A little home school talk...and then...I'm off!

This week, I was doing some extra house cleaning...partly because we're getting ready to leave for the weekend, and also partly because there's something about suddenly having new carpet- even in just the living room- that makes every other wall and crevice cry out for attention.
I didn't exactly get to every wall and crevice but I did feel like I accomplished a lot...my back especially feels that way!

Before we head out for the weekend, though, I wanted to try to get in on the last day of a series called Back to Homeschool Week hosted by Randi at I have to Say.
Like Randi, I don't spend a lot of time talking about home schooling on my blog...maybe because for me, blogging is sort of my "me" time.
But that is not to say that I don't fully enjoy my role as a home school mom...and I love networking with other home schoolers to see what work for them- and what doesn't!

Today's theme is Curriculum. And it's almost funny that the only topic I am getting in on is the one I feel the least qualified to talk about! Mainly because in the two years we have been home schooling, I have been using a little bit of this... a little bit of that...
But somehow this "hodge-podge" of curriculum has worked for us. Without investing all-out into one set curriculum, we have found out what we like by trial and error. Many other parents have told me that they may like one brand's math, for example, but detest their science. By picking and choosing, it is much easier (and less costly!) for us to switch to another curriculum's workbook in one subject when we need to.

We started two years ago as my oldest was going into first grade. Now, I am about to begin a year with a Kindergartener and a 3rd grader...a little more of a challenge!
But here are a couple of favorites we've discovered:

American Pioneers and Patriots, 2nd edition- Christian Liberty Press. Young readers learn about times in history through the eyes of a fictional child, living in that time...historical overviews, short quizzes, and fun craft suggestions made this a favorite with both my daughter and myself. It says it is for 3rd grade, yet we went through this book a little at a time (I would read aloud) through 1st and 2nd grade, finishing at the end of this past year.

An "over the counter" curriculum that I love is School Zone. My daughter enjoys these so much...especially the "Scholar" workbooks...i.e. Second Grade Scholar, Deluxe Edition.

So many of our reading curriculum comes from the library...although we have used "readers" also.
And I also supplement a lot from the wonderful resources on the internet. I print off free worksheets quite a bit...one of my favorite place to print off extra math worksheets is Kidzone. They have fun "theme" pictures that make doing the math exercises a little more fun!

The resources available now through the internet is almost never-ending....not just for worksheets, but for researching something we are learning about together.

Since I at one time wanted to be a teacher, I find that teaching my own children is giving me a wonderful outlet for this desire. And although some home school parents prefer to have the curriculum all laid out for them (and there is nothing wrong with this at all!) I actually prefer to figure out fun projects to do...to have them pick something that month that we will learn about on the side...or to decide what kind of science project we will try. Sometimes, I'm not feeling all that creative, mind you...but I love the freedom to have that option...and to pick and choose the pieces of curriculum that work best for us.

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Today will be spent packing and gearing up for our short but exciting weekend in the Seattle area! As most of you all know by now, along with seeing all the wonderful sights, I will also be meeting my long, lost third grade friend- who found me through this blog!
(Oh yeah...must pack camera and battery...)
My brother in law will be looking in on our dog, Mandy...as well as feeding the fishies, too...(that Uncle C....what a guy!)

And when we return, we have to sort of hit the ground running...well, maybe running isn't the right word- since swimming lessons start the very next morning! Three days a week for three weeks! (What was I thinking?!)

If I don't get a chance to come visit you all today, I will "see" you all when I get back! Prayers for safe travels and a rewarding time would so be appreciated!

Blessings!

Wordless Wednesday...Summer Puddles

Maybe we should have auditioned for Weekend Warriors

Thank you for all your comments on my first Show and Tell post...I am truly excited about this next weekend and plan to post all about it. Hopefully, with some pictures...then and now!

This weekend has been consumed with home improvement...namely, our living room carpet. It finally arrived after months of waiting, due to a wrong delivery, but now the weekend for installing it was here.

My husband and I (OK, mostly my husband, but I did lift a finger or two) spent most of the day tearing out the old, and putting in the new.
Actually my big part had been removing all the books from the shelves, and boxing knick-knacks and pictures to clear the way.
Then I lent a hand with rolling out and carrying the old carpet. Not so bad.
Then there was the pad underneath.
Let's just say that pulling out old, stinky carpet pad from the 80's, which saw it's share of abuse from our own former old dog with a bladder problem, was not exactly my dream job...especially when it stuck in big patches to the floor boards and clung to my finger tips like algae.

While he tackled one of the harder parts of the removal job soon after, I made my escape took a little break and hit a couple yard sales. Along with a couple of learning games for the girls, and a like-new Hello Kitty shirt for my youngest for 50 cents, I found these big green lawn chairs....for free!


I came home and the girls and I cleaned them up a bit...and then they commenced to play musical chairs.
You can see that they had to rest up on them afterwards after such intense labor...



