At the airport waiting to go to San Jose. Shad is bugging me to check his email. Can't a person write a blog note without any interruption? Guess not.

This is the only trip we have ever been on with just the two of us. I am happy about it and excited as to what awaits.

I will update more later.

The wind is blowing like crazy right now. It is kind of cool.

The dog got to go on a field trip today to grandma's house. She fell into the pool twice before realizing that she just can't walk on water. It was fun to watch but my girls freaked out thinking she would drown. I told them it is called the "doggie paddle" for a reason. Although, not all dogs can swim. I realize this, but I believe ours can now.

No lookers on the house as of yet, so I am getting a little worried. We did have a couple of people look at the car though. It would be great to have all three things taken care of before we go to San Fran, however, I just can't stress over it. Too many other things going on.

I was reading about how as a Christian I am supposed to be honoring God by using my spiritual gifts to help others. What is your take on how to find out about your gifts? Someone gave me a test to take, but who made it and how do they know if it is correct? And what other way is there to find out what they are besides asking others?

I also read that if you have questions, you should find the answers in the Bible. Because I have not read much of it, how do I know where to go to find the answers?

It is all so corn-fuzing but so simple at the same time.

I used to have a stuffed animal puppy dog when I was little. It was my favorite, and I took it with me almost every place I went. At about the age of 12 my father took it from me because he was afraid I would keep it until I was 20. Well, at the ripe old age of 34 I just went out and bought me a Snoopy stuffed animal. How do you like me now pop?!?!? I am taking it with me every place I go, and I sleep with it in my arms. He is cool and very acrobatic. Snoopy rocks!!

I am sitting here thinking, wow, this house is bigger than we thought. That is because we took out all of the crap we had, now I can really see just how much crap we have that we don't need. Living with less is nice. Living with less with Shad will be torture. Okay, not really. Well, it might be. He is very much into his stuff.

So the house is for sale, the car is for sale, and the TV is sold!!!!!!!(I am so very happy about the last one.)

So we leave for Maryland in another week and I am so excited because we get to go to the White House while we are in DC and we get to go inside and check it out. My kids are going to love it! They are so excited about it.

Hey Amy, I am going to Trader Joes, anything you need? I have a box ready to send out to you! Just name it and I will send it if it is poss.

Peace and love to you today!

This has been one hell of a weekend. My in-law family was here all weekend helping me get this house ready to sell. What a huge blessing that has been. I couldn't have done it without them. I am not done, but things are way better. I really didn't know that this would cause so much stress, but it has been very stressful. I wish Shad was here to help.

Thinking about anything other than moving and selling and cleaning has been almost impossible. This has been a fly away month so far and the excitement is just getting started. We still have a trip to Maryland to prepare for, then finding a home in San Fran will not be easy, however I am looking forward to the changes ahead.

God is awesome.

It's alright

Our house is for sale, our car is for sale, and our TV is for sale. We have to down size to fit in a smaller living space in a larger city. I don't really understand it either. I am willing to play along though.

It is all about tests and trust

The study I am doing is pretty cool. I was a little critical of it at first, but I am really learning a lot. Like it isn't all about me, at all. It is all about God, and I need to be thinking about what the driving forces in my life are. Like is it greed, or envy or the longing for acceptance? How about anger or fear? And have you ever thought about how we are only a blink in this life? But did you forget that God wants us to live forever in eternity with him? I honestly never really thought about it all that much. I was always too busy worrying about me in the here and now. And the thought that God is always testing us, and has trusted us with all of His creations. Wow, never thought about it that way either. I mean, I know we are tested at times, but never thought about it all being a test in this life for the next. And God trusts me? Whoa!

I listened to 1 Corinth. Last night and heard a lot of what I needed to hear about some of my issues. The one that stuck out big time was when it said that we will always be tempted, but God will always give us a way out. Think about it, every time you have been tempted, there was always another way to go and although we might not have made the better choice, God was right there by our sides seeing what we would do. That's kind of freaky. Like he is always watching us and stuff.

And the craziest part? He loves us anyway, no matter the choices that we make. Even when we do the really stupid things.

Anyway, I just wanted to share what was on my brain today. Hope your day is filled with the constant reminder of Gods love for you.

Memories

I remember taking my tent out in my backyard and finding a nice flat spot in the dirt, setting it up and playing in it all day and night. Well, until the dog pissed on it and I had to go find a hose to wash it off with. That part sucked, but the rest was very cool. Of course I was by myself, but I had a lot of fun anyway.

