Happy New Year!

As I've been praying about what my focus should be for 2009, one word keeps coming to mind. I've thought of other words, pondered other words, considered other words but this word keeps coming back.

The word I wish to characterize my life in 2009 is prayer. It seems so simple yet it something I continually neglect and something that shows my lack of faith in God's Word and in His promises.

My ladies' Bible study has been studying prayer for the past few months and I have been challenged and stretched as I contemplate how lacking my prayer life has been. How many times have I lacked wisdom because I simply did not ask? How often does peace elude me because I do not seek God in prayer?

I want to practice praying without ceasing. I want prayer to be my first thought no matter what the circumstance. I want to lift up my husband, my children, my friends. I want each of them, each of you, to know that they are in my prayers and that I labor for them before the very throne of God.

Andrew Murray puts it this way, "Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeblest child can pray, it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which a man can rise. Prayer is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at prayer's disposal."

So, at the beginning of this new year, this feeble child of God commits herself to the high and holy work of fellowship with the Most Holy One and looks forward with great anticipation to the growth that will come and the answers that will be received.

Happy New Year, friends! I would love to hear the word you have chosen!

Lesson Planning-Jr. High

Today's focus is Footloose and the second semester of her 7th grade year!

Here's a list of her course work:



Bible: The Life of Christ from Christian Liberty Press

Math: Saxon 8/7

English 7: Spelling Workout Book G; Applications of Grammar Book 1; Literature using Progeny Press guides

History: We are getting a quick overview of all of world history using two volumes of Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer for 7th and 8th grade.

Science: Year one of The Rainbow

Music Theory: She's using the same Alfred's book that her brother is.

French 1: Using Bob Jones through The Potter's School

Like her brother, speech club is her favorite time of the week! She is working hard at preparing for four events per tournament. She has quite a knack for humorous interpretation.

An art class on Wednesday afternoons rounds out her busy weeks.

Footloose is a hard working student and a joy to teach every day!

Lesson Planning-High School

This week is lesson planning week for our second semester. Today I'm focussed on Turned Loose and his sophomore year.

Here's a list of his course work:



Bible:Systematic Theology using Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine

Math: Precalculus (He will actually earn two math credits this year as he took Algebra 2 over the summer and 1st quarter of this year.)

English 10: Advanced Composition (through The Potter's School), grammar review, American lit

History: AP US History (also through The Potter's School)

Chemistry: Using Apologia (again, through The Potter's School)

Latin 2:: The Potter's School

Logic: Advanced Formal Logic (1st semester) and Material Logic (2nd semester) both using Memoria Press Materials

Music Theory: Using Alfred's Essentials



He also works hard at his favorite endeavor-his speech and debate club. Tournament season is upon us so we'll have to work extra hard at staying on track.

High school has certainly been a challenge but the rewards of seeing your now young adult work towards his long term goals are very fulfilling!

Tomorrow...7th grade planning!

A gift for Grandma

A couple of months ago, my grandma handed me the scrapbook I gave her 10 (no, the zero is not a typo!) years ago for Christmas and told me to finish it. Ten years ago is when I started homeschooling and, well, I really haven't done much of any scrapbooking at. all. since that time. I'm sure my fellow homeschoolers can sympathize.

Plagued by guilt, I realized that the woman is 87 and does deserve to see as many of her photos done as possible, I decided I'd have to do at least a few pages before Chrsitmas. Of course, I procrastinated until the day before Christmas Eve but I finally got four layouts done.

They don't look anything like the beautiful layouts in the scrapbooking store but she seemed to enjoy them and that's what counts. She did try to hand the book right back to me but I shook her off and told her I'd work on some at home and then just bring the pages when I come to visit (which is about 2-3 times a month). She looked skeptical but didn't seem to want to push on Christmas after all.





(I have *no* idea why Blogger is rotating this photo! But, I can't get it to post right...oh well...)




I love that woman and am glad that I could give her something special! Merry Christmas, Grandma!




(BTW, I will definitely be getting this book back when she goes home to the Lord. So, I did scrapbook the original pictures but they are all scanned into the computer in case anyone else would like to have prints.)

Our learning room makeover...

Footloose approached me a couple of months ago and asked if she could have her room redone for Chrsitmas. After talking it over with Dad, we agreed and started making plans. Somewhat inspired by her idea, I decided to makeover a corner of our "school room" for On the Loose. Being the baby, he has to share and really didn't have a space of his own.

This photo is what it looked like before. It was Footloose's space where she writes her volumes of short stories, books, song lyrics, etc.



Here it is emptied out and vacuumed! She had a lot of stuff under there! :-)




Redone for On the Loose!



The bookcase was repurposed. We moved it in from another space. The baskets contain lots of his toys. One holds all of his Thomas trains. One holds his Duplos. One holds all of his small cars (Hot Wheels, etc.). One holds stuffed animals. You can see his games on the top shelf with the bin that holds all of his art type supplies. The bottom shelf has his Lauri pegs, some puzzles, a few board books, his Magna Doodle and some lacing buttons. On top is his Melissa and Doug wooden clock. The baskets are the only thing new here.




The bench is a new purchase through Company Kids. I think two of the baskets are still empty and one holds all of his gears. It looks like a fun place to read or draw on the Magna Doodle! The table is a new purchase, too. I'm really happy with it! It will last him for several years!




Here was his reaction on Christmas morning. In his defense, he's been sick for two weeks and just wasn't feeling himself. ;-)



And, this is Footloose's new space! This wall previously had nothing on it. The tile system abover her desk is from Pottery Barn Teen. She wanted it for her room re-do (which is still in the process) but it just wouldn't fit anywhere so we put it above her desk.



Hopefully our new space will inspire learning and creativity!

No Room at the Inn

Our plans were made ahead of time. The five of us were going to go to my grandma's house, take her out to dinner and then join her for a candlelight service at her church. She has attended this church for twenty-six years and this is the first time she has attended a Christmas Eve service. She always tags along with us and does what we have planned.

