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OK....are any of you still out there? I hope so, absent blogger that I am!
But at long last, my give-away is here!
But first...
This month of July has just flown by and I can't believe we're at the end already. Here's just a few tidbits about our month:
As some of you know, we here in the great northwest U.S. are in the middle of a heat wave. Over 100 degrees all week long, with today supposedly the highest, reaching 106 in some areas here! I was going to try frying an egg on the sidewalk with the girls...it could pass for a home schooling moment...but I find myself pretty much gravitating to inside all day where we are blessed with AC.
The girls are on their last week of swimming lessons this week, too...it's been pretty much the only times I've ventured out. I feel precariously cool watching all the kids swim below in the pool while I sit with the other parents in the hot bleachers, vying for the closest place to the fans.
But seriously, it's been a lot of fun, even for me, seeing how far they've come this year- especially my youngest who use to be afraid of the water. She is loving it this year!
In other catch up news, I gave my oldest an American Girl slumber party for her 10th birthday, complete with crafts, cupcakes (see picture at top) swimming in the backyard pool, watching an American girl movie and all the general craziness and giggling that accompanies all slumber parties.
A good time was had by all!
And now, back to our heat wave....I was remembering another heat wave that happened when I was growing up and I posted about it on Facebook today. I'll copy it here as well...don't worry, it's very short!
As Tony Curtis smiled, his white teeth gleaming at me through the little black and white television set, I smiled back and took another sip of ice tea. I was only about nine years old, but I knew a handsome movie star when I saw one!
We were in the middle of a week long heat wave in my little corner of the world- Kent, Washington. And though we didn't have air conditioning, we did have a nice, big basement- half of which doubled as my own personal play room. But this week, my parents and I were using it as our campsite...and it seemed like such a cozy adventure!
It wasn't a "finished" basement, but the cement all around only added to the cool comfort and cave-like feeling.
My parents had one mattress and I had another...and because we'd be there all week, they even strung up a rope with a blanket over it- just like in that classic movie, "It Happened One Night". I'm not sure why we needed this private wall of Jericho though...after all, they were just...you know- parents.
But somehow it just added to the adventure having my own private area for sleeping.
Yet before sleep would come, we'd all get our snacks and drinks and settle in to share the little TV, which was showing "The Great Race" ...part one the first night, followed by part two the second. It's has if they had planned this just to entertain my parents and I for our heat wave retreat down below.
This week as we go though our current heat wave, I am so thankful for our air conditioning....especially now that I'm a "mature adult".
But it will be forever ingrained in my memory the summer that my parents and I hunkered down in our cool basement with our ice cold drinks, he fan blowing breezes on us as we told stories and watching Jack Lemon chase Tony Curtis around on a little black and white screen.
OK...drum roll please...
Since I'm celebrating my three year blogaversary (a little late now!) I wanted to host a little giveaway.
I am giving the winner a choice of one of the following gently used (like new!) Christian fiction books-and tucked inside will be a $5 gift card for Starbucks!
The book choices are:
"With this ring, I'm confused" by Kristin Billerbeck
"She's finally found that nice, good-looking Christian guy who-gasp-actually wants to commit, but will she make it to the altar with her sanity intact?"
"Sweet Treats"- Four Fun Romances, written by four different authors- including Wanda E. Brunstetter.
"The Negotiator" by Dee Henderson
Book One in the O'Malley suspense series.
So, what do you need to do to enter? If you have already clicked on the sidebar to become a "follower" you are already entered! What if you don't actually want to be...let's say, you have all of these books and can't stand frappicinos? Well, if you neglect to tell me you don't want to be included but you win, I will just draw another name...simple as that! :)
If you want to be entered but haven't done that little sidbar thing yet, you have until this Friday -midnight. I'll be drawing one of your names on Saturday.
Blessings!
I know...I know...
After being such a devoted blogger for three whole years, I have recently become a "Random Blogger"... someone who no longer posts three or four times a week, and who rarely even visits you anymore.
I'm sorry.
But I think it will have to be either this way, or the "highway"...meaning, I'd rather be sporadic than completely say good-bye. But I will promise to visit most of you a little more often!
And the good news is that I am feeling good physically...in fact, yesterday I had so much energy that I could have done circles around my hubby and girls...and I'm so thankful for those of you who have prayed for me in the last month or so!
So, even though some time has elapsed, I just can't let the adventure of Father's Day weekend half done...so...
