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.

I started yesterday by waking the boys to do a little school before heading to the gym. We went to the gym and then to a friend's house for the day. I took care of her kids as a favor. Today I also started by waking the kids, saying do a little school work and then we will head to the gym. So maybe, just maybe, forcing them out of bed will help get them into the day. The problem is that they still don't go to sleep any earlier...maybe after a week of GET UP!! that will change. Last night I read a bit out of a scholarly journal I have been receiving. It is an educational journal, but this article I read last night was about agrarianism. Here is an excerpt: "In 1941, the Prairie Farmer, America's oldest farm periodical, celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. The centennial cover features a drawing of the iconic twentieth-century "new" farmer: tall, young, and slender. Bulky overalls have given way to tailored city clothes; the straw hat to a fedora. In the artist's words, "he is a strong, virile, keen, friendly, forward-looking citizen standing in a field of gold." Importantly, there are no horses or mules in that golden field. Instead, a tractor tills the ground. "Modern machinery has straightened the farmer's back," the artist happily reports. More boldly, an ad on the inside cover features a slender farm wife in stylish garb beaming over four happy children, with her husband on a tractor in the background. It declares that "every new MM machine put into action on your farm brings you closer to FREEDOM, and closer to the young folks for whom you are farming." At that moment, American farmers and their families still numbered about 29 million souls. The average farm was 160 acres in size. "The Prairie Farmer's cover for September 2007 features a photo of the occupational descendent of this archetypal industrial farmer. The twenty-first-century farmer is fairly old, paunchy from lack of exercise, standing by his only son, and working 1,700 acres in corn... All the same, American farmers and their families now number fewer than 2.5 million souls, 91 percent below the 1941 figure, while the average farmer approaches 65 years of age. Industrial agriculture has achieved its real end: not freedom and an abundance of children, but efficiency through the substitution of machines for people." I am hoping to reread the article soon. It seemed very interesting, but at that late hour not a whole lot was sticking in my head. In-laws come tomorrow, co-op starts this week, two weekend trips are planned, and so the article will have to wait a while. Sigh.

I took #2 to the doctor on Saturday afternoon because the Benadryl wasn't helping any longer. They put him on Prednisone, and the swelling went down quickly. Yesterday at church people were saying how badly he looked, but I would say, "No he looks a lot better." The poor thing looked like his face was at least twice the size on Saturday and his eye was nearly swollen shut. But he kept insisting that he was fine...he didn't want a shot! He took another oatmeal bath last night and this morning he looks much improved. He says his face still itches some, but the rest is ok. I went for a walk yesterday again. Kelly had gone to visit the neighbors yet again. I had to go pick her up in the van on Saturday because there was a storm and she wouldn't come back. When I walked over yesterday, the Dad of the house was outside with the kids. He said, "Hey! Is that your dog?" I answered, "No, I thought she was yours!" He seems like a nice guy, and the kids are sweet, too. I think we will have to have them over for dinner soon to apologize for our little girl's intrusions.

I decided to be proactive the other night and see if I could find some cheaper health insurance. Our's renews in June and it always goes up some. So I got on some of Clark Howard's sites and asked for quotes. Yesterday I answered the phone about every hour to hear another quote. Two agents actually said what I have sounds pretty good and if I'm not unhappy with the service I might as well stay with them. That was good to hear from someone who is not my agent! One guy said instead of looking at it as paying $444 for insurance, look at it as paying $111 for each person. Then it isn't so bad. It does sound a bit better, but then I added the deductible and it came to $319 per person. Should have left it alone. #1 was "queasy" again last night and I think we made a connection. He seems to get that way when he has dark soda. We had popcorn and rootbeer last night while we watched The Brady Bunch. So we will stop dark sodas and see if that makes any difference. #2 has awakened two mornings in a row now looking like a balloon. His poor little face is all swollen and his eye nearly shut. He says it doesn't hurt and the itching isn't too bad, so we are letting it go. I called a nurse practitioner friend and she said if he isn't having trouble breathing and isn't miserable with itching, then let it go. So he has had oatmeal baths, Caladryl Clear, Aveeno, and cold compresses, as well as lots of Benadryl. I just want to hug him he looks so bad. On a sweet medical note...My cousin's wife had a daughter this morning. No name yet, but they are fine. 7 Pounds, 11.7 ounces.

#2 has some kind of rash. I thought it might be another episode of hives, but it is bumpier. So my doctor friend looked and said it looks more like poison ivy. So now I need to go out to the woods where he has been hanging out and see what he got into. He has done a good job not scratching, but it certainly does look bad. ----------- My reading for class last night was about letting people belong to a group before they believe. My religious tradition has trouble with the concept. In the past especially, they wanted you to believe right before you could be part of the group. We are seeing more and more, though, that it is better to let people in and let them see Christ from the inside of a church. It struck me that Jesus did the same. He didn't require that people believe in him before he called them. He worked with what he had and helped them believe by being with him.

I have three friends here that are a lot of fun. We are in 4-H together, our kids love each other, and we enjoy being together without children. Our ages range about 15 years, we were raised in different ways, our religious backgrounds vary, we have different personality "types", but we really enjoy each other. I think what draws us together is a strong desire to serve God and man. Yesterday I told them I had a question and its answer would determine if I could still be their friend. I asked if they believe all of this "global warming stuff." They all said, "No." So that was it; we are no longer friends. I came home and asked my husband the same thing, and he wouldn't answer because he wants to be friends. Actually we are all still friends, and I found out something interesting. Some people see "global warming stuff" as being wrapped up in a bunch of "liberal hooey." As I continued to question my friends, I told them I didn't understand, because they sounded like they do believe in global warming. It was the actual cause of global warming that they question. See the cause isn't really all that important to me, I just want to do what I can to help my home (and my pocketbook). I look at what I do now affecting how my grandchildren will live. Hubby said there are "people" out there who think even with 5 kids I should be riding a bike everywhere I go. That is not something I hear when I listen to stories about global warming. What I hear are questions about how are we going to deal with rising ocean levels, flooding, pollution, increased fuel consumption, etc. I guess for me global warming is occuring, but I don't need all of the reasons why. I do think people have some responsibility. There are more people on earth than ever before and they are using more energy than ever before. That has to lead to more pollution and more "warming." But I am open to cyclical aspects to the earth as well. There was an Ice Age just about 150 years ago in Europe. I much prefer warming than Ice Ages. So we four are still friends, and hubby is still my Lover, but once again I see how people can hear the same thing differently.

Yesterday #1 was SOO hungry during church, and then when we got to the restaurant, he wouldn't eat. He wasn't feeling well again. Last night he also was complaining. So today we headed to the doctor. I waited with him for over 2 hours, then hubby came and waited so I could get home to receive #5 at noon. They got back around 12:30 only to tell me nothing is wrong. They took an Xray and he looks a little backed up, so I am making bread and kicking myself that I paid $150 to find out what I suspected...nothing. He comes from my mother's side of the family, it's just not right if something isn't wrong! The nurse basically told me I am a bad mother for letting this go for a month, but she doesn't know what I know. ---------- I went for a walk in the new neighborhood yesterday. I couldn't find Kelly and wanted a walk, so I went on a suspicion. Sure enough, here she came out of a driveway. I started talking to some kids and they told me she is over at their house all of the time. They thought she must live on the farm though, because they had seen her there before. They call her Callie and Cowgirl, and wondered why she always came to them when they called. No wonder...the name was so close! She has been trying to dig holes under their fence! Great! It's a good thing she is so lovable, or someone would have shot her by now.

