Holy Moly

The school year is almost over!!

And it has been a rough year.  Not with the girls, the girls love school.  They can't get enough of it.

Son Jr. is making me work hard for my job.  That's ok.  That's why I get paid the big bucks.

So, loads has happened, yet it feels like most things have stayed the same.

I am the leader of the Holistic Mom's Network Chapter of our county.  Because I had nothing else to do.  I love it though.  I have learned so much.

 And we are coming down to the wire with VBS next month!!  Woo-HOO!!  I love VBS.  Because, really, children are so precious.  GOD loves them and has pretty much said, if we mess up raising them and teaching them, there will be hell to pay.  Literally.  :0

Reagan is a big girl.  She is too much fun.  I am so glad he got her.  She is such a love.  She loves people.  She loves food.  She loves to run and play and eat paper.  And people love her.  I need to take a picture of her and post it.

The girls have overcome so many things this year.  Both physically and mentally.  It has been hard but totally worth it.  It has been tempting to let things go, but even when I gave into temptation, I couldn't stay away for long.

SO, we went to Iceland for our 30th anniversary in January.  It was awesome.  I couldn't stop saying 'this is so beautiful'.  I told John I had to come up with something else to say, but when I turned around again, those words kept coming out of my mouth. It was beautiful.  I love seeing GOD's creation.  It is breath-taking.  Seriously, I gasped too often.  Maybe some people wouldn't love it as much as I did, but I did.  The only thing that about killed me was the sleeping patterns. Between being jet lagged and staying up all hours of the night watching the Northern Lights, it was a killer.

But I would do it again.

I wouldn't want to live there, but seeing its beauty with my own 4 eyes...well, I am thankful for the opportunity.

On the flip side, since I was not in a mood to look for a summer house to rent because of the anticipation of going to Iceland, we were not able to find a house ( that fits the whole family) at any of our usual place.

Well, in all fairness, I still refuse to look at/go to Martha's Vineyard until the president comes out of office.  Everytime we went, he was there.  UGH.  No thank you. No matter what week in July or August we went, there he was. The older kids have respected and agreed with that decision, but son jr. doesn't understand what the big deal is.  But then son jr. takes his entertainment entirely too seriously.

We have a few years to go and we will start going back again.  But until then, no way.

So anyway, this year we are going to...

PA.

Yes, Pennsylvania.

I know.  Wrong-ish.

But we got a house in a resort type place.  It has a beach lake and near the Delaware River. It has loads of fun things to do and the house is enormous!! So there is enough rooms and beds for everyone, including my parents.  <3

Still...it seems, weird.  We were so desperate, we even looked at the Jersey Shore.  There were plenty of homes, but not enough space.

It will be interesting.  But I have to say, at the end of the day, we are more interested in looking for a place were we spend time together, relaxing, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

So, mission accomplished.

Can I say though, we looked into South Carolina and MAN, we can get a mansion on the beach out there for less than what we spend around here.  But being the stubborn Jersey Boy that he is, with a love of New England, no going south for my man.  :P

Worse things can happen.

I am thinking one of these days we may even be able to go to the Finger Lakes region.  I wish I drank wine.  But, still it looks gorgeous.

Speaking of New England, this whole deflategate thing makes me so angry.  I mean, PEOPLE!!  Come on.  All I hear about is how Bill Belicheck is a genius, and he is.  And how Tom Brady is at the top of his game.  And he is.  So how many more stupid things can they do??!!?  I know, I know.  IF there happens to be a New England fan reading this, you won't accept or believe this could happen.  Whatever.  If the Steelers ever did anything so dumb, I would be angry with them.  I wouldn't stop being their fan, but I would want them to take responsibility for being stupid and accountability for whay they did.  That would make me have even more respect for them.  Not, the ' no you can't read my texts, I have no idea what you mean, it wasn't us' mantra they are so famous for.  Please.  Only NE fans believe it.  The rest of us, rolling our eyesballs here.

The Saints coach was gone for a whole year!!!  People shook their heads and moved on.  I bet this discipline wont stick.