After our tour of the Oregon Caves the day before, we drove onto Wildlife Safari...I was so excited to finally go since it had been on my list from the time I was a kid.
We were all excited...and when at last we headed through the gates into the vast "safari" and spotted herds of yaks and zebra grazing, had to stop to allow a lone giraffe to cross right in front of us, and even wild rhinos roaming freely...we were all giddy. As we continued on, I saw my first herd of buffalo in person...it was amazing.
Here we had to stop again to allow for some yaks to nonchalantly cross in front of us...
And just look at this guy whom I caught munching on some leaves...I thought he (or she) was so cool...even if there was some obvious need of grooming going on.
Although I don't have a picture of it, there were some ostrich looking birds (I don't think they were ostriches but I can't remember their actual name) that roamed around, occasionally trying to check out the cars that eased passed them.
One in particular sauntered over to us...well, to me, actually. As it came closer, it's mouth grabbing at invisible things in the air, I casually rolled up my window...just in time for it begin pecking at the glass...much to the glee of the family. The bird really was a hilarious sight!
We really enjoyed our whole day there...they also had an area where you could walk around, eat, shop, and there they had a few animals as well. We decided we really wanted to go back again some time...but for now, it was time to say good-bye...
The next morning-our last day- we packed up camp and drove several hours before reaching our final destination...Crater Lake.
We had to spiral up a mountain, before finally reaching the lodge area and the breathtaking sights....and to make things more interesting, it was snowing on this first day of summer! Even though we are in the higher altitudes, we were told they rarely see snow in June...and we weren't exactly dressed for it!
Look at us, all huddled together, and my husband shivering in his shorts and sandals...
But the view was well worth it!
The girls and I also gave my husband his cards and little gifts this day, since it was Father's Day. Since he insists on being the driver, he didn't exactly get to relax or lie in a hammock this time, but it was still a wonderful family day to remember.
And an incredible weekend for all of us.
Next post I will be having...at long, long, last...my 3-year Blogiversary giveaway. With a few exceptions, I will be choosing from those of you who are listed in "my followers" so if you haven't already, go ahead and add your name if you want to be included. (And if you actually follow me!) ;)
I hope you're all enjoying the summer(those of you in this hemisphere!) which seems to racing by at lightening speed...
I'll try and catch up with you as I can this week!
Blessings!
I'm back...and I wanted to thank everyone for your prayers and for your encouraging words. They meant more than I can say.
I am feeling so much better this week...both physically and emotionally. The past few weeks have been a time of spiritual growth...not always fun, but God has been with me, holding my hand and helping me to trust Him.
I hope to post in more depth about this soon, but for now I just wanted to let you know that your prayers have been working...and to let you know how much they've been appreciated. I have felt the Lord with me in bringing good out of a seemingly bad situation.
This past Father's Day weekend, I felt well enough to keep our reservations at a campsite in Southern Oregon, so Friday morning we hurridly packed my hubby's tiny car (packed to the brim...the kids couldn't even see each on another!) and began the half-day drive which would take us almost all the way to the California border.
I still wasn't feeling up to par, but with my meds in tow, I thankfully was well enough to be able to handle the long drive. (Granted, I didn't enjoy the tent and sleeping bag as much as I would have if I had felt better, but I survived.)
And the sights we way over the weekend made everything worth it.
I don't have a lot of photos to share yet, since we brought the wrong memory card and had to purchase a disposable camera! (Yet to be developed.) But I can hopefully share them soon!
Before we even set up camp, we headed first to the Oregon Caves, located on the southern tip of the state. We had to drive up extremely windy roads which spiraled up the mountain, but we finally reached the destination and signed up for the cave tour. After our ranger gave told us what to expect and a little bit about this history, he then led us deep into the narrow corridors of the discovered caves.
(This picture of the entrance to the cave is from their website...)
Did I mention I was on medication?
The lack of oxygen and steep steps made everyone feel a little light headed actually, but by the time we reached the half-way point where they give you an option to duck out, I was more than ready to see daylight again.
But my girls hugged me goodbye and plunged on ahead with their daddy, while I happily breathed fresh air again and heard the welcome sound of birds...
Here is the another photo courtesy of the internet...the beautiful Oregon Caves Chateau built in 1934...
It was so cozy inside, with a stone fireplace and even a pianist who playing soft, relaxing music to drift over guests as they either dined or curled up with a good book.
I was torn between lingering in there while my family finished the tour, or enjoying the nice weather outside, near a lovely man-made pond and waterfall!