We stopped at the pharmacy and got some antacids for #1 to see if that will help. It seems to be helping a little, but why he is having stomach problems is still undecided. He does seem to be having some worry issues about the scheduling we are doing in school. Last night I was working on the plans for the next two weeks and I broke his into daily lessons instead of weekly. He asked why I was doing that and I said I thought it would help him to be less worried about it if he could see what he has to do each day. He came over and kissed me and said thank you. Maybe that will help the stomach after all. ------- I had a dying chicken yesterday. She has been getting slower for the last couple of weeks, so I wasn't shocked that it was her. I put her in a rabbit cage so the other chickens wouldn't peck her and make her miserable. I haven't been out yet, but I imagine she is dead by now. I think it is time to order some more chickens. Mine are just getting too old. ------- #2 wants to make a tree house. I took him out to a wooded area near our house, and showed him where he could have a couple options. Now he wants all of his friends to come over and help build something and play out there. Last Child in the Woods doesn't have anything on this family!

It would seem that spring is on the way to the Carolinas. The chickens are nearly back to laying eggs. Green is becoming a brighter color. The air has a warmer feel. And yesterday, the rain came! We had more rain at one time than we have had in a year. I was wondering what the goats must be thinking...3 of them are not a year old yet, and this would have been "Apocalyptic" to them. --------- Guilt, frustration, and confusion. That is how I have been feeling lately. This parenting thing should be getting easier, shouldn't it? We took #1 out of school because he was going into depression. Now I have been pushing him to do better in his work, and he seems to be going back to some of the old ways. He is having stomach aches, trouble sleeping, and sadness. At some point, though, he has to start using correct capitalization and punctuation. --------- Self-esteem was enhanced Monday night though. Our 4-H club won Club of the Year, Service Club of the Year, and my two got Reporter and Photographer of the Year. Those awards are for the whole county! There were many other awards for our club as well. We certainly swept the place up.

This blog is a response to the Jesus Creed blog today. I left this comment on the blog. The question is whether churches should provide an exit strategy for Christians from the public schools. I apologize for the length of this response, but the topic is one that requires a lot of insight and thoughtful consideration. I respond as a person from a family with extensive public school experience, and myself as a former public and private school teacher. My husband is a minister, with many seminary degrees, and our decision to home school is often mistaken to be a conservative, Christian, religious decision that separates our children from the world. In fact, the decision was made after our first child became depressed in a public school Kindergarten. There was very little time devoted to “socialization” within his classroom. Recess was 15 minutes after a lunch that was demanded to be silent. The characteristic free time “center time” of Kindergarten was only allowed if you had finished your seat work, which my child hadn’t because he had been socializing during seat work. He began to have health problems, behavior problems, and personality changes—at 5 years old! After about 6 months of this, my husband announced that it was enough and we brought our son home. This decision has had happy results that were unintentional at the outset. My children are healthy and happy. They are very innocent compared to their public schooled friends. They have been able to have experiences that the public school setting does not allow. To those who would say we are sheltering our children and they need to be salt and light to the world, I would say, “Why do they have to be salt and light in the public school arena?” They are in 3 and 5 grades. They are salt and light in the art class they take at the university. They are salt and light to the 4-Hers of our county. They are salt and light to the elderly people they swim with every day. They are salt and light to friends and neighbors. They are salt and light to the county soccer league. And their salt and light resources are developed and nurtured by long daily doses in the home. They have even been salt and light to other church members. This past summer our older son was at his grandparents’ church. The Sunday School teacher was showing a clip from The Matrix to teach some point. Our son, knowing that he isn’t allowed to watch that movie because of its rating, took a stand and told the teacher he needed to leave and why. His insistence that his parents would not approve made a huge impact on the teacher and the students. A large portion of the class time, according to the teacher, was then spent on why he would make such an unpopular stand. His integrity was honored. I do not for one second think he would have had the guts to stand by his convictions if he had been raised in the schools and spent his “free time” with his parents. The stereotype of homeschoolers as conservative, blue-denim jumper wearing, large family, living off the land weirdos certainly has some merit. You don’t get a stereotype without a reason. However, within my home school support system there are Christians and Atheists, Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals, and stereotypical and non-stereotypical homeschoolers. To judge all homeschoolers based on a stereotype is like saying you should be afraid of all black men; it’s just plain wrong and inaccurate. As far as the church being responsible for helping parents to have an exit strategy, I would say it is very difficult to make a blanket statement like that. Some churches, ours for instance, are too small to sponsor a school. I have taught in a Christian private school before, and I do not think therein lies the answer either. My students knew just as much about the world and what goes on in it as any public school student. They didn’t have the advantage of being in the midst of their family and having the constant, first-hand knowledge of what their parents expected. On top of that, a young child idolizes his teachers and thinks that ANYTHING they say is scientific fact, regardless of what their parents say. So the only possible church solution I can envision is one that makes it financially feasible for one parent to stay home with the children and school them. I do not, however, support such a decision. Perhaps the strongest way for the church to provide an exit strategy from the public schools is to help educate their members about financial responsibility and stewardship, as well as lessening the amount of extra-curricular activities that children participate in. The church should encourage families to spend time together; the LDS church certainly has a lot to teach us there. There is ever so much more I could say about this topic, but I think I have touched on the major issues. Thank you for the blog.

Last week #1 was to draw a picture of contentment. He drew the sock monkey that he has had since he was about 1 year old. This past week "EeEe" the monkey showed up several times around the house. #1 is in a mixed up stage of wanting to grow up and wanting to still be a child. I am excited about this changing time. I wonder what he will be, how he will look, what his voice will sound like. I look forward to seeing him become a successful young man, and some day a husband and father. But I also miss his babyhood. I remember him splashing through puddles when we would take a "wet walk," meeting Santa and asking him things, words that were said wrong like Doug for God, eating a sand and seaweed salad at the shore, but mostly just happiness and laughing. I love my boy. ------- The words to a song resonated with me in church. They were asking God to take my work as a sacrifice. I tried to think about what my "work" is, and I decided it is to guide children. I always expected to have a large family, but I married a man who didn't have the same expectation or desire. So I was thinking that I was mistaken about what my work is; then I thought about my nieces and nephew, the children I care for 3 days a week, the 4-H kids, the kids I teach at co-ops, and most especially, my own two precious children. I even was blessed with children in my profession before I had children of my own. God has certainly given me a lot of children to guide, and I hope my sacrifice is pleasing to Him. ------- This is an edit. I thought I would just quickly flip through the next couple of blogs listed after mine. Wow. The next one was in Spanish, the next German, the next Japanese, and the last English. The English one was by an 18 year old boy who is traveling Asia for 6 months; he is from the UK. Now the song resonating with me is "It's a Small World After All."