On the Loose turned out to be sick today (still!) so he and hubby stayed home while the big kids and I carried out the rest of the plan. Our dinner was tasty and the service was lovely. Lots of beautiful Scripture readings and singing of carols that nearly brought tears to my eyes.

As the account of Jesus' birth was being read from Luke, I was struck by the words that there was no room for them in the inn. Can you imagine? Turning away Immanuel--God with us? I wonder if any of those who turned away the Lord that night realized later what they had done. I wonder if any of them eventually trusted Him as their Savior.

Isn't it like the world? We are all so busy and so concerned with our own lives, our own needs, our own busyness, our own...how many times have we, effectively, told Him that there is no room for Him in our "inn?" I am so thankful that He has invaded my life and that He dwells with me but how often to I still turn Him away?

He humbled Himself taking on human flesh to save His people from their sins. Is there room for Him?

He grew in knowledge, stature and wisdom before God and men. Is there room for Him?

He displayed His power by His miracles. He turned water into wine, calmed the storm, healed the sick, raised the dead. Is there room for Him?

He ministered to the less fortunate. He loved them and comforted them. Is there room for Him?

He ate with the sinners and extended His grace to them. Is there room for Him?

He called the little children unto Himself. Is there room for Him?

He subjected Himself to a painful and humiliating death offering Himself as a sacrifice for us. Is there room for Him?

He raised Himself from the dead so that we might be justified before the Father in heaven. He offers us eternal life in His very presence. Is there room for Him?

As we remember the baby in the manger today, may we be ever mindful that God became flesh and dwelt among us that we might become children of God. He gave Himself for us that we might be reconciled to Him. Make room for Jesus. Let Him have your whole heart and love Him with all of your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength.

Merry Christmas, friends. May the peace of the Lord enrich your sould as you make room for Him this Chrsitmas!

New Calendar

I love a fresh new calendar! Every year I search for the perfect one. In hangs in my kitchen. I like it to be cute but it has to be very, very functional. It needs fairly large grids since we're pretty busy. I don't like cutesy stickers or anything of the kind.

When I think about it, I'm actually quite hard to please in the calendar department. :-) Last night, while out Christmas shopping, I think I found a winner for the year. It actually shows three months at a time and I can configure those months any way I want. I've started transeferring my information and I think I'm going to be happy. Here's the link and here's a photo (or two ;-)) of it hanging in my kitchen:





If you have a favorite calendar, link me to it, please! :-)

Word of the Year for 2009

At the end of last December, I joined my friends on the message boards at Five in a Row and chose a word I hoped to characterize my life over the course of 2008. My word was *compassion*. I knew that several people in my life would need an extra measure of compassion over the course of the year.

My dad and stepmom both dealt with cancer treatment. My aging grandmother needed more help. My sister had infant twins and is raising them on her own. The Lord impressed compassion upon my heart and gave me a desire to serve these loved ones trying to meet their various needs.

Through the time I have spent showing compassion, I am the one who has been blessed. I have been blessed by the generosity of my grandma. I have been blessed by time spent with my dad and stepmom. I have been blessed to have little Finn and Lucy in my life.

As I look forward to 2009, I have a word in mind. I would like to invite you to join me in choosing a word. Ponder it for a while. On January 1st, I will tell you my word and I would love to hear yours. I plan to share how my word is changing and blessing my life on the first Monday of every month and I hope that you will share with me how your word is impacting your life.

May our lives be changed as we purpose in our hearts to make a change!

And the Winner is...

Thank you all for having fun with me. :-) Footloose and I read all of the entries and each chose five. We had three of the same five. After a short discussion, we agreed on our five finalists.

We put those five names into Footloose's stocking (made for her the year she was born by my friend Heather...it still looks brand new!). Turned Loose made sure they were mixed well and On the Loose drew a name.



And, the winner is:



Lisa will be receiving the coveted box of chocolate covered strawberries! :-)

Thank you all for sharing your stories with us. Footloose and I thought Ruthanne deserved a special shout out for the funniest entry!

As for me...I received a special gift Christmas of 2006. When our Katherine passed away, I told my husband that I would one day love a piece of jewelry with a sapphire (her birth stone) in her honor.

A few weeks before Christmas, he took me into a local jeweler. We'd had lunch at an Italian place next door and Don knew the jeweler through his involvement with our local Chamber of Commerece. We had been meaning to stop in for some time.

I found a gorgeous ring in one of the cases with three diamonds across the front. I shared with Don that it was exactly what I had in mind but with a sapphire in the center instead of the diamond. We left the store and I forgot about it.

We were celebrating Christmas at home early that year because we had plans to travel to Williamsburg and Washington DC over the Christmas holiday. So, we were having our family Christmas the Sunday before. We were all ready to go to church that morning when Don stopped me at the door and said something was missing. I asked what and he said, "I'm not sure but I think you might find it in Katherine's stocking."

I reached in to her stocking and found a small box. The tears began to flow as I opened the box and found the ring. The diamond had been exchanged for a beautiful sappire that shined like the love in my heart for my dauther in heaven.



I wear it every day and am reminded of her waiting for me and for my husband's gentle love which he constantly showers upon me.

May each one of you bask in the gift of God's love for you this Christmas and I pray that He blesses you and allows you to be a blessing to those around you. You are all a blessing to me.

Merry Christmas, Friends!

2008 Christmas Letter

All of my cards went out in the mail and I've loved receiving so many. I thought I'd post our annual letter and photo here for anyone I missed. :-) Our letter was written by Footloose this year:

Bonjour! Hola! Aloha! Salve!

Greetings to all in every different language!

Wow- it’s hard to believe another year has whisked by, leaving us all in a whirl of tears and laughter. Our family has had a year of excitement and joy, happily going wherever the Lord takes us. We’ve been to Sedona, Vail, Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon, and Lake Tahoe for the fifth time! Talk about travel!