The next morning after eating breakfast at camp, we began the drive to Wildlife Safari. I was so looking forward to this because I had heard about it since I was a child...kept asking me dad when we could go and it just never happened. So, finally like 35 years later I was going and it would be the first time for all of us.
More on that next post!
But in the meantime, be sure to add yourself to my list of followers if you indeed are...I will be drawing a name for my 3 year- 500th post giveaway which I will (finally!) have following my next post!
Blessings!
I didn't want to leave you all wondering if I had taken yet another blogging break...but since my last post, life has taken an unexpected turn.
A few of you are already aware that I have been dealing with a health issue that seemed to come upon me out of no where. Let me assure you all that it is not a life threatening situation...but it is a life altering one and one that I wouldn't have expected in a million years.
My husband and I both reeling and very bewildered...and for days it has had me bedridden, miserable and until recently, emotionally -pretty much a wreck.
But I will add that today I feel just a little better...and more than that, I am feeling God close to me.
I admit that when I first heard the news, I was asking, "Why did You let this happen...where are You, Lord? I did absolutely nothing to deserve this..."
But through the many prayers of others as well as my own, I now sense that He is with me...
There are many different illnesses that strike good people...even Christians...and although we will never have all the answers until Heaven (if then...because by then we probably won't even care!) I know that Jesus didn't desert any of us. Sometimes just living in this imperfect world can cause them...sometimes I believe they are even an attack of the enemy...
But never does God desert us....and He is even still in the healing business.
I know I'm not the only Christian to go through similar burdens suddenly thrust on them out of no where...but when you're the one dealing with it, it can certainly feel that way at times.
I am remembering these promises from Jesus...
These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33
...I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. ~ Hebrews 13:5
In my heart, I believe that God will take this bad and turn it into something good. I have seen first hand Him do this at so many times...
This has been such an extremely hard week for me, physically and emotionally, however, so your prayers are so appreciated for both body and spirit.
Blessings,
~Tammy
It was nice to read your comments and know that I haven't been completely forgotten after my hiatus! I'm still working on catching up with some of you, and hope to visit even more of you this week. But we're on the home stretch of full-time schooling for the year (even though we plan on doing it part time this summer) so blogging is still having to take a bit of a back seat for a bit longer.
Anyway, where did I leave off...Oh yes! The Musical!
After months of choir practices and rehearsals, the middle of May finally arrived...time for the big show at last!
Both of my girls were in the choir...
...but my oldest this year was apart of a choreographed dance team as well as having to do violin solo at the beginning!
Her daddy and I held our breath, but she did just wonderfully. We were so proud of her, not just for performing her best but for being so brave! (I still remember shaking at my piano recitals...)
The musical was entitled "Cool in the Furnace" which showed with music (and a little humor!) how God delivered Daniel's three friends from the fiery furnace after they refused to bow down to the king's idol.
My nine year old completely loved being apart of one of the two dance groups who periodically did numbers throughout the play!
(She's the is the one on the left.)
Everyone- from the director and choreographer- on down to each of the children- worked so hard and all for just one performance! But I think the final result was all worth it.
In other news, most recently our home school group got to be apart of the audience of a local television show last week. I don't have any pictures to share, but it was fun experience and we did, indeed, get our faces on TV! (But please...no autographs...) ;)
And on Memorial Day, our family escaped to the Oregon coast for a unbelievable warm and beautiful day!
The girls had such a great time frolicking in the waves and building sand castles. Or should I say, helping their daddy design and construct!
My youngest and I enjoyed making "sand turtles" too...
But the most interesting part was taking our lab to the beach for the very first time. Yes, she's been slowly growing out of her eternal adolescences these past few months, but seeing the sand and surf for the very first time made her revert back to a hyper, drooling mass of overgrown puppiness.
Well, it was the sand and surf plus being suddenly transported into what should have been clearly labeled as "dog beach".
It's true...we didn't do apart in her puppyhood about socializing her enough... and were way overdue taking her to the beach. But better late than never, right?
Some folks were letting their dogs off leash, so I followed suit and she was soon wanting to play tag with a dog even larger than herself.
But her lack of social skills were evident, which apparently brought out the aggressiveness in the other dog...and she came frantically whimpering back to me as if to say, "Put that leash thing back on me, pleeeeeeese!"
But later that day, I'm happy to report that she had a great time running free - actually zooming- on the beach and through the tide pools.
And as you can see by this last photo, she was completely tuckered out for her ride back home... 