Yesterday I received a gift I have never had before...a nephew! Baby Isaac was born about 6:00 p.m., and weighed 8 pounds 8 1/2 ounces, and was 21 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. I told my boys they will have to teach him to be a "MAN" and tell him things like, "Man up, boy!" They said, "Yeah, he'll be a wuss with those sisters." ------- I hate restless nights. I woke up about 2 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. Around 4:30 I thought I would try to make some hot cocoa and see if that would get me back to sleep. I was trying not to wake hubby because he has to work today. Instead, he woke up and came out to visit. He told me he had been awake thinking through some things and then shared them with me. So when I went back to bed, instead of my mind rolling through all of the things I had been thinking of before, I went through all of that PLUS what he had been thinking through. What a generous man. Of course, I was able to stay in bed a little longer than he was today, so he was repaid for his kindness. ------- #2 was grounded from dessert and candy this week. All day yesterday he told me, "As soon as I get up tomorrow I'm having a piece of candy and a Little Debbie cake." However, the computer seemed to draw his attention more. ------- This week was the first one to "schedule" school for the boys. I handed them a list at the beginning of the week of everything they had to do, and it was up to them to do it. They were both doing school last night. I think they will play a little less this week; it seemed to be a lesson learned. We'll find out. ------- One last blurb, (you see why I was up last night) we started watching the series A Family Affair. The kids really liked it. They dubbed it "a different kind of Brady Bunch."

Yesterday was errand day. I am getting a good bit better at it, and now that I am doing it once a week my errands aren't building up like they used to. Yesterday I had to go to Sam's to return a Turbotax set. I had bought the wrong one. I took #5 in with me to make the return and he asked what we were doing. I said, "I have to get a thing for the taxes." "Oh I like taxes. They're really fun." "No, not a taxi, taxes. And they aren't fun." --------- Darkie is in heat agin. I am planning to borrow Clyde again today and I sure hope he can do the job. I am afraid he is too short. Anyway, I just can't wait until all of these expensive houses go in next door and the goat goes in heat. Boy are they in for a rude awakening!

I went to bed Monday night crying that I just don't understand how I can work from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and go to bed with more work than I started with. A woman's work is never done, I suppose. I did take a break last evening and go to dinner with a friend. Then we grabbed a hot cocoa at B&N and sat outside to enjoy the lovely evening and talk. It was good just to talk with a "big person" and have a few good laughs. She was commenting that her son got in the car after 4-H and said, "Isn't it nice to go to 4-H and not be held down, tackled, or teased?" She didn't know that he had been a part of the problems, so it was disturbing to her to hear that. It sure is nice though to not have those problems anymore.

Well the little game is over. I was there but didn't watch a bit of it. The conversation was more stimulating, and the commercials. Favorites are Richard Simmons in the head lights and the fire breathing bud light. #2 won first place in his category in the Unnatural Resources Fair yesterday. He made drawers out of orange juice cartons. He was very excited. #1 entered the chili cook-off at church, as did I, and neither one of us won. However, I came home with a bunch of chili, so I guess we are winners. I will be canning the rest of the day. This week starts a new chapter in home schooling. I will be handing #1 a schedule for the week and he has to get the work done by the end of the week. It is up to him when he works, and to make sure that he learns it. We'll see how it goes.

Forcing myself to stay with the resolution today. Tryon Palace is free today, and would be a great field trip to add to our history studies, but I really think I will be less stressed if I stay home. The house needs cleaning, the garden needs help, and the kids need attention. #1 is participating in the church chili cookoff and we need to get that started. You know chili tastes better when it has cooked a long time. ----- I think the cat that was raodkill on Wednesday was our cat, Leo. He hasn't been around since then. The two cats that have adopted us are sweet. Leo was a very moody cat, a great mouser so we kept him, but he would scratch and bite sometimes for what seemed to be no reason. As long as these cats are great mousers I will be happy to keep them. They are soft, like to be held and petted, and meow sweetly. ----- Interesting. People who work the graveyard shift have more hypertension, heart attacks, depression, and breast cancer. Electricity hasn't been the greatest thing ever, evidently.

I was thinking about Horton Hears a Who recently. You know the Dr. Seuss story; the elephant hears someone on a speck of dust but no one else does. So the elephant tries to save the people, but everyone else thinks he is crazy. They try to get rid of the speck of dust, to get rid of Horton, they ridicule and malign the elephant for doing what is right. I was thinking about this in a Christian perspective. Jesus tried to save the world and everyone thought he was nuts. He was ridiculed and maligned, and eventually gotten rid of. Now it is the Christians' turn to convince the world that they need saved, a little backward from Horton but still some parallels. Sometimes, though, when I look at all of the ways the world needs saving I feel like Horton looking at that field of pink flowers---where in the world do you start? People need the Lord.

Yesterday, I noticed a large bird circling the water tower next to our house. Soon afterward my husband yelled to come out back and look. There were lots of those birds flying around and swooping down close to the house. Then I turned and saw them swoop to the barn. The chickens!!! So I put on my boots and ran out to check on them. They were all huddled in the back of the barn and were fine, even the goats were hiding. Then I noticed where those birds were actually going--roadkill on the road in front of us. They were vultures. I went out to get rid of it, and it was a cat. The neighbor in front of us moved their house a few weeks ago, and evidently left their cats. Two have adopted us and seem to be sweet cats, hopefully fixed. Leaving animals is a mean, cruel, irresponsible thing to do. --------- Warning! There is a GI Virus going around. If you are tired, stay home and rest. #1 has something and stayed in his jammies all day yesterday. Somehow #2 took that to mean that he could also stay in his jammies. Today we are just staying home and resting again. Hopefully that will blow it out of here. --------- It has started to sink in to me that we are starting Middle School next year. I am trying to figure out how we are going to work it. I have some ideas, but planning is still going on in this weary brain. I am feeling a bit stretched and thin lately.

Yesterday the word optimist came up and I asked #2 if he knew what it means. He was close and I told him an optimist looks at the bright side of things, expecting the best; a pessimist looks at the down side and expects the worst. #2 said, "It's better to be an optimist. Then you like what is going to happen." #1 had been listening and gave this reply, "It is better to be a pessimist, then you don't get disappointed. If you always expect the worst, then it is good if something happy happens." Truly that is their personalities; I had just never seen a good reason to be a pessimist. ------------ I needed some alone time with God yesterday, so while the guys had their night out I stayed at the house and worshippped. Psalm 116 in the CEV struck me: I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live. Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, I prayed and said, "Lord, please don't let me die!" You are kind Lord, so good and merciful. You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless you saved me and treated me so kindly that I don't need to worry anymore. You Lord have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. I was faithful to you when I was suffering, though in my confusion I said, "I can't trust anyone!" What must I give you Lord for being so good to me? I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. You are deeply concerned when one of your people faces death. I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. I will offer you a sacrifice to show you how grateful I am, and I will pray. I will keep my promise to you when your people gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord! I like especially that God protects ordinary people, and that he is so kind, good, and merciful. It was a good evening.

Yesterday we were writing 4-H goals for the year. You have to do that every January and then at the end of the year, you see how much you accomplished. So I started with #1 and he had several good ones: Help at the Animal Shelter, Learn to ride a bike safely, Participate in the State Project, Visit new places... Then I asked #2 his goals: "You know those rides you get in and it seems like you are really on a rollercoaster, but aren't, and it shakes you around?" (virtual rollercoaster) "Yes." "I want to ride one of those." "What does that have to do with 4-H?" "Oh. Nothing, I just thought it would be fun." Can anyone spell FOCUS!!?

