This day has long been anticipated around the world. I can only imagine what John and Barack are feeling this day...fatigue, nausea, anxiety, fear, etc. It will be good to have it done. Whatever the outcome of this election though, there is sure to be change.

So since it is Election Day here in the Good Ole USA, I thought I would share some Constitutional History with you.

The Declaration of Independence started it all when it declared that "all men are created equal." We have been trying to decipher that statement for the last 232 years. What did TJ mean when he penned those words? Over time we have decided that he meant everyone who appears to be related to the human race, even the unborn have some rights.

The Constitution went on to define the rights of citizens here to be those of a Republic. We have the right to vote and decide what we want to happen in our country. But as soon as that was enumerated as a specific right, we had a fight on our hands.

You see some people who belonged to the human race, and were citizens of our country, were not being afforded the rights as such. Many people took up the cause of freedom for peole of all colors, and the 1820s and 1830s saw a rise in men and women speaking up for the rights of slaves.

The Civil War brought about changes in our country, and eventually in our Constitution. In 1870 black men were given the right to vote. They couldn't really practice the right, since people around them were sneaky and mean, but they did have the right.

Women found it offensive that they had not been included in this granting of voting privileges, and the true fight for a woman's right to vote began in full force. Small ground would be taken in some western states where they needed women, but little progress was really made. It took until 1920 to get the right to vote for women. That means that my grandmothers were born without the right to be fully participating citizens in their own country.

It took 144 years for women to be considered remotely "created equal." The fight would continue, for both women and minorities, until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That would be 188 years after the Declaration of Independence declared us all "EQUAL."

True, life-altering change comes slowly.

This land was made for you and me.

It is starting to look like Fall around here. A few of the trees are turning colors and losing their leaves. The sky is cloudy, and breezes keep stirring things up. Then of course there are the Christmas Carols and Wish Lists. I know that doesn't make much sense, but as soon as Halloween is over, the kids start thinking about the next holiday! A friend gave us a piano book of Christmas carols, so they have been trying those out. #1 is playing "Noel" right now. #2 wrote a wish list the other day along with a note about what he likes to do for fun, and what a good kid he is. He isn't very subtle. The animals have had me laughing lately. Yesterday I was trying to pour out the water from the fish jar, and one of the little boogers slipped out. I tried to pick it up (ugh) and get it back in the jar, but every time I got hold of it, it would flip out of control and end up in the sink again. I was laughing so hard I could hardly hold the jar. Yes, they are both still alive! Then this morning the dog pushed the bedroom door open, stomped inside, and threw herself down on Hubby's rug. It sounded like she was throwing a temper tantrum. Later I found out she was! She had been outside barking at cars in the road, and Hubby brought her inside. Then he wouldn't let her stay in the living room with the boys. So I guess she thought she would show him! This afternoon I gave her a bath. ( My kids learned a new phrase today, "You stink to High Heaven.") She had to be pulled into the bathroom, and then she refused to look at me. She's a character. Then there was feeding the scraps to the animals. I took the bucket of scraps out to the field and dumped them over the fence. Pete, the cat, wanted to get some of it, so he headed through the fence. Milky Way, one of the goats, didn't want to share so she butted him in the head while he was trying to get through the fence. He had his head through and all 4 legs splayed out on the other side. It looked like some old cartoon! Poor guy didn't want to admit that he had been had, so he sauntered over to the barn and licked his pride.

The sugar in the kids' systems has evidently run its course. They are still sacked out in bed. I know it may look like I am writing before 7 a.m., but it is really in our bodies' nearly 8:00. We let them have as much candy as they want the first day after Halloween. #2 had it for every meal, except a little spaghetti and salad that we had at a friend's house last night. Even there, we roasted marshmallows! He will be dragging today.

Today will be a sad day in our house. We will have a family meeting this afternoon to discuss some issues. Chores are not getting done, and school work has not been acceptable. I know they are going to feel like we are being too hard on them, and rebellion will likely occur, but it has to be taken care of. When I think about trying to go back to school, and deal with life as it is, I just about crawl under the bed! So some "pruning" is about to take place in our little family garden.

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The fish are still alive. Maybe I better buy some fish food; then they'll die.

These two pictures are from our church secretary. I forgot to take the camera. Hubby was the troll from Three Billy Goats Gruff at trunk-or-treat. Some people didn't know this was a goat!

Well, now it has been four years. My week of reminiscing is over; you can relax. I will just end by saying, "I am happy to be here."

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The Halloween party went well last night. The kids were charging to get out of the house to start the Great Candy Race. We had kids dressed as an angel, a princess or good witch (not sure), several Star Wars characters, a Greaser, a 60s person, a ninja, and some pirates. Our own were a wizard and a WW1 flying ace. Hubby and I went as Hee Haw singers.

The candy trading afterward was so loud the adults had to go to another room so we could talk. We had lots of food to munch on through the night too. Now the kids will spend the next couple of days on a sugar rush until we put a moratorium on candy again.

This mother brought candy to pay off the kids for what she wanted to buy from them! I just ask for what I want--coconut and peanutbutter!

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I taught a lesson on voting and the Constitution yesterday. It was so very interesting to me, that I started to wonder again about law school. I really have to think carefully about what I really want to do.

I just heard that they are expecting this election day to pass the record voter turn-out of 68% in 1908. I can't believe that that many people think it isn't important to vote! I went yesterday and actually got to vote twice! They had given me the wrong ballot. If I hadn't done the research of who was to be on my ballot, then I wouldn't have known it was the wrong one. If I had turned it in, my vote wouldn't have counted! I wonder how many mistakes like that will be made. A dishonest election worker could really change an election!

Traditions are an important part of where we live. Each home has brought new traditions. The one bedroom apartment tradition was having tea in the morning with a friend. The apartment in Texas was hanging evergreen on the banister. The Philadelphia tradition was taking walks with my baby to look at Christmas lights. The house in Texas was filled with holiday traditions like an Easter egg hunt, trick-or-treating with friends, and fireworks with the neighbors. The traditions seem to multiply with the ages of the children.

We have traditions in this home as well. Birthday parties are held here at the house with lots of friends. We go to hear concerts in the park in the summer. And at this time of year we celebrate Halloween with friends in another neighborhood.

It started out as just going to trick-or-treat with them, since we don't have a neighborhood. I did take the kids to the neighbor's house the first year, and he didn't know what to do. So he got out his change jar (an old coffee can filled with coins, screws, and nails) and let the kids take some money. The friends' party has turned into a big to-do, and the whole family enjoys it. One of the other kids plans it all and makes the food. She puts out quite a spread, and last year was excited about her punch with a hand in the middle of it.

We all eat and visit and then the kids go trick-or-treating. We take turns going with the kids, and when they get tired, they come back for a drink and a break. At the end of the night everyone dumps their candy out on the floor and the trading begins! It is like being in the pit on Wall Street!! I have laid claim to all coconut already this year. Love those Almond Joy and Mounds.

One tradition that hasn't been made is the Haunted Corn Maze. When we moved here, we arrived on Halloween. The church youth group was going to the Haunted Corn Maze and invited us along. We had been here a few hours, when I exposed my poor children to the horrors around them. We had to walk through yelling, "Little Kids!! Don't scare them!" We have never been back.

