The Latest Children's Book Series

The current book series Kitty is reading is Around the World in 80 Mysteries from the Carole Marsh Mysteries Collection.

Through these books, children can travel along with the kids in the series, to places all over the world - England, France, Rome, Egypt, China, Australia, Japan, Romania, Greece, South America, Germany, Africa, and Antarctica!

Each book has at least five SAT words, which are highlighted within the chapter and further defined in the glossary. There's lots of neat activities and challenges on the publisher's website, which adds even more fun for readers!

#1 The Mystery of Big Ben - Completed Summer 2009

#2 The Mystery at the Eiffel Tower - Completed Summer 2009

#3 The Mystery at the Roman Colosseum - Completed Summer 2009

#4 The Mystery at the Ancient Pyramid - Completed Summer 2009

#5 The Mystery on the Great Wall of China - placed an order at our local Barnes and Noble (they only have one of the CMMs in the store) - Completed Fall 2009

#6 Great Barrier Reef - Completed Fall 2009

#7 Mount Fuji - Completed Fall 2009

#8 Amazon Forest - Completed Fall 2009

#9 Dracula’s Castle - Completed Fall 2009

#10 Ancient Acropolis - ordered

#11 Crystal Castle - ordered

#12 Icy Antarctica - ordered

#13 The Rip Roaring Mystery on the African Safari - ordered

#14 The Breathtaking Mystery on Mt. Everest - ordered

Redesign Satisfied

I was talking to my husband today about eating healthy, cooking healthy, snacking healthy etc. and one interesting thing we discussed is the tendency to drop healthy eating goals when we become stressed.

Something occurred to me during the discussion and I said, the solution is that we need to redefine satisfied.

Many of us are so used to expecting not only a full stomach after a meal, but also a feeling of mmmm that was so tasty! It's almost like a lust, and in many ways it is a lust. I'm sure you can relate. There are some meals that can just pop into our minds and all of a sudden we have to have it, no matter the cost. The danger is when we move into do this daily and even planning our weekly meals based on the need to satisfy the mmm-mmm-good feeling.

The concept is actually quite powerful and can be applied to many aspects of life.

With our meals, as we redefine satisfied, we will begin to plan based on the desire to eat good, healthy foods, to feed our body's need to grow, sustain strength, and maintain stamina. Our body's desire to live longer and enjoy life.

In our marriages, as we redefine satisfied, we will begin to give (and PLAN) to give based on our spouse's need. We will begin to appreciate a loving healthy relationship based on commitment, through Christ, unconditional love and fulfilling God's desire for us to be together longer, enjoying marriage for life!

Redefine what you call SATISFIED in your eating and in your relationships!
(more to come, just had to jot down the thoughts I had initially)

Yogurt, Granola, Paper Towels, Bleach

I hate being sick, I hate feeling blah, bad, blue, ..... blah blah blah!!!!!

Well, that's what I've been dealing with the past couple of days, especially when I go to bed and when I wake up. Part of it is physical (headache, allergies) and part is emotional/spiritual, I know.

And I also know what I need to do for the emotional/spiritual part but it's so hard sometimes to push through all the junk and trust God. It's definitely a stronghold. I am determined to conquer it though. Oh did I say "I am"? Big mistake! Okay... I am determined to trust God to conquer it and inject me with his strength.

----

What else is going on today?

The two oldest are working on math, which will be followed by spelling, then independent reading. Three year old is working with her shapes poster and building things upon it, one year old is playing with everything he can find, pulling papers off the wall, which I had posted there for CC class this week, eating crackers, etc. I promised them they could watch Dinosaur Train at 1:30, if they finish all their work and have good behavior. After that, we'll review our CC memory work from Week 3.

I hope to at least feel up to stepping out of the house this afternoon and maybe attend a class at 24 Hour Fitness. That may be pushing it today. If not today, then tomorrow. I planned to take a hip-hop class last night but I didn't know that class fed from the previous class and when I walked in a couple of minutes before the posted class time, they were already about four 8-counts into the routine. I said "oh no, I can't keep jump in here." Maybe next time.

