a fellow homeschooler in need

we just learned a dear friend and her family lost there home to fire last night. They have three children a 12 year old, a 3 year old and a newborn. They have nothing left of their home, no clothes nothing. I guess though the fact they are all unhurt is a blessing.Fire is so scary.we had a small furnace fire right after Grace was born and that was just awful, so I can imagine how bad this is.

Anyhow this dear sweet family needs much prayer and comfort, so please lift them up tonight and many more to come they are The Gaffeny Family ,of Baltimore.

thoughts and ramblings

maybe its the time of year end of summer/before fall, the season is changing, the nights are getting cooler theres the faint whiff of jasmine in the air-could be the fact I am getting older will be 41 soon-. But it always makes me a bit melancholy.I have been just in a bit of a mood latley.Not a bad one really sorta musing over the kids growing up-Madeline is going to be 13 soon, and that went very fast, in 13 more years she will be 26 and she could be a mom by then:-0 I can still remember bringing her home from the hospital like it was yesterday.She is beginning to leave behind girlhood things-like dolls, and toys-, and she is becoming a young lady.She isn;t a diva type teen -thankfully-, more a nature/animal girl. It is a bittersweet pleasure to watch her grow-up:-)and find her own path in the world. And it is not easy to sit back and let her go .

And Grace will be 8 in November and she is quite the tomboy. she is amusing to watch with her bugs,frogs and whatever other critter ventures her way. She always makes me laugh. It was only a blink in time when she was just learning to walk.

Adam isn;t a baby anymore he is a little boy now-4 this summer-. He has his own unique personality and likes. He is my buddy, a cool dude, he likes to be tough but he is very sensitive- watch out ladies;-)-. He likes to help out around the house , and he likes to help his daddy with chores in the yard.

Shawn he is just a bouncy, cheery , cuddly toddler who is into everything. His thing now is to get out my can goods and roll them all over the place- I have found soup , under my bushes outside:-)-. He is saying Adam's name- the first word he has really clearly said.He also says my name and Bandits.

So they are all growing up and doing good, becoming their unique self's. It is a fun ride to be on with them.

This fall I am feeling the need to draw them very close and just hug them close. Bake cookies, and have teas with them. Take long walks in the woods, read good books together int he evenings, and snuggle by the fire and roast marshmallows. Really just be close and together and enjoy them.Time is fleeting and before we know it the kids will be all grown and gone, now is the time to be with them and enjoy them. Theres no waiting till tomorrow,cause tomorrow they will e driving and dating and having families of there own. I will then be a side player in their lives someone they visit from time to time . Not a main player who is guiding them and living each day with them.

skateboarding

Madeline got a new skateboard today- it was left in her bed this morning by daddy:-)- He ran over her other one two weeks ago when it was left in the driveway.
She spent the afternoon zipping up and down the street, and she was really doing well. it really helps her balance and coordination- which are not the best- and she just beamed with confidence and independence.
Her pals on the street all have skateboards and they all help and encourage each other, one of the dads showed her how ' to walk' the skateboard, and she got that pretty easily.

catching up with an old friend

I met up with an old friend-Kellie- today at Mariner Point park in Joppa to do her homeschool review. She is the cousin of the girls I grew up with-Theresa-. It was nice to talk and watch the kids play in a "secret" fort under some trees:-) After we did the review, we walked the path around the park, and as always stopped to watch the trains go over the bridge. And we feed peanuts to the sguirrels.

I am feeling a tad under the weather- a female thing- and it was sorta nice to chat about being kids again. And talk about all the pluses of having the kids home with us everyday. Sometimes only another homeschool momma can actually'get' what we do day in and day out. When people ask'how can you stand to be with your kids all day?"I ask" how can you not ..." I know how fast they grow up and then they are gone. and I am privelelged to be here with them , and to be able to actually know them, as the individuals they are. Really I don;t think there are any negatives to homeschooling, the kids get to develope into interesting people, with intrest, and they gain knowledge of the real world.
They interact with all kinds of people , all ages, cultures, backrounds, etcc and they just see people. They ca have conversations about issues without being censored, we can discuss god,politics, things like that and be open and honest with each other.
We spend time together and truly know each other, we pray together, we eat together, sleep together ,play together. and learn to get along . After all how can we get along int he world if we can;t get along at home.

