Let our summer begin......

At last, the clock hit 1:00 p.m. and that meant one thing....SCHOOL'S OUT for summer. YES!! I have listened to my little man chirp in the van all the way to the grocery store that he is now a first grader. He is so thrilled to be out of school. He made his mommy proud today in school. I went to watch the end of the year awards ceremony at his school and was pleasantly surprised that he received two awards today. One was an Art Certificate for exhibiting self-discipline, cooperation, respect, responsibility, and appreciation for art during the 2011-2012 school year. What is funny about this is his big sissy, Arin, received the same award when she was a kindergartener. He, also, received the Citizenship Award which is presented for consistently exhibiting Good Citizenship throughout the 2011-12 school year. What an achievement for my little man. Here are some pictures of his last day at school...

This is Kenneth receiving his award from the art teacher.

This is Kenneth with his absolutely wonderful Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Cash. The school year ended well for my darling daughter, Arin as well. She came home with two awards herself. One is for being a SIX time Challenge Champion. The second was a Science Achievement Certificate for earning Straight A's the entire school year. Quite an achievement especially since she had to deal with the grading scale being much different in Middle School. So both my babies are content to be out of school for summer. Arin has already found her perch in front of the TV for the afternoon. Kenneth on the other hand has been busy between playing outside and playing in his room. As for me....I have been uploading pictures and bragging about my children's accomplishments for the school year on Facebook. So as of today it is just me and my babies at home for the summer. What will we do with all our time? Well, next week we will be making our first weekly trip to the library. We have to keep reading this summer and perhaps we will be able to participate in some of the activities the library has planned for the summer. Arin and I will be going to Washington DC next Saturday with Girl Scout for the Rock the Mall event to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. After that we will just enjoy being outside. Trust me there is LOTS of gardening and weed pulling to do in the garden already. There is also LOTS of yard work to do as well. And I have LOTS of projects I want to get done this summer...the first being getting ORGANIZED and getting rid of lots of unused stuff at a yard sale my sister and I will have in a few weeks. Well, better go for now. I do have some laundry to fold and then of course it will be about dinner time. Until next time....may your heart be merry and your day be blessed:)

I'm back....I promise!

Okay, so I am back! Did you miss me?? It seems as though I have been on this never ending roller coaster ride since the middle of April. For a while it seemed as though I was just drifting along through time with no clear direction. But at last, I have gotten things personally and within our household back under control and on track. Big big sigh of relief. For an organized person who likes to be in control of things it is hard when things seem to be spiraling out of control. So, what has been happening, you ask? Well, I was diagnosed with the onset of Diabetes in April. Bummer, right? I will not complain because it could be worse. So the adventure of a new lifestyle for me and my family has begun. Actually, the only real change was from sugar to an artificial sweetener. We already were eating whole grain breads and pastas. I had to begin taking a a small dose of Metformin and checking my glucose level twice a day. No biggie for me but OH how it makes my daddy cringe if he is around! I guess the hardest part was accepting the reality that you are Diabetic...as the doctor said, "This is not going to go away. This is a lifestyle change." I was instructed to exercise more and loose 10 pounds. The doctor gave me 4 months to loose the weight. That is doable, right!?! The good news is 6 weeks later...all is well! I have accepted being Diabetic. I have been educating my hubby and the rest of the family on what I can and can not eat, and YES I have lost nine pounds already. Even better than that is I am feeling better, sleeping better, think more clearly and have more energy. I would say that is a win, wouldn't you? I am determined to take control of my health. Diabetes will not beat me, but with God's help it will make me healthier. Let's see... dealing with all that and wrapping my head around my health issues left me floundering with work and running the household. It seemed like my sink was always full of dirty dishes, the laundry never got folded, and I had too much to do to get ready for the Spring concert for WRE. I am happy to report....things are running smoothly around here now. Once I started feeling better everything began to fall back into place again. I regained control!! YEAH!! I, also, survived my first Spring concert as the Bible teacher. Anyone who knows me knows that standing in front of a big group of adult TERRIFIES me! But thankfully, with God's help I did it. Also, I didn't have to talk that much since the President of the Board of Director's wanted to introduce me...wasn't that nice of him? With one concert under my belt I am good and optimistic that next year's concert will be even better! I have since then finished my last week of teaching for this school year and closed up both of my classrooms. I have all summer to plan for next year and all summer to spend with my two kiddos. I am excited...even though I have been home since Arin turned 3 I have always had other children other than my own to babysit. This summer it will be just me, Kenneth, and Arin. What will we do with all that time? It is hard to believe but tomorrow is the LAST day of school for both Arin and Kenneth. Just where did the time go? The kids are excited and yes I am too! No more alarm clocks to be set after tomorrow morning. Now if the dogs will let me I will be sleeping in past 6:30.I do not actually believe this will happen being that I am usually up before my alarm these days. I figure it will be good quiet time for me. I will be able to sit on my front porch, read my daily devotion, and focus my day through prayer and reflection. So do you have any big plans for your summer? I would love to know how you and your families will be spending your time this summer. I guess that is it for today...I need to get dinner on the plates for my munchkins and there are a few dishes in the sink to be washed! Until next time...may your heart be merry and your day be blessed. :)

Recall Notice

I received this in am email from a friend this morning.....and just HAD to share! RECALL NOTICE: The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been identified as "Sub sequential Internal Non-morality," more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some of the symptoms include: 1. Loss of direction 2. Foul vocal emissions 3. Amnesia of origin 4. Lack of peace and joy 5. Selfish or violent behavior 6. Depression or confusion 7. Fearfulness 8. Idolatry 9. Rebellion The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Gentleness 9. Self control Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes. WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus. DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention! - GOD P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'! Because HE Lives! Until next time...may your heart be merry and your day be blessed:)

Spring has sprung....

