home

We drove all day Sunday - 6am to 6pm - and finally made it home. Well, actually I went to my mom and dad's and stayed the night Sunday night. Monday I went with my sister to take her oldest to the doctor and got to hold my sweet nephew all day. Tuesday I went and spent the afternoon with my mother in law. Today I planted a few flowers and visited with my sister and now I'm at my maw in law's again.

It's good to be home, but it's not the same without Rod here. I miss him terribly, and don't see myself staying much longer. It's good to visit with everybody, but it's not right for families to be apart. He misses us too! We're going to Missouri next, probably, instead of Georgia.

I can't wait to go to church tonight and see my pastor and his wife and all my church friends. It will be good to be at my home church.

We are through schooling for now. We're going to continue to read and do vocabulary some, but it's almost summer and I'm whooped! Mikaela's ready for a break and I need to regroup and plan for next year. I'll be doing a preschool and a 1st grade. Not sure what curriculum I'm going to use, probably just a mixture of whatever I like. If anybody has any they really like, let me know so I can check it out.

Blessings to everybody. Pray for us and my sweet hubby as he's alone up there!!

going home

Well tomorrow morning, bright and early, we are headed home to Louisiana for a few weeks. I hate to leave my sweet husband, but the grandparents are going to have a fit if I don't bring home the precious cargo soon!! Plus I have some business at the bank Monday morning. That's the only reason Rod's letting me leave, believe me! I'm dreading the loooooong drive home, but I know it will be over tomorrow night.

We rode out to the right of way where Rod and their crew is working today. They were lowering in some pipe and he wanted the kids to watch. They loved watching it, and the weather is really nice today. Warm with a breeze, about 80 degress or so. I bet it's hot in LA, and I'm actually kind of excited about that! I realized I don't like the cold weather as much as I thought I did...lol.

Rod's getting off work early today and I'm not sure what we're going to do, but we're going to do something before we leave. I'm really going to miss him. And I know it's harder on him than on us, because we'll be together with our families, and he'll be all alone up here...

Pray for our drive home and our saftey and my sanity!!

beautiful weather, park pictures

Mercie going down the slide. Whee!


Mikaela climbing



Eli climbing




Mercie eating a cupcake at our picnic lunch.


Me and the kids on the bridge.

We've been having a great time enjoying the beautiful weather lately.

more pictures

Mercie enjoying the outdoors.


Rod came home with some baby chickens the other day. 30 something to be exact. We have a cage on the side of the trailer with a heating lamp and food and water and Rod built a little pen behind the trailer where we can let them out to play when it's warm. Rod's brother Cole joked, "Rod, you've got a wife, 3 kids, a travel trailer, and 35 chickens." LOL.
Eli and "Boney" his baby chicken.



Mikaela and "Whitey", her baby chick.


Eli playing outside.


The kids playing in the play area at the mall.






I figured I'd post a few pictures of the trailer, so everybody can see how we're living for now.

This is going into the kid's bunk room, the bathroom is on the left, the pantry is on the right. I didn't get a good picture of the bunk room. There is a set of bunks on the right, Mikaela sleeps on top, Eli on bottom. There is also a top bunk on the left, and Mercie's playpen goes under that where the bottom bunk used to be. I have tubs of toys, books, and art supplies stacked on the top bunk. There's a closet in the middle of the bunks and a closet rod behing Mercie's bunk.



This is the dining area, and the kitchen is directly across from it, complete with 5 cabinets and 2 drawers! LOL. A double sink, a microwave/convection oven, which I am still trying to figure out how to cook in without burning the top and leaving the bottom soggy, and a refrigerator.



This is a view of the living room. Those doors go into Rod and my bedroom.



This is the bathroom, with a huge jacuzzi style tub. I Wish!! The tub is so small, and we only have a 5 gallon hot water heater. So long relaxing baths? Out of the question.

more updates and finally some pictures

Just a few pictures...I'll post some of the trailer later.

This is Rod and the kids before church one Sunday.




This was taken at our Passover meal. The kids loved the unleavened bread.




These pictures were taken at Chuck E Cheese. Rod got rained out for several days, so we went and played!!










This is a picture of the kids in their Passover clothes. We went dress shopping last week, and Rod and I were joking about Passover dresses instead of Easter dresses in the car. We were in Sears and a lady asked if we were Easter dress shopping, and Mikaela chimed in, 'Actually, Passover dresses." LOL. They are beautiful, but I couldn't get a good full shot of them, because none of them would cooporate at the same time.

updates

Last week, a guy working on the pipeline up here got killed. It was a freak accident, and wasn't anybody's fault, but it still makes me kind of nervous for Rod and all the guys up here we know. Remember the man's family in your prayers.

That day, everybody got off work early, and we took the kids to Kid Zone, which is like ChuckECheese. It's got pizza, games, tokens, and bouncy slides and things. They had a blast, and I'll have to say so did Rod. He was playing just as hard as the kids were! LOL.

I got a new camera the other day, a Kodak easy share. It's blue and really cute. It takes good pictures too and I'll post some soon. Promise.

We found a better playground, and that made the kids really happy. The weather was really nice the other day, it got up to 78 degrees or so and we played for a while outside. I can't wait until it stays warm outside!

Homeschooling is going good. We are going to start on marking vowels next week. If anyone has any tips for teaching how t mark long and short vowel sounds please let me know. We just finished our Season's book today. We are going to be learning about God's plan for seeds and plants next week. If anyone has any tips for that, actitives or whatever, let me know. We are going to plant some seeds and nurture them until they grow and draw pictures of each stage for our books. I have a great science book from Abeka 'God's World'. It's really neat and I love it. They love it, too, but I didn't buy the teacher's guide, so I have to be creative, lol!

Keep all of us in your prayers. It's hard being away from home. I went yesterday and bought pictures, plants and flowers to decorate the trailer. It made it feel more homey, and that helps a little. Even the kids seemed to be a little more happy. I bought a picture that says 'Home is where the heart is'. That's true, and my heart is with Rod and the kids, so I just thank God that we are together. BTW, if you've never been to Big Lots they have some really cute home decorating things. Check it out.

One more note: Passover is coming up!! I'm excited, trying to get ready for our first Passover. We won't be drinking wine, we'll be drinking sparkling grape juice, because I don't like wine. Yuck!! And we are doing our seder a little different from traditional Jews. We'll be reading the story from Exodus, eat our meal complete with unleavened bread and grape juice' and then we'll read the story of the ressurection of Jesus, and have dessert and pray. We're not doing the traditional prayers, blessings, readings, etc. Short and simple.

Sawyer Is Here!

My sister had her baby this afternoon!! I wish I could be there to see the lil fella. He's in the NICU because he was having trouble breathing. Please pray for him, and Ashlie. She's upset because Bryton was in the NICU for the same reasons, and it's hard. She doesn't get to hold him, nurse him, or anything. I am so proud of my lil sister and miss her like crazy. It's killing me, not getting to be there with and for her.

Now. I know it's been a while since I've posted, and I hate not having my own computer. I'm going to get one soon, I just hate to spend that big hunk of money. I'm a tight wad! Our main goal for pipelining is to pay off all all all of our debt and save as much $$$ as possible so we can go home, stay home, and start a business and let my sweet hubby farm sweet potatoes. That's his dream. He loves to farm. We farmed for 3 years, but it wasn't very profitable because of circumstances beyond our control. We also want to farm off our own money and not a loan. We also want to start some kind of business, not sure what yet, and we're praying about it.

