Today was Caitlyn's first day of school.... again!
Today she started at the Christian School in town. I am so excited for her. She had the advantage of already knowing quite a few kids there ... including her brother... and most likely had an amazing day. I am waiting for her to get home ... at any moment... and just spill.
For those of you who have never attended Christian school, it is different than most schools. Cait will be in a gr 9/10 split class which I believe has about 15 students in it. The school has K through 12th grade with friends mingling without regard for age. In fact Matt (8th grade) has good friends in 11th and 12th grades. Since class sizes are small, teachers are able to build a great rapport with the kids and really invest in their lives.
Where is she??
On a side note...
Did you know that I have another blog?? Apparently its in Chinese or some other far eastern language. I'm not sure what I have written in it... hope its not embarrassing....
Downstairs there is the noise of floors being worked on. The sub floor is being secured and soon... very soon... the floor will be down. As soon as the flooring is done and I find my camera I will post pics.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Happy New Year!!!
Guess what?!!! My little laptop is working again!! For how long we aren't sure. I may have to save my pennies to invest in something more reliable. But it works today!!!
We are all snugged in our house with the storm raging outside. At least I'm told its raging. Its too dark to see and is rather quiet. We are still enjoying living in the top floor of our house. Our 12 by 13 foot living rm/kitchen/dining/ games room is feeling a tad crowded.
Soon... like in a few days.... my kitchen and dining room will be ready for occupancy. The cushion floor would have been laid today if our worker guy didn't put his truck in my ditch. He did not have a fun afternoon! It will go down Monday. The kitchen cabinets will hopefully be done Mon or Tues and I can put some stuff away!!!! Here are some pics.
This picture is from standing in the dining room looking through to the mudroom... which is housing much of our kitchen stuff.
And this is the kitchen. Notice a lack of anything... anything... anything...
Like EVERYTHING!!! Try cooking for 9 in this. We are consisting on crackers, cheese, bagels, yogurt, and clementines... with the occasional hotdog cooked in the microwave upstairs. I miss cooking. sigh....
I'm told it will be wonderful when it gets done. uh huh
We are all snugged in our house with the storm raging outside. At least I'm told its raging. Its too dark to see and is rather quiet. We are still enjoying living in the top floor of our house. Our 12 by 13 foot living rm/kitchen/dining/ games room is feeling a tad crowded.
Soon... like in a few days.... my kitchen and dining room will be ready for occupancy. The cushion floor would have been laid today if our worker guy didn't put his truck in my ditch. He did not have a fun afternoon! It will go down Monday. The kitchen cabinets will hopefully be done Mon or Tues and I can put some stuff away!!!! Here are some pics.
This picture is from standing in the dining room looking through to the mudroom... which is housing much of our kitchen stuff.
And this is the kitchen. Notice a lack of anything... anything... anything...
Like EVERYTHING!!! Try cooking for 9 in this. We are consisting on crackers, cheese, bagels, yogurt, and clementines... with the occasional hotdog cooked in the microwave upstairs. I miss cooking. sigh....
I'm told it will be wonderful when it gets done. uh huh
Sunday, August 30, 2009
My summer resort
Here are some pictures of my new house. We plan to be into it the first week of October.. this will explain why we aren't moving into it quite yet!!
This is the view from the living room, looking through the dining room, then through the mud room to the great outdoors!! Are you lost yet??
This is the view from the living room, looking through the dining room, then through the mud room to the great outdoors!! Are you lost yet??
This is the front part of our living room. The view from the front windows is amazing. Down in the valley there is a track where trains are still running... no distraction there!!
This is the kitchen. The cupboards are to be gutted... they are disgustingly grimy, small and in poor condition. Due to what we have found behind some of the walls.. you really don't want to know... its important to find out what is behind these walls as well!!
Here is my friends daughter, Jenny. She is coming through the mudroom into our rather spacious kitchen/dining area.
And this would be the dining room, with the living room behind it. Charming don't you think??
Here is my friends daughter, Jenny. She is coming through the mudroom into our rather spacious kitchen/dining area.
And this would be the dining room, with the living room behind it. Charming don't you think??
We have really been enjoying our resort town summer. The kids are very comfortable walking to the library, various parks, beaches, youth center, playground, or just walking!! I love the view from my front windows and taking the kids to the beach across the street!!
However, its about time to get back to work. I think the kids will still be happy doing their schoolwork at the park or in the yard... barring another hurricane!! I'm ready to pack up... sloooowly to mosey on home. Home will be ready in another month. I think I said that a few weeks ago! We really should be in by our Canadian Thanksgiving in October.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Well... the house is coming along.
There are no longer any stairs... or walls.... or ceilings.. toilets... bathtub...
Basically its absolutely minimalistic in style.
We have utterly cleaned house. I use the term "we" loosely.
I have showed up to check up on the progress of Mark and his brother as they have done every stitch of actual labour. Mark is allowing me to use the "we" word if it makes me happier.
We noticed the electrical needs to be redone on the main floor.
We are having difficulty in putting in the new stairs.
We have discovered a horrific absense of vapor barrier.
We will be working hard to get it all fixed up.
We will also continue to fight the flippin' fleas....
and I'll check up on it all occasionally!!
There are no longer any stairs... or walls.... or ceilings.. toilets... bathtub...
Basically its absolutely minimalistic in style.
We have utterly cleaned house. I use the term "we" loosely.
I have showed up to check up on the progress of Mark and his brother as they have done every stitch of actual labour. Mark is allowing me to use the "we" word if it makes me happier.
We noticed the electrical needs to be redone on the main floor.
We are having difficulty in putting in the new stairs.
We have discovered a horrific absense of vapor barrier.
We will be working hard to get it all fixed up.
We will also continue to fight the flippin' fleas....
and I'll check up on it all occasionally!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
New house!!!
Let the bells ring out!!! After searching for months, we have found and purchased a house!! Whooooo hoooo!!!
This house has 6 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 3 staircases and fleas.
The house will be GREAT once the renos are done. I don't need 3 staircases, one will do. We have also decided that one dog is enough, we don't need the fleas.
The dog was kind of left with the house... as were the cats that left the fleas. The cats are gone, but we are crazy about Teddy, the dog. A good friend of mine is dog sitting until we can move. Hopefully we will be into the house next month.
I am also hoping to put pics of our house reno on this thing... if I can remember how. I need Caitlyn for that and she is finishing up at camp this week!! Yeah!!! She will be home Friday.
Not that we are home, exactly. We weren't exactly safe in the last community we were in and have been summering at the resort town my mom is from. Grampy's house was empty, so we filled it. We are loving living across the street from the beach!!
The renovations start tomorrow. What have we gotten into now??
Friday, April 24, 2009
Myth Busters
Wow, we made it through this week.
This week, we had 7 kids with the flu.
Somehow Matt and I escaped the violence of the stomach flu.
Of course, those who were sick got lots and lots of sleep where Matt and I didn't.
Caitlyn asked me if I didn't regret being sick as I got to have 4 nights of next to NO SLEEP.
The best part was, after the 4th night of NO SLEEP, at 10 am, a very put together woman showed up at my door... stepped into my kitchen (my horribly messy kitchen) where the kids had hooked the laptop to the TV and were watching a movie.
Some people have the delusion that I am up at the crack of dawn, shower and dress with my best MK face, make a "hearty breakfast" and the kids are happily homeschooling at 9am with their rooms clean and devotions done. That may be what I aspire to, but certainly this was not the case yesterday morning.