Why this title? On 9/15/09, I decided to add an entry from time to time titled based on the thing that I just noticed we're out of and need very soon....

.... laundry detergent
.... lunch meat

Laundry Detergent and Lunch Meat

I haven't taken much time to blog lately and among many other reasons, one is that I am not sure what to write about. Lots of ideas come to me throughout the day but I rarely sit down to develop further them.

So I decided to add an entry from time to time titled based on the thing that I just noticed we're out of and need very soon....

.... laundry detergent
.... lunch meat

I'm home for a couple of hours while the kids are away and I'm preparing for tomorrow's class. Hit the store, bought several things, some of which I really need, about the same amount that I didn't (necessarily) have to have today. Neither was laundry detergent or lunch meat. LOL.

Took the puppy outside to potty and run around a bit, gave her a new chew bone, fought to get her leash off her neck without her running all over the house (she's getting really big), before getting her back into the kennel.

Now back to work. I only have about 30 minutes left, yikes!!

Homeschool Update: This week we're one week 3 of Classical Conversations and I absolutely love it. In addition to CC, we're doing AVKO Sequential Spelling, Saxon Math 5/4, Story of the World (History) and literature from the Robinson Curriculum.

Church Fellowship Update: This past week our discussion was life-changing (as most of God's word is). The topic was the Fruit of the Spirit. Jeoff facilitated, the children participate and we had several family members share testimonies and encouragement from the word and real life as well. Rich rich rich!

When you're in space.... (conversation with my 5 year old)

"When you're in space and come back, do you land inside the earth? "

"No"

"Nooo, I don't mean inside the earth, I mean on top of the earth, do you just stay on it and don't go in?"

"Right"

"Okay, so we'll stay in space forever if you go out of space?"

"No."

"So we don't go on top of the earth and just stay on it, we go inside it right?"

Man this is a hard conversation. LOL. It was very cute though.

I told him tomorrow we'll talk more about this and look at some videos.

On Teaching Reading

A friend asked me how it went .....

My answer:

Honestly, I started with letter recognition in the bath tub with foam letters, then the letter sounds using the Talking Letter Factory DVD from Leap Frog, kids pick up on those in about a week sometimes. Then we started with simple words on flash cards and books you get from Walmart, etc. then when she was 4 or 5 I ordered TATRAS (Teach America to Read and Spell).



I loved TATRAS. From there she just took off. We listened to some audio books that we got with kids meals from ChickFilA (or maybe it was Wendy's) and as she became interested in the story, I bought the real books for that story and since she knew the characters (it was The Magic Treehouse Series) she was eager to read the words from the story she had already listened to over and over and over.

One of the biggest keys is reading lots of stories to the children aloud (pointing to the words) from time to time. Reading will do an EXCELLENT job of building her vocabulary which is one of the number one indicators of intelligence anyway (not math, science, etc.) I could go on and on you know!

Patience to home school. Of course you would not have it LOL. I don't either, it's all through the strength of the Lord! I have to apologize to them for losing it. On the flip side they could be with someone else who loses it and does not apologize and ask for forgiveness. My mistakes i front of them, I believe, are lessons in godliness and humility, .... and dependence on the Lord to do anything that we do in life.

I stopped working 2 years ago (almost exactly 2 years ago). When we finally made the decision after going back and forth and waiting until we were financially ready, we just jumped in and did it. We still weren't ready (financially) but the Lord made up the slack and increased my husband's income! I don't think we would have ever been "ready" by our own standards.

Don't get me started.......

New Additions to our school year: Classical Conversations

There are new exciting additions to our home school this year. The Robinson Curriculum (self-teaching program) and Classical Conversations (a leader in training parents to educate their children with tools to learn and master any subject)!