Dad turned 41 this year- talk about over the hill! He still owns his computer programming business and has been working as hard as ever. He’s also been making monthly trips to San Francisco, one week at a time, to work for a client up there. We sure miss him while he’s gone! But most importantly of all, he’s the best dad anyone could ever ask for.

Mom is now 39, but she doesn’t look a day over 40! She runs the roost every day with selflessness and care, and is the best teacher that ever walked the planet. She loves each and every one of us deeply, almost as much as she adores the Lord.




Turned Loose is… 16?! Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday he was running around in diapers. But now he’s grown up, and he’s seriously looking into a career in science. He’s been taking a chemistry class, right along with advanced composition, US History, and his second year of Latin. He sure is a handsome, intelligent young man, and we all love him.

Then there’s On the Loose. The little stinker is 3 years old now! His life basically revolves around trains. Any flat, horizontal surface is officially dubbed a train track. We often find his Duplos, all lined up in a row, on the living room floor with him pulling them around, with a “Choo! Choo!” He’s definitely a high maintenance little fellow, but we still love him. (Most of the time)

As for me, I’d rather be typing away at my latest novel than anything else. Writing is simply what I love best. Music also plays a huge part in my life. My iPod’s always playing, and my headphones have seen better days. But most of all, I live for Him. That comes over everything and dominates all. Nobody in the our family loves anything as much as our Savior.

Our church is thriving and we’re welcoming visitors every Sunday. There’s been quite the blossom of babies in the past year, and On the Loose has found a couple playmates. Turned Loose and I have been participating in an NCFCA Speech and Debate club. It’s become a big part of our lives- we spend three hours every Monday night at club, and, with the tournament season drawing near, we definitely need all the practice we can get!

But most of all, we praise the Lord that He’s given us another year to live to its fullest, and is laying out another one for us to look forward to. We hope that all of you are experiencing the same pleasures and joy as we say ‘goodbye’ to 2008, and ‘hello’ to 2009.

Much Joy and Best Wishes to All,

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”- Revelation 22:21


PS...Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway!

A Chrsitmas Giveaway...:-)

In the spirit of fun, laughter and friendship, I'm offering a Christmas giveaway!

Here is the prize:



To enter, tell me about your favorite gift you have ever given or received. Footloose and I will choose five of those entries. On the Loose will draw one of those randomly and Turned Loose will supervise for accuracy and honesty--you know, like those accounting firms that keep the Oscars above board.

These are the most delicious berries ever in spite of anything you might have heard to the contrary. ;) I look forward to sharing them with one of you!

We'll choose the winner on Tuesday, Dec. 16th. My blog is set to accept annonymous comments so anyone can play. :) Of course, if you leave a comment, be sure to sign your name so I know who I'm choosing.

Oh...Footloose--Family members will not be eligible to win the prize! :)

Merry Christmas, Friends!

Faithfulness...

One year ago, almost to the day, I was blessed to deliver a message at a ladies' holiday tea. I thought I'd post it here being that it is the holiday season once again. I pray that it offers encouragement to anyone who listens.




With love to you all...

An Easy,Yummy Treat...

During this season of Christmas gatherings and cookie exchanges, I find myself looking for quick and easy things to make that will make mouths happy.

I thought I'd share one such "recipe." :-) I call them peanut butter blossoms. They couldn't be easier! The ingredients are simple: a tube of sugar cookie (or peanut butter cookie) dough and a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter cups.



I use my Pampered Chef mini muffin tin. Roll the dough into one inch balls and drop them into the greased (I spray it with Pam) muffin cups. Put them into a pre-heated 350* oven. My oven has to be babysat. It's ancient and doesn't cook consistently. With that in mind, they take about 6 minutes in my oven but I would guess 8-10 minutes in a normal oven. :-) As soon as they come out of the oven, gently push a peanut butter cup into the center of each.



Let them cool completely and enjoy!





Note: You could definitely make your own cookie dough and peanut butter cups from scratch but then it wouldn't be quick or easy...although it would still be yummy!;-)

The Day After Thanksgiving

Around our house, it is a tradition to pull out the Christmas decorations on the day after Thanksgiving. Today was no exception.



Part of what is special to me is pulling out one particular box. It contains 20 different ornaments that were sent to us four years ago from our friends at Five in a Row. They chose the theme of angels and sent us ornaments from around the country in honor of our Katherine. Those ornaments continue to minister to me each Christmas. I re-read all of the card and letters that came with them and thank God for those who prayed for us and cared for us as we walked that very difficult road.



Thank you, friends. May God fill your holiday season with joy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends!

I'm thankful today. Thankful for Advil and coffee and a husband who got up with the baby. I woke up with an outrageous headache right over my right eye. Don brought me some Advil and let me sleep for another hour and a half. It was still there when I finally got up but not as bad. Now that I'm sitting with my second cup of coffee, I can feel just the last traces of it.

I'm thankful for my kids! They are a great bunch! The older ones are so helpful (in fact, Footloose is in the kitchen making my "famous artichoke dip" to take to my inlaws' today). Having our "later in life blessing" has been a challenge as he is such a strong willed fellow. Thankfully, we have four "big people" in the house to help tame him.

Speaking of our little Mr. Naughty Pants--how thankful we are for him! He is such a little love bug and he is so funny! He makes us laugh every single day.

I am so thankful for my husband! He is truly my best friend. Recently Footloose said to me, "I just love watching you and Dad together. He loves you so much. I hope I find a guy like that to be my husband." That's my prayer for her, too.

I am thankful for my church family. We are so blessed with our pastor and are so well cared for by our friends. It is such a joy to watch the Body functioning healthily and passionately!

I'm also so thankful for all of you! You make me smile to think that you check in here to see how I'm doing. You share my joys and frustration. Thank you for lending me your ear and for being such good friends!

Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord bless your family!

A Meme

OK, I copied this from Sheri's blog...