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Another tradition is that our church hosts a Trunk-or-Treat for the neighborhood. This year I helped the kids with a haunted house, and we did it based on the theme of the Ten Plagues of Egypt. I had a friend buy 2 goldfish and we put red lights under the bowl to give the appearance of the Nile turned to blood. I thought those fish would die before the night was over. Was I ever wrong! Those simple things are living still, and the kids have fed them flour! I didn't get fish food since I expected them to die. I also have been putting them in a jar and straight into tap water! If I had wanted them to live they would have been dead by now.

I have a tendency to make a couple of strong friendships where ever we live, and stick close to them. I suppose I have done that because I know we are moving again soon, and what is the point of investing all of that time in too many people? Sounds selfish, huh? Not that I haven't had more than 1 or 2 friends, but I have had few close friends.

But in this home I have many friends that I consider close. Perhaps it is the stage of life I am in since I seem to be involved in things in my kids' lives, the church, and the community, which wasn't possible when the kids were smaller. Whatever the reason, I do seem to have quite a few friends here that I would label "close friends."

The friends were made quickly, and were such a blessing from God. I have noticed in our previous moves that it takes 18 months to not be homesick, and 3 years for a place to feel like home. It would seem that just when a place felt like home, we would move. This town, however, has felt like home from the start. As our relationships mature and grow, it only feels more right to be here.

Proverbs says, "He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even the bitter tastes sweet." Perhaps I was just really, really hungry when we got here, but this is the sweetest place I have been. Thank you God for this home.

These are friends that I made in one of our other homes. I went back years later to visit them and they still felt like good friends. What a privilege it is to have friends like that.

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Another blessing here has been my job. I have wanted more children since time began, and God has answered me with the three precious boys that I care for. God knows just what I need, and surely He provides.

A lot of people church shop. They look around until they find a place that fits their family's needs, and then they give it a trial run for 6 months or so, and then they think they may choose that church officially. A minister's family doesn't get that choice. You go where the job is, and in my opinion, where God sends you.

Church is an important part of my life. It is where I find comfort, friendship, community, and God. I can't imagine moving somewhere and not having a church to attend. Yet, I often wonder if I would choose the churches that God chooses for me. If I were able to shop around, would I stop where I have landed?

The answer in Texas was a resounding, "NO!" The place was run like a business, and little thought went into the souls of the members. Eventually I was given the option to look around for a church, and I knew when I had found it. It was a good place to be, people asked about my spiritual condition, and the Lord was served there. I went home after the first time visiting, and asked my husband why we couldn't attend that church. It was a home for me right away.

The church where I am now, that I have not gotten to choose, is home for me. I found that out a few weeks ago when we visited another church. It was a large church, and I fully expected to enjoy my visit. But it wasn't "home" to me. People didn't sing, the children weren't involved, and women did absolutely nothing during the service. I discovered that I missed my little congregation here in Carolina. It was a good discovery.

I do wish more children go to our church, so that my boys could have some more church friends their age. But as I looked around me at the big church, I realized my kids are so much better off. They get to help with services, they enjoy being where others treat them like family, and spiritually I do believe they are being fed and are growing. I suddenly realized at that other church, that I really don't care that there aren't more kids here.

God put us just where we need to be, and He did it just right.

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We got the X-ray reports back on #1 and he does have some slight scoliosis. They want to do another series of X-rays on him in 6 months to make sure it isn't progressing.

The boys watched a Charlie Brown special last night. This morning #1 wrote a letter to the Great Pumpkin. I told him it isn't real, but he didn't seem to believe me. I am positive that boy will grow into a fiction writer.

A house does not a home make. I have been in houses that did not make me comfortable, and I thought, "I am glad I don't live here." One of the best compliments I ever received was when we lived in Arlington. I had a Bible Study group over to the house, and one of the ladies said, "Your house is so homey. I feel very comfortable here." I enjoy having people in my home just to visit and share with each other. Home is important to me.

Our first home as a couple was a 10x20 trailer. We lovingly called it "The Shoebox." It was carpeted and I didn't have a vacuum. I would broom sweep it out. There were actually two bedrooms, but we used the second as a closet; it was that small. The refrigerator's freezer never kept things frozen. But we had friends over to visit, for dinner, or to play games, and it was home.

Our second abode was actually Federal Housing that the college had. It was a one bedroom apartment in a row of five apartments. Most of the rooms were rented by other students, but not all were. We had neighbors that weren't students. They were mentally handicapped and evidently didn't understand how to clean a house. We had a problem with roaches the whole time they lived there. The refrigerator here would never keep anything frozen either, so we seldom had ice cream for dessert. But even with the embarrassment of roaches and the lack of ice cream, we enjoyed entertaining friends, often sharing morning tea with a friend who was a few doors down. That was a sweet home in our young marriage.

Then we moved far away to Abilene, Texas. We had student housing again, but these were apartments only intended for students. They were the oddest built things, fitting into each other like Jenga pieces. You guessed it, the refrigerator was a bust. This one would freeze too much. I was defrosting that thing every month! So we broke down and bought a chest freezer to help store meals since I had little time to cook with working two jobs. But somehow time for friends was available, and our home was often filled with dinner guests and great discussions. We were sad to leave that home.

Have I mentioned that I did not get to pick any of these homes? They were always chosen for me by someone else due to the circumstances. Well, Philadelphia was no different. We couldn't pick out a place from so far away, so my in-laws went for us and found a two bedroom apartment in a quaint little village near the seminary. There was a square in the middle of town with a park, stores, restaurants. It was a great place to get out of the big city and enjoy a slower pace as we started our family. We did entertain friends here, but the most common guests were family hoping for some time with two beautiful boys. And by the way, the refrigerator freezer worked great...of course the whole refrigerator would freeze things, and we would have to unplug it at night so our food wouldn't freeze, but hey, at least we could have ice cream.

We spent a while living with my in-laws while Hubby wrote his dissertation, and that home was filled with such generosity that can't be described. Hubby's parents moved out of their bedroom so that we could be on the same level as the boys, and gave us the whole upstairs to live in while they stayed in the basement for over a year. The refrigerator and freezer both worked well, and were able to renew friendships with friends in Hubby's old home.

Finally we were able to move into a house when we went to Arlington. Hubby picked it out, while I waited in WV for everything to get settled. He picked us up at the airport on a dark, damp evening, and we drove to our new home. I remember thinking, "This place is so closed." Privacy fences are very important to people in the Metroplex area. Everyone has at least a six foot fence closing their world off from everyone else's. But even here I was able to enjoy having people in my home. We entertained many angels in that home: college students, friends, other kids, family, and sometimes strangers. We tore down the fence and put in a cute picket that allowed us to get to know many more neighbors. It was a good home...AND we bought a refrigerator and freezer that worked great!

Packing up that home four years ago today was one of the saddest things I have done. It was our first home, where our children celebrated birthdays and holidays. Easter egg hunts would never be the same anywhere else. Friends told us goodbye and wished us well, but the house, no the home, was telling us goodbye too.