A man went forward yesterday at church to confess that he has a different face on Sunday than the rest of the week. He isn't as committed a Christian as he has lead some to believe, and thought perhaps his brother who has stopped going to church is more honest than he is because he still goes. Perhaps more honest is correct, but not more committed. Even if what you are doing is a farce, it is still showing a desire, even if it is subconscious, to please God. There are dry times in any relationship, friendly or romantic, and our relationship with God is no different. But you don't leave your spouse during a dry spell or it will be harder to go back and harder to ever have that close relationship again. Not impossible, but harder. The same seems to hold true with our spiritual relationship with God. He never leaves us, but if we leave him it seems hard to get back to him, too many other things get in the way. Just like your Lover, you keep reminding yourself why you love him/her. You keep doing the "expected" things. You stay put, and after a while you have that feeling back again. And then you seem to drink more deeply to quench the thirst.

I was thinking about my husband's cell phone recently. He uses it as a pocketwatch. He doesn't wear a wristwatch, hasn't for years; it pulls the arm hair. But he used to keep a watchface in his pocket to know the time. Now he just looks at his phone. I have seen a lot of people do that. My Papaw had a real pocketwatch. He wore overalls most places he went. He walked slowly, with his hands clasped behind his back. Then he would pull out his pocketwatch, on a chain, to check the time. It just seemed less rushed that way; somehow a cell phone time checker seems in a hurry to get somewhere. --------- I spoke with a young lady today who is doing her student teaching. They call it "Senior Internship" now, but it is the same thing; a stamina race to see who can survive the kids, parents, staff requirements, and low pay. She is teaching first grade just like I did, though I had to do two placements and also had 5th graders. It occurred to me later that the kids I had in that first grade class are at least as old as this young lady!!! The kids I student taught could now be student teaching!! Yikes. That means the fifth graders are...I don't want to think about it. --------- Today's sermon was about the Bible. Part of it was about how strange it can seem to us---Hittites, Girgashites, Perizzites, Edomites, etc. #2 looked at me and said "hippo-crites" (long i on crites). I couldn't help myself and laughed out loud. I told Hubby what he had said and everyone laughed. Pooor little guy was embarrassed. I told him it was a funny joke. He said, "Yes, but I didn't want everyone to laugh." Better not grow up to be a comedian.

#1 is 11 years old today. He wanted a sleepover with friends and to watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He got the dvds for his birthday, along with some books and gift cards, and everyone came about 3 yesterday afternoon. They played outside for a long time, had pizza for dinner, played outside some more, and every now and then watched a bit of the movies. At 11:30 I told them to get inside and the doors would be locked. I guess that is when they started watching seriously, and I went in at 3:30 a.m. to check on them and they were still watching!!! The two youngest had fallen asleep earlier than the others, so they were up at 7:30. It's going to be a long day. #1 has really been showing us how he is growing lately. Yes, he is tall, but he has been maturing in other ways too. He is doing things without my asking, helping out around the house, asking what he can do to help, etc. It is a welcome change. Part of his sleepover caused a little concern because he wanted to ask some of his female friends. Some parents were concerned about that, so we had the boys and girls "sleep" in separate rooms. At first, #1 had said he would invite one girl, but she isn't allowed to go to sleepovers. Then he asked if I knew why "because she seems very mature and responsible. She helps a lot with her brothers and I think she's a good girl." The poor thing is still unaware that the girl friends are actually girls! He couldn't figure out why they had to sleep in separate rooms, and I pulled a "because I said so," so that I wouldn't have to enlighten him on the fact that all of his friends aren't guys.

We went on a double date last week with some friends from church. The boys stayed with the friends' older kids while we went to dinner and a movie. We saw Juno. We all enjoyed it, but I don't know that I can recommend it to anyone. It could be taken different ways by different people. It is about a 16 year old who ends up pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption. When we got the kids back and were headed home the boys asked if we had a nice time. "Yes." What did you see? "Juno." What's it about? --At this point I am wishing we didn't have such polite, interested children! "A girl that misbehaved." What did she do? "Just misbehaved." Did she steal or tell a lie? Ok...I guess I have to deal with this. "She misbehaved and had a baby." #2 responds with "I thought having babies is a good thing." "Yes, but not when you are in high school and 16." That is when the fun began! #2: "It's good that we are homeschooled. When you go to public high school they make girls take birth control pills and don't let them tell their parents." #1: "What's a birth control pill?" #2: "It helps control birthing, because you know with all of those boys and girls standing so close in schools, they get pregnant." #1: "Mom, I think you need to have that talk with #2 that you had with me." I nearly busted a gut trying not to laugh during all of this!

We went to Jamestown/ Yorktown/ Williamsburg for a few days. We learned a lot and were able to put history into a better perspective, but what a trip it turned out to be! I don't normally complain, but listen to just a FEW of the things that happened...#2 started it out by not being able to find his gift card to KB Toys (we were going to the outlet there), we decided he has to learn to be more responsible so he had to suffer through his brother spending his card, #2 also forgot to pack a swimsuit for the hotel and any toiletries--toothbrush, comb, etc.--#1 has lost his coat and it was freezing or below freezing a lot of the time. I told him to take layers to wear, but he didn't. It was very, very cold, and it rained the second day. We blew out a tire and had to replace 3 of them. On the way home we picked up a rock in our windshield. I had to laugh or else I would have cried. We ended up not spending any time in historical Williamsburg. We didn't have tickets for it and it was much too cold to just walk around. We did eat at a tavern there and it was very nice. The costumed staff came around and entertained us. That was my birthday dinner. A trip for the memory books.

What a week. I hadn't even realized that I didn't blog all week. I have been gone every day this week to somewhere, and I really don't like weeks like that. Monday night was a 4-H Leaders' meeting that left me feeling overwhelmed. 4-H really has a lot to offer, and you just have to tell yourself that there is no way you could possibly do all of it. Tuesday was an all day 4-H meeting since we didn't have the business meeting the first of the month. We went ice skating, had pizza, and then the business meeting. The highlight there was the induction of #1 as President for the year. Then in the evening, against my better judgment, I met a friend and then spent a couple of hours at the library. I should have stayed home and gotten caught up. Wednesday was spent catching up and running to church. Thursday was spent running ALL day, most of it with 3-5 children in tow. I had hoped for a peaceful evening, but #1 had broken his glasses on Sunday and they were finally done, so out we headed again to get that taken care of. He is happy to see again. So here it is Friday with only one blog. Whew! So much for that Resolution. ------------ Last weekend we had some little friends over to play. They were here at dinner and so I fed them. While they were eating in the dining room I was eating in the kitchen. I could hear the unkind conversation in the other room, so I started singing, "Love one another, for love is of God." The other kids laughed and asked, "Why is your mother singing?" I heard #1 sigh, "Here we go again. This is what she does when we aren't behaving." I thought it was funny, like he was sighing over a lecture or something. ------------ Darkie is in heat again. I will try borrowing Clyde again, but I am afraid he may be too short for her. At least it will make her stop crying all night! I really was hoping for some sleep last night.

