Who Am I???

The first thing I am going to spend time evaulating is who exactly am I?  This will take awhile, but it is well worth asking yourself.

First and foremost I am a child of God.  What does this look like?  I am created in His image,  I am not perfect, in fact, being a child of God means I am not perfect, but I do strife to do what He would want me to.

I am a Conservative Christian. I attend church regularly, I read my Bible, I praise God and raise my hands in worship when led.  I have values that I believe go hand in hand with what God says I should do.  That means I have definite views on hot topics, and not so hot topics.

I choose to not stand on mountain tops and argue with everyone different than me.  If I am asked to pick, I will take my stand, otherwise, I do not feel I should judge others.  The ultimate judgement comes in end times.  This blog may see me touch more on my convictions, because I feel it someone does not argee, don't read.

Second I am a wife.  I must remind myself many times a day, that is my most important job.  Yes, raising kids is up there, but my children will leave, and my husband will still stand beside me.  This is perhaps the area I am weakest.  I have been reminded I do not treat my spouse like he deserves, I set him aside most often.  Look for many more post on what I can and should work on in this area.

Third, and final for today.  I am a mother.  Four near perfect children (ok they are mine so perfection is subjective).  I have lots more to say on this topic!  Stay tuned

A fresh start

Oh I have not posted since 2009! I have a new goal..I want to give others the piecve of mind that they are not alone.  I am not going to try and catch everyone up.  This will be a random thought process.  It is never meant to offend or hurt anyone.  It is about opening up and letting others they are not alone.  As people we often feel alone, and I want to add hope.
Losing an Internet "friend" has left me looking at who I am. I will forever remember Alaina and her ability to be herself.  She was everything I strive to be in a wife, mom, and friend.  So stay tuned for some heart to heart chats!

Petrified Forest National Park

We finally made our way to the Petrified Forest in Arizona on wednesday. It was very interesting. It is a drive through with a few hikes and stops along the way.

Devin and Krystina

Don and Elizabeth

Don and I

Evan

Krystina, Devin, Me, and Elizabeth

Devin sitting on a piece of petrified wood

Elizabeth sitting on a piece of wood in the shape of a chair

The birds were huge!

These were considered painted cliffs

The writings left behind on the stones

Sunset in New Mexico

Do I even need to write words about this view?

Our vacation begins

We decided on Sunday, since everyone was gone we would go ahead and break up our first day trip to the Grand Canyon. At 10:30 AM we decided to leave that day. We had to help get some tables back after the graduation party, we had to do laundry, and pack. At 5 pm, we pulled out of our drive way. As we got in the car we all agreed no arguing at all on the trip! Don kept looking at me and asking if we had everything, because for the first time ever, we could see out the back van window....so far today is day 6, and we have not discovered anything we left that we needed!

We drove 5 hours and stopped in Wichita Falls, Tx.

The next day we were on our way to Albuquerque, NM. We no more than made it into New Mexico, Devin was driving along, when he lost accelaration...in a one lane construction zone. Don looked under the hood, found nothing, got back in, drove a little farther, and he lost the entire power. So we found a nice little spot where we stopped. We discovered we do not have towing on the van...but insurance called us a tow truck, coming out of Tucumcari, NM.

Here is what the kids did while we waited for the tow truck...

Working on hand clapping games!

So they towed our Van to this town that is known for its Historic Route 66 highway....it claimed 34 modern stations....we never witnessed any of those. In fact the town had every other building closed down. It was interesting to see all the motels (not hotels). They were the really old ones, some even had cool murals on them.

At 2:30pm (we gained an hour which was trouble for our bodies later) we found out it was the fuel pump....we had not figured in the expense of major car repair. So between the tow and the pump...we determined we were going to have to turn back and go home. 11 hours we had made it. Don called and cancelled all our hotels for the trip.

We sat in the shop waiting...it was suppose to be ready at 4:30.

I happened to have been handling it all very well. Normally I would have been freaking out, I would have had a hard time with the plans changing. I was very disappointed that what may be our last vacation as a family (Devin may have a life now) was ruined. I managed it all well, never snapping, or showing frustration (yeah me). I happened to text a friend, that we were coming back home, I said we broke down, spent x amount of money on repairs, so we used our vacation money. The only person I mentioned my frustration to. She calls me a bit later, and says she just happened to tell her mother that she felt bad for us. Her mother asked why..she told her, and the mother (who we do know) said God told her to pay for our car repairs! Of course I started bawling and said that was sweet but we could not. I had to hand the phone to Don because I was in the shop crying. That someone would even offer this huge thing was beyond words.