So finally, I picked out a home for us. We had been married 14 years before I got that pleasure. When Hubby saw it I think he thought I had lost my mind. There were spiders with huge webs everywhere, and the house smelled old and musty. But with lots of love and some updating, it has become quite a beauty. But even the beauty isn't what I love about it. There is a warmth to this home. The open glass doorways, the many bright windows, all let in the light from outdoors. And there is a movement about this house that just invites you to go visit and enjoy one another. Here, too, we have had friends and family visit often. Nearly every week there is someone here to share a meal or just a word. It is definitely "Home Sweet Home."

And the refrigerator is great!

Here is our newest home filled with lots of memories and friends and family that we love.

I am afraid you will have to deal with reminiscing and rumenating this week. You see, it was four years ago this week that we packed up our house in Texas and moved to the Coastal Plains of Carolina. Hubby and I have never lived in a place more than four years as a couple. We did as children, growing up in what is now considered our "hometown." Hubby's family moved to his hometown when he was about four years old, and my family still lives in the same small county as ever. This constant moving--7 big moves in 18 years of marriage--is not something we ever expected. We did actually manage to live in one home for four years and two months, but the entire last year that we were there, we knew we would be moving. You live your life differently when you know you won't be staying. I won't lie. This has been a hard year for our family. We don't really know how to live in a place this long, with no intention of leaving. Even #1 picked up on it and worried for a while that this would be the end of another chapter. Hubby and I have struggled with the new stages that our friendships have taken. Our perspective even on the town has surprised us, as we have watched it change over these four years. We even had trouble knowing whom to cheer when the university played our alma mater! When we came here we were so burned out there wasn't even a scent of smoke in the air. Our last city had been a test in tenacity, especially for Hubby. After we moved to Arlington, the church that hired Hubby decided they didn't want to do campus ministry anymore. We felt God calling us to stick it out, and to help the ministry pull away from its original church to become a non-profit, board-run entity. We were faithful to that calling, and successful in starting that new form of administration, but it was very stressful. We actually spent the last nine months of that position looking for a new one. That isn't quite fair to say, as we had found this position after about three months, but the church here wasn't ready to make that committment to us. I knew that this was the place for us just by reading the questionnaire. Gone were the questions of doctrine and how we read the Bible, gone were the questions of what kind of "Minister's Wife" I would be. Instead it was full of questions about how we live out our Christianity. We had been disappointed by the church that hired us in Arlington. We had been let down by those we thought were brothers and sisters in Christ. We had been tossed aside like worthless rag dolls. We walked on eggshells so as not to make things worse. And now here was a church asking us how we plan to live as a child of God. I am crying now as I remember that relief. What a thought...asking a minister and his family how they behave like Christians, and what impact Christ has had on their lives. Even so, we moved with a wall. I brought a thick, brick wall with me from Texas. I wasn't sure I could trust these people; I had been let down before. I even hired a guard to stand at the top of the wall and watch for the enemy to poke his head out. I told one man that I would give the church two years. I was sure they would let us down in that time. Something would show up to prove to me again that Christians are often "in word only." But it didn't happen. Yes, I have been let down, but I know to expect that. The congregation has failed us, and I am certain we have failed the congregation. But that has only been in our human dealings with each other. In our spiritual matters, the church has been a blessing. The idea of living like a Christian, and being accountable to that ideal, is still very real. It takes a long time time to heal from the kind of hurts that we received in Texas. But I would say that our family is mended now, and ready to see what a stable life in one town can be like. I will likely think of this verse a lot this week, but it is so appropriate: For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in Heaven, which is yet to come. Hebrews 13:14 But while we wait for our Heavenly Home, this city suits just fine.

I took #2 to the doctor yesterday. He has a slight ear infection, not enough to do anything about, and a bad infection in his tonsils. So she gave a prescription for Amoxil, and told us to give him decongestant and Tylenol for a couple of days. She said the Tylenol would help him feel better and take away the achiness. As we went to get the Rx filled, #2 was jumping through the store. I was thinking he doesn't need Tylenol, and even if he is achey I will not give him any just to slow him down a bit. I get frustrated with doctor's who think I should bring my kids in earlier to them when the kid doesn't act sick. ------------ As we left the doctor's office, #1 was telling me he had been talking to a nice lady in there while #2 was waiting on the doctor. We started to pull out, when a lady chased me down. She asked me if I was #1's mother, and I admitted it. Then she told me what a nice boy he is, and I have done a good job raising him. How nice to hear. #1 is still very innocent. He is 11, nearly 12, and still believes in the imaginings of childhood. He lost a tooth the other day, a large one!, and was hoping that the tooth fairy would think it was worth at least a dollar fifty. Most teeth are worth a dollar. So last night she brought $1.08. She's an ornery little fairy! ------------ #1 finally got his new glasses yesterday in the mail. I happened to order them two weeks ago because his were so smooshed and scratched. A few days later, the lense fell out of his and the screw that holds the lense had broken off. So we glued it together and waited for the new ones. Then while we were camping he tripped and broke his glasses again. I glued them again, but he wouldn't wear them. He couldn't properly do his chores because he couldn't see, so I was ready for the new ones to come. I used Zenni Optical on-line, and he got nice glasses for about $8. ----------- I picked up #5 at school after we were done at the doctor. Then we had to go to the pharmacy, so we ate lunch out at CiCi's Pizza while we waited on the order to be filled. I treated #5, even though his packed lunch was a sandwich. The poor kid never goes out to eat. He was looking at everything bug eyed, and wanted to know about the napkin dispenser. He is 4 years old. I understand the parents' reasoning in not taking the kids out- money, nutrition- but he is going to act weird in society. Of course people say that about homeschoolers... Anyway, when I picked up the four year old he said, "That's David. He causes a lot of trouble. I can tell you that." There's something about a black kettle in there. ----------- In 1979, Ireland had 5 million people while America had 40 million people of Irish descent. Watched a documentary last night. ----------- I passed a dead kitten near our house yesterday. It looked like Luke, and I prayed all the way back that God would bring him back to life before we got home. There he was in the yard when we got back. The dead kitten was still there too, so I guess it is a sibling. I like Luke. He is very cuddly and lovable. However, he constantly sits in my laundry basket when I hang things out, even wet laundry on a cold day!

Tell me how you get chocolate up your nose when you lick a beater. This kid always has chocolate on his face. In fact, "chocolate" was his first word after mommy and daddy. No kidding. The whole family has been struggling with health issues. I guess I will have to take #2 to the doctor. He has a sinus infection, I think, and the kefir isn't kicking it well enough. He is coughing too, and has been for several weeks. Bad Mother Award, I know. (Kelly was actually ok, just enjoying the sleeping bag that was left in the kitchen.)

The kids popped corn over the propane stove when we were camping. We were told by the Boy Scout Master that we could do it over the fire, but it was too hot for us. The stove worked well. You can see how wet the boys' backs are.

