A Lifetime of Love

I recently joined a subgroup of my homeschool group in which we make and swap activity bags. The activities contained in each bag are geared for preschool/kindergarten-aged children, but honestly, all of my children LOVE to do them.   Each activity is supposed to entertain the child for approximately 20 minutes; however, depending on the age/skill level of the child and the type of activity, it could take him/her longer to complete the task.   I currently have about a dozen different activities that range from easy to difficult. They also include tasks that focus on fine motor skills, counting/numeracy, letters/phonics, and logic. I like them in that Annie all the way up through Th enjoy doing them, and it gives me a chance to prepare supper, throw in a load of laundry, or do whatever (like use the bathroom alone!) while they are ALL occupied at the same time.     I am in the midst of another swap so by the end of next week I will have another 18 activities t...

A couple of weeks ago, TJ and I took the kids to the Carolina’s Aviation Museum.   The museum recently acquired the US Airways jet “The Miracle on the Hudson: Flight 1549.”   We had a fun morning of looking at airplanes up close, followed by lunch at the Charlotte airport overlook where the kids were able to witness the busyness of the flightline.   It was a beautiful day spent as a family! Standing next to a main gear strut. TJ & the kids at the back of a cargo plane. Annie in the tire that was once on the space shuttle. The boys watching the documentary about the landing on the Hudson. They were enthralled by it! "The Miracle on the Hudson" Contents that were recovered from the Hudson. The cans of soda were still sealed, which is amazing to me considering the impact of the crash. Other side of the plane. Ready for our picnic at the airport overlook.

Just a post to show some of the food items one can purchase using coupons matched with a sale. I paid around $40 for all of this, and total retail value is well over $80. I apologize I don’t remember the exact amounts but this picture was taken a couple of weeks ago.   =)

My life forever changed the day you were born.  I had no idea how being a mom could teach me so much about the character of God: I have a better understanding of God's love for me because of the love I feel towards you; I also better understand God's ability to forgive because I've been both the offended and the offender.   I am better able to serve others because of the many ways I watch you serve: each week you look forward to going to the pregnancy center to gather up the garbage and take it to the curb. It's a job that seems so menial yet blesses so many people who work at and visit the center. It is an important job that must be done in order for the pregnancy center to function on its core task: to save the lives of unborn babies. You do your work purposefully and to the best of your ability, and you don't mind that you don't get recognition for it. It is a reality check for me as a mother because so often what I do goes unnoticed yet is so cruci...

Our family changed for the better the day you were born. Although you faced many developmental challenges, you have managed to overcome them by God's grace and great therapists. I am so happy to say that you right where you should be in all areas of development, and you continue to learn and grow each day. You are so special and so sweet! We love you!! Happy 3rd birthday, baby girl!

I'm sure everyone who's old enough to remember the events of September 11, 2001 can describe vividly the details of the day and how it's forever changed our nation. I am no exception... TJ and I were living in California at the time. He was still in the Air Force, and I worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Regional Office of Marshalls Department Store. TJ woke up first, showered, and turned on the TV to watch the news as he ironed his uniform. I awoke to TJ telling me that an airplane had hit the World Trade Center, and I remember watching the TV while trying to process everything. Keep in mind, living in CA, we were 3 hours behind the East Coast so the first plane hit at 5:46am PT. We continued watching the news coverage, and like many, were horrified as we watched the second plane hit on live TV. Even to this day, as I watch the news footage, I still find myself thinking it looks more like a scene from a movie than reality. We both readied ourselves for work a...

I had a plan that, during the summer while on break from homeschooling and taxiing my kids around from place to place, I would: organize and file all of Th's schoolwork from last year sort through toys and prepare them for consignment/donation strip and refinish Th's school desk strip and refinish T.G.'s bedroom furniture (which includes a double headboard/footboard, dresser, night table, desk, and chair) sand and refinish Teagan's bed swap out & pack away the kids' clothes for the next size up unpack and sort through the pile of boxes in my dining room and bedroom that are leftover from our move (you know, over a year ago!) Items on my list that actually were completed: none Items on my list that are partially completed: Th's schoolwork from last year is organized but not yet filed Th's school desk is stripped and I'm in the process of painting it I had high expectations and am a little disappointed that I didn't completely f...