I was so tired last night I fell asleep for an hour with a cold pack on my back! I am stiff this morning so we are heading to the pool. If that doesn't loosen it up, I guess I am also on the way to the chiropractor. I heard a funny exchange the other day at the field trip. #2 was talking to a friend about his email, and told his friend that he isn't allowed on the computer or to watch tv in the morning when he gets up. "Wow. That's really weird," said the friend. "Yeah," replied #2. Now what in the world is so weird about that?! I would think that most kids aren't allowed to do that before school- they are getting ready for school. Homeschoolers are so in the dark! Speaking of homeschoolers...I finished lesson plans yesterday for the rest of the school year!!!!! We will finish at the end of April. For the most part we will be done after testing on the 16th, but there are a few loose ends to wrap up. Also we will try a couple of field trips, but that never seems to count to the boys as school. The rain just keeps falling. It is a good thing. God bless the rain.

What a week; time flies and all that. The "extra kids" were on spring break this week, so my days were a little fuller than usual. My kids were not on break, so there was always the "Get your work done" talk. Mine did pretty well actually. They don't understand why they don't get a spring break, even when I explain that they get a long winter break and then we get out early in spring. So there isn't a need for a spring break. That all makes sense to them when I tell it to them, but when their friends are out of school, somehow it no longer sounds so good. We had a field trip on Wednesday to Somerset Place. It is an old NC plantation. We were finishing up our study of the Civil War, and with extra children around I thought getting out for the day would be good. It was a great field trip. The buildings are very kid friendly and our guide was as well. After the tour we made brooms. Then we had a picnic lunch on the lawn and discovered a mother fox and 5 pups! Thursday was a stay at home day; much needed. That night I had my second go at "Triple Coupons"! A store here triples coupons one weekend each quarter. There are rules and I messed them up on my first try this winter, but I did much better this time. I was able to get Dr. Pepper for free, Aleve for 74 cents, and several items for 34 cents. I felt like I did well. Friday was co-op again, but with the added bonus of an event on Creation vs. Evolution. The boys were very excited about going to it- I think only because it was to be a special event with all of their friends- but I had to go to the chiropractor for an unexpected adjustment, and we were late. The event ended up going much later than it was scheduled, so I think I am back in their good graces. And that's the week that didn't have time for writing! I spent a lot of time one night in the library, and one night at a friend's house looking for curriculum for next year. I do believe I found what I want, and with the miracle of the internet I can save quite a bit of money on it! Today is catching up on the week's regular work, and going to the pool. I haven't been going like I should (wonder why?) and so I had to make that trip to the chiro yesterday. Hope everyone's spring break was a welcome event. Now jump back into the real world and be useful!

We had a very nice Easter holiday. Church was good, friends came over for lunch, I got a nap, and we watched movies together. The boys got snorkles from the Bunny, and we hope to get to the pool today to try those out. They also seemed excited to get a chocolate bunny in their baskets. That evidently was a new thing. We also went to a "Quinceneara" on Saturday. That is a special birthday party for 15 year old hispanic girls. Our neighbor in Arlington told me about her nieces' parties and I knew it would be a big deal. The young lady was in a gown and her hair all coiffed...just gorgeous. Then she ran around the bases in the softball game! #2 was upset that the guy in the game was letting the girls win. I told him that as a male it is his responsibility to always let the girls win. In exchange for that, the girls will make you chocolate cake, tell you you have sexy legs, and that you look nice in jeans and flannel. So for Easter Sunday he asked if he could wear jeans. I was surprised until I realized he wanted jeans and flannel! Last night we went to visit a friend and he told the other kids that you should always let the girls win, and then they will tell you you look nice in jeans and flannel. What a hoot! --------- I have been enjoying my husband lately. We have been married 18 years, and I love him more now than ever. There is such a sense of peace and ease in being with the same person that long. I love that we know each other so well, and still we choose to love each other. He is a good man to grow old with; he makes it easier for me.