Everything is going good up here. The weather is nice today and I hope it continues to stay that way. We ran some errands this morning and now we're just sitting around while a big pot of homemade vegetable beef soup is simmering on the stove. I miss home, but I feel blessed to be able to be with Rod. Alot of familes have to be separated, and that would be devestating to me.

Being up here has made me realize how much I miss my church!! We have been attending a church the past 3 weeks that we like. The kids have fun in Sunday School, and we really enjoy the service. They have communion every week, which I really like. Also, on Easter Sunday they are having a Living Lord's Supper, where we will participate and watch in the Lord's Last Passover. Since we are going to be observing Passover instead of Easter I am doubley excited.
I miss our church so much. I have so many fresh ideas and am so full of enthusiasm. I can't wait to get back into the grooooove of things.

Homeschooling is going great. We've been making subject books. We did one on the senses and one on weather, and we're working on one on the seasons. I just buy 3 prong folders (about .74 each) and we fill them with papers and activite sheets and drawings on whatever subject we're on. They love it. It is a lot of fun, for me, too.

For Bible we read 1 chapter in Genesis, and Mikaela writes out one verse. I dictate it to her. Then she draws an illustration.

We do Abeka phonics, numbers and social studies. We also do numerous other workbooks for all the other skills.

I love my children, love my husband and love my Lord.

Happy Birthday Sawyer Blaine Huffty.

It's early, but I have a busy mind!

It is not even 7:00 yet, but I have been up since 5:00. Went to the gym this morning. Whew. I'm whooped! I didn't realize just how out of shape I was until this morning. I did the eliptical (sp.) for 5 minutes, walked on the treadmill on an incline of 4 at a speed of 3.5 for 10 minutes, and then got back on the eliptical for another excruciating 5 minutes. (BTW, 5 minutes is a loooong time on a piece of excercise equipment!! LOL.) I felt like a limp noodle afterward, but I know it will get easier and I can work out for the 45 minutes I'd planned on doing. I laid in the tanning bed next. Can't wait to see my tan. I am so so pale! I really am glad I went, and plan on going at least 5 times a week.

Thanks for the comments on the Bible. I do love to highlight and take notes as well. I had to buy a new Bible about 8 months ago because almost every verse word or phrase was highlighted, underlined, circled or taken note of in the margin. I love to go back and look at all the notes I took! But it got hard to get anything new out of a verse or even to read the verse! So I got a new Bible and it's filling up pretty fast! LOL.

I love the OT. Most people find it 'boring' or 'hard to read' or 'not for US today'. But I love to read it. It's full of adventurous stories, amazing people of God, wonderful proverbs and poetry, and it's also full of God. God's works, God's power, God's grace, God's wrath, God's anger, God's compassion, God's love, God's words, God's heart. I just love it!

I love the NT too. Don't get me wrong. Several years ago, before I had ever read the entire Bible or even wanted to, all I read was Paul and Peter's letters. LOL. The encouragement, the 'feel good' verses. And I still do love to read the letters to the churches, but I read through the entire Bible and did a study on each book, and I just fell in love with the OT. That's also when I started studying the Feasts of the Lord, and the Torah and started asking questions. "Why don't we celebrate these feasts anymore? God never said to stop! He said it was to be an everlasting ordinace, for all the generations to come." and "Why don't we follow all the law? If we follow the Ten Commandments, why don't we follow every law of the Lord? Why do we pick and choose what to follow?" And it got me into some really in depth study. About a year of studying! I felt really close to the Lord when I was studying His Law, closer than I have ever felt. My prayer life was off the chain! (excuse the expression! it's all I could think of) I was praying for hours each day, crying to the Lord on behalf of others, spread out on my face in the living room because I could feel His presence in there with me and i couldn't get up, I could feel God talking to me, I could feel Him with me all day long. My marriage was strengthening, Rod was also studying the Law with me, and experienced the same prayer life. He was praying in the Spirit every day, just reading the Word constantly, taking His Bible to work with Him. We both just experienced a burst of spiritual growth. I have been contemplating that lately, and wondering, was there anything to that? When we were both basically forced to accept that everybody told us we were not Jewish, blah blah, and the Law is Void (BTW, get a Jewish translation Bible...the KJV and NIV are anti semitic in translations....) and we just stopped studying the Law, still studying, but not the Law, we didn't experience the same thing. I know, it's not about feelings all the time. But prayer should always be explosive, I think. IMHO. Just thinking out loud...

I just thank the Lord for His Perfect Law, Words, Love, and Grace.

And I found a Biographical study of the people of the Bible. One person a day. I started with Adam yesterday. I am keeping anotebook and keeping notes about each person as I come across information. It should be a good resource when I get finished!

i joined a gym...

Well...as the title of my blog says...I joined a gym today! I have been losing weight, and still have about 15 - 20 pounds to go, but I'm kind of stuck. So I joined the anytime fitness gym which is about 2 miles from the trailer, and I'm going to start waking up at 5 or 5:30 and going to work out and then tan (at the gym). Rod doesn't leave for work until 6:45 or so, so that will give me plenty of time each morning. I'm excited!! I bought some new tennis shoes and work out clothes today since I didn't bring my own from home, and I can't wait to get started in the morning. I've never worked out at a gym before, but I'm going to give it all I got! Hopefully I will be looking gooood by bathing suit time!! LOL.

The kids are doing good. Mercie is walking around with a blanket on her head, Mikaela and Eli are watching Arthur on PBS. They love "PBS Kids dot org" as Mikaela calls it....LOL.

Rod's good, he likes his job as good as he can. Life is pretty good up here in Indiana. It's not home, but we're all together. I miss my sweet mother, my sweet mother in law, my sweet sisters, my sweet maemae and my sweet dad. And especially my sweet little nephew Bryton. I miss his sweet face. My sister is due any time now, and I'm sad that I'm not going to be there for the birth of Sawyer. But I'm going to go see that little man as soon as I can.

I'm having a little difficulty with my Bible reading, and I'm not quite sure why. I just sort of leaf through it reading a verse here and there and mostly reading the commentary and devotions! I haven't had trouble like this in a loooong time, usually I devour the scriptures like I'm starving. I'm googling Bible reading plans (not the read through in year...done that!)If anybody has any interesting or enveloping reading plans or ideas...please let me know! I would like any input. I need to get back in the Word, because I can tell a difference in myself. Not anything bad...just not what I need to be.

wow!!

I cannot believe how much time has gone by that I haven't posted!! I have been super busy though...the kids and I left Saturday, Feb. 28 and it was a loooooong drive. 12 hours. It was alot longer and harder than I thought it would be. Mercie got car sick, had diareah 7 times and puked 2 times. Fun. We finally made it, got our travel trailer, set it up, went and bought everything we needed for it, and have been settling in ever since. The kids and I have a pretty good routine now, as much of a routine as you can call it. Tuesdays is story hour at the library. Monday, Thursday, Saturday is laundry day where we go to the laundry mat. That's a whole post in itself, so I won't elaborate on that today. We found a church we like, and have decided to start attending it. Mikaela and Eli loved it, and it had lots of kids around their age. We do our school during Mercie's nap, usually around 11 or so. School's been going great. The kids love it, which is helpful. They love to learn, and are always coming up with ideas.