The world came close to ending today. Did you hear about it? I'm sure you noticed the flooding issues we were having. It was all Prime Factorization's fault. Greatest Common Factor was pushing us around, acting like he was big stuff or something. Then the tears started, and the frustration began to cause loud noises and deep, heavy sighs that shook the Earth. Yes, it was sixth grade math. Fourth grade's long division was starting a wind storm of its own as well to try and compete, but we squashed that orneriness pretty quickly. -------- #1 was proclaimed a "Perfect Specimen" yesterday at the doctor's office. He had a check-up, and the doctor was pleased. #1 hadn't had a check-up for nearly four years, and his posture had me worried, so I decided to take him in. He kept telling me he didn't need a check-up and he felt fine. The truth was that he was worried about shots. He actually is due for 3 boosters in the next year, but I told the doctor we would go to the health depatment for that. $$$ The doc sent us over for X-rays to make sure the scoliosis isn't too bad. We should hear in a couple of days, but the radiologist thought it looked fine. He seems to have a shoulder higher than the other. Just the way God put him together, I guess. Anyway, the doctor looked at #1's knees and praised him for having knees he could check. "You should see how many tree trunks come in here. It's nice to be able to easily check a kid's knees." That's our nation's obesity epidemic for you. So #1 was proclaimed a perfect specimen and we went to Long John Silver's for lunch. Won't stay perfect long on that diet! I told him he should try that pick-up line on girls though, "Hi. I am a perfect specimen. Just look at this bod." ---------- I talked to my FIL last night about working on a doctorate in education. He was very helpful with ideas to think about. I contacted the university here, but they don't have much of what I am looking for. I will keep thinking and praying about it.

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:16 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him." 1 John 3:21-22 These verses have been on my mind lately. I get frustrated with them. I just don't think they are true. I know that there are many people obeying God, trying to please him, and not getting the desires of their hearts. I know a woman suffering from ALS. She certainly desires to have her body back, but it isn't happening. I know women who are homeless and beaten. They desire safety and a home, but it isn't happening. I know people who want jobs, and they don't come. People who want an end to war, no. They want a spouse to return, no. They want...no. So what does this mean 'You satisfy the desires of every living thing'?

My reading today helped a little bit.

• God's will does not always proceed in a straight line. God always has a plan, but it may not follow human logic. In fact, it may often seem to go against what we believe about God.
• God's love sometimes tarries for our good and his glory. While we don't know why God's love lingers, we can rest assured that God's love is always at work. He may not move according to our schedule, but he is right on time for what is best.
• God's ways are not our ways, but his character is still dependable. We only trust people we know. If you are having trouble trusting God, you probably don't know him well.
• God's plan is released when we trust and obey. This step shows that God's love is interactive. Faith obeys him when he speaks, even if what he says makes no sense.
• The end is never the end. Tragedy may come, so will darkness, but triumph is waiting around the corner.

Because Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus he wept when Lazarus died. Though Jesus knows our triumphant outcomes, though he sees the joyful ending just around the bend, he still gets down in the middle of our sorrow and holds us close, mingling his tears with our own.

I guess Jesus knows our real desires, and those he will answer.

So Monday we went to the beach and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect. As the week went along, the weather got better and better. Thursday was about 85 degrees and sunny. Friday we had cloud cover all day, but the temps were pleasant, 70s. So we went camping with our church. The rain started when we were about 20 minutes away from the campsite. It rained all evening, spitting some to give us a break now and then. Then it poured all night long. It rained until about halfway through breakfast. I was happy that the temperatures didn't turn very cold. We were able to keep a fire going, and so mostly we felt chilly and damp, as opposed to cold and wet. So we hurried home to get the boys off to their Saturday committments, and the weather got worse. It is cold, rainy, AND windy now. See you just never know how good you have it! I kept thinking about the homeless while we were sleeping through the rain storms. I can't imagine always worrying about whether my kids are going to get sick from the cold and wet that I can't do anything about. I also thought about the Israelites who left Egypt so quickly and camped in the desert (wilderness). I was thinking if I went without a tent and the weather turned like this, I might have complained too. One bright spot: I went through all of the seasonal clothes this week. At least we have warm, cozy sweaters out to curl up in.

This is an excerpt that was in my reading a couple of weeks ago.

Love Adds a Little Chocolate by Linda Andersen

Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to enclose a little love note inside...Obligation sends the children to bed on time, but love tucks the covers in around their necks and passes out hugs and kisses (even to teenagers!)...Duty gets offended quickly if it isn't appreciated, but love learns to laugh a lot and to work for the sheer joy of doing it. Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often, love adds a little chocolate. I have not been feeling successful in my goals lately. Yesterday I did cheat and blog before my allotted time, but other than that I stayed on schedule. And still I couldn't get my work done. I try to stop at 7:30 and just be with my family, but I just couldn't do it. I did stop and read to the boys, but I felt torn. I would say that I am more calm about the pace now though. It doesn't frustrate me to not get it done. It just depresses me. sigh. ----------- I was listening to Clark Howard yesterday on the radio. My husband has started to get me addicted. It is as far as I can go listening to that particular station. Anyway, I was listening yesterday and Clark was giving two ways to save up to $3,000 a year for your family. One was to get rid of pay television, and the other was to stop buying bottled water. His statistic was that people pay over $1400 for bottled water a year! I was going off on my husband about it this morning. I can't believe that people are so naive, dumb, ignorant, whatever about their money. A woman from Chilicothe, Ohio was complaining about no one being able to make it on one income now. I just pulled three things out of my refrigerator and here is what I touched: a package of cookie mix that was free with coupon, a jar of homemade soup that is healthier than store bought and costs pennies on the dollar, and a package of butter that is cheaper at Sam's Club and if you buy the kind that you quarter yourself you save 50cents a pound. When you live your life this way I guess you think everyone else does too. I can't believe how wasteful people are! I ranted and raved for a while, even slamming my fist on the counter top. Then decided maybe I better give a little chococlate. I got my Russell Stover extra fancy box of chocolates at Rite Aid for half price and two dollars more off with coupon. ------------ This is too funny not to share. Hubby came home yesterday and wrote this on a piece of paper...Le-a. How would you pronounce that name he asked. Lay uh I guess. He heard a woman on the radio complain that no one pronounces her child's name correctly, "The dash don't be silent," she said. "It's Luh dash uh." Oh my goodness!

I watched the debates last night with #1. That was a chore because he kept talking through it, and I didn't get to hear all of the answers. #1 is interested in Obama. I was trying to get him to use some of the skills we have been working on in the Viewpoints class to walk through some thoughts with him. He likes Obama basically because he has seen Obama's commercials. I discussed what does it mean if the other player tells you all of the information? He is biased. #1 agreed, but still likes Obama's commercials better. The sad part is that, no matter which way you vote, a lot of people will vote only because of the commercials that they have seen. I am hoping apathy will work on this election and those who really haven't researched the issues will just stay home and remain apathetic. On the other hand, I have recently started questioning my view of socialism. Hubby said, "Finally." Anyway, I have always had socialist views, because I am a compassionate person. (IMHO) But now that the government wants to take my money and pay people who are making bad decisions or who are not trying to make their lives better, I want to have something to say about it. I guess that makes me a communist. I really think that socialism works well if you aren't dealing with humans. But greed and power hungry people get in the way and mess it all up. I liked Ron Paul's philosophy that we should get rid of as many taxes and government as possible, and just let the people decide how to use their money. Americans have a history of being generous and helpful. That history, along with having more money in your pocket, will let the citizens choose whom they would like to help. That is the socialism I am for. Heaven can't come soon enough.