Do you ever feel like you just slap God in the face? I recently felt that way. I was asking God, as I have for so many years, to give me more children. Then I stopped to think about what I was asking. In Texas, we had 5 little kids that lived behind us. They became my children in all but the law. I fed them, played with them, dropped them at school, and put them to bed some nights. I disciplined them, took them to church, taught them, and loved them. Here I have had the "extra kids" for 3 years now. I have done all that needs doing for them- food, diapers, baths, spiritual teaching, etc. One friend who has watched me with them said it is wonderful the way I nurture them, like they are my own. How dare I ask God for what He has already given, as if what He gave wasn't good enough? I am like a little child in the check-out line, wanting all of the candy I see, and forgetting all of the goodies already in the cart. ------------ In preparing for Easter tomorrow, here is an excerpt from The Shack. Mack is asked to judge his children, two may go to Heaven, and three must go to Hell. Mack must decide which ones... "I can't. I can't. I won't!" he screamed, and now the words and emotions came tumbling out. The woman just stood watching and waiting. Finally he looked at her, pleading with his eyes. "Could I go instead? If you need someone to torture for eternity, I'll go in their place. Would that work? Could I do that?" He fell at her feet begging and crying now. "Please let me go for my children, please, I would be happy to...Please. I am begging you. Please...Please..." "Mackenzie, Mackenzie," she whispered, and her words came like a splash of cool water on a brutally hot day. Her hands gently touched his cheeks as she lifted him to his feet. Looking at her through blurring tears, he could see that her smile was radiant. "Now you sound like Jesus. You have judged well, Mackenzie. I am so proud of you!" "But I haven't judged anything," Mack offered in confusion. "Oh but you have. You have judged them worthy of love, even if it cost you everything. That is how Jesus loves."

Well I got a good start on The Shack yesterday while the boys had their hearing exams. Here is one of the ideas that had me thinking (of the many ideas that are presented): all of the killing that occurs in the Old Testament, which makes God seem so mean and wrathful, is redemption for the peoples. Sin is the peoples' punishment. Think of all of the ways that we suffer because of sin. Greed leads to hate, envy, injustice, even murder. Actually most sins lead to those ends. So sin is actually the punishment; it makes your life miserable. In killing those people- the Philistines, Girgashites, Hittites, etc.- they were released from their sins and could be redeemed. It's a new thought for me, and it doesn't work for things like Uzzah reaching out to grab the ark of God, but if I understood all about God he wouldn't be much of a God to serve. The mystery is part of what makes him God. More thoughts later.

My schedule is so flip-flopped I don't know if I am coming or going. The boys were participating in an audiology study at the university today, and the two hours turned into three! So school was postponed, lunch was pulled out of the fridge, and now we are starting to get back into the groove. Both boys can hear well, but #1 as always, had some hearing issues. He doesn't have enough of a problem to do anything about, but I suppose it should give us more patience when we have to repeat things a few times. #2, however, should hear things right away. Yesterday we had the 4H club over to make pottery. One of the members' grandmothers is a potter and every year she does something with the kids. This year they made vases. She will take them back to her house to fire in the kiln, and then we will get them back. It was an all day event, with the younger kids "pottering" in the morning and the older ones in the afternoon. When they weren't in the barn, they were in the house doing schoolwork. (Or on the roof of the fort, or in the yard, or behind the barn...they were everywhere.) ---------- A friend reminded me of this exchange that took place on Sunday... Daddy was preaching about the world having gone wrong. One of his examples was that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD. #2 turned to me and asked, "What's an STD?" I thought about telling him it is a gas guzzling vehicle, but went with "It's a disease." instead. He just said, "Oh." and it never came up again. Sometimes church is not a safe place to raise children! ---------- I am reading The Shack. It certainly makes you think twice about God and all of his "stuff." I am about halfway done, but already I am rethinking some things. It is a novel, for those of you who don't want a theological textbook. I'll share more soon.

I admit it here, to all the world...I fed my family banana splits for dinner last night. We were all in a funk. The work all day was tedious, the moods were tired and frustrated, and nothing we had available to eat sounded good. So banana splits were the menu, and we all felt better afterward. We had a County Council meeting last night for 4-H. We played "Are You Smarter than a 4-Her?" and my older son said something that shocked me. I have not at all raised stereotypical males, but when the sewing questions came up, he turned to me and another mom and said, "You should know the answer. You're women." What in the world? I have taught him to sew too!

The weekend was busy and left no blogging time for me. Here is a quick update. The "Come to Life Museum" went well, and the kids really enjoyed it as well as learned some things. The boys went to a JAKES Day event at the gun club on Saturday. I was told that it is a national NRA day event. The boys got to try archery, air rifles, 22 rifles, and skeet shooting. There were a lot of their friends there too, and so they had a great time visiting and shooting. The church picnic was that day too, so Hubby went to that. It seems that it was a success. About as soon as we got home, it was off to a birthday party for the boys. We took advantage of the free sitter to go to a movie and do a bit of shopping. Yesterday was church, and a great sermon by my man. Then I suddenly decided to go see The Other Boleyn Girl. It was a good movie, but wow, what one wicked woman can accomplish. Weekend over. -------- For about a year now I have felt like something is going to happen. I don't know exactly what. I can't even say how I know. But I have this sense of gloom and doom. Sometimes I feel like it is our country--the election, war, attack, economy---I don't know. Sometimes I think it is something within the family- our kids, a relative, us. Sometimes it is the affairs at church that make me think something is about to happen. I really can't put my finger on it, but the last few weeks it has been almost suffocating. It doesn't cause me great depression; it doesn't seem to be hormonal; it isn't changing the way I live...It is just a heaviness that something is going to happen. Yesterday I could barely breathe for it, and so I chose the movie. Probably not the wisest choice as the wickedness of Ann Boleyn rang out to me that nothing ever changes. It is all a chasing after the wind.