Tonight, my girls are sleeping in the backyard, in a tent, in the rain. Funny, because as soon as they started telling me how they wanted to get a tent so they could sleep outside, I couldn't say no. I remembered my adventure and couldn't deny them the experience and fun. I mean, life is uncertain, and things happen. Why not live a little? I am tempted to go out there and sleep with them, however I want them to have the time to be together. Mackenzie said that when the lightning pops and the thunder roars, they hug until it is safe. Earlier I heard them wrestling. God is so awesome.

40 days

I started a study today, the 40 days of purpose study. It is all I can do to not read on to tomorrows chapter. I know that this is a good thing for me, having to wait. I tend to get going on a book and move so fast that I end up not getting all that I could out of it. So, I will take it one day at a time.

Yesterday was my last day of billing. Sad, but good. I need this time to get things in order for our move. It will all happen very fast, and there are so many things to do.

I am off to make smoothies with the girls. Blessings to you today.

I didn't go to the concert. I am still not over this sick thing completely so I figure I better behave.

The weather is beautiful these days. It was a great day yesterday and we spent most of it outside. My favorite part of the day was watching my girls try to hoola-hoop and Mackenzie kept having to stop because it tickled her ribs too much.

Today we will have some school lessons, and then probably end up outside for a while. I can't wait to see what will happen today. It seems like every day is an adventure and something happens either good or bad out of the norm. What will it be today? God is so awesome.

Know you are blessed.

It seems weird to me how bad things make us change. Why does it have to be that way? Being sick for so long, and in bed for so long has changed me. I am finally feeling better and all I want to do is be outside, eating veggies and fruits and enjoying God's creations.


I started out my day by wanting to go buy cleaning supplies and ended up at Floyd Lamb State Park talking to the birds and reading all about Tule Springs. Then, after finally going to buy my cleaning supplies, I decided to go to the Farmer's Market up the street, bought peaches, and ate some fresh, grilled corn on the cob. I was tired and needed to go home and take a rest, but I just couldn't stop being outside. They had this really awesome grey and white three legged cat that was just the coolest little guy ever. He was very playful and up for adoption. I would have taken him home in a second, but realized that our dog would probably eat him.

So, now I am home and wishing I was outside, but realizing that there is a lot here to do. Oh, for my birthday, by best friend got me tickets to see Motley Crew with back stage passes. Will I go? Should I? ..................

Happy Birthday

It is the frickin pneumonia.

But, I am doing alright and today is my birthday and I am going to do something special. Maybe I will have some soup. MMMMmmmmm soup.

I woke up feeling a bit sore. Funny, I thought, to be sore when I haven't even worked out yet. Then I went to take in a deep breath to stretch and that is when I felt the sickness deep down in my chest. I didn't want to believe it so I ignored it for a whole day, but finally last night I came to realize that I am getting sick. It better not be that frickin pneumonia.

This morning I woke up at 6am because I just couldn't sleep any more. My body hurt too much. However, I took 800mg of Motrin and I am feeling pretty good now. I still see a quick care visit in my future.

Nap time


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

What the....!

So we get to have a visit this weekend from Shad. He comes in Friday night and leaves Sunday. Quick but needed. Then it is another month. :(

He then graduates in November, and right after that we go to find a house, then right after that the movers get here and we are gone. Like, just that fast! How does it all come together? How does it work out? Only God knows. Our date to be gone is Dec. 12.

Crazy shit.

In the mean time I am trying to get things packed up and cleaned up and moved out so we can be ready. I need to paint some and will be doing that hopefully tomorrow. Want to come over and paint? Right!

So life has been crazy, and I am trying to do school and be active in our group, but it has been hard. My baby is feeling much better and that has helped. My baby, okay so she is 7 and that realy doesn't count as being a baby, but she will always be my baby so get over it.

I miss my church family. I have been so crazy that I am not connecting with them as I should. And it is going to suck when we leave you all.

We need prayer. And I need help with this stinking house.

Blessings to you all.

Pneumonia

Yep, Kenzie has it and my poor baby had to get a shot in the ass. It hurt her and she cried and that just sucked. I wanted to slap the nurse at first, but then remembered when I had a job like hers. It sucks to be the one to have to deliver bad news or have to stab someone with a needle.