Don't get me wrong.  I was cheering for the Patriots.  I wanted them to win!!  But This is just plain wrong.  And what will be more wrong is, BB and TB will walk away without any consequences.  Again.

Big surprise.

Ok, back to life.  Rant over.  Have to get ready for another meeting tonight.  Have to feed someone.  Have to buy work shirts for the man.  Have to water the garden. Have to go to the library.  Have to vacuum again. Have to check school work.  Have to take a nap.  OK fine.  I can dream about taking a nap.  But have to do everything else.

Until next time.  Seek HIM deeply.  You will not regret it.

The Rat Race

I was reading a blog this morning.

This is quite monumental because lately, for the past few months, I haven't had time to read blogs.  Not that I read a whole lot of blogs.  I only read a few, but still...

ANYWAY.

I was reminded!!

I remembered that I have no desire to have a spot in that nightmare of a race!!

Yes, it's true.  I had forgotten

I have to admit, except for my kitchen, and I really have to get over that, I am starting to enjoy my little home.  I don't think I want to ever go bigger because...why? ( except, of course, my kitchen.  lol)

It has been a long time since I felt the need to impress people.  It has been a long time since I felt so insecure that I 'needed' the perfect home to feel complete.  It has been a long time since I compared myself to what others have.  It has been along time since I went over someone's house, and I asked them where they got 'that', whatever 'that' may have been, knowing it was beyond our budget.

Don't get me wrong, I want my home to look nice and I buy things that we like/enjoy/need. ( usually at the thrift store) ( or at least on clearance) I just don't have a need to be like someone else.  Or like I said...impress anyone.

I mean, seriously.  I drive a 20 year old truck.

But it works!

And until we have to buy a new old truck, so be it.

I want my girls to love being simple.  I don't want them to 'need' anything, just enjoy them.

This may sound like a contradiction, but they are both getting their own American Girl dolls this Christmas.  It is going to be their only present from us.  They are thrilled beyond reason.  They will play the stuffing out of those dolls.  They are worth buying.

But that's what I mean.  This is going to give them so much joy.  If I got them the dolls because I felt like I needed to because all their friends have them ( I honestly don't know if any of their friends have them, and I don't care) but they didn't even like playing with dolls, then I would be a fool just teaching them to keep up with The Jones'.

We are sacrificing because the girls will love them.

Our oldest daughter was going through the catalogue with the girls as they are trying to decide which doll they want.  Our 26 year old was just as excited as she remembered her own childhood, remembering when she was old enough to get her doll, and yes, playing the stuffing out of them with her friends.  For years.


I want to know my neighbors better.

Our house is the neighborhood house.  I have kids at my house almost everyday.  I look out my back window and see kids playing and hear shrieks of laughter.  The parents keep asking me if it is ok, I keep telling them they make it easy for me.

I have a neighbor whose name is Babette.  She lives 5 doors down.  If you have ever watched Gilmore Girls, yes, she lives up to the name.  TOTALLY.  And though her husband's name is not Morey, he may as well be named Morey.

The other day, I was sitting on my bench, enjoying the morning sun on my porch with a cup of tea, getting ready for the day.

Babette was coming back from her walk, and she yelled at the top of her lungs, in her raspy voice " HEY BEAUTIFUL!!!  I'LL BE OVER LATER!!!" as she waved and kept walking.

I just laughed and waved back.   Because when was the last time someone called me 'hey beautiful!'?

THIS IS LIFE!!!

Or when we walk into our favorite mom & pop shops, and all the workers know all of my family by name.  They ask about John.  They help me decide because they know us.  They laugh with us,  we share stories.

Yes, we spend a little more money, but we are buying less over all.  So why not support the locals when we can??!!?

And yes, I still shop at walmart.  lol.

Anyway.

The reason I am writing about this is because I hope you remember.

I hope you realize one day that all the money in the world will not buy you real friends and family.

As impressive as you are, if you are selling your life away to be able to brag, what do you have left??!? Is it worth it?

Is it possible to have both money and real life?

