Blessing for today, uh this week

Nate the Great Hunter!

Well, I finally made it back! Sam has been very sick since last Wednesday night! As soon as we got home from CBS he was clingy and then it went down hill from there. Hopefully we are on the mends now. He had a high fever of 102-03 for most of 3 days. The doctor scolded me for not bring him in earlier. She said his ears & throat were clear. I needed to be scolded. I always seem to talk myself out of going to the doctor. Silly, I know, but I have taken them in so many times and "they" say it's just a virus, it will run its course. Next time, when he even starts a fever, which usually happens every two months, he is going in!

Hunting season also started here in Alabama. Nate inherited my dad's (AKA: Papa) shot gun. He was very proud. Jerome took him hunting on "Youth Day" that occurred the Saturday before opening day for the old men. He saw several deer. Shot once. Missed. He told Jerome if he hadn't been talking so much he wouldn't have missed! Sounds just like a true hunter, huh? Jerome does talk a lot though!

I turned another year older! I look terrible in the "Birthday" shot. I had been sleeping on the couch with Sam for 4 nights! I am fully blessed with beautiful children that adore me. I am so undeserving of God's Grace.

Yesterday a beautiful thing happened! Sarah learned to spell & write her name ALL BY HERSELF!!!! I am so proud of her. Forever, everything was a "S" or a "O." She is on her way to growing up! Go Sarah!

I have spent most of this day cleaning house and then going to our small church to help my friend Jane and Heather set up the Christmas tree and candles for the windows. I had such a great time spending it with them. Chloe has been such a blessing to me today. She kept all 3 children, fed them lunch and had Sam dressed for his doctors apt. when I came back to get him. THEN, took back over when I left to help finish the job at the church! I must go now and give her a big hug and tell her how much of a blessing to me she was to allow me to serve at the church.

Thinking of others today...

S & S working hard on the cards!

Nate using stamps to decorate his card!

Chloe and the gals decorate tons of cards for the visit.

We spent Thursday making cards for our Assisted Living home visits in December. We love doing this for the homes. The gentlemen and ladies look forward to seeing the children sing and visiting with them. Our home school group have done this for several years.

Thank you Lord for those who go before us and show us the way.

Veterans' Day Parade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.............................................2008

Our very first parade to walk in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We loved being with Dad!

Tuesday was Veterans' Day. We got to march in the parade down town! It was so cool! We all got back in the van worn out, (except Sam, he slept in the stroller nearly the entire route!) but we had the best time waving and pointing out all the veterans on the sidewalks that had come to watch the parade. If you could catch their eye and say "Thank you for serving!" They would simply bow their head and say a small "Yours welcome." All of them were very humble and grateful to us for walking in the parade.

I thank the Lord that there were men that were full love for our country and thought of us and fought.

"The fear of man is a snare,

but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected. "Proverbs 29:25

Lord thank you for protecting the men who fought for me and my family.

What's up lately

On Monday we went to the McWane Center. It was our first time and it was great! It was so great that I forgot to go back out and put quarters in the meter and I got "tagged" buy the city of B. Ouch! My first ticket ever and I'm 35 years old! I'm so disappointed! Best advice I could give you at this point is pay that $5 to park! You WILL spend more than the 2 hours in the McWane before you know it. The meters only let you run a 2 hour limit.

Back to the McWane, it was well worth the the time put in exploring it.

We went to explore the fossils of the swimming dinosaurs. We were all amazed at their size! Nate wished he could have caught one on his hook to mount! I told him, he is insane! Those things have huge teeth. He just grinned!

We had a great day with the Andertons, our science partners this year.

It is just amazing the animals that God created on the earth.

Tuesday, we did the school thing, went to vote, and then rushed off to ballet. It was a perfect day for riding scooters in the parking lot. We had a relaxing afternoon.

For dinner, I was treated by my hubby. We got to go out to to eat at Jim and Nick Bar B Q. We were no where near perfect guest. I requested the corner "U" shaped table that holds a bunch. The children became restless after gobbling down the first set of rolls. Knees repeatedly hit the table LOUDLY from wrestling around. And I'm not talking about my younger children either. Little S couldn't decide if he wanted to sit with Daddy or myself. So, we played the switching game about 3 times and that was it! He had to stay put. OH, My sweet S. She was coloring and matching stickers to the picture book that we had supplied. She was really being so good. It was so peaceful at that certain moment with blues music playing in our ear. The whole restaurant seemed to have hushed at that moment, (As you may have guessed, it didn't last long.) From the "Quiet" corner she stood up on her knees and began to "Hooo-hooo" along with the music, loudly. Everyone turned to see who........! It was so funny! She sang several verses and then realizing that everyone was watching, she sat down sheepishly and just giggled the "Did I do that?" giggle. Somehow, Jerome and I made it through about 2 hours without loosing it! Well, we did loose it, but it was with laughter!

Yesterday was Wednesday. A very long day. CBS was really a blessing with no problems. Everyone was on their best behavior and things just went great. N got to bring home a friend afterwards and they had the best time. Then at church C performed in her very first human video with another young lady. They were mirrors of each other. It was beautiful.

Today has been well. I was up early. That would be 7:30 for me. Most of you rise hours before me! I had my Bible lesson done and I had accomplished spelling with N before 9! I came to the computer, to research an art project for the homeschoolers at CBS to do this Christmas. I have been sidetracked with emails.