When we lived in Abilene, Texas many years ago, I worked as a teacher at a private school. Several days while I drove to and from work, I smelled something dead in the car. I assumed something had crawled up under the hood somewhere and gotten creamed in the engine. However, when I went to put laundry in the back hatch on Saturday, I realized what the smell was. We had helped move friends the weekend before, and they had cleaned out their freezer and blessed us with a ferrel pig. With all of the emotion of leaving friends, I had forgotten about the pig. So this past week when I smelled a dead mouse in the shed, perhaps I should have remembered that story. We keep our storage things in the shed next to our house. It was time for me to sort through seasonal clothes, and while I was doing that I was sure that I would come across that terrible dead rat that was stinking up the whole shed. About halfway through the sorting I realized the smell was soup bones that I had evidently set out and forgotten about. Our deep freezer is in the shed too. I guess some time last week I must have had my hands full, and must have put the bones on top of the freezer for a second. I forgot, and Whew! what a stink!! Next time we have a dead smell for several days I will look for freezer food. ----------- Last night was the history expo that our home school group does every year. In years past the boys have done projects on Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. This year #1 did the history of Cartography, and #2 did The Gilded Age (1875-1900). An interesting fact from each: The oldest clay maps we have are from the Babylonians, 2300BC. The paper lunch bag- a folding paper bag- was invented during the Gilded Age. A lot of other cool things were invented, but space and time cut me off there. ------------ We closed on the refinancing of our house this morning. I know it sounds like an odd time to be doing such a thing, but we got it started before all of the bombs exploded in the economy. We cashed out some money so we can do some remodeling upstairs. We want to add two bedrooms in the attic and rewire the house. It also allowed us to get rid of a home equity loan that was irritating me. So for $5,000 more than the original price we are able to do quite a bit of work to improve the house. At least that is the way I want to look at it. I'm not feeling up to looking at the whole cost of the investment.

Instead of roses yesterday, I decided to smell the salt air. The "extra kids" were off of school for the holiday, so we headed to the beach for the day. It was a beautiful day, too. It was about 80 degrees, a gentle breeze, and lots of sun. The water was cool, but not numbing, and actually felt good to get in after the sunny sand. The boys played under the deck for a long time. They were digging "nests" and having battles. I think they were being crabs, but I didn't get the whole story. After the flies started biting them under the deck, they headed to the water. #2 found another kid to boogie board with for a while. Then they all dug for clams, built castles, and just plain got sandy.

This is the whole group together. They are like my own, and I love them all. #1 read a book for a while, and the others dug holes for his feet. There were quite a few people there, but empty scenes were easy to come by as well. God certainly displayed his artistic ability when he made the ocean.

We had to leave mid-afternoon to get the other kids back to their mom. It was a great day for a fall respite.

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A couple of weeks ago, Hubby was giving a series of sermons on scripture. One of the weeks was about memorizing scripture, and he suggested putting some verses on the mirror to look at each day. Before we went on the trip to Nashville, I was cleaning the boys' bathroom and saw a note on the mirror. It read, "Do not love the world or anything in the world.If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father, but from the world." 1 John 2:15-16

I knew right away why it was there, but asked #1 about it. He said he put it there to help him remember it. I asked why that particular verse, and he said because he has problems with pride. What a wonderful heart he has.

Religious fervor is a stunning phenomena. It can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unlovable, heal the sick, provide homes for the homeless. It can lead to riots, death to whole races, unmentionable sins, unbearable grief. I watched a documentary the other night with the kids. It is called Obsession, and is about the Islamic Extremists. They do what they do---killing and hate crimes---because they believe it is the will of God. Watching the crowds over and over yell, "Death to Americans! Death to Americans!" was fairly close to a biblical scene. In Luke the crowds are yelling "Crucify him! Crucify him!" as they try to remove what they saw as a danger to their religious belief. They had fervor, for certain, but it blinded them to what they were truly doing. "If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark. But if we love others we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them. If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark." 1 John 2:9-11 Lord, please give us a religious fervor for you that leads us to love our enemy, care for the hurt and neglected, and serve all of the world. Shine a light in the darkness so that we know when we are in the dark, and lead us to your light. Amen

I have been trying to keep to my retreat goals. I have been slowing down and smelling more roses. I hate leaving the kitchen messy at night, but the kids are getting read to again, and I feel less frazzled. Last night was our celebration barn dance. We had two months of a square dancing co-op in which one of the moms, a former PE teacher, taught us how to square dance. It was a lot of fun once you learned all of the lingo. We practiced first at the church, and then last night was in the top of our barn.

Sometimes we didn't have enough kids. Then I would have to jump in and dance. I am telling you that the females work harder at square dancing than the males! You definitely get a workout. Here you see a brother try to trip another as they do a right hand star. Gotta love those brothers. The right left chain is a lot of fun once you know what you are doing. It is a weave in and out, girls going one way and boys the other.

Last night at the dance, we had the dads try some of the dances. It was hard for them because they didn't know the language or the moves. The calls are hard to hear when everyone is moving and laughing, too.Circle left is a pretty easy one, but learning to make it all the way around the circle in time for the next call is tricky.Here is a group picture of the dancers. There were some who didn't make it, but the barn was full anyway. We had hay bales in the corners to sit on, and punch to drink. I think we will do it again. Anyone up for a dance?

The whole photo thing is getting to me. I thought I copied them in order, but evidently I was supposed to put the cursor in other places. So this is the destruction of the "toy shed" that we had. I think you can put it in chronological order. We used the shed to keep the kids' bikes and balls and outdoor things. It was an old smokehouse. We found truck license plates from 1953 in the ceiling. Birds have nested in the chimney every year we have lived here. They will be sad next spring.

It was quite a project to tear down, and we tried to save some of the wood. It is nice pine wood, and mostly in good condition. Now the project is to remove all of the nails. I would like to incorporate the wood into the house when we remodel upstairs.

The ceiling was like a huge raft. Hubby had to tear it apart board by board. Two of the beams were humungous! #2 enjoyed helping to tear it apart. He also enjoyed finding nails afterward in the yard. I paid a nickle a nail if the kids found them. He got $8.00!!

We plan to put a picnic table on the concrete slab, and to plant a hedge around the border. The grill will be kept there in the summer too. It is just a few paces from the back porch, so an ideal location for a little patio.

This ad has been in our paper for a while. A friend brought it to my attention. I thought it was very humorous. Another friend said they ended up with a Wii at their house because of "Do whatever you want." Men and women surely have different languages. I did go to the store again, but no photo this time. I ended up spending $22 and saving $43. I had to buy milk, which had no coupon or discount, so it isn't quite a fair comparison. My happy deals this time were free Pillsbury dough, frosting, and cookie mix again. They actually paid me to buy those things! There were some items I had coupons for that I didn't purchase. You really have to wow me to get a buy.