Then I helped husband here and there...mostly as comedy relief. I entertained him by trying out the staple gun for the very first time.
And of course, I volunteered to make a pizza run with the kids...with a side trip to the grocery store for some chocolate cake on sale. But I'm helpful like that when it comes to home projects...

Actually, the girls were getting restless today, so I spent a good part of the day trying to direct them in things to do, as well as bring them endless drinks of milk (they weren't allowed to go through the living room, so I was pretty much their waitress) and then bathe and dry their hair in time for bed.

Meanwhile, while I multi-tasked a bit, my husband, true to his gender, stayed focused on the task at hand and continued to slave away.

And no, that ocean blue isn't the color of the carpet, it's the new carpet pad.
Although my husband I thought the shade was actually much too nice considering it will never be seen again. Except by another couple, 20 some years from now, pulling the stained remnant from the floor board who I doubt by then will find it so enchanting.

We have to finish putting in the new carpet tomorrow after church. (And I use the term, we, loosely.) So, I can't show the finished product yet. But we did haul the new carpet in and lay it out....so nice!

But there is nothing like new carpet to make the old carpet on the stairs look even worse than ever. Before they blended in perfectly with the old worn out wall-to-wall carpet decor. Now they beg for a barricade and a sign reading, "Condemned".
But Rome wasn't built in a day, and certainly not on our income, either. So I am going to be satisfied, thankful and thrilled with my new downstairs carpeting. Because I truly am!

And look out, because I have a staple gun...and now, I know how to use it!

Show and Tell Friday...

Today I'm participating in my first Show & Tell Friday! I have been wanting to do this for ages...and hopefully, I'll be doing lots more! It's hosted by Kelli, at "No Place Like Home". She says,

"Welcome to Show and Tell Friday! Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!"

For my first show and tell, I want to show you something I ran across as I was doing all that organizing a few weeks ago. Remember- when my family was off camping, gallivanting, and have a general good time? Well, in my box of mementos, I found this little booklet- a Brownie friendship booklet, to be exact- which I have kept all these years!

And what makes this especially significant to me right now, you may ask?

No...it's not that my own daughter is now a Brownie...(I could hear some of you thinking...good guess, by the way!) She is Brownie age, but up until now she have been busy with other activities...

No, what makes this significant is a special reunion I have coming up.

Do any of you remember this post?

OK, go take a quick peek and come right back. I'll wait right here...

Are you back? That was quick! Groovy, right?

You might remember that awhile later, I wrote this post..."Out of the Past."

Look closely at this blurry closeup of the first page in my little friendship book...


I'm still completely reeling all these months later...only in my wildest dreams did I imagine one of my long, lost third grade friends would actually stumble onto my post. And contact me just one week later.
Amazing...a miracle, actually.

Next weekend, my family will be making a weekend trip to the Seattle area to see the sights...and where she and I will finally meet after all these years.
We have not seen one another since the summer after third grade- the very grade my own little girls is entering this year!

But back to my little friendship book...let's look at Mavis' friendship page, shall we...


You can see here some very pertinent information...top secret...and my delicate eight year old penmanship!
Seems her favorite sport at the age of 8 was...football? Hmmm....
And her favorite hobby was riding horses...somehow, I don't remember her riding horses back then, or having her own coral...
And her favorite color was blue. Mine too! Maybe that why we were the best of friends! ;)
Funny, when we were arranging our reunion for this month, I had this nagging feeling that I was remembering her birthday was in August...but how could I possibly have remembered that all these years? Probably it was this scribbled out, misspelled word next to her birthday month that was ingrained in my mind!

I remember our countless sleepovers, the pool they had built in their back yard (much to my excitement!) and, of course, our dance routine. To this day, I have not been able to hear "Cherokee People" without thinking of the fun we had trying to memorize and coordinate our little eight year old feet.

And I remember one particular time in class when we had become especially chatty, and my beloved Mrs. S. had to separate us -but only by one desk. We were in the front row so she could keep an eye on us, but we stretched our hands together behind the desk and giggled...such girlhood innocence.
I think I even saw Mrs. S. smile with humor at us as she kept talking to the class...

But all of this fun was packed into only one year of friendship...her family sold the house with the newly built pool and moved out of state before the start of fourth grade.

Fast-forward life like pushing a button on the remote....teens, 20's, 30's...and now- 40's. Yes, exactly 35 years- probably to the month- have gone by since we saw each other last. Since then, she remained just a nice memory of my childhood...the friend you always wonder what became of them when they grew up...

To actually sit down with her over coffee...and later have my family join us for dinner...well, you can imagine how I am feeling. A little nervous...but mostly very, very excited...knowing how completely blessed we are to have this chance!

We are now mature adult women...she with a lucrative and exciting career...myself, as a home-educator with loving husband two young daughters.

