Lessons that I have been learning!

I have been learning lessons... left and right. :)
I have always thought that if you have a family connection with someone then-- you relate to them in that correct relationship title.   If I have a cousin I have a cousin type of relationship--  I am now learning that this is wrong. And that I can have a relationship with someone that doesn't match the name... or title of the official relationship.  I am also finding out that I can have a relationship with non-family members that fill a need for a family relationship.   I'd like to know why it took me till I was 40 to figure that out!
It's been kinda busy around her lately and it seems that, will be status quo for a while.
I am currently fighting off a cold that gave me the ability to cough often and in fits of agony, it also left me without a voice, -- Oh-- what Joy.   I blame my recent visits to the Dr.'s office... I was not sick with a cold until I went to that germ factory !

Shane and Jessica are home from school today, because it is a furlough day-- I had asked them to let me sleep in ... they tried-- but alas I woke up at my regular time!  I stumbled to the coffee pot and then back to bed-- finally the coffee was ready and I made myself a cup and camped out on my bed to wait for the coffee to work. After a while I felt motivated to check emails, and of course Facebook. 
Shane loves to be helpful and so I had him turn on the computer and get me on-line...  I walked in and set my coffee cup down -- the next thing I know Shane is trying to show me a penny he found and then-- the coffee cup spilled all over Shane from his chest to his knees!  It was amazing to see how calm he was about being wet and sticky... What progress he has made!    I sent him off to shower and I cleaned up my coffee.  Later he asked Jessica to play hairdresser and comb his hair... she was happy to do this-- the final look was "Just like Justin Beiber except naked"--- (Shane loves to be and say the word naked--- although when he said this he was in his underwear.)   A while later the kids were "playing" and Jessica scratched and pinched Shane on his side---
 I took some time and medicated the scratch and then when I saw how deep it was I requested that Jessica write an apology letter.
This is what she wrote    "Dear Shane, I am sorry for giving you a bobo. And yes I will play video games with you.As soon as I give you this letter I hope we can play video games.  With dearest apology Jessica!"

I am so impressed with both of the kids, not only did Shane graciously accept the apology letter but he was very sweet when they played the video games-- he and Jessica are still playing together and they are taking turns-- and sharing... WOWOWWWW. I am so very happy!

Next week the school board is having a final public meeting to talk about the funding short falls for our district and I am planning on going and getting up and speaking. I am a bit nervous but I am feeling like this is a thing I should do.

I also have the Scholastic book fair coming up and so I am going to be busy planning and begging for volunteers-- I hope that I can do a good job of being motivating and encouraging.

One of the teachers at our church also asked if I would be willing to teach a Sunday School class... they already have a great curriculum but they need an adult to teach the class and keep the kids on task. I feel honored that they asked~ but a bit nervous that I won't be as skilled as they think I am. prayer, Lot's of prayer.

In late February, Jessica will be performing (playing her violin) as apart of her first Strings Concert.-- I am proud,excited and nervous for her--. note to self: remind her to practice every day. :)


Meanwhile I have been walking,every other day or so- with Aunt to try and get fit. I am also working on a rag quilt that I have created from scraps-- I don't think it's going to turn out like my original idea-- but I want to get it done. 
Jessica has been a crocheting machine.-- I think every skein of yarn she has, is part of a project that she has started!  Shane has been spending time with Jerry working on his cars that he made with the Erector set -- It is lovely to see Shane tell Jerry his plans-- and then Jerry show him how to implement those plans.

Yikes, I just noticed it's time for lunch-- I must go and feed the kids-- and myself!

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Just random stuff...