Life in a travel trailer isn't that bad so far. They all share a room, and that's working out pretty good. They go to sleep good, but Eli has been waking up alot crying and coughing. I think his allergies are bothering him. I got him and Mercie some claritan, she's been coughing, too. Hopefully it will start working pretty quickly. They don't have a lot lot of playing room, and I haven't found a good "park" yet. But I am just so blessed that we can all be together as a family, and not split up across the country.

Well, I am going to post more later, I am on my brother in law's computer. He leaves it here during the day, so I will start using it until I get me a laptop. He's working up here too with Rod.

Bye!!

Going to Indiana

We bought a travel trailer! Well, I'm actually going to sign the papers today, so we haven't actually bought it, but we are in the process of buying it. It's nice, it's an 04 Salem, 31 foot with a 12 foot slide out. It's got a bunk room with 3 bunks and a space for the playpen for Mercie. It's got a queen bed for me and Rod. It even comes with 2 nice flat screen tv's. The layout is perfect. The kids and I are probably leaving early next week to go to Indiana to be with Rod. We are all very excited, sad about leaving family and friends, but excited that we will get to be together as a family, as God intended. Rod's been gone almost 3 weeks, and it is killing us, all of us, to be apart. I am so excited, and running around almost frantically, trying to pack, then deciding to wait to pack, wanting to clean, but deciding to wait to clean, and etc! My house is a bit chaotic right now, with a few plastic tubs full of toys, homeschool material, and the like, scattered around. I've been running around town the past several days, going to the bank alot, trying to take care of all the loose ends, and make sure I don't leave without taking care of everything. I'm a little frazzled feeling. Don't really know what to do...I know what I need to do, but I don't know when or how!! LOL.

We are taking a break from homeschool until we get settled in up there in Indiana. About a week or 2. That's why I went ahead and packed all that. I don't know how everything is going to fit in my Tahoe, but I'm gonna have to make it work!!

Things I Forgot to Mention...

These days, I have "Mommy Brain" more and more. Here a few random things I forgot to mention about the past week or so...

Mikaela lost another tooth! This time, Eli knocked it out on accident. They were wrestling on the couch, and my sister in law to be was over here. All of a sudden, Mikaela goes, "My tooth! Eli just pulled my tooth with his knee!!" She was bleeding, and I couldn't find the tooth! I took her to the bathroom, and got her gums to stop bleeding, worried that she had swallowed it! (she has really really small teeth) Then Abby yelled, "Found it!" And so we found the tooth. They thought it was really funny that Eli "pulled it".

Wednesday, the kids and I packed up as soon as we got through with our morning bookwork, and headed to Monroe (about 1 and 1/2 hours away from my house). I discovered the hard way that Mercie didn't have any "in between" clothes. Meaning, she had winter stuff that is getting to small, and some really summery stuff that it's too cool for. She had no short sleeve/pants outfits except 1!! So we went to Toys R Us and Old Navy and got her some cute stuff. I couldn't resist though, and got Mikaela and Eli something too! Although they won't need anything for another month or so. I love shopping for my babies!! All 3 of them.

My nephew is having his 2nd birthday party tommorow! Bryton will be 2 Sunday, but his party is tommorow. He's having a John Deere Tractor party, and I get the honors of making the cake. I love making cakes! It's turning out pretty cute, but I'm not quite through with it. Happy Birthday Bryton!! We love you, sweet boy.

Rod is still in Indiana..suffering away from us until we can join him. Hopefully it won't be too long.

Homeschooling is still going great. Today we did our book work in the morning, and after lunch we made some "Y" books, because that was our letter this week. This afternoon, we took our paints and paper outside and painted a lion, because that was our animal this week. We read 1 chapter of Wizard of Oz tonight. The kids are really enjoying it, and retaining alot of the story. It's kind of...wizardy and witchy and fairy talish...I didn't realize, because I've never read the book or seen the movie! I guess the title, "The wizard of oz" should have gave it away...oh well. The kids like it, and they know that sort of thing is just pretend. Next chapter book will be preread by ME! Ha, ha.

Creation Lapbook

Today, we made our first ever lapbook. It was loads of fun, the kids were really creative, and they had a blast. We went really simple this time, simple fold, simple topic (creation), and simple content.

On the cover, we glued a picture of the creation and the memory verse for this week (Genesis 1:1), and then they stuck foam stickers all over the cover. I picked up about 8 bags of these from the Dollar Tree for $1 a bag of about 100-150 each, different themes, like animals, sea animals, letters, stars and moons, shapes, etc.

For the inside, I had some Bible coloring and activity books (which were also $1 a piece!). The first pages were the days of creation, with big numbers for each day and pictures of what was created that day in the number, and the verse at the bottom of each page. We tore those out of the coloring book, stapled them together to make a little book, and colored them. I stapled them inside the folder.

I also found a creation matching game, which I printed and cut apart, and the kids glued an envelope inside the folder and put the game pieces inside the envelope. Then they used more stickers and markers to decorate the inside.

I think they turned out great! My kids are so creative. I love lapbooks, and will definetly be using these as part of our 'curriculum'! The kids spent about an hour and a half, quietly at the table, using their imagination and creativity, and learning at the same time. Mikaela knows her Verse for this week and last week (Colossians 3:17). Eli, unknowingly to me and him, learned the first part of the verse last week. Mikaela was supposed to be telling it to me, and she said, "And whatever you do in...in..." and Eli jumped in "word or deed!" And she said, "Oh yeah, word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord." And Eli chimed in again, "Colossians 3:17!" I was surprised, because I hadn't worked with him at all on it (shame on me!). I asked him to say it, and he said it almost right! I was so proud, and decided that I don't need to work with him too hard, he retains more knowledge just by observing!

So all in all, homeschooling is going great so far. I'm not putting any pressure on Mikaela or myself, and it's so refreshing that way. We are just learning and living. I'm enjoying it so much.

The past few days...breifly

Yesterday we didn't have school. I had to take Mercie to the doctor. She broke out in a rash all over her body, and I really thought it might be chickenpox. It was spreading like wildfire, and the spot on her back I took her to the doctor for last week, was really looking worse. Well, the rash was only a viral rash, she has an ear infection (I knew it) and the spot on her back? The doctor doesn't know what it is! He said if it doesn't get better in 3 days or so, he's going to refer her to a skin specialist. That child has left me clueless so much in her 1 year of life!

We did have school this morning, and it went well. Mikaela is really good at "math" and phonics, and readiness skills. She loves worksheets. We started learning about creation, and we're going to make our first ever lapbook this week. We are also studying lions, Eli's choice, and we read some books about them and then they drew a picture. Last night, we read the first chapter in the Wizard of Oz, and both of them were queit and paid attention. They answered questions, and wanted to read more! Tonight we may read 2 chapters.

I'm really enjoying homeschooling this time around. I'm not stressed out at all. I'm going at our own pace, using materials that fit our needs, and Mikaela is getting alot more out of it, and enjoying it more too. I try to review at different points in the day (riding in the car, taking a bath, cooking, playing) her Bible verse for the week, her sight words, the letter (Y) of the week, the animal of the week, and so forth. It helps too.

My cleaning schedule is helping soooo much. Things aren't staying spotless all the time, but everything is getting cleaned during the week, I'm not stressed or over whelmed, trying to do it all every day because I know it will get done. The kids have been helping me. I'm just feeling much more at ease and peaceful.

My hubby sent us Valentine presents! He sent me a red bear with Love on it and a card and sent the kids each a stuffed animal and M&M's. He is such a sweetheart. I love him so much.