Well the next call I got was from the momma! She explained that God told her the minute she heard it. Money was just money she informed me. I told her I would discuss it with Don. While all of this was happening...another lady was broken down (it was her fuel pump also). She looked at Don and I and said, "I don't know what religion you are, but it sounds to me like God wants you to overcome this hill and go to the Grand Canyon." This was after we had chatted and she said how hot it was to my children. She was going on and on about how quiet and polite they were (thank goodness it was a good day for them). We began praying that God would let us know his will.

We found out at 5:15 our car was overheating and they could not do anything with it until morning. They gave us an old car at the shop to get a hotel room. Interestingly, the other lady also had to stay over night. Don and Evan drove her to a hotel, and came back for the rest of us. We got a room, swam, played, and tried not to stress that we did not know what was wrong.

The next morning at 9:30 we found out the radatior had a hole in it! Now I was a little upset, there was no overheating when we broke down. Now they were adding another 400.00 to the cost! We felt our answer was there. We would never let someone else pay for our playtime. It was not something we needed..it was an extra. We had enough to pay the bill, and get home.

The momma called us that morning....she had questions I could not answer, so I gave the phone to Don. After about 20 mins, he came out crying...like bawling...and said God blesses us and he knew exactly what we were suppose to do. She told him a story about someone giving her a car when she needed it. This may sound like an out of no where story...but there is something to us. We have our suburban that we stopped driving when it got so expensive. Then Devin got his car and we did not need the truck anymore. We have been trying to sell it for about 3 months. We had been praying it would sell before vacation so we would not have to penny pinch as much. Well Don had been saying, it was not selling for a reason. Now we are looking to find someone to bless with a car we do not need!

4:30 pm....The momma, paid for the van to be fixed over the phone. I was not there, as a couple kids and I walked to a store. But Don came and picked us up crying again....she had told them to add just over half of what we paid to the tow truck company, and hand us the cash!

We were able to continue this wonerful trip thanks to an angel that God sent us! We can never express in words what it means to us!

BTW...another little funny, that we got a great laugh out of...while we were broke down...Don got a voice message from the hotel we were to stay in that Weds.....they had a fire and were closed until Fall!

Devin graduates

My little boy has made it past another mile stone. Over all it went well. We had some minor issues, one major one, that we are ignoring, I am done with that whole thing.

It was really a neat thing to have the parents give the kids their diplomas. It was a great time for the entire family.

I will have more pictures when the cd comes in.

For now, these will have to do!

Don and I with Devin

Don's parents with Devin

Billie jo's parents with Devin

Happy Easter Weekend

We have had a mini spring break this week. We really have not gotten much done it seems, but we really have gotten lots of little jobs done.

So in an hour and ten minutes my baby turns 18, but he is not home...so we are wrapping his presents...we are so mean, we went into his room, took his math book, his cologne, and five pairs of boxers, and we are wrapping them and giving them to him for his birthday! He is so good about pranks, it will be priceless!

I am starting to plan next year for the kids. I will write about it more next week....I have a few ideas, but I need to start looking for textbooks.

Last night we ended up with 30 kids swing dancing! They had a blast...I have pictures, and I hope to get some posted by the end of the weekend!

Have a great Easter.....

A very productive day

Well, I am sitting in the bed, at 6:30, watching my netflix John and Kate Plus 8 (I am liking it)...my husband cooked dinner (mac and cheese with ground hamburger in it)...and I do not feel guilty!

I woke this morning, took Devin to DPS.....he renewed his driver's license, he turns 18 on Saturday. I took Devin to lunch for some mom and son time....discussed the future...he does not know what he wants to do, but intends to do college!

We got home to pick up Evan and to the college we went. Devin only had to stop into his class and fix a paper...Evan I set up to take the college entrance test for dual credit (this is where they get high school and college credit at the same time). Devin then went and retook the math part of the test.

I will tell the results later....instead what I did while they tested.....

I went to the scrapbooking store...for those that do not know, I went to a store in Missouri, bought some paper our town does not have. My husband left in the hotel by mistake. So I found some basketball paper (not as cool as the other I lost), and I found some graduation paper. Then I went to a small new/used book store. Unimpressed...I wish we had a half price books near by! Then I stopped in Michaels...not really in the mood to shop, I was tired by now....I stopped in at Sonic for half price cherry limeade, and a sundae.
Got back to the college about the time Devin was done....he passed with flying colors. His dad says he can officially quit math at home, he is taking College Algebra in the Fall. While we waited we pondered the fall schedule that can be signed up for tomorrow.

