Drats!!!

I thought I had cleverly outsmarted my camera situation! I printed my pictures at dear old Walmart and brought them home and scanned them into the computer. We are back to having no internet at home right now (we hated cable!) so I was going to put them on a cd to bring to upload. Well, it appears my cd burner is busted! I can put a cd in the drive if it has something already on it. Like a game or something. But when I put in a blank cd and try to save to it, it tells me there is no cd in the drive. Yes there is a cd in the freaking drive you stupid computer! Agh!!! I'm going to try another program tonight and see if that's the problem but in the meantime, the only pictures I'm able to share are ones that I emailed myself from my phone when we went ice skating! LOL





I have way more pictures to share. Soon, I hope!

We had a great Spring Break even though I worked most of the week. Jeff and I are trying SO hard to get some things paid off so I'm trying to squeeze in all the hours I can without sacrificing too much family time. God has answered my prayers in a big way with this and I'll share about that in a minute.

I worked in ASAP Monday (school age kids) and we had 28 of them younguns! They kept us busy! But it was really fun. We ordered pizza and watched movies since it was raining and they didn't get too stir crazy, thankfully, I think the weather helped set the mood. They are a pretty good bunch of kids.

Tuesday, I worked in the 2's. That would have been much harder had I not had help. I don't mind diapers and runny noses. But I don't know too many of those kids and they aren't very vocal yet. For someone who hasn't been around them, it's hard to know what those little sounds mean, their likes and dislikes, etc. But I did get to spend some time with little Sissy and little Katelynn--two of my precious dance babies!

Wednesday, I worked the afternoon in ASAP and then the evening in the 4's. Pretty boring. We went outside, inside, outside, inside, snack, outside, inside, outside, inside!

Thursday, I had the day off! I took Dylan to the dermatologist where he finally had that huge wart burned off his elbow. We've been trying to get rid of it unsuccessfully for months. He gets them pretty regular. It must be a boy thing because the only time I've ever had one was when I was pregnant with HIM!! All that rolling around on wrestling mats with other stinky boys and playing with slimy fish in the ponds, etc. Usually, his pediatrician, Dr. Dietlein (who is absolutely FABULOUS!!!) can freeze them off but this one was too big.

After the "procedure", we went to grab lunch and then Brooke wanted to ride go-karts and the rest of us wanted to play putt-putt. So we went to the Playstation and Brooke rode a go-kart and the rest of us played putt-putt. I'm surprised Kayti didn't want to ride the go-karts too but I expected Dylan not to want to. Now that he is a licensed driver and can drive a real car, he says toy cars are no fun anymore! LOL

Now I generally don't like to play putt-putt. I'm like Laine. Golf is boring to me and I usually suck at it anyway. But I was on that day. I ended up just one over par--beating the pants of my two offspring!

We then went to get Moolatte's (YUM) and make the weekly Walmart run.

Friday, I was back in ASAP and that was the LONGEST day. Even though it was ice-cream day and we got to make our own sundaes, we only had 13 kids and keeping them entertained was a real challenge.

By the weekend, I had to catchup on my housework and laundry since I'd been at work all week--something I am going to have to get a handle on very soon because....

I AM GOING BACK TO WORK FULL-TIME!

Now I wouldn't generally say that with so much enthusiasm, particularly if I was having to go back to the bank (*puke*) but I am really excited about this change coming up.

This summer I will be working full-time, primarly in 3's and 4's but occassionally floating to other areas as needed but beginning in the Fall, I am going back to teaching!!!

Having subbed so much these last few months has made me realize how much I really miss being in the classroom with a group of kiddos to call my own. Don't get me wrong--I love homeschooling and God has answered my prayer and worked it out for me to be able to do both! He has given me the most wonderful boss who is totally on board with me attempting both and has agreed to work with me in order for me to work it out. I will be teacking 4K, which is something slighly new for me and working 8-4 Mon, Thurs & Fri. Tues & Wed I will get off at 1 p.m. in order to take Kayti to her CORE classes Tuesday afternoon--she is only going to take three next year and to continue teaching my American Girl class on Wednesday afternoon at Donna's house who has so graciously agreed to host for us so our kids can continue doing something they love. Tuesday afternoon, I'll come back to the center to teach my dance class (if Shalita still wants me to!) and the girls will be with me all the time.

I'm a good planner, so they'll have their assignments to work on and I'll be able to help them when they need it. They are good at working on their own and they also love being around the kids, too. My boss even said she loves having them there--they tend to compliment what I do.

I am SO blessed and SO thankful that God has opened up this door without shutting the other and I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my family's life!

And I know some of you are thinking--girl, don't take on too much--you are always so busy!