The vampire asked for blood, and although I know he was just doing his job, I was not excited.
Jessica needs a set of blood work done and she is NOT happy.(the kidney Dr. just wants to make sure that the meds are still working and that things are as they should be.)
 I had blood taken this morning and I'm not "really" happy.  However, I did convince my Dr. that I was not just complaining to hear myself talk.-- She ordered an ultrasound. Now, I begin the waiting to hear when the ultrasound will be [they just called and it's tomorrow in the morning, yahoooo!!!] and then if that technician be skilled and focused.  The Dr. finally asked about my mom's history of female issues and after I gave her the short version she was much more motivated to understand why I was complaining and concerned.
~~~~~~
The kids had a great first day back to school yesterday, but this morning they were acting like alley cats at the kitchen table... all while I was trying to get in the shower... grrrr... I don't mind them arguing-- but do they have to do it while I am getting in the shower--????
~
I am starting to get a cold, which is very frustrating, I have a final Christmas gathering on Saturday--
My husband is trying to figure out a good guy gift for $20.00-- usually the guys swap really cool tools--however--- my brother is not a tool sorta guy-- he's from California--  I suggested that Jerry get $20.00 worth of lottery tickets-- or $20.00 worth of pennies... 
 ~~~
My husband used my bread machine and a box of sweet bread mix--yummm
 I like it when my husband "cooks" for me., even if it's from a box~ it was still nice to eat!

It seems like everything is on hold right now, I hate waiting for things-- God sure likes to put lessons of patience in my life. I wonder  just when I'll get this lesson learned and we can move on to something else.?

Our Halloween..

Jerry said he was a Ninja pumpkin...Shane was Batman, and Jessica was little RED riding hood.

Our Halloween was WAY better than I expected, we had LOVELY weather, no real rain and only a bit of sprinkles...

The kids completely filled their buckets, both of the kids even got a coupon for one free no-homework day! (We happened to trick or treat at the school secretary's house!)
The kids got a few small toys and some bookmarks, they were more excited to read the bookmarks and check out the toys-- than really look at the candy.
 Shane did have a small issue... he kept breaking the candy bars--- finally we got him to explain why-- "On the commerical for the (Jessica says kitty Kat's) no, it was the KIT KAT, they break the candy bar"   It took about 10 minutes to explain that you only break the KIT KAT right before you eat them-- This child of mine is all about the details.

Monday morning came way too quickly-- We got the kids to school and then went to an appointment for Jerry and then WALMART-- where we saw a woman with a skirt on... the slit was so high I could see her naked, pantyhosed butt! Jerry almost took her picture with his phone, but he was afraid that she might turn around and smack him into next week.  She wasn't small, or pretty so I was a bit worried about Jerry's well-being also.

Then on the way home we got a call from the school, Shane had puked. He's home now, and fine -- he just needed to get whatever it was out of his system.  Tomorrow he will have to miss out on the field trip- :(
- but Jerry needs to go and help chaperon..
Shane keeps talking about how his ...AP is done... (Auto Puking).

 I guess I will be home with Shane tomorrow... at least he's not grumpy or whiny...

Outdoor play pictures and a bit of change~

Shane was trying out the new to us coat that we got from our cousin Emily...  There was some talk about a snow cave-- 
(The weather was recently colder in the mornings and so the kids took advantage of the cold(er) weather to have some outdoor pretend play time.

Jessica was eating some blackberries while pretending to be in the snow...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Kristi, I don't think I am nuts anymore... well at least for this topic...~
 I had noticed the floating photo bucket image... but I thought it was just something that my computer was doing to me... I finally took the time to click on the help button and while I think I have gotten rid of the image... I ended up changing things here --  It's not quite what I want, but I was messing around and I am not sure how to remove the floating image along with changing some things. --
 So for now.... unless ya' all complain... I'm leaving it as it is! :)

Maybe I'm nuts?

It says on the calendar that it's the first day of summer.
 I don't see a glimmer of sunshine... yet-- but I am hopeful!
I am really surprised it's after 8am and Shane has yet to rise and pester me for his breakfast. Jessica has already been up, and is now back reading in bed-- awww could the morning get ANY better?
Today is Shane's first full day without medication-- It will be....err "fun" interesting to see how things go.
I have HIGH HOPES that he will manage to keep any  aggressive behavior at a quiet, dull roar.
We leave tomorrow for camping, a whole week away from home,camping with a lot of family-- not our normal schedule... and no meds....
Am I NUTS? maybe.... but I figure that this will be a great learning experience for all ... :)
 kinda like throwing a kid in the water and saying, now swim! 
~ but also how did you get rid of the pacifier? the bottle?
When couples are first married, they often want to plan when they have kids, and sometimes they hear the advice there is never a good time to have kids--- or no time like the present.
We are going camping on the coast, so there is a ton of FREE nature provided sensory stuff available.
I have other family members who are WELL skilled with special needs kids -- so if I need a break or extra help I know I can rely on them.