I cleaned out my van yesterday. I only took out the garbage and vacuumed; it still needs to have the vinyl washed and the whole outside washed, of course. I bought the van a little less than two years ago. I test drove a Yukon. The boys and I really liked the Yukon---leather seats, drove like a breeze, nice and roomy. Except for the trunk. There was hardly any space in the "trunk" and to get to the third seat was going to be a big hassle. So for the ease of life I said "no" to the Yukon and took the much more practical Honda mini-van. It was a good decision. In the last two weeks the van has hauled a dog, LOTS of children, animal feeds, groceries, food for dinners, packages, luggage, and goats. Yes, goats. I bought two goats yesterday and hauled them home in a dog carrier cage. The Beverly Hillbillies never rode in such style. I doubt that is what Honda intended with their mini-van, but it would have been good advertising to me. ------------ The goats are Nigerian Dwarf goats. They are about the size of small sheep. They are both supposed to be pregnant, due at the end of April. Nigerians are supposed to be pretty good milkers for their size, soI am hoping for some fresh milk this spring. For now we are all trying to get used to each other. The goats are trying to decide who is the boss of the field. The biggest and oldest goat, Darkie, doesn't really care. She hasn't taken over in any way; she just wants peace and quiet with a little gentle petting. Sounds good to me.

I took the boys to a play last night about the White House. It was really good. We all laughed so hard and still learned quite a bit about the White House. Afterward, a couple families went to Krispie Kreme to enjoy a treat together. #1 made a comment about not drinking after a girl because that is how babies are made. The kids laughed and he didn't know why. That hurt his feelings and he had a hard time with the rest of the evening. When I found out what happened, I had a talk with him privately. He told us last year he didn't want to know how it occurs. I asked if he was ready yet. He told me yes, no, maybe. So I gave him enough info to move him along, but not the full details. I told him it would be better for the sake of his embarrassment, not to say anything about how babies are made. Then I wished I could have left him thinking that drinking out of the same cup as a girl would make a baby. It would eliminate a lot of problems, colds being the least. ------------------- I am going goat shopping this afternoon. I hope to come back with 2 pregnant does, Nigerian Dwarfs. They are about the size of a medium to large dog. I went out this morning to check on the chickens and heard two robins calling to each other. Last year it was February before we saw robins. The winter has been so mild I guess they decided to come back early.

Ten days into the New Year's Resolution and it has been shot at by the enemy. Of course, with this being the third year that I have made this resolution, I feel like I have battled it a little better. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: I signed the boys up for art yesterday, and when I got home I found out about the music class the university offers. Then I had a dilemma. I would like the boys to have both opportunities, but quiet evenings at home are a must for me to have a quiet life. I tried to come up with several different ways to accomodate the class, but I am just going to have to say no. Now that it is in cyberspace perhaps I will have to say no or eat crow. To work with your hands: Not doing too badly with this part. I am wanting to get out into the garden soon so I can actually plant this year when I am supposed to. And to mind your own business: The house across the street disappeared this week. I didn't even notice until Hubby pointed it out, so maybe I am minding my own business. But now I am wondering what is going to go in there. A couple of houses went in down the road on a lot that I thought couldn't hold more than one house, so now I am wondering...None of my business!

Yesterday #1 was working on some research for a paper. He is writing a story about pirates. The book he was using had a recipe for pirate biscuits and he wanted to make them. I told him I thought that would be good for lunch and to go for it. He made the biscuits with a little help from me, and then #1,2, and 5 had them for lunch. #2 told me he didn't care for it and it tasted sour. #5 took a bite and shuddered from head to toe. "That's tewwible," he said. The recipe called for 5 tsp of soda! I refused to even try it.

I was leaving to get the oil changed when my neighbor stopped me. "We have a problem. Again." So nice to see you too. The problem for him is that he believes the development next to us is building so that all of the rainshed will come onto our property and the road in front of our home. He was ready to go to City Council about it; he was very irate. I told him I thought the first thing to do would be to go to the developers. I talked to him quite a while and he never saw why that would be the right thing to do. It was almost as if the "right thing to do" was another language to him. Finally, he ended by saying, "I guess you're ever the optimist." I ended by restating, "It's just the right thing to do." He shook his head and walked away.

I started yesterday by singing to my children of how they needed to get out of bed, making an early start, help their heart, work out long so they will be strong, etc. #1 asked me to please not wake them that way today. I thought it was a pretty good song. We went to the gym early and had a good work out. I had a "mother tiger" moment. I took the boys to the pool for our cardio workout, and an old woman there started yelling at #2 for splashing her and getting her hair wet. Now, I was trying to tell him to move over to the rope to swim, but her tirade just kept going, so I let her finish and then asked him to move. Then she jumped on me for letting him do that. I understand old women not wanting to wet their hair. They go get it done once a week and then leave it alone. BUT, if you are going to go to the pool you should expect to get a little splash or else wear a shower cap. I thought I would take that woman out back and knock some sense into her-- mother tiger. ---------- I went to the funeral yesterday. It was a long day, but good to be there for my friend. The widow seemed to be holding up well. I imagine it will hit her later today.

Today the routine is supposed to start. The holidays are officially over for us and we head back to school. To change it up a bit though, we will be going to the gym in the mornings BEFORE school. Homeschoolers are not known for very early mornings so we are talking a major routine change here. The boys are upset that it means no tv in the mornings before school. -------- Although today is back to routine, there will be very little of it. The father of a friend passed away and I am going to the funeral, 3 1/2 hours away. So the kids will go to a friend's house for a while, and I will watch my "extra" kids later this week. My friend who suffered the loss was not raised in the area, so another friend and I are hoping we can be her support today. -------- #2 came in the other day and told me Jesus sure was late. "What do you mean?" "Well he was supposed to be born around April, but he didn't come until Christmas. That's what I call late!"

I spent a whole day writing our Christmas/New Year's Letter this week. All of that writing and editing put me on hold to write any more. It was fun to read back through my year of all that had been said. The kids are so funny, and they get it from their dad! --------- The year seems to be having a rough start for some people close to me. A friend left last night to go be with her dad. He was starting to have respiratory failure. He has been doing some experimental procedures and it didn't go well a couple weeks ago, I guess. He has cancer. Another friend found out her aunt, who has no other family, has masses through her body. The friend will likely move herself and her kids down to be with the aunt and help care for her. We will miss them terribly. I am still fighting some type of infection in my toe. It started before Christmas, and is seeming to get worse. I can't wear regular shoes. I was in the grocery yesterday with all my sweatsuit and cold weather attire, and sandals on my sock feet. I got several weird looks. ---------- #2 had his birthday party on New Year's Eve. The kids stayed up and had a great time. I think I wrote that already. But then, they went outside and played all day together. At 1:00 I asked if they wanted to go to a movie with us, and they did, but wanted to go home first. So their mom picked them up and we picked them up after that an hour later. We went to see The Water Horse. What a great movie! People even clapped at the end. My mom asked if it has a great moral. No not really, it is just a nice story. --------- I did borrow a man (billy goat) for Darkie. He seems to have done the job, although we won't really know for a few more months. The fellow seems happy here, a big field to roam and a girl at his beck and call. What more could a man want? ----------- Did you hear the Mountaineers won the Fiesta Bowl? What a wonderful thing for them. Morgantown was all astir about Rodriguez leaving like he did. I am glad they won and could put that in his ear and blow! The way he left was so selfish and irresponsible. ----------- I tried triple coupons at the store yesterday. I got up at 6 a.m. so I wouldn't have to deal with a bunch of people on my first try. It went great, except that I forgot the 20 coupon rule and so didn't get as many triples as I had hoped. I went back later and tried again with some other things. Did great again and DID remember the rule. I got things for 14 and 19 cents, and a few things free! ------------- One last thing and I think you will be caught up on our lives. It is COLD here! It was to go down to 15 last night. Today is 47 and all week to get higher, until next week is back in the 70s, but for now we are COLD! Hubby says if you are going to be this cold at least have the decency to snow! I think we all agree.