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Anything action. He has a special affinity for vampire movies. His favorite TV shows are 24, Lost, Prison Break and Heros.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? He usually orders a Ceasar salad.

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Mushrooms! Can't stand them! He can find them anywhere...even those little bity pieces in cream of mushroom soup. He also hates avocado.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Well, we are very rarely in a bar and he almost never drinks. I think I've seen him with a daquari a time or two. That's it. He will order a diet coke instead.

5. Where did he go to high school? Savanna High in California.

6. What size shoe does he wear? 13 wide

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? He's not currently collecting but he has a sizable collection of DC comics with an emphasis on Batman.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? French Dip.

9. What would he eat every day if he could? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. :-)

10. What is his favorite cereal? Quaker 100% Granola.

11. What would he never wear? A Speedo. LOL!!

12. What is his favorite sports team? LA Lakers

13. Who did he vote for? Well, I wasn't in the booth with him, but I'm fairly sure he voted for McCain.

14. Who is his best friend? Me. Absolutely, me!

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? He wishes I wouldn't get stressed out about things that haven't even happened yet.

16. How many states has he lived in? Just California. Although, I am really trying to talk him into moving to Wyoming. ;-)

17. What is his heritage? English and Scandanavian.

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what would it be? Well, I can't bake a cake to save my life but, if I could, it would, without a doubt, be carrot cake!

19. Did he play sports in high school? No but he did play in the band for a year or two.

20. What could he spend hours doing? Admiring my beauty. LOL!!

21. What's something cool about him? He's always willing to admit when he is wrong. I find this very cool!

I love him with my whole heart and can't imagine life without him. He is an amazing husband and father. We are very, very blessed!

A Thanksgiving Short Story

Unconditionally and Forever
by Footloose

Thanksgiving.

What was so special about it, anyway?

For me, it was a day where I was toted around in the big family van to my grandma’s house with my six sisters and eight brothers. We would eat dry turkey, bland ham, thin gravy, potato salad that desperately needed salt, rock hard rolls, five different cranberry pies- each from different people, all of whom expected you to like theirs the best, and, worst of all, peas. I didn’t get what the big deal with the peas was, anyway. Never once in my life had I read a history book that had noted the Pilgrims eating peas. Then, after the long, tedious meal, my grandmother would take me into the kitchen to wash every single dish we had used that day; I had given up years ago trying to tell her that we should just use paper plates.

After the dishes were done, we’d head into my grandma’s living room and talk. My siblings would talk in detail about their entire personal lives, my parents would speak about how proud they were of them, and all my grandparents, uncles, and aunts would join in. That was another thing- nobody paid attention to me. I was boring old Riley. I didn’t have the potential to become a famous athlete someday like Nick, Elliot, Ryan, and Lilly. I certainly wasn’t going to waltz on stage like a made up clown and act like I’m somebody that I’m not, as Joy, Leah, and Tyler did. My face sure wasn’t going to be smiling out at you from a magazine anytime soon like Alyssa’s, Madeline’s and Ashley’s. And I, most definitely was not talented in music whatsoever, much unlike Michael, Jesse, Cody and Sam.

It seemed that, with my relatives, you had to have something to be included in the conversation. It was ridiculous. The whole thing was. I didn’t know why any of my family cared about the holiday, anyway. Yet, despite my moans every November, they all seemed to love it, and I honestly felt sometimes that they stayed as long as they did, at the Thanksgiving parties, just to prolong my suffering.

And yet, the dreaded holiday was rolling around again. We all bundled up in our warmest coats and headed to Grandma’s. We sat through the long meal, washed dishes, and were just about to sit down to talk when my great grandmother Rose called me to her chair. A little shocked, I stumbled over to her large armchair; I hadn’t really ever talked with her before. She motioned for me to sit down on the floor, and then lay back in her chair, eyes closed.

“Grandma Rose? You still there?”

I asked timidly. She nodded solemnly and slowly opened her eyes.

“Riley, I’ve noticed something different in you. Different than your siblings. You don’t seem to enjoy Thanksgiving as much as them.” I looked down and my shoe and started to play with the peeling rubber on it.

“I can tell that I’m correct,” Grandma Rose chuckled, “Why don’t you like it, Riley?” I sighed and looked up into her serious gray eyes. My grandma had to be at least ninety, and I still marveled at the fact that she could look so stern.

“It’s just that… There’s never seemed to be a point to it!” I finally let out. But to my surprise, Grandma Rose smiled.

“I can understand that, dear. I was the same way when I was around your age. What’s the point of taking the whole day to talk and eat? Right?” I nodded and went back to picking at my shoe.

“And I finally learned from my great grandmother that it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s what you’re thinking about. I know, the Pilgrims get a little old every once in a while. But that’s not the point! The point is that we’re thanking God for what He’s given us.”

“God?” I looked up, skeptically, “I’m not so sure I really trust Him anymore. It seems to me that if he was a good God, he would have prevented Grandpa from dying…” I trailed off as I started to choke. I looked up at Grandma Rose and saw that her eyes were clouded by a light mist of tears.

“You know, Riley, your Grandpa Rick is also my son. And I know full well how hard it is too lose someone you love. But that doesn’t mean that you can completely forget our Lord. God loves us unconditionally and forever. He never ceases. Just think about it.”

She patted me on the head lightly and settled back in her chair. I stood up slowly and huddled in a particularly quiet corner of my grandma’s living room. I thought carefully about what my great grandmother had said. Maybe she was right… Maybe there really was a point to Thanksgiving… Maybe God really did love me?

There was only one answer.

“God…” I whispered, hands clenched tightly together, eyes squeezed shut, “I know there must have been some good reason that Grandpa died, but it’s so hard! Please, God, if you’re there, will you just give me something so that I can know? Thanks… Amen.” I opened my eyes to see my five year old cousin, Sally, skip over to me.

“Riley! Will you play a game with me? Please? Please? Please!” I grinned at Sally as a warm wave of Thanksgiving-happiness swept over me.