Most of all ~ I feel like, it's time to see how/who Shane is without the meds-- I know that he has a sweet and loving heart-- I know that he wants to be just like all  the other kids-- so maybe if we keep the focus on the positive and the present.... then our results will be.,... STELLAR?!

as a fail safe.... prayers for smooth sailing are requested!

Sunny Happy Great Wonderful Monday!

Although both Jerry and didn't sleep well last night-- we were both awake at about 3am.--
 (there is a dog that keeps getting into our trash...grrrrr...)
 The morning turned out marvelous!   
The sun was shining and I checked my email first thing to find out that my sister-in-law Sara went to the hospital at about...3am last night(err this morning). She was past due to have my niece-- and finally at 8:57am  Georgia Jeanne Hutcheson was born! she weighed 7pounds 15ounces and she measured 20.5 inches long!
I am so flipping happy! A while back I had a strange dream about this baby and her name... part of my dream came true! How weird is that?

Anyway... on to regular news posting... :)

We had the IEP for Shane today, and also a gathering :Thanking of parent volunteers--
 Both events were SPECTACULAR!
I am feeling so special and appreciated, now if I could just beam myself down to California  to hug and hold that beautiful baby-- well-- then I would have nothing to wish for! :)

This was the first IEP meeting that I have had where-- all of the people at the table were finishing each others' sentences-- I didn't have to suggest hardly anything! I did take some notes before the meeting and brought copies for some-- my printer decided to not follow directions,. But it was a smooth meeting, his new teacher is eager and willing to have Shane in her class. What a pure and simple blessing! 

Then the kids and I went to the gathering to thank the parent volunteers--  It was so lovely I almost cried-- I got a picture of all the third graders, with letters from them--handwritten thanking me for helping out! awwww..... and then Shane's teacher gave me a certificate and some chocolates . 
They really like me.... really they do!   p.s. ~ I like them also!

Hope your Monday was MARVELOUS!
oh... and my favorite commenter...."Me" is now on FB.... yip yip hurray!

Friday fun?

It's Friday and I am not quite ready to leave to go grocery shopping-- I wanna hear Sugarland perform on GMA.
Shane just did about 5 tasks by himself so that he could earn 45minutes of video games. Jessica--- she wrote a short story--
See Kristi... our kids are alike! :)
I am also going to keep her spelling/missspellings ---

Bob the mealworm

by Jessica 3rd grade

It was a school day. My pet for science was a boring old mealworm.

His name was.Bob. I took him out of the glass vile,I was trying to write a story about an insect.I decied to write about Bob. Bob the mealworm, He read it to the class they loved it to! he wrote.on my paper A+++. and Thats why I have a lot of friends!

The End

Rain, rain and more rain... did I mention the rain?

It has been really rainy here in my neck of the woods---
and although I enjoy the rain for the green grass and lush greenery -- ahem...
I have had ENOUGH rain.... God, are you listening? Please STOP the rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jessica might get to go on a sleep-over for a few nights this weekend-:)
- Jerry is working all weekend, and Shane and I will have to find, something to do. I bet we could find a matinee movie to go see--

I also have a new sewing machine -- her name is Lily-- My Aunt Pasty who is a stellar sewer, and quilter decided to let me foster Lily. I have been reading and re-reading the manual and I think I successfully threaded the machine--. (If you want to know a bit more about Aunt Patsy-- click below this post on the words thank you Aunt Patsy and you can read a previous post about this SWEET lady!)
My only dilemma is -- how to not spend every waking moment with Lily? :)
She is a Husqvarna 540 and she does SO many things~ I can't wait to spend some quality time with her!

