How did I miss this...??

I am not sure how I even consider myself a blogger.  I just can't seem to keep it up in the last few years.  Lots of things are note worthy I can't seem to find the time or want to, to document them!

This one, however, is one that should have been documented.

On July 11, 2018 Kaelin asked Bethany to marry him!  We knew it was coming and had seen the ring(it was at our house!) and actually kept it a secret for way too long.  Keaelin took her to the spot where he first told her he loved her and got down on one knee.

We are thrilled and are in the knee-deep process of planning a wedding.  As of today, we have 55 days until February 22, 2019 and Beth will be a Terrell no more.

I am a little sad but a lot happy.  I can not wait to watch their marriage grow and to see what God does in their lives.

 

**All photos courtesy of the amazing Raylee Jo over at https://rayleejophotography.com/  If you are in the area, check her out.  We adore her!!

That's What I Get

I just thought I would do a better job of blogging!  I guess I had no idea how busy I was about to become after my last post.

Naomi has had a great competitive gymnastics season.  She placed at every meet in at least one event and I believe she placed in the All Arounds each time as well.  She competed at State in March and placed on every event except for Vault-she was close to placing though!  She took FIRST on Beam at State!!  She also took 2nd All Around at State and qualified for Regionals in Galveston, Tx.  We are so proud and can't wait to see her growth over the coming years.

I have had some job changes this winter.  I started at Wichita Gymnastics doing classes and the Silver team and then in December/January I started training to coach the Gold and up teams.  So, I have been working every day of the week at the gym.  Plus, doing meets for both sets of teams.  It has been exhausting but I truly love it.  That scheduled changed a little when soccer started...it got busier!

Soccer started in February with Conditioning in the afternoons.  So, I would go to work right after Conditioning or come from work straight to Conditioning.  It was crazy but it worked.  Then we started our season and the Training times had to change.  So, then I would go to work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after two hours of soccer training and once games started it changed again!  With games going I wasn't able to work as much but would try to go to work after games.  I am beat.  We only have three more weeks of soccer and I am sad and glad. lol  For work, I have been able to cut back on my hours and I am not coaching the Silver girls anymore-I am sad because I love them but I am glad to have some of my time back.  For now, anyway!

On the home front, life is moving along.  Sarah went to Thailand for 10 days with our church and loved every minute of it. Beth got a new job at Cocoa Dolce and adores it.  Hannah is driving everywhere and has three jobs, she is a starter for our High School team.  Naomi is in the off season for gymnastics but is a starter for Jr. High soccer and a part-time starter on our High School team.  Phoenix is still loving public school and thriving.  Steven is still amazing and supportive and crushing his job.  I seriously wouldn't survive without him.

I am looking forward to a trip to Al Fong's coaches training this weekend, a soccer tournament in Springfield, Mo, our trip to Galveston, another trip to Texas for a gymnastics conference, vacation, and probably more that I can't remember at the moment!

For now, I have to check my calendar to make sure I am not missing an event!

First Gymnastics Meet

Naomi had her first gymnastics meet last weekend!  She was so nervous and the last month before the meet she spent freaked out and couldn't throw her double back handspring.  She threw it last month and had a bad fall and lost it.  She wanted that and her back walkover on beam for this meet...

She got them both!  She worked hard and really focused in practices and it paid off.  We are so proud of her.  She placed on every event and got 3rd All Around!!  Her team took home 1st place!

We can't wait to watch her the rest of this season!

Curriculum 2017-2018

I don't think I have posted for quite a while about the curriculum we are using.  With two having graduated, I find that life was slowing down quite a bit in the homeschooling department.  With Bug added back in, it is a bit busier!

This year we have Hannah in 10th grade, Naomi in 7th grade, and But in 2nd grade.  We haven't really changed curriculum much in the last few years because we found what really works for each one and we are sticking with it! 