Drat, another myth busted!
This week, we had 7 kids with the flu.
Somehow Matt and I escaped the violence of the stomach flu.
Of course, those who were sick got lots and lots of sleep where Matt and I didn't.
Caitlyn asked me if I didn't regret being sick as I got to have 4 nights of next to NO SLEEP.
The best part was, after the 4th night of NO SLEEP, at 10 am, a very put together woman showed up at my door... stepped into my kitchen (my horribly messy kitchen) where the kids had hooked the laptop to the TV and were watching a movie.
Some people have the delusion that I am up at the crack of dawn, shower and dress with my best MK face, make a "hearty breakfast" and the kids are happily homeschooling at 9am with their rooms clean and devotions done. That may be what I aspire to, but certainly this was not the case yesterday morning.
Drat, another myth busted!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I was looking back on my archives... to see where I was about 2 years ago. This spoke to me again...
Saturday, May 05, 2007
sometimes God gives you cool things to say
Saturday, May 05, 2007
sometimes God gives you cool things to say
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Rosetta Stone Contest
A contest I can’t resist
Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!
This is a $219 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they’re included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.
To win this most excellent program — in the language of your choice — copy these paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post – then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!
Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!
This is a $219 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they’re included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.
To win this most excellent program — in the language of your choice — copy these paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post – then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
What does God expect??
I was asked today if I thought God expected more from a believer than a non-believer.
That person didn't think it was really fair that God does. Here is my answer.
Suppose you wanted some sewing done for your bedroom. You wanted 2 sets of pinch pleat curtains (for fullness) with a beautiful ruffled valence for each set (because the tops of p.p. curtains is really quite boring). With that a new duvet, pillow shams, sheet sets (one for extra of course), some dresser scarves, etc....
And you'd like everything ASAP
3 women say they can do the job.
One woman does everything by hand.
One woman has a machine and is learning to use it.
One woman has a sewing machine, serger, a frequent user card at the best fabric store in the province and has a list of thrilled customers the length of your bedroom.
Who would you expect more from??
The lady who does everything by hand? When would it ever get done?
The lady who is just learning? What kind of quality would you have?
Or the very experienced, lady with everything she needs to get the job done and a resume to prove it?
Who does God expect more from?
Is it the person who is really trying hard but does not know Christ personally?
The new Christian who is just starting out and taking their first steps?
Or the person who is saved and has been studying the scriptures for years? Someone who has lived a life of Bible study and has experienced God's working in their lives?
He expects mature believers to act like it. To show maturity and to stand firmly when the storms of life come because they are grounded in His word.
Is it fair?? Yes it is!!!
Don't sit and whine because God expects "too much" from you. He is never going to ask for too much.
I expect more from my 13 year old then my 5 year old, and more from my 5 year old than my 7 month old. Is it fair?? You bet.
Josh is a baby. I do not expect him to make his bed and put his toys away. He is just mastering.. no not mastering.. laughing at our attempts to assist him to sit!!!
Molly is expected to make her bed and put her toys away, but I do not expect her to multiply and divide fractions.
Caitlyn *loves* fractions!! OK, does them because she has to. She also helps with babies, laundry and cooking. She sometimes babysits and sometimes is in trouble for not being where she is supposed to be on time.
God is not unfair to expect more from some than from others. He is not here to molly coddle us but to push us towards growth. We all have different experiences. These are not rewards or punishments for good or bad behaviour, they are life experiences. How we handle them depends on our level of maturity in Christ, or if we are in Christ. I can't tell someone that they handled something wrong because it isn't how I would do it. Maybe they are responding more maturely that I would.
Tonight I am told that being obedient to Christ means that I am not experiencing freedom in Christ. Its legalistic. Tonight I say being obedient to Christ means freedom. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are.
I am standing on the sure foundation I have in Christ which I find wonderfully laid out in God's Word. I am obedient to Christ because I love Him.
I deserve punishment, He gave me life. He deserves all glory and chose to die on the cross for me. All He asks is for me to give Him my screwed up life so He can fix it. This is a complete win win for me. I don't want "freedom" from obedience to Him. I don't want Him to expect nothing from me. I don't want to respond like a baby instead of a more mature believer. He's not done working with me, there is a looooong way to go!! I think I'll let Him keep on working thank you very much.
If you are in a place where you can't/won't trust God... I'm so sorry. I have found that He is completely faithful and worthy of my trust. I am not going to change my opinion of Someone who has done so much for me regardless of your insecurities. I am not going to pretend that God is not true to make you feel better. I am not going against God's Word to assauge your guilt. I am not going to pretend that God isn't upholding me through some really tough stuff because you are afraid that it makes you look like you aren't handling things well. I'm not handling things well either. I can't handle all this stuff so I am letting God do it. Mostly I remember to leave it with Him. When I try to help God its just a mess.
Now I'm going to bed. Happy that I got all this out without having singed anyones ears.
If you want to argue this post, don't bother. 3 hours tonight discussing this was enough. God is enough.
The end
That person didn't think it was really fair that God does. Here is my answer.
Suppose you wanted some sewing done for your bedroom. You wanted 2 sets of pinch pleat curtains (for fullness) with a beautiful ruffled valence for each set (because the tops of p.p. curtains is really quite boring). With that a new duvet, pillow shams, sheet sets (one for extra of course), some dresser scarves, etc....
And you'd like everything ASAP
3 women say they can do the job.
One woman does everything by hand.
One woman has a machine and is learning to use it.
One woman has a sewing machine, serger, a frequent user card at the best fabric store in the province and has a list of thrilled customers the length of your bedroom.
Who would you expect more from??
The lady who does everything by hand? When would it ever get done?
The lady who is just learning? What kind of quality would you have?
Or the very experienced, lady with everything she needs to get the job done and a resume to prove it?
Who does God expect more from?
Is it the person who is really trying hard but does not know Christ personally?
The new Christian who is just starting out and taking their first steps?
Or the person who is saved and has been studying the scriptures for years? Someone who has lived a life of Bible study and has experienced God's working in their lives?
He expects mature believers to act like it. To show maturity and to stand firmly when the storms of life come because they are grounded in His word.
Is it fair?? Yes it is!!!
Don't sit and whine because God expects "too much" from you. He is never going to ask for too much.
I expect more from my 13 year old then my 5 year old, and more from my 5 year old than my 7 month old. Is it fair?? You bet.
Josh is a baby. I do not expect him to make his bed and put his toys away. He is just mastering.. no not mastering.. laughing at our attempts to assist him to sit!!!
Molly is expected to make her bed and put her toys away, but I do not expect her to multiply and divide fractions.
Caitlyn *loves* fractions!! OK, does them because she has to. She also helps with babies, laundry and cooking. She sometimes babysits and sometimes is in trouble for not being where she is supposed to be on time.
God is not unfair to expect more from some than from others. He is not here to molly coddle us but to push us towards growth. We all have different experiences. These are not rewards or punishments for good or bad behaviour, they are life experiences. How we handle them depends on our level of maturity in Christ, or if we are in Christ. I can't tell someone that they handled something wrong because it isn't how I would do it. Maybe they are responding more maturely that I would.
Tonight I am told that being obedient to Christ means that I am not experiencing freedom in Christ. Its legalistic. Tonight I say being obedient to Christ means freedom. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are.
I am standing on the sure foundation I have in Christ which I find wonderfully laid out in God's Word. I am obedient to Christ because I love Him.