This morning Shane was really hungry and a bit distracted-- I think he is going through a growth spurt and because of that he forgets to talk-- he ends up like a caveman pointing and grunting-- I hope I can stock the cupboards with enough food tomorrow.(This behavior makes me nervous for when he is a teen!)
Grocery day and both the kids are out of school-- I am not going to complain that my Friday may suck.... I am going to THINK positively that Jessica and Shane will be helpful and willing to help me expedite the process of grocery shopping!

And now I need to go do some dishes and laundry... Oh, Joy?

My Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

I don't have much to post today ... but I found this from a previous post.
http://frogparenting.blogspot.com/2009/05/little-things.html

or this from Feburary 2nd 2008
http://frogparenting.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-honor-of-erma-bombeckand-another.html


The kids have had breakfast, I have had a cup of coffee-- later we will go to church.
The kids did give me hugs and wish me Happy Mother's Day, but since we are broke-- we might just have a different version of Mother's Day, a cheap or free one! :)


Happy Mother's Day~

N ot April Fools

This was Shane last night finally sleeping with such peace...
Awwww -- I love seeing him  so calm and still.
He  suggested that if I wanted to be energy efficient, I could collect like 300 lightening bugs in a jar and then use them for  a night light...  It really is amazing how much random information he collects when I am not paying attention. (and yes that is a blue boa on his bed, it's Jessica's --but Shane likes how it feels-- so Jessica is nice enough to let him "borrow" it often!)

Jessica went fishing with Daddy... and she caught her limit... They were using a special bait that they had got from another fisherman.... When they were getting ready to come home and eat dinner-- they gave away... and sold their bait to others' !

Jerry cooked the fish last night and so that was part of his lunch for today at work!

My son happens to have a strange fashion sense,        or really none at all,           He LOVES to wear Jessica's pink boots-- With EVERYthing... He is also wearing the liner of a coat that used to be Jessica's -- 

This morning I got the best present that a mom can get,

(in my honest opinion)

 I heard the alarm go off and I got up and walked to the kids' rooms to wake them up--

When I opened Shane's door-- he was COMPLETELY dressed--

 he had on a  SMILE, a shirt,pants,SOCKS, and SHOES! 

Normally getting Shane dressed--especially the shoes and socks is the most difficult part of my day....

 I was so happy I kept hugging and complementing him...

I even went to school and told many there how awesome it was to see up and dressed for his day!

What a wonderful wondrous day of motherhood!

Happy April Fools Day... I didn't get fooled yet...I hope I can stay fool-free today!

Saturday, a song~

This morning I woke up with a song in my head...

It's called Only You

Only You would leave Your throne in heaven above

Only You would come and touch the world in love

Only You would come, God's precious, God's own Son

So I pledge my life to follow only one

Only You I will worship

Only You I would bow to

Only You for whom this song is sung

Only You I will live for

Only You I will die for

Only You, only You, only one

 

Happy Saturday to you !

Now, Patience & Boundaries

VERY Often when I post here, it's all about what is happening with my kids--
 it's not usually "well thought out--" ah hem...
but I figure if you just read it -- eventually it might make sense?
And if it doesn't-- then I take comments... and questions. :)
I like to read other people's blogs, to remind myself that
I am not the only one in the Whole wide world who...
would rather hang with my kids than...
 do what you want me to do-- because you think that I need to do what you want...
 I think that life with kids is so full of guilt ... am I doing this right, will they hate me when they are old, will they every be "normal", is their "normal" enough?, am I enough for what they need?, .
But I also think that sometimes boundaries are IMPORTANT...
 I think that if  I choose to focus with  what others' might see as Obsessive Complusive Disorder on my kids, then fine... I choose to do, what I deem to be the very best for my kids. :)
Learning to say No is key for my sanity...
Learning to say, I am only able to do this-- and stick to IT!
Learning to say, I'll do that tomorrow?
Anyway... when I was reading some blogs this morning,

• 5 minutes for Special Needs
• Allergy Life in Loudon
• Hartley's Life with Three boys
• It's Almost Naptime

while waiting...impatiently for my dear hubby to awake (and help ME with a task, that takes two people...) 
 I am learning that I need to be as patient with others'
                             as I WISH they would be for me.