Classical Conversations is an exciting program which is not new but new to our family. I am incredibly eager about starting this year because this is going to be such a support and source of education for me, as well as the children.

I first learned of Classical Conversations (CC) over a year ago and the program was not offered in my area. At that time, I also had a newborn and it was just not the right time for us to participate. Since then, I have been continually researching the program, and it goes right along with our original schooling method which I've spoken of here on this blog before. A few months ago, as I pondered the coming school year, I resumed my research of CC and I became more and more convinced that it was time for us to take the plunge into it. At that time, the Lord also began speaking to me about becoming a Director with the program and inspiring other parents in their educational journey.

This Fall, the new Classical Conversations Community will be opening and I will have the opportunity to partner with other mothers in educating our children.

In the program, we will be leading and training the students, and parents, in science experiments, art projects, oral presentations, and hundreds of facts (math tables and formulas, English grammar, Latin, history time line events, history sentences, and science).

To learn more about Classical Conversations and our particular community here in Texas, visit the CC Waxahachie Blog.

Find more information about what other home schoolers are doing, check out Tami's Carnival of Homeschooling, here:

How Long Do We Continue "Going on" About a Person After They've Died?

Some people are thinking, "enough with this MJ stuff, let it rest"... Do we need to say that when you die? And a week has passed? Shall we say, okay enough talk about him/her, they're gone. Let's move on with our lives? Quit talking about him? Stop showing me her pictures? ...(I'm just saying)

(I copied this from FB so the home page of my friends is not inundated with my (our) musings and also because I'm going back to FB status hiatus soon.)

Comments from FB:

Comment 1: If there was a love button I would have cicked it instead of "like"... wonderfully said!

Comment 2: Les...I think you are grieving (smile)...WELL. SAID!!!

Comment 3: I think people are often rushed to get over their grieving. As we support people in grief, we should allow them as much times as it takes for them to grieve.

Comment 4: People are cruel! I have a friend talking that mess on FB two days after-- He said am I insensitive- bout seven ppl responded saying no. I told him yes he was- let the man be grieved and remembered!!! I am NOT convinced he was a pedophile! The media lies!!! I am a living testimonybto that- I have experienced it first hand. They are into what sales, and unfortunately people don't want to buy the truth!

From me: lol, you know I hadn't been postin' in a while so words have been trapped inside me waiting to get out!

Comment 5: it is a fallen society that God has rejected that elevates a sinful, self centered person and holds them up for praise and adulation. Living or Dead. Why do we have ANYTHING good to say about a person (living or dead) who rejects the Lord who created him or her, who practices self centered, narcissistic greed, who encouraged a whole generation of people to fill their minds with useless, unGodly, irrelevant, Twaddle (at best)? Morning my friend or loved one and wanting to talk about them is different than standing by and listing to people praise someone that most of us didn't know personally who demonstrated hate for my very best friend. Sorry Leslie. This is my only post to this thread!

Comment 6: I guess it would be different if you actually knew me. Most people have no clue who Michael is.

From me: i'm going to with hold further comment for now :)

Comment 7: I am just saying, if you go laid off, your spouse died, your kids were sick, you couldn't pay your bills, you were sick, you just got promoted, found out you were pregnant, or something else that is to be mourned or celebrated Michael would care less. Not to mentioned if you died he wouldn't be doing a memorial for you. So there is a huge difference when there is a relationship. Whats your thoughts?

--------------

I'm responding to comments here that were somewhat different than my understanding. I'm saying these things because I like to be rhetorical. I like to share, and don't mind being challenged.

My response to Comment 5:

1. Sinful?

Who is sinful? What makes one no longer sinful? It is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, not anything human other than accepting him and allowing him to change us as we continually surrender.

2. Anything good to say? I'd rather say something good, than bad. What about choosing to think on and share about things that are praise worthy, of good report, noble, and good?