Happy Anniversay a few days late to my parents. They have been a wonderful example to me, and I know that they are very in love and will share many more anniversaries together. I love you guys!

happy valentines day

Today was a good day. A friend of mine came over and we looked at my abeka homeschooling curriculum. Then we loaded up and went to the library. The kids absolutely love the library. Eli, surprisingly, goes straight to the children's section, grabs a book, sits at the table and flips through the pages. When he's done, he takes it back to the shelf or brings it to me if he wants to take it home, and grabs another. Quietly, I should add. If you don't know Eli, then you won't understand why I just wrote that! Anyways..I grabbed The Wizard of Oz. Mikaela and Eli and I are going to start reading it each day, do some comprehension activites ( like drawing a scene from the book, sequencing, copywork, etc). Then when we're done we're going to rent the movie and watch it. We've never seen it before, so that should be exciting for them, especially Mikaela. It's getting close to time to start planting our garden! That's going to be a good learning opportunity for them. We've had a garden for 3 years now, but they are going to really help me plant, weed, water, and harvest. Tomorrow we have a Valentine party at church at 1. That will be fun. I'm a little sad though. My Valentine is in Indiana. I miss him sooooo much. Keep him in your prayers. Protection and safety and plus he really misses us, too.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Busy Day

I've had a busy day today. I woke up this morning, got all the kids ready and left at 8:30 headed to Bastrop (45 minutes away) to take Mercie to our doctor. She has a rash on her back that is spreading and looking really weird. I thought it was eczema, and I was right. The doc said it was infected (never heard of eczema being infected) and prescribed her some steroid cream. Eli had eczema really bad when he was little, and he still has it, but not as bad. Mikaela developed dermatitis when Eli was a baby. I guess it just runs in the family. Then we went shoe shopping to 3 different stores, and I finally wound up going back to Payless and getting the shoes I saw first. I got Mercie 2 pair (really cute white shoes and some pink and white tennis shoes) and Eli and Mikaela each a pair of sandels. They had BOGO going on, so I got 4 pair of shoes for about $45. Not bad. Average of $11 a pair. We then went back home and had to go to WalMart to fill her prescription, but they won't have the cream until tomorrow. So one more trip to WalMart. The doctor did recommend I use Eucerin body cream after their baths while their still wet. Well...the Eucerin cream was $13.97 a jar, and the equate WalMart brand of the exact same ingredients was $4.97. Guess which one I got? And I got the equate brand of oatmeal bath for $3.88, and the Aveeno brand (which I usually get) was $6.97. So...I saved around $12. And I was happy with the products, which I used on all 3 kiddos tonight. I might even use the oatmeal bath! Anyway...by the time we got home, the kids were ready to run around the yard, so we stayed outside a good while. Mikaela rode her scooter until she fell and skinned her elbow for the third time. Then she wanted to go inside. Mercie was soooo tired, so I was trying to keep her awake until bedtime. She fell asleep at 5:30, so I laid her down. She was conked out. Mikaela and Eli played babies (yes, Eli loves to play "daddy". I think it's sweet.) They took baths went to bed before 8, and I got 2 loads of laundry washed, dried, and put away. I'm waiting on my 3rd load to get out the dryer, but it's just towels so that's quick. I washed bottles and cups, mopped, organized all my homeschool resources, and all our art supplies. Now I'm just relaxing! My house is staying decently clean since I've started a cleaning schedule. I love it! I just wrote out Mon. - Sat. on some paper, delegated each day to 1 or 2 rooms, and that way it only takes me an hour or so to hit each room hard once a week. It's so much easier than not having a plan and just trying to get each room clean each day. I'm much more relaxed and have much more time. I feel like I have a plan. And I do! I do as much laundry as I can in a day, if I miss a day it's okay. I keep counters wiped, floors swept and mopped, bathroom clean, no dirty clothes anywhere but the laundry room in organized baskets ready to go in the washer. I definetely recommend a weekly cleaning schedule. I feel more in control of things. I'm going to bed pretty soon. My good friend is coming over in the morning to visit and talk about homeschooling. That will be fun. We are going to the library around lunch and I've got to pick up Mercie's cream.

BTW..I got out my old Switchfoot CD and have been listening to it tonight. The very first song really got me thinking.
"We were meant to live for so much more...have we lost ourselves?"
I think that I had lost myself a while back. I was so stressed out, trying to make decisions on my own without God, trying to be superwoman, supermom, superwife, running away from my convictions because they weren't what I wanted for my life. I have come to realize that it's not always about what I want. It's about trading in my dreams and desires for His dreams and desires for me. And when I finally surrended my family and myself to Him, His desires became my desires. I want what He knows is best for my family. I know that life isn't always going to be easy. Babies crying, kids fighting, mom crying! But it's not supposed to be easy. God wants us to live for SO MUCH MORE than we do. He has divine plans and desires for us. Who are we to pick and choose what we want? We have lost ourselves in selfishness...discontentment...materialism...worldliness. It's time we found ourselves and offered ourselves to God and not just part of ourself. All of ourself. I have such a peace now...a peace that I can't describe because I've never felt it before. But I know it's because I've surrendered myself and my family and made myself and my desires of no importance. The only importance is that I'm in His will and in His word. Thank You Jesus!

Birds, Emaw, Shoes

Today was a fun day. The kids and I went to WalMart this morning to buy diapers for Mercie and pick up a few craft supplies for the hummingbird craft I found online. In the craft section they had some wooden bird houses that you could paint for $2.62 a piece. They were pretty nice sized, and I already had lots of paint at home. The kids had a ball painting them and they turned out really cute. Eli wanted to mix his paint together, and he was so proud of his finished project. Mikaela wanted hers to be for hummingbirds, so she painted it red and yellow. They love to do arts and crafts. I really need to incorporate it in more fun ways, like today. When Eli was through, we washed his hands and he looked up at me and smiled and said, "Thanks for letting me paint, Mama. Your the best!" That just makes everything worth it.

Rod's grandmother, Emaw, is in the hospital. Pray for her. The kids and I went to see her today, and prayed for her, and took her some candy and a flowers. The kids were really calm and quiet in the hospital, which kind of surprised me. Here lately, they have been like different children. Not to say that they weren't "good" before, but they are much better behaved and much calmer. It's so refreshing. Mikaela is much more relaxed and happy now that she's home. Eli just loves having her home. We're still trying to figure out a good homeschool routine and curriculum, but we're getting there. She likes it, though. Just sitting at the table, working in her workbooks, coloring, cutting and gluing. Right up her ally. Eli wanted to be right up the middle of her schoolwork today. He's not too terribly interested in his workbooks, because they are a little advanced for him, but he wants to do exactly what she's doing!

I'm taking Mercie to the doctor tomorrow morning. She's got a terrible rash on her back that's getting bigger and she's been tugging on her ears and putting her finger in them. The kids are going with me, and I'm looking forward to it. I really think they'll behave. Then we have to go get Mercie some new shoes. She's down to one pair of Keds, that were Mikaela's!, and her poor little (I mean chubby) foot is just bulging out every side! She needs a pair of dress shoes and a pair of tennis shoes, so we're probably going to Payless first. They might have BOGO going on, Buy One Get One half off. They have really cute shoes, too. I'd like her to have some more Keds, but I'm going to look at Payless first.

