UPDATE

Sorry I haven't blogged much lately!

It is getting BUSY around here.  CRAZY how one little thing (like fall arriving) can through me off my game!

I've spent the weekend between parties and errands, trying to switch out closets for 5 kids.  NOT EASY AND NOT DONE.....I still have a few more boxes of attic clothes to go through and a few more closets of summer clothes to put away!

ANYWAY....

Here is what we've been up to this week

School

Geography

We studied New York this week and had a yummy New York Pizza Dinner

We had gymnastics, dance x 2, Awanas, Band, Guitar......all the regulars

But we also had a fun lunch out with Uncle Ryan, Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Barry, Grammy and Pepaw.  The kids LOVED going out to lunch on a weekday when they should have been doing school!

It was great to see Ryan even if it was just for a few hours!

We also had an impromptu Ice Cream Outing with our neighbors as a last hoorah to the sunshine....

I got to hang out with several sweet teenage girls from church and go bowling which was fun!

What a great week!

These kiddos have kept me hoping.  THE BOY had a party this weekend IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE USA!  It was in the boonies....but my city boy is a country boy at heart.....and even though he came home with an airsoft gun wound to the head and a scratched up leg....HE HAD THE BEST TIME EVER!

We also went to a Sunday School Party for our old class on Saturday, which was bitter sweet.  Great to hang out with our buddies but it was sad knowing we were starting our new class on Sunday.  Sunday morning we had our first new Sunday School Class meeting with 16.  Randy shared his vision for what he felt the Lord had put on his heart for the class.  We are all geared up and excited about what the Lord will do in this class.   Our goal is to reach unchurched or unconnected by unconventional means.  So you can pray for us as we start our new endeavor.

Today....is gearing up so I better run.....

QUICK UPDATE

Randy had a good week too....No job yet.....so if you know of ANYTHING keep us in mind!  However, he worked A LOT the last two weeks.  My dad was out of town so Randy got to run his jobs while he was away which he enjoyed.  He is also in the midst of crunch time for this term of school. So we did end up having to cancel a cookout we had hoped to have with some friends on Sunday afternoon and we haven't gotten to see my parents who just got back from Italy yet, and he did miss the Steelers Game (gasp!).  BUT He had a big test and a big research paper to work on this weekend so he was a bit of a hermit, but it was in a good way :)

Happy Monday!

Box of Sunshine

You know how life has ups and downs....

The last few months have been downers....not devastating....not my world is falling apart....not woe is me.....but definitely down.

It has been difficult having Randy out of work.  It has been sad having Granddaddy die.  I have had some other family stuff that is not my information to share...but it has been a strain.  I've had some sadness and struggle with THE GIRL and THE TWINKIE BOY's learning issues.  I have been growing into my new role as mom to a full fledged teenager.  It has been a year of change, loss, transition.  Nothing earth shattering but just difficult.

When life is down there is nothing like a box of Sunshine.  I wish everyone had an encourager in their life like Jill Kelly has been to me.  She has consistently built me up.  Not just during the last few months....but really for quite some time.  Always quick to build me up.  Always a kind word on her lips.  Always speaking truth and courage into my life and heart.  Everyone needs a Jill.  She will probably be embarrassed because she has such a gentle and quiet spirit but she is such an amazing person that I think everyone should know!  She knows when I need a good book and is quick to loan me one from her library and she knows when I need a prayer and she prays it and she knows when I need a hug or a note or a kind word and she gives it lavishly and freely.

She even knew I needed a box of Sunshine and she sent it to me.  SWEETEST GIFT EVER!  She wrapped 10 separate gifts and sent a note telling me to open one gift a day....and no cheating (she knows me too well).  I can't even begin to tell you what these gifts meant to me.  They were such kind, nice, thoughtful, encouraging gifts.  What a treasure Jill is.  She is my SUNSHINE!  I hope I can be a sunshine in someones life like she has been to me.  I am so grateful for Jill and have a special place in my heart for her!

Thank you Jill and all you other encourager's.  What a gift you are.  Your notes, your kindnesses, your pats on the back give the boost that I need to keep at it.  The Lord is using you in my life and the lives of so many others.  It is my prayer that I can be that type of person.  One who speaks only to build up another.  I want to be one who speaks truth and kindness and mercy over people.  I am grateful for all those who have done that for me.  Thank you Jill.  You are precious!

Love
Kim

Twinkie Girl

This has been a big weekend for my little Twinkie Girl.....

She lost her first tooth!  It has been hanging on for about a month.  I get freaked out by loose teeth....so my neighbor Michelle offered to pull it out and Twinkie Girl was thrilled!  Twinkie Boy...not so thrilled.  He wants to loose a tooth too....and he doesn't have any loose teeth.  So he was begging us to "punch him in the face so he could have a loose tooth."  Needless to say we said....NO!