I am very proud of the children and they always amaze me with the things they do.Shawn is a cuddle bug,Adam is my buddy,Grace is my free-spirit,And Madeline is my kind and gentle girl.

going crabby

well what a nice treat we had today, Uncle Amp knocked on our door and dumped a bushel of crabs on our table this afternoon. He is off and Tom and him have been out in the new boat crabbing and have caught a lot of nice sized crabs. And they where very yummy, of all the crabs I have had over the years his are the best.But there was way too may for us so we sent a huge bag over to Ms.Mary and the kids. She came over tonight and told us how good they where and how much they all enjoyed them Nice to know through our blessing we could bless someone else.

PRAISE GOD

a new school year has begun

we are beginning our new year this week:-) Grace is 2ND, Madeline 6Th, Adam prek and Shawn just his cute little self:-)

I like the routine of the school day and enjoy teaching,reading, and learning with the kids, I have learned as much as they have on some days. That I think is one of the biggest joys of being a homeschooler, seeing those light bulb moments when they just get it. And getting those moments together.

I thank Jesus everyday for being able to teach them at home the way the Lord meant for us to do. He did not give us children to hand over to some government run institution to raise, with heavens knows what values they are taught- gay marriages are OK, abortions are just family planning,feeling good about yourself is most important-,not doing the right thing . - putting them in bullying situations , where it is impossible to learn. Making kids feel inferior, and lost.

No my children will be raised in a place of godly love and learning. Where the values of a pleasing life to god are taught, making good moral decisions are important,treating others with respect and dignity are a must. Standing up for what you believe is a great thing, even if no one else believes it.After all Jesus never said the walk would be easy, he just promised to walk it with us and hold us up over the trials we will face. for this will build our character and strength and make us the salt and light to the world.

God Bless Us this day , as we seek to please you in all we do. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow praise him all creatures here below.

dinner and a swim

we just got home from my moms house, we had Sunday dinner with them today- we do it often on Sundays, it is a nice chance for the kids to visit a bit . And the kids went in the pool with Doug and pop and had a great time, Adam brought his huge water guns and the kids where after pop. I know when they came in they ate like vultures, we had salmon,shrimp,corn and salad and there wasn't much leftover.

After dinner the kids always watch a movie with pop and Doug- tonight it was Toy Story-Adam's current favorite-and have big bowls of ice cream. It is such a nice time to be together. We are truly blessed to have such a loving family around us. I know I would be lost without them my mom is my life line, and pop is such a strong figure in the family he is a calming ,safe ,reassuring figure in whatever storms we may face. I thank the Lord everyday form bringing him to our family.

guinea pigs

as you may know we are the proud owners of three sweet piggies, Knickknack, Max, and Ginger,(our fourth Hershey died around Easter. She had a cold and when she went to the vet had a heart attack on the table and died very fast ,, and completely broke Madeline's heart:-{-.Anyhow the kids- as I call them are doing well getting big and they whistle and sing and love to see us, they give hugs and lovings often.Well now Grace's ,bff, Victoria ,is adopting one this week, very exciting indeed. we are looking forward to meeting him/her should be interesting.

a stormy summer day

we had quite the stormy day today, several strong storms and tornado warnings a couple of times. Makes for an interesting day.

We spent the day playing board games Monopoly Jr., Pictionary, go-fish, checkers. Madeline played Monopoly and Pennies with Kristen at our neighbors, so it was a good day. I love days of using our minds to be entertained not the TV. Then after a great dinner of chicken- from the farm across the street- off the grill and fresh picked corn. The kids made an obstacle course in the living room and also had a dress up dance party.

They do know how to have fun, and come up with great ideas :-)

Well need to get to bed for church tommorow:-) We have had somany blessings this week, it will ell good to go to the lords house for a bit:-)

geocaching

we went geooaching today, which is like a huge treasure hunt with gps's. someone- we don;t know who- hides caches all over the place, and others like us find them. They are containers with little treasures in them you leave one in it and sign a log book that you found it. It is quite fun some of the treasures are quite hard to find. Todays was hidden in Cromwell Valley Park, and was quite a hike- 1 1/2 miles uphill steep and rocky, The kids had a blast and found the box - me I am wiped out I had to carry Shawn the whole way cause he didn;t want to walk.Thankfully Melinda and Irina took turns at carrying him- thank Jesus for those strong women:-)

Afterwards we headed to a stream to cool off then stopped at Chic Fil A for lunch on the way hoem. Right now everyone is chilling out and getting ready to get snowballs from our neighbor.