Rod is missing us terribly. And we are missing him even more. I hate when he's gone. I can't wait to see him. Mikaela prayed tonight that he'd be home in time for Valentine's Day. I hated to tell her he wasn't.

Yesterday went well...

Our first full day of homeschooling went really well yesterday. We went to the library, and would you know, there was only 1 book on hummingbirds that wasn't checked out?! We got it, but I couldn't help but wonder...how many people are interested in hummingbirds?! Oh well...we're going back later to see if the rest are available yet. The kids were excellent in the library...quiet, calm, still. We came home, did some reading, some playing, some chores. My sister took us out to eat pizza last night, and we came home and took baths, read books, went to bed. It was a very peaceful day. It's amazing how when you get in God's will and do what you know He wants you to do, how peaceful your life gets. Not to say that there wasn't a single moment of chaos or arguing, but overall, it was more peaceful than usual.
We've already done our morning school work today, and Mikaela did great and didn't complain at all. She wrote in her journal, "I love to pray. Do you love to pray?" I can sense a pattern about to start...but since she's only 6, I don't expect too much out of her journal yet. I didn't have to spell anything for her. She told me she wants to make a hummingbird today, so I'm trying to figure that one out. Her and Eli have been getting along great all morning. She's fixing him a drink right now, without me even asking her to. I love when they help each other. It just warms my heart! Well I'm going to post more later. I've been trying out Peaceful Parenting, and I'm going to post about that during naptime. We're about to go play outside for a bit.

First Homeschool Day

Well, today we started our homeschool. It went really well, although we still have reading and Bible time to cover, which we will do this afternoon. I'm doing this very different this time. We sat at the dining room table while Eli and Mercie ran around playing. She loves workbooks, so I'm incorporating alot of them, as long as she likes to do them. We did several pages in her Abeka Letter and Numbers books (which I had from before). I had bought her a Strawberry Shortcake workbook on Time and a Scooby Doo workbook on Addition and Subtraction from the Dollar Tree for $1 a piece! We did a few pages in each of those. I also bought a primary writing tablet for $1, and for writing, she wrote her Bible verse for this week (Colossians 3:17). Then we reviewed her sight word flash cards (which I made out of index cards), and she wrote those, too. For her journal time, she gets to write at least one sentence about anything she wants. She wrote "I love princesses. Do you like princesses?" I had to spell princesses, but she did well. It took about 1 hour, and it went by really fast. We are going to have reading time each afternoon, and she's going to read her little Abeka readers aloud to me for 20 minutes. Then if she wants to pick a book from their collection of about 100+ books and try to read aloud, then we will do that. Bible time will be at night for her and Eli and Mercie together. Just reading the Bible and talking about it. We are going to the library when Mercie wakes up to get books on hummingbirds. I'm letting them pick 1 animal each week (taking turns, her and Eli) and we're going to read and learn all we can about it and do art projects, etc. She picked hummingbirds. We will probably just do this "science" as I'm calling it, whenever during the day.

I am taking this approach instead of the formal, classroom setting approach I tried with the Abeka. She didn't like that, and I didn't either. It didn't work for us. She learns by doing and writing and workbooks work well for her. Art projects, reading, and writing we do anyway, so we're just incorporating those into learning. I'm letting Eli be in on part of it, and my sister has some Thomas the Train workbooks for PreK she's going to give to Eli today, so tomorrow if he wants to, he'll have some workbooks to work in. Nothing formal or set in stone for him, he's only 3 1/2. Just learning if he wants, when he wants, until he's 5. However, he'll have Bible time and science time with us. That's a family thing, I guess you could say.

Mikaela enjoyed herself this morning, and she's watching Barbie Island Princess while waiting for Mercie to wake up so we can go to the library. She's been excited about it all day. Oops, I think I hear Mercie! Gotta go.

What Works for Me and Priorites

Rod is in Indiana. I already miss him so much. Don't know how I'm gonna make it!

We had my sister's baby shower Saturday. It was fun. She got lots of cute stuff. She' so excited, and so am I! There is something precious about a baby. They are so innocent and gorgeous and smell so good, most of the time!

I was talking to my sister in law to be last night about babies and kids, and how much you learn with each child! It's so funny...with your first one, you really don't know anything. You just kind of wing it, learn by trial and error, do the best you know how to do. Your second one, you think you know it all. Then they come along, and are so different from your first one, and you still have no idea what you're doing! And the third one, you know alot more, but not everything by a long shot, even though some days you think you do! And that's as far as I've gotten...but I think I'm doing good. I've learned alot of what works for ME.

The things that work for me are:
1. Bedtimes. My kids go to bed around 7-8 each night. No later than that, unless it's a special night.
2. They put theirselves to sleep, as soon as I bring them home from the hospital. I love to rock babies, but not when I have to rock them for them to go to sleep. I rock them during the day as much as they'll let me, but when it's bedtime, I hug them and lay them down and they go to sleep.
3. They stay in bed until 7 am. This gives me 1 hour in the morning to do whatever I need to or want to. (I get up at 6)
4. Naptime and quiet time. Mikaela has quiet time, she never goes to sleep during the day, but she has to play quietly while Eli naps.
5. They help me do chores. I've learned that it's okay if the towels aren't folded exactly so, they'll be in the cabinet anyway. It's okay if their beds aren't military style made up in the morning, they try their best. It's okay if their drawers are a little messy, because they put away their own pj's, underwear and socks. It's okay if they missed a spot dusting, because that's the only way they'll learn! BTW...I've jus recently come to this conclusion, and it's saved me alot of sanity.

There's more things than that I've learned...the first 4 have to do with sleep! Ha, ha. But sleep is important for children, and mothers, in my opinion. I'm learning each day, and God is helping me put my priorites where they need to be. It's easy for the order to get mixed up, especially living in the world we live in. But it's always God first. And a clean house has to go behind teaching children; Bible study; and playing with children. Organization is important to me, but I can't let it sneak up to the 3rd or 4th slot on my priorites list. We're supposed to be on guard and alert at all times, and I have to be concerning my priorites! I can't compare myself to other people. I can't compare myself with I think I should be. I can only compare myself with what God wants and desires me to be as a Christian, wife and mother.

And He's still workin' on me, to make me what I ought to be!

Happy Birthday Mercie!

I can't believe my baby is not a baby anymore! She turned one yesterday. She is getting so big. She is so precious, walking everywhere and even running! She can say Dada and Hi and wave at you. We had her party last night. She had fun, she wasn't too interested in the presents. The only one she showed interest in was a small Little People barn and the purse I gave her. She loved the cake and ate two pieces! She wasn't sure how to eat it at first...but she got the hang of it! I'm going to post some pics of her eating the cake later. She is my little precious girl and I'm so in love with her! I'm in love with all of my kids. They are so sweet and I cherish them because it goes by too fast. Way too fast.

Today my sister Melissa and I are give my other sister Ashlie a baby shower. She's having a boy, Sawyer Blaine, and she's due in early April. I made the cake last night, but I need to go get ready! Have a blessed day.

Homeschool

Well, I have decided to homeschool. Again. I started homeschooling Mikaela the beginning of this year. However, it quickly got frusterating for me, and she missed her friends, and on a whim one morning, I put her back in school. That was the worst decision I've ever made. I made it without even praying about it. I know that homeschooling is what God wants me to do. So I've decided to do it, and quitting is not even an option. If I get frustrated, I'll take a 3 day break or something. But it's something I desire to do, and it's something I feel like I need to do. So as of next week, we will be homeschooling from now on.