We are trying to down-size and we have found some new homes for our plastic outdoor play structures--
I want to deliver them NOW, but my dear sweet hubby is sleeping, he was asked to work this evening.

(Well.,..bless his heart--as Missy @ It's only Naptime might say...)

bless his heart that he said Yes, to helping another,
 bless his heart that he is working an extra day-- we can use the extra money...but ...
bless his heart that his wife, needs him!
(to WAKE UP!)



There is also a Tsunami warning for the Oregon Coast, apparently there was an Earthquake in Chile. I'd like to drive to the coast and
see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.(uh, er NOW!)

I'd like my kids to do their chores now, and with out complaint--
 I'd also like my kids to play together and make compromises....
But, I am learning .... that maybe I need to be patient?

In the past I have worked at the school's book fair, this year I was very vague about committing to helping, and although I feel like I am doing something GOOD for my kids--
 I still hear that little voice in my head saying... go and help...you know you want to-- who cares if they say mean things about you when your back is turned, you are doing this for the "good" of the school, who cares if they ask you why you don't just parent the way they do? 
I am sure the book fair will be great, and maybe I'll enjoy the book fair MORE as a spectator and customer not as a overworked, under appreciated volunteer.

I just want to be like Melody at Slurping Life  (Can I have dessert first?)

Guys and Dolls,sickness and still waiting for the new shower

Shane's teacher knows "people" who are connected--

to the Wildish Community Theatre/Rose Children's Theatre

They allowed both of the first grade classrooms and the two third grade classrooms

 to come and see some small "vine-yets" of the Guy's and Doll's production

All the kids that were performing were either in Elementary,or Middle school--

It was really amazing how hard these kids had obviously worked on their parts--

Shane,Jessica and I sat in the VERY front -- we were so close that we could touch the performers;
I could see the make-up that everyone was wearing,

 I could see the costumes that needed a bit of mending. :)

The directors told us to do our best to laugh when we felt like it and sing along if we knew the songs.

Shane was so enamored with the performance,he was clapping and singing along-- I honestly think if  they could of given him a microphone and some lines he would of fit right in!

I think that the next time there are try-outs for a production I will try and get Shane motivated to try-out!

As a mom I worry often,  about how "the public" views Shane--

it was nice to have an outing, with the remarks about Shane's behavior, be positive and inspiring!

Our bathroom is still apart-- Jessica and I are still suffering thru a sinus thing--

Last night Jerry had to go and fill in for awhile at work--

 he took a two hour nap and then went and worked about 6 hours--

Neither one of us felt up to the task of getting the kids to school, and Jessica started out the morning with little or no voice -- so we decided to take a sick day and stay in.

It is SO nice that my brother-in-law Rick is able (and skilled)  to come and help work on the bathroom.

This is a group of third graders and first graders, waiting for the buses.

this is the very small theater~

 This is just apart of the cast.

What to do on a Monday? hummm...

So it's Monday-- and I have a nice head/sinus cold--
But it's the first day off for Jerry so-- he decided to start ripping out our shower!   
We were planning on replacing it --but I didn't think...
(me not think? ! what is this world coming to?){that was rhetorical...don't answer....}
I didn't think that he would want to start working on it after being up for 14hours or so--
 ... for the record I was wrong!~   
Jerry was smart and he called to talk with his brother who does this sort of thing for a living...
Rick came by to help, and show what needed to be done --
 Thank GOD for brother-in-laws'!
Jerry gets kinda ....well "wonko" when he has worked all night and then -- he thinks that he can do WAY more than he really can-- so having Rick here to keep things SANE was a HUGE blessing!
I took some Alka-Seltzer cold medicine and decided to "help"--. Jerry had shut off all the water to the house, so my plans for dishes and laundry were put on hold until, Rick took apart the shower. Then they turned back on the water-- but by that time I wanted to help with pulling out the old shower. The guys were nice enough to "let" me do a good portion of the demo-- while they went and got stuff we needed.