Now, before I forget... For my 3 year blogaversary, I will be doing a little giveaway. I still don't have all the details on the item as of yet, but I hope to let you know both how to enter and what the giveaway is on my very next post! So stay tuned...
and Happy June!
Helloooooooooo?
I'm listening with my ear cupped to hear if there's just an echo in reply, since I'm not sure if any of you will be still be tuned in to this frequency! Yes, my "little break" turned out to be not so little...over two months, in fact!
And the amazing thing was that I had planned to at least read some of your posts during this break! But somehow, my blogging break became just that- a complete blogging break.
But don't think that I haven't missed you...I have! And I hope to begin visiting as many of you as I can...I'll just try not to look at the overwhelming numbers when I head over to bloglines...I just know it will be like a total of about 1000 unread posts waiting for me!
But a few of you- those of you who are Facebook friends- know that at least I didn't completely disappear off the face of the earth.
(And some of you may claim that is why I wasn't blogging...I was pulled into the vortex that is Facebook!) ;)
So...what have we been doing during this time? I mean, besides Facebook...
Well, probably just like many of you, the past two months have been filled to the brim and if I tried to catch you up here, you'd be settling in for a five hour read.
So, I'll make this a 2- part post, just giving you the highlights....
In March, just as our heavy hints from the workplace indicated might happen, my husband did indeed come home one day to announce that he was no longer working there. He had joined the growing ranks of the unemployed.
He had been miserable there for a long time, but being the sole sorce of income, he was still doing all he knew how to to do in order to keep his job. So it was with mixed feelings that we faced this news. Although we felt it coming, there was still a certain amount of shock, uncertainity, and fear. But underneath those feelings were relief, peace and a confindence that God was closing this door to open a new one, even though we didn't know what or when.
We were so thankful for so many who were lifting us up in prayer during this time...we could just feel the support and prayers!
And during this time, my husband was able to spend some incredible time with us as a family...in between his job hunting, he was able to play with the kids, and even helped in home schooling. WIth his previous stressful job, there was seldom enough time or energy left so we secretly savored our time with him.
Then miraculously, God DID give him a new job....just three weeks after being let go, he started his new position. And not only was having a new job an obvious blessing, but he says that of all the places he's worked in his life, this is so far the very best one.
God is so good to us.
Other highlights included....
My youngest turning seven in April. She invited several little friends to her pizza\Tinkerbell party and a good time was had by all!
A visit to Multnomah Falls...
Spending Mother's Day at a restaurant followed by biking at a park...
(And if you're a keen observer in this last photo, you'll notice that both girls got their hair cut short...my oldest being able to give hers to locks of love!)
And then there was the big musical production where my nine yr old played a solo and even danced...but I'll save that for next time!
No, it hasn't been all sunshine and roses, but we have seen God working in our lives and the lives of our family in exciting ways.
I needed this blogging break but I am so ready to see what all of you have been up to while I've been away.
And it occurs to me that it's been three years since I began this blogging journey. I know...it's cheating a bit since I didn't blog for two of those months.
But still, it is blogaversary so I think some kind of giveaway is in order...and will tell you more about it on Part 2!
In the meantime, I'm off to cook dinner and then try to catch up with you all a little at a time. Oh, and be in a live audience tomorrow of a local television show....which I'll tell you all about in...you got it...PART 2. ;)
Blessings!
Well, it's that time.
I don't think that- other than for vacations- I have ever taken a real blogging break.
But now the time has come. I really feel the need to just step back from blogland for awhile and take a bit of a breather...
However, I do expect that I'll still be coming by to visit a few of you on occasion during my break. I would miss some of you way too much to completely stay away.
I can't give you an exact length of time for my break...but I am guessing that I will be back in time to host the next Home School Open House (on the 3rd Tuesday of each month).
But it's more than likely I'll be back way before then!
April marks a full month for our family, with Easter, my littlest girl's birthday (with a party to plan!)...and our wedding anniversary- all within a ten day time frame!
Plus, I'm feeling the need to just find that quiet place in my spirit and hoping for God to do some loving work in me as we approach the Easter season.
Also...look for something special when I return. I am approaching my 400th post and might even do a little giveaway....
In the meantime, I recently added the "followers" box- finally- to me sidebar. So if you visit me often, will you go ahead and sign in as a follower, if you haven't already? ( I promise to do the same for you, as well!)
God bless each and every one of you....I'll see you sometime soon!
I am finally making it a point to sit down and post after another busy week...
