Friday night...is present your report!

All week long the children are learning about a different state of their choice. They prepare a report to read out to Dad after dinner and after Chris has gone to bed (grin).

Tonight was really sweet because Ryan did his report on New York and he discovered that Ben and Jerry from that really great tasting ice cream (one of his favorite thing's to eat) were from New York. He has NEVER had their ice cream before (I know shame on me) so one of his motivation's was that if he did really well on his report, that his treat would be ice cream, of course! The cinnamon bun flavor was very tasty he said. He did very well and I am so proud of him.

Really, I am proud of all of the children as they did well. Ryan is also quite the cook he loves to try new thing's so he also made the "OFFICIAL NEW YORK APPLE MUFFINS"
Since the apple is the state fruit. They were really good as well, but required more ingredient's than any muffin should.

RJ's report was on Georgia and I can tell you that this week I really do have a few State Park's that I would love to see after tonight. His confidence is boosting with reading out loud (as loud as he physically can). He has really come a long way.

Ross is always a ham and ready to perform! His report was sweet and short...I think its a teenage (boy) thing. He reported on Vermont (we have friend's that live there). Get right to the point and be done with it. Full of fact's (like his DAD). He is very independent and for that I am grateful although at times it seems bitter/sweet. Surely, you moms understand and can relate to me???

This has really been fun and we are off to the next state and eventually countries!

Hey wouldn't it be neat to be one of those traveling/teaching families...just sale everything and live out of an RV and just do hands on school. Is that unschooling? Boy is that appealing .... after all this time of homeschooling I could go for that.

Feeling big....

The winning smile!

Chris is determined to be a "BI BO" as he calls it.. He loves to feed him self with or without the spoon..eating sweet potatoes tonight.

Sweet fellowship among friend's

We had sweet fellowship with longtime friend's tonight. It wasn't planned and they just happened to be coming in just when we were about to sit down to eat dinner. Which consisted of left over's. Since we eat at Church for fellowship meals every Sunday (pot luck style) I try to take it easy on Sunday evening dinner's. Anyway, I "insisted" they stay and eat with us. I added a few more dishes and we had the best time of laughing, talking and eating. They enjoyed the food and isn't that the way, I couldn't have planned it to be better. It really does warm my heart to have people sit and eat around the table with us.

I am thankful for friend's and especially for God that he has changed my heart and is molding me into the woman that he has planned for me to be. I also thank him for teaching me to listen to him. I am blessed beyond measure.

It is my prayer that I will alway's have an open heart to welcome other's into my home to break bread together, especially when it is unplanned.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2: 42

VS 44 says... All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Save a life march/walk

This was our first year participating in this wonderful event. We to love what the Lord loves and hate what he hates, and I believe he loves "life" for all and so to be a part of this event was a true blessing.

My son found a clip of this event and I hope you can see it to. If the Lord is willing we will be there participating again and again as he see fit.

CLICK ON THE TITLE...AND IT SHOULD COME RIGHT UP.

Another home remodeling

This is our shed that we (Randy) are building. The boy's have helped him a lot and are in the building/learning process. I am so proud of my hubby!!!

Soon we can check off another project from the list.

I did the holy dance today

While looking for my shoe....I found my camera! The new one that I had just got for Christmas (before) anyway it was behind the sofa.

Guess who could have thrown it back there? If you guessed Chris, I'll say you are right. He is quick and really did miss seeing him with it.

Oh, well I am so happy and praised the LORD. If you only knew how many time's I've lost a previous camera.

So sincerely grateful!


PRAISE THE LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him?

PSALMS 147:1


I believe in EVERYTHING even the "small" stuff. The hard stuff and the tough stuff.

Psalms Sunday.....

Psalms 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his
pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.


* His faithfulness doesn't end*

How awesome is that!

Reflecting....

-Reflecting on life itself. How short it is and how we don't know from one moment to the next what is going to happen.
*I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

-Reflecting on how I don't think to say "If the Lord is willing" enough.
*Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:15

-Reflecting on how the children are growing up so quickly.
*Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

-Reflecting on "love" -ing, everyone. What that truly means...
*The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalms 33:5

-Reflecting on being joyful always.
*Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

...PRAYING FOR MY DEAR 82 YEAR OLD FRIEND WHO, IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL...PRAYING FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

*"Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32

Happy Birthday to my 10 year old!

