WOW - Free Registration

Hey, I was just over at Amreta's Graphic Corner and she is offering a FREE MEMBERSHIP if you register by 1/13/08......TOMORROW!

Go to: http://www.amretasgraphics.com/ and send her an e-mail.

What are you waiting for? Her graphic work is BEAUTIFUL!

SO HURRY AND GET OVER THERE!

Gone To Long

WOW.............so much time has passed since I last blogged. Many things have been going on in our lives and there NEVER seems to be enough time to get everything done. I think (and hope) that it is just the adjustment of juggling our first year of homeschool, trying to keep up the house, trying to work from home to bring in some sort of supplemental income, the holidays, etc. Did anyone else feel like this during your first year? If so, what did you do? Do you have any tips to make things run smoother than normal?

Our Christmas was WONDERFUL! Every year we host our annual family Christmas get together, where everyone brings an appetizer of some kind and we make a main dish, usually a pasta dish to share. Well, about 2 hours before everyone was supposed to arrive, my daughter Amanda came out of her bedroom in her pajamas, with her hair up in a big ponytail, waving her hand in my face. At first I thought she was just playing around pretending that she was engaged, wearing her sister's......"This keeps the guys away" ring. But when I put on my glasses and realized that was NOT the same ring and that her eyes were full with tears of joy, getting ready to flow, I just lost it! My beautiful baby, my first-born, was ENGAGED!

While we were all getting things ready, her boyfriend, Tang, had snuck in to see my husband and asked him for the honor of marrying his daughter. Oh, that just made the tears flow even more!!! Tang is such a wonderful young man who is in training to become a Police Officer. He is following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, uncles, and brother. We are all so very proud of him! Here is a picture that was taken on the 23rd at my sister's house. I just love this picture because that is them! They have so much fun together! I told them I was going to use that for their engagement picture for the paper!

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE what the next 16 months are going to be like, as we have already attended one bridal expo with another planned for the end of the month!!! I know that they will have everything done and in order LONG BEFORE next April, so all they will need to do is just show up at the church on time!

Here is a picture of all of us, including my niece and nephew. Starting from the back left, Tang, Goose, Bean, in front of Tang, my nephew Nemo, my niece Boog, me, Skippy, and Kiddo. My sister Cathy was taking the pictures.

A few days after Christmas, Bean moved to North Carolina where she is taking a few weeks of classes where she will be in training for a major satellite company. She is excited about this new path in her life. I, however, am not as excited, as I wish that she would have looked harder here for a job and was back home with us. But, at that age, they think they know what they are doing!!!!! Cutting those apron strings has proven to be very difficult for me. Even though this is the THIRD time she has gone. I guess as a mother, it will always be difficult when they leave. Even if it happens a dozen times!

Busy, Busy, Busy

OH...MY....GOODNESS!!! It has been so HECTIC around here! We have been busy not only with school, but we have had a bacherlorette party, a rehearsal and dinner, and a wedding to get through these past 2 weeks. And let me tell you.......IT WAS AWESOME!!!! We have had such a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and family we have not seen in quite awhile.

I will post more about our happenings and some pictures from the wedding as soon as I get them uploaded.

Another Contest

If you like contests as much as I do, go on over and visit MontanaMama. She is giving away something that would help pass time during the loooooong winter months to come. She has chosen something that is near and dear to her heart, Created to be His Helpmeet and the companion Journal. You better check it out quickly. Her contest ends September 21, 2007 at 6am.

MOM

MOM

How blessed I am to have been born to such a wonderful Mother. Everything I am I owe to you. Your strength and wisdom guides me, your love for life inspires me, your kindness and grace warms me. I have never met another person like you, and know in my heart that I never will - you are one of a kind. I can only wish to have the light that you gave, for you touched all those around you with your warmth. I am proud to be your daughter and could not have asked for more in a Mother.

So much time went by and I never said thank you or I love you, Mom enough. Today, I do yet it’s just a little late. God took you from those who love you most. He took you to his kingdom where you are with your parents, daddy, Vickie, Aunt Mickey, Uncle Jimmy, and the many others that have gone on before you. I know you're happy and free of the pain you suffered. Although my heart aches for you to be here with me daily, I find peace in knowing you can be wherever you are needed now. Watch over us always and forever you will stay in our hearts. It's hard to believe that you have been gone from us for three years already, although it seems like yesterday that you were Promoted to Glory! You are so very loved and deeply missed by us all. But we know in our hearts you live!

You gave me the best present ever, Mom...the gift of life, and I will never forget all of the unconditional LOVE you have given me. All the good times you and I shared. The times that you were my shield, my comfort and my friend, will always be remembered. You already know that I LOVE YOU with all of my heart and I will never forget you, because the day you left me, you took a big piece of my heart with you. Until we see each other again in heaven, I will keep the memories, all the kisses, and all of the warm hugs in my heart. I will love you……….ALWAYS AND FOREVER.

Dawn Marie (Nanna)
August 20, 1933 - October 18, 2004

Wordless Wednesday

I Am So Proud and Excited . . . . .

Oh My Gosh............I can't believe how much work Kiddo has completed these past two days. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! Now mind you, it did not come without a couple of crying and whining bouts, but in the end, he pulled it off. Soooooo on Friday, Steven, David, and I, (The girls are not going because Goose has to work and Bean would rather be anywhere else!) will be taking a field trip to the American Museum of Frontier Culture in Staunton.

The Frontier Culture Museum is an outdoor, living-history museum and educational institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Museum currently features six permanent, outdoor exhibits comprised of original farm buildings from Britain, Germany, and Virginia. These buildings have been carefully documented, dismantled, transported to Virginia, and restored. The Museum's exhibits serve as the settings for interpretative and educational programs designed to increase public knowledge of the diverse Old World origins of early immigrants to America, of how these immigrants lived in their homelands, how they came to America, and how the way-of-life they created together on the American frontier has shaped the success of the United States. The Museum's plans for the future include the expansion of its exhibits and programs to include an American Indian and West African exhibits, a working grist mill, and mid-1800s American village. I CAN'T WAIT! I think I am more excited than Kiddo is.

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. The homesteading way of life has always fascinated me and I have always wished I could have lived back in that time. My family thinks I am a little crazy though because I am trying to live like that now. It is not only because I enjoy making my own laundry detergent, hanging out the clothes, and cooking a weeks worth of meat at one time out on the fire to save using the electric, etc that I do these things, it is out of necessity. Going back to being a one-income family is not an easy task.

When Skippy and I decided to homeschool Kiddo, I resigned from my Sign Language Interpreter/Special Education Teaching Assistant position after 11 years. It has been a big adjustment for ALL of us, but it has been an extremely rewarding experience. Not only that I get to be home with Steven, but I am also getting to spend more time with our girls as well. That is something I did not expect since they both had working hours that were, for the most part, opposite of what mine were, but a job for Bean and a shift change for Goose, brought us all closer together. Now if we could just get Skippy home a little more!!!! The poor man is working three jobs so I can be here with Kiddo. However, once the weather turns colder, he should be home a little bit more. YEAH!!!

We have a long journey ahead of us, that we know. Everyday we are learning to trust God more and more, and know that he will provide for us. All we need to do is........................... HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE!!