So, after a full day at the doctors, we finally got to come home. I have another week of activities to cancel, and a mountain of laundry to do to make sure we all don't get sick. Not to mention the fact that I am trying to sort through things and store things and move shit and find a house in a place I have never been to, do a job I can hardly concentrate on, all while teaching my children something everyday so we don't fall behind in school. Yep, I am totally dumping my crap all over this thing. Sometimes you just have to throw up all of the shit on your mind. Did I mention that I broke a toe? I know, whaaaaaah!

Good things: we have made some progress on the rooms upstairs, we have narrowed down the areas we need to be looking for a house in, and Shad will be here in less than two weeks for a visit. Hey Zack, if you are out there, PLEASE BUY OUR TV SO I CAN FIX UP MY LIVING ROOM!!!! PLEASE!!!!! and I just know that there are a lot of you out there who would love to come over and do some painting with me right?

On other news, well, I don't have a whole lot of other news. Just whinning and a longing for a night out.

Love to all

Crappy week

I have had to cancel all of the things we have had planned this week because Mackenzie is sick. And, I am a stress case these days. There is a lot in my life that I don't share with my friends. I should. Maybe.

So I am off to find storage containers and boxes and such. I have a ton to do with this house and am not getting enough done. I make to many plans with good intentions, and then act horribly on them. I just have to remember that I can't do everything and I can't please everyone. I just have to take one day at a time.

Our new additions to the family...

Welcome Little Baby and Tiny to our family. They are the girls new turtles that just arrived home tonight. They are so small, and cute.

Oh, right, don't tell Shad because he doesn't know yet. It's kind of like a surprise!!!!!

If you know me and live around here and have kids who would like to come over and take a look, let me know. This has been a great education for my kids and has caused them to have to work together. I am loving it.

Some turtle facts that we learned:
The shell is made out of bone. It is an external skeleton. There are tons of different kinds, some that look very funky. They need warmth, water and eat all kinds of veggies. You shouldn't keep a turtle in a glass tank without covering three of the four sides, otherwise the turtle doesn't feel safe and some have been known to smack their heads into the glass enough to hurt. Turtle insanity!!! You can measure the growth of your turtle by tracing it on a piece of paper every month. You can also almost tell how old a turtle is by counting the rings on its scutes. Scutes are the sections of the outer shell. They are ectothermic, or cold-blooded.

Like I said, we learned a lot.

Slow

Could this week go any slower?

Here we go.....

He made it there safe and sound. That takes a load off of my mind. Now the fun part begins.

So the tv is off and the girls are reading and writing and having fun. I am enjoying this because the tv is usually on all of the time in this house. It is going to be a quiet four weeks.

Taking some time to myself before Shad has to leave. There is a lot to do in the next three months so I am trying to get things done a little every day. It's hard to believe that we will be living in San Francisco before Christmas. I am excited though.

We took a walk to the Orchard the other day and we found the largest zucchini I have ever seen and it cost me a whopping $0.40!!!! I love that place!

So the girls start school this week officially and I am so very glad that we don't have to fall into the whole "Back to school Sale" crap. What a rip off. Let's jack our prices up and then knock them down to what they would be if you bought them for full price so you feel like you are getting a deal. I have to admit that we do go out and buy up all of the crayons and markers we can find though. Okay, I am sad.

Because we are moving, we have to learn the new Home Schooling rules for California. They seem to me easy, but in such a liberal state, I am going to find some back up in the way of HSLDA as they seem to have a home schoolers back when in need.

I have to thank Amy for introducing me to home schooling. It brought MacKenzie and I together, and has just made my relationship so much better with my kids. I used to yell, and get frustrated and have melt downs, but now I listen, they listen, we communicate. Hailey tells me everything and I mean everything. They ask questions about everything and are interested in learning about all that they can. I love that! I learn along with them and we get to experience so much together. I know it isn't for everyone, but I sometimes think and wish it could be. One day they are all grown up and living their own lives away from us. I want to take advantage of the time I have with my children. I want to develop the best relationships I can with them before they are grown. It isn't always a cake walk, but mostly it is. Praise God for home schooling!

I will stop my soap box now. Time to fold some laundry. Oh Joy!

I can do it!!!!!

So grandma has to go to the doctor today and guess who volunteered? Yep, I bet you would too if your grandma asked you to cut her toe nails. I took one look and said, "Gram, you need a toe doctor, not a grand-daughter."

Anyone want to buy a big screen TV for $2000? Please!?

I bought my girls some Bright Minds books for school. They rock! Great for home schoolers and in schoolers a like.

Today we have already learned about Vikings, and now we are about to do some loving on the grandma. Then it is going to be music practice, math, and critical thinking.

Holy crap, look at the time! I have to go!