I deserve punishment, He gave me life. He deserves all glory and chose to die on the cross for me. All He asks is for me to give Him my screwed up life so He can fix it. This is a complete win win for me. I don't want "freedom" from obedience to Him. I don't want Him to expect nothing from me. I don't want to respond like a baby instead of a more mature believer. He's not done working with me, there is a looooong way to go!! I think I'll let Him keep on working thank you very much.
If you are in a place where you can't/won't trust God... I'm so sorry. I have found that He is completely faithful and worthy of my trust. I am not going to change my opinion of Someone who has done so much for me regardless of your insecurities. I am not going to pretend that God is not true to make you feel better. I am not going against God's Word to assauge your guilt. I am not going to pretend that God isn't upholding me through some really tough stuff because you are afraid that it makes you look like you aren't handling things well. I'm not handling things well either. I can't handle all this stuff so I am letting God do it. Mostly I remember to leave it with Him. When I try to help God its just a mess.
Now I'm going to bed. Happy that I got all this out without having singed anyones ears.
If you want to argue this post, don't bother. 3 hours tonight discussing this was enough. God is enough.
The end
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Looking much better around here
My IKEA order is in.
My living room is taking shape!!!
There are 2 chairs that are pretty and one delightful RED couch.
The other couch... just as red.. will be here tomorrow. The van can
only carry so much at once!!
Caitlyn's friend, Jenna, called it ... something I had never heard before and forgot...
but she says it means she likes it and maybe I'd understand the word trendy instead.
I am officially a mom of teens... I have no idea what they are saying half the time and I'm hearing them actually talk. I've also been told that I am a Kewl mom. That's cool for all you folks out there who speak actual English... like me!
One of the neighbor's helped us bring in the couch for me and actually wanted the old couches that are dreadfully ugly. Seems he wants them for his shop for when his buddies come over or for when he needs to get away from his all female family for a good nap.
Whatever the reason, he was happy to cart off one tonight and will take the other tomorrow.
One person's junk, another man's treasure!!!
I'm enjoying this little house so much. Its fun to do it up... though it may take 10 years to finish.
We had parent/teacher interviews yesterday and it was actually quite fun. I really like both teachers. The kids are doing great academically and socially. I just want them home. But, if they are out there... this is the best thing. Some of the issues I had were already noticed by staff and principal and were already being dealt with. This was very good.
Christmas is coming. I'm trying to pretend I can put it off but it won't be put off. The kids are ready to decorate and the decorations aren't even here yet!!
They will be soon though.
My living room is taking shape!!!
There are 2 chairs that are pretty and one delightful RED couch.
The other couch... just as red.. will be here tomorrow. The van can
only carry so much at once!!
Caitlyn's friend, Jenna, called it ... something I had never heard before and forgot...
but she says it means she likes it and maybe I'd understand the word trendy instead.
I am officially a mom of teens... I have no idea what they are saying half the time and I'm hearing them actually talk. I've also been told that I am a Kewl mom. That's cool for all you folks out there who speak actual English... like me!
One of the neighbor's helped us bring in the couch for me and actually wanted the old couches that are dreadfully ugly. Seems he wants them for his shop for when his buddies come over or for when he needs to get away from his all female family for a good nap.
Whatever the reason, he was happy to cart off one tonight and will take the other tomorrow.
One person's junk, another man's treasure!!!
I'm enjoying this little house so much. Its fun to do it up... though it may take 10 years to finish.
We had parent/teacher interviews yesterday and it was actually quite fun. I really like both teachers. The kids are doing great academically and socially. I just want them home. But, if they are out there... this is the best thing. Some of the issues I had were already noticed by staff and principal and were already being dealt with. This was very good.
Christmas is coming. I'm trying to pretend I can put it off but it won't be put off. The kids are ready to decorate and the decorations aren't even here yet!!
They will be soon though.
Redemption
You'd think that I would learn by now not to purchase a book because I like the title and the book is purple. You'd think that someone with my book reading experience would know how to flip the book over to check out the plot before PURCHASING a book.
No.
I think... "Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley writing a book series together.... I like K. K..... I like G.S. and its a SERIES... I can pick up one a month to treat myself until I get the set... "
I am an IDIOT!!
You say, how can you miss with those outstanding authors?? And its a series?? Maybe you have read the book!! If you know me and you've read the book maybe you know where I am headed here.
First of all, its an amazing, well written, God honouring book that will help a lot of people.
BUT...
I really wanted this, my first NEW book for I don't know how long, to be one where I could lose myself in someone else's life... just for a little while. How was I to know that the main character in the book was living my life. OK, mine is still a little worse. God knows that I needed this book so I could remember that only He can work in people's hearts. All is not lost. I need to believe and be faithful.
Never have I had such a hard time forcing myself to continue reading. I've cried like a baby.. and Caitlyn has a friend over for the night who must think her mom has lost her marbles... its OK though because as a mom I can do weird things and they just blame it on my advanced age!!
I won't ruin the story line for you book lovers out there. I do recommend this book because you will understand me :) and others like me that have gone through a marital breakdown... how we really feel and, most importantly to me, why I feel that I must move towards marital togetherness with my husband. It isn't that I am crazy or out of touch with reality. I am married. I need to be reconciled to my husband... regardless of how much he doesn't want to be reconciled to me. Even when he has royally screwed up, his sin is no worse than mine. "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone.." How can I stone him with hatred when I am a sinner as well?
I need to go to bed.
I do need to say one more thing. Many people are reading my blog and have been asking questions about Dave and what is going on. I'm not picking on anyone. Many people are asking. I value all of my friends and acquaintances... but... please stop asking! I blog as carefully as I can to get my feelings down and try to be honoring to my husband. I share with a few close friends more, but not all. I hope I'm not blundering the way I feel like I am... bottom line is, Dave is not accountable to my friends, no matter how dear my friends are. I trust I'm not stepping on toes here. I love my husband and am willing to forgive him. Whether you agree with that or not is OK. You are entitled to your opinion!! Please don't put me on the spot by asking what he is doing... or not doing.
That's all!! Please keep praying. Someday I'll move past blog world and get back into getting together with friends world!! Whoo hoo!!!
I'll just need to stock up on some hot choc and Christmas tea!!
Happy December everyone!!!
24 days until Christmas!!!
No.
I think... "Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley writing a book series together.... I like K. K..... I like G.S. and its a SERIES... I can pick up one a month to treat myself until I get the set... "
I am an IDIOT!!
You say, how can you miss with those outstanding authors?? And its a series?? Maybe you have read the book!! If you know me and you've read the book maybe you know where I am headed here.
First of all, its an amazing, well written, God honouring book that will help a lot of people.
BUT...
I really wanted this, my first NEW book for I don't know how long, to be one where I could lose myself in someone else's life... just for a little while. How was I to know that the main character in the book was living my life. OK, mine is still a little worse. God knows that I needed this book so I could remember that only He can work in people's hearts. All is not lost. I need to believe and be faithful.
Never have I had such a hard time forcing myself to continue reading. I've cried like a baby.. and Caitlyn has a friend over for the night who must think her mom has lost her marbles... its OK though because as a mom I can do weird things and they just blame it on my advanced age!!
I won't ruin the story line for you book lovers out there. I do recommend this book because you will understand me :) and others like me that have gone through a marital breakdown... how we really feel and, most importantly to me, why I feel that I must move towards marital togetherness with my husband. It isn't that I am crazy or out of touch with reality. I am married. I need to be reconciled to my husband... regardless of how much he doesn't want to be reconciled to me. Even when he has royally screwed up, his sin is no worse than mine. "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone.." How can I stone him with hatred when I am a sinner as well?