3. Someoe who "rejects the Lord who created him?" Who did that? Do we know that MJ or any other person did that?

4. Self-centered? My initial post was not just about MJ but speaking of MJ, if I could share some observations, I saw many self-less acts that he did. From calling and visiting people who were sick and grieving (those whom he knew and many he did not know at all, and many who have thanked him for taking the time out to do for them and give money to them, so much so that he ended up giving more than he spent on himself.

I must reiterate that my comments here are not justifying anything the man did wrong but saying it's okay to be thankful and acknowledge acts that one has done in their life.

5. "Praise someone that most of us didn't know personally" Bringing it down to scale, with our much smaller sphere of influence, we don't only touch the lives of people we meet personally. If you touched someone's life and they never met you personally, should they not share what your words or deeds meant to them, how you may have inspired you because they heard you on a radio program or read a article you wrote? We should think about things we say about societal issues and bring them home to our own lives and see if we apply the same rules.

6. "Demonstrated hate for my very best friend" Do we know this? If it's true was it not possible for him to have repented. If he did repent does Jesus love him less than he loves you because you had your act together during your life here on earth?


----------

Response to Comment 7 (way above):

"If (something happened to me) that is to be mourned or celebrated Michael would care less."

May be true regarding me, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate what he did for others whom he didn't know. What have you done for someone you didn't know? Would it be wrong for that to be mentioned after you die? If I read a story of some misfortune you have experienced and I chose to reach out and do something nice, would you not be thankful? I think your parents, children, etc. would love to know nice things you've done for others, since it is the Lord who demonstrated to us that we are to be good Samaritans, give to others, find opportunities to give to those who are hurting or have other needs.

"If you died he wouldn't be doing a memorial for you" Does that matter? I don't do unto others as they have done or would do unto me. When you're gone, I'd like to remember you for good the Lord has done through you. He can use anyone or anything to give to someone in need.

"There is a huge difference when there is relationship"

There definitely is a huge difference, but it doesn't mean that comments and remembrance should be non-existent just because someone didn't know you personally. I'm sure you have readers who have read what you've written and may share how it has blessed them, after you're long gone. I know it's not your purpose for doing it, but if people want to share what your life meant, there should be nothing wrong with that.

Regarding the extravagance and the way the media has mishandled things, the way fans have taken things out of hand, sure... they'll always do that, they're people.

Reminder: my initial subject was -
How Long Do We Continue "Going on" About a Person After They've Died?

Remember the sins or the life?

I don't know all of Michael Jackson's sins, I don't know all of yours, you don't know all of mine.

People say how can we forget all the "bad Michael did?" and just look at his great career?

I ask them (you), do you want us to remember and focus on all the bad YOU did, after you're gone from this world?

I think I would love for you to celebrate my life, and allow the Lord to deal with my sins. He does that best.


(I copied this from FB so the home page of my friends is not inundated with my (our) musings and also because I'm going back to FB status hiatus soon)

Below are the Comments I received from FB:

Comment 1 "Deep. So true."

Comment 2 "Say it again!"

Comment 3 "yes, but calling Michael Jackson an "icon," and luading him as a great man (as the media does) is not just either. If we judge a man by his fruits (as we are to do), then we must mourn his passing for, unless he repented before he died, he most surely is suffering right now."

Comment 4 "You took the words right outta my mouth! ;)"

From me, re: Comment 3 "I wasn't going there at all, my statement was simple and clear. Please re-read it. It was my only point. I can "go there" and respond to what you're saying but that was clearly not the intent of this status. I hope that's not the discussion going on for you or any others of us when we leave this earth. We are not the judge. Our purpose as lovers of God, and followers of Christ is to share His love and help others come into the saving and cleansing relationship that he promises. Anything other than that, is surely not the ideal method for sharing the gospel with a lost or suffering soul."