Completely different paths...but hopefully, somewhere down deep, where it really counts...we're the same silly little girls who chatted during class and sang along to The Partridge Family's greatest hits.

Only next weekend, we'll get to sing those hits over double mochas...

Snippets...

~Snippets of Life~


Eight year old observation of the month:

While driving the other day, it was raining ever so slightly and we passed a high school girls' soccer game in progress.

Me: Oh, look...there's a girls' soccer game going on, even in the rain.

8 yr old Sweetie girl: That's something, seeing that they are girls!

Me: Oh, now...when it comes to rain, I think we girls may be as tough as boys...

8 yr old Sweetie-girl: Yes, but I think that when girls play, they think about the game- and the rain.
When boys play, they just think about the game.

(How does she know these things?)

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We are in the midst of Vacation Bible School this week and tomorrow there isn't a rain drop in sight- it's supposed to be 91 degrees! But no pool for us... our dog deflated it. I know...very sad. But I'm actually surprised it took her three weeks to do so, seeing that she is left outside in the backyard on nice days.
Get out the sprinkler, you say? Um...no. She ate the hose, too.
Well, bit in half, anyway.
She's in the dog house both figuratively and literally, since my husband in in the process of actually building her one. When my five year old suggested he build it with a door so she couldn't get out, I didn't like that gleam in his eye...

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And one last thing...if you enjoy old movies, hop on over to my classic movie blog (located on my sidebar) and join the party. I finally posted again, but this time, I decided to find out what some of your favorite oldies are!
I'm serving popcorn with lots of butter...so come on over and join us! (And bonus points if you know the answer to my movie question!)

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Kind of a different post this time, I know! And for now, I'm off to bed...
(And it's August! Can you believe it?)
I am a little behind (again) with some of your posts and hope to catch up very soon!

Until then, God bless!

Their Steps

Before I go any further, I wanted to thank my dear friend, Pea, who last week honored me with a new award! Thank you so much, Pea!
True, it seems kind of a humorous award name if you know me very well...I'm a bit shy in person, so schmoozing is the last thing I would probably use to describe myself!
But then I read the meaning behind this award...

It’s an award for those who have the natural ability “to effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Reading this definition make me feel humbled and honored! (Especially, coming from Pea, who personifies this to me!)

Blogging to me has surpassed the original purpose to practice my writing while keeping friends and family updated...it has become a source of encouragement and friendship for me, and I thank all of you who have enriched my life in this past year!

I'm going to think on this one, and come back to bestow the "schmoozes" to a few others! :)

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I'm hoping you all enjoyed this last weekend of July. The last weekend! I absolutely cannot believe how swiftly this summer is flying by. I know people say that every year, but this summer is careening like a rocket through time, and I wish it would slow it's pace just a bit to a nice, lazy stroll.
But despite it's high speed, God's been able to not just teach me recently through the more painful parenting moments, but also in the slightly less-painful, yet foreign ones.

Saturday was a day of bravery for my oldest. And in a roundabout way, for me, too.

By evening, she had tackled a series of "firsts", ending with a visit the amusement park with her daddy and sister, where she graduated from riding those "big kid" rides...you know, those rides where everyone is screaming and even this mommy will not set foot on.
And I get just as nervous from the ground looking up, so all I can say is, I was glad I wasn't there to watch her on all of them or my fingernails would pretty much be history.


(This one might look tame, but I hear it went quite fast!)

But first, let me back track...
In the morning, my husband was working so I took the girls to a community center carnival. There was a rock climbing setup there, and I was surprised at not only my eight year old's bravery to try it, but my own to allow her with no hesitation. I am the ultimate nervous mommy (and it doesn't help that she broke her arm jumping off a mere 3-ft slide at age four!)
but something clicked in me this weekend, to relax those apron strings just a bit and let her try her wings.
And she conquered that mountain and reached the top!!!



And let me back track just one more time...
Just before this, we had dropped off some books at the library...
where I actually did my first act of bravery as a mommy.

I had awakened this morning with a pulled muscle in my hip, so when we reached the library, we parked almost right in front of the door. I told her she could take the books in all by herself...a first! When she picked her jaw up off the car floor, she excitedly took the books as her younger sister and I watched her like eagles, and she went inside. A moment later, she emerged...a beaming smile of pride upon her face.

This was a huge milestone for us... up until this weekend, she was officially still my very little girl, under my wing of protection, who isn't even allowed to cross the street alone. This weekend, she is still very much under my wing...but I loosened a few feathers just a tad and gave her a bit of wiggle room.

I grew up with very protective parents...so it comes by me naturally.
And yes, protective is good.
But as someone who has this natural bent, I have to continually remind myself that they actually belong to the Lord- He is their true Protector.