“Sure,” I said, “And while we’re at it, how about I tell I tell you the real story of Thanksgiving?”

“Okay!” She responded, beaming as brightly as ever. And as we settled down to play a lively game of Go Fish, I started speaking to Sally about how God provided for the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving by giving them food to eat. How he loved them, and how he loves each and every one of us, too, unconditionally and forever.”

Twilight, the movie...

My dear husband is planning a date for us this afternoon to see Twilight. He may be the only non-estrogen producer in the audience but he's man enough to handle it. :-)

We're hitting the 3:30 show and then he's taking me out to dinner. I did remind him that a date involves him holding my hand and giving me a kiss goodnight. He promised to deliver!

I'll update later to review the film...

OK, we're back :-):

I have to admit that I was disappointed. The movie does not follow the book much at all. Don asked me when it was over whether or not I thought they left it open to make a movie of New Moon or if they had strayed too far away from the original story. I do think they left enough anchors in it to be able to do the second book.

The casting: I was very happy with Alice! She was the best cast character--most true to the book. I was also happy with the casting of Emmett and Jacob. The rest left something to be desired for me although Jasper was pretty close to how I'd pictured him.

My favorite scene: Eaily the vampire baseball game! It was even better than I imagined it. It really gave the sense of the normalcy of the Cullen family despite the fact that they are so not normal! The tension between the two covens was also played out very well.

My frustration: Most of the movie was invented. I understand the need to leave things out and to add things in to make it flow better in a two hour movie but there were just so. many. things. that were not right and they took away from the story, in my opinion.

I'll leave it at that for now since Amanda told me not to give any spoilers. LOL!!

It was still a fun movie and a fun date with my hubby. :-) I'm going to spend the rest of the evening finishing Breaking Dawn. I'd love to hear what any of the rest of you thought of the movie!

What not to say at Jury Duty...

I've been called to serve for jury duty now 3 times in the last 3 1/2 years. I don't mind it. I really don't. I'm of the mind that it is my civic duty and, in fact, a privelege I enjoy as a citizen of the United States of America. I don't complain when I'm called and I try to go in with a good attitude. I know that, were I on trial, I would want someone who was focussed and devoted to the process.

I mean, even if I don't get chosen to sit on a jury, I still get a day to sit in the jury room, sip coffee and read a good book without a three year old's interruption. So, today, I headed over to the court house to fulfill my civic duty.

Upon arrival in the familiar jury assembly room, once I had checked in at the counter, I found a seat and pulled out my book. (I'm reading Breaking Dawn right now for those who are wondering which installment of the Twilight series I am enjoying.) This jury room is actually very nice. Large, with comfortable chairs, nice tables and even workstations for those with laptops. It is even equipped with a wireless connection. The cafeteria is immediately adjacent and prospective jurors may grab a snack at any time.

With the first announcement of the morning, my name was called to report (with 59 other jurors) to department C-26. We all trudged up to the 8th floor wondering what would await us. We entered and the voir dire (fancy word for questioning the prospective jurors) began.

It went on and on and on...finally, the attorneys began excusing those whom they did not want on the jury and new prospective jurors were questioned. I found myself in one of those groups.

They day went on and I began sensing that the attorneys were coming close to choosing their final 12 and 2 alternates and I was sure I was going to find myself on this jury; on a case where the charges were kidnapping, car jacking and using a lethal weapon in the comission of the crime.

Then, it happened. A prospective juror sitting behind me said it. While being questioned about whether or not he believed he could be a fair and impartial juror, he drew on his previous work experience in the men's jail. He had worked in food preparation and had supervised a team of inmates. He commented that the defendant, although he was dressed nicely, had on "inmate shoes."

The defense attorney tossed his pen onto the table, rolled his eyes and sighed. The judge's face changed and she immediately called the attorneys to a "side bar" conference. When they returned, her glare was fixed upon the one who had made the fashion observation. She sighed and dismissed the entire jury panel (with her apologies for the extraordinary waste of time our day had become) except for the big mouth. She continued her fixed look of anger upon him and instructed him to stay behind.

I wonder what happened to him. Honestly, I was a little scared for him as I left. I know people come up with all kinds of crazy excuses to get out of their duty but this, obviously, crossed the line.

So, I returned home to my normal life and wait for my next jury summons curious as to what my next experience will bring. It is a fascinating step into our legal system and I am actually thankful for the opportunity to participate.

What board game are you?

You Are Scrabble

You are incredibly clever and witty. You can talk your way out of (and into) situations easily. You are an excellent decision maker. You are good at weighing the options in front of you. You're the type of person who can make something out of nothing. You are very resourceful. You know a lot of things. Most importantly, you know when people are wrong - even when they won't admit it.

What Board Game Are You?

Very appropriate choice for me! I love Scrabble! I'm always up for a challenge on Facebook (hint, hint). LOL!! I'm not a fantastic Scrabble player but I'm on the "high average" side, I think. I suppose I could be deluding myself. :-) And, don't worry friends, that part about knowing when people are wrong? I'm not out there analyzing you all like that. I usually don't even know when I'm wrong!

By the way, we are safe from the fires and everything seems to be under control. We knew two families who were evacuated but they are both back in their homes. Thank you for praying for us and continue to pray for those around us who have lost everything.

The Orange County Fires...

For anyone who is concerned about us, we are fine right now but the fires are close...very close!

The closest is only about 3-4 miles from us right now. It seems that much of our area is currently up in flames. There have been thousands evacuated and dozens have lost their homes. The smoke is so thick it is hard to even breathe and it seems to be raining ash everywhere. The high school around the corner from our house is currently a shelter.

I don't know what the night holds for us but we are praying for those who are being affected right now.

Name change here! :-)

Last February, I posted about giving my kids nicknames. They voted against the names I had chosen and came up with those you see me using regularly here.