Comment 5 "Hi Leslie, maybe this is part of an earlier discussion and I am jumping in the middle! It seems you are saying we shouldn't say anything negative about MJ because it's not Christian to do so. My contention is that it is not wrong to point to the sin in his life and remark that people who follow in MJ's footsteps must invariably suffer the consequences of sin just as he did and is perhaps now doing. The gospel is not "good news" unless people first understand the "bad news" that we are ALL sinners and the only thing that is different between me and MJ is that the Lord was gracious enough to show me my sin (in part) and convict me of my utter lostness. The bible is full of negative examples that we are called to learn from. Just like life is full of negative examples that we can draw on to exhort ourselves and others. I'm not saying that MJ was a wicked, evil person. But I can say that, according to scripture, he lived the life of a fool. I'm saddened by his passing."

Comment 6 "My point was about what we do at one's passing, regardless of who they are. If I believe, according to scripture, that from what I know of person A, person A has lived the life of a fool, should I not celebrate the good of person A's life at her passing? I've heard people say that people should not remember the man's fun nature, contributions, talent, positive personal relationships,etc. because of the weirdness and sin that also existed. I'm just saying that if I look at that in black and white and compare it to another's life after they're gone, .....are we wrong in posting memorial tributes to the great memories of their life, and let the Lord deal with their sin? Got sin? Yes I do! What fruit am I producing if I focus on the sin, other than to help the next person know the loving savior who can wash them from theirs? What glory does the Lord receive in all the other finger pointing? That's all I'm saying. Thank God for the life and the relationship and the gifts God gives."

Comment 7 "I agree to a point...but I don't like the way the world has made Michael Jackson an "Idol"....saying how he has made such an impact and left such a legacy. Yes, he has left a legacy of good music, and some other bad stuff....but not a lasting legacy for God's Kingdom. It is sad on this day. That all the worldly wealth, prestige, power, talent, is all ashes in the end without the hope of Jesus. Sad for his kids."

Comment 8 "My comment was in response to ur original post. Wow...this opened a big ole can of worms! I totally agree...not our job to judge!"

From me "Agreed. I do wish there were more glory given to the Lord, in his passing. We don't know, however, if he had the hope of Jesus. We can, however, bring God glory in how we respond to all of this."

2009-2010 Homeschool Planning

Here's a quick summary of what our school year will look like, at least for starters.

2nd Grade (Kitty)

Classical Conversations (Once each week)

• Math facts and formulas memorization
• English grammar rules memorization
• History timeline memorization
• History stories (Old World) memorization
• Geography map memorization
• Science facts memorization
• Latin nouns, verbs memorization
• Art projects
• Music projects, including composers and learning the tin whistle
• Oral Presentations

Co-op (Drama, P.E., Story of the World, Storytime)

Robinson Curriculum: Starting with Heidi, Alice in Wonderland, Pinnochio, Bible

Saxon Math 5/4 (Self-Directed Math Studies)

Kindergarten (Pupster)

Classical Conversations (Once each week)

• Math facts memorization
• English grammar rules memorization
• History timeline memorization
• History stories (Old World) memorization
• Geography maps memorization
• Science facts memorization
• Latin nouns, verbs memorization
• Art projects
• Music projects, including composers and learning the tin whistle
• Oral Presentations

Co-op (P.E., Storytime)

Robinson Curriculum: Begin with McGuffy Books, continue reading Sing, Spell, Read and Write books

PreK3 (Lamby)

Co-op (Music Makers, P.E., Storytime)

Continue with phonics, T.A.T.R.A.S., Begin Bob Books

She will listen in on stories read aloud to the older kids and build vocabulary and proper grammar, naturally

Toddler

He will listen in on stories read aloud to the older kids and build vocabulary and proper grammar, naturally

K.I.S.S. - Keep it Simple Sweetheart

For years I have had discussions with my husband regarding certain points of stress that come up such as, organizing laundry, finding shoes and clothes for the day, planning meals, the list goes on. I have times when I am on top of these things, and they're working like clockwork but other times they most certainly are not.

One thing he has told me during some of these times is "do less". I don't comprehend that well because I am a go-getter. I like to plan things, see them happen, and before it's done, see the next vision of what could be done and how the current thing can be done better next time.