The young girls at church blog pictures about their deals at the grocery store. The younger generation needs visuals, I guess. I thought I would give it a try. Several weeks ago, Harris Teeter had triple coupons. I thought I did fairly well. This was my first trip to the store. Triples last a few days, and you can go each day. This bunch cost me $33.36. I saved $54.63. Notice how many cleaners are pictured. I even got Tide detergent! The second trip was also a success. I spent $20.50 and saved $39.42. Smuckers Peanutbutter, Luzianne Tea (4 boxes!), and Old El Paso Tortillas aren't cheap. Triple coupons and specials make name brands a possibility on a tight budget. Now Lowe's Foods is having Triple Coupons for a few days. I took #2 with me before church this evening, and we did really well. Most of my purchases were snack foods, but I would never buy them otherwise. I just can't seem to bring myself to spend what they ordinarily cost. I got 3 bags of Chex Mix, 2 bags of Veggie Crisps, a bag of Sunflower Chips, and 4 Pop Secret microwave popcorns. Betty Crocker cookie mixes were free, smoked sausage was 75 cents!, and Cheerios were 35 cents. My total spent was $17.48, and I saved $52.16. I try to get at least 50% off, about 70% is fabulous! I may try to go back tomorrow.

"Look deep into my heart God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true." Psalm 139:23-24 I am reading Psalm 139 all this week to meditate on God and our relationship. This verse has stuck with me because I thought I knew what I was thinking, and God showed me otherwise. When I went on my personal retreat I thought I was going to prioritize all of the many things I try to do, and then to cut some of the activities. But what God showed me was that my thinking was wrong. It was not the things I needed to cut, but the things I needed to add. I was trying madly to get the many things done, and leaving the important things undone. If I will just tend to the truly important things, God will help me with the rest, too.

I made a list of my many roles and what responsilbilities each has. Then I realized that I was really failing as a wife and home maker. I wasn't failing because of the other things I was doing, but because I wasn't paying attention to what I really need to. Here is a statement I wrote to myself: "I give him (Hubby) time when I have it, just like I do God." Boy did that hurt to say.

So Hubby was actually happy with the things I told him were going to change. Here is what came out of it: I will be more intentional and structured with my time. Internet time will be limited, bed and rising times will be followed, and God time will be an absolute. I am even making a particular time to grade papers. There is also a limit on "work time" and I may not work after 7:30 p.m. It has only been a few days, but I feel the weight lifting. I'll give you more details later.

My mother made it to us on Tuesday. I left her with a list of places to go, and directions to get there. I have heard from them several times, and so far they haven't gotten lost. Hubby and I left on Wednesday afternoon.

The conference we attended was a Zoe conference on Leadership. Scot McKnight was the main speaker. It was a good time to slow down and start thinking of my relationship with God and Christ. Now Hubby is at the other Zoe conference on Worship, and I am having some alone time with my Lord. That was the way I planned it a couple of weeks ago. I thought about spending my free time with friends in the Nashville area, but realized I really needed to spend time with my Best Friend.

So last night I started with a bath, so God could have me fresh and clean. I tried for a little "symbolism" and came to God naked, with unkempt hair and no make-up. Surely God sees me at my ugliest, and I wanted to feel that way. I want to be open and honest with God on this personal retreat of mine.

Today I have been spending time in the Word and in prayer. I am working through a book called, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I am going through it slowly, and that is best. There are several questions with each chapter to help me reflect on what I need to hear from the Spirit.

A few weeks ago, the chapter was on slowing down and prioritizing. Would you believe I felt so busy that I purposely put it off until this retreat?! That told me right away that I was too busy.

So this afternoon my plan is to go outside somewhere and prioritize with God as my Counselor. I have warned Hubby that things are going to change after my retreat. I am making this public so that the thought of losing face will help to spur me on to success.

Now I am going to take a break from the reading and praying to pack up our room. I hope God understands that too much time all at once with him can be overwhelming.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thes 4:11-12

#1 got a part in the community theater play. The play is Anne of Green Gables, and he is playing Jerry, the hired hand. I think he said he has 7 lines, and 2 are said from off stage. Last night was the first read through and parent meeting. I went in knowing very little. They gave a schedule that blew my mind. I think he can continue to do this as long as he doesn't get any bigger parts. The lead, Anne, has to be there every night for the next two months basically. Ugh. He has to be there Friday evening for measurements. I didn't think I could get my mother there without too much trouble, so someone else is picking him up. Mom gets here this afternoon, and I have a lot to do before that. We leave tomorrow after lunch.

Hubby and I went to a movie yesterday. It had been a long time since I had seen a movie. We went to a Christian-based movie called Fireproof. I enjoyed it; Hubby thought it was ok. That means it is a chick-flick. It would be good for men to see it too though. It's a great date movie. The story line is that a couple, who are unbelievers, is having marriage trouble. The husband has a porn problem and the wife feels humiliated. The husband's father sends him a book of things to do for his wife to have her fall in love with him again. Through the whole trial period, she dismisses him, not sure if she can trust him again. It has several laughs, and lots of tears. Great movie. -------- I have two days to prepare to leave for the rest of the week. Hubby and I are going to the Zoe Conference. My mother is coming to care for the boys and get them to their appointments. It is like preparing for a sub when you are a teacher. I never liked that either.

Did you watch the debate last night? We did, the boys and I. My husband can't bring himself to watch such things. However, after I watched some of the remarks after the debate, I wasn't sure if I had seen the same debate as the rest of people. I taught a class yesterday on evaluating viewpoints, and it definitely was something to consider last night. This is all I have to say about the economic issue. (Well, not all I have to say, but all I will say.) If I am overspending, I look at my budget and I stop spending. How in the world do you balance a budget by spending more when you are already spending too much? The government is trying to fix something by using the same faulty strategies that got us here in the first place. ----- The debate ended with a big bang, at least at our house. The kids had gone on to bed about 10:20. The debate ended around 10:40, and I watched a little of the responses. I saw a car drive by from the livingroom window, when I heard a terrible crash. I took off outside, in my pajamas, to see if anyone was hurt. A young guy had taken the curve too fast, his tires were bald, and he went across the road. He tore out FOUR mailboxes and stalled in the middle of the road. My first thought was, "He's drunk. I'm going to lay into him!" Some people nearby stopped to help him get the car off the road. Hubby and I went out to check on him, and he wasn't drunk. He was truly upset and scared. Yes, he had been going too fast, but it seemed to be a case of bad judgment and no one was hurt. So I wasn't as upset then. I was mostly thankful that it didn't happen when the kids were checking the mail. They would have been killed for sure. Then I tried to think what I would do if it were my boys driving. I guess I would react the same as the parents who showed up...give a hug, reassure him, call a tow, apologize to the victims, and let him know he will be paying for it. Now my Saturday includes fixing the mailbox. Yippee.

My in-laws were here a couple of weeks ago. One night they took the kids out, and hubby and I got a date. He walked in with his good shirt on, hair fixed, and smelling good. I turned around from the computer, and looked at him. My stomach did a flip. He still gives me that feeling. We met just about 20 years ago; I think next month is the actual anniversary. I was a nanny and he was a student at WVU. We met when the college group from church went to Wendy's after church for a little dinner. He sat cat-a-corner from me, and I thought he was cute, but too quiet. He thought the same of me. Soon we were dating, the first child was named, and our life was planned. A year later we were married. He was romantic, writing letters to me, calling just to talk. He was respectful, asking my Dad for my hand. He was responsible, working to provide for us. He is still all of those things. At I first called him Great One; I still do. He is so good to me. He encourages me, supports me, loves me. Today is his day. Happy Birthday Hubby!