I need to go to bed.
I do need to say one more thing. Many people are reading my blog and have been asking questions about Dave and what is going on. I'm not picking on anyone. Many people are asking. I value all of my friends and acquaintances... but... please stop asking! I blog as carefully as I can to get my feelings down and try to be honoring to my husband. I share with a few close friends more, but not all. I hope I'm not blundering the way I feel like I am... bottom line is, Dave is not accountable to my friends, no matter how dear my friends are. I trust I'm not stepping on toes here. I love my husband and am willing to forgive him. Whether you agree with that or not is OK. You are entitled to your opinion!! Please don't put me on the spot by asking what he is doing... or not doing.
That's all!! Please keep praying. Someday I'll move past blog world and get back into getting together with friends world!! Whoo hoo!!!
I'll just need to stock up on some hot choc and Christmas tea!!
Happy December everyone!!!
24 days until Christmas!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
What have I done now???
To say this has been a traumatic summer/fall would be an outrageous understatement.
Have I seen God's provision, love and direction?? Absolutely!!!
Have I learned to trust in all of this?? Obviously not.
In being overwhelmed and trying to do everything, in my "wisdom" I determined I wasn't doing a good job homeschooling and decided to put my kids in school. This was a stupid, stupid, and once more STUPID thing to do. 3 of the kids are back home. This was not working for them ... and 2 of them are still there. I am leaving them there until my HSLDA membership is in the works, just in case. Their marks are great, mainly because they are at least a grade level higher than their age appropriate peers. They fit in socially and even are complimented for their ability to take discipline well. Which unfortunately means that some discipline has been required... that is another story. Actually, it IS this story!!
One of the children has been having some "anger issues"... do ya think??
He's 11. The testosterone is hitting and there are some issues there for all boys to start with, then his Dad left, Mom was incredibly busy having a baby/surgery/house hunting and hunting and..../moving/attending a new school/making new friends, etc.. etc...
Do you think he might feel like exploding a few times?? I do. I can control it better as I am 28 years older than him!! He is learning control as well.
So, on the advice of many, and because I felt out of control, I took my son to a counsellor for anger management. Another BIG mistake. I should know better by now!!
Monday morning, to start my week I got blasted by this lady.
Apparently, I must be exaggerating the events of this year or I couldn't be so calm.
She doesn't believe that "giving my problems over to God for Him to take care of" is a viable way to handle stress.
I shouldn't be asking my kids how their day went when they come home from school, it is invasive of their privacy.
I have been HIDING my children from the world because of homeschooling and they are socially stunted because of it... Caitlyn's teacher's would strongly disagree to that one... as would anyone else who heard that!!
I am manipulating my answers to what I think she wants to hear because NO ONE could have 8 kids, love it, and be calm. I am *obviously* not telling of my real frustration of being a stay at home, housebound mom.
I say I still love my husband because I am trying to look like the sweet, innocent victim here where in "her experience" in a marriage breakup the 2 parties are equally responsible.
Amazing that she has such vast knowledge of my life before she even spoke to me. It was an hour and 45 min of constant haranguing.
My "homework" is to challenge my core belief system as my faith in God is *obviously* not working for me!!
I am wondering how some people keep their jobs!
What a load of crockery. She is supposed to be the best. I had thought a good counsellor listened first, asked questions, and gentle guided you to a workable solution. Apparently not.
She wanted to play "devil's advocate" as she put it. I told her I had enough stress in my life without scheduling someone in to criticize me just to "play" and I'm not interested.
I will send a lovely card to her as well to let her know that our world view, personal and educational philosophies are completely different and any further "discussion of my core beliefs" would at best be fruitless and at worst be driving me insane. I don't need or want this kind of "help."
I called two good friends who assured me this lady was the wacko and not me.
She had an educational background, which I found out after the first hour, and tried to explain to me why the public system was so much better for my kids in every way and told me the issues I have had a the school did not exist. She does not believe them. I must be a liar.
Not much you can do with that.
Feels good to get it out.
Parent/teacher interviews are rescheduled for Friday I hear. The teacher's haven't called me yet, though the voice mail from the school has said they would. If I don't hear from them, I'll just show up.
There is more.
I'll put another post up later.
Sorry to bore you with more problems, I do want this documented though and blogging gives me a chance to get it all down and have it dated.
Its a good thing!!
Have I seen God's provision, love and direction?? Absolutely!!!
Have I learned to trust in all of this?? Obviously not.
In being overwhelmed and trying to do everything, in my "wisdom" I determined I wasn't doing a good job homeschooling and decided to put my kids in school. This was a stupid, stupid, and once more STUPID thing to do. 3 of the kids are back home. This was not working for them ... and 2 of them are still there. I am leaving them there until my HSLDA membership is in the works, just in case. Their marks are great, mainly because they are at least a grade level higher than their age appropriate peers. They fit in socially and even are complimented for their ability to take discipline well. Which unfortunately means that some discipline has been required... that is another story. Actually, it IS this story!!
One of the children has been having some "anger issues"... do ya think??
He's 11. The testosterone is hitting and there are some issues there for all boys to start with, then his Dad left, Mom was incredibly busy having a baby/surgery/house hunting and hunting and..../moving/attending a new school/making new friends, etc.. etc...
Do you think he might feel like exploding a few times?? I do. I can control it better as I am 28 years older than him!! He is learning control as well.
So, on the advice of many, and because I felt out of control, I took my son to a counsellor for anger management. Another BIG mistake. I should know better by now!!
Monday morning, to start my week I got blasted by this lady.
Apparently, I must be exaggerating the events of this year or I couldn't be so calm.
She doesn't believe that "giving my problems over to God for Him to take care of" is a viable way to handle stress.
I shouldn't be asking my kids how their day went when they come home from school, it is invasive of their privacy.
I have been HIDING my children from the world because of homeschooling and they are socially stunted because of it... Caitlyn's teacher's would strongly disagree to that one... as would anyone else who heard that!!
I am manipulating my answers to what I think she wants to hear because NO ONE could have 8 kids, love it, and be calm. I am *obviously* not telling of my real frustration of being a stay at home, housebound mom.
I say I still love my husband because I am trying to look like the sweet, innocent victim here where in "her experience" in a marriage breakup the 2 parties are equally responsible.
Amazing that she has such vast knowledge of my life before she even spoke to me. It was an hour and 45 min of constant haranguing.
My "homework" is to challenge my core belief system as my faith in God is *obviously* not working for me!!
I am wondering how some people keep their jobs!
What a load of crockery. She is supposed to be the best. I had thought a good counsellor listened first, asked questions, and gentle guided you to a workable solution. Apparently not.
She wanted to play "devil's advocate" as she put it. I told her I had enough stress in my life without scheduling someone in to criticize me just to "play" and I'm not interested.
I will send a lovely card to her as well to let her know that our world view, personal and educational philosophies are completely different and any further "discussion of my core beliefs" would at best be fruitless and at worst be driving me insane. I don't need or want this kind of "help."
I called two good friends who assured me this lady was the wacko and not me.
She had an educational background, which I found out after the first hour, and tried to explain to me why the public system was so much better for my kids in every way and told me the issues I have had a the school did not exist. She does not believe them. I must be a liar.
Not much you can do with that.
Feels good to get it out.