Although I don't always listen quickly to my husband, especially when it's a sensitive topic and I so want to be right, I have been pondering these words of his.

I am seeing the value of doing less, during this summer break from school. Each week my calendar is full of potential play dates, free movies, library crafts and clowns, and each week lately I have been crossing half of it out.

As a surprise to myself, it has felt really good! The end of my day is much more peaceful and I am much more intimately acquainted with my kitchen! The closer I am in relationship with that place, the more I want to keep it clean. Consequently, that sink I thought could never shine each night has actually been shining because I am in there much longer after a meal. In the months immediately prior, we would eat a meal and be out the door speedier than Mr. Gonzalez. Upon returning home, everyone would be yelling for food so I didn't have time to clean from the last meal before everyone was piled in the kitchen and pantry begging for food and I frantically prepared it.

I've even saved lots of money, as I've kept it simple, because we haven't taken a trip in the car in 2 days!

Now that I'm seeing the beauty of this, I pray I can keep it up, or at least some very close resemblance of it. The school year is fast approaching, so as I make my schedule I pray I will stick with this success story and make it work to our advantage! Reminds me of this other good day.

2nd Grader's Summer Reading List

We moved the TV out of the family room in preparation for starting The Robinson Curriculum this coming school year. So we're trying to fill as much time as possible with reading good books.

I'm so glad our 2nd grader is at the independent reading stage and she loves getting lost in these stories.

The Wizard of Oz - completed
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - completed
A Journey to the Center of the Earth - completed
The Secret Garden - completed
Adventures in Wonderland (unabridged)
True Friends by Stephanie Perry Moore
The Adventures of Pinocchio (unabridged) - completed
Cooper Kids Adventure Series by Frank Peretti
Sweet Honesty by Stephanie Perry Moore
Heidi (unabridged)
Golden Spirit by Stephanie Perry Moore
The Swiss Family Robinson (unabridged)
Chronicles of Narnia (unabridged)
The Great Brain
Winnie-the-Pooh
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew

Can Anyone Home School?

I've been reading some of the information on the Robinson Curriculum Website and listening to the audio seminar.  One of the interesting questions addressed in the seminar is Can anyone home school?  I'd be interested to hear what others think of this. The link I referenced is only an audio snippet of the entire video workshop.  Another part I especially like is the Vocabulary and the Value of Auditory Learning.

The information on the Robinson Curriculum Website is very intriguing and reading it, reminds me of the time I spent combing through the Teaching the Trivium website 2 years ago.  The audio seminars on that site were what helped Jeoff and I make the final decision that we were going to make the big move and become a home schooling family.

These sites are both very challenging but make such valid points that it's almost impossible not to adopt some portion of what is shared.  They're sites that actually will either make you lean very far in their favor, or make you come up with several cons against them!!!

Productive Day!

I'm big on documenting things when they're going well so I can remember, when they get out of whack.

One example is today. I have felt really good since I woke up this morning. What are some of the things that have helped?

1. I went to bed on a positive note (the mindset I'm in when I go to bed, many times, directly affects the mood I'm in the next morning)

2. I got up when I heard the alarm (when I don't do that, and instead press snooze over and over, I begin to resent getting up and when I finally do it, I'm mad at the world and everyone in it!)

3. I was showered and dressed before the kids woke up (nuff said)

4. I made a helathy breakfast for the kids (instead of MAKING them fix cereal) and had a good attitude about it

5. I started with a written plan and reviewed it with the kids before we got going, then reminded them about it when they began to complain

6. Many times throughout the morning, I listened to myself talk before I opened my mouth (internally I asked myself - will this statement be a blessing to my children, will it motivate them, will it make them smile? or will it discourage them and make them sad and frustrated?)

Every time I chose to say or do the positive, and that which would bring the Lord honor, I saw joy on their faces and I saw that they felt acceptance from me.

