Birthday Presents!

This year for my birthday I recieved my usual, cards from various people wishing me a blessed year, money from family, and warm phone calls from wonderful friends. However this year was different for many reasons.

#1 - This is the first and only time my birthday ever fell on Easter! It was absolutely wonderful to have my birthday be on His day. I don't say share it with Him, because His one ressurection day far outweighs all the birthdays I've had and will have. However He loves me and truly blessed me for this birthday.

#2 - My dear husband took me away for my birthday and spoiled me rotten. Not that he doesn't usually spoil me, but he usually doesn't get to take me away. He is absolutely the best husband anyone could ever have!

#3 - My mother wasn't here for my birthday. She has always been here for my birthdays because we share our birthdays. She was born on the 24th and I on the 23rd. I missed her more than I'll share but she is with Jesus celebrating more than just birthdays now. She is celebrating what we shared on Easter, but for her everyday is Easter, because of His resurrection power she can be with Him forevermore!

#4 - Perhaps the most different thing on my birthday this year was how my children responded. Usually they are excited for me to open gifts from dad and their cards that Dad has reminded them to make and eat cake and sing Happy Birthday. But this year, they were way more thoughtful and such a blessing. They made me feel special with hugs and cards they had made on their own, with gifts they had made or purchased from somewhere else. The most precious gift I recieved came from them when they were shopping with their Papa and they found something they wanted. They called Dad and he came and bought it and they were soooo excited to present it to me! It was a sterling silver necklace with a heart that has engraved, "All that I am, I owe to my mom." Oh how that made me cry. It made my heart overjoyed that they really believe that. As a homeschool mom you ever wonder if you make a difference. Apparently I do somewhere in all that I do make a difference in their lives. It also made my heart overjoyed because all that I am is truly how my own mom raised me. Now I don't ever want to leave the Lord out but He put me with her so that I could have her as my special mom to raise me the special way He wanted her to.

So with all that, I was blessed beyond measure for my birthday! Thanks to all of you!

My Easter Lilies!

We had a very exciting week looking for all our Easter Sunday best clothes and shoes! And here they are! I'm amazed at how fast the children are growing.

A side note: Even with my heels on, Sarah's heels made her as tall as I was! Without my heels she was taller, she loved that!

He has Risen!

Happy Easter to all! Happy Birthday to those of you whose birthday is today! I thought I would post some pictures on the blog of the Egg hunt we had last weekend at the church. Sarah was able to participate but only in hiding the eggs. She really like that part too. Neither Zech nor Isabella got the prize egg. But they got eggs full of candy and now I have more candy than I can handle!

Interesting sign!

Hubby and I on our mini weekend getaway enjoyed a laugh over this sign. We came up with lots of possibilities but what do you think? Would you go there?

Started with Roses!

We had a great time, my hubby and me, playing 18 holes, shopping, dining, and sleeping in late! We were to leave on Thursday evening and when he drove up he presented me with a dozen red roses. We were going away on a weekend to a B&B and just to be by ourselves. The reason for our weekend was a combination event for valentines, the end of his seminary classes (he still has one more year to write, but no more classes), and for my birthday (39 and holding!). We dropped the kids off with a couple in our church that has an absolute love for kids. They took them just about everywhere while we were gone.

On our way to our destination, not very far out of town traffice hit a standstill. We weren't very far from the scene and when we realized that most people were just turning around we thought we were in trouble (a semi was turned over all the way accross the road!). However we found another route (see my hubby does stop and ask for directions!) and off we were. Got to the B&B and enjoyed sleeping in (for us that means around 7:30am). We both had our quiet times with the Lord and I had a most glorious blueberry coffee cake with cream cheese in the middle and laddled with blueberry syrup on top. Absolutely delicious! We took off to play golf. I just rode in the cart and gave him kisses when he did well and gave him kisses even when he didn't do so well (Okay I won't cover the mushy parts!). It was a picture perfect day!

