What a great feeling to do NOTHING! Rog had to go to the station, we all (all 3 kiddos) slept in for a bit and they immediately started playing *nicely I might add! I got a fire started, and I curled up in the chair and read, watched some TV and played on the computer...nothing else! It was nice to not have anywhere to go or anything to do!
Samantha had a friend over last night, my niece came over for a while this afternoon. When everyone left for the day, me and my kiddos had some dinner and played bigfish games. Em came back over to spend the night. Samantha is not feeling well, so she has gone to bed. Ry and Em are building with legos, so I am headed to bed myself....
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday ~ Monday
We had a lazy Sunday around here ~ church, then serious lazin around, then dinner and games at mom's house. We got a few new games for Christmas and we tried them out...Apples to Apples (not sure about it still); Phase 10 Twist (different); and Exago (which is a tic tac toe type game) it was pretty fun!
Monday morning, we got up and did a quick clean on the house, as we were expecting company for the evening. Once that was done, we went out to help my cousin clean up. Her house was affected by some major flooding rains that came thru Wednesday and Thursday (Christmas Eve) ` we got over 8 inches in the central area. She ended up having 12 inches go in the house...it was bad. I helped for a while and helped get some things packed up. We got to a stand still of sorts, we were out of boxes and were down to mostly heavy items, so the kiddos and I came home ~ I was FROZEN! I climbed under my heated blanket for about an hour, then it was off to fix dinner. Baked chicken, rice and broccoli...
We had some friends over that we haven't seen in 2 or 3 years, they have a new little one and were in town for the holidays, so were able to come and visit. It was nice to visit with them for a while ~ wish they were closer so we could be closer!
Rog is watching football, and I think I am about to play a BigFish game!
Monday morning, we got up and did a quick clean on the house, as we were expecting company for the evening. Once that was done, we went out to help my cousin clean up. Her house was affected by some major flooding rains that came thru Wednesday and Thursday (Christmas Eve) ` we got over 8 inches in the central area. She ended up having 12 inches go in the house...it was bad. I helped for a while and helped get some things packed up. We got to a stand still of sorts, we were out of boxes and were down to mostly heavy items, so the kiddos and I came home ~ I was FROZEN! I climbed under my heated blanket for about an hour, then it was off to fix dinner. Baked chicken, rice and broccoli...
We had some friends over that we haven't seen in 2 or 3 years, they have a new little one and were in town for the holidays, so were able to come and visit. It was nice to visit with them for a while ~ wish they were closer so we could be closer!
Rog is watching football, and I think I am about to play a BigFish game!
Shaken, Shattered and Stirred by Gilbret Ahrens
Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred
In his candid new book, author Gilbert Ahrens shares with readers how he was able to reconnect with what matters most after experiencing loss and adversity
Dallas/ Ft. Worth , TX —In the blink of an eye, life can change forever. Hopes and dreams of what we’ve envisioned our lives would be can disappear in a moment. Tragedy and heartache can instantly pierce the veil that once separated the world we knew and the one we could never have imagined. In his new book, Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred: Reconnecting with What Matters Most After Loss and Adversity, author Gilbert Ahrens recounts his own personal story of conflict, struggle, and suffering in an intimate letter to his young daughter. His story offers strength, suggestions, and encouragement to others who find themselves on the solitary journey of loss that—sooner or later—is the one thing that we all have in common.
On a beautifully clear, crisp autumn evening in 2002, while traveling outside Denver , Colorado , Gil’s car was hit head-on by a drunk driver traveling 95 miles per hour. Gil, his wife Kim, sister Margot, and three-week-old daughter Olivia had been going 60 miles per hour. The driver of the other car was only 18, and the passenger in his car was killed instantly. Gil’s family survived but just barely. Among many other serious injuries, the worst was that his wife, Kim, suffered a broken neck that paralyzed her—sentencing her to a wheelchair. Their baby daughter, however, emerged miraculously unscathed.
In a split second, the lives of this seemingly ordinary family were upended, disrupted, and derailed—just as they were beginning to learn the ropes of parenting a newborn. They were instantly transported to a new world of “survival”, which then over time transcended to the less dramatic but still unknown world of “coping.” But, in the wake of devastation and anguish is where recovery and, ultimately, redemption are found. In Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred, Gil explores and embraces the process of struggle, brokenness, and healing in a way that is honest, heartfelt, and yet at times, reassuringly humorous.
“Suffering has no purpose unless it draws us closer to God, which I think is why He allows it and created it in the first place,” writes Gil. “It is very difficult to connect with God when we feel able, strong, and self-reliant. But it is often only in our weakness, need, and insufficiency that we allow ourselves to be open enough to let God in.”
In Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred, Gil tenderly encourages readers with an eternal truth he has learned through personal trial and affliction: When there is hardship, it is for a reason. “Any valuable tool or piece of equipment needs to be tested and pushed to its limits in the laboratory before it can be ready for service in the field. God is not testing us to see if we are worthy; He is preparing us for something greater than we can imagine. The key to everything—to surviving, coping with loss, adapting to changed realities, and managing to get by—is Faith, Hope, and Love; that is how we find and reconnect with joy.”
What I have to say about the book: Interesting...to say the least... I read the book and the entire time, I felt sad for Gil and his family. I can't imagine going thru something so horrible. While reading, I kept thinking that there were somethings that I could apply to my life even now ~ not in a crisis!! I do think it was a pretty good read and for someone who is in the middle of a family crisis, it would be something that would be of a benefit to read!!
In his candid new book, author Gilbert Ahrens shares with readers how he was able to reconnect with what matters most after experiencing loss and adversity
Dallas/ Ft. Worth , TX —In the blink of an eye, life can change forever. Hopes and dreams of what we’ve envisioned our lives would be can disappear in a moment. Tragedy and heartache can instantly pierce the veil that once separated the world we knew and the one we could never have imagined. In his new book, Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred: Reconnecting with What Matters Most After Loss and Adversity, author Gilbert Ahrens recounts his own personal story of conflict, struggle, and suffering in an intimate letter to his young daughter. His story offers strength, suggestions, and encouragement to others who find themselves on the solitary journey of loss that—sooner or later—is the one thing that we all have in common.
On a beautifully clear, crisp autumn evening in 2002, while traveling outside Denver , Colorado , Gil’s car was hit head-on by a drunk driver traveling 95 miles per hour. Gil, his wife Kim, sister Margot, and three-week-old daughter Olivia had been going 60 miles per hour. The driver of the other car was only 18, and the passenger in his car was killed instantly. Gil’s family survived but just barely. Among many other serious injuries, the worst was that his wife, Kim, suffered a broken neck that paralyzed her—sentencing her to a wheelchair. Their baby daughter, however, emerged miraculously unscathed.
In a split second, the lives of this seemingly ordinary family were upended, disrupted, and derailed—just as they were beginning to learn the ropes of parenting a newborn. They were instantly transported to a new world of “survival”, which then over time transcended to the less dramatic but still unknown world of “coping.” But, in the wake of devastation and anguish is where recovery and, ultimately, redemption are found. In Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred, Gil explores and embraces the process of struggle, brokenness, and healing in a way that is honest, heartfelt, and yet at times, reassuringly humorous.
“Suffering has no purpose unless it draws us closer to God, which I think is why He allows it and created it in the first place,” writes Gil. “It is very difficult to connect with God when we feel able, strong, and self-reliant. But it is often only in our weakness, need, and insufficiency that we allow ourselves to be open enough to let God in.”
In Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred, Gil tenderly encourages readers with an eternal truth he has learned through personal trial and affliction: When there is hardship, it is for a reason. “Any valuable tool or piece of equipment needs to be tested and pushed to its limits in the laboratory before it can be ready for service in the field. God is not testing us to see if we are worthy; He is preparing us for something greater than we can imagine. The key to everything—to surviving, coping with loss, adapting to changed realities, and managing to get by—is Faith, Hope, and Love; that is how we find and reconnect with joy.”
Shattered, Shaken, and Stirred by Gilbert Ahrens
Positano Press/October 2009
ISBN: 978-0984289516/224 pages/softcover/$14.95 ISBN: 978-0984289509/224 pages/hardcover/$24.95
What I have to say about the book: Interesting...to say the least... I read the book and the entire time, I felt sad for Gil and his family. I can't imagine going thru something so horrible. While reading, I kept thinking that there were somethings that I could apply to my life even now ~ not in a crisis!! I do think it was a pretty good read and for someone who is in the middle of a family crisis, it would be something that would be of a benefit to read!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Back on track this time for sure...
Well~ we are spoiled brats! My father-in law got us all a laptop (each) for Christmas! So, I am hoping that since I won't be *tied* to a desk, that I will be able to get back on track!! Err...once I get thru the 6 years worth of things on my desktop to see what is important enough to move over to the laptop ~ and figure out how to do that!!
I am walking out the door to go visit some relatives that are moving, so I will be back later and update our last week!!
I am walking out the door to go visit some relatives that are moving, so I will be back later and update our last week!!