Yes, as a parent, I have to pray for wisdom and use it...ask for His guidance and listen...but I have to also relax my hold just a bit...year by year...day by day.
This may be one of the biggest challenges of parenting there can be.

But when I remember how much God loves my children, it becomes just a bit easier.
Then I can start to learn to rest in the fact that they belong to Him.

And that He is ultimately the One who loves, protects and guides them- through the valleys, over the mountains...each and every step of the way.

"Baby, Baby..." (I've got pictures!!!)

The four of us stopped at the hospital after gulping down supper, and before heading a to Bible study, for a most important date...to meet the newest member of the extended family!

You might remember, there are twelve in my husband's family, but still, very few offspring from the clan...and what kids there are now teens or preteens...expect for ours. So a baby is big doin's!

And as almost all of you know, my husband's brother, P. , and his wife began adoption procedures last year for an adorable little African American girl- two years old. And several months before she came to live with them, they found out that they were expecting a baby the old fashioned way...which was a complete surprise to them, to us, and even to the doctors!

And now he's here. And I have to say, I am completely in love...


He is in my husband's arms in this picture, but this was after I held him for as long as I possibly could.

In fact, as I had walked over to peer at the little bundle in my brother in law's arms, he handed him right over to me!
You would think an experienced mommy like myself would be just fine, but honestly...I just don't remember my babies being so tiny!
My arms tensed as I took the precious bundle and went to find a chair....quickly!

He slept the whole time, once in awhile scrunching up his face or trying to open his eyes...but mostly he was a tiny little bundle who was so much like a perfect little doll baby, not unlike the dolls my girls carried with them to the hospital room that evening.

Notice the fake baby in my daughter's arms...fake baby, real baby...kinda' hard to tell!

My little girls were chomping at the bit to hold him! Here they were, begging for a turn...notice my look of complete sincerity and sympathy...hee hee...


Finally, they each got a turn, "half-holding" him...


It was enough to satisfy them a bit. And I can tell you, his mommy was brave and trusting to even allow that, because I know how every muscle in my body would have tightened if the same scene went on with my babies at 23 hours old! But she just smiled and laughed, probably because she saw me hovering over them protectively as I quickly snapped this picture...either that, or she was just enjoying her medication. :)

I could have held that baby all night and stared at him...especially gleeful that I didn't have to be the one up every night for the next few months this time...
But we had to leave for our Bible study. As we handed him back to his proud papa, I snapped this last picture.

You can tell he is a typical daddy on the second day...just a little bit blurry-eyed. But trust me, he was beaming through the whole visit... A daddy- of two!- at last.

A New Bundle!

Extended family news:

Welcome, Baby Sammy!


My sister in law had gone in Tuesday to the hospital, to be induced early the next morning. After an entire day, she was finally delivered by c-section at around 7:40 Wednesday evening, to a healthy baby boy!

Congratulations to my husband's brother and his wife! There was a time when they thought such a blessing would never be there's...

(For more of their story, including their recent adoption, you can go here.)

So far, mother and baby are doing just great. Unfortunately, though, the girls and I just made a trip to the hospital late this morning, all a tingle with anticipation...stopping at the store for a balloon, and with our gifts in tow...only to find the sleeping mommy completely out...no hubby, and baby stashed away in the nursery.
We discreetly went out and walked around the hospital for a half an hour, returning to ask the nurse about our seeing her. She went in, then came back, reporting that she had not slept well last night and wanted to remain dead the world a bit longer.

Imagine...being tired after having a baby, which just happened to be a c-section after all-day labor. Craziness. ;)

However...you can imagine our disappointment after all our getting ready and driving out there, gifts in hand.

Plus, there's that whole thing about not having a picture of our new nephew\cousin to post yet!

We'll probably be going again with my husband after dinner- (calling first, of course) and this time you can be sure, come rain or shine, we are not leaving until we see that little guy's cute little cheeks and congratulate the exhausted new mama.

All of this strolling down the maternity hall, though, brought back such memories. Both of my girls were born in that ward...my last one just five years ago.
Each experience was completely different, however, and some time I will probably post their stories.

In the meantime, while I'm waiting to post a picture of the new addition, allow me to share a piece of my own memories, which came floating back to me this week...




(Just twenty minutes old, her big sister, not quite three, helps welcome her into the world.)

Blessings!

Lessons...

Thank you all so much for your sweet replies and words of wisdom. They have meant so much to me, and I realize just how much this thing called blogging can be used of God as a source of encouragement to one another. I had tears in my eyes reading each and every one.

Yesterday, my daughter and I were able to talk about this off and on throughout the day. I asked many questions. And I was hopefully able to impart some of my own wisdom here and there. But though she just wasn't completely sure where her thoughts had originated, God began opening my own eyes about some fault of our own, and it was both startling and humbling.