So....I realized that I don't blog much about sweet middle girl.  She is such a sweet girl.  Really delightful.  She informed me last week that she didn't want to be a "twinkie" anymore.  She wants to be her own person!  Awww....sweet girl.  I tried to assure her she is her own person.  She doesn't understand why she can't have her own birthday, her own age, her own class at church....ahhhh....if it's not one thing it is another.  So we made a BIG deal about how she got to loose her own tooth!  No one else lost one except her!  She was VERY happy!

The Two Toothless Wonders

Lydia also REALLY enjoyed having her hair done by Ms. Pam her new favorite!

The way to Lydia's heart is by playing with her hair and she has a new buddy!

So pretty!

Lydia was so proud of her hair-do.  She kept walking around swinging her hair.  Then she would reach back and feel it and make sure it was still fixed.  She begged us to let her sleep with it tonight....so of course we said yes!

Thank You Ms. Pam!

Lydia is also taking dance this year....THANK YOU Grammy and Peepaw!

This Girly Girl LOVES dance!

Now we just have to get Ms. Pam to fix her hair for the recital or teach her mom how!

Other BIG News....

Twinkie Girl is READING!!!!  I'm so excited for her.  It is VERY difficult to be as excited as I want to be because it is VERY painful for THE GIRL that little sis is starting to read with such ease and so little instruction.  So I am REALLY happy for Lydia...and THE BABY is right on her heels and seems to be on the verge of reading.  She's blending sounds.  HOWEVER....TWINKIE BOY....not even close....I am just praying for THE GIRL.  It hurts to see her hurt!

BUT

I am excited and proud of my Sweet Twinkie Girl!

I'm glad she has had a special week.  She is a special one of a kind person...and I LOVE her!

The 2:00 AM Blog Post

Yes it is 2:00AM, well 1:56 to be exact, and I am blogging.  I went to bed no problem....and I woke up in a panic.....this is where I struggle.  In the busyness of the day I am okay.  When I am speaking truth and alert I am able to redirect my sometimes fearful thoughts AND.....when I go to bed I am usually so exhausted I don't have time to think or to ponder.......BUT here is my weak spot:  I fall asleep.....and then for whatever reason....a dream, a noise, a needy child, a barking dog, a snoring husband......I wake up.....and if I had enough sleep to count as a nap....I am in TROUBLE.
So I lay and my mind starts to wonder.....
Should I look for a job?  What if Randy never finds a job?  What kind of example are we setting for our kids....neither of us working?  What if we're ruining their lives?  How can I fix this?  How can we make this work?  and the questions start to assault me and fear creeps in and doubt and anger and frustration and I PANIC.

So....I wake up and I cry.  I cry because I'm tired.  I cry because I can't make it better.  I cry because I don't know what to do.  I cry because I'm scared.  I cry because I may indeed be ruining my children's lives.  I cry because I'm weak.  I cry because I feel like a loser.  I feel alone.  I feel I have nothing to give to anyone.....I'm fresh out...and so I cry.  I cry because I have so little faith.

Then....I remember......
God is love.....I worked on this verse all week with my little Cubbie Bear.  TRUTH

Then I remember it is a new day (because it is....technically the AM) so I am due another gift from my Sunshine Box (I'll post more about this later) and so I open a gift and it is a scripture calendar....and I turn to today's Scripture and it says "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God!  Let Your good spirit lead me on a level path!  TRUTH

Then I turn to my pondering for the week and am reminded afresh..."What we are suffering now is nothing compared with the glory that will be shown in us."  TRUTH

Then I think about how quickly I believe the lies.....I am not a loser I am a child of God dearly loved.  I am not alone...ever....besides my own personal entourage I am also walking around with the Holy Spirit in me!  WOW!  I do have something to give.....I can give love.  I can give encouragement.  I can give time.  I can give a smile.  I can give a pat on the back. 

And then I am reminded....
Randy has worked, for pay, for some portion of almost every week of his unemployment.
He is a hard worker.  He is diligent.  He is smart.  He is gifted. 
This is a season.  A season of painful pruning. 
I don't like it....BUT
We have been blessed by sweet gifts, in ways that are so humbling and so extravagant I can not even begin to tell you.  I am not a shopper, I mean I do enjoy it....but I don't do it....and yet I have been shopping more since Randy was unemployed then I ever went before....because of sweet and generous gift cards given in secret.  UNBELIEVABLE!  I am ashamed that I would worry when the Lord not only has provided but has absolutely spoiled us.

I think part of the problem is I am prideful.  I do not want to accept gifts.  I do not want to be in need.  I want to have it all together.  I want to be self-reliant.  I want to provide for our family...and the Lord is humbling me and teaching me lessons that I need to learn....even though I do not want to learn them.