Parent/teacher interviews are rescheduled for Friday I hear. The teacher's haven't called me yet, though the voice mail from the school has said they would. If I don't hear from them, I'll just show up.
There is more.
I'll put another post up later.
Sorry to bore you with more problems, I do want this documented though and blogging gives me a chance to get it all down and have it dated.
Its a good thing!!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Settling In
Things are settling in here at the ugly on the outside/nicer on the inside little house of mine. All my wood is in.. and enough stacked so that I can safely manoever downstairs. I believe the rest may just stay in a pile as it is handy to the stove and will just be burned anyway. All the diehard wood burning people out there will cringe at the thought of a messy woodpile, but hey!! I don't care. I do need to clear a path to the water shutoff valve JUST IN CASE!! Other than that, about 2 and a half cords are neatly stacked and the rest is just done.
My dining room is lovely. People can walk into my kitchen, sit down and see all my pretty things. The wood in the table, sideboard and hutch is very restful. Teacups are everywhere... ladies bring your daughters for a teaparty anytime! I just need to get a new kitchen door (long story which will not be blogged) and gorgeous curtains. The navy gingham curtains are OK, Andrea LOVES them so they will be hers soon, but I am looking for something beautiful for there. Someday I'll have an hour or 3 to spend in a fabric store with no kids and.... who am I kidding?? Someday I'll drive the kids crazy with boredom as I crazily look through fabric at Walmart with at least 4 of the kids screaming to go to the toy dept, one will be teething and the ladies trying to peacefully browse will be giving me the "take your bratty kids and get out of this dept" look. Can't wait!!
My wonderful friend, Diane, lives 10 mins from the IKEA in Calgary and is shipping me my living room curtains. She also tried out a couch for me and made some recommendations on chairs for my living room that were invaluable.
Did I mention... no I did not... the furniture I have been eyeing for the living room is buy one get one half price this month? My wood was $400 less than my budget and the kids are forgoing Christmas presents until January so we can get our furniture!!!
They were liking the fact that if we saved money on the couches and then saved money with post Christmas sales, they could probably get more on the gift side.
That would be my sweet yet mercenary brood. My parents are up and have taken Molly and Caitlyn into town for groceries and gas. I thought later that they are notorious for getting lost. They've been gone a looooonnng time. Hope they aren't heading the wrong way up the highway.
Matt and Connor had a bunch of boys in today. 3 that stayed for hours and a couple more that flew in and out. I finally sent them on a scavenger hunt. They thought they were too big for it, but they sure are having fun!!
The little guys are jumping on the couch cushions on the floor, which is probably not a great thing for them to do, but... oh well.
The kids are all coming in. One of the Dad's called and said they were having deer burgers for dinner. I'm not sure if that is good or not.
Annnd they're gone.
I need to make supper.
The boys are off to Tae-Kwon-Do tonight.
Boys are wonderful, but I am tired!
My dining room is lovely. People can walk into my kitchen, sit down and see all my pretty things. The wood in the table, sideboard and hutch is very restful. Teacups are everywhere... ladies bring your daughters for a teaparty anytime! I just need to get a new kitchen door (long story which will not be blogged) and gorgeous curtains. The navy gingham curtains are OK, Andrea LOVES them so they will be hers soon, but I am looking for something beautiful for there. Someday I'll have an hour or 3 to spend in a fabric store with no kids and.... who am I kidding?? Someday I'll drive the kids crazy with boredom as I crazily look through fabric at Walmart with at least 4 of the kids screaming to go to the toy dept, one will be teething and the ladies trying to peacefully browse will be giving me the "take your bratty kids and get out of this dept" look. Can't wait!!
My wonderful friend, Diane, lives 10 mins from the IKEA in Calgary and is shipping me my living room curtains. She also tried out a couch for me and made some recommendations on chairs for my living room that were invaluable.
Did I mention... no I did not... the furniture I have been eyeing for the living room is buy one get one half price this month? My wood was $400 less than my budget and the kids are forgoing Christmas presents until January so we can get our furniture!!!
They were liking the fact that if we saved money on the couches and then saved money with post Christmas sales, they could probably get more on the gift side.
That would be my sweet yet mercenary brood. My parents are up and have taken Molly and Caitlyn into town for groceries and gas. I thought later that they are notorious for getting lost. They've been gone a looooonnng time. Hope they aren't heading the wrong way up the highway.
Matt and Connor had a bunch of boys in today. 3 that stayed for hours and a couple more that flew in and out. I finally sent them on a scavenger hunt. They thought they were too big for it, but they sure are having fun!!
The little guys are jumping on the couch cushions on the floor, which is probably not a great thing for them to do, but... oh well.
The kids are all coming in. One of the Dad's called and said they were having deer burgers for dinner. I'm not sure if that is good or not.
Annnd they're gone.
I need to make supper.
The boys are off to Tae-Kwon-Do tonight.
Boys are wonderful, but I am tired!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Another storm... a real one this time
Matt and I just got in from the great outdoors...
As I went downstairs to feed the fire I noticed the plywood over one of the "windows" blew off.
Yes, I need 2 windows. I think I will actually give this out as a prayer request as I can't swing buying and installing windows right now.
The storm is starting and will only get worse so Matt and I with hammer in hand went out to put the plywood back on... only we had no nails bigger than finishing nails and it looked like someone took the nails out of our wood... I hope not!!
We asked 2 neighbors for nails. The second one gave us a bucket of screws and a cordless drill... that was great!! Except we were doing this in the dark with buckets of rain falling and the wind whipping around. I wanted to grouse about men who let women and children do men's work, but realized this is MY responsibility now. I helped Matt do some drillin' and then he got a shower. He is now wrapped in a blanket on the couch and I'm getting him some cocoa... then I'll get a shower.
I am soaked and in soaked jeans... lovely!!
Thankfully my leather jacket is waterproof so I'm not as drenched as Matt. I also found that the eaves trough is in sad shape!!
I can only fix so much at a time. The roof isn't leaking... or doesn't seem to be so that's good.
I'm having a hard time tonight to not be ticked off at Dave.
That's my attitude though and only I am responsible to change that. God is good and He is helping!!
Off for the hot choc!
As I went downstairs to feed the fire I noticed the plywood over one of the "windows" blew off.
Yes, I need 2 windows. I think I will actually give this out as a prayer request as I can't swing buying and installing windows right now.
The storm is starting and will only get worse so Matt and I with hammer in hand went out to put the plywood back on... only we had no nails bigger than finishing nails and it looked like someone took the nails out of our wood... I hope not!!
We asked 2 neighbors for nails. The second one gave us a bucket of screws and a cordless drill... that was great!! Except we were doing this in the dark with buckets of rain falling and the wind whipping around. I wanted to grouse about men who let women and children do men's work, but realized this is MY responsibility now. I helped Matt do some drillin' and then he got a shower. He is now wrapped in a blanket on the couch and I'm getting him some cocoa... then I'll get a shower.
I am soaked and in soaked jeans... lovely!!
Thankfully my leather jacket is waterproof so I'm not as drenched as Matt. I also found that the eaves trough is in sad shape!!
I can only fix so much at a time. The roof isn't leaking... or doesn't seem to be so that's good.
I'm having a hard time tonight to not be ticked off at Dave.
That's my attitude though and only I am responsible to change that. God is good and He is helping!!
Off for the hot choc!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Happy Anniversary
I'm looking at my last post, which was rather long, and noticed the date. This would be my 16th wedding anniversary which I spent picking lice out of kids hair!! ... with no husband... and I'm ok with that. I really am.