So these are the pictures from today-- more work to be done tomorrow-- and I also have to leave the men and go with the kids on a field trip--
 I hope the guys stick to the plan tomorrow
and not decide to take anything else in the house apart !  :)

Check back tomorrow and see what happens next.... :)

Windy Weather and Happy Birthday to Uncle Lon

Happy Birthday to my Uncle Lon who loves the Oregon Beavers,Family and Beets!

Prayers for Haiti and also for The HENNHOUSE...

Last night about 11:30 Jerry and I were in bed listening to Jay LENO... when we heard a lot of noise... it was blowing outside ... I am guessing about 30plus miles an hour winds-- it would get real windy and then it would be calm ... this went on for about an hour or so.

Jerry and I stood under our carport and watched what was happening, every once in a while we had to put the garbage can back up-- we picked up a few branches and moved them on to the grass...

There was one branch that thankfully fell WITHOUT hitting any cars--- it was wider than my foot!

The middle school that is just down the street had a tree that spilt-- I remember hearing a snap-- but I wasn't eager to to get in the car-- or even walk down and figure out what happened... (yup, I'm a wus..)

This morning was stunning, Shane was up and dressed with out a ton of re-directs-- he even put his shoes and socks on without a fight! WOW ... I hope this means TODAY will be AWESOME--

When I went to drive away from the school after dropping the kids off I saw blue skies and white clouds--I was going to attach some pictures but blogger is being slower than a snail over a rock.

Ah, Joy... simple,priceless Joy!

coffee,homework,DUCKS,snow?

I found some great coffee in the freezer and a cyber hug also--:) but now I'm all out of creamer...where is our local cow, to steal some cream from... ??

Being at home with Shane was/is so many things

• emotional
• frustrating
• fun
• annoying
• lovely
• enjoyable

It took a while for Shane and I to create a "good work situation", he wanted a ton of help doing his homework, I wanted him to work more independently. Finally we came to a compromise-- I think. Shane is so smart and good at knowing what "gets" mommy -- I wonder if he parented me or I... by a slim chance~ parented him.

We picked up Jessica from school and then had to go back to school, she had forgotten her homework and her folder-- very unusual for Jessica-- and then this morning she decided to wear the same shirt and socks as yesterday--- she says it's to stay warm and comfy-- I worry that she was being lazy to find a new outfit...

It has been rather frosty here lately and there is "talk" via the weather uh--people-- that on Sunday we may have snow!

We happen to be in a valley

(home of the Eugene, Oregon Ducks that are ROSE BOWL BOUND!~)

and not very often do we really officially get snow... glorious,beautiful, annoying snow--. I like how the snow looks and I like how it makes me want to sit and watch it -- but I don't like cleaning up all the dripping clothes, or getting it in my face-- or how LONG it takes for my hands to warm up once they get cold.

Time to get started on today... coffee and homework ...here I come!

Just Life...

Jerry had taken video on his cell phone of fish.... swimming around-- The kids were VERY interested...me...

not so much... I was tired,bored and annoyed--

Jerry's fishing partner called Jerry's phone at 6am... which woke me up... grrr...

then it rained,and rained and rained.. then Shane and I had a difference of opinion, on how to walk into school- he felt running was fine.. I disagreed-- And then seeing the school psychologist near his car-- prompted me to to make Shane walk all the way back to our car and show me the correct way to WALK to class.

A book to read and other stuff~

The kids were enjoying some of the leaves and the warm fall weather!

I love to read books, and although I sometimes read non-fiction-- I REALLY enjoy fiction.

I recently finished a fiction book that is AMAZING...

It's called The Ishbane Conspiracy

it's written by a father and his two 20something daughters--

Angela,Karina and Randy Alcorn.

This book is written with grace and a Love of the LORD, but it is also written with a real world point of view. It follows 4 teens for a year-- not only do you get to read about their lives, but you also get to read the letters that the Enemy writes about them...

I can't wait for my kids to be a bit older to read this. I think that all parents' who have teens, should read this book and then have their kids read it. It really shows how our lives can easily get off track.

This book just happens to be written as if the teens live in Gresham, Or.--which just happens to be somewhat close by.

When I first started reading this book, I was confused, going back and forth between the letters that the Enemy wrote and then back to the story was a bit confusing, but also good-- because I like to read fast... and when I was reading the Enemy's letters I had to slow down and re-read the letters.

