My Way or Your Way

Last night, right before supper time, my son asked, "What are we having for dinner?" I replied lasagna. He replied, "I hate lasagna!" (He doesn't, but I don't what kind of mood he was in to say that) We started talking back and forth, me with my normal, "Well, if I cook it, you're going to eat it." Then I had an idea....If my son didn't like what I had planned, let him make it! I then proposed to him that he make dinner, if he wanted something different. My only criteria was it had to include a meat, veggie and carb. He got excited! He ran and pulled out my cookbooks and started looking for something to cook. I already had ground turkey meat thawed out, so he decided to make mac and cheese with ground hamburger mixed in with our side being canned green beans. With very minimal advice from me, my son made dinner! And it was good!
My point of telling this story is that I could have done what I always do, and had my way. Instead, I gave my son the opportunity to have it his way. In turn, he gained the experience of cooking an entire meal, almost completely by himself. I also showed him that his opinion is important. Now, I won't always be able to accomodate his desires, but last night it worked!

Can't Sleep, Might as Well Post

Just returned Saturday from a very last minute camping trip. This makes trip #4 in our popup since May, when we bought it. Lots of fun...Camped in Hiawasee, GA. The weather was great, low 80's during the day, mid 60's at night. That's what I'm talking about!

Happy Birthday to My Baby Girl

Today my daughter turns 6 years old....Happy Birthday to her! She is a vibrant, artistic, funny little girl. I am blessed to have a daughter!
This morning (at 7am!), my son tumbled into bed, followed shortly by my daughter. They were ready to go out for breakfast. I don't remember when we started this, but it is now a tradition to take the bday child out for bfast on their bday. After many rounds of "Happy Birthday" to my daughter, my kids jumped back out of bed, informing me that they were getting dressed. (Only about 7:15 am now) I begged for 5 more minutes in bed , and then got up, dressed and we headed out the door. (About 7:35 am now) McDonald's here we come!
Anyway, I am sure this will always be a tradition with us....
Again, Happy Bday to my girl!

The Goodness of God

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get discouraged. Being a SAHM and Homeschooling mom takes a lot of giving without neccessarily getting anything in return.
This week has been hard for me. My kids argue, as all kids do, but it seems to have escalated this week. I feel like the fights are almost constant.
Tuesday, my husband left a really encouraging card for me in our bathroom, telling me how great I am and how he knows God has called me to be a SAHM and how much he appreciates me. This lifted my spirits considerably.
Then, today rolls around, Thursday. From the get go, my kids were whining and arguing with each other. You may say, "Well do something about it!" Well, I just didn't have the want to. I felt despair and discouragement weighing me down.
Then we went to Wal-mart. As we were checking out, the cashier was really in a talkative mood. She actually talked to me and the kids. (People usually ignore them) She was saying to them, "Wow, you must have a great mom." and "I bet you really love your mom." I would like to say that my kids broke into a long soliliquy about all I do for them. But they just smiled at her. Then she said,"You guys are blessed to have a mom. You need to tell her everyday how much you love and appreciate her." I knew this was a God moment. God speaking His words through this beautiful lady. I thanked her for all she said. But that wasn't the end.... She said directly to me,"Mom's do so much. They wear so many hats. They just need some mom time. They also need to know that what they do is really appreciated." Then she spoke to my kids again,"You guys are blessed to have a mom. Some people don't know what that is like." Then we left.
I could/will guess that maybe this young lady didn't have her mom around growing up or has lost her mom at some point in her life. (She looked to be in her early twenties.)
Whatever her story is, God used her to lift me up and set my eyes back on the high calling. Through Him, I can do everything. But I can't do anything without Him, because it will be a miserable failure.
"And those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified, those he justified, he also glorified." Romans 8:30

Is it Summer Yet?

I asked that question, because my children finished school 2 weeks ago and it seems as if we have been busy ever since.
We went away to South Carolina for a RC flight festival. (My husband's hobby) We camped one night in our popup camper and stayed in hotel the other 2. Our night in the popup was a lot of fun! I am ready to pack it up and head off again.
On night #3 of our mini-vaca, none of us (my husband's family) could decide where to eat. With 14 of us, (adults and children) it is hard to get in any resturant. So, we chose Ryan's....By the time we got there, I was starving! So, I quickly got my food and started to devour it. Well, in my haste to get eatin', I choked. Not just the cough and it goes on down choke, but the "my face is turning red and blue and I can't breathe" choke. My sister-in-law leapt into action and started the hiemlich. When nothing happened, she started yelling for someone to help. A Ryan's waitress came and started the hiemlich again...the rest was a blur.....I was whisked away to the bathroom and the staff called 911....After I vomitted a lot, the paramedics determined it was stuck in my esophagus....I was in extreme pain but not in any life threatening danger. I expelled the huge piece of steak later...(Yes, cheap steak was the culprit) Very scary for me and everyone involved.
After arriving home from that relaxing (not really) vacation, we came back to rush straight into our coop's end of the year picnic, our coop's book sale, taking the car for repairs, choir practice, small group, singing on the praise team Sat. and Sunday at church, Mem. picnic with in-laws, keeping a friend's kids for 5 hours, and then here we are at today...Yes, an activity for everyday since May 21st...So that's why I ask, is it summer yet? You know, the relaxing lazy days of summer?

Popup Camper

For over a year, my husband and I have been wanting to buy a popup camper. We thought, "What a great way to create memories with the kids!" So last May, we put our boat (A 1973 Starcraft) up for sale. We were going to take the money and buy a popup. Well, we had many lookers, but no takers. I was relieved, because I didn't want to get rid of the boat. We had already made tons of memories in that and wasn't ready to let it go!
Fast forward a year...We still are talking popup, but financially we are in a different place. You see last year, we had to sell the boat in order to even think of buying something else. But, during the last year, we have seen God bless my husband's business way above what we could think. So, we started looking again, thinking to purchase one for about $1200-$1500.
Last week, we hit the jackpot. (Or the jackpot to us anyway!) My husband found a 70 something man who was selling his 1973 Starcraft popup for $950! My husband being the wheeler dealer he is tried to get it for less...He got it for $900. A 1973 popup may not sound great to some, but this man cared for this thing. I mean, he kept it pristine, mechanically and asthetically. He was a great steward of his things, and our family gets the benefit.
We are camping tomorrow night...We are all really excited. This thing has 2 double beds, a table, a sink and a propane gas stove. I will try to post pix later....

Sweetness

Just documenting the sweet spirit of my son...This morning my son climbed in bed with me and after awhile, said, "Mommy, Can you fix breakfast?" Well, my son is fully capable of fixing his own breakfast. (Ie. bagels, waffles, fruit, even scrambled eggs, My ds is 7 1/2) I said, "Hon, why don't you fix your breakfast?" He hopped out of bed with the reply of, "OK!" Then he called back down the hall that I could stay in bed till he was done. Well, I drug myself out of bed, got dressed, made up my bed, and was starting to unpack from our trip last week, and my son comes back in my room. He wanted to know what I was doing out of bed, because he wanted to serve me breakfast in bed! I hopped onto the bed and told him that I still could have breakfast in bed, even though technically I was up. So, he brought me scrambled eggs with a glass of water on a tray. Then he brought his eggs and bagel to my room and we both had "breakfast in bed." I had tears in my eyes as I thanked him for this selfless act. My son has a heart to serve, a very compassionate boy. Thank you God for my blessings!