This reminds me I've got to go and get back on my day before my getting up early is wasted. Wendy, I'm praying for you and your home visit today. Rebekah, I am praying for Mrs. Kathy and you. ;0). I Love you both. You are my sisters.

I found my lost blogs

" If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness." Job 36:11

I want to end my years in prosperity and happiness. I will do my housework with joy!
And Sam too!


Would you believe I have been so busy that I haven't written all that I needed to write! As I sat down tonight to blog, I found 2 other blogs that I had written but never published!
How silly am I?

Yes, this is me vacuuming out from under my cabinets. We all pitched in. Someone would clean out the cabinet or drawer and then I would vac and then someone would reload it. It helps that I don't have a whole lot in there to pull out! Sam really did a lot of the vacuuming! Men and their machines. He sucked up a few toys, crumbs and tried to suck up my HAIR RIGHT OFF MY HEAD!!! He said with a sheepish grin, "I luvff you Momma." Oh, who could resist that!

When we were done, we went outside to look at the red leaves on the oaks. I'll post their pics later!

Today, we had a great day. We played and cleaned for small group on Sunday night.

I am looking forward to the McWane Center on Monday with the Andertons. We have been studying things that swim in God's waters. We just read about he dinos that used to swim here and I hear that their fossils are at the McWane. So, we are really excited!

Have a blessed day. Please check in as a follower! I would love to see who's reading!

I've been tagged

Yikes! I've been tagged! My wonderful friend Wendy has tagged me and wants me to post my 6 favorite things in my kitchen!

When we were shopping around for a home about 2 1/2 years ago, our main concern was that we had to have 4 full bedrooms (of course everybody wanted their own. Jerome and I were the only ones willing to share at the time & Sam was just to little to say his two goo's worth.), 2 or more bathrooms (with 4 growing children I HAD to have tons of those!). A huge, fenced in backyard, with a beautiful place to garden. A schoolroom would have been ideal, but a closet would do. Perfect driveway to ride bikes in and neighbors that were tops! Of course the kids want the "P" word, a pool and and and and .....

The kitchen was important, but I didn't realize how important. As we, a crew of 6, walked through, played through, tried out all the seats (I do mean potties, Sarah was potty training at the time and the urge always hit her about the time we turned the key to the home that we came to tour......

Anyway the kitchen just needed to be big enough, updated and ample cabinets. We can paint, replace flooring...maybe even add cabinets.

Well, in our search for the perfect home, the one thing that wasn't a challenge, became a challenge. The kitchen. We were given a LARGE table that would seat the six of us plus a few more. It is a chunky, stable table. Not delicate to say the least. We now needed a LARGE eating area to hold our beloved table. We wouldn't dare part with the table, so we had to find a kitchen that would fit around the table!

So, one of my favorite things in my kitchen is my enormous table.

Here you see my two youngest sitting upon it with their newest fall creation. An Apple Sauce Cake. ( I told you it was sturdy!)

My second favorite thing is hanging on the wall of the only kitchen that would fit around my table that I couldn't do without. It is a platter that I made with my friend Heather last Christmas. It has all my children's hands painted on it and I will keep it as a reminder of all the little hand prints that are all over my home. Oh, how fast they do grow up!

My third favorite thing is "Girl Food!" Wendy and I satin the kitchen that went around the beloved table that I couldn't do without, a few weeks ago and talked for hours. If you're wondering what that stuff is, well, it's cream cheese and salsa! Oh, Ladies it is so GOOOOOOD!

The next thing that I love, really keeps my house in running order. It cuts down on arguing, confusion and bickering. Not to mention the whining! So, the next thing that tops my list of faves is my Chore Chart and Grumpy Day Chart. They go hand in hand. Chore Chart tells everyone what they are to do for the day. We are a family that goes with the flow. We are not a "do the same thing everyday" kind of family. Now, we do have our "Dailies" listed on every ones' chart, but there are just some chores that no one wants to do. So, we swap out. If someone gets up grumpy and decides that they want to whine about a job, they are referred to the Grumpy Chart. This is where Mom, Me, gets to add another chore (that just never seems to get done) to their list of things to do that day. It also has many verses about good work habits and "if you don't work, you don't eat" verse. No, my children do get to eat. However, that little extra chore really has cut down on the whole whining thing.

Oh, the charts are on the fridge, that is in the kitchen, that is around the table that we couldn't do without.

Next on my list of faves is: my stainless steal pots. They look beautiful and cook things great! They are a treasure to my kitchen, that goes around my table that we couldn't do without!

Am I almost done?

The next item on the list is pretty awesome! My children loooove
to take out the trash. I'm never sure if it is to get out of the house for awhile or a desire to get the chore done. I'm guessing the first! So, my favorite thing is whoever takes out the trash! Right now it is on Chloe's chart. Nate was available for the pic!

So, the trash taker outer eats, cleans, plays and works in the kitchen that goes around the table that I couldn't do without!

The Last and Final thing on my list of faves is

a JUST MOPPED KITCHEN FLOOR!

Wow that feels so good! No grit, no sticky, no "Hey, what's that?" no chips, cookie, grapes, bread crust, dirt, play dough, crayons. Just one beautiful squeaky clean floor!

The floor is the backdrop for the kitchen that goes around the table that we couldn't do without!

Who ever designed this kitchen did an excellent job. It is not immaculate but great to use. I have white cabinets that cheer up the place. A floor that pretty much hides most dirt to any unsuspecting visitor and is always welcoming friends over for coffee and girl food!

I love my kitchen.