Aaah! I'm being graded!

I posted a while ago about that Spanish class I'm taking on line. (www.livemocha.com) Things are a bit crazy around here as we prepare for the Science Fair and Boy Scout camp this week. As a result, I haven't done my lessons. When I peeked over there today, everything was marked PAST DUE in red! Yikes! I hate things like that! So, I hurried through and did last weeks lessons all in one day. It is probably a good thing, since I need accountability. I tend to get excited about things, do it for a couple of weeks then flake out. I don't mean to, honestly. It just sort of happens that way.

I have to laugh though, I always wonder why my kids don't like things marked wrong in red on their papers. I go through my lessons and cringe if I get any of them wrong. Then there's the whole procrastination factor... I wonder where they get it from??

Now I've done it...

I put a notice out to my home school group regarding the Great Strides walk that is coming up at the end of May. A woman responded asking for more information. I showed her our Cystic Fibrosis home page. (http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp...&idUser=125848) Then I gave her this link. http://www.youtube.com/CysticFibrosisUSA. I've spent the last hour watching the videos. I have tears running down my face. Sometimes Cystic Fibrosis is so overwhelming.
Christalin is really doing bad right now. Josiah is not doing much better. They have camping trips, baseball and co-ops they want to go to and participate in, so they are trying to stay out of the hospital They are hoping to wait until the middle of May. I'm not sure they can make it.
Silly me, I love drama. I haven't been in a play for about five years. Our Calvary Players troupe has two dessert theaters a year. One in the fall and one in the spring. The kids are always in the hospital around that time. This year I decided to try out for a part. Well, I got a part and have been practicing four hours a week for the past month. We are just hoping that the kids would stay well enough that I could do the actual play.
Now I'm feeling selfish. If I quit the play now, I'll let down the other actors. The director will probably not let me be in any other plays ever again. Which, in the big picture, that really doesn't mean squat. It's just that I really do enjoy drama. It was my one outlet. KWIM?

We go up to Children's in May. I figure the kids will be admitted. I guess my prayer is that they will feel well enough to make it that long. Prayers for my hurting mommy heart would be appreciated too. It is so hard to see my kids suffer. I don't want them to miss out on things that mean a lot to them if I can help it. It's hard to find a balance sometimes.
Thank you for your prayers. They are so appreciated!

Summer plans....Summer plans....

As we start into Spring, I always have my eye toward the sunshine! I've been looking at our budget and trying to figure out what we can do this summer. Our number one wish is to go back down to Mexico on a mission trip. We did that the summer before last and it was incredible! We are in the process of finding out if we can go again this summer.

The other very favorite tradition of our family is going to our church's family camp. It is a week long at Panhandle Lake, which is a private lake. We have been going every year since before the kids were born. Before we had our own kids, we used to take our nephews and nieces. It is just a super fun time. There is canoeing, hiking, archery, b-b guns, biking, crafts, skits, worship, apple-wampus (I guess you'd have to have been there). We all have fond memories of going every year. For the past three years my oldest son has given up Boy Scout camp to go to family camp. He enjoys it more. I love it because I don't have to cook all week, among other things of course! The huge slip and slide is always a hit. We also have a country fair with free cotton candy, snowcones and popcorn. It just couldn't get any better! Unfortunately, it does get more expensive each year. I think we might be able to squeak one more year since we will be getting our tax return. The pictures I am showing are from a photographer in our church named Robert Brown. He takes the greatest pictures!

Quotes to Ponder...

I have been typing up quotes I would like to remember. The list is getting pretty big! I thought I would share them with you all. Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.
- Shira Tehrani


Know your limits...but never stop trying to exceed them.
- Anonymous

Be wise in the use of time. The question in life is not how much time do we have. The question is what shall we do with it.
- Anna Robertson Brown, author

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-Robert Frost

You must be careful how you walk and where you go, for there are those following you who will set their feet where yours are set.
- Robert E. Lee, Civil War General

The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up.
- John Maxwell, author and public speaker

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like
work.~Thomas Edison

Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged.- Helen Keller


The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.
- Albert Ellis


Never look down on anybody unless you are helping him up.
- Jesse Jackson

Don't be afraid to give your best at what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.
- Dale Carnegie

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and , with the help of God, I will do." ~Everett Hale, American author

You can complain because roses have thorns. Or you can rejoice that thorns have roses.
- Ziggy

If you think twice before speaking once, you will speak twice the better for it.
- William Penn

Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?
- Anonymous

The future comes one day at a time.
- Dean Acheson

Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible; the ninety-nine will read the Christian. ~ D.L. Moody


There are two ways to spread light; to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.
- Edith Wharton


A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.
-D.L. Moody

Powerful story...