7. I did chores with them instead of hurling lists of commands at them. I showed them a system and I was excited about it. After we began working on it, one of them exclaimed the desire to do (this) ALL DAY! Talk about excitement. How's that for motivation.

8. I said yes to as many requests as I could. I knew I wouldn't be able to do that every time (saying no is many times a blessing that they don't immediately understand) but some things just take a little more of my energy and yielding and we can get it done and give them the sense of fulfillment they're looking for. One example today was the request to make corn fillets out of the fish fillets we had. I would normally say no but how difficult was it for me to just take out some corn and cook it and add it to the plate? It paid off.

9. I participated in activities with the kids. One in particular - building and playing in indoor trees and pretending to be a squirrel family.

Things went so much better today than they could have! Praise the Lord.

Kumon Flash Cards

Kumon Flash Cards have worked out great for my three year old during our home school day.



Just picked up some of these for my 3 year old. I look forward to working with her on them!

Memory Quilts

My talented friend does these memory quilts and I thought I'd share some of her work. Nice job!

Couch to 5K Program

I started this program a couple of months ago and fell off the wagon.  I'm back on track now and hope to get it done soon.

Today I did (a modified version of) the Week 3 workout.  I didn't have the podcast on my phone, like I thought so I had to do something!!

The website is http://www.c25k.com/

Easter Weekend on The Streets

Don't get me wrong, I know about all the controversy around using that word. But I used it because it's the most familiar, especially to people outside of "church" circles.

This year we're looking to do something quite different. Taking it to the streets. Where all the people are who are NOT "at church" that morning and reaching them with the Love of Christ.

The event will be at a park in Forth Worth and is sponsored by City on a Hill Connection (a network of churches). If it rains we'll just have to bring rain coats and galoshes!

Read more about City on a Hill Connection.

Here's a list of churches.

And here's one testimony of the event in 2007 - Easter Like No Other

One year ago

It just hit me that you were actually about to be a full year old, when people would ask your age and I heard myself say "eleven months." I'd think to myself, "Really, my baby boy is about to be one year old, man!"

The day you were born! I was surprised that the Lord was taking a different route than I had expected, with your entrance into the world. But it was a blessing, nonetheless.

The weeks and months seem to have flown by since then. I'm thankful, though, that I've been able to go from being very much out of sorts with holding everything together around me, to being just a little out of sorts from time to time - LOL.

You're my baby who was probably the most thought out because as we pondered the though of having another baby or not, I thought a whole lot about how I came into the picture as baby number four as well.

I'm so happy we gave you that opportunity because it's so fun to see you toddle around here having so much fun watching your older siblings. It's also fun to see them fuss over you and are so excited to see you do interesting, new, and funny things!

I look forward to many many more moments with you as the baby of the family, and since I know what my own "struggles" can be with being last in line (and Daddy too), we can hopefully watch out for them, for you and help you win --- Win Win!! (Get it?)

Happy Birthday, Dubb!!!

My Husband Rocks Friday

My Husband Rocks
Disclaimer: I do these "My Husband Rocks" posts because I saw the idea on Katy Lin's site and I thought it was a good idea to do, as it helps me to focus in on the good of my hubby especially when things are tough. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to these and read them during any tough times that come. And they do come.......

So why, today, does my husband rock? Yesterday afternoon I was about to become frantic with last minute preparations for the homeschool co-op class I'm teaching. I figured that I would get (maybe) 2 hours starting at about 6 or 7pm, to go out and get the things I needed from the store and come home and print things from the computer. I knew 2 hours was going to be pushing it but with his school work that has to be done, along with the evening demands (getting kids fed, ready for bed, etc.) it was just not probable.

So at about 5pm, Jeoff walks in and says (in so many words), I'll take it from here. I was able to go back in our room, work quietly on the lesson preparations, run out to the stores I needed to hit and still get in bed at a decent hour. Thanks to my husband's thinking ahead and teling me to GO before I even asked.

Thanks, so much love!