Hannah-10th:

Tapestry of Grace Year 1-History, Literature, Bible, Writing

Apologia Marine Biology

Math U See Pre-Calc

SOS Kansas History

Dave Ramsey Personal Finance

Economics for Everybody (2nd Semester)

Fallacy Detective (2nd Semester)

Naomi-7th:

Tapestry of Grace Year 1-History, Literature, Bible, Writing, Arts/Crafts

Apologia General Science

Math U See Pre-Algebra

Growing with Grammar 7

Bug-2nd:

Time4Learning-Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies

various workbooks for each subject and lots of play time, learning to play on her own, and working on setting up chores and being responsible

I think that is it.  But, who knows we may add more or change something mid-year!  That is the beauty of homeschooling-you can change what isn't working.  

A New Job!

I started coaching gymnastics at the Y just about a year ago in September.  I loved it.  I loved being back in the gym(again) and I loved the kids.  I quickly added hours to my schedule and started helping with pre-team and then eventually team.  I was busy, as evidenced by several posts lamenting that fact!  I was really happy, though.  The kids were wonderful and I heard back that they were enjoying gymnastics.  

But then changes started happening.  I won't go into details but there were things happening that I couldn't support. And I kind of got in trouble for speaking out about something in a staff meeting.  Trust me, it needed to be said and I was the only real adult in the room.  

Anyway...since these changes were coming, I sought out other employment.  I found out that a local gym was hiring and it was a gym that I competed against when I was young.  I took Naomi over to try it out-I wasn't leaving her in a gym that I didn't agree with policies and procedures.  She loved it but was wary about switching gyms.

I talked with the manager and she told me that night that I had a job if I wanted it.  I did!  I gave my notice at the Y and told my classes that I wasn't going to be teaching there any longer.  Several families asked where I was going and decided to follow me.  Of course, I told them that they were welcome to come to the other gym but there were great coaches staying where they were.  They came anyway.  And then I heard that more coaches quit and girls I recognized showed up at the gym I was now at.

Naomi transferred over and quickly started moving up levels.  At the Y they told her she was at a lower level than this new gym and she was clearly ahead of what they indicated.  It took some time for Naomi to get fully comfortable at the new gym but she is loving it now and she has moved up to the Gold Excel team!

We start our competition season in a few weeks and I will be traveling with the Silver team  I am so excited to see the girls compete and improve throughout the season.  

I don't have as many hours at the new gym and it is working perfectly with our new addition to the family.  God has taken care of us and His blessing keep showing up when we least expect them. 

Construction

We had about a weeks notice that Phoenix was coming back to live with us.  Not much time to turn our storage room into a real room for her; and we didn't make it!  lol  It took two weeks to finish after she moved in but we got it done and it is a beautiful room.  She got to pick the color for the walls-how terrifying!-and we picked out the rest.  I think it all came together very well.

It was way worse than this...I had already cleaned up some before this pic!

Naomi helping with the mudding/taping that we ended up doing wrong.  

walls, tools, ladders, cool construction things!

She is moving in!

Add caption

See the wall color?  That is her favorite color!

Papa brought her name letters for her new room

her own bookshelf.  Now, to fill it!

I would show you a picture of her room now...but honestly I can't even get in there-it is that messy!  But, it is hers and she is here to stay.

Saying Goodbye

In 2005 we lost our family dog, Simba.  She was a wolf/shepherd mix that found us when we were first married.  She was our baby through all the miscarriages and then loved our babies as her own.  She was one of a kind.  

When she got out of our yard, we were devastated.  There was no goodbye, no closure.  There were many tears and lots of unanswered questions.  

Then there was Maggie.  We went to the pound looking for another dog and we found Poppy.  She wasn't our first choice but when she saw the girls, she was immediately drawn to them and was so gentle with them.  We knew then that she was our dog.  

We adopted her and took her home.  

She was horrible!  She chewed everything.  She actually ate the tires off of our barbeque.  She knocked the kids down constantly and followed me around all.day.long.  I did not like her.  I begged Steven to take her back.

Thankfully he didn't.  She calmed down and became an amazing dog.  She was mostly obedient, protective, intelligent, loving, and sweet.  She knew when I didn't feel well and stuck to my side to comfort me.  She would help me up the stairs when my calcium was low and would check on me until I felt better.  