Yes, I know. Believe me I have thought long and hard about that very thing. But the more things I strip out of my life, it's clear to me that I am not following my path sitting at home on my bum. Not that any of us homeschooling mothers ever actually DO get to sit at home on our bums but you know what I mean. I am just better when I'm busier. Having less to do makes me lazy and I don't like lazy. It's not in me to be lazy. I can be still and be busy at the same time. In fact, most of the revelations that God truly has had for me in my life have come in the midst of what most would consider "chaos". So don't worry. God worked it all out and He'll continue to keep me in the palm of His mighty hand!

So be excited for me, as I am most definitely excited!!!

Good gravy!

Has it been almost a month since I posted! Oh well. One of these days, I may get a cord for my camera and then I'll be able to upload pictures and prove that we aren't really dead. I promise we're alive and kicking. SSSOOO much has happened!

Aside from the excitement of our everyday lives, which is usually more than enough excitement let me tell you, we had Valentine's fun, Mardi Gras fun, we have been to Montgomery for Brooke's first dance competition, my niece got married, I've subbed some, we've been ice skating, had co-op fun and have been to Atlanta to the American Girl store with my American Girl class.

I should be a little girl--I am ALL about American Girls. The founder of this racket is a pure genius! I love that there are historical characters and modern characters and they never sell a doll without a book! They are fun, educational and oh I just can't say enough good things about them. If they ever open up a store here, I'm applying for a job! I could spend a fortune on just the books but I love the dolls too and I'm so glad my girls do. They have almost all of them and it has been money well spent. Though we did not bring home a doll this time, we did get a few books. This semester I am teaching a class on Felicity (the colonial girl) and my students and I met over there just for fun as a "field trip". We had a blast! I'm looking forward to teaching Addy in the Fall and taught Kaya last Fall. My girls have learned more about history and it has done more to help them put facts in perspective than any textbook ever could have.

I've made a very few important life decisions in the last few weeks too but I'm going to wait before I share those! I'll just say I'm very excited and encouraged about the upcoming changes.

Everyone else continues to do well and hopefully soon, I'll be able to share those pictures!

Blessings!

My new neighbors!!!!

I can't believe it! They got the house! They are officially homeowners!!! And they live right around the corner from us!!! My baby sister and her awesome hubby!!!

Congrats, Mia & Chris--I love you SO much! This is going to be SO much fun!!!

They looked at this house a month or so ago and when I looked at it the first thing I honestly thought was--this house is perfect---for US!!! lol It's still in Clay, which I have to be for another two years! It's in decent condition, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths upstairs and a finished basement with two rooms (one of which would be Dylan's and the other would be our schoolroom!) a bath and laundry room downstairs. A detached two car garage, fenced level yard and best of all--a sip!!! I'm all about me a sip!

But we are not in a position to buy another house. Or maybe we are. But I'm scared after getting so burned on our last house deal. I love being able to call up Mrs. Landlady when something tears up and say "come fix it". It's AWESOME!!! And maybe it is money down the drain. But for us, so was homeownership. I SO hope it doesn't turn out that way for my baby sis.

So they closed on the loan Friday. My mom, who has pictures of our first steps, our first baths, our first day of school HAD to have a picture of her first house! So I got a picture via cell phone of my brother-in-law signing the papers! All day yesterday, we cleaned, organized and moved stuff. There are some minor things that need to be fixed/taken care of. But it goes with the territory. I started a list for them! LOL (I know, I need a self-help group!) At the top of the list I hope is screening the sip! Can't wait to get out there on that thing!

The kids are so excited that she is so close, too. They LOVE LOVE LOVE their aunts and especially Brooke is crazy about Chris.

Now we just need to get my parents and my other sister out here and we'll have our own little compound! Isn't that scary?

Okay so...

I had to go darker on the text. I know it doesn't exactly match but everytime I looked at the beautiful aqua color that matches my "lovebirds", it hurt my eyes.

Just a quick update while I'm here at the library--I will sure be glad when I have my 'net back.

I forgot about the most important prayer that God answered--the lawsuit. We have settled and are making payments. It doesn't change my opinion of the "plaintiff"--not one bit--but at least it was worked out. Thank you, Lord!

I went back to the doctor today and found out I am anemic. I got put on iron, told to lose some weight (duh?) and told to stop drinking cokes. I will not be a happy camper for the next however long it takes me to kick this addiction! So watchout!

I DID however, get my prozac back--another answered prayer!

That's all I have time to post right now, Kayti is sitting next to me sighing her annoying sighs, ready to go home. It HAS been a long day.

More later!

SO many answered prayers!

To a person on the outside looking in, it probably wouldn't look that way. We are still broke and barely have a pot to pee in, still struggling, still wondering what it is God wants me to do. I still need to get back to the doctor and get back on some meds and have others adjusted. Dylan is still a smart-aleck teenager, Jeff is still not saved and the girls are still driving me nuts some days. But...

After hitting what felt like rock bottom last weekend, I can honestly look at my life over the last few months and see how God STILL blessed me. Our God is indeed an awesome God!

Here are just a few updates...