Saturday
We had a super nice Saturday! The kiddos got up and played for a while this morning, Rog headed down to deer camp. My parents picked us up and we headed to Brinkley to visit with my 89 year old great uncle who is moving out of state this next week. We stopped and had lunch, went by the cemetery, then went to visit with my uncle. He seemed to be ready to move. We visited with him for part of the afternoon and then went out to visit with my other great uncle and aunt! We love going to visit with them! The kiddos usually love playing out side because they live on the edge of a rice field and the kiddos can go play in the fields! It was too cold today!
We stopped on the way home and ate dinner at Nick's BBQ and Catfish! It was real good! Kiddos were glad to be home and one of them have already crashed for the night; the other is on his way down...as am I!
We stopped on the way home and ate dinner at Nick's BBQ and Catfish! It was real good! Kiddos were glad to be home and one of them have already crashed for the night; the other is on his way down...as am I!
Merry Christmas to you all!!!
I pray you all had a very Merry Christmas! We sure did around here!
Rog got home from the station about 7:20 and the kiddos were waiting patiently in their room for him to get home. We had teased about them waiting for dad before they went to see what santa left, but I figured they would at least wake me up ~ they didn't! Once Rog got home, they took off for the den! There wasn't much for them under the tree, from santa or us either one, but the DSI they got were plenty to make them happy! I was perfectly satisfied with my new shoes and some fire-starter logs!!
Christmas morning, well...day, tradition includes heading over to my inlaws for breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls. Normal years, we stay there for the day, do a sandwich type lunch, gifts, then a big Christmas dinner. Since Rog worked Christmas Eve this year, we had to work my parents in...so we lunched there!
At my mom's house, Samantha got a 'Just Like Me' American Girl Doll and Ry got a Lego Fire truck set. The kiddos all played and had a good time! After lunch, we headed back over to inlaws...good thing we are all only 2 miles or so apart!
Back at my inlaws, the kiddos played until granpa was ready to open gifts ~he is always the one playing around and asking when we do we get to open presents...they started with the kiddos and their big gift ~ they all got a laptop! Samantha's is pink and Riley's is green ~ both very pretty! We opened gifts, lots of nice things for all. Then Rog, his brother and I got to open our gifts...brother and I opened a laptop for each of us and Rog opened a crossbow! He seemed a little disappointed that everyone got a computer except him. His main concern was how silly was he going to look carrying mine, pink, to work with him. After a few minutes, his dad told him to open his box, so he could show him something. Rog opened the box and it was full of paper ~ and a laptop...It was pretty funny...they got him pretty good!
All in all, we had a great Christmas! I pray you did as well!!
Rog got home from the station about 7:20 and the kiddos were waiting patiently in their room for him to get home. We had teased about them waiting for dad before they went to see what santa left, but I figured they would at least wake me up ~ they didn't! Once Rog got home, they took off for the den! There wasn't much for them under the tree, from santa or us either one, but the DSI they got were plenty to make them happy! I was perfectly satisfied with my new shoes and some fire-starter logs!!
Christmas morning, well...day, tradition includes heading over to my inlaws for breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls. Normal years, we stay there for the day, do a sandwich type lunch, gifts, then a big Christmas dinner. Since Rog worked Christmas Eve this year, we had to work my parents in...so we lunched there!
At my mom's house, Samantha got a 'Just Like Me' American Girl Doll and Ry got a Lego Fire truck set. The kiddos all played and had a good time! After lunch, we headed back over to inlaws...good thing we are all only 2 miles or so apart!
Back at my inlaws, the kiddos played until granpa was ready to open gifts ~he is always the one playing around and asking when we do we get to open presents...they started with the kiddos and their big gift ~ they all got a laptop! Samantha's is pink and Riley's is green ~ both very pretty! We opened gifts, lots of nice things for all. Then Rog, his brother and I got to open our gifts...brother and I opened a laptop for each of us and Rog opened a crossbow! He seemed a little disappointed that everyone got a computer except him. His main concern was how silly was he going to look carrying mine, pink, to work with him. After a few minutes, his dad told him to open his box, so he could show him something. Rog opened the box and it was full of paper ~ and a laptop...It was pretty funny...they got him pretty good!
All in all, we had a great Christmas! I pray you did as well!!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Homeschool Crew: Maestro Classics ~ Children's Classical Music
Well, we got a CD in the mail from Maestro Classics and I showed it to the kiddos and it disappeared! I *thought* for some reason it was Peter and the Wolf, but when I look at the website, it may have been The Tortoise and The Hare. I haven't seen the thing since I opened it. I have had a rule that the items for review needed to be returned to 'the spot' once they were finished with it, until after the review and we found a new home for it ~ well, they haven't finished this one yet! They have it going when they are playing, they have it going when they are reading, they turn it on at night to go to sleep with it.... I hear it down the hall at various times.