On the downside, she could not pass up French bread.  If it was on the counter she would eat it.  Even when she could barely walk down the stairs she would find a way to get French bread off the counter.  She loved French bread!  She didn't bother any other food if it was out, but we dare not leave French bread anywhere unattended.  

She was a special part of our family.  When Bethany brought Beau home, Maggie took him in and taught him the rules of the house.  He didn't really listen or learn but she tried!  She played with him until she just couldn't any longer.  

When Maggie got sick, Beau knew and would treat her so gently.  He would check on her every chance he could and she would just lay there patiently until he was done.  Towards the end, she couldn't eat and lot a lot of weight.  She was in pain but tried to be the sweet dog she always was.  

Her last vet visit at the vet in June, she kissed and snuggled like she was a puppy.  It completely broke our hearts.  She was comforting us even though she was in pain.  The vet told us there was nothing that could be done and that it would be better for her if we made the hard choice.  I knew it was coming but was devastated none the less.   My girl was in too much pain.

As a family we said goodbye.  We bought her ice cream and French bread and gave her a shower and took her on a car ride and on one final walk.  She smiled the entire time!  

We took her in to the clinic the next day and all of us were there with her until the end, loving on her.  We wept as a family over our beloved Maggie and watched the light fade from her eyes.  I am still crying over her.  

As we left without our Maggie, we reflected on all the good times and precious memories.  The pain is still fairly fresh and I slip up and call for her sometimes but it is getting better.

Yes, I know she was just a dog and not a person.  But, when you love something with your whole heart it leaves a void when it is no longer there.  If it doesn't did you really love it?

Someday we will get another dog and start the process all over again; but for now we are loving on Beau and settling in to life without Maggie.

Changes keep coming

I fell off the blogging wagon not very long after I started again.  sigh  I would like to get posts caught up from May until now but that will take some time.  For now, I want to post about the most major change we have had this summer.

Bug came back to live with us!  We found out on a Thursday that she might be coming, the following Saturday it was decided for sure, and the following Thursday she moved back in.  Whew!  We decided that she would need her own room this time so we set up about renovating the storage room for her.  We had to clean it out first and that took almost a week!  Needless to say there were things in there that had not seen the light of day in over 10 years.  ahem  Moving on...

The renovations went well and we had several friends come over and help us.  We couldn't have done it without their help.  Her room took a few weeks to finish but it is a great room for her and is a sanctuary already.  

We let her pick out the paint color-which was a little scary!  Thankfully the paint color was tempered by the flooring and her bedding.  I think we will be adding things here and there until we are satisfied with the final outcome.  For now, it is perfect.

The other big change, as if that one wasn't enough, is the fact that we are homeschooling her.  We had originally planned to put her in school since that is what she has been doing and was doing very well with it.  BUT, when I went to enroll her I was told NO.  We don't have guardianship yet and her grandpa isn't in the right district...so no public school.  I had been having some doubts as to putting her in such a large school after her very small one but was trusting that God would work it out.  He did!  

It is going pretty well so far.  We are using Time4Learning and she is really enjoying it.  We will see what happens as the year progresses.  

I will have to get pics up of the reno.  For now, here is Bug showing how happy she is to be back home with us.

New Seasons

I am lousy at keeping this blog up! Life is slowing down...kind of...so maybe?

Beth GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL LAST MAY. Yes, I needed to shout that at you. I am still freaking out a little bit over it even still. She even got into several colleges!! She had multiple offers to play soccer but decided against it. But, you know what? She GOT INTO COLLEGE! I didn't screw her up too badly!!

My first is grown.

Yikes. I am old!

She is such an amazing young woman and I am so blessed to be her mother. She started college last week for Pre-Vet and that has me gasping for air. Life is moving too quickly. Sarah is a Senior and is planning her life after high school. Missions work, here she comes!

In June of 2017 I will only have two kids at home (technically), they of course can stay as long as they need to. I will only have two to homeschool. My time is so short.

I love this phase of seeing their personalities blossom and their independence grow. They are going to be fantastic adults!