I thought this would be a terribly, horrible, very bad day for the old emotions... and I'm sailing through fine.
Mom called at about 2 this afternoon to make sure I was going to be ok on the anniversary and I had to ask her what the date was so I would be able to find something to do that would be fun on the 19th.
I was a little surprised to find out it is the 19th. I haven't thought about it all day and wouldn't have known until this last blog posting that I missed my anniversary.
I should have had some cake.
I need to get my cake pic of the week (mom is emailing it to me) so you can get a chuckle.
That was my first real stressor of Thursday morning, but it has to be seen to be appreciated!
I thought this would be a terribly, horrible, very bad day for the old emotions... and I'm sailing through fine.
Mom called at about 2 this afternoon to make sure I was going to be ok on the anniversary and I had to ask her what the date was so I would be able to find something to do that would be fun on the 19th.
I was a little surprised to find out it is the 19th. I haven't thought about it all day and wouldn't have known until this last blog posting that I missed my anniversary.
I should have had some cake.
I need to get my cake pic of the week (mom is emailing it to me) so you can get a chuckle.
That was my first real stressor of Thursday morning, but it has to be seen to be appreciated!
The Circus leaves town
This has been the most stressful couple of days... good and bad... in a while.
My parents came up on Weds afternoon. Yes, this was the first day of school for my little chickies and I thought that would be difficult. Actually, it worked though. When you have 5 kids that all have amazing stories and all want to talk at once it was good to have a couple more sets of ears to listen!!
Gwen was having a good day (she slipped a disk in her lower back a couple weeks ago) so she brought her brood over for a visit. For about 15 min it was utter mayhem until we got smart and sent them to the park... all but the 2 youngest boys. We figured at 3 and 6 mos, they may not enjoy the park as much as staying home with mom(s).
We were down to 2 kids and 4 adults with the kids not talking much. It worked far better that way. We were able to chow down on lemon and coconut cream pie.. with coffee served with International delight hazelnut coffee cream. Ok, I'm a sucker for anything that has the word "delight" in it, but this coffee cream is amazing!!
That turned out to be the calmest few moments of the next 48 hours.
The kids came back.
The McQuarries left.
Non stop talking until bedtime.
Thursday brought more interviews at the school for me ... with the little guys enjoying having Gramma and Papa to themselves as THAT never happens... and then...
The crew arrived from Rothesay to help get this house together.
They were scrubbing in the cellar.
The lawn is mowed... stove cleaned out... boxes unpacked...
Mr Brown built me a boot rack and is fixing to make me a bona fide mudroom by the backdoor.
He also listed everything I need to do for the house so if someone asks what they can do I can give them the list and say "pick something". Hopefully they will understand shop talk because I discovered I can't even change a fuse.
That's another story.
I need to update the fuse box to a breaker panel.
Its on the list!!
There were many stressful little issues including baby blankets (and some other useful things) almost going out with the trash. Thankfully Mom suggested we check the garbage that was put out as there seemed to be too many trash bags.
I need to get clear trash bags...
Making my own list!
We went through all the trash bags and boxes.. tons of fun late Thursday night. Garbage day being Friday morning a lot of it was bona fide garbage so going through it was a treat. The things you don't expect ever to say...
"Yes, last night Mom and I spent a good 2 hours going through trash bags for toys for the kids."
Barbies, lego, dolls... it would have been sickening if we hadn't noticed we were missing things until the next day!!!
The problem is now fixed.
We have our goods and the real garbage is gone.
Mom and Dad left this morning. Everyone else had left before we noticed the missing stuff Thursday afternoon. By 10 am today I was back by myself. With sore feet, but a much calmer home!!
For the first time, when the kids came home from school I could sit and talk with them. And did. After about an hour some of the kids new friends came by and they all went to the park for an hour before dinner. Then at dinner, they had a whole new set of stories.
This move will be good.
Caitlyn made the basketball team. Gotta love small towns. She showed up for an info meeting for the BB team. The coach asks, "Who was not on the team last year?" Caitlyn and her friend (either Jessica or Jamie) put up their hands. "What size uniform do you need?"
They are getting new uniforms this year. They will also have sweatshirts that will have their last name on their backs and first name going down the sleeve.
Too cool.
One child came home with a detention... first week of school!!!
Connor and Courtney went to Nacawick for the participation track day. They had a 1.5 kilo run through a trail in the woods. They were some wiped out tonight. They all asked if they could go to bed.
I'm liking this.
One child has lice nits in her hair... uh, make that a few kids.
Not liking that.
Tonight I went through 2.5 heads. Lots of nits, no real lice so far. It took about 5 hours. 2.5 heads to go through tomorrow. Whoo hoo!!
Monday they will walk both to and from school. I have been driving them in the morning and letting them walk home. They will now walk both ways, unless the weather is bad.
On a final note...
I ordered a bunch of stuff from IKEA!! I'm so excited!! My dining room and office part of the living room will look great in a couple of weeks.
My friend Kathy is excited because she loves to put furniture together as much as I do and she's coming over to help me with it.
Its like an adult size puzzle, putting furniture together.
Anyone with a decent amount of Rouse in them will understand the fascination!!
My parents came up on Weds afternoon. Yes, this was the first day of school for my little chickies and I thought that would be difficult. Actually, it worked though. When you have 5 kids that all have amazing stories and all want to talk at once it was good to have a couple more sets of ears to listen!!
Gwen was having a good day (she slipped a disk in her lower back a couple weeks ago) so she brought her brood over for a visit. For about 15 min it was utter mayhem until we got smart and sent them to the park... all but the 2 youngest boys. We figured at 3 and 6 mos, they may not enjoy the park as much as staying home with mom(s).
We were down to 2 kids and 4 adults with the kids not talking much. It worked far better that way. We were able to chow down on lemon and coconut cream pie.. with coffee served with International delight hazelnut coffee cream. Ok, I'm a sucker for anything that has the word "delight" in it, but this coffee cream is amazing!!
That turned out to be the calmest few moments of the next 48 hours.
The kids came back.
The McQuarries left.
Non stop talking until bedtime.
Thursday brought more interviews at the school for me ... with the little guys enjoying having Gramma and Papa to themselves as THAT never happens... and then...
The crew arrived from Rothesay to help get this house together.
They were scrubbing in the cellar.
The lawn is mowed... stove cleaned out... boxes unpacked...
Mr Brown built me a boot rack and is fixing to make me a bona fide mudroom by the backdoor.
He also listed everything I need to do for the house so if someone asks what they can do I can give them the list and say "pick something". Hopefully they will understand shop talk because I discovered I can't even change a fuse.
That's another story.
I need to update the fuse box to a breaker panel.
Its on the list!!
There were many stressful little issues including baby blankets (and some other useful things) almost going out with the trash. Thankfully Mom suggested we check the garbage that was put out as there seemed to be too many trash bags.
I need to get clear trash bags...
Making my own list!
We went through all the trash bags and boxes.. tons of fun late Thursday night. Garbage day being Friday morning a lot of it was bona fide garbage so going through it was a treat. The things you don't expect ever to say...
"Yes, last night Mom and I spent a good 2 hours going through trash bags for toys for the kids."
Barbies, lego, dolls... it would have been sickening if we hadn't noticed we were missing things until the next day!!!
The problem is now fixed.
We have our goods and the real garbage is gone.