Happy New Year. Last year Hubby and I went to bed and let the kids stay up to midnight. This year #2 was having his birthday party that night and wanted a sleepover. So we had movies, cake and ice cream, pop-its and sparklers, AND managed to stay up until midnight. The kids and I went out and set off sparklers and pop-its at midnight. Then I ran back in- it was COLD- and they stayed out a little longer to play cowboys and indians. It is nearly 8 a.m. and the kids are all sacked out in the livingroom in various positions; one little guy is going to have a stiff neck. So what about a Resolution? This will be the third year that I make the same one. It comes from Thessalonians; Make it your ambition (insert resolution) to lead a quiet life, work with your hands, and mind your own business. It is the "lead a quiet life" that I have mostly focused on, and yes after three years I am still working on it. I have a tendency to try and do too much. I enjoy life so much I want to do as much as possible. The problem is that I end up not enjoying the life when I do so much. This year I will be trying to watch my commitments- to kids' activities, teaching classes, animals, garden, etc. Each year I have gotten better, so I hope to do well with this resolution. ---------------- I did not write the family Christmas letter this year. I am hoping to write it in the next few days. It is the first year in about 15 that I haven't written one.

Bless the Name of the God of Rain. We had nearly a full day of rain yesterday, and an inch of rain the day after Christmas. Thank you, Lord. -------------- #2 received a letter from Santa as part of his Christmas present. It was addressing his request for World Peace for Christmas. The letter said that there are many things Santa gets asked, but that he can't give, like jobs or finding lost parents. But the gift #2 asked for was already given many years ago in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Santa followed it up by saying that he tries to be a peacemaker by being kind and generous. Other people have tried to make peace in other ways, like Martin Luther King, Jr. And Santa hopes that #2 will be a peacemaker as well. The letter came with a movie, The Nativity Story, and a book on King. My aunt read the letter and said she disagreed with the ending. She would not call MLK, Jr. a peacemaker. She said she remembers watching the news and being afraid at what was going on at the time. Marches and riots were scary and she didn't understand why they had to go about it that way; it was definitely NOT peaceful. I wonder if that is what people said about Jesus. He upset the balance of communities. He overthrew tables in the Temple. He lead great crowds of people around the countryside. He certainly looked to some people to be attempting to overthrow a government. Perhaps the Prince of Peace was the Tyrant of Terror to some. Yesterday in Bible Study class we were looking at the book of John and two healings. Jesus heals a man who had been crippled for 38 years and a man who had been born blind. The Pharisees could not "see" Jesus, who he really was, like other people could. It occured to me that God had never been to Earth before, except for visits with Adam and Eve or in the form of an angel. To have God come and live with us in the form of a man, and have to do everything that a man has to do, well that was incomprehensible. It was blasphemy. It was breaking the very Law of God. To bow down and worship a man was strictly forbidden, remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? I am glad I am on this side of the Ressurrection. It is much easier for me to believe something that has been tested through 2000 years of history. I just can't feel contempt for the Pharisees; I don't know that I would have recognized God in the form of a man who was causing trouble either.

We are back! What a lovely trip home for the holidays we had. We saw all, ALL, of the families, and managed a little time for a movie and shopping. Poor #1 got very sick Christmas Eve and was up all night. That put a damper on his excitement for Santa's arrival and opening presents, but #2 enjoyed himself. Now I am unpacking while the kids play with their new things. Hubby has headed off to work. So I guess we are back to the routine. We took the dog with us on this trip since she is the biggest problem when it comes to our leaving. She did well in the van, but by the time we got home last night she was ready to be here. She travelled a lot while in WV since we couldn't leave her anywhere. The other animals are doing well, thanks to my little 4-H helper while we were gone. Darkie is need of a man, so I am hoping to borrow Clyde, the billy next door, this evening. She was up all night crying for him. The best Christmas present I got was a canner. Now I can make soup and can it for our lunches! I can't eat chicken from the store, so I have sorely missed chicken soup. By the way, the hog didn't get butchered, so the chickens will soon be in the freezer. So much for their savior.

Merry Christmas! Today is Christmas Day at our house; last night was Christmas Eve. We went out for Chinese and then a little shopping. Then we drove around and looked at lights, came back, lit the Advent candles, and watched a Christmas movie. This morning we opened presents around the tree and had chocolate chip pancakes- a House special- for breakfast. Now we are spending the day together at the gym and a movie- Alvin and the Chipmunks. Later we will get everything packed for our trip home. I think I am going to like this Christmas. I have always wanted to have Christmas with just my family and this seems to be doing it for me. My screwball of a husband was unwrapping presents with us when he picked one up that said to M from M. Then he thanked himself and opened it. He said he kept leaving a coupon around the house and I never took it, so he went and got what he wanted and wrapped it up for himself. He got juggling pins and a video. Look out next year at the Holiday Banquet and Talent Show! The boys got air rifles. They have wanted them since we moved here and theirs were lost in the move. So now they are running around like hooligans shooting at each other. I got chocolate. What could be better?

I have decided on the perfect gift for a child who asks for World Peace---Jesus. So he is getting The Nativity Story DVD and book. That is if I can FIND it in the stores around here. I looked until 10:00 last night and no luck. There are a couple of stores to try today still, and we can always call WV and have them check there. I also got him a book about MLK, Jr. I think Santa will write a letter to him about how Jesus is the Prince of Peace and here is an example of how to live that out. World Peace starts one person at a time. ---------------- Speaking of world peace...My children have been having trouble getting along with kids in 4-H. It doesn't seem to be my kids' fault. I know that sounds like the parent talking, but this is coming from other children, not my own. Anyway I have contacted one of the mothers of the problem children and am waiting to hear back. I hate confrontation. ----------------- We have joined a gym and yesterday learned how to use the weight machines. My worst fears were realized. Those machines are torture chambers. Don't they just look like something from a war movie? Like they will tie you to it and start stretching you, like they did to witches. Probably shouldn't tell them #1's enjoyment of all things Harry Potter and dragon.

#2 has a little more trouble with the Santa letter. He constantly changes his mind. So a few weeks ago, maybe a month, he wrote Santa asking for an MP3 player and "lots of books." Then, last week when #1 sent his letter to Santa, #2 decided he would send one as well. He sealed it up and didn't tell me what he asked for. A couple of nights ago he came into the kitchen yelling, "Commercialism, commercialism! It's all turned into commercialism." He was speaking of Christmas. So I said, "Well you have turned it that way too. What did you ask Santa for?" "World peace." That was it. He asked for world peace. Hubby said they were coming home from Guys' Night Out the other day when #2 said he would like to have a couple of things. I believe they were a knitting book and a dragon book. #1 said, "You can't ask for that. I asked Santa for that and you can't get the same thing. What did you ask Santa for?" "World peace." "No, really." "I asked for world peace." "Well, what else did you ask for?" "Nothing." "Too bad." "Why?" "Because you aren't getting what you asked for." It seems we have a realist and a dreamer at our house. --------------- As hubby told me that story, he was reminded of it because he was taking the dog out. She did #1 and #2. I want to put a disclaimer here: In no way do I think of my children as processes of elimination. That thought had never occured to me, only to their father! I am ONLY speaking of birth order when I call them that. It is only for their protection and safety that I do thus, and in no way describes how I feel about them.