Today, I am changing one of their names. Why, you ask? I picked up Screwloose from his driver's training (still hurts to type it--LOL!!) lesson and the teacher said, "He did really well on the freeway today!" What? I thought she was joking; just trying to get a reaction out of me. Reading her face told me she was not joking. :-)

She took my "baby" onto the freeway and he did well? My heart skipped a beat or two. Those who live here in Southern California (or who have driven here) will know why. The freeways here are insane! Drivers are aggressive, distracted and, sometimes, downright reckless. Not only did she take him out on the freeway but she took him out at 3pm on a Friday afternoon! Rush hour, southern California, beginning of the weekend...I'm really glad I didn't know ahead of time (although Screwloose said he told me this was today's lesson--I must have blocked it out LOL!!) or I would have been a nervous wreck!

All this to say that my son has been turned loose on the freeways of Southern California! He is no longer Screwloose, but shall, from now on, be known as Turned Loose! To all of my local friends: You have been duly warned! LOL!!

Junie B. Jones....or?

Footloose is participating in speech this year through NCFCA. One of the speeches she is working on is a humorous interpretation cut from a Junie B. Jones story.

If you've ever read Junie B., you'll know that every story starts the same, "My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all!" So, we've been hearing this opening endlessly around our house. So endlessly, in fact, that On the Loose has gotten in on the act.

At first, he was saying, "My name is Junie B. Jones. Except I don't like Christmas. I just like B and that's all." He finally got it right, though, and has been saying it often.

However, Footloose just came out of their shared room to tell me his new version (by the way, it is 10:22 pm and he should be asleep!). Anyway, here's what he's saying, "My name is crybaby. The B stands for baby except I don't like baby. I just like B and that's all!"

You know, almost a year ago, my pediatrician was showing great concern for my little guy because he was only saying a small handful of words and not stringing any of them into sentences. I wonder what he will think when he sees On the Loose next?

Clutter...where does it come from?

Does it multiply while I'm sleeping? Does it invite its friends without consulting me? Is it a conspiracy of my children? Is it simply the product of 5 people and all of their stuff in my 1482 sq. foot house?

Whatever the explanation, it drives me crazy! Why does every horizontal surface in the house attract clutter like a magnet? Why do things not make it back to there designated place? Does everything even have a designated place?

Here's an example of what I mean--this is the floor to ceiling bookcase in my "school room":



It probably doesn't look horrible at first glance, but if we look a little closer:

Here is an assortment of cell phone and camera battery chargers:



And, here we see where I stashed a whistle that I did not want to hear during school hours and two decks of cards I was sick of picking up over and over again!



Here is the paper and envelopes I just purchased for our Christmas letters. Why did I put them on the shelf that holds the current year's school books? Because I had company coming and didn't want them sitting on the kitchen counter.



And, here is my stash of cookbooks and cooking magazines. The problem? I never use them because I hate cooking! LOL!! There are also three index card file boxes that have not been used in years but sit there anyway. Why?



And, for good measure, here is the top of the piano on another wall in the same room. None of us plays the piano...it just collects clutter. Here we see papers that need filing, assignment sheets and lesson plans in the making.



All this is symptomatic of the whole house! Lots of stuff. Lots of stuff out of place. I'm going to tackle these two hot spots and I'll let you know how it goes. If I'm not back soon, send someone in after me! It means I'm buried and the stuff won!

Smile!

Footloose is out of braces! Here are some pictures I promised my mom (Hi Mom!!). :-)

Before:





During:



After:



A lovely transformation in a little under 18 months!

That it might impart grace to the hearers...

In recent days I have become guilty of allowing myself to get caught up in negativity. It has been discouraging and depressing. Why do I, as a Christian, slip into this? Because I'm a sinner--no better than anyone else--and I fall into temptations of all kinds.

What I have learned:

I have not been spending enough time reading my Bible. If I had, I would not have suffered the way I have. ("How can a young man [or a nearly 40 year old woman] keep his way pure? By living according to your Word." Psalm 119:9)

I need to tame my tongue and sit on my fingers. With the advent of easy access to all things online and the ability to not have to face each other, our fingers can fly and the damage is done the minute we hit "send." ("..but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and wilth it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." James 3:8-10)

Christians are not always gracious (and that includes me!) and that is damaging to our witness.("A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 14:34-35)

In order to live in unity, we must strive to build each other up; not tear each other down. ("Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths [or your keyboards], but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" Ephesians 4:28-29; 31-32)

I need to stick to my own business and let God deal with every one else. ("Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house [or website to website]. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to." 1 Timothy 5:13)

As I have reflected, I've realized that I don't need to say everything I'm thinking. I need to think before I speak (or type) to make sure that my words are seasoned with grace and that they are edifying. I need to be understanding and forgiving of others; especially giving my fellow Christians the benefit of the doubt. Just because something is true doesn't mean it needs to be said; it can still be gossip and it can still be destructive. And, most of the time, I need to mind my own business.

My thoughts here are directed at myself. I seek forgiveness for anyone who was affected by any of my negativity (including my own family) and ask that you would encourage me in being positive and loving.

My prayer is that those who claim Christ would interact with their brothers and sisters in love so that others will see us and know that He is merciful, forgiving and the One who reconciles!

(Just a note: the things which led me to these realizations were not related to any of my FIAR friends.)

With love in Him,

Twilight...

OK, I admit it! I have guilty pleasure...I have been reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Who would have thought that I would be reading, let alone enjoying, a series of books written for teens that weaves a tale of vampires and werewolves?

I'm currently on page 400 of the second book: New Moon. At this moment, I'm irritated with Edward (and hoping he redeems himself), feeling sympathetic towards Jacob and so very happy to see Alice! I'll have to go get the third book so that I don't have to endure a break in the action when I'm done with this one (which will undoubtedly be today or tomorrow)! I've actually had to buy them because, would you believe, there is a waiting list a mile long at the library and I'm not a very patient person.