Our bills are paid for January--yeah! And by bills, I mean the important things--rent, utilities, etc. Warm and dry. That's the priority. I honestly wasn't sure we'd make it. But we did. Praise the Lord!

Come to find out, that great wonderful job that Jeff was supposed to get back last Fall--they are already laying people off. He would have been the first to go. So God knew what He was doing but NOT letting him get that job and just keeping him somewhere stable, even if he does have to work for a jerk for practically peanuts. At least they are regular peanuts!

Dylan has new glasses that he has needed for a long time--thank you, Mom. You know I owe you more than I can ever repay and that is in much more than money. You may be a bleeding heart liberal feminist (and what's wrong with that?! LOL) and I DO wish you would realize that God is still watching over you. But you are by far the BEST mom and grandmom (you know, a young 20-something nanny!) in the world and I wouldn't trade you for anything.

Dylan did not get hurt this wrestling season. Nothing major anyway, just a few pulled muscles here and there but for him that is HUGE. At least we don't have to go through anymore broken bones/physical therapy for a while because of sports. Now that wrestling is over, he is excited about getting his boat ready to go fishing.

Dylan passed his driver's test! He took it at school. All we have to do is take the card and the eye exam form to the DMV and he is a licensed driver. If you happen to be on OSR--lookout! LOL

Kayti is relieved to have dropped that dreadful English class. She is happy to be reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham on her own and learning about the Civil Rights movement. She is also a great help to me Friday afternoons with my preschool dance class and is looking forward to the Middle School Spring play. She is also enjoying being on the drama team and is trying hard to "pop it", Miss Shalita! She certainly doesn't want me up in front of the church in my hip scarf and zils! LOL (I know most of you probably DON'T want to see that and that is why I do not perform publicly!)

Kayti also organized and rearranged her room last weekend. Is she so my kid or what? I did not even bring this up. We just did this last Fall. But she wanted the bunk beds separated and to do that, we had to move stuff and get rid of a LOT! They seem to like it much better this way.

Brooke has had TWO dinner-and-a-movie dates in the last two weeks--thank you, Tere & Donna! She and Hannah are SO excited about their upcoming dance competitions.

Jeff and I have filed our income tax return and it wasn't so bad. We are getting back more than we expected so maybe that will ease some of our stress. Even so after a few knock-down drag outs and "come to Jesus" meetings, we had a heart to heart and are doing much better. I hate when we go through these spells. But we've been married long enough to know that they are temporary (thank God) and everything is going to be okay.

Still working but already thinking about my options for the summer and next school year. My baby sister did NOT get the house she wanted and is going to continue staying at home (I would be devastated but she has such a great attitude!). My niece is getting married.

That's about it!

Blessings!

Be still...

Okay, it really stinks when you haven't blogged in so long and you want to catch everyone up to date but don't really know WHERE to begin!

I will start with the most important thing...what God has been teaching me lately.

Those of you who know me well know that my whole life has been defined by one word. No, not that word! LOL Okay, maybe that one is a little true, too but I'm actually thinking of another B word--business. Not business like 'mind-your-own-business' but busy-ness. As in, I've always been WAY too busy. It's a side effect of having way too many interests. I don't know why the Lord made me this way but He did and for the most part I will rejoice and be glad in it! My interests have taken me so many places--literally and figuratively. I've learned more than I ever could had I been born with tunnel vision and a single purpose. But it is so true that a person can get TOO busy and have more problems as a result. Slowly but surely, as I get older, God is showing me that He wants me to be still. Be still and listen to what He has to teach me and show me. Be still and trust in Him. Be still and know that He is God and that He is in control even when I am NOT.

We have slacked off some of our activities lately in effort to be more still. I am only teaching one class for the co-op and Brooke is only taking one class. Kayti is not taking ANY classes for co-op and may very well be dropping one of her CORE classes (that's a whole 'nother blog and we desperately need your prayers in that area!)

I've purged some of our television programs from our viewing and am limiting our internet access. Truthfully, that came about not by choice at first but I'm learning that it has definitely had its benefits!

Over and over God has been confirming to me that this is what He wants and even though sometimes I feel very bored and I have to hear the kids tell me how bored they are, whenever I open His Word, my eyes immediately fall on the words "be still" somewhere, regardless of what I'm studying or reading! Be still. Be still. Be still.
So I'm trying to do just that. It's hard.

I'm okay...

I honestly didn't mean to worry everyone needlessly, though I DO appreciate the thoughts, prayers, concerns. God has really taught me about true friendship this past month! Thank you, Lord!

I'm okay, we're okay, everything's okay. Continue to be way too busy but I'm working on that, sort of. You know I'm not happy sitting still even though I know I should "be still". So we're dealin'. I have felt the presence of my friends interceding for me lately and you cannot know how much you all mean to me! I thank God for each and every one of you every day, I truly do.

I will catch everyone up very soon, I promise! Until then,

Be blessed!!!