother. It is beautiful! She wanted to show my uncle and so took it into the kitchen where he was. My back was to them and so I didn't see what happened, but I did hear the "Oh No!". I turned around to see the look of panic on her face and my brother getting down on the floor. She had dropped the necklace down the vent. It went all the way down. :-(
My brother felt around and couldn't find it. It had already fallen down the vent shaft. He went to the storage room to find the shaft in the ventilation system and found the shaft that was under the kitchen. He tried to get it to come apart, but couldn't. So we decided to wait for Daddy.
Daddy got his tools together and braced himself for the cobwebs and dust(he has allergies).
Ten minutes and sand in crevices later, he recovered the necklace!! He scored big points for that one.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Catching up, again!
I made breakfast on Saturday. Shocking? I don't think so. I make breakfast a lot, I just make enough to freeze so that I don't have to do it every day!! lol
I made a version of Monkey Bread and it was YUMMY!!
Last week our youngest turned 5 (birthday post still in the works!) and Steven always teaches the girls to tie their shoes after they turn 5. So on Saturday, our youngest sat on her daddy's lap and told him that he forgot to teach her to tie her shoes yesterday. :)
He taught her right then and there.
He showed her twice and then she wanted to try it for herself.
She worked by herself for a few minutes and then...
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