I have met maybe 2 people who have pulled it off, but it was a deep discipline for them.

Nothing wrong with money.

It is a tool.

Just, do I want my children to be tools in order to get loads of it??!!?

no.

That being said.  My youngest son is planning his spot in the Rat Race.  He is thinking maybe near the front.  :P

I continue to pray for him because once, someone talked to him about what to do to make money, and he came home and decided we, as his parents, were losers.

Well, all I can say is... we love him. Deeply.

And our prayer is that he doesn't pursue that which is nothing but dust.  I told him he loves family, hobbies, all the things he does with his dad, his grandparents, his nephews and siblings, the outdoors.  All that will be sacrificed at the altar of the Rat Race.

He can still pick it.  And we will love him unconditionally.

But man.

That would be horrible for him.  And our family.


On another completely different note.

We started listening to Christmas music!!!

I love Christmas music, and quite frankly, one month is never enough time to have my fill.  It is hard waiting until the day after Halloween to start.  But man, when it comes, the girls come scrambling down the stairs and wait for it!!

I love Christmas music.

That being said, I refuse to decorate until after Thanksgiving.

Ok, we really have to start school.  The girls are reading and coloring right now.  And creating puppets.    Samuel is doing his history while watching the news. I need to go and join the fun.



OH!  and how much do I LOVE Instagram??!!??!  Let me count the ways!!!  It makes having a smartphone worth it.



Life is good.

Because GOD is good.  All the time.

wOw, I stink at this.

SO, have I mentioned life is good?

It pretty much is.

Not that we don't have super crummy days/weeks/months, but over all, life is good.

Probably because GOD is great.

School has started and the one thing I regret is not having Boo read every week during the summer.  Catching up has been the pits.  But she is getting there slowly but surely.  She has her issues, but we will over come.  It will take her longer to learn and do thing than her little sister, but we shall over come anyway.

On the other hand, Missy-Girl is flying in her reading.  She catches on so much faster and better.  I am as proud of her as I am of Boo who has to work hard for everything.

Yup.  School is in full swing.  Son #2 is finally taking his schooling seriously.  For the most part.  It is something I have been working on and praying for for years.  As I have mentioned before, I really want to make it so he can go to college if he wants to, but at the end of the day, it is his efforts that are going to make it happen.

On another note, teaching this boy just basic morals and life skills is going to kill me.

He is worth all the heartache.

I have never understood people who let their kids determine their own truths.  Sometimes I can't help but think they have to be the laziest, stupidest ( I know not a real word...), most uncaring parents on the face of the earth.  But I have to let that go.  You have to teach them, and then they can decide for themselves.  Free will, baby.

But not even giving them a chance??!?

Man, that makes me insane.



Moving on.

Reagan is getting bigger by the minute!!

She is so cute and she started her obedience school yesterday.

Kipper is trying to figure out what we were thinking.

She has the sweetest face, and she is so good.  We can walk her around the yard without a leash, and she can hang out in the front of the house with us, enjoying the great outdoors and not try to run away.

She really is delightful.

We booked our trip for our 30th anniversary in January!!!

We are going to Iceland!!

After booking and getting everything, I thought maybe I should check the weather.

I thought it said -25F.  I just about fell out of my chair, thinking I had made the biggest mistake ever.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  It is just about the same as here.

The only thing is there are only 5 1/2 hours of daylight when we go.

Since we just couldn't afford to go to my dream place on earth ( Patagonia) we did the next thing we both always wanted to do:

Go see The Northern Lights with our own 4 eyes.

I am so excited and can't wait.  John is thrilled, even if he has to fly.

It will be good.

After doing the research for Patagonia and finding no good deals or hope, he asked me...'why don't we just go to Europe or something?'

Europe just seems so...

Well, I would have had a good time, but I wanted to go someplace that was naturally beautiful.  A place that you can walk out and be amazed by nature and you mind blown away by GOD's imagination.

I think Iceland will do it.

So, I got a smart phone.

Woe to me.

My husband made me get it.