Tonight at dinner, #1 said, "I can't wait for Saturday. I get a phone call, have a game..." "What are you in jail, or something?" I asked. "What do you mean you get a phone call? Are you only allowed one a week?" "The theater will call back on Saturday. Geesh, you're a good mom," he replied. The boys tried out for a local community theater last night. They are producing Anne of Green Gables. #1 wanted to do it, and then when auditions came Monday, he backed out. Last night was the last chance. After a phone call from friends saying they needed boys for parts, he decided he wanted to do it. #2 also decided to do it; he wants to help with the stage crew. Evidently that won't happen though. I guess they only let 13 year olds do that. #2 was disappointed; he wanted to wear a black jumpsuit and was hoping for a black ski mask. -------- We finished the square dance co-op today. The kids really learned a lot about square dancing these two months. They did a new dance today, and they picked up on it right away. We are having a barn dance and weenie roast in a couple of weeks with all of the families. After co-op we headed to the fairgrounds so the kids could turn in their exhibits. #1 is showing two paintings, a pottery vase, and from scratch brownies. #2 has pears, a papercraft centerpiece, pottery, and a recycled project. He made a denim bag for his cousin, Lulu. It will be her Christmas present, and maybe a blue ribbon one at that. I had thought about putting in a couple of things, but time ran out on me. The same thing happened last year. I guess I need to think farther ahead, and remember what a busy time of year this is for us. Tomorrow is regular co-op; the first one for the fall. I am teaching a class on evaluating viewpoints. We are looking at documents from our country's history, and evaluating them from other perspectives. I'm looking forward to it. #2 asked me last night if I could teach him the class on his own time, (He has other classes to attend.) because he wants to learn to be a good arguer. He thinks he might like to be a lawyer, or an abstract artist. I think he better go for the lawyer, and then buy the art.

I have been robbing Paul to pay Peter lately. However, we do have the money to cover the expenses. I would like to know how we are suppposed to pay 700 billion dollars when we are in debt many trillions. Whoever is paying these bills needs to give me some advice. I can't believe the world is believing that the bills are actually going to be paid. I hope Congress gets this worked out. ------- So Part Two. I continued to think about what I want to do, what I enjoy doing, what do I think I can do for many years to come. Here is what I came up with. I want to help children. Where do children spend most of their childhood? In school. So I want to make school a better place for children. I think I can do that through politics, through writing, through speaking, through being with children; all of those are things I enjoy. When I think about school during my childhood, it was a place you wanted to go. We had fun, we played, and we learned a lot. Even the kids who came from the "holler" below us did fairly well. But when you look at kids in school now, it isn't much fun, they seldom play, and a lot of them come out knowing very little. The government seems to think that going to school earlier and starting skills earlier is the answer. Yet as we have tried that our country has slid down in the global ratings of education. It is the countries who still abide by original child development research who are progressing in the ranks. Children may do different things now, but God is still making the same old model. Changing the expectations has made childhood less childish; I want to help with that. So the answer seems to be to go back to school. I have to have the education behind me to get the respect of people to listen to my ideas. Then maybe I can make life better for children. I told the boys last night that I am thinking of going back to school in the fall. They just wanted to know what that means to them. I told them it means their life will change some, but they will still have a lot of the same, 4-H, school, co-ops, art, etc. I can't sacrifice my children for something that I want for all children. It will be a long road. I told you this story would take a long time to tell.

I think Part Two has to wait for a Preface first. I suppose I should have started the whole story with the Preface, but I'm doing this by the seat of my pants. Anyway, Part One said that I am thinking about my life and what I want to do with the rest of it. Here's the Preface. I absolutely love children. I love teaching, nurturing, talking, playing, guiding, and anything else you do with children. So I know that I want to help children in some way. I have known children from very poor circumstances, from abusive situations, from just neglectful homes. I have known children from well-to-do families, well-loved children, and well-educated children. But all of these children were children I enjoyed knowing. As I started thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life, I of course thought about children. I was trained as a teacher, worked as a teacher before the children were born, and of course am now a homeschool teacher. However, I can't see myself going back into the classroom. There are just too many ways that the classroom has changed. A couple of years ago, I had thought about running for the Board of Education, but a friend told me no one would vote for me since I homeschool. My husband suggested speaking for continuing ed. functions/workshops. I don't think I would be asked with the background I have. Then I started thinking about law school. I thought if I have a law degree, then I might be able to help children as a lawyer, and also be able to get into politics. (This is where Part One should have come.) I also started having conversations with people that turned toward careers. As one friend said, "Life is too short to just work a job. You have to love what you are doing." So the question became, what do I want to do, that will pay me so I can help our family, that I will enjoy doing, and that will help children.

I can remember getting aggravated with my husband when we lived in Philadelphia. He thought I should have an email address. I saw no reason that I should have one, and besides I had no time to check it. Who would I write to anyway? Computers irk me, television is mostly useless, cell phones are for crazy people. But now that I have had to be without the internet for well over a week, I realize how much I have come to depend on this technology. I use it to pay bills, to interact with my friends, to find coupons and other money saving devices, to check the news, to teach school, to know what is going on at church, and much, much more. It is good to be back on-line. I had to call a friend yesterday to pay a bill for me (her internet was working). I had way too many messages on email. And now I have to check wheat prices to see if I need to make an order; prices are down right now! Some of you are wondering how the cell phone business is going. I like it as long as I am not the one having to answer. For instance, I was able to call my husband from Lowe's and ask him to measure a pipe for me. Then on the way home it started to rain, and I was able to ask him to take down the laundry. That works well for me! There are still some things I have to get used to...knowing how to check the messages, how to turn down the volume. There is also the whole vibrating thing to figure out. I had the phone on vibrate while I was at the store. It was in my pocket. I was checking the price on something and thinking that I needed to get off my feet because my leg was going numb. Then I realized the phone was vibrating. What a relief! I know you are waiting for the next part of the story, but I have kept you too long already. Have a nice night and I will talk to you tomorrow.

Where has time gone? We have been having arguments with Embarq and finally just cancelled our service. It was a bit unwanted on my part as it means that I have to join the 21st century. Yes, I now have a cell phone. We will not have a house phone starting tomorrow. The internet issue is still being worked out, so don't expect much from the blogger girl for a while.

We went on a trip with our 4-H club this week. We went to the National Battlefield in Petersburg and took several classes. The kids were able to do a lot of hands on activities and it was really interesting. Dressing up like a soldier and shooting pretend cannons does a lot to bring history to life. Then we went to Williamsburg for the night. Tuesday we got up and went to Hampton to the Air and Space Museum. The kids had several classes there as well. We also went to see an IMAX movie, Fighter Pilot. It was very definitely a "boy field trip." The girls had fun, too, though. 

We got back only to find that Embarq was still making mistakes and spent the next couple of days trying to work it all out. I am looking forward to a weekend at home.