Just confirmed ~ it was Tortoise and the Hare that we have ~ and since I brought it up, they went and turned it on. And they asked if they could listen to in the car when we go run errands!
Go check out the website ~ there are a few classic choices and I think they are running a pretty good deal right now!! I guess I am off to listen to the Tortoise and the Hare again while we do math!
*Disclaimer ~ By being part of the Homeschool Crew, I received this product free for use in return for my honest review on my blog. All of the above is strictly my thoughts and opinions. For more opinions and reviews on this product, please visit the Crew at the link above!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Homeschool Crew: 3P Learning ~ Mathletics
I know my reviews haven't seemed all that positive lately, but for some reason, the things just haven't interested my kiddos. That changed with this one!!
We were provided with a 45 day access to Mathletics. They were nice enough to provide us with a user name and password for each of my kiddos and they really had a great time with it. When they signed in, they were put on a 'team'. My kiddos thought Team USA was really cool! They had access to all different levels and they played on several of them. Even though they are 4th grade, they had fun going to the 2nd grade level and playing the shape games and then going to the 7th grade level and trying things there.
We have reviewed a few math items this year, mostly just drill type items, and this was by far their favorite.
As a side note, Mathletics is also home of World Math Day. Which I had never heard of until this trial period.
*Disclaimer - being part of The Homeschool Crew, I was provided this product free of charge in exchange for my review. This review is my opinions and thoughts only. For more thoughts and reviews on this product, please visit the Crew at the link above.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Piano Recital ~ 1st one! She made it through!!!
Samantha had her very first, in front of tons of people, piano recital today! She was very nervous - she learned a new word some where - stage fright - and she had used it a time or two! She was dressed and ready to go and I was very proud that she didn't seem nervous about it. When got to the nursing home and she was number 8 on the list. She stood by waiting patiently! One younger girl before her messed up (scared the little girl) so I told Samantha that if she messes up, just pick up where she knows where she is and keep going. She watched her teacher and when it was her turn, she marched right up there and put her book up and started playing! She only missed 1 note, but had some issues with her book staying in place, so she had to adjust it a time or two. She did wonderful. When she was finished, she grabbed her book, walked back over where we were, found me and STARTED BAWLING!!!!! Her nerves must have gotten the best of her ~ she said that she was crying because she was glad it was over and she made it through! I did tell her once good thing was that she had made it through her 'first' and she would never have another one, so there should be no more stage fright issues - she said that she was going to be 'not so nervous' at the spring recital.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Homeschool Crew: Tektoma Membership
As part of The Crew, we received a trial membership to Tektoma, which is a website for game tutorials for kids. I checked out the site, I had a little trouble with the downloading (but I think most of that issue was my computer) made sure that I approved of all on there, then showed it to the kiddos. Samantha played on it for just a minute or two, but wasn't interested and I never could get her re-interested in it. Riley got on there and spent about 30 minutes, and told me he didn't care for it.
I guess they are not really the gaming type?
This product was given to me for free for my honest review. For more reviews and opinions, please click on the Crew link above.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Scouts sing at the nursing home
Riley and his Cub Scout pack go and sing for the residents of a nursing home each year at Christmas Time. This year was no different ~ the activities lady searches us out each year and asks us! For whatever reason, Riley took his guitar. After the cubs all sang several songs, Riley asked if he could play Joy To the World with Mr. Mark, one of our adult leaders. He had a few cubs join around them and sing while they played the song for the residents. This was Riley's 'debut' with his guitar. He has played for one or two people here and there, but never this many and never people he didn't know! SO proud of my boy!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Homeschool Crew: All About Spelling
As you read in an earlier post, we have been struggling with spelling this year. So, you can imagine my excitement when The Crew got the opportunity to review All About Spelling. We were sent Level One and Level Two and we will continue to work using this program as long as I see some improvement. I think it is helping Samantha with her spelling a little.
There were a couple of things I didn't care for with this program. First, there was a lot of prep work on my part ~ I had to do a lot of cutting and tearing and such to get the program ready to go. Second, I think that starting with this program at the age we are is not that helpful. We have already learned so much and I feel like we were backing up to get started on it.
If you are at the beginning of the 'learning to read' journey, then I think that this would be a wonderful program to start with.