I had already picked out my new nifty slider phone.  I was thrilled!!!  Then he showed up at the phone store and popped my bubble.

We had a 'discussion' in front of GOD and everybody, and not realizing it until our 'discussion' was over 20 minutes later, we sure made a scene that was entertaining to the workers and customers alike. 

:P

Whatever.

It still sits on my purse and not my pocket.  I still wear a watch. I have yet to hold it for days on end like I see most SP people do.

I DO like instagram.

:)

But I could have just checked it on hubby's phone ever few days.

Now I have my own account.  :D

OK, that is fun.  But that is about it.

Oh, and texting is easier than my old flip phone. 

I don't have my facebook on it.  Sheesh, who needs that much access to FB at all times??!?!

Speaking of FB, my niece was telling me how you can be tracked down and stalked on FB by undesirables, including the government.

Though I let her tell me, I kept thinking, I thought everybody knew that!!

I mean just owning a cell phone can do that.  No facebook/smartphone needed.

In fact, I know so many others things that can keep tabs on us it is terrifying.

But at the same time, I am pretty sure everyone in my family has been flagged by the gov. at this point.   :P  I would be surprised if we are not. I would happy, but like I said...I'm pretty sure it is a done deal.

I think it is funny when people take measurements to hide themselves, as though it worked.

The only way to do that is to have no computer/ cell phone/ telephone/ tablet or iPad/ gps /onstar/ just about everything that is connected. 

To think that you can hide, is almost laughable. 

Except that I would like to think that, too.  LOL.

Or I should say, in my ignorance, I would like to think I am not important enough for anyone to care.

Which is true, but should they care...it will take no effort on their part to find me.

Seriously.

Few people are that good at hiding.  Or have the resources to do so.

WHOA!

This post is way too long!!!

Until next time...

seek HIM deeply.

It is always worth the effort.

August, Fat Chickens, and Puppies.

Golly.

It's August.

Just in case you didn't know, are stuck in a cave, every single calendar at your disposal burned up or was stolen, I thought I would mention that colossal fact.

No seriously, I can't believe it.

In 4 days, Missy Girl will celebrate her Gotcha Day!!  We will once again be on vacation for that day.  The other night, we were having dinner and I happen to mention that fact that this wonderful day is coming up.  When asked what she wanted to do special, her first choice was going out for ice cream.

BUT THEN...

But then she quickly changed her mind.

This is the conversation that took place:

Missy: Mommy, do you remember that time daddy got that really really fat chicken?

Me: Wait, like in the backyard?

Missy:  NNnnooOOOOooOOOo.  LOL.  He bought it home one day and we ate it.

Me: We ate a fat chicken??!!?!  What does that mean??!!?

Then it dawned on me.  We are pretty much an organic/ healthy eating family.  For the most part.  One time, yes, people, ONE TIME, he got KFC, I don't even think she spoke English well, yet.  Yet...  

Me:  FRIED CHICKEN??!!??!

Missy:  YES!!!!  It is my favorite.  It was delicious, and I love it more than anything.

Samuel:  ***on the ground laughing***

So, hopefully, CC has a KFC around.  And we will have it for her Gotcha Day.  

Moving on.  Back in the beginning of May, our Daisy passed away.  I has devastated.  I had no intention of ever replacing her.  Ever.  And so we won't.  We are not replacing her, she is irreplaceable ; we are just getting a dog for Samuel.  

We have been talking about it for a month now.  Over a month actually.  At first I whined about it.  Now I am okay with it.  Since it will be his dog, he is going to walk her, go to obedience school with her, she will be his shadow.  He is very happy with that.  I told him he even has to take her on dates.  He was good with that, too.  lol.

After finding out what he wanted in a dog, I looked it up and it was pretty much narrowed to a few dogs.  The most predominant being a golden retriever and the breed we are getting.  I didn't pick the golden because, well quite frankly, I didn't want to.  And then at the end of the day, he picked the other breed anyway, so it all worked out great. 

 I talked to the breeder and we get her the Monday after we come back from vacation.