Just so you know, I saw the "mortal enemy girl" yesterday and apologized. I told her I was having a "Mommy Moment" and she can dance with my son any time she chooses. -------- A few days ago #2 was listing the reasons it is good to be a home schooler... You can wrap up in a cozy blanket while you do your lessons. Sometimes you get to wear pajamas to school. You can eat lunch whenever you are hungry. You can kiss your mom halfway through a math lesson. (That was my favorite.) -------- This is the beginning of a story that will take a long time to tell and work out. The following is Part One. I have been trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I have tried to think about what are my priorities, my desires, my passions, etc. I know I have time to work it all out, since the boys still have quite a few years of school left and home schooling is our choice of education. However, it is something I need to work out so that I can be ready to jump in when the boys are done with school. So as I considered all of this I came up with law school. I want to help children, in a big way. I thought maybe being a child advocate would be good for me. It would certainly help with retirement, which is also one of the big priorities and desires. But as I continued to think and pray, I realized that it just would be too much of a sacrifice to my children and my marriage. My fabulous husband was very supportive, and encouraged me to think about it. He was willing to let me and the children go to WV and live with the in-laws through the week while I would attend law school in Morgantown. But I just couldn't imagine leaving him here alone to minister, or taking the boys away from their dad just as they are about to enter puberty. So I left it to God to work out, and he seems to be pulling back the curtains and letting the light into my head. I'll tell you the next part later. Busy, busy day.

Yesterday was square dancing. My heart was broken. We didn't have enough girls and so I had to be one of the dancers. #1 was without a partner, so I joined him. I thought he would melt through the floor. He was nice enough not to say anything, but it was VERY obvious that he didn't want to dance with his mother. Then the girl across from us, normally a sweet little thing that I like, turned into my mortal enemy. She offered to dance with him and let me dance with her partner. I told her in no uncertain terms that he will always choose me over her. She looked stunned, but I just couldn't help myself. I am not ready for the girl/boy thing. I am done milking the goats. I measured the amount I was getting, and they had dried up to about 3 cups a day. I just didn't feel like it was worth paying someone to milk them when we go away, so I am done. I enjoyed sleeping a little longer this morning.

My son told me the other day, "You're just an average American trying to save some money, Mom." He cracks me up. As I look at my schedule for the rest of the month I wonder what happened to my goal "to lead a quiet life." The last week of September looks like something from a rollercoaster theme park, and the other days are certainly not on the merry go round. Just for an example, this Saturday the boys have swim club and soccer both at 10:00, we are selling attraction guides for 4-H at 1:00, and we have a HS picnic at 5:30. Whew!

I am sure you all think I fell off the face of the Earth. In reality, I just got really busy, which left me feeling like I fell off of something. My husband got a bee in his bonnet last week and we started ripping out an old shed. It took the entire week. Along with that we were trying to refinance the house, so that we can get some work done on it. That took a long time; trying to get everyone to give me a quote and bid the other people down. We ended up with a fair percentage, I think. Now it just has to pass the appraisal amount that we had guessed, so we can get the money. Then my in-laws came for a visit in the middle of it all. We love to have them visit, and had planned some fun activities to do with them. We went to the museum in Raleigh, and Hubby and I saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit while the grandparents took the boys around the rest of the museum. I like history, so the exhibit was interesting to me, but the scrolls themselves were not impressive. There are only fragments on display, and very small ones at that. Then we ate at Red Hot and Blue. Yum! On Saturday, Hubby and F-I-L went to the WVU game. We lost terribly, and they returned with their chins on the ground. M-I-L and I took the boys bowling and out to eat. That was more fun, at least one of us won! Sunday, after church and a potluck, we headed to the shore for the afternoon. It was a beautiful day after the storm of Hannah passing through the day before. Yesterday was spent running errands BY MYSELF! My wonderful mother-in-law watched the kids while I went to the grocery store alone. I needed time to check over my coupons and look closely at deals. That always goes better alone. Then last night I got a date with my husband. We think it was sometime in May or June that we last went on a date. We went to Olive Garden and then ran the rest of the errands that I had missed. That may not sound very exciting, but we had adult conversation without anyone annoying another person. It was great! Today the in-laws went back home. Poor F-I-L pulled something in his neck last week and he has been miserable the whole time he was here. They had planned to stay today and see the kids give their presentations at Geography Co-op, but he really needs to get back to a doctor. Now we are back into the heat of regular life. The refinance stuff should go through this week, so soon we will have lots of people running around here looking at my precious house to find problems with it. I just don't like the thought of that. The plan is to add 2 bedrooms and a sitting room upstairs in the attic. I do like the thought of that.

It is 6:30 in the evening and I am just getting on to the computer today! Actually that isn't quite true. I was on the computer at 6:30 this morning, but that was to finish lesson plans for the month. I didn't get as much done last night as I had hoped, so I had to catch up this morning. Then the boys had to start right away, because we had to be out a lot today. That meant I had to help with Math and give a Bible quiz, and miss breakfast! We headed out to the store to get a few things for co-op and then headed to an early 4-H meeting that included a Little Caesar's lunch. We finished the 4-H meeting just in time to set up for Geography Co-op. Co-op ended with a speaker from the university. We asked a Chinese student to come share about his homeland. It was interesting to listen to him. He has great pride in what his country has accomplished in the last decade, but he is still hurt by how it was before. His remark to me and another mother afterward was, "What you hear about China is not true." Yes, there are people there with a lot of money, but there are still a lot of people who live on less than a dollar a day. That, he said, is not getting out to the rest of the world. Our lesson on Communism and the USSR seemed to go well. I used an illustration of government being an umbrella. Each country had it's own umbrella, but they stood under the larger umbrella of the USSR. How you came to be under the umbrella was the bad part. Twisted arms do not hold umbrellas well. Having the speaker and the lesson only made me happy to be here. The sad part is that I am only here by accident. How many people are hurting this very day because they were born in the wrong place to the wrong people?

Church yesterday was interesting. For some reason the songs were hitting me as if I were not a Christian. I was trying to imagine what the words sound like to someone who doesn't believe in Christianity. A lot of the words were Master/Slave based. If you aren't a Christian, I think it would have sounded like what I think of when cults pledge allegiance to their leader, or when extremists give their lives for a cause. I can see why Christianity scares some people. ----------- Yesterday was also Brothers' Day for our family. I think this was the 7th year we have celebrated it. It actually was supposed to be last Sunday, but Hubby and I forgot. Years ago the boys had had enough of Mother's Day and Father's Day, so they wanted to know when Brothers' Day was going to be. We made it the fourth Sunday in August---this one having five Sundays is what threw us off. Anyway, we went out to eat at the boys' choice, Golden Corral, and I gave each of them a book as a present. I asked them what the three best things about each other's brother is. They came up with answers like, "He's good to wrestle with." Then we turned to Hubby and asked about his brother. The number one thing he likes about his brother? "He's not the good looking one." Gee whiz! ------------ Tomorrow in Geography our family is to cover Communism and the USSR. We are studying countries of Asia that were once under Soviet control. Last evening we had a cookout with friends from church, and one of them used to live in Yugoslavia. He told me about his parents fleeing communism, Mussollini, and Hitler. What scary times!