Thursdays wear me out. It is about the end of the week to start with, and then I run all of my errands for the week on Thursday afternoon. Of course there are 5 kids to take care of, school to complete, and groceries to put away. I slept well last night. We also worked on taxes some more last evening. We owe Uncle Sam about $300. I like it better when he owes me, but actually what it means is he let me borrow $300 for the year and now it is time to pay it back. Thanks Uncle Sam. Today we have a special event for the homeschooling community. The highschoolers are performing a "come to life" museum. They will be dressed as characters from history and as the kids walk through the high schoolers will "come to life" and tell about their historical character. After that the fire department will have an ambulance and a smokehouse to teach the kids fire safety. They will also have their clowns there to teach as well. 4H is selling refreshments. One family is sick, sick, sick, and another one is out of town. So I will be busy selling my little heart out. The kids will take turns helping so they can do the fun stuff too. Now #1 woke up crying that he is going to throw up, and he has a slight fever. Ugh. ----------- I have a prayer request for one of my readers. My uncle is having vision problems, macular degeneration. He has to have injections into his eye for the next three months. That in itself sounds horrific, but loss of sight isn't that great either. Please pray that the Healer will restore Ed's sight just as He did when he was on Earth.

We have a WINNER! I received a phone call yesterday from the university. #1 had entered a story in a contest a couple of months ago, and he won! His story will be incorporated into a play script, and will be given at the university in April. His story was about being a cabin boy for Blackbeard. He wins free tickets for his class to go to the play. I asked if we could have tickets for our 4H club and they agreed. I will get all of the info in a few days in the mail. He will also be brought up on stage and the audience told about it. We are very proud of our little author.

We were reading on Sunday about how Solomon enslaved the people of the region to build the temple and his palace. There were people that he paid to do the intricate details, but the grunt work was done by the slaves. You might think that with the Hebrew history of enslavement, he wouldn't have done such a thing. But I wondered if it wasn't what they deserved. They were supposed to have been killed when the Israelites entered the land, and they didn't kill them all. So isn't enslavement better than death? If the slaves were treated as they were to be by law, then it wouldn't have been a horrible life. Certainly it wasn't as wonderful as a free life, but still it would have been acceptable. I'm sure that sounds harsh, but haven't we done the same thing here in America? We have taken the grunt work and given it to the people who don't belong here. Illegal immigrants take the jobs that we don't want, and though we pay them, it isn't any where near what they would make doing the same job legally. They can't get anywhere, financially speaking, in this country while they are illegal, and yet we are willing to look the other way because we don't want to do the job. Is enslavement still better than death? It still isn't as wonderful as freedom, but is it still acceptable? It is strange how putting it into today's terms changes how it sounds. I watched a movie yesterday called Steal A Pencil For Me. It was a love story/documentary of a couple during the Holocaust. They were from the Netherlands. It was interesting to listen to them tell the story of how life changed. First they were not allowed to shop when everyone else was, then they were given a curfew, then they had to wear the star, then they had to give up their radios and cars, then no bikes...on and on it went. Each step they accepted thinking that it would be the last. Even when they went away to the first camp, it was accepted because "we will go home again soon." So it would seem that even those within the enslavement can find a way to convince themselves that it is ok. Interesting. ----------- #2 seems to be having another outbreak of poison ivy. I am not sure if he completely recovered the first time. He hasn't been out in anything that would have given it to him again, so it must still be from the last time. He told me a few days ago that his legs were still in a rash. Then yesterday I caught him scratching his legs. I looked and it is definitely coming back. I hit him with Caladryl and Benedryl, so hopefully we can keep it under control this time. #1 was complaining of wheezing yesterday, so he got the Benedryl too. They are both still in bed.