I guess I need more work in my life.

But then, she IS his dog.  And we went through all the responsibilities.  He is excited.  He even named her already.

Now to make sure his room is clean and ready for the dog & the crate.

School begins soon.   WOO- HOO!!!!  It is exciting stuff.   We have all our stuff ready to go.  Mostly. 

We, here in the northeast start school right after Labor Day.  I have heard it say, the south already started!!!  SHEESH.  Talk about killing summer.

Ok, I need to go.  Packing to do, house to prepare for the house/dog sitter, water the parent's garden, run to Trader Joe's...

You get it.

Till next time, which I hope is sooner than later.

I want to quit my job and become...

Yup.  I was talking to my friend last night at the church dinner.

This was pretty much the conversation:

Me: You know, I am going to quit my job and become an enviormentalist.

Her: Really?

Me: yup.

Her: ( trying not to laugh at me.  Again) What does that mean?

Me: Well, I don't want to quit being a mom or homeschooling, and as tempting as my husband sometimes makes it for me to be ok with quitting being a wife, I really don't want to quit that either.  But maybe I will go live in a yurt in South America or something.

Her:  ****looks at me with laughter in her eyes****

Me: shut up.

Yup.  

That is my new goal.  Not that it will happen because lets face it, my husband is a contractor and living in a yurt is not a selling point to potential customers. Assuming there are customers in yurt areas. Or electricity for that matter.  Or your typical American necessities, which are not necessary every where else in the world. 

Not to mention...he can't leave Jersey, can you imagine him willing to leave the USA??!!??!  

Fine.

But it was a good idea.  To me.  For this week, anyway.

Back to reality.

11 more days until VBS!!!  I am nervous and excited and terrified.  We are a small church and our name has gotten around.  Which is GREAT!  But it doesn't help the we are a small church with small classrooms situation.  We already divided a class.  WOO-HOO!!  YIKES!  But then I remembered, HE is in control.  HE will provide.  May HIS name be glorified!  <3

Always!

SO, I gained 15 pounds this past winter.

***sigh***

15 pounds added to that other weight I have to lose.

And now... on to a BIG problem.  

One that shouldn't affect us a homeschoolers, but of course, it does.

Common Core.

I guess the reason it bothers me is, well, quite frankly, it affects my community.  My neighbors' kids, my friends' kids, our future generation.

I have heard all the wonderful things about Common Core given to us by the NEA.  Kind of like a drug dealer telling you why drugs will improve your life and how he is doing you the biggest favor by providing you with this wonderful product.  So, as any normal and reasonable thinker, not even brilliant thinking, just ordinary, what one does at this point is... look at the other side, weigh the differences, see the results, ask good questions, research, and come up with your own opinion.

I am STUNNED by people who swallow camels without wondering and questioning or refusing to see all sides because it is what they want, who cares about anything else.

Whatever.  I pity them.  I will be there if they ever fall or need someone to talk to.  But it doesn't stop the 'stunned' factor.

Back to CC.

I read this blog post.  The Bye Bye Parents post.

It is disturbing on all levels.  

When we will stop being dumb sheep with a crummy shepherd, thinking that the government is the answer to all out problems.  You know who does that?  Lazy, control freaks of nature.

Yup.

An oxymoron, but that is the reality.

:::sigh:::

And before you think I am an anti-government weirdo, let me assure you, I am a regular weirdo.  I don't have a problem with government.  I just have a problem with government being in control of everything.

Can we say...chaos??!!??!

I am not an anarchist, either.

Again, can we say...chaos??!!??!

We have gotten so far from our roots, its like the lady who colored her hair so often all sorts of shades and colors, she no longer remembers what she looked like, but refuses to let who she is suppose to be come back because she is afraid.  So she keeps doing what she is doing even when she is tired of it.  

Fear is a good motivator.

Use by someone so evil, they can't convince someone of goodness because they have nothing good to offer.  

So they use terror.

Stinks like all get out.

I am thrilled that some states are opting out of CC.

But I doubt that we will.  After all, we are the Northeast.