I abosolutely cannot believe Mercie will be 1 Friday! For her birthday I bought her a cute little plush purse with a plush phone, wallet, credit card, and keys. It is so adorable, and I think she's going to love it. She loves anything that you dig in and take stuff out of!

Today we were in the play room and Mercie was of course trying to play with the puzzle that Eli (3) was playing with. He gets very frusterated easily, and he was steaming. I heard him say, "I hate you" not very loud, but loud enough where I could hear. I said, "Eli! What did you just say?!" He looked at me with wide eyes, and said so seriously, "I don't want to tell you." I said, "Eli tell me what you just told Mercie." He said, "Um..um..I said I love you." He got a spanking for lying, and then he told me what he said. Then he got a spanking for telling her he hated her, even though she's only 1 and doesn't understand, that is NOT something we're going to say in our home to our family members. Hmmm. 3 is a tough age.

Actual sentences said the past few days in our home:
"You will not put boogers in any part of her body!"
"Do not stick your hand in the VCR!"
"Do not stick that knife in the toaster!"
"We do not throw Mercie!"
"You cannot eat Peanut Butter Crunch for every single meal."
"I'm too tired to eat/clean/play/walk/bathe" (Eli)

This and That

Yesterday it was so pretty outside, so we stayed outside pretty much all day long. We didn't even take naps, because the kids were having so much fun!! I hate to interrupt them when they are playing so well together, but they were pooped last night! They took baths, ate sandwiches (I didn't cook!) and were asleep by 7. Mercie was asleep before 6! She fell asleep on my lap, and when I moved her to try to wake up her, she was like dead weight. Didn't even flinch. So I put her in the bed and she slept until almost 8 this morning!
Rod and the kids and I got the yard cleaned up yesterday. He cleaned out and around his shed and we picked up around the yard. He's leaving for Indiana Saturday to work for about 2 months. The kids and I are not going, and it's going to be tough! After that, there's a looong job in Georgia, 16 months or so, and we've been praying about it. I think we're all going to go.

These past few days my mind has been full of thoughts and heavy on decisions. Finally, last night, I just gave it all to God, like I should have done in the first place! It kills me, that I try to make decisions on my own, without consulting Him. I guess it's human nature to try to figure things out, but God knows what's best, He knows what's going to happen, and He knows what's not going to happen. Why I can't just leave everything up to Him, I don't know!! It's so silly of me to think that I can figure things out! Thank God for His never ending Love, Forgivenss, Mercy, and Compassion on us poor ignorant Christians!

I am so thankful and I just want to share it! I'm thankful for my wonderful, sweet, hard working husband. He's the Best I could have ever asked for. I'm thankful for my beautiful children that God has entrusted to me. They are so sweet and time goes by much too quickly. I'm thankful for the crazy, loud moments because it means my kids are healthy and strong. I'm crazy for the messy house because it gives me something to do when the kids are asleep. I'm thankful that I am healthy and my husband and kids are healthy. I'm thankful that my family has plenty to eat and wear, and a nice roof over our heads. I'm thankful that God provides for us when we need it! And even when we don't. I'm so thankful for my wonderful life. I would never trade any of it for anything in the world.

My Prayer Today

God, please forgive me for my dissatisfaction, my desire for worldly possessions, my dependence on money instead of You, and my poor attitude.

Give me contentment with what I have, what you have blessed me with and entrusted to me! Give me joy in my everyday life that comes from what I have with You, Lord, and not what I have in my possession or bank account. Make my happiness come from You, and not depending on how much I can get or how nice I can make my house or the clothes that I wear.

Forgive my vanity. Forgive my concern for what other people think. Forgive me for taking my wonderful children and my sweet husband for granted sometimes.

Take away my love for things. Take away my desire to be beautiful to this world. Take away the security I feel in having money. Take away my wrong intentions and bad motives. Take away my dissatisfaction and my feelings of inadequacy and my stress.

Purify my heart and cleanse my life. Show me how to take captive every thought and conform it to Your thoughts. Help me to be a better mother and better wife.

Amen.

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ,
Why do you look so much like the world?
Cause my Jesus bleed and died
He spent His time with theives and liars.
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable,
So which one do you want to be?
Blessed are the poor in Spirit,
Or do we pray to blessed with the wealth of this land?
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness,
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand?
Cause my Jesus bleed and died for my sins
He spent His time with theives and sluts and liars.
He loved the poor and accosted the rich,
So which one do you want to be?

"My Jesus" by Todd Agnew

I did it!

Last night, I pulled Mikaela's tooth! I can't believe I did it! It was sooo loose. She was terrified, but I just yanked it out. She couldn't believe it didn't hurt. She got $5.00 to put toward her American doll. She wants an American doll so bad, but they are about $100.00 and I told her that I loved her, but I wasn't spending that on a doll. So she's saving her money. She has almost $50.00 now. I can't believe she's still saving. Usually she'll spend her money as soon as she gets it. But I guess she really wants this doll.

I'm taking Eli to the doctor today. Rod is going to stay with Mercie. Eli and me need a day together. He is the kind of kid who NEEDS individual attention and he doesn't get it nearly enough, being the middle child.

Mercie's birthday is coming up! I can't believe she's almost 1. When we say patti cake, she'll clap her hands. It's sweet. She is walking soooo good now. She can get anywhere, almost faster than me. She still hates the nursery. But I teach Sunday morning , so she has to go. I asked Mrs. Billie if she cried any less yesterday than she had been and Mrs Billie said, No.

I'm going to post a picture of Mikaela and her tooth soon.

nothing really

Mikaela has a birthday party tommorrow for her friend Marissa. She is spending the night tonight with her, and then they are going to eat pizza and go skating. I can't believe Mikaela is old enough to have slumber parties. Of course, I know Marissa's mom and dad really well. Rod went to school with her mom, and they live not too far away.

Eli is just playing with his action figures and Mercie is taking a nap.

I'm just browsing the internet for Sunday School curriculum for my kids at church.

Just wanted to post a few words.

Cute Things

Eli never ceases to make me laugh. Mikaela and Eli both have an astounding memory.

We went to the zoo a few weeks ago, and if you'll remember, they were amazed at the birds that could talk, say "hello". They kept saying hello over and over in the bird's voice for several days.

Today Eli and I were going over his abc's, and I said, time for animal sounds. He loves to be silly. I said, tell me what a bird says. Eli squaked "hello" in the bird's voice, so seriously, and looked at me like, wasn't that good? I burst out laughing and hugged him. He was so happy, but wasn't sure why I was laughing. Then he said, tell me what a lion says. I said, "Roar!" and he grabbed me, pulled me down and started fake laughing. I couldn't stop laughing, he couldn't stop laughing, it was one of those times you just want to bottle up and save. He has the cutest little grin.

Mikaela is selling cookie dough for school. I had been teaching her how to sell, what to say, that kind of thing. Sunday night, Cole, my brother in law, came over. She ran and got her cookie dough sheet and said, "Cole, I want you to look at this and tell me how many you're going to buy." He laughed, but he bought two buckets!! She didn't say, tell me if you want any, she said tell me how many you want. Didn't give him much room to turn her down. Not that anyone would, she's just so beautiful.