Mom and Dad left this morning. Everyone else had left before we noticed the missing stuff Thursday afternoon. By 10 am today I was back by myself. With sore feet, but a much calmer home!!
For the first time, when the kids came home from school I could sit and talk with them. And did. After about an hour some of the kids new friends came by and they all went to the park for an hour before dinner. Then at dinner, they had a whole new set of stories.
This move will be good.
Caitlyn made the basketball team. Gotta love small towns. She showed up for an info meeting for the BB team. The coach asks, "Who was not on the team last year?" Caitlyn and her friend (either Jessica or Jamie) put up their hands. "What size uniform do you need?"
They are getting new uniforms this year. They will also have sweatshirts that will have their last name on their backs and first name going down the sleeve.
Too cool.
One child came home with a detention... first week of school!!!
Connor and Courtney went to Nacawick for the participation track day. They had a 1.5 kilo run through a trail in the woods. They were some wiped out tonight. They all asked if they could go to bed.
I'm liking this.
One child has lice nits in her hair... uh, make that a few kids.
Not liking that.
Tonight I went through 2.5 heads. Lots of nits, no real lice so far. It took about 5 hours. 2.5 heads to go through tomorrow. Whoo hoo!!
Monday they will walk both to and from school. I have been driving them in the morning and letting them walk home. They will now walk both ways, unless the weather is bad.
On a final note...
I ordered a bunch of stuff from IKEA!! I'm so excited!! My dining room and office part of the living room will look great in a couple of weeks.
My friend Kathy is excited because she loves to put furniture together as much as I do and she's coming over to help me with it.
Its like an adult size puzzle, putting furniture together.
Anyone with a decent amount of Rouse in them will understand the fascination!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Another new adventure
Well, life is about to take another major change.
First, I'm a single mama.. then a baby... hand surgery... the big MOVE... and now..
Tomorrow will be the first day of real school for most of my kids.
Yes, I am sending my kids to school.
I love homeschooling, but have decided that for the moment its too much to do if I want it done well. I am not homeschooling well this year.. not by a long shot. Its time to admit that I need some help and I'm taking it.
The school here is K-12 so all the kids will be in one place, just more kids!
Most of the teachers, I hear, are Christians.
I had a tour and the kids were all attentive and not even fidgeting in class.
My kids just may be the troublemakers!!
The kids are excited/nervous about going.
I feel strangely at peace about it, even though I am a homeschooling at heart mom.
It sure will be weird at home with mighty Jack (3) as the oldest!!
Spending more time with the wee three will be good for us.
A new adventure, yes??
First, I'm a single mama.. then a baby... hand surgery... the big MOVE... and now..
Tomorrow will be the first day of real school for most of my kids.
Yes, I am sending my kids to school.
I love homeschooling, but have decided that for the moment its too much to do if I want it done well. I am not homeschooling well this year.. not by a long shot. Its time to admit that I need some help and I'm taking it.
The school here is K-12 so all the kids will be in one place, just more kids!
Most of the teachers, I hear, are Christians.
I had a tour and the kids were all attentive and not even fidgeting in class.
My kids just may be the troublemakers!!
The kids are excited/nervous about going.
I feel strangely at peace about it, even though I am a homeschooling at heart mom.
It sure will be weird at home with mighty Jack (3) as the oldest!!
Spending more time with the wee three will be good for us.
A new adventure, yes??
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Internet is finally going!
Hey, we have internet!!
I was hoping to have the super duper wireless modem/router that we had before... but they now charge $2.95 a month for the privilege of having one. So we are hooked up to the wall again. Of course, its the wall in the dining room that is still the workspace for the guys who are fixing up the house soooo... I'm sitting on the floor (and its not comfortable at all anymore) with the kids tripping over me. They do NOT get the fact that the computer must be where the phone jack is at all time if we want to be connected to the internet.
They are also getting very cranky.
I think I should go feed the baby and get the kids busy with something... anything!!
Martha
I was hoping to have the super duper wireless modem/router that we had before... but they now charge $2.95 a month for the privilege of having one. So we are hooked up to the wall again. Of course, its the wall in the dining room that is still the workspace for the guys who are fixing up the house soooo... I'm sitting on the floor (and its not comfortable at all anymore) with the kids tripping over me. They do NOT get the fact that the computer must be where the phone jack is at all time if we want to be connected to the internet.
They are also getting very cranky.
I think I should go feed the baby and get the kids busy with something... anything!!
Martha
Monday, October 08, 2007
One More Night
This is our last night in the old place.
Tomorrow night will be in our new home.
It looks good... actually great since Laun, her Dad and friend Janice stayed there all day until late tonight to finish it. This is how good people have been to me. I don't even know Janice... well, I do now!! She has been so generous to me and I am humbled by such help.
The girls room is sweet. They didn't want to leave today. The boys can't wait to see how their room looks... I can't either since it wasn't done when I had to leave today.
Joy, Laun's mom, baked cookies, a pie, a cake, a casserole, made sandwiches... yum, yum... I love other people's cooking!!
Tomorrow we will take whatever we can fit in the car and then Dave will bring the rest out little by little.
I think we have almost everything we need.
I'm excited... and very sad.
This was not what I had planned... to move on without Dave.
I can't let myself be sad though. I'm choosing to trust that God knows what is best for me even when the world isn't making sense. I have a Bible study called "Trusting God when the world doesn't make sense." Dave bought it for us to do in January and then didn't have time to do it with me. Now I will be happy to have it and do it myself.
I will learn many new things this year, including how to run a wood furnace.
Never done that.
I will learn how to manage 24/7 on my own. This is scary.
I can do this.
I need to go to bed earlier.
I need curtains... or else we will be going to bed when the sun sets!!
Tomorrow I'm picking up curtain rods... tonight would have been more convenient except that everyone who is everyone took today off for dinner.
Thanksgiving is everyday, but our feast will be in a week or 2.
We are too tired to cook a turkey dinner... that was a Victorian we, meaning me.
Mom tried to convince me to drop everything, play hooky and eat turkey with them... but I'm glad I didn't. The work is done (not much thanks to me!) and tomorrow starts a new adventure.
G'night and God bless,
Martha
Tomorrow night will be in our new home.
It looks good... actually great since Laun, her Dad and friend Janice stayed there all day until late tonight to finish it. This is how good people have been to me. I don't even know Janice... well, I do now!! She has been so generous to me and I am humbled by such help.
The girls room is sweet. They didn't want to leave today. The boys can't wait to see how their room looks... I can't either since it wasn't done when I had to leave today.
Joy, Laun's mom, baked cookies, a pie, a cake, a casserole, made sandwiches... yum, yum... I love other people's cooking!!
Tomorrow we will take whatever we can fit in the car and then Dave will bring the rest out little by little.
I think we have almost everything we need.
I'm excited... and very sad.
This was not what I had planned... to move on without Dave.
I can't let myself be sad though. I'm choosing to trust that God knows what is best for me even when the world isn't making sense. I have a Bible study called "Trusting God when the world doesn't make sense." Dave bought it for us to do in January and then didn't have time to do it with me. Now I will be happy to have it and do it myself.
I will learn many new things this year, including how to run a wood furnace.
Never done that.
I will learn how to manage 24/7 on my own. This is scary.
I can do this.
I need to go to bed earlier.
I need curtains... or else we will be going to bed when the sun sets!!
Tomorrow I'm picking up curtain rods... tonight would have been more convenient except that everyone who is everyone took today off for dinner.