The stubborn mules of stupidity. 

New England as well as New Jersey and New York are poster children of "You can't tell us what do it, even if its good for us because we know it all, even if we pick bad things, we won't go back even though we know its wrong, because we are too proud and arrogant".  

That's our motto.  Imagine that on our license plates??  At the very least it would be the last honest thing we did.  Granted our plates would be as big as the back bumper.

But in reality, the rest of the nation knows it, without it being on our plates.  :P

Still doesn't stop me from praying we sill opt out of CC, too.

But who knows?

Maybe the chaos our nation is determined to get itself into is just one step closer to HIM coming back!!!

GLORY BE!!!!

Maranatha!!!  Come Lord JESUS! COME!!!

The reality is, HE is King.  It doesn't matter whether you believe in HIM or not.  HE does not need your belief to exist!  

HE IS!!!!!

And HIS WORD is true.

I am thankful I am HIS.

And I am sorrowful for those who have rejected HIM.

All to say, seek HIM today.

If you know HIM, seek HIM deeper and greater.

And if you do not, seek HIM. 

WHAT??!!?? I just wrote yesterday!!!

So, I had to write this because sometimes I just want to make sure I remember.

Granted, I don't have a habit or the time to read what I wrote, and I'm sure the 2 of you who are reading this wonder why I keep it up... of course assuming there are 2 left.  :P

...well, here is why.

The other day, when I was with my daughter's sisters in law, yes I love them and they are like family members, Christian looked at one of them and " You look different."  When asked what was different, she said, with a straight face, " You have polka dots on your face!!!!"  AKA, freckles.

And how my African daughter wishes she had polka dots on her own face.

My delightful daughters, the blessings of my old age, the joys and delights.

GOD is good.

It has been an awesome busy month.

GOD is good.  

ALL THE TIME.

We went to 2 of our niece's college graduations!!

So proud of them.

We had birthdays, graduations, getting ready for VBS this month, doing research and getting stuff ready for a book club at my house, (because yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have no life so I add more.  :P ), finishing up school with kids who have MAJOR schoolitis, putting transcripts together, driving to activities, starting the garden, having people over for grill meals, dealing with a dryer that doesn't work, not training well for the triathlon, and of course, getting ready for a mission trip and all that that entails, in which preparations started 3 weeks ago.  

And though there is more, I rather not think about it anymore.  I may crawl back to bed.

I got to spend 2 days with my nephew.  I miss him, and I hope he enjoyed our time together.  I sure did.  

I hope we get to see him and his brother when we go on vacation.

I seriously miss those 2.

And look who got a haircut!!

Boo is SO happy with 'A FREE HEAD, MOMMY!"

It wasn't long enough to donate, or she could have cut it shorter, but her hair is one of the things I give in to her choice.

Did I mention my parents went back to the old country.  AGAIN??!!??

They did.  They hadn't been home for 3 months and they went back.

Granted they went for a wedding, so...fine.

But still, I am not crazy about them travelling at their age so much.

Not to mention I miss them.

I'll get over it.  But I will give my mom a hard time about it, because after all, she taught me how to master guilt. 

lol.

Moving on.

My son is trying to find himself.

I think that is fantastic.

The only thing is, I have been praying about a good mentor for him.  Not one that will feed him worldly garbage, but one that will give him a vision, where GOD is most important.  One that will pray for him and his heart.  One that will care enough about him, and teach him honor, grace, humility and most of all faith.

Though he is fighting me, at the end of the day, I am his parent, and that's that.  Who ever wants to fight me for him, will have a really bad and ugly fight ahead of them.  I love him too much.

That being the case, we signed up for a SAT/PSAT class this summer.  At his request!!  That funny part is, he has to be at the place at 9am.  The place is am hour away, so he has to wake up early ( for him) during the summer.

Excuse me for a minute.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Thank you.

I am excited for him.  

Still funny seeing as his brain start to really work at around 8pm and stays awake for hours.

OK.  Off to yet another graduation.  But this time it is high school.  

Life is good.

GOD is awesome.