 

Sarah's Senior Pics will be coming in a few months. Aaagghh!! I don't want them to happen and I am crazy excited all at the same time.

 

Only Bug...

Driving in the car with Sarah and Bug going somewhere and she wants us to do something for her. I can't remember what it was but it was a definite No from us both. She asked seeral times to which I finally replied, "I can't or I will get in trouble with the police."

Bug then replied...

"I AM the Police.

I AM the Government.

I AM the President.

I AM GOD!"

 

We were laughing up until the last statement and then it had to get serious. I calmly told her that we don't say that and only God is God. None of us are God.

 

Then she chanted to herself many times...

"Only God is God. I am not Him. Only God is God. I am not Him."

 

I couldn't even speak. I had a hard time driving. I was laughing so hard!

 

Where does she come up with this stuff??

 

 

Terrell Family Vacation 2016

It is time for our annual trek to Branson for our family vacation. We were not going to go but then decided that since it was Beth's last vacation as a 'kid' we would go for it. It was our first without Bug and we were all kind of sad about it but looking forward to a new normal.

And...it was our first real trip in Kelly, our suburban. Excitement was abounding. We really though she was a lot bigger than she is and worried that we wouldn't get everything in her after all; but we prevailed with our beautiful game of tetris. Steven couldn't see out of the rear view mirror but who needs that anyway?

We found someone to house/dog sit (thank you so much Maraiah!) and off we went. Beau and Maggie were not happy with us but they were in good hands.

The six hour car trip went pretty well, considering. We made it all of 30 minutes with complete quiet in the car. Each child had their device and a movie or music playing and left us alone. It was glorious. Then, Steven and I couldn't stand the quiet so we put on some music! That brought out the natives and soon we were having a jamfest all the way to Joplin. I am sure we looked quite suspicious dancing around to every genre of music known to man! But hey, we were having fun.

In Joplin we stopped at Hardee's and gave the poor worker an aneurism with our order. We had no idea what we wanted and with six clueless people in the car, it was a nightmare. But, we did it and got everything we ordered! That is pretty awesome.

We took our food to go because we all just wanted to get there but no one thought about the whole drinking and eating and the lack of a bathroom. It was pretty unpleasant there for a while especially when we started on the hills. Lord have mercy, I almost wet myself. Steven decided to go almost 50mph when the posted limit was 25mph on the road into Big Cedar. I was praying and calling out for Jesus. No lie. I was scared to death.

We did make into the resort with no accident or loss of life. I wasn't too happy with my husband though. He had a smirk on his face-the turkey. He was quite pleased with himself but I was not impressed and may have smacked him while he drove. Not very safe but I was in panic mode.

Anyway, we arrived at Big Cedar ready to rest and have fun. Check in was easy and our room was great. We swam that night and then turned in for the night. Big Cedar has a quiet time in the evening so that everyone can have a relaxing time, theoretically. The people above us, however, did not believe in the contract they signed and they didn't care about anyone around them. Around 10 o'clock each night they started a mass killing in their rooms right above us. I think they even played bowling and frisbie tag each night. They were horrible. This was the worst part of our week-going to sleep each night. Or should I say, trying to go to sleep at night. EVERY SINGLE night they would jump, drag furniture, run, and do every other thing they could think of to make as much noise as they could. And we reported them every night. But nothing was done about it until the final night. By then it was too late. We were all sleep deprived and ready to be home.

I do love Big Cedar and we had a wonderful time swimming, playing miniature golf, and being with family but there are some issues they need to work out. They need to figure out how to enforce their own policies and make everyone's stay the way they portray it. It was frustrating to say the least.

This was what I found in the sink one afternoon. I was worried until I saw the mutilated watermelon on the table!

 

But we did have a good time as a family and are so blessed to have been able to go. Even with the lack of sleep!

A family nap was in order during the day since we couldn't sleep at night!