What a beautiful week this has been. The sun has been shining at least until today. Rain, Rain, and more rain in the forecast for today. Doesn't ruin my plans so I will not complain. I plan on "Spring" cleaning my brick room (the room where the woodstove resides) to remove all the dust, cobwebs, and general yuck that burning wood creates. Also, Vernon is preparing to leave to go pick up our 1/4 of beef. So today will be a good day whether it is raining or the sun is shining!:)

This was an especially exciting week since thankfully our garden has been plowed! YEAH! I am doing a happy dance. There is nothing more exciting than freshly plowed dirt. Take a look for yourself...



Truly this excites me because now I am dreaming of garden fresh produce...tomatoes, cucumbers and corn OH MY....potatoes, onions and peppers...and let us not forget the carrots, lettuce and squash. You can see my shadow in the next picture as I stand in Aww....of my garden to be dreaming of what will be in a few short months!



The smell and look of this freshly tilled earth makes me want to plant things....but not yet the soil is too damp. But soon very soon onions, broccoli, and potatoes will be going in the ground. Until then I just may go buy a few flowers to plant...just so I can get my hands in the dirt!! Can you tell this is my FAVORITE time of year!!

As I am sure you guys have noticed I have not been blogging as much but I am still around. I have "unplugged" so to speak. I have been trying to limit my computer time and spend more quality time with my kiddos. I am trying to only be on the computer when they are outside, school or sleeping. I am leading by example that family is more important than technology. I hope you understand. My goal is to at least post a blog once a week. Things around here will be slowing down some as some of our church activities will be coming to a close until September. Which means one thing....more time at HOME! I love being at HOME!

Well the brick room is calling and the freezer needs to be cleaned out for all the beef that is coming.

Until next time....may your heart be merry and your day be blessed! :)

The New Pledge of Allegiance???

I received this email from my mother-in-love this morning and thought I would share... Thankfully I will be going to share the word of GOD with my students who are enrolled in weekday religious education. I love love love that they are so happy to see the Bible Teacher. I send my praises to this student who wrote the New Pledge of Allegiance.


Since the Pledge of Allegiance
And
The Lord's Prayer
Are not allowed in most
Public schools anymore
Because the word 'God' is mentioned.....
A kid in Arizona wrote the attached
NEW School prayer:
"New Pledge of Allegiance"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

Until next time...may your heart be merry and your day be blessed:)

"What Can I Do?"

What can I do? The only thing I feel like doing on a day like today is Praising my God and savior and thanking him. I had a student ask for a Bible today to take home so that he could read it. Of course, I let him pick the Bible he wanted on the self. I will add this is one of those kids that tests his limits often in class. He can be a distraction. In fact, the last time I was at his school he spent two days in In School suspension. When walking this child back to the school I reminded him that the Bible was a special book and asked him to take very special care of it. He seemed very eager to get it home so he could READ! He promised he would bring it back the next time we had WRE. He even added that God would know if he did not return it. I asked him then if he had a Bible of his own at home. Of course, you know the answer..."No!" So, I told him to keep the Bible so he could read it. I only asked that he promise to take good care of it. After asking if I was serious he promised he would...he had the BRIGHTEST and BIGGEST smile on his face as he went back to his class. Is God working in this child's life? I would say YES, wouldn't you? I ask you pray for this child. Perhaps he is trying to find his way....I like to think that he is anyway. So it was a good day for this Bible teacher. To see the glimmer in the eye of one who was actually listening at least today and is seeking God's word! A WIN for that moment!!

I am sharing this song because I love this song. It was part of our worship service this past Sunday.

Until next time....may your heart be merry and your day be blessed:)

Creamy Corn Chowder

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this soup... as far as comfort food this ranks at the top of my list. What is better is that we always have leftovers for the next day and the soup gets even better.

Creamy Corn Chowder

Ingredients:
2 small potatoes diced
2 stalks of celery diced
2 carrots diced
1 medium onion diced
2 cans corn, drained
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
3-4 Tablespoons of flour
3 Tablespoon of butter
1/2 to 1 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Step 1: Diced all the vegies....


Step 2: melt butter...


Step 3: Saute vegies (except corn) in butter until tender(about 10 minutes) season with salt, pepper & garlic powder...


Step 4: Now add corn, stir then add flour and stir...let flour coat the vegies...


Step 5: Add chicken broth and bring to a boil to allow flour to thicken the broth...


Step 6: reduce heat to simmer or medium low for about 10 minutes...


Step 7: Stir in 1 cup of whipping cream...


Step 8: Allow to simmer on stove for 10-15 minutes....and then ENJOY!


I usually serve this with either a salad or biscuits. Last night we had soup with cheese Quesadillas....and it was ever so YUMMY!

Well, I am off to put banana muffins away that have been cooling on the counter and cut up homemade granola bars for the kiddos to enjoy for snack. I hope you are enjoying your Saturday, I sure am....it is almost four and I am still in my pajamas...:)

Until next time...may your heart be merry and your day be blessed:)