And now....I'm going to go to bed....or read about Overcoming Dyslexia.....YES I have issues!

Thanks for letting me vent......
And
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"  my Little TNT's verse this week...

HE IS GOOD.....ALL THE TIME!
Nite!

The Apple did not Fall Far from the Tree

So.....tonight I was tucking my girl into bed.  She has been wanting me to paint her room for some time...and I just never find time.  So she was busy planning how she wanted it to look.  She then informed me that we would need to take down all her pictures and posters in order to paint.  Then she got really excited...and yelled, "OR WE COULD PAINT REAL CLOSE UP TO THE EDGES...and NOT EVEN PAINT UNDER THEM!"  She was thrilled with her idea!  I think she was hoping if she could save me some time I may bite the bullet and finally paint....

I meanwhile am about to roll off her bed because I am laughing so hard.  Her excitement and her idea brought back a memory of early in our marriage.  One I hadn't thought of in years!


About 10 years ago....I spur of the moment decided Randy and my bedroom needed to be repainted.  I had always hated the peach color of the walls....and thought a nice cheery yellow would look so nice with our blue and white bedspread.  So I ran to Home Depot, bought the paint, and headed home determined to have it finished so I could surprise Randy.  Little did I know what I had gotten myself into.  So I painted and painted and painted.  I like my girl decided to just paint around a few things....like our bed and our dresser.  I thought it was a brilliant idea.....the furniture was heavy....the room was big....nobody would notice.....Randy didn't think my idea was quite so genius!  Oh what a funny memory~  I can't even imagine what the movers thought when we moved out a few years later.....

What a funny memory...I wish I had pictures to go with it!

So....no....the apple most definitely did not fall far from the tree!

Fall is in the Air

Yesterday was just delightful!

We slept in late.  We woke up to a nice autumn chill!  The temperature change was celebrated by my entire tribe.  During morning recess it was decided we should all wait and have a late lunch....if Mama would make Potato Soup.....PLEASE!!!

Well...how could I say no?

Since it wasn't on the menu...I didn't have everything I needed for the prescribed recipe....so we compromised....and it was YUMMY!

Potato Chowder Soup how we made it......

2 cups peeled and diced potatoes

1/2 cup diced carrots

1/4 cup chopped onion

1t. salt

2 cups milk

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 package frozen corn nibblets in light butter sauce

2 1/2 cup Shredded cheddar cheese

Crumbled Bacon and sour cream for garnish

(I doubled this recipe and we had leftovers)

Place potato, carrots, onion and salt in a large pot covered with water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile Combine milk and flour in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.  Stir constantly until it is smooth and thick.  Pour milk mixture into cooked vegetables.  Stir in corn and Cheese.  Let corn get warm and butter and cheese melt.  Serve garnished with a dollop of sour cream and crumbled bacon....YUM YUM!

I will definitely be making this again this fall!

Hope you have a great weekend.

What's in the Box

I haven't blogged much about school this year....so here is what the boy did today.

He finished reading Amos Fortune Free Man which is based on the true story of a man who was born in Africa, captured by slave traders when he was fifteen, sold as a slave in America, and freed when he was fifty-nine. Amos Fortune's life illustrates the triumph of a patient and peaceful man who deeply values freedom, responsibility, and the respect each human being owes to others.

The Boy enjoyed reading this book.

He is also taking a speech and debate class in co-op.  So he started working on this weeks speech.  It is an acceptance speech.  His partner is giving a speech presenting him with an award....and he in return must give a speech accepting the award.  Most of his "work" today for speech was done via email as he and his partner were deciding what award he was going to be accepting.

For Spanish today he had to translate a paragraph written in Spanish into English.

For History today he contintued his reading on the Colonies and he had a quiz.

He practiced guitar....

He had Algebra....UGH!

He had a Physical Science Lab and write-up to complete.

(the wire you see in all the pictures is the boys beloved iPod....yes he has an iPod....but we make him keep it downstairs.....it is afterall the same as a computer...so we have the same rules for it....but that is another post)

Geography.....learning about Jersey....I need to get Mrs. Shank over here!

Working on the Catchicisim...and Ephesians 1:1

That was it for today.  He didn't have any writing, for which he was thankful!  It was a light day for him.  He did play out in the yard.  Do some stuff around the house.  Got ready for the weekend.  He's at one of his public school friends houses for a sleepover tonight and he is going to one of his homeschool friends for a birthday party tomorrow....Air Soft Gun War!  So he is definitely syked for the weekend.  He is Mr. Social!

That is what the boy is up to with school today!

No pictures of him though...he doesn't love to have his picture taken!