I bet that this was a huge labor of love for this family, I can imagine that writing a book with your two daughters' was an amazing experience-- I wonder how they split up all the writing. There are other books by Randy, and so I do believe that I will be checking out them ASAP!

So, anyway I just wanted to say this is a great book... not just for teens-- but for anyone who is struggling with life in our culture vs Life in the LORD.

My suggestion...READ IT... !

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In the mornings I try and find music that will help motivate Shane and Jessica to get up and get moving-- I have tried different music, country,80's rock, soundtracks from movies, Veggie Tales songs... this morning I put WOW worship music on-- Shane was happy to hear and sing along, but he didn't want to move from where he was, he was busy, "giving to the LORD" ---awwww... sweet child... now get moving! LOL

When you have kids, no one really tells you about the fine line you will have to draw in the sand... Shane it's time to stop reading and go to bed, Shane it's time to eat and stop singing that Worship song... Shane I know that smoking is not good, but you don't need to yell at people who choose to smoke., ---

Last night while watching the TV Shane was upset that some buildings were being destroyed-- he was so anger that he was yelling at the TV, "No, don't destroy those things... leave them alone!" ( I was in the middle of dinner so I didn't get to see what he was watching-- )

I just hope that he won't want to debate this topic later today...

Tomorrow Jessica has a field trip to hear some string music and Jerry will be going with her--- Jessica will also get her two cavities fixed... Oh...Joy!

This weekend I sat next to a teenaged boy who kept listening to his IPOD the WHOLE service...

Grrr..... However, it did help me to stay super focused on the message.

There are prayers going out to

Genie's cousin Geri who lost her husband, to Stacey's son Brayden who has been very sick.

If you have the time, please add some of your own prayers, Thank You !

Rain,pain, and the week to come!

When Danni suggested that she take Jessica and I backpacking, I said yes, because I thought that Danni would not take her only sister in law,(me) and her only niece (Jessica) hiking to ...hurt them.

Danni is super organized, she had Jessica and I bring our clothing choices over to her house to get her... approval or disapproval... Danni does not allow cotton material for hiking... I have almost a whole closet full of cotton clothing... I looked for clothing that wasn't cotton and I found a few pieces-- Thank God for St Vinny's and Goodwill's!

When we packed our clothing, Danni loaned me two pair of socks, one was wool--- I didn't want to wear them...but I did.

The forecasters all said that there was only.. a 30% chance of rain....

They were WRONG .... it rained as we hiked in, it rained while we set up,it rained while we made dinner,it rained while we were in our tents blowing up the air mattresses, then while we slept, it rained.

In the morning we awoke to find that it had also froze the rain drops on the tents!~

It was so very nice to see the sunshine later that day!--

that is why there is the picture of me with sunglasses, soaking up the sun.

(please view this picture with your best airbrushing in mind...) Thanks!

We met many different groups of hikers --some older....some younger---but I was very proud to be apart of the group of 4 ladies who stuck it out... since Jessica and I were new to hiking, we could of whined and said let's leave NOW... but neither Jessica nor I were willing to admit defeat!

I am very sore, Jessica says she is very sore, being out in nature when the sun was shining down on the pretty water and the sky was the PERFECT shade of blue... ahhhh-- it was worth it!

One of the ladies from our church who is a healthy, happy hiker, happened to be available to come with us, which was fun-- she told stories about China, and her travels and experiences there--.

I can't say that I already have my next hiking trip planned-- because I am still working thru the pain of this one... but it was kinda fun...

When I got home my husband had done some work in the kitchen,(cleaning) he even made cookies! Shane had the privilege to play video games almost the whole weekend.

While the cat is away... the mice will play?

This week is another busy week for us~ tomorrow is curriculum night at the kids' school -- Jerry's birthday is on Wes. and Shane's birthday is on Thursday. On Sat. Jerry "gets" to watch a girl from his work...fight in a cage fight-- (WHAT?) -- and then on Sunday I get to help my dear friend Patty celebrate her birthday--

I wonder if October will be less busy?