I can't believe it has been 10 years. It is truely bitter sweet. Watching children grow up is such a blessing. While I call him my "baby" opps did I say that?? I mean "big boy", I look into his eye's and I see that once adorable little one cooing at me....and then he speaks and I realize I was day dreaming. He had a good day today and for that I am happy. One of my favorite picture's.
With our dog "Missy".
He loves kitten's.
"BUZZ RYAN LIGHT YEAR" to the rescue. He use to LOVE dressing up in his favorite character's.


He wouldn't allow me to cheer him on while he was swimming it distracted him, he said. :) I was allowed to take a picture though.

If you look closely (second one in from the front) you will see him about to dive in and compete in the free style. He was just 5 year's old here and I couldn't believe how great he could swim.

Love my elder's

I have a DEAR friend who is 82 year's of age and I appreciate her friendship as a matter of fact our whole family just loves her dearly. We had her over for dinner tonight and she loves to play with the children. She brought over an old fashioned game called "pick up sticks" and "jacks" it was cute. I remembered those games. My younger son didn't exactly want to play jacks the right way he preferred to spin the jacks in stead of pick them up. :)

Later as he played with his little action figure "men"(armored), it was so innocent she looked at him and said he's in the bible! Randy helped her figure out which scripture she was recalling and it goes like this...

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:10-16

As she read...it dawned on me that this scripture was surely for me! I had one of those day's today, actually it started last night and hung on all morning long! My heart was cut and wide open for the Lord's word. I have to remember who I belong to and who I do everything that I do "for".

What a blessing this evening has been.

Looking for community service opportunities?

I am always looking for ways of serving/volunteering the community as a family and I came across this site:

www.usaservice.org

You just input your zip code and it will show you what is going on in your area. Or if you would like to start a group just go to that web-site.

Have you heard?

I just read on another blog that it will soon be illegal to buy used children's clothes and toy's etc.

Check out the link.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

I really hope this doesn't really apply to thrift or second hand stores.

Could this really be?

I really don't like the indication's of this and how awful it will be for the Goodwill who hire people that are in need of a second chance.

Thankful for having a tender heart

I've recently learned about a little 7 year old Russian girl in need of a family. Apparently her mother passed away. She is currently in Atlanta and has 2 weeks left here in the states,to get adopted.

....My heart wants to save her! To give her a family that she can call her own. And I can have my daughter. I wish it were that simple,but it isn't. If I always listened to my heart as I am so lead to do I would react simply on emotion's and not wisdom from the Holy Spirit!

I am thankful for having a heart that cries out for children and people. I use to fight being so sensitive, but I've learned to appreciate how God has made me and I realize that there is a time and a place for my "gift". :)

So happy to have a heavenly father that I can call on anytime, anywhere and for any reason!

What am I to do?

Lil Chris is such a sweet addition to our family and we love him sooooo much.

Currently, I am trying to "remember" what it was like to have a toddler in the home. This guy is VERY busy~ Active~ Verbal~ and fun,happy and dare I say LOUD!

He is determined to be in the spot light no matter what (ha,ha,ha). I can see him now up on the stage performing a Christmas play or singing, or even PREACHING! I don't know what the Lord's plans are for him but he is obviously going to "SPEAK" in some capacity. The child talks.....A L L D A Y .....
I am serious, I know it doesn't seem possible for a 1 year old to do that but he does! He is constantly talking to all of us,now that he can say our names...I'm Ma or MOM, RJ is r-da, Ross is Ra,Ra, Ryan is Ian and of course Randy is DA or DA,DA.

Today, he said Mom ju (juice) out, and handed me his cup! I about fell out of my seat! He is putting sentences together. I love that he is learning to say words.

He is special and we have the privilege to be his immediate family.

I am challenged right now as to what to do with him and I keep thinking he needs a play mate (am I crazy?). He does so well with other children around, yeah, my boy's are around but they have school work to do and honestly they get him all hyped up and there is no settling him down after they all play together. Y'all pray for me in this house of all "men". My youngest reminded me of that at the dinner table. I told him that I was WELL aware that I've long ago been out numbered.

...I guess I could count the 3 hens, and 1 dog that are female with me that totals 5. They can't talk to me though.. There's the 1 rooster and 5 men! Still out numbered! :)

I love my house of men and they love me too! I wouldn't trade them for the world and we are having fun. Actually, the Lord is teaching me how to have fun through them. I'm still praying for direction as how to "do" school effectively with a toddler in the house.