My 10 year old- almost 11 year old!- wrote his letter to Santa last week. It took him a long time because he can never decide what it is he really, really wants. I did not suggest that he write to Santa. I am so pleased that he still has the innocence to believe. He wrote the letter, addressed it, and took it to the box. I couldn't be trusted to take it out. Here is what I recovered: Dear Santa Claus, How is your wife? Did you have a nice summer? I know I haven't been perfect, but I hope I can still be on the nice list. So I hope I can still get some presents. Here is a list of things I want: Harry Potter DVD Interactive Game, Charmed Knitting, How to Draw and Paint Dragons, Marvel Superhero Fact Book, Transformer Action Figure, as many magic tricks as you can find, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2 disc DVD. Love, #1 ------------- I will share #2's letter tomorrow. Today was spent finishing up 4-H projects, and we are DONE! Tomorrow is our last meeting for the year and we will really be done after that. We joined a gym last week and I had to drag myself and 2 kids there this morning. I worked out in the pool and it really seemed to help stretch out my back. Tomorrow we train on some of the equipment.

He's my kill the spiders and roaches man, catch the mice and chop the rooster man. He's my pick up heavy things man, wait in the car man, cry on his chest man. He's my humorous man, my academic man, my juggling and jokester man. He's my complete the taxes man, forgive my ignorance man, my live on a farm when I'm a city boy man. He's my goose me, grab me man, he's my angry kiss when Rodriguez goes to Michigan man, he's my staring at a beautiful woman (me) man. He's my Lover, my Great One, my Friend, and my Brother. He's every man to me and he's mine for 18 years today. Happy Anniversary Sweetheart.

Oh how the time is flying. I planned our school calendar to have all of December off, but just knew that we would still do some school during the month. Guess what? Nada. This afternoon and evening the boys and I did manage to get quite a dent in the 4-H year-end requirements though. That is a relief; I was getting worried. I did however take the time to go to the beach yesterday. The weather here was so beautiful this week. I really wanted to go on Monday- it was supposed to be 79 degrees and sunny! But it just didn't work. I have to say yesterday was perfect. It was about 72 and the sun was shining strong. The kids managed to get wet, even though they were in jeans! We took some friends with us and dug in the sand, walked, looked for shells, played frisbee, and just relaxed. I felt a little guilty knowing that there is so much at home to do, but it is supposed to be a Winter Break and so I broke loose. Last evening the temperature started dropping and about an hour ago the rain started dropping. We are about 18 inches short on rain this year and we are hoping to get 2 inches out of this tonight. It won't make a whole lot of difference, but we will take what we can get. My parents were surprised a few nights ago when I told them that we got a salad out of the garden. It has been so warm here, but we really should get some more salad if this rain comes through. I had my first shopping trip this week with real coupons. I guess I did well, but it was more than I had really wanted to spend. I had to tell myself that you can't really shop by the week, but have to look ahead. I was able to get some things for 4-H co-op lunches in the spring, and some sodas for #2's birthday. I got some Betty Crocker brownie mixes for 20 cents each and Cheerios for 50 cents. When I got back from the beach I found out hubby had sold one of the goats. Millie was our oldest goat and the one that had had the kids the last couple of years. A hispanic family stopped on our porch and were knocking when Hubby came home. He was able to understand the spanish for milk and told them she didn't have any and isn't pregnant, but the spanish for "tie her legs together" was eluding him. My father thinks he should brush up on his spanish in case he needs to preach to someone in spanish. Hubby said he doesn't think "tie her legs together" is going to come up in his preaching! Tomorrow is our 18th wedding anniversary. It has been a good trial period. I think I will keep him.

I was counting my blessings this morning. There are so many I don't know if I can count that high! I was talking with my dad last night and saying how blessed I am to have been raised around people who know how to do things and how to live on less. There are so many people who don't even know how to cook! He agreed that more and more people are not cooking- said with a smile in his voice as Mom brought dinner home! I also am blessed that I didn't have children outside of wedlock. A cousin just had a baby this week with a girl he barely knows. She got pregnant, it would seem, the first night they met. Pregnancy is a wonderful experience that is also full of non-wonderful changes. I can't imagine going through that with a guy you know can't keep it in his pants. Now they have to figure out how to live with each other and with a new baby. There are a lot of strangers in that house right now. I am also blessed that my husband is still here. A friend is moving this week and there is a lot of turmoil involved with closings, builders, inspectors, banks, etc. When life gets stressful for me I always have hubby to help me through it. Somehow we never seem to melt down at the same time, holding the other up. This poor friend is alone. Yes, she has friends and family, but it isn't the same in the middle of the night when you can't sleep. I have filled out a lot of medical paperwork lately and it has made me realize how blessed we are in that realm as well. I don't have prescriptions, my kids are healthy, we haven't had to go to the doctor in quite a while. (Except for Sunday when #2 had unexplainable hives. He is fine now.) Some other friends are looking for work, but are being unsuccessful because of criminal records. They made mistakes in the past that are still haunting them years later. I am very blessed that my stupid mistakes were not illegal blunders. Of course there are blessings of friends, family, hearth and home. But I have a feeling there are other blessing I don't even realize at the time. Thank you God for all of the known and unknown blessings.

We had our annual Progressive Dinner last night with our congregation. The appetizers were at our house. The boys went to stay for the evening with their best friends. How that was a punishment I am not sure, but they thought they were being "sent away." It greatly offended them that it was an adults only event. I guess they never figured that out the other years. Anyway they had pizza, watched movies, and played with friends- wish I could be "sent away" some time! The Dirty Santa gift exchange at the end of the night is always fun. I ended up taking a piggy bank that farts when you put in money. I told you I've been with males too long! I can just see my brother-in-law laughing, though, when I give him that for Christmas. The friends who watched the kids thought it was funny too. Now I am home with #2 who got up this morning not feeling well. He went in the bathroom and yelled, which means he is vomiting. Actually this time he yelled in order to overcome it and NOT vomit. I know the feeling. He is covered in a rash that is spreading, so we will be heading to the Urgent Care at 10:00. Hubby thinks I planned it because I was having trouble waking up this morning. ------------ Hubby tells me I am hard to shop for because I don't care for jewelry or clothes. The fact is I very much like clothes- I wear them every day, for goodness sake! I have told him what I want for Christmas, but he never remembers what I say. (Maybe he just doesn't like what I say I want.) So I wrote my desire on a post-it note the other day and stuck it on my forehead. Then he took it and wrote it on his calendar so he won't forget. I want someone to come and clean the house in March. By then my schedule is so busy I start to get stressed when I can't keep up with the house. Of course, after he wrote it down, I started having guilt spasms about being a stay-at-home mom and needing someone to clean my house...I certainly do struggle with pride.