A November Update
WOW! November was a C*R*A*Z*Y month at our house! I will give you a quick recap, so you will know why I was missing! The first weekend was Halloween, and we had church festivities and a FIRST birthday party on Nov 1. Then that next weekend was youth hunt. We spent a few days getting ready for that, and then a few days down there. Both of the kiddos went hunting, but neither got anything ~ Riley saw one, but he says he didn't have a good shot on it, so he let it walk. We returned from that weekend at deer camp to hurry up and get laundry done and repack so we could go back down for opening weekend. We spent opening weekend down there with Rog and his family ~ plus a good friend ~ 11 of us in the camper! ~ we had a great weekend! Once everyone else went home, we stuck around, went on with our school work, hung out and watched movies, and did some exploring out in the woods. We stayed til Wednesday, headed home that morning for our normal *which wasn't* routine!
That night, after the kiddos were in bed, my dog, Rascal seemed restless. I got up and sat with him in the floor until about 1:30am, until he died there beside me. I don't know why...he was 13 years old, and we had sorta been expecting it, but it was still hard. I called Rog at deer camp and told him ~ he loaded up to come home. We had a hard time telling the kiddos and they took it very hard. It was a very sad day around here and at that point, I decided we were officially on Thanksgiving break ~ we were all too emotional to focus.
From there, Friday night, I sent Ry around to his cousins house, then had a couple of Girl Scouts over to spend the night. I think there is nothing better than listening to a group of giggly girls! And I love that my GS Troop are friends besides scouts! Well, they were here because we had a scout thing the next morning, and it was just easier! They had a great time though! Their even the next morning ( an hour away) was CSI: Diamonds ~ really cute fake scene set up and the girls had to do some investigating to find out who forgot to sign the letter that said welcome to the event I have a surprise for you, come find me! The girls had a great time with it!
While we were an hour away having some Girl Scout fun, I got the call that Rog's grandpa had passed away. So, as soon as the girls finished up there, we hurried home so we could pack once again and head to Tennessee. We drove all day Saturday, spent Sun, Mon, Tues in TN and then drove all day Wednesday. The Tennessee trip was very emotional for me, as it has not been that long since I lost my grandpa. I had a really tough time with everything happening at once as well. It truly was a bittersweet trip ~ we had an awesome time visiting with and reconnecting with Rog's family, but would have wanted to do that under better circumstances.
On the way home we took a different route and went the Huntsville Alabama. We did take the opportunity to stop in and the space center. We did a super quick mini tour and decided it was definitely worth a trip to come back to!
Home barely in enough time to celebrate Thanksgiving ~ even though we really weren't in the mood to. We spent Thanksgiving Day with my family, had a good time visiting with everyone.
Rog spent the rest of Thanksgiving weekend in the deer woods, while the kiddos and I hung out here...
And that my friends was our C*R*A*Z*Y November! Praying December is a little more calm!
That night, after the kiddos were in bed, my dog, Rascal seemed restless. I got up and sat with him in the floor until about 1:30am, until he died there beside me. I don't know why...he was 13 years old, and we had sorta been expecting it, but it was still hard. I called Rog at deer camp and told him ~ he loaded up to come home. We had a hard time telling the kiddos and they took it very hard. It was a very sad day around here and at that point, I decided we were officially on Thanksgiving break ~ we were all too emotional to focus.
From there, Friday night, I sent Ry around to his cousins house, then had a couple of Girl Scouts over to spend the night. I think there is nothing better than listening to a group of giggly girls! And I love that my GS Troop are friends besides scouts! Well, they were here because we had a scout thing the next morning, and it was just easier! They had a great time though! Their even the next morning ( an hour away) was CSI: Diamonds ~ really cute fake scene set up and the girls had to do some investigating to find out who forgot to sign the letter that said welcome to the event I have a surprise for you, come find me! The girls had a great time with it!
While we were an hour away having some Girl Scout fun, I got the call that Rog's grandpa had passed away. So, as soon as the girls finished up there, we hurried home so we could pack once again and head to Tennessee. We drove all day Saturday, spent Sun, Mon, Tues in TN and then drove all day Wednesday. The Tennessee trip was very emotional for me, as it has not been that long since I lost my grandpa. I had a really tough time with everything happening at once as well. It truly was a bittersweet trip ~ we had an awesome time visiting with and reconnecting with Rog's family, but would have wanted to do that under better circumstances.
On the way home we took a different route and went the Huntsville Alabama. We did take the opportunity to stop in and the space center. We did a super quick mini tour and decided it was definitely worth a trip to come back to!
Home barely in enough time to celebrate Thanksgiving ~ even though we really weren't in the mood to. We spent Thanksgiving Day with my family, had a good time visiting with everyone.
Rog spent the rest of Thanksgiving weekend in the deer woods, while the kiddos and I hung out here...
And that my friends was our C*R*A*Z*Y November! Praying December is a little more calm!
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