He decided to go for Associates of Art...this fall he wants to take Geology, College Algebra, English 1302, Us history to Civil War, and Weight Training.....14 credits....he says he can do it...I hope so!

Then Evan finally came out after 2 1.5 hours...he made a 57 on math...he needed a 60! ?He made a 94 on reading! 84 on Writing (editing) he needed an 85! Scored 5 on essay, needed a 6. Counslor says he should easily pass in 30 days when he can retest! HE did way better than I expected for the first official test...I was proud! That was no preparing, he woke this morning, I said let's go try, and he did! We fully expect him to pass everything by fall semester, and thenhis dad says if he takes college math, he can be done with these books at home!

We headed home, Evan drove us...which makes me nervous, although he is doing very well, he is an overly cautious driver...he needs plently of time to think about what he is doing....which brings me to something the boys did this weekend...

Driver's Edge....highly recommended for all young driver's. The do tours around the country...free....Basically the kids get a classroom instruction time with race car driver's telling them things like how to sit in the car...then they get in the BMW's with the race car driver's where they learn to drive in unsual conditions. They water the parking lot and the kids drive to a speed, the instructor pulls the parking brake, sending them spinning, where they must control the car. They learn to break fast, learn to get out of hitting something when they break. Then when it is over, they got t-shirts, hats, a car safety kit, computer cd with their driving session on it....very worth the time! Look it up, send your kids!

Ok that is all for today, I am feeling very tired...my thyroid...I need to get back on my meds....I know!

what we did today

In the name of homeschooling.....
slept until 9:30 (I was the first one up) others trickled out through the morning.

Evan and I finished his paperwork of his Eagle Scout project...he has two merit badges to finish, letters to ask for, then conferences...

Devin and I applied for Financial aide numbers, registered him for selective service, and discussed we must get his driver's license renewed before Friday.

Krystina worked with her dad on math.

Elizabeth worked on trying to finish a math book...we are way behind, but are working through multiplication and divsion 0-4's. She also started the book Twilight (a little old I know, but if we are going to watch the movie several times a week, we should have the book read)

Don is taking Evan to scouts tonight...I was asked by Evan to get the paperwork done so he can take the college test tomorrow...he wants to take dual credit next year.

Krystina and I will settle in at 8pm for One Tree Hill.....

All in a single day!

homeschooling....

Ok. I have at least two readers....yeah.

So we are less than two months from graduating Devin from high school...Devin has been to school twice in his life. We put him in Kindergarten with all the other children. He struggled with not wanting to go right away. This was a child who wanted to read...I was baffled. Then one day he told me that some kids were making fun of his coloring! He told them Jesus did not like teasing....they said there was no Jesus....he stood his ground, and they were not being nice. There were a few other things, like being punished for eatting his snack before everyone else had theirs....hmmmm. I talked with the teacher and discovered she was having to teach manners because their were some children that were way bad! Finally, I made the leap and decided to try homeschooling.....so we pulled him out at Christmas. I was still a full time college student, had two other kids at home, but it worked fine.
We moved to a small town the next year, and sent him to school with 8 kids in his class. I missed him, the other kids missed him, his teacher sent a note home that was not written well. I disagreed with the "whole langauge" learning method to reading, so we pulled him out. This teacher was much more vocal about disagreeing...she explained how behind he was because he did not use periods in sentences. I had a moment of doubt....but went on...sure enough a few weeks later, our curriculum taught sentence structure!

When we began this journey in 1996 we thought we would do it until jr. high. Jr. high came, and went and then it was definitly until high school. Don knew that sports could only be played in public school...then the time came to go to high school. By this time we were involved with an orgnanized homeschool sports team...next thing I knew Devin was not going into school. We have never looked back with him. This semester he is taking one college class, for dual credit, a great supplement.

I could not homeschool through high school without lots of help. Co-op has been a God sent. I have not had to teach science! Devin also took English, history, and writing at an outside class that we did pay for per semester. Other classes he took at co-op- speech, logic, spanish I, government, economics, world geography.....

Now our journey will take on a new direction....he has no idea what he wants to do when he grows up...he has a plan to take basic classes at the junior college....hoping to figure it out along the way.

As I end my 12 1/2 yr journey with this child, I am far from done...I have three more (that have never been in school)...8-9 more years before the last will be done! I would not change a moment....I see all the advantages, I do see some problems....but I walk into Taco Bell, or the Mall and see the children that are in the public schools, and I am reminded this is a journey worth taking1