The time change seems to have caught up with my family. We all stayed in bed longer than usual today. It was nice to wake up to sunshine though. I really hate alarm clocks; the sun is so much pleasanter. Spring has arrived here and the flowers and sunshine- on WET grass- are a welcome sight. I watched Myth last night with Hubby. It is a Jackie Chan video. We had a $2 new release coupon that was going to expire, so Hubby asked for a little date. I despise choosing movies, so I told him just get something funny or action/adventure. Jackie Chan was not what I had in mind. I don't think, however, that it was what my husband had in mind either. It was in Chinese with English subtitles. It actually ended up being an ok movie. The flashbacks and dreams were interesting. It was rated PG-13, but I think just for the karate stuff. There wasn't swearing, nudity, sexual innuendo, or mass murder. Very refreshing. --------- Yesterday the boys were doing their schoolwork when #1 came in to me in a huff. "Why does #2 have a movie in science and I don't?" I told him his brother is studying the brain and if he wants to watch, it is fine with me. I didn't tell him, "Because your brother is studying the brain and you are studying sex." If I gave him a video I would be in a lot of trouble!

I broke the news about Kelly to the boys yesterday. I told them she will have to find another home because of the trouble she is causing. I did NOT tell them the ultimatum if she can't find another home. I have put it out on several groups I belong to, so hopefully she will find a happy, country home. The boys took it fairly well. They just want to make sure it is a good home, and they hope it is someone they know. #1 also asked if we could get another dog, and the answer was a definite, "No." I don't think he ever cried, but his voice was shaky. #2 takes most things in stride. ---------- I am planning on spring cleaning closets this week. For some reason the time change is affecting me in the opposite. I wake up in the middle of the night and think it is time to get up. So I have been in bed for several hours now thinking about what to do with this house. I may rearrange some furniture soon as well. I would really like to get the floor in our dressing room changed. It is about the nastiest thing in our house, and refuses to come clean. ----------- Extreme Home Make-Over was a WV family last night, so we watched. It was a family from a town near our hometowns, so it was interesting to watch and hear the things we know about. I was wondering what they would do with the property because, of course, it was on the side of a hill. The family was 7 people living in a 600 sqft home. We figured out that is about 3 rooms in our house! ----------- We have been keeping track of what we are thankful for at the end of a day. Last night space was on everyone's mind. Hubby, however, wrote: Peaches, Melons, Pomegranites, Mangoes, and Apples. Use your imagination! When we went to the prayer healer last week, he wanted to know why I didn't ask for prayer. I said I wasn't sure what to say. He said, "You just tell him you want bigger t__s, and see if he lays his hands on you. I just wish someone would do that once and see what happens!" Is he not a nut?!

I don't know if the drought is over, but we sure are a lot wetter than we were a month ago! Again, yesterday, we had rain. Through the night I could hear it falling, too. When it is just a rain, and not a windy storm, I like having a tin roof. It sounds so soothing. But a storm, YIKES! You will think it is going to blow right off. ----------- Co-op went well yesterday, except the attendance seemed down. I know some people who are ill, and perhaps the weather kept some away. I passed #1's Microbiology teacher in the hall and asked how the class is going. She said it is going well, but they had used blood for something that day, and #1 had a hard time with it. She hoped it wasn't too much for him. I assured her that he has trouble with body parts and blood, and not to worry about it. He freaks out with me too. The poor thing wants to work with animals when he grows up, but he can't think about getting through Biology. I don't know how it will go. She said she was sure to tell him that no animals were harmed in the taking of blood.

Today we head back to co-op. Last week I had to leave early, so I found out several days later that #2 had a homework assignment. He signed up for a creative writing class, all on his own. I was very surprised because he doesn't seem to like writing when I assign something. Well, he loves this class. He did his homework all on his own- I actually forgot! He liked writing it so well that he wrote the story for the six week project. His brother asked why he would do that if it isn't due for 6 weeks. He answered that if everyone gets it done, maybe the teacher will make another assignment! His story was about Mr. Pig who gets caught in a "mafia-like" situation and has to fight against the Big Boss of the Meat Lovers Society. ------------ Kelly has been having seizures about every 3 weeks or so, at least the ones we see. She also is evidently upsetting the neighbor becasue she eats their cat's food. If the kids go near her when she is eating she snaps at them, and the mother is afraid of that. We are trying to keep her inside more, but I am afraid we are going to have to get rid of her. The problem is that she hasn't had veterinary care, and with the seizures, I don't think anyone is going to want her. So it may come to putting her down. I know I have wished she would die before, but this is not what I wanted.

