TTFN

It seems that blogs have a lifespan and this one is no different.  It was started with fear and trembling a long, long time ago.  The hope was to connect with other home educators and to record the happenings of a home educating family.  That was another lifetime ago it seems.  Now my kids are all teenagers and there are fewer things to document.

So, I am exploring the necessity of this blog.  It is painful to give up entirely, although that is the most likely outcome.  Blogs seem to be a thing of the past, really.  I read so few myself these days.  I have a paper journal that I record little happenings.  Do I need this blog?  I don't know.  Perhaps I will just let things go for awhile and see what happens.

If you stumble across this post and are a blog friend of mine and wish to keep in touch, please hop over here to my personal blog, and I will be glad to see you!

Easter Blessings

It has been a little quiet over here, just not a lot of news to report, I guess.  Tax season is almost over.  Jeff worked over 68 hours last week.  The rest of us are on spring break, which is a much-needed vacation.  We are enjoying a simpler week.

Yesterday's Easter celebration was wonderful.  Our church was packed and God was honored.  Afterwards, we were blessed to spend time with extended family.  Here are a few photos.

Goings On

March has arrived!  Winter no longer is much of a threat to us after the first week of March.  It can "act" up, but it doesn't have the same staying power that I dread.  When I get to this point, I feel as if I can breathe.

So far, March has been kind of a blur.  My oldest son turned 18 years old this past Saturday.  That is not possible, I keep telling myself.  I know that is what all mothers say.  It is just so true.  Where does the time go?

These days I spend my time driving my kids to and fro, working on the housework that never ends, making food for my family, and trying not to think of what life will be like when they leave me!   I know these days will pass all too quickly, as well.  Having my son turn 18 has left me a bit blue, I guess.  You want them to grow up, but then you don't want them to grow up.  Yet, I am so thankful for my children and how they are growing into mature people who love the Lord.  I could not ask for more!

Very February Indeed

Winter decided to show up, which is too bad as I was really enjoying the mild weather.  This week we have had snow, the wind, and cold to deal with.   As for our health, well, I am still fighting the sinus drainage cough.  Jeff has it now, too.  Grace got over it quickly.  The boys are well, thankfully.  But enough of the dreary part of winter.

I have slowed our pace way down to cope with our sniffles.  We are only doing the essentials. Thankfully this week was not essential heavy.  Next week, we have to be ready to go, go, go. I am praying that we are able.

We have been kept very busy with band contests, pep band engagements, keeping house, cooking, baking, creating, reading, watching BBC mini-series, and regular school projects.  Life is coming at us full speed.  I am thankful that I have learned to say no when needed.

Happy February!!

Another Grace- Filled Week

I am always thankful when another grace-filled week passes.  Nothing major transpired this week.  I recovered from my cold without a trip to the doctor, my prayers answered.  Jeff brought me roses, just because.  We had lunch with his mom, whom we will not see again until April, unfortunately.  The kids have been receiving excellent grades and are thriving in their schools.  Our oldest received two awards for outstanding musicianship at a college jazz festival.  The world is as it should be, at least for now, and I am content and giving praises to the One whom they are due.  This week has been another gift from Him.  Thank you, LORD.

What's Up?

Doldrums are here. And it has not even been a bad winter.  But they are here.  Mostly because of sickness, I would say.  First oldest son had the sniffles, now I have them.  It is nothing major, just enough to make me unhappy with winter.

Before the sniffles arrived, I got to go to another favorite antique mall with Jeff.  I love antique malls! I did not find a single thing that needed to come home with me, but I enjoyed every single moment of the hunt.  And, we did find a book for Grace that was on our list.  I think we looked at every book in the mall, too.  Oh, my eyes were almost crossed afterward!  I ended up coming home and ordering the book I was looking for.  Still a fun way to spend a cold afternoon.

For fun, we bought some Edison-style light bulbs on Amazon.  I think they look really pretty.  Sure, they were not totally necessary.  They add a subtle bit of finish to a hanging light.

The picture of Trevor was taken for his Rural King loving grandpa.  I found the orange sweatshirt on clearance when we went to get cat food last week and it was 10 degrees outside.  I could spend a lot of time and money at Rural King. Grace likes to visit the live rabbits.  I like to look at the chicken coops and dream about getting one for my cats.  :)

Grace is the subject of the next picture below Trevor's.  I loved how she brought her coloring book to a boys basketball game.  She only went to listen to her brother in the pep band and get a treat.  She is always keeping her hands busy, a good trait.

 Finally, a big beautiful Red Tail Hawk visited us, or rather our bird feeder.  He was so majestic!  I enjoyed his take-off from the fence.  He was so heavy that it appeared to be in slow-motion.

Tomorrow we will celebrate Jeff's 50th birthday.  Grace is in the kitchen baking his cake.  A big snow is predicted for tomorrow, too, just the worst present Jeff could want.  We will have to work hard to make his evening special.

Happy New Year

Three Days Until Christmas Eve

Another weekend has passed.  Are you ready for Christmas? I have now lost count how many times I have declared,"I am done!" and then found more things to buy for Christmas.  I am now really done because the wrapping paper is finished.  And we were at Walmart yesterday.  (How did I forget the wrapping paper?)