The Room...
By Josh Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked" I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched", I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me.. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door.. There were still cards to be written.

Spanish anyone?

We went to Mexico as a family on a mission trip the summer before last. We had the greatest time. We camped all the way down and back. It truly was incredible. We hope to go down this summer as well.

My problem has been trying to learn Spanish. I have tapes, flash cards, computer programs, but nothing seems to work. My sister just gave me this web address: www.livemocha.com It seems to be really great! It is free and you can learn quite a few languages. My first impressions of it, is it is like Rosetta Stone. I have done the first lesson, and I am seeming to understand it. They also have a chat thing where you can help others learn English by chatting with them. I chatted with someone from an Arabic country this morning. It was interesting. It is only for adults or kids over 13. My kids have just been looking over my shoulder and learning with me. Hopefully by this summer I will be able to speak a bit to the Mexican people we meet. That would be cool. I'll keep trying!

Ugly feet.

Feet. They truly are very ugly. I think my feet are uglier than most. I don't like to have people touch my feet. I have never had a pedicure and hope never to either.

We were blessed by Starlight Starbright foundation with a night at the Embassy Suites Hotel. It really was beautiful. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera, so I don't have any pictures. They had tropical plants and waterfalls and streams going through the lobby. Even the swimming pool had a waterfall flowing into it.

My husband and I went to the Cystic Fibrosis conference in Seattle all day Saturday. Meanwhile, Josiah and his cousin went to a youth conference and my sister watched the other three kids. When the conference was over, we drove back home to pick up the family and then drove back to Lynnwood to stay in the hotel. It was a lot of driving! When we got to the hotel, we went swimming in the pool. Poor Joshua accidentally forgot his swim trunks at home on the couch. He had to sit forlornly on the side of the pool while the rest of us swam. It was pretty sad.

So why did I start this entry with feet? Well, we did a foot washing time in our room. We read about how Jesus was a servant even though He is the King of Kings. He took the part of a lowly servant and washed the disciples feet. By the end of the night we each had our feet washed five times! I can tell you it certainly was the most giggly foot washing ceremony I have ever seen! We definitely have tickly feet!!
I'm not sure if they got the fact that they should try and serve each other, but I know that it will certainly be a memory they'll never forget! lol. Actually, they are great kids, they do try and help each other out quite a bit.

On Sunday morning we were able to attend the Starlight Starbright event, "Jewelers and Sundaes". We were treated to a chocolate fountain! Yummmm. We also had ice cream sundaes. Then the kids were able to make bracelets with beautiful glass beads. Joshua gave me one. I love it! They also were able to plant seeds and make "stained glass" window things. (Can't think about what they are called.) It was a really fun weekend. I think we all went home with a belly ache though! Too many good treats!

It's Here! It's Here! It's Here! It's Here!

Yay!! I went out to my garden today and the flowers are starting to bloom! I must be having a brain fade today. I can't remember what the little purple flowers with the white are called. Can you identify them?



I have one single daffodil starting to bloom and my heather is in full bloom. I love spring. I know, I know, I'm in a bit of denial since I had to scrape the ice off my windshield this morning. But the crocuses have bloomed (Hey! I remembered the name of the flower! Aren't you proud of me? ;-))

I wish I could use the cool little faces that I can use on other boards here. I would be using my clap smilie and my hopping smilie. I suppose someone would know how to use them in their blog. Do you? If so, help!

Have a great Spring day! I'm walking with a spring in my step today!

Test results!

I just got the kid's test results back. They did great! Most of their scores were way above grade level. There are a couple of things we need to work on, which as I said before, I already knew. It just confirms the fact that homeschooling is working. Now I'm pumped to finish this year off with a bang! Yay team!! Great job guys!

Yay! Another Devouring Reader!!

My 3rd grader has been such a reluctant reader. I remember the other boys going through this too. For Josiah, the Captain Underpants stories got him going. :blush: I'm sorry, but I just can't stand Captain Underpants! Yuck!!!! So, I flung boogied all of them. Joshua just finally picked up a book and starting reading. I don't remember which book it was though. Now Joseph is devouring books! :clap: He has been reading the Magic Tree house series. He read the first book in a couple of hours.

I'm so excited! He finally sees that reading is wonderful!! I'm doing a happy dance here.:D Three devouring readers and one more to go!