I suddenly began to have flashes of memory of where husband and I had wrongly conveyed negative thoughts, perhaps planting seeds of doubt into her young mind about the value of our family.
Things we might have said, tongue in cheek, not realizing that she was overhearing and absorbing...
Like, "Oh, I guess we're just too boring for them now..." referring to another family.
Even the use of the word "cool" coming from my husband's lips, along this very line.

As God began to gently bring these things to my memory, it all began to make a little more sense to me. During the course of the day, I apologized to my daughter for unknowingly portraying our family- ourselves- in a less than positive light. I told her we were, indeed, just as wonderful as other families...and from now on, we would make our words measure up to that fact.

When my husband came home from work, we talked about this whole thing. He knew how upset I had been the night before, and when I started bringing up the examples I had been shown, he immediately and humbly agreed...we had been partly to blame.

So our homework as a couple and has parents is to start speaking more positively about ourselves...start speaking the truth about us...God's truth.

We learned a tremendously valuable lesson throughout this.

It is so easy for parents to be speaking to one another, assuming that children aren't listening but in their own little world at the time...when in actuality, they are more than likely absorbing more than we can possible realize. They pick up subtle nuances and attitudes without us even knowing.
I remember being able to do the same as a child...but how quickly we forget!

The reason I have chosen to be so completely transparent in all of this is because, perhaps there is a lesson someone else out there can learn from our own mistakes...without enduring some of the hurt that we encountered this week.

Yes, overall, we are a nice, happy family...but to pretend we never face trials, make mistakes or learn things the hard way, would be deceiving. All of us- even Christians-make mistakes, and if by being "real" will help others to know they aren't alone in daily struggles, than it is worth it.

I know some of your encouraging prayers were heard, since by the end of yesterday, she and I were having fun, laughing together over something or other...and I was able to get so past the hurt that I was actually able to joke (when she was wanting her "mommy")
"What? You want me sit over next to you? Do you think I'm cool enough? Tell me how cool I am, and maybe...." whereupon, she'd dissolve into giggles.

And one last, totally lighter note...hopefully, you all don't have an image of me as some nerdy old lady that doesn't know a current fashion if it bit her on...um, her big toe. I'm young (well, not really, but I can look 35 on a very good day)...I'm hip (Ok...just sort of...barely...) and if it wasn't for the fact that my husband might object, there'd be a poster of High School Musical in our bedroom. If that isn't cool, I'm not sure what is!

Unless, it's my collection of The Partridge Family records from when I was eight- like my daughter. And my parents were so not cool.

Sticks and Stones...

...probably wouldn't inflict as much hurt as the unintentional wound from your own flesh. At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment.

This was not the cheerful, upbeat little post that I planned. In fact, this is not like most of my posts at all. But this is from my heart tonight...and painfully honest... and it helps to sort out my feelings... so bear with me.

Sometimes, there are those days when you are nervous or moody or teetering on the edge of feeling sad and discouraged...so that it only takes one hurtful thing said to reduce you to a heap of tears.

And the hurt is made that much worse because it comes from the lips of your very own eight year old daughter.

I won't go into exactly what the hurtful things said were, but they were her private thoughts revealed, not wanting to hurt me at all. When she saw that she had (though I did try to hide it) she cried, deeply remorseful.
But then...so did I in private.

It was the kind of revealed feelings that one might expect your daughter to express to you if she was dangling from the throws of adolescence...thirteen...maybe twelve. But not eight. Definitely not eight.

Keep in mind that she didn't spew these things out of a spiteful heart...in fact, she was afraid to bear her thoughts to me. Which makes them more painful.
Though these were not her exact words, it was almost as if her true feelings were that she was the offspring of some strange, nerdy family...with nerdy parents and uncool mom who didn't "look" like other moms. A family who was so uncool, that their car broke down on the way to a wedding one time and didn't seem to have it all together like other families.

When I had time to get myself together from her remarks, I was- and am- bewildered.
There were a couple specific things that were mentioned tonight which were true...painfully true. But after feeling my spirit completely crushed for a good while, I began to think about all the kinds of families out there...single parent families, working families...and although many of these were good families, I began to think how blessed she was to have her particular family.

And I didn't look like other moms? I may be 44, but I have to say, there are times I think I look darn good for 44!
Oh, I have my bad days...um weeks...but I *try* to keep fit, wear make-up at least most of the time, and sometimes even wear semi-trendy clothes. (Although, I admit not quite as much as I'd like, because my wardrobe money tends to go to the kids for their own clothes, toys and school books...hmmm...)

I see wonderful moms out there of all shapes and sizes, and can't help but think that their children probably still consider them truly beautiful. Especially their eight year olds.
Maybe not so much their twelve year olds.
But more than likely, their eight year olds.