The kids baked gingerbread cookies with Nana yesterday after church.  Today Grace is going to make sugar cookie dough to bake tomorrow.  I want her to make peanut butter blossoms, too.  That should give us enough variety for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What I do not want to have are tons sitting around for weeks on end.  No, no, no.  Won't do.

The kids went to see Star Wars with their grandparents today.  I had the morning all to myself.  I wrote a long list and only partially got the laundry done, cleaned one bathroom and made one phone call. I thought I could get a lot more done.  I still have trouble walking up and down the stairs with my boot on, but it is the only way I can do it right now, slows me down a little.

I am very thankful to have school behind us for a couple of weeks.  It has been a great semester for my online learners.  Both of them made the honor roll.  I am still very pleased with their school and the kids' work ethic.   I am really looking forward to next semester, too.  Now that we know what to expect and how to keep on track, it is going to be even more enjoyable.

This week will surely fly by.  I wish that I could slow it down a little.  Last year was a horrible Christmas, losing my grandma on the 23rd.  I cannot help but remember the time leading up to her death and of course how much I have missed her this year.  It is such a long time not to talk to her.  She was one of my best friends, really.

Instead of being sad, I will focus on the wonderful things we have this season, health, provision, and most of all a Savior who deserves celebrated.  Have a wonderful Christmas, friends!!

I recently found this picture of my grandma, a few years ago when she was visiting. It shows her vest for life.  She loved Christmas.   

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas 2009

Making Merry

Since I last checked in we have enjoyed some extra family time, as Jeff has had a week off.  With my foot, there was not a lot we could do so we were often home resting, getting ready for the upcoming busy season. It has been a joy to just hang out together.

Last week was pretty band heavy, so it was nice to have an extra driver.  Ryan had a jazz clinic, extra jazz rehearsal, pep band at the boys basketball game, all day Saturday jazz festival, and he played bass in a Sunday school band on Sunday.  Band is done until after Christmas.  Yay!  All his hard work paid off, as he was awarded one of only two Outstanding Musicianship awards.

Grace and Trevor got to spend two nights with their grandparents this past weekend.  They got to go to our church's Christmas musical.  Jeff and I had to be in another town with the jazz band.  I was sad to miss the musical, but it could not be helped with all the band going on.

Jeff and I had some fun times, too.  We enjoyed his firm's game night and of course all the jazz on Saturday. We got to hear some great bands.  We stopped for a steak dinner on the way home from the jazz festival.  It was a real treat.

Last evening, we finished up our online shopping for Christmas.  Today we will go to the mall, hopefully for the last time this season.  Jeff is back to work on Wednesday.  The two high school kids have finals to complete.  And there are plans for them to go swing dancing Friday.  The week will fly by! There is wrapping, baking and shopping to do.  Only 11 days until Christmas Eve!!!

Wordless Wednesday: A Little Help

Since Thanksgiving

It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, as the old song goes.  The day after Thanksgiving begins our traditional season of decorating, baking cookies, shopping, going to parties and watching Christmas movies. So far this year has not disappointed on any count.

We have baked and decorated on two separate occasions.  We have watched Elf, Christmas in Connecticut and Christmas with the Cranks.  We have even put up two trees.  We have been out for our annual family Christmas brunch with extended family at their retirement home.  We have ordered our Christmas cards and bought most of our gifts.

This Christmas feels much more joyous in comparison to the last two Christmas' where I lost grandmothers right before.  I was so heartbroken going into those Christmas'.  I lost all my joy for celebrating.  I still really miss them and it is hard to think of future Christmas' without them, but I know they are no longer suffering and I will see them again one day because they both loved Jesus, the real reason to celebrate Christmas.

I'll leave you with some pictures from our home in the last two weeks.  Merry Christmas!!

December Already

All of a sudden it seems December is here and I can no longer deny that it is winter.  I don't know if you do this, but for days after a new month has begun, I am unconvinced it is indeed a new month.  Slowly it dawns on me and I go into acceptance mode.  Ha.

Well, December is a harder month to accept.  It is meteorological winter.  It is still fall, but feels like winter, always winter and never Christmas.  Ah, but wait, it is almost Christmas!  Christmas!!  There is still Christmas.  Winter doldrums will follow, but for now, there is Christmas!

A Happy Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving!  Who doesn't love getting together with extended family and feasting?  No presents to buy, no extensive decorating, just delegate the menu, clean the house, fix broken chairs, break your foot in the process... Yes, I broke my foot gluing our old chairs together in preparation for Thanksgiving.  It just made for a more interesting day.  My family jumped in and carried out my every order to finish the work on my list.  God bless them.  We did have a lovely time.  After our feasting, I went to the urgent care and got a boot.  I will be good to go, er hobble, until Christmas.  Online shopping, delegating the baking, ordering groceries for pick-up will be just the life-line I need. I am thankful for all the modern conveniences and that I can still drive with my good right foot!  How was your Thanksgiving?