Today it is so pretty outside. I took Mercie and Eli outside, and let Mercie walk around the yard. She just got to where she can walk well enough. There are tons of leaves on the ground, and every step she took would *crunch*. Every time she took one step, she'd hear it crunch, and look down at her feet, like what is that noise? She did it about ten times, then finally forgot about it. She had a blast. Then Eli rode her on his Power Wheels four wheeler. She loved it! She was waving and smiling. After about 3 minutes, Eli said, "That's very good, Mercie. Now get off." And pretty much, shoved her off, as nicely as he could! *sigh* Boys.

Well they are both still asleep. I did some laundy and mopped around their eating area, but I guess I need to go take as much advantage of the quiet and I'm sure I can find plenty to clean around here!

P.S. to Mom-- I'm starting the Esther study as soon as Ashlie brings me the book. I'm so excited.

Quiet.

It's quiet around here tonight. Rod, Mikaela and Eli went to church. Mercie was sooo tired, being that she didn't take a nap all day, and she conked out at 6. Which isn't too early for her, considering she goes to sleep usually around 6:30 or 7. The only sound is the washing machine and dryer, to me that's a comforting noise. I'm just so weird!



Last night, I cooked deer meat and it was sooo good. All I did was marinate some deer ham in Worsishire (sp.), milk, an egg, and some steak sauce (yes, steak sauce). Then I put it in a pan, covered it with a can of cream of celery, chopped onions and bell peppers, covered it with foil and cooked it about 3 hours. It was delicious, juicy, tender...and so easy! I made some rice and toast, and it was a very filling meal. We eat a lot of deer meat around here. Rod loves to hunt.



Mikaela has a loose tooth, and it's very loose! Her first one, and I'm so nervous. I told Rod he had to pull it, because Mikaela won't, and I don't think I could. She told me today, "I'm gonna be prayin' for that tooth, for God to loose it up some more, so it will fall out soon." It was so cute. Eli made me "wiggle" his not even close to being loose teeth, and then "wiggled" mine. He got so upset when Mikaela told him her tooth was going to bleed when it came out. He was rubbing her arm and consoling her. I love when they act like they love each other! It makes me giddy inside and brings tears to my eyes.



Mercie finally said "mama" today! I know, I know, she's almost a year old. She walked at 10 months, but all she'll say is "dada", "da", and "de" for deer. I was so upset that wouldn't say "mama." This morning, Rod and Mercie and me were in the bed and I said, "Mercie, please say Mama!" And she said "mamama" and then wouldn't say it again. Oh well. At least she said it once.



She went to the health unit for her check up Tuesday and weighed 24 pounds, 28 inches long. She's in the 94 percentile for her weight, and....the 24 percentile for her height! LOL. My mom said she's a box. She is sooooo fat!! But so beautiful. She already in size 4 diapers, 18 month clothes. Eli was wearing some of his 18 months short last summer...and he was 3!! She also got her finger pricked, and didn't even cry. I was so proud. She just looked at the nurse like, What do you think you're doing?! She's growing up too fast. Before I know it, she'll be talking up a storm and hopefully have thinned out some. I think I'm gonna get her a thigh master, lol. Just kidding. But seriously, her thighs are bigger than Eli's....I know, cause I measured them with a tape measure. She has saddle bags, and a big ol' booty. But she's so pretty!



I was teaching Eli number concepts today...1,2, and 3. He caught on real fast, we might move on to 4 and 5 tomorrow. I taught him how to write the letter A, he still needs practice because he's not steady with a pencil and doesn't have basic writing skills. I've tried, but he's only 3. He wants to learn though! He can't sit still long, but we're working on his concentration. 5 minutes at a time! He drew a picture of himself, because we learned that God made us unique, and he actually for the first time drew, and not just scribbled line and such.

I drew the eyes to his specifications, but he drew the rest. Even the purple mouth. He's prettty talented, but then again, so are all my little blessings!!

God sent Himself

Last night at church, I took Mercie into the nursery because she was getting fussy. When I walked in, Ms. Billie was reading a book to about 5 kids. At the end of the book, she asked them, "Who died for our sins?" All of the kids said, in unison, "God!" And then she made this profound statement that really hit me. "God sent Himself to die for us, in the person of Jesus Christ."

Now, I knew that. I knew God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one, yet are three distinct persons. But I always, like everyone else, say "God sent His Son Jesus to die for us." And that's true. But to hear her say God sent Himself in the person of Jesus, I almost teared up. Can you imagine? He sent Himself, in the form of His Son. I am going to start saying that, because I think it's so important for our children to realize that God Himself died for us.

Developing

I have just been thinking about some things today.

I have been doing a bible study "The Mind of Christ", and I'm on Unit 10, titled, "Living in the Spirit". Day 1 was called "The Spiritual controls the Material." It was a really really convicting, powerful lesson. I am going to put an excerpt down here from page 146.

"Ask the Lord to guide you to victory over..the following:

Set your mind on things above -- the spiritual.
Allow God to renew your mind with a Christlike mind set.
Deny yourself and the importance of the material.
Follow Christ in giving priority and emphasis to the spiritual.
Ask God to help you emphasize the spiritual in practical ways.
Write notes to yourself about the things you sense God is guiding you to do."

Well, that is what my goals are!! I really want to have the mind of Christ and to exhibit His actions and attitudes in my every day life. Denying myself and the importance of material things...that is what I long to do, yet it's so hard. I will think I'm doing well, and then start talking about "I want this...I want to do that to my house...I would like things better if I had this..." etc. And I'll stop myself and realize that I have a looooong way to go.

On another note...we went to the party today. It was fun, as fun as a 6 year old party can be I guess. Mercie's first birthday is coming up...it's always so exciting, their first birthday.

Well pray for me that I can develop the mind of Christ.

Just ramblings...

Today I went with my sister to the OB in Monroe. Everything is fine with her pregnancy, she's having a boy!! Then we went to Target. I absolutely love that store!! We had fun. We made our husbands stay home with our kids. LOL. They had fun, but Rod was on the couch when I got home, Eli and Mercie were asleep, and I think he was to! Yeah...it's good for men to see how tiring it can be having little ones at home, trying to keep things clean and keep children happy. But Rod was a good sport, and the house was actually clean when I got home!! Thank goodness for that.

Tommorrow Mikaela's friend Lila is having a birthday party at 12:00 at the park. It's gonna be cold, but I'm sure the kids will have fun anyway.

Rod's speaking at church Sunday night about his trip to Nicaragua, and I think Mark's getting a slideshow together. Then we're eating breakfast afterward. I love eating at church!! Ha, ha.

Mercie almost electrocuted herself the other day. She grabbed Mikaela's nightlight and somehow her fingers got inside the prongs while it was still plugged up. Good thing I was right there! She was screaming...her finger was so hot when I got it out. It scared me. The child never ceases to scare the heck out of me. More scares with her than Eli...although I did call poison control several times over him.

Money, money, possessions

"Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor dust corrupts, and theives do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:20-21

Jesus placed little value on the things of this world. The King was born in a stable, among the animals. The Prince of Peace was a carpenter, working with His hands. He had no 'place to lay His head'. (Luke 9:58) He traveled to different places all the time. Do you think He toted around a big suitcase full of clothes, shoes, soap, etc? Nope. Probably just the clothes on His back. Do you think He stayed in Holiday Inns? Nope. Wherever He and His disciples were welcome, usually at the home of someone they knew. Sometimes out the open air. He didn't have many possessions, and what He had, He would have freely given away to someone in need. He didn't love the things in the world. After all, what's the point of accumulating things?