Now, keep in mind, my little girl loves me like crazy. Hence her tears, when she realized her statements were hurting me. And bless her heart, she kept telling me afterwards that she loved me. But nevertheless, they were her true eight year old opinions and thoughts...and that's what hurts this mommy the most. She didn't throw out words to intentionally hurt me out of anger....but honesty.

I've heard of those first hurts inflicted on parents from their children...I just didn't think they would be coming so soon. There's almost nothing that can hurt your feelings worse than your own child thinking less than wonderful thoughts about you.
I thought the embarrassment she might feel would come later on...but for now, they would think that the sun rose and set with me.

(At least my five year old still does.)

And if she thought these things now, what about five years from now? Was all hope lost?

However, as I was in the midst of the pain, sitting alone on the sofa after hearing these hurtful words at bedtime, I was reminded once again that it is not the opinion of a human that is the measuring stick of worth...but of who I am in Christ. He knows my shortcomings and sins, but still, He not only loves me, but is proud of me because of who I am in Christ.

As I sat on the sofa, I prayed...and I prayed that if there is something about me that conveys a lacking in confidence (which I'm sure there is) that God begins to heal that in me, not only for my sake, but for the model I want to portray to my daughters about being a woman.
But I also pray that my daughter's eyes are opened to see me with new appreciation...yes, even admiration.

Because, though I am so far from being the perfect parent, I know that she actually blessed with a loving mom who continually gives of herself to her on a daily basis.

We may seem currently like a "dumb family" in her eyes, but we are a Christian family who loves the Lord...sometimes falls short, but always strives to please Him.

I may not be blonde or perky nor always wear this season's latest trends on the walkway...but my appearance seldom scares anyone when I venture out in public and, more importantly, I hold Christ-like values in esteem.

But maybe, instead of her attitude about us growing worse, maybe with God's help, it will only get better.

Maybe, by the time she's twelve, and her heart is crushed by a friend who has betrayed her or a boy who won't even look at her...I will fix her her favorite sandwich and tell her she's beautiful, not really seeing her broken out complexion nor her gangly legs...and maybe...just maybe...
she'll suddenly think I'm the coolest mom around.

And the winner is...

Thank you all so much for playing along in my very first give-away! This was so much fun!

I'm late posting this, since the girls and I ran to a little craft class over at Michael's this morning to make these guys...



Aren't they just the cutest? They even have little jingle bells inside. This was our first time doing a craft over there and the girls just loved it.

But...after we got home and had lunch, I quickly got all the names ready, mixing them all up into the bowl.

My oldest, Sweetie-girl, reached in...

...and picked out a name... (she was very excited!)

and proudly read the name....

And the winner is...

(drum roll, please...)

Gail from More than a Song!!!

Congratulations, Gail! E-mail me and let me know which of the two prizes you choose!

Thank you to each of you again for participating...it was so much fun that I just know I'll be doing another give-away in the near future!

For now, I am off to do some dishes and then get caught up again with some of your posts...

But one more tidbit of news in the extended family front...

Do you remember my telling you about my husband's brother and his wife who adopted (or is in the process of adoption, but she is living with them now) a beautiful African American little girl who just turned two...and that after the starting the process of adoption, found out they were pregnant after not thinking it could happen? You can read a little more about it here.

Well, my sister in law, J, is scheduled for delivery this coming Wednesday! I can't believe the time is actually here! Please keep her and the baby boy in your thoughts and prayers- and hopefully I will be posting pictures about this time next week!

Oh, and there is a possibility that I may be watching this new little nephew a few days a week this fall...I'll keep you posted!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone...

Blessings!

201st Post- and a giveaway!

I'm not sure many of you caught my little edited statement on my last post about it being my 200th...I can hardly believe it, myself, since it feels like I just posted 100 things about me just yesterday!
But in my brief mention, I promised a little book giveaway in my next post! So, here it is!

I am giving away your choice of either three Love Inspired books (Christian romance) or the novel, The Remember Box by Patricia Sprinkle.

The Remember Box is story about an orphaned eleven year old who comes to stay with her aunt and uncle and cousins in 1949, just as they move to a new community in the south, where her uncle will be pastoring a new church. But with growing unrest, things begin to unravel in the small town and her uncle's voice of reason goes unheeded. If you enjoy a well-written Christian read with a tiny bit of grit and lots of meaning, you will probably enjoy this one.

Or, if you'd prefer, I will send the winner a three-book bundle of Love Inspired books, perfect for those times you just want a little light reading while stretched out by the pool!

Just tell me in your reply that you're interested, and you are entered! If you mention my contest and link me, you get your name entered twice! I will be putting all the names into a hat and having one of my girls pick on at random on Saturday, the 28th! If you are the winner, you get your prize pick!

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This week we are having rain, rain and more rain. In the middle of July! We're supposed to have at least five more days of it before the end is in sight. I wish I could send some of it to those of you who need it! It feels kind of cozy right now, but I'm by next week I'll be more than ready for summer sun again!