When Friday rolled around we were more than ready to get back to our house, the dogs, and our own beds. The 6 hour car trip took about 3 months on the return but who's counting? Oh that's right, my four children. Crankiness abounded in Kelly on our way home. There were tears, a few things thrown around, and more than one threat to throw someone out of the car. We again stopped in Joplin at Hardee's to eat and make a pit stop; which in hindsight should have lasted longer. We rushed too much in order to get back on the road and ended up crankier than when we started. It was thick in the car.

A few well-placed words by yours truly and everyone straightened right up with smiles and happy hearts. Not. Steven and I just turned our music up louder and they retreated into their music and/or movies. Aren't we great parents?! Hey, it worked. For a while.

After around 4 hours on the road we had another music fest that lasted all of 30 minutes then the never ending question started..."Are we there yet?" "How much longer until we are home?" And that was just from me! Other questions were voiced from the back of the car but we just turned the music up louder and louder until they quieted down. Heehee

With just an hour left we got slap happy. Things that were not funny reduced us to tears and Steven to shaking his head. It was crazy and fun and so completely us.

 

We made it home with just a few more tears and tons of snacks. I think I gained about 10 pounds on the way home alone! But we made it. Barely.

The last 30 minutes would have tried the patience of a saint, I am sure. It was a bit ugly and I don't care to relive it. Suffice it to say that we all stopped talking to one another and it was quite uncomfortable.

When we got home Beau was mad at Beth for leaving! I tried to warn her about it but nothing can really prepare you for your dog ignoring you. He will get over it.

 

I am so glad to be home and ready to sleep in my bed tonight. Here are some pics for you to enjoy!

How many car fresheners does it take...? This should be us during soccer season!

 

Proof that Sarah got something other than chicken!

 

Pretty sights on the way home.

 

This man of mine waiting on his daughters' to be done shopping. He is a saint!

 

Oh people, this is a sight we passed on the way and I made Steven go back so I could get a picture. 'The Pink Pickle'...are you even kidding me? It was just too much and we resorted to giggling like Jr. High boys! Me most of all. But when we passed the Nut Hut a little later, I couldn't even speak. Oh my word do people even think about what they are calling their businesses? Oh and that picture on the Pink Pickle sign...don't get me started. No, just no.

 

That was our vacation in a nutshell. It was nice to get away as a family. I am sure the girls took tons more pictures that I hope they will share with me. But who knows!

 

He said this was not an option...

Steven has said for several years now that he did not want two dogs in the house. Beth has wanted one for quite some time now but the answer was a firm No.

Then she turned 18.

She saved her money and he reluctantly said Yes! I couldn't believe it. But he did so she started looking right away. I thought she was looking for a puppy around a year old or just a smidge older but, no. She went looking for a true puppy.

She found one that was THREE HOURS AWAY. Ugh Leave it to my kid to find the cutest stinkin' puppy that we fell in love with on sight. Sigh She applied to adopt him and was approved then we found out he was in a cast because his leg had been broken. He was not even three months old yet. But she persevered through this No-kill shelter and waited for him to be available.

 

Of course, he became available immediately on one of our busiest weekends for soccer! We drove up there way to stinkin' early Friday morning and waited for the shelter to open. To say that I wasn't impressed with the shelter woud be kind. They were aloof and ignored us completely. The foster for Beth's pup was very nice but she left and told us the other people would be right with us. We were on a HUGE time crunch and they had promised we would be out on time.

We were 30 minutes late getting out of there. And we were only 30 minutes late because I went to the desk and told them we had to leave. They were all like well your paperwork is being processed so you have to wait, and then someone looks at the counter and says , Oh here it is. What? How long had it been sitting there? Whatever, just get us out of here.

We signed the papers and took off. Bismark-their name for him that Beth quickly changed to Beau-was a doll. He stole our hearts instantly. There were red flags but we didn't pick up on them in the shelter. He cried when we tried picking him up and we assumed it was from his leg injury. We were so wrong.

We got him home and immediately took off to the soccer game. When we got home we played with him, oohing and aahing over his cuteness. Saturday there were more soccer games. Sunday we had church and then a family event all afternoon. We didn't want to leave him alone all that time, so Beth's friend came for the afteroon to take care of Beau and Maggie.