Then he took me shopping. Now he hates to shop but he endured it for me. I wanted to get an Easter/birthday dress and some shoes. I found them both at a couple of stores in the mall. We then found something to eat and went shopping some more and then found the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory and bought some chocolate covered strawberries! MMMMMM, they were good! We went shopping some more the next day and just walked around and then headed back home after lunch. The kids didn't get home until late that night so we unpacked, I went grocery shopping, and took a nap!

What started with Roses ended up to be a perfect weekend trip!

He is truly Amazing!

Yesterday I had a chance to visit my old neck of the woods (where we used to live) and visit with some friends. I'm amazed yesterday as I spoke with all the different women and the little men that God gave me exactly what I needed.

You see I've been fretting. Fretting is worrying and continuing to do so time and time again without really making any headway about what your worrying about. I've been fretting over whether or not to homeschool during highschool. Lots of questions enter in the equation when asked that question.

Am I qualified to teach subjects that I struggled in high school over?

Is this going to take more time than what it already does?

Will they be better off with other friends their own age?

Will a Christian school give them a better oppurtunity to pursue colleges?

Etc, etc, etc.

Since starting to homeschool in 2001, I've been asked and asking this question, "Do I homeschool through high school?" Somehow in the midst of this homeschooling year I've forgotten one very important person and factor in this whole equation. I've forgotten that every year God shows me what to do and where to go. He supplies the strength, the knowledge, and the know how. He has shown me year after year what to homeschool and what to use and and what to do. So why would He stop now! The most important years of my childrens education are now (yes the early years are important, but I think you know what I mean).

So through the ladies and our fellowship, this morning the Lord, simply said, let it go and trust ME! I'll supply the answers you need and if I ask you to do this then I will supply that as well. So for those of you who ask me, "Are you going to homeschool through High School?" My answer is without a doubt, "I'll know when He shows me!"

Ladies if He has called you to do anything, trust Him to work it all out!

Ramblings from a deranged mom!

Not much going on this week and last week. We have lots coming up, so look forward to me posting some more. Just hanging out and doing school.

Today though I thought it was interesting that I was in the middle of writing an email, cooking a pie, helping my youngest daughter with her English all the while listening to my oldest daughter read me her english. I thought that was pretty talented. What was most talented is the strength God gave me not to scream at everyone to be quiet so I can do one thing at a time. (Of course the pie might be really bad, the girls might not have learned anything, and the email well lets just hope it made it to the person I was writing to without any bad words in it)

I did fuss, a little loudly I might add, at my oldest. She has these grandiost plans and gets so excited about them and they are worthy, but she doesn't seem to follow through with them, unless I prod her to do so. It is so frustrating. For example, she went to bible study sunday night and got her workbook and came home so excited about it. I was so excited for her until the next week I asked, "Did you do the work you were supposed to do in your workbook for your bible study?" "No, I forgot, or I was just too busy." Sigh, big sigh, because that is her life. She gets so excited about something and I have no idea what happens but maybe she is so excited she is about ready to pop and pop she does the idea right out of her head and it is not there anymore. She is not consistent with anything unless I remind her. Shouldn't a 12 year old remember more things on their own than your 9 year old? I sigh, bow my head and pray, and go on my way and pray some more, that once they are in college, I won't be writing out their activity sheet and how to keep everything on schedule.

My washing machine broke the other day. My wash sat for 6 whole days doing nothing! DH looked at the machine two nights in a row and then called a repair man. We really thought we were going to have to buy new machine (and of course a dryer to match!) with money we didn't have except for the money tree in the back yard (only dreaming). However they suggested changing out the belt. Now the old belt didn't look bad in any way, but we did it anyway and guess what, for $17.95, my washer works now! Didn't have to go to the money tree after all. So DH actually washed all my clothes for me, and I folded and put them away. He is soooo good to me!

He is in the middle of writing papers. So his brain is all on papers and writing and bibliographies and such things. He has been working hard since January to gather all the materials needed and then starting writing. He has one more week to finish before they are due. Praise God he has one last paper to finish his Doctorate, and of course that's the big one! He is so smart. I'm glad it is him not me.

Okay that is enough rambling, just thought you would like to hear from me. Nothing special!