Thanksgiving is everyday, but our feast will be in a week or 2.
We are too tired to cook a turkey dinner... that was a Victorian we, meaning me.
Mom tried to convince me to drop everything, play hooky and eat turkey with them... but I'm glad I didn't. The work is done (not much thanks to me!) and tomorrow starts a new adventure.
G'night and God bless,
Martha
Saturday, October 06, 2007
On the MOVE!!
I am taking a break from packing!
This has been a crazy couple of days of packing, lugging, sorting, trucking, unloading, moving, moving, MOVING!!
I commented (rather vainly) two days ago how good my nails were looking. My fingernails almost never look good so I was pretty impressed.... I now have ONE fingernail left and its discoloured from when I got my hair dyed this week!
So much for vanity.
On Friday Pastor Steve and Arthur (with the help of Chester's truck) moved ALL my beds for me to the new house. Thanks guys... not that you ever read blogs, but you are thanked all the same.
Andrea came up and helped all day yesterday and today.
Laun and Jodie came up yesterday... brought a ton of stuff with them!!! ... and thoroughly cleaned the new place.
Andrea's husband Andrew came up today with his truck.
My brother Jeff brought up his truck and my nephew Trevor.
Last but certainly not least, my friend Pat brought over her wonderful new truck (its a Chevy Avalanche and its loaded.. that's who I drove with!!) and helped a bunch. Then she went home and bought a bunch of Greco pizzas for supper.
Do I have great friends or what??
I do need to mention Eugene. He is the angel I'm buying this house from. Not only is it a superb deal and he's holding the mortgage for me, he is constantly at the house putting on new trim, doors, siding, etc.. He is giving us the history of the house and the low down on the town, making me feel like this is my home. He is essentially giving me roots.
He wants to put some extra shelving for me when he's done his work.
He looks like Santa...
We had a few mishaps... somehow I was expecting to chase down baby clothes on the highway... and wasn't disappointed!!! Though I wasn't expecting to see the wicker bookshelf fly off Andrew's truck and over our truck.... I needed the exercise though to chase down my stuff and pick up pieces of this and that off the new super duper twinned highway!!
Jeff and Trev got their pictures taken by the big axe.. that was a thrill... ha! ha! I'm expecting to be sent those pics if Jeff can get them off his phone.
I have more stuff to pack here. The old house is a disaster, which is pretty amazing given all the things that were taken out of here!! How could it possibly look messier than on Weds??
I am at a loss.
There is a mouse in the back of my stove making terrible clicking noises... at least it was until I kicked the oven door a few times... right after telling Connor not to kick it. He doesn't think this was fair, but it is my stove after all, at least until Tuesday.
On Tuesday we move!!! Yep out the door and into Canterbury.
Dave is helping us finish moving Monday.
That will be weird... my husband finishing moving us out of his home.
Oh well.
He will be getting back from Atlanta tomorrow night. I wanted to be out before he got back, but just couldn't do it.
He is most likely getting the biggest award he will ever achieve in his career this weekend.
It the PMI award for Professional Development of the Year. He is accepting the award with some people from Global Knowledge. He is the only one accepting for Skillsoft. Skillsoft and Global Knowledge won it together for the Project Manager Development program that Dave headed up the creation of.
I am trying to be happy for him. This was one of the major things that Dave put in front of his family and makes him happy. We are in the way of his career. Its so sad. He thinks he'll be happy... he's not so far.
Right now he's out to some fancy dinner with the others from Global.. its a Brazilian Restaurant.
I'm wondering what Brazilian food is.
The mouse is acting up again. Our cat is a waste of time and airspace. It couldn't catch a mouse to save its hide... unless its bringing one in from outside... or killing one beside the dinner table when I am at dinner.
And people wonder how I'm losing the baby weight so fast!
I'm off to do more packing. I'm going until I'm out of boxes. Tomorrow is my day off. Monday we move these boxes, unpack some at the other house and then bring more back to pack.
Its almost over.
It will be nice to be done.
This has been a crazy couple of days of packing, lugging, sorting, trucking, unloading, moving, moving, MOVING!!
I commented (rather vainly) two days ago how good my nails were looking. My fingernails almost never look good so I was pretty impressed.... I now have ONE fingernail left and its discoloured from when I got my hair dyed this week!
So much for vanity.
On Friday Pastor Steve and Arthur (with the help of Chester's truck) moved ALL my beds for me to the new house. Thanks guys... not that you ever read blogs, but you are thanked all the same.
Andrea came up and helped all day yesterday and today.
Laun and Jodie came up yesterday... brought a ton of stuff with them!!! ... and thoroughly cleaned the new place.
Andrea's husband Andrew came up today with his truck.
My brother Jeff brought up his truck and my nephew Trevor.
Last but certainly not least, my friend Pat brought over her wonderful new truck (its a Chevy Avalanche and its loaded.. that's who I drove with!!) and helped a bunch. Then she went home and bought a bunch of Greco pizzas for supper.
Do I have great friends or what??
I do need to mention Eugene. He is the angel I'm buying this house from. Not only is it a superb deal and he's holding the mortgage for me, he is constantly at the house putting on new trim, doors, siding, etc.. He is giving us the history of the house and the low down on the town, making me feel like this is my home. He is essentially giving me roots.
He wants to put some extra shelving for me when he's done his work.
He looks like Santa...
We had a few mishaps... somehow I was expecting to chase down baby clothes on the highway... and wasn't disappointed!!! Though I wasn't expecting to see the wicker bookshelf fly off Andrew's truck and over our truck.... I needed the exercise though to chase down my stuff and pick up pieces of this and that off the new super duper twinned highway!!
Jeff and Trev got their pictures taken by the big axe.. that was a thrill... ha! ha! I'm expecting to be sent those pics if Jeff can get them off his phone.
I have more stuff to pack here. The old house is a disaster, which is pretty amazing given all the things that were taken out of here!! How could it possibly look messier than on Weds??
I am at a loss.
There is a mouse in the back of my stove making terrible clicking noises... at least it was until I kicked the oven door a few times... right after telling Connor not to kick it. He doesn't think this was fair, but it is my stove after all, at least until Tuesday.
On Tuesday we move!!! Yep out the door and into Canterbury.
Dave is helping us finish moving Monday.
That will be weird... my husband finishing moving us out of his home.
Oh well.
He will be getting back from Atlanta tomorrow night. I wanted to be out before he got back, but just couldn't do it.
He is most likely getting the biggest award he will ever achieve in his career this weekend.
It the PMI award for Professional Development of the Year. He is accepting the award with some people from Global Knowledge. He is the only one accepting for Skillsoft. Skillsoft and Global Knowledge won it together for the Project Manager Development program that Dave headed up the creation of.
I am trying to be happy for him. This was one of the major things that Dave put in front of his family and makes him happy. We are in the way of his career. Its so sad. He thinks he'll be happy... he's not so far.
Right now he's out to some fancy dinner with the others from Global.. its a Brazilian Restaurant.
I'm wondering what Brazilian food is.
The mouse is acting up again. Our cat is a waste of time and airspace. It couldn't catch a mouse to save its hide... unless its bringing one in from outside... or killing one beside the dinner table when I am at dinner.
And people wonder how I'm losing the baby weight so fast!
I'm off to do more packing. I'm going until I'm out of boxes. Tomorrow is my day off. Monday we move these boxes, unpack some at the other house and then bring more back to pack.
Its almost over.
It will be nice to be done.
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