I resisted this temptation when I heard my friends talking about the books. But, my sister called a few weeks ago so excited about the books she'd been reading. She admitted that she rarely even reads a book and she was just over the top for these. She asked me to read them and who am I to turn down my younger sister? So, here I sit...sucked into a "vampire book." LOL!!

When Footloose found out I was reading them she exclaimed, "Mom! You're gonna have nightmares! You're freaked out by vampires!" She then told Screwloose what I was reading and he cautiously warned saying, "Mom, you're going to have nightmares." Guess what? I haven't had a single one! So there! LOL!!

I've chatted with my sister about them now a couple of times. It's been great having something to share that is so fun. I've also had fun comparing vampire myths with hubby who is somewhat of a vampire movie expert. :-)

I've had a tough couple of weeks and this has been such a fun escape. Thanks to my sister for her enthusiam and to my friends who told me to go ahead and read it!

Edward? Where are you?

The Night Before...

I wanted to share what happened on Tuesday night. The night before the anniversary of Katherine's passing.

It was Tuesday night. Every Tuesday night we go to a local, family owned Mexican restaurant. Most of us order the same thing. Our regular server doesn't even bother to bring us menus and she knows our order well.

This week, Don decided to order the carne asada-the whole steak-while he usually orders a carne asada taco. It was with his first bite or two that the problem occurred. This is a recurring problem for him. His food will get "stuck" in his esophagus and refuse to go down. It's a painful experience for him and a scary experience for those of us watching.

Usually, the food will go down eventually. This time it was stubborn. It doesn't affect his breathing but causes great discomfort. I finally asked if he thought he should seek medical attention. He finally relented. Never before had it come to this.

So, we headed off to the hospital...the hospital where Katherine was born...on the night before the anniversary of her death. I could feel my anxiety building. This is the third year in a row we have ended up in that ER during the months of September and October; right in the middle of her birth day and her death day.

They attempted to treat him with medication but it wasn't working. As I was sitting by his bedside, the doctor walked in and told us that he was to be admitted for the night and that a GI team would do an endoscopy the next morning. I sat-stunned. He turned to me and asked how it would affect the next day. I started to cry and said, "It's just that...Katherine..."

I could not bare the thought of my husband in *that* hospital, having a "procedure" on the anniversary of our daughter's death. I told the doctor why I was so upset and I could see the look of compassion on her face. She left us alone to talk about it. After a few minutes, I went to the waiting room to tell the kids.

Several minutes later, the doctor and our attending nurse came back in and told us that the GI doctor had decided to do the procedure that night and that he would be there in 30 minutes. I'm convinced that the compassion of that ER doctor was a factor in the GI doctor deciding to come in that night.

I talked to the kids again. I took them home, put the baby to bed and headed back to the hospital for the procedure. Thank the Lord that we live so incredibly close to this hospital and that we had this option.

The procedure began about 10:45 and I was back with Don by about 11:20. It went well and they did a repair on his esophagus that should prevent this problem from happening anymore. He was discharged shortly after and we were home right at midnight...just minutes before the calendar rolled over to October 29th.

The thought of being in the hospital on that day was overwhelming to me. But, God, in His mercy allowed a sensitive doctor to motivate others in order to allow us to be together and *not* in the hospital on that day. I am so thankful for His provision and His protection over my husband.

So, another milestone has passed and we bask in His care for us!

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!

Four years….

Four years ago, today, our dear little daughter entered her heavenly rest. I admit…I’m struggling with it a bit right now. I miss her. I wonder what she would be like. What would she be learning now? Would she be funny like her sister or more serious like her older brother?

Today, I really feel the loss. There will be no first trip to Disneyland. She won’t excitedly show me her first lost tooth. I won’t teach her to add. We won’t bake cookies together. There will be no secrets to tell me.

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I can honestly say that my faith has never wavered due to the loss of my daughter. I do wonder why her time with us was so short and I would do anything to have her back with us but I trust in the Lord’s perfect plan and, like Job, I can declare, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

During her short life and in the months following, we were so thankful to see God’s work in our own lives and the lives around us. We literally had people from all over the world praying for us, thinking of us, helping with meals, and even contributing to our mounting medical bills.

Some wrote to us with stories of recommitting their lives to the Lord as a result of following our story. Some wrote with stories of forgiveness and reconciliation. Some told us how their prayer lives had been renewed as they were on their knees for us.

After Katherine died, the medical bills began to roll in. All told, they amounted to right at $1 million dollars for her six weeks with us. But, the Lord provided there as well. Her condition coupled with the fact that she never left the hospital qualified her for California Children’s Services. That program took care of the vast majority of the expenses.

But, I want to testify to the more of the Lord’s goodness where the finances were concerned. Some friends of ours made our needs known to a broad audience. Money began to pour in. They raised enough money to take care of the delivery portion of Katherine’s birth that our insurance did not cover.

Another friend had contacted me via e-mail and excitedly told me to look for something in the mail. She was sending something. I waited with great anticipation and, soon, an envelope came. It contained an amazing letter from my friend and a money order for just under $500. She told me how a teen aged daughter of a dear friend of hers had heard of our story and was so moved that she had to do something. She sought permission from a local store manager to hold a bake sale in Katherine’s honor in front of the store. The money order was the fruit of that sale. Just a few days before I opened that letter (and a few weeks after her passing), we had received a bill related to Katherine’s treatment in the mail that was just under $500. What an amazing provision.

We can clearly look back and see how He has provided for us again and again from the spiritual to the physical to the emotional realm! We praise Him because He cares for us. We long to join our Katherine in heaven and to behold the One who has not abandoned us!

My prayer for you, friends is this-in your life, when the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, you will bless the name of the Lord. He is Good and His steadfast love endures forever!

(PS...I want to also offer my love and prayers today to my friend Amanda. Amanda's Abigail would have been 13 today. Amanda, I love you, I remember Abigail with you and I pray that the Lord will wrap His loving arms of comfort around you.)