Well, at least the first half was busy, I should say. But the past couple days we've all been resting at home (my youngest recuperating from a 24 hr bug which hit her Thursday night.)
But I just looked at bloglines and I can see that I'm not only behind in posting, but very behind in reading most of your posts! I'll try to catch up as I can, so bear with me!
But first of all, Happy Spring!
I promised to tell you the mystery destination that my girls and I took my mom for her birthday...
My Alma Mater was putting on the play, "Little Women" and knowing how much my mom- all of us, really- love that story, I knew it was the perfect surprise treat!
Sure enough, she was delighted!
(Here she's opening the flyer for it...)
And I have to say, the production was SO well done and professional...with the spotlight on the humor in the story.
Each main character was so perfectly cast...
Here my and girls are with two of the cast members after they changed out of their hoop skirts to mingle with the crowd...
"Little Women" seemed to be the perfect play that could be enjoyed by all of us, in spite of our generational differences.
My nine year old has read a "condensed" version of the book, and in a few years she will probably read the unabridged version...with the very copy I read from in my early teens!
It was also fun just to be at my old college again...so much of it was the same, but yet a lot had changed for the better.
Earlier that day, the sun was out so we stopped by a local playground so that the girls could run around a bit. They are so impressed with the country feel of the neighborhood...a pasture and everything! ;)
Although we had to rush back the following morning because the girls had a special choir practice, we agreed that it was a fun "Girls Night Out" birthday celebration for all of us!
We're not going to take this particular week off...since there's a lot of rain in our forecast we're going to keep doing the school work and wait for the sunshine to have a break! :)
But whether you're enjoying spring vacation or working away this week, I hope it's a good one for each of you!
Blessings!
Welcome to the March edition of Home School Open House!
Today, I thought I'd simply show you a sampling of some of the curriculum we use.
We're kind of eclectic both in our home school methods and curriculum. What does that mean, exactly?
Well, for one thing, I don't go by strict lesson plans laid out by my curriculum...I pretty much decide our own lesson plans and schedule.
I don't even have a huge schedule made out like some of my home school friends, but I do usually have an agenda in my head of the general things I want to accomplish that week. (The exception would be with math, where I've marked the pages they need to do each day several weeks in advance. It's just seems to work best for us for this subject.)
Also, being eclectic in curriculum means that I pick and choose from various curriculum what we like best.
For example, I might love the math workbooks of Horizon, but prefer Bob Jones language arts. (Which exactly happens to be true, in our case!)
As I show you some of our books, keep in mind that I'm only showing a fraction of what we have...(though we certainly don't cover every subject on a daily basis!) However, we usually do consistently do math, language arts or writing every day...so that's what I'll show you first...
I have to say, my six year old loves math quite a bit more than my fourth grader...who use to love math until this year when it got just a wee bit more complicated!
She does, however, like her English book quite a bit...
And today, these arrived from one of my favorite places, Christianbooks.com...
My girls actually get excited when new workbooks or textbooks arrive at our front door!
I'm looking forward to using the first one with both girls...learning about cells and molecules at a very beginning level (for ages 5-10) .
The second one was the same workbook about maps that my oldest used in first grade and loved.
The third book went along with all of the recent Oregon trail field trips we've been on, and at such a bargain price, I couldn't resist it!
And now- in keeping with my eclectic theme- I want to show you something totally different!
On a beautiful day clear back last May, we decided to go for a walk, keeping our eyes and ears out for neighborhood birds.
Then we followed it up by researching other types of birds on the internet...and then I took it even another step further by having them pick out a few of their favorites and drawing and labeling them. Since I knew they always love drawing about something they've just learned about, I try to encourage it from time to time.
Here's what my then just-turned-six year old drew:
In case you're unclear, they are the Violet Green Swallow, the Sapsucker, and the ever popular Northern Pulmar.
(And if you're not that familiar with all of them, don't worry...neither was I! Exploring things with my children is one of the things l love about home schooling!)
I hope you've enjoyed another peek into our home school. Please take a moment to check out any of the other participants, as well!
And since I have a few Irish ancestors in my family tree, I'd be amiss if I didn't end by wishing each of you a warm...
Blessings!
So, what do you need to do to enter? If you have already clicked on the sidebar to become a "follower" you are already entered! What if you don't actually want to be...let's say, you have all of these books and can't stand frappicinos? Well, if you neglect to tell me you don't want to be included but you win, I will just draw another name...simple as that! :)
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