I have several memes I'm over due for and hope to do them very soon! But for now, the laundry is calling my name...

I'll leave you with this picture my husband took of Lil Cherub as she talked with me long distance from her tent. She had just found the picture of us I had tucked into her backpack...

Be still, my mommy heart...

So glad their home...

Thank you to all who stopped by and said hello during my four days of solitude...it certainly helped ease any loneliness in-between my furious cleaning and organizing!

*Edited to add...I almost forgot! This is my 200th post! Be sure to tune in to my next post for a little book giveaway!!!

Just to clarify it all...my husband's twelve (yes, twelve!) siblings have always gone camping each year to the same place on the Oregon coast since they were all kids. Now the spouses and kids go along.
I've gone off and on, but last year was the first time both children went with their daddy without me.
And last year I loved it.
This year...not so much. Oh, it had it's relaxing moments, but I just couldn't get into it as much as I apparently needed to last time!

There was never a happier sight this time than my girls running upstairs Saturday night when they first got home to greet me! My oldest was a bit sun burned and my youngest had a forehead full of bug bites, but never had they looked better to me!

Sunday after church was spent mostly in the act of just plain relaxing with my family. At one point we all crashed on the queen size bed for a rest, since they were all still recovering from surf, sand and long hikes up coastal mountains ranges. (Interesting, how only my husband was the one to fall asleep during our little siesta...something about him having to carry the girls for half the hikes...)
But we all seemed so happy and contented just to rest together and cuddle a bit.
I was glad that, in spite of all their excitement and fun, they all missed me almost as much as I missed them.

But when I saw all their pictures, I was just a tiny bit jealous. So barring a strong desire for aloneness next year at this time, I will probably join them next time around.

Here's a sampling of their adventures...

Conquering a rock with one of their uncles and an aunt standing by.

To the surf? Or the sand?
I giggled when I saw my husband in this hat- where did that come from? But they're both sure cute!

So glad there was a rope railing! But how gorgeous...


And they even got a ride in a motorboat!


They said Saturday was the prettiest day there...and I can so believe it.

And if all this wasn't fun enough, they stopped by Seaside on their way home, known for it's carnival rides and bumper cars.
So needless to say, they all agreed their camping trip was a lot of fun.

And that is why I was completely floored when I asked my five year old what her very favorite thing was during their trip.

Without missing a beat, she sincerely answered,
"Coming home to you, Mommy."

Someone knows how to melt a mom's heart to honey.

"Faded photographs..."

Day 3

Do you remember that song? It was really running through my mind this afternoon...mainly because just when I thought I was almost through organizing, I found...a big box.

Now, before I talk about that, please don't worry...This morning I had a leisurely time going to yard sales and strolling through a couple stores, reading my book- and just now, even got a little HGTV fix in.

But this morning I decided to do a little more work on my closet.
And that's when I found a big box...
where apparently my husband had done a little organizing of his own a few months back.
Inside, was everything from lost snapshots of both girls as toddlers...old cards to each one of us, received throughout the years... even souvenirs from my single days!

How such a mishmash of various seasons of my life could be all smashed together in a huge cardboard box is beyond me...but it sure makes for an interesting mood to see it all housing together like that. Just too many disjointed memories to take all in!

As I started sorting them, I took advantage of my alone time, though, by not hurrying too much. Picking up the old cards and reading them... pouring over pictures of my children and seeing just how much they've grown and changed.

And vaguely recalling that "other life" I had before I met my husband.
Just like the song goes, I literally found "tickets torn in half..."
To be completely honest, I've always led a fairly quiet life...but it was kind of a nice reminder that there were a few little flames here and there before I met the one I was waiting for! (Did an old boyfriend and I really get our pictures taken in a photo booth like that? And shame on it for resting dangerously near a sweet anniversary card from my husband!)

And then my mood shifted and I was back even further in time- to age fourteen. Because if that weren't enough- afterwards, I found two old photo albums, stored near the vanity table. Do you remember my post just last week of visiting my half nephew and his family? I mentioned that trip to Disneyland we went together on with my parents thirty years ago (30 years-this month!) and I had posted a picture.

Well, guess where all the other pictures of that trip were? Care to go a few steps with me on my little memory lane? Hold onto your headdress...

That's my nephew, R. who was then eleven- and fourteen year old me (I know- do the math) and a real Native American posing with us - I believe- at Knotts Berry Farm.

I think my dad told me to pose, just as Tigger and my nephew, R., were sizing each other up.

And I saved the best for last...

ARRRRR!
On that note, Matie, I will bid you a fond farewell on my last complete day alone. But I'll be visiting more of you tonight and saying hello...it's my one chance to try and get caught up in bloggityville!

And I just realized that my next post is my 200th! I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing yet, but I'll think of something- after all, I do have some time on my hands!

