The longest week in my household is the one right before we go to visit family. Everyone in my house loves to make the trip 2 hours south to visit our extended family. It is where all the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins are. Where we can visit with everyone, share memories, make new ones, and just have fun.
So in my house, for the kids and I that trip is a much anticipated one. Time never seems to drag on as slowly as it does when the visit is in sight. We scheme, negotiate and work harder, so that we can make the departure just a little bit earlier.
The next trip is just over a week away! We haven't seen our families since September. That is a long stretch, as I try to make it down once a month or so. It will be hectic and busy and full of visiting and eating and fun! I think we have it worked so that we will get everyone in.
So here is wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with love, laughter, family, friends! May this be the shortest week for us all so that we can get to the good stuff!
11.14.2009
11.04.2009
The Boy Scout Journey
WOW! That is all I have to say... thanks. Okay Okay I will explain.
As you all know Joseph has been in scouts for 6 years now, he went through cub scouts from Wolf to Webelo II and earned his Arrow of Light. He also earned every Webelo pin that you can earn and he worked hard for his awards. Of course as any cub scout parent will tell you, they work just as hard with their boys for those awards. They plan events, meet dens to carry out camping, hiking, attend meetings, and generally steer their boys in the right direction.
In March of 2009 Joseph crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. The first meeting we attended I noticed something significant, there were no other Moms. Well I mean to say that the Webelo scout Mom's were the only ones that were there. We lined up against the wall in chairs and prepared to watch our "big" boys do boy scoutly things! We were proud, excited, we watched with great anticipation..........CHAOS ensued. 20 or so boys from ages 11-18 piled into the room, they were noisy, pushing, laughing, rough housing. The room came to attention twice that night, once for the opening and once for the closing. The boys were reverent and respectful during the pledge, and the prayer. Other than that I couldn't figure out what was going on, if anything.
I have since learned that in spite of what I see and hear, things are happening, maybe not what you would expect but the boys are changing. Bonds are forming and friendships are growing and it spans the age groups of the boys there. The older boys direct the younger ones. The transition from Cub Scouts has been a big one. We Moms are used to getting the boys in line and directing what they do and keeping them on track. They don't need us for that any more! It is amazing that a Mom can say 10 times, "put down the screw driver, don't poke it at people" and the activity never stops. All it takes is once from one of the older scouts and the screwdriver goes down.
With all this said, I love Scouts. I have enjoyed getting to know the other parents, I have enjoyed getting to know the boys. I have never met a better group of boys than those in our Troop and I am biased. So in August when we went out to help with an Eagle project at a local park, I was really excited to hear Joseph say that he did want to pursue his Eagle rank. I was equally sad to hear Joseph tell me that he wasn't going to make any exceptions with regards to observing the Sabbath in order to attend any scout events.
The Eagle path presents different challenges in our family due to the no work or other play on the Sabbath. Most all Boy Scout events occur on a Sabbath, and there is a book full of things that you need to do to reach your Eagle rank which are mostly occurring on the Sabbath. So when the last camp out came around and Joseph didn't attend because of the Sabbath, he and I had a talk. We discussed whether or not it was going to be worth it to continue down the Scout path.
To make a long story a little bit shorter, we decided with the help of our ScoutMaster, that I would attempt to help him get where he needs be on this path to Eagle by volunteering to lead events not on the Sabbath. Since we have a few boys who are homeschooled I am hoping that this will work out well.
My first event is coming up. I am planning a camping trip for the Monday of the week of Thanksgiving. All the boys are out of school that week so it seems like the perfect time to get an overnight event in. I am searching for camp sites, trying to find adult volunteers so I have 2 deep leadership, and imagining what in the world I am going to do with these boys during this camp! Brian has to work because he is furloughed later that week, so I am doing this one on my own!
I hope you will all be praying for me as I will need it!!!! A LOT!!!!
My upcoming blogs will most likely be about scouts and this crazy journey, so stay tuned.
As you all know Joseph has been in scouts for 6 years now, he went through cub scouts from Wolf to Webelo II and earned his Arrow of Light. He also earned every Webelo pin that you can earn and he worked hard for his awards. Of course as any cub scout parent will tell you, they work just as hard with their boys for those awards. They plan events, meet dens to carry out camping, hiking, attend meetings, and generally steer their boys in the right direction.