11:54 p.m. I woke to hear the bleating of our goat, Darkie. She was obviously upset, and I went to see if there was a goat thief or coyote or something bothering her. No, she is just hankering for a man. She was at it again at 6:30 this morning. I guess she will get her second chance soon. -------- When we had our boys about 10 years ago, a lot of friends were also having boys. When we would attend different churches around the country I would notice their classes were filled with boys. I once remarked on it to an older woman and she replied that it is a sign of coming war. Sure enough we went to war. But this whole thing of being with guys so much of the time could give me a complex. I counted 13 people in my home yesterday, and only 3 of them were women- myself included. Women of the World, please forgive me if I start to saunter when I walk and speak while belching. I may even start to punch you in the arm when we meet, but it is all a sign of the company I keep and not disdain for the feminine. ----------- My friend was over yesterday to help with the coupon and smart shopping lesson. It appears that CVS is actually a good place to shop. Who would have thought? Anyway, I am now part of a coupon shopping group, and am hoping to reduce our bill by $100 a month. We'll see how it goes.

The boys finished art class at the university this week. They always have an art show of what they did all semester. We were disappointed to hear that our favorite professor will be taking a semester off this spring. I am sure we will continue to take art, but this lady was good with the kids. #2 actually took 2 classes this fall, so we had 2 shows to go to this week. Then yesterday we went through all of the art projects from the last couple of years and decided which ones really need to be kept. I will be heading to the recycling center this afternoon. ----------- Last night we were discussing "religionism." That is religion that you become addicted to. For instance, some people must be given communion by a priest before they can go back to work on Monday. I tried to think of how this affects me. The only thing I came up with is silly. I know it isn't true and yet I still have trouble with this. Soon after I was married, I wrecked our car. I had just stopped singing Christian music and was singing a secular song. I felt like if I had kept my mind on Christ, then I would have been protected from the wreck. Even to this day, I sing secular songs in the car only when I am very alert. Crazy, but true.

Yesterday was interesting. My husband told me on Monday that he would really like to have a date with me this week. I guess he is missing me; how sweet. Well the only time that worked was yesterday morning. So I arranged for a friend to keep the kids for the morning. He told me he didn't care what we did on our date, that he just wanted to be with me. So we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then we went to Sam's to fix a flat tire, to Target to buy a can opener and some birthday gifts, to Globe Hardware for Christmas gifts, and then home so I could get ready for the 4-H meeting. Hubby said he had a nice time. He must have been desperate for a date! ----------- #1 was running for President at 4-H yesterday. He had to have a campaign speech, and he did a good job explaining why the kids should vote for him. He has been to all but 2 meetings in the last 3 years, he has been to every County Council meeting this year, he knows his leaders, etc. He was unopposed at first and then another kid decided to run. His speech was not prepared and so not nearly as good. The other kid won. Now, this is coming from other parents- not the parent of #1- it seems that one of the kids in the club incited the others to vote against #1. This kid has a problem with my boy that mostly has to do with a girl, jealousy, and too much testosterone. After it was over the kid that won said he really didn't want to be President and declined to accept the election. I was very proud of how #1 dealt with it all. He was obviously disappointed not to win, but he didn't say or do anything bad. He didn't cry or pout. Then when he won, he felt badly for the friend who was taken out by his mother and reprimanded. When I questioned #1 about it, he said he will just have to work hard to prove to those who didn't vote for him that he is the right man for the job. Very grown up in my opinion. ----------- The dog was on the couch this morning. She needs to die soon.

The Scrooge Family has the tree up and some decorations on the mantles. Just thought everyone would want to know. The boys put up the decorations on Saturday. #2 didn't feel the need to have them up since we will be gone for Christmas- my sentiments exactly! But #1 wanted to get them out. The truth be known, he didn't care about the decorations, he just wanted to get the Christmas movies out. -------- I kept track of everything we spent in 2007 and added and averaged on Saturday, and found out we did pretty well. I had thought we would need to start using the envelope system and watch more carefully, even start cutting our spending. But actually we did ok. We spent more fixing the house and not much at all on savings or retirement, but the equity in the house is probably a good idea. I did come to the conclusion, though, that some things could be cut. We will be eating out less, and a friend is coming this week to help me learn how to take advantage of grocery coupons. However, one of the biggest problems has been the animals. They really are a liability right now. So we will be getting rid of the rabbits and 2 of the goats. One of the goats is getting a second chance to produce a kid, but if she can't then she is out of here. I am in the market for a good dairy goat though. It would save us a lot of gas money to be able to milk our own instead of driving to the farm for fresh cow's milk. As far as the chickens go...they are being saved because they do occasionally offer me an egg, and because we are getting a butchered hog for Christmas and I won't have room in the freezer for the chickens too. So the hog's death is saving their life. --------- Speaking of the chickens...There is one that I have to put in the coop every night. She really likes to hang out in the manger. Last night I picked her up to put her away as usual, and she started purring! I thought for sure she couldn't be, but I looked it up and YES chickens do purr! She has become a sort of pet after all of the picking up at evening, so I guess she finally felt like showing me some love. She pushed against my chest, held my hand, and put her head against my shoulder in the crook of my neck. Who says chickens are mean?

We went to the Morehead Planetarium on Thursday. It is on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. We actually had to drive up a hill to get there! Boy, I haven't had to drive up a hill for a long time. I took 6 kids in my van, and that was interesting. The conversation of homeschoolers is different than most kids. They had talks about new laws that are being considered, about democrats and republicans, and about their campaign speeches for the upcoming 4-H elections. Of course there was the normal talk too about super heroes and Garfield. It was a good day, and the boys liked the ending of it. We were on our way to pick up a pizza as we pulled back into town, and they thanked me for a good trip. I asked if it was a good last day of school. They were stunned and greatly pleased; they were supposed to have had school on Friday and then be done. They have enough days in and I didn't want to start a new section in anything, so we are now on Winter Break. Yee Haw! We will be hosting the appetizers portion of our church's progressive dinner next week. I signed us up for it, but somehow it never entered my brain that that means I need to decorate the house for Christmas. Hubby reminded me; he's so sweet. So I think this afternoon the boys will be putting up the tree and other decorations. I guess it is ok since it is now December. We have watched a few Christmas specials on ABC already. My shopping is done and the boys have just a few more things to get, so let the season begin! ---------- I have often complained about having to go back to WV for Christmas. I really would like to have our family open gifts from Santa on Christmas morning under our own tree. I remember my Christmases as a child so fondly and I want that for my kids. Hubby has tried to tell me that the kids have a different tradition and that it is ok. They LOVE going to the grandparents for the holidays: being with family and all of the excitement. Well, I finally have gratefully accepted that as our tradition. The other day a friend was saying that they will be staying home for Christmas this year. It is their turn to go to her mother's house, and the mother doesn't really care if they come or not. She said she would rather they visit in the summer when the weather is nicer and there is less stress. My friend said that is the advantage of coming from a family that isn't loving and closely knit. There are no expectations to see each other or to have to be cheerful. I was surprised that there is an advantage. I decided I don't ever want my kids to think they came from an unloving family, and if it means going to someone else's house and having a great time, then that is what we will happily do. -------------- #2 receives a subscription to Ranger Rick. The subscription is about to run out and he has been getting concerned about whether or not he will get another one. He told me the other day, "Mom, PLEASE! You have got to get me another subscription. I was reading this story and they left me on a coat hanger. They won't end the story until next month!" "That's a CLIFF hanger dear."