Sharing a Homeschool Treasure

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite homeschooling sites:

Homeschool Share




Homeschool moms are so incredibly resourceful and creative and those who participate at HSS are no exception! Plus, they are willing to share it with all of us. This is a great thing to those who, like me, don't have a creative bone in their bodies.

There are so many incredible free resources all in one place. Really--something for everyone! They have also, recently, added message boards so that you can actually hang out with the creative ladies. :-)

Don't miss this wealth of information! Thank you, Ami, and your team, for offering such a great place for homeschooling moms!

Fall! Glorious Fall!

Or...at least somewhere, I'm sure it's glorious! I have a romantacized version of fall in my head where leaves transform into brilliant colors and gracefully make their way to the ground where tiny little feet crunch, crunch, crunch in them.

Somewhere, the deep hues of orange, red and yellow burst forth in magnificence! I'm sure that there is a chill in the air and the scent of a comforting fire wafting about. In my mind's eye, there are families giggling as they snuggle together to drink warm, spiced apple cider.

In reality, I live in Southern California where it is 95 degrees today and the Santa Ana winds are blowing. The only leaves on the gound are the ones that the the winds have forcefully removed from the trees. There are no fantastic colors. In fact, each "season" here looks virtuall the same as the last.

Don't get me wrong--I am completely content where the Lord has placed me. I live close to my elderly grandmother and have the blessing of having her as a integral part of my family's life. My husband works close to home and doesn't fight the California commute. My neighbors are wonderful.

But, I do dream of experiencing a true fall! One day, maybe, I'll find myself on a fall foliage tour in New England and be just giddy. I'll wear a warm sweater and sip hot chocolate while I walk along a quiet road. I'll fall asleep content with my new experience.

Until then, I am living vicariously through the blogs I visit. I'm thankful that some of my fellow bloggers have shared their falls in both pictures and words with me! Candace in the south; Dawn in New England; Ann in Canada.

If you have any beautiful fall photos on your blog, drop me a line with your link so I can live vicariously through you, too! Enjoy your fall, wherever you may live!

Looking for some encouragement?

If you look to the sidebar to the right of my posts, you will see some other blogs that I like to visit. Each of them is encouraging in their own way.

Today, in particular, I'd like to encourage you to read Ann's blog. Her cyber home is a place of beauty and refreshment. Today's entry spoke volumes to me and I wanted to share it with you.

I pray that "extreme faith" would be what characterizes me!

If you have any blogs you visit regularly that bring you joy and encourage you in your day to day walk, please drop me a comment and share them with me. I'd love to know what you're reading.

The Twins are a Year Old!

One year ago, I had the privelege and blessing of being with my baby sister on the day she delivered her perfect little twins. Finn and Lucy were born in the early evening on October 17, 2007. I am sworn to secrecy regarding which one arrived first. :-) It doesn't really matter which of them cried first. What matters is that they are so incredibly adorable and that they have a fantastic Mama who has proven that she is more than capable of caring for two babies! I'm very proud of my baby sister and I am head over heels for the twins.

Here are some photos of their party today:

Footloose with Lucy:



Auntie Ronette and Auntie Janette with Finn and Lucy:



Me with Lucy:



Lucy's Cake:



Finny's Cake:



Happy birthday, guys! Auntie loves you! Kisses and Hugs!

Do you see more grey hair today?

On me. Not on yourself.:-)

Where in the world has the time gone? On the Loose looks like the identical twin of Screwloose at that age. Wasn't it yesterday that Screwloose was asking me to play blocks with him; to make him a sandwich; to sit down so he could sit in my lap?

Today marks the beginning of a new era: Screwloose is beginning driver's ed! How can my little guy be considering getting behind the wheel of my car? I still picture him in the carseat in the back pointing out all of the police cars on the road. I still hear him asking me a million questions from behind while his mind worked non-stop.

I just cannot believe that he is approaching adulthood and that he will soon drive out of my sight onto his own adventures without his mom to keep an eye on him and protect him.

It's so hard to let go and to watch him grow. On the other hand, it is exciting to see what the Lord might call him to do and to watch how he will follow. My prayer is that he will take all of the things his dad and I have taught him and go out and make a place for himself all the while showing compassion and generosity to those around him.

Drive safe, son. The road before you is full of twists and turns. Your dad and I will always be home to re-direct you when you get lost and give you directions along the way.

National Day of Remebrance

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

As you all know, we are a family who suffered the loss of an infant and we join together in prayer today for all those who have endured a similar loss.

May God comfort all those whose babies have preceded them to heaven.

A Kid Funny...

This afternoon, I informed On the Loose that we would be having company this evening. He asked who was coming. "Pastor Bob," I answered. This met with much excitement as Pastor Bob is his "favorite." ("Favorite what?" asked Pator Bob. LOL!!)

Anyway, he asked who else was coming so Footloose answered, "Mrs. M and Pastor Mike."

"Who else?" The excitement was growing.

Footloose didn't know who else would be here so she answered, "Well, God will come, too."

No answer from On the Loose.

Tonight, our comapany began to arrive for the scheduled Bible study. We were very pleasantly surprised to see Howard. (We all love Howard! :-)) On the Loose got up onto the couch next to Howard and Howard began making some funny faces at him. He looked at Howard and said, "You're funny, God!"

I thought I would die laughing. He obviously had used process of elimination. Pastor Bob, Mrs. M and Pasotor Mike were all accounted for so, of course, this must be God. :-)

I think it's going to take a while to straighten him out. LOL!!

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Enjoying the Lake

We have been having such a great time in Lake Tahoe. The kids have been having a ball spending time with my mom (they call her "Ma") whom they haven't seen in a year and a half. We've laughed and we've played.

On Monday, we took a leisurely drive around the lake and stopped for a hike at Emerald Bay. It's a steep mile down and a steep mile back up but the views are worth it!













Isn't it just beautiful? It's no wonder this is our favorite place to be together!

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