Blessings!

Lean, Mean, Organizing Machine!

Alone- Day 2

I loved hearing some of your feedback about time alone... Have a list...do those projects...but don't work too hard and relax a little, too. And I'm trying...I'm really trying.

You know, I was single for a while before marrying my husband, so these days alone are bringing back lots of memories. Well, not of dating, of course...but just the general feeling.

Last night, instead of asking myself what to fix everyone for dinner in order to have the minimal amount of whines coming from my picky five year old, I simply walked to the freezer, pulled out a Lean Cuisine, and threw it in the microwave. Single days relived! And of course, like any good single girl, I followed my microscopic Lean Cuisine with only 230 calories with a Nestle Crunch bar.
Such memories. So 20-something of me.



My family called me at 10:00 pm last night from the dark of their tent to say good-night. And although I could tell by their voices that they all missed me, they assured me that they were having lots of fun, though I was never quite clear on what all they actually did. But the important thing was that the girls and I gave good-night kisses over the phone...because otherwise their mommy wouldn't be able to sleep without those.

Today, unlike yesterday, I was all about work. My Little Ponies and their boring cousins- plain plastic horses- were being corralled right and left faster than you could say Hasbro!
Because yesterday I made a trip to the store and bought all these see-through drawers and boxes to make homes for Barbie and her friends, Polly Pocket, play dishes, and spare Duplos that had somehow sprinklered their way throughout the upstairs.
But why is it that these projects always last a little longer than you think? I still haven't tackled my (and hubby's) room but the day isn't over until the Lean Lady sings. (See above mentioned dinner.)

I have not exactly pampered myself yet, but my plan is to work the hardest today, and reward myself more tomorrow with extra leisure time. Once I get into work-mode, it's hard to stop...and once I get into relax-mode...well, I'm there for the duration. So today I thought I'd better strike while the iron is hot and there's actually ambition running through my veins!

However, I know I'll be sorry if I don't have some nice alone-time fun, too, this week.
Linda mentioned one of my favorite things, watching old movies...and Rosemarie (corrected-yesterday I called her Julia! I knew I'd do that sooner or later, since her blog is called "Growing with Julia"...oops!)mentioned a bubble bath...so for the sake of mommies everywhere, I am putting them on my to-do list tomorrow! That, and soaking up some rays with my book. Are you all feeling better now? Were you worried I'd squander my free time with work, work, work?
Never fear. After all, I can't let you all down. I'm thinking of it as my civic duty. Stay tuned!

Are we having fun, yet?

Alone-Day 1

After a rocky start, a stressed out husband during his car-loading process (who let's just say had to do some major apologizing to his sweet wife) and lots of hugs and kisses, my family finally left this morning on their half-week camping trip on the coast.

I just spoke to them all only moments ago and everyone is doing just fine. (But they are a bit chilly over there, having come from our heat wave at home, so they are throwing on the sweatshirts!)

I'll be honest...for some reason, I am not quite feeling dizzy with excitement over having all this freedom like I was last year. But I have a feeling, I just need to get into the swing of it all.

I am trying to organize the upstairs, which has looked like something exploded up there. Too many toys and clutter everywhere! And what is it about those teeny-tiny little toy accessories that multiply as soon as your child qualifies for the toys "recommended for 3 and up?" I truly need a magnifier to recognize some of them, much less find a place to put them.
I'm not blaming my children completely for the clutter, since they simply have too many things and not a system to keep it organized. And truth told, I am not the queen of organization myself. (Which is why the master bedroom is on tomorrow's list...)
Hopefully, it will all look like a new place when they return!

But never fear, it's not all work. I am taking breaks.
After ten minutes or so, lost in a crowd of stuffed animals and unsorted Polly Pockets, I like to lie down on one of the kids' beds and crack open my latest book to see what's happening in Mitford. Then after...oh, say...a half an hour- or hour...(really, who's counting?) I finally wander back to my pile of assorted Barbie shoes and Little People and try to separate them. (Because really, those Little People just don't have the style, nor the feet, to pull off the look of a nice mauve pump.)

Once, I accidentally leaned down on a pile of toys and my eldest's Winnie the Pooh began singing "When I'm up, down, touch the ground..." She got that for her first birthday and it has simply never lost it's charm. I was surprised how nice it was to hear him again- so cute, so cheery...
Of course, I would never get so lonely as to purposely push that little guy's tummy, just to hear a friendly voice. No sirree...

And let's see...what else? Oh- I even added two whole sentences to the novel I'm writing!
Yes, I knew you'd all be proud. And it's not even 3 pm.

So, just wanted to check in with you. Seriously, please keep my family (and me!) in your prayers this week, if you would.

Meanwhile, I must go back to the big mess upstairs that I've made even bigger...and if I "accidentally" step on Pooh's tummy in the process, well, it's just not my fault.