We left church Sunday and headed to Colonial Williamsburg. The in-laws left with the boys before church, and that was a good idea. It evidently took them a while to find where they were supposed to be, get the tickets, etc. They were able to see a few of the exhibits that we didn't have time for. We got there an hour before they closed, so we just went through the palace garden maze and then shopping. It was Homeschool Days at Williamsburg. We got to go for a fraction of the cost, and at this time of year we were able to get a good deal on a hotel. They have Homeschool Days again in September and I think we will go back, at least for a day. We saw many of the attractions: Apothecary, Basketmaker, Wigmaker, Jail, Courthouse, Capitol, and Palace. There were many more as well. It was interesting to learn that the reenactors are full-time employees. They have degrees in the areas they reenact. The apothecary has a degree in Medical History. The wigmaking was also very interesting. They don't use American hair because it is considered inferior to European hair. The cooper (bucket/barrel maker) said that they would have used saplings to bind the barrels together, but it is too expensive now to hire the tradesmen to go out to the woods and look for saplings. #2 offered to do it for $1 an hour. They thought that was a great price and would let him do that. I told them they better find out how fast he would work first. So he showed them his slow walk and they changed their minds!

We had a "Family Meeting" type worship on Sunday. Our church is trying to help more at the women's shelter, but to do that we have to have everyone's help. The service was to help people see how they can help and why they should help. A lot of people were absent, and I know flu is still going around, but it was really frustrating to me. I feel like the members of this congregation are uncommitted, to Christ and to His Body here. One of the questions put to us Sunday was to think of a time that someone helped you, and then of a time when you helped someone and how you felt. I thought of a time that we needed some finanacial help. We had moved to Texas and bought our first home. We had been out of work for about 18 months and so money was tight. A couple of days after we moved in, the roof started leaking. It wasn't covered under the house warranty, and we suddenly found ourselves faced with a big bill. A man at church said he would loan us the money. "Wow," we thought, "what a wonderful thing." Then the money came, attached to legal papers to make sure it was paid back. Now there wasn't any interest connected to it, but there was a paper from a lawyer saying that it had to be paid back in a certain amount of time. Certainly it was fine for him to have done that, but it didn't feel like it was a gift loan. We paid it back way before it was required, and the loaner was shocked. I guess he had loaned money before, and not been paid back. A few years later, one of our students in the campus minstry needed some money to buy a car. She was going to lose her job because she didn't have reliable transportation. We loaned her the money, with no legal requirements. She never did pay back all of the money. However, a few weeks ago-- which is years after the loan-- we heard from her that she has finally taken to heart advice about living on a budget. She is married to another of the students, and they have started a family. In both instances the members of the Christian family were helped. The difference was in whether the members felt like it was a family. The examples of the church helping in the book of Acts seem to be giving with the heart of helping out a family member. Whether the help was repaid we aren't told, but the heart of giving seems to be there. The women we will help at the shelter will likely never repay it to us, but maybe years later they will be able to help someone else. The heart has to be in the giving, however, for it to make a difference.

Well it has been a busy week here. My in-laws arrived on Thursday afternoon, while I had 5 kids running around the house and was on the phone with an insurance agent. It never calmed down much after that. We all ate out a lot while they were here, and the kids ended up with belly aches. I have to say I was a bit mixed up as well. I will be hitting the "from scratch" foods today. Co-op started Friday and went well. Mother-in-law went with us and helped serve the lunches while the moms taught classes. My classes are Economics and The Giver- a literary study. Before co-op was even over, Hubby came to pick me up and we headed to Raleigh to a Renovare conference. We had a nice dinner at an Italian place in Chapel Hill, and then went to the conference. Richard Foster and Bill Vaswig were the main speakers. I have heard Richard a few times before, but reminders are always good. Bill was new to me, though Hubby had told me about him before. He had a class with him during his doctoral studies. Bill is a 77 year old Lutheran minister with a prayer healing ministry. It was interesting to hear him talk about his experiences. Some people did ask to be prayed for, but it wasn't like what you see on television. I do believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that we don't give it the credit that it is due. I was looking for answers at this conference. I even asked a question, but I didn't feel like the answer I was given was any more than I had already figured out. I have been starting to have some success at my "quiet life resolution," but I am feeling some guilt about not doing some things. The answer is I just have to let go of the guilt and know what I can accomplish, not comparing myself to others. We got back on Saturday evening and enjoyed a dinner for two at the Country Club since the boys were out with their grandparents. They had enjoyed a day of bowling and shopping. The boys had looked forward to their visit for a month; it was circled on their calendar. ------- Today I make up for being gone so long. I have extra kids Tues, Weds, and Thursday. Today is 4-H, art, and homeschool meetings. So much for a quiet life; you can't have it every day.