That was the last time things were normal.

That night Beau stopped drinking and eating. He stopped playing. He just layed there looking sad. Monday morning he refused to get up at all. We took him to the vet. They agreed that something was off and that his stomach was tender and distended.

When they left the room to get him some medicine we noticed something hanging from his...'hind end.' It was a tape worm. A fully grown tape worm. That should not have been there if the shelter had de-wormed him like they should have. Whatever. The vet gave him another shot for the worms and sent us on our way.

Beau still was not acting right. He wouldn't really drink anything and he definitely wouldn't eat anything. We took a medicine dropper and forced water in him.

On Wednesday he was no better and probably a little worse. We took him back in and they thought maybe a foreign object was in there so they did x-rays. The x-rays came back as a possible foreign object but then the raidiologist said no. So, they wanted to keep him because he had lost FOUR pounds in as many days and to do more tests.

They found tape worms, hook worms, round worms, giardia, and parvo. I am not even kidding. This poor guy had been sick for a very long time in his short life and no one had done anything about it. They told us his prognosis was not good. If he had just one or two of those things, he might make it; but all of them and parvo is basically a death sentence.

Beth was devasted. We all were. We were faced with the awful choice of putting him down or treating him to the tune of way too much money. There wasn't much of a choice, if he could be saved we had to try. He was only 3 months old, he needed a chance to live.

Days passed and the news was only bad, he wouldn't eat or drink anything. He was still in danger. He could still die.

Steven called the shelter and told them in his scary, quiet voice what was going on and how they were going to deal with it. They were responsible for this sick puppy.

Friday they had to put the cone of shame on him because he chewed through is i.v. line! He was feeling slightly better but was not out of the woods.

Saturday the vet called and relayed some good news, small as it was. Beau ate a little and was acting more peppy. The vet was cautiously optiomistic and would let us know the next day if he was still on the upswing.

We didn't get any word on Sunday until late in the day. The vet called and said that he was doing very well and could possibly come home the next day! We had to wait for his check-up on Monday morning but he was optomistic that Beth would get her baby back the next day.

Monday cam and she did indeed get him back that afternoon! He as so skinny and sad looking but he was home. He had special food to eat and we had to pick up his poop and use bleach water to disinfect the area for a week after, but he was home.

 

He started perking up and playing and acting like a normal puppy...finally. He and Maggie started wrestling and Beau got into a good sleep schedule.

Then, he started acting like a normal 3 month old puppy-trouble! He is just like a trouble aiming to be naughty. It is a full time job keeping track of him.

 

He is a hand full.

He is completely adorable. No seriously, he is so cute it hurts! His head is crazy soft and he gives the best hugs. If you hold him, he leans into you and hugs you. He is pretty great.

Now, we just have to pay off his medical bills...

 

Pictures to catch us up

Since I have been completely remiss in keeping this blog up the last few years, I am going to just pick up here and post things as I remember them! Or when I find the pictures to use. Lol

 

Thanksgiving without Bug was tough but it was good,t oo. Here is our gussied up pic on the way to somewhere!

 

We also celebrated the long awaited movie Star Wars The force Awakens. It is quite an expensive endeavor going to a movie with this crew but we make the commitmant with the movies we really want to see! This was one of them. It did not disappoint. Well, it did...but if you haven't seen it I won't spoil it for you.

We had a very mild winter this year much to our dismay. We wanted snow and lots of it. Didn't happen. Sigh But we did get some days with frost; not a great substitute but it was gorgeous!

 

Trips to the store like this happened! Yeah, they are probably going to shoot me for this one! Heehee

Bug came to visit!! She camped out in Hannah and Naomi's room(hence the mess in the background!) but could't stay up long enough to party!

Senior Pictures happened. This was hard, people. She is so beautiful and my heart ached at the next step. I will have to do a post by itself for the pics 'cause they were all awesome!!

See what I mean? Gorgeous.

And I get to do it again in a few months with Sarah! Aagghh! I can't believe I just said that...don't panic...

 

That is enough for now, 'cause ya'll know there are a ton more just waiting to be posted.