In March of 2009 Joseph crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. The first meeting we attended I noticed something significant, there were no other Moms. Well I mean to say that the Webelo scout Mom's were the only ones that were there. We lined up against the wall in chairs and prepared to watch our "big" boys do boy scoutly things! We were proud, excited, we watched with great anticipation..........CHAOS ensued. 20 or so boys from ages 11-18 piled into the room, they were noisy, pushing, laughing, rough housing. The room came to attention twice that night, once for the opening and once for the closing. The boys were reverent and respectful during the pledge, and the prayer. Other than that I couldn't figure out what was going on, if anything.
I have since learned that in spite of what I see and hear, things are happening, maybe not what you would expect but the boys are changing. Bonds are forming and friendships are growing and it spans the age groups of the boys there. The older boys direct the younger ones. The transition from Cub Scouts has been a big one. We Moms are used to getting the boys in line and directing what they do and keeping them on track. They don't need us for that any more! It is amazing that a Mom can say 10 times, "put down the screw driver, don't poke it at people" and the activity never stops. All it takes is once from one of the older scouts and the screwdriver goes down.
With all this said, I love Scouts. I have enjoyed getting to know the other parents, I have enjoyed getting to know the boys. I have never met a better group of boys than those in our Troop and I am biased. So in August when we went out to help with an Eagle project at a local park, I was really excited to hear Joseph say that he did want to pursue his Eagle rank. I was equally sad to hear Joseph tell me that he wasn't going to make any exceptions with regards to observing the Sabbath in order to attend any scout events.
The Eagle path presents different challenges in our family due to the no work or other play on the Sabbath. Most all Boy Scout events occur on a Sabbath, and there is a book full of things that you need to do to reach your Eagle rank which are mostly occurring on the Sabbath. So when the last camp out came around and Joseph didn't attend because of the Sabbath, he and I had a talk. We discussed whether or not it was going to be worth it to continue down the Scout path.
To make a long story a little bit shorter, we decided with the help of our ScoutMaster, that I would attempt to help him get where he needs be on this path to Eagle by volunteering to lead events not on the Sabbath. Since we have a few boys who are homeschooled I am hoping that this will work out well.
My first event is coming up. I am planning a camping trip for the Monday of the week of Thanksgiving. All the boys are out of school that week so it seems like the perfect time to get an overnight event in. I am searching for camp sites, trying to find adult volunteers so I have 2 deep leadership, and imagining what in the world I am going to do with these boys during this camp! Brian has to work because he is furloughed later that week, so I am doing this one on my own!
I hope you will all be praying for me as I will need it!!!! A LOT!!!!
My upcoming blogs will most likely be about scouts and this crazy journey, so stay tuned.
9.28.2009
Wondering
Wow I just noticed that I haven't blogged here in nearly a month. I have had such a busy month that I didn't even notice. I have two blogs and this month on my crafting blog I have been featuring a new artist every day (or so). It has been quite a challenge to get that all together, but it has been a lot of fun to see all the really amazing things that people do. To witness the great gifts that GOD has given them. I have found things I would love to be able to create, and those that I think are beautiful but I wouldn't touch the creative process.
Check out that blog if you get a chance. I have a great time writing it: http://www.jenjiescraftystuff.blogspot.com
At any rate in the month of September we have had quite a lot to do. This month my Daddy turned 60 years old! We had a semi surprise party for him with a cook out at a local State Park where we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. It was a small and simple gathering that I enjoyed a lot, I hope he did. We tried very hard to make it a surprise for him, but it fell a little short of a true surprise party. It is difficult to keep things from Daddy.
At the party he mentioned that he read my blog, which isn't really surprising since I sent it to him to read :).... I think he was surprised to find that I had written about him in the past. I work really hard to write only things that are slightly witty and not hurtful. I hope that I didn't hurt his feelings in any way.
Homeschooling has been very busy this month. Lots of projects, experiments, new units. We have covered so much this year already and there is so much more to learn. We are all learning together and it is really a lot of fun!