As for us...do we love the things of this world? Are we always trying to accumulate more? We get so excited about going shopping for clothes, when we have plenty of clothes we don't even wear! We go and buy things for our home, then get home and have no room for them! We buy our kids more toys, and they have tons of toys they don't play with, not because they don't like them, but because they don't have time because they have so many other toys! And we keep buying them new toys. We want a new car, but what's wrong with our old car? We want this, and that, but do we need it? Why do we want it?

Why don't we take what we have and give to people who need it, who will appreciate it? When we go and buy a new shirt, why don't we give one we already have away to someone who needs it? When we go buy our kids a new toy, let's give away one that's gently played with to a kid who doesn't have many or any toys? Before we just "blow" our money, let's make sure there's not a better use with it...say for God's kingdom?

Be on the lookout...your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion...looking for someone to devour

Rod is home!! Yea!! They had a wonderful, successful trip to Nicaragua. And I'm glad he is home safe! Praise be to God for His protection on them.

Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. We went over and ate lunch with them after church.

Last night, church was awesome. The message was about spiritual warfare and how we should be set apart. We lose our focus was too often. We, and by we I mean me, turn our focus on things that aren't as important as we make them out to be. Things like money, material possessions, debt, our jobs, our house, etc. And we take our focus off of the Lord. We quit being on 'high alert' for the devil's schemes, and just assume because we aren't being attacked by him, then we're safe. Wrong! If we're not being attacked by the devil, then that means we aren't a threat to him, which means we aren't doing our job for the Lord. The devil should never want to leave us alone! He should attack us constantly, because we are a threat, because we are out there witnessing and winning souls for Christ, because we are different from the world, because we don't care about money and bills and having more and more things. Things aren't important. A beautiful house isn't important. A nice new car isn't important. New electronics, cell phones, ipods, game systems, flat screen Tv's, that is not important. What is important is our relationship with Christ, our service to Him, and our dedication to Him.

Well, I guess I said what was on my mind this morning! Sorry if I rambled on and on.

Rod is coming home tomorrow!! I can't wait. I really miss him. This week has gone by sort of fast, sort of slow. Nighttime is the lonliest. I usually talk to Rod, eat with Rod, watch movies with Rod, etc. And by myself, well , I don't like it!! The kids and I are going to meet him at the airport. They are so excited to see their daddy!

We haven't done much this week. My mom came and stayed the night on Tuesday night. She was off work Wednesday and Thursday. Mikaela didn't go to school yesterday, and I'm considering pulling her out and homeschooling again. I'm going to talk to Rod about that. She went today...but there is a teacher at her school who was sending inappropriate email and text messages to a 14 year old male student. And the teacher is still teaching and coaching!! That makes you wonder...who else is teaching your kids? While they are at school for 7 hours, who is with them, supposed to be their role models?! This teacher, she was supposed to be a good Christian, she was 26, had a good family, nice husband, she was attractive. What makes somebody do that? You would have never suspected her to do something like this. That is what makes this so unbelievable. A small school, really small school, and this happens? And they are letting her keep on teaching? And she hasn't been arrested yet? And they have all the proof they need to arrest her? Crazy.

My Bible study I'm doing, The Mind Of Christ, I'm on the Beatitudes. I'm memorizing that part of scripture. Man, when you start studying scripture, you see it a whole lot differently than when you just read it.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3-10

I typed that from memory, believe it or not! I hope I got it correct.

Have a blessed day everyone!

More Pics from Last Saturday

Here is Mercie reading her menu at Chili's...she chose the Quesadillas and Black Beans.

Me and Eli (taken by Mikalea)

Rod and Mikaela - she is her daddy's girl!

Meaningful Mondays for Moms

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

I usually think of "corrupt word" being curse words or vulgur words. I looked up 'corrupt' in the dictionary and one of the definitions was 'putrid'. I looked up 'putrid' and it said "rotten or decaying; very unpleasant".

Hmmm...as a mother to young children, I ask myself, do I speak corruptly to my children? When they make a huge mess, when they disobey, when they break something, do I speak rotten words to them? Am I unpleasant? Do I tend to lose my patience?

The answer, ashamed as I am, is yes. Not all the time, but more often than not, I lose my temper. I say things to them that don't lift their spirits and edify them. By the way, I looked up 'edify' and it said "to instruct or improve morally". Am I improving my kids morally by the words that proceed out of my mouth? I sit here, ashamed and embarassed before God. The beautiful children He has blessed and entrusted me with should not be spoken to rottenly. As I ask His forgiveness, I also ask for His help.

We need to watch our words, our attitudes, our pleasantness. Our children observe everything we do and say, and everything we don't say. Although we do need to discipline when necessary, we also need to disciple on a more consistant, daily basis. We need to lift up our children, encourage them, and improve them morally! (I just love that definition!!)

I am putting off all rottenness, decay, corruption. Whoo, do I feel better!

These are my sweeties playing in a band for me! The kids had got out thier instruments, even little Mercie had her drum, and then Rod decided to get two deer horns to hit together, and volia! A world class band. It was so funny and loud. Mikaela and Eli were both singing, too. Different songs, by the way.

Rod is in Nicaragua! He called this morning and they are alright, they were heading to the little village in the mountains. I probably won't get to talk to him again, though. Remember him in your prayers!!

Also, someone I know lost their baby Friday. She went in to get her, and she had stopped breathing in her sleep. Pray for her and her husband and family. I cannot even imagine losing a baby. The baby was 4 months old.

I was wondering why a 3 year old can be so stubborn sometimes. I think he does it on purpose. Yesterday I was in the kitchen and he came in there. Conversation as follows:

Eli: I want a cookie, Mama.

Me: I don't have any. Sorry.

Eli: But I want a cookie.

Me: I don't HAVE one.

Eli: But, Mama! I want a cookie, please!

Me: (losing patience, hate to admit it) Eli. I. Don't. Have. Cookies. DON"T HAVE.

Eli: Okay...

Me: Do you want something else to eat?

Eli: A cookie.

Me and the kiddos at the zoo yesterday. They had so much fun!! Eli wasn't too thrilled about taking a picture here.

Rod and the kids at the zoo. He is such a good husband and father. I think he had just as much if not more fun that the kids did! He makes everything fun for them, and for me!

We also went to Chili's and ate. The kids were so good at the zoo and at the restarant. We had the best time. I love my family so much. God has really blessed me.

Rod left this morning to go to Nicaragua. I miss him already. Please pray for him.

New Year Resolutions

Thought I'd post my resolutions. I make them every year and then they are soon forgotten. I've never written them before, so maybe if I can look at them and remember them, I'll keep them!

1. Start and finish an in depth Bible study.
2. Increase my prayer time and alone time with God.
3. Talk kinder to my kiddos.
4. Play more, clean less.
5. Pray more, sin less!
6. Be more frugal with my money. I've been over spending at the grocery store!
7. Don't get stressed out when the house is a mess! I have 3 kids under 6...it's not gonna be Better Homes and Gardens worthy!
8. Get a little more organized in my closet. A little.
9. Be more loving to Rod.
10. Learn to sew. I've always wanted to sew...

Pray for Rod, Mark, Jimbo and Shane. They leave Sat. Pray for me and the kiddos, Pat, Beth, Michelle and thier 2 kids.

We're going to the zoo tomorrow! It's supposed to be 63*F, so if it's not windy it should feel great outside. I'll take lots of pics and post them.

Oh, and Happy New Year!! Live For Yeshua!