We have also been very busy getting ready to leave for our trip to North Myrtle Beach. Every year we take a trip with the church my husband belongs to. This trip is to celebrate The Feast of Tabernacles. We will be at the beach for 12 days and I couldn't be more excited! I love the beach. Since I have begin working from home I have found that I am a water person. I love to sit by, in, around running or moving water. It makes me feel centered and cleansed. It quites all my stress and I love it. I could sit by the river while my family trout fishes, just letting the water run over me , the noise so loud that I can't hear anything else. The beach is the same way, as soon as I can hear the waves crashing I am instantly in another place. I can hardly wait to put my toes in the sand and hear those waves. The torture is driving 6 hours to get there and then having to lug all the stuff up to the room before I can run down to the sand.
Very excited about an upcoming event, Gold Rush Days. I never thought I would say that, it is like a craft show on crack. The last time I went to Gold Rush Days it was so crowded you couldn't walk, the crowd carried you along. So why am I excited this year. Well for one we will be in town, and two other reasons. Genevieve is clogging on Sunday. I am so excited to see her clog with the other girls her age. Joseph is working a booth with his Scout Troop making Ice Cream Floats and Boiled Peanuts. That should be lots of fun. I am hoping some of the family makes it up to see Genevieve clog. This is the first time she has had this type of performance and she has been practicing very hard. She is so adorable!
Well I hope you guys have a great couple of weeks. I will try to post some from the beach depending on how things go.
Check out that blog if you get a chance. I have a great time writing it: http://www.jenjiescraftystuff.blogspot.com
At any rate in the month of September we have had quite a lot to do. This month my Daddy turned 60 years old! We had a semi surprise party for him with a cook out at a local State Park where we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. It was a small and simple gathering that I enjoyed a lot, I hope he did. We tried very hard to make it a surprise for him, but it fell a little short of a true surprise party. It is difficult to keep things from Daddy.
At the party he mentioned that he read my blog, which isn't really surprising since I sent it to him to read :).... I think he was surprised to find that I had written about him in the past. I work really hard to write only things that are slightly witty and not hurtful. I hope that I didn't hurt his feelings in any way.
Homeschooling has been very busy this month. Lots of projects, experiments, new units. We have covered so much this year already and there is so much more to learn. We are all learning together and it is really a lot of fun!
We have also been very busy getting ready to leave for our trip to North Myrtle Beach. Every year we take a trip with the church my husband belongs to. This trip is to celebrate The Feast of Tabernacles. We will be at the beach for 12 days and I couldn't be more excited! I love the beach. Since I have begin working from home I have found that I am a water person. I love to sit by, in, around running or moving water. It makes me feel centered and cleansed. It quites all my stress and I love it. I could sit by the river while my family trout fishes, just letting the water run over me , the noise so loud that I can't hear anything else. The beach is the same way, as soon as I can hear the waves crashing I am instantly in another place. I can hardly wait to put my toes in the sand and hear those waves. The torture is driving 6 hours to get there and then having to lug all the stuff up to the room before I can run down to the sand.
Very excited about an upcoming event, Gold Rush Days. I never thought I would say that, it is like a craft show on crack. The last time I went to Gold Rush Days it was so crowded you couldn't walk, the crowd carried you along. So why am I excited this year. Well for one we will be in town, and two other reasons. Genevieve is clogging on Sunday. I am so excited to see her clog with the other girls her age. Joseph is working a booth with his Scout Troop making Ice Cream Floats and Boiled Peanuts. That should be lots of fun. I am hoping some of the family makes it up to see Genevieve clog. This is the first time she has had this type of performance and she has been practicing very hard. She is so adorable!
Well I hope you guys have a great couple of weeks. I will try to post some from the beach depending on how things go.
9.09.2009
New Age Kids ?
This past weekend as we were hanging around the house, my son was watching a TV presentation by the church that they attend. In the middle of each production the church offers booklets to their viewers. There is no cost for these booklets and they are used by the members for bible study. Joseph decided that he wanted to request a couple of the booklets so he picked up the phone and begin to dial.....
I have to break right here to tell you how much this amazes me that my baby boy feels confident enough to pick up the phone, call a stranger, have a conversation and request something he wants.... Ok back to the story
Joseph is sitting there staring at the door holding the phone to his ear, while his Dad and I try our best not to be openly amused :)
Well he is sitting there for quite some time without speaking, so I said, are you on hold? Nope he responds. I said, "well is it ringing?" He looks at me and says " I guess so..... it is going. bumm, bumm, bumm really fast.
I couldn't help it I started laughing, I said "Joseph, that means the line is busy." He doesn't hang up.....he says " what does that mean?" WHAT!!!!! Has my child never heard a busy signal?
Then he looks over at me and says, "what do I do?." "Hang up Sweetie." I respond. " Well okay, when will they see the missed call and call me back?"..................Okay this is the point where I realize that my children have never dealt with the world that we lived in growing up and I felt really old!!!!!
I explained to him what a busy signal was, and that this was not a cellphone he was dealing with. I explained that he would actually call back until the line cleared and he would speak with someone. This was of course a foreign concept to my child. I realized he is entirely accustomed to to reaching whoever he wants as soon as he calls them, there are no busy signals, there is not a time when it is not okay to call. We have become such a society of open access that the ability to not connect who you want when you want is inconceivable!
Well I for one would not mind more busy signals and less open access. Constant contact isn't always the best thing!
I have to break right here to tell you how much this amazes me that my baby boy feels confident enough to pick up the phone, call a stranger, have a conversation and request something he wants.... Ok back to the story
Joseph is sitting there staring at the door holding the phone to his ear, while his Dad and I try our best not to be openly amused :)
Well he is sitting there for quite some time without speaking, so I said, are you on hold? Nope he responds. I said, "well is it ringing?" He looks at me and says " I guess so..... it is going. bumm, bumm, bumm really fast.
I couldn't help it I started laughing, I said "Joseph, that means the line is busy." He doesn't hang up.....he says " what does that mean?" WHAT!!!!! Has my child never heard a busy signal?
Then he looks over at me and says, "what do I do?." "Hang up Sweetie." I respond. " Well okay, when will they see the missed call and call me back?"..................Okay this is the point where I realize that my children have never dealt with the world that we lived in growing up and I felt really old!!!!!
I explained to him what a busy signal was, and that this was not a cellphone he was dealing with. I explained that he would actually call back until the line cleared and he would speak with someone. This was of course a foreign concept to my child. I realized he is entirely accustomed to to reaching whoever he wants as soon as he calls them, there are no busy signals, there is not a time when it is not okay to call. We have become such a society of open access that the ability to not connect who you want when you want is inconceivable!
Well I for one would not mind more busy signals and less open access. Constant contact isn't always the best thing!
8.17.2009
New beginnings
This weekend one half of my immediate family gathered to celebrate the marriage of my Daddy after 26 years of batchelorhood. He met his new bride a few years ago, but earlier this year they connected in a new way and begin to talk on the phone a great deal. In May they went on their first "date" and within a week my Daddy had managed to bring her around to meet all three of his children and our families. WOW were we blown away, Daddy doesn't bring women to meet us until they have been dating for quite a while. I believe their dinners and lunches with us were dates 3,4 and 5 or something really close to it. So being the overprotective children that we are, alarm bells begin to go off. I knew right off that this was a serious move, and even felt after a couple of phone conversations that a marriage was on the horizon. I think that there are still some on both sides of the family who are a little wary of the suddeness of this union. But one look at them together and you can see very clearly that they love each other. I for one pray all God's blessing over this union. I wish them all the happiness, peace, and love that their hearts can hold.
3 months later, almost 3 months to the day of their first date they wed this past weekend. It was a beautiful, sweet ceremony. After the vows they played "From this moment" by Shania Twain and as the music played, they sang very quitely to each other. I think for them there was no one else in the church at the time.
They are now in TN for several days to have a honeymoon. Then they will travel back to GA and learn to live together.....Lisa you are in my prayers on that one.
Soon I will blog on the process of planning and executing the reception....right now I still have wedding hang over.
3 months later, almost 3 months to the day of their first date they wed this past weekend. It was a beautiful, sweet ceremony. After the vows they played "From this moment" by Shania Twain and as the music played, they sang very quitely to each other. I think for them there was no one else in the church at the time.
They are now in TN for several days to have a honeymoon. Then they will travel back to GA and learn to live together.....Lisa you are in my prayers on that one.
Soon I will blog on the process of planning and executing the reception....right now I still have wedding hang over.
7.20.2009
Camping in Smokemont
Well we are back from camping in Cherokee, NC and I survived it. I actually had a great time. I love the mountains; the lush green trees and rambling rivers bring me a degree of relaxation that I only find there. I love to look up at the trees where the sun flows down through the leaves and to listen to the music of the water lull me into a trance like state.
The weekend started with us driving to the campground early on Thursday, we arrived around 12:30 pm and located a perfect spot right by the parking area and river. Our overly large tent would not fit on a tent pad so we spread out under a tree and begin to unpack all of our things. It took about 2 hours to get everything set up with sleeping tent and shade tent and grills and such. As we were setting up others begin to arrive and go through the same rituals we had just endured. By early evening we were all settled in and begin to socialize. It was an early night as we were all a bit tired from the packing and unpacking and setting up. About 1 am the rain begin to come down in sheets and thunder and lightening joined in. Inside the tent it sounded as if a monsoon had arrived, it was the first time I had ever been rained on while camping and I was amazed at how loud it was.
Friday morning begin overcast but that did not stop the kids from playing in the river and floating the whitewater. My son had a particularly great time floating down these falls and did it over and over again, his lips blue and his body trembling from the ice cold water.
My daughter, Genevieve, spent the day playing in the shallow water and "river walking" on the rocks. Friday night we attended a bible study under a large tent in the group camping area. It rained on us briefly but no harm done. After services we enjoyed the campfire and roasted marshmallows for s'mores. It was a late night and a cold one. One check of the thermometer registered 62 degrees, but with the breeze it was much colder. Since it was JULY, we didn't pack a lot of blankets, and by a lot I mean any..... so it was a very restless night trying to stay warm.
Saturday morning we awoke to a very chilly dawn, my son took off for his now daily ritual of bathing in the river. A bar of ivory soap and his swimsuit and he was off. He describes the experience as "better than a cup of expresso for waking you up". I have to agree. I had to bathe off there on Friday afternoon and it was very cold, but quite refreshing.
Sabbath services were at 2:00 pm so we cooked breakfast, prepared a salad for the fish fry that evening and got ourselves ready. A wonderful friend allowed Genevieve and I to bathe off in the shower of the camper that they brought. Such a sweet gesture that was really appreciated. The services went off without any rain and it was a informative bible study on the book of James. A nice fish fry was held after services and everyone ate well. The rest of the evening was spent talking, visiting, roasting marshmallows, playing ball, laughing and having a fabulous time. A super cold night again had all of us ready to head home the next day.
Sunday dawned damp and cold and we were up quickly to start breaking down the camp and getting ready to head home. The kids played in the center of the group area throwing balls and playing with frisbees. Saying their goodbyes and getting ready to head home.
In about 3 months they will all be back together again. Until then, it was a great weekend and we all had a wonderful time.
7.13.2009
Overload
The sheer volume of questions in my day has me so overloaded today. I believe my brain has short circuited. I do believe this to be a real and serious problem. I am going to research it on WebMD and see if they have any information.
I said something today that I have hear my Mother say a thousand times : " if one more person call out the name Mama, I am leaving home".... I mean it!!!! All day long , Mama, Mama, Mama. Mama I need help, Mama can I have, Mama can you look at this, Hey Mama do you remember.
I am so blessed that I have two beautiful, wonderful kids who care what I think and want me to know everything that they are thinking. This is a blessing that I know will one day soon end. Soon, they will be smarter and cooler than me, they will not want to tell me anything or ask me anything and I will be lucky if they call me once a week. So even though I feel like my brain is going to explode I am happy.
I am so thankful for this life that I am now living. I am thankful for the time with my children, for the impromptu fishing trips and swimming in the afternoons, for frequent trips to see family, and camping trips. I am thankful for little moments like last night when my son and I stood on the porch and watched the lightening before the storm. Even though he was not crazy about being outside with the lightening, he admitted it was cool to watch. He had never watched a storm come in, or smelled the earthy wet air right before the big drops begin to fall.
All of the precious moments that were wasted on traffic and stress for the last 10 years of my life. I will never get those moments back! I made the choices that I felt were best for my family at the time. Yet I am ever grateful that God has called me to be in the home, where I should have been all along.
I said something today that I have hear my Mother say a thousand times : " if one more person call out the name Mama, I am leaving home".... I mean it!!!! All day long , Mama, Mama, Mama. Mama I need help, Mama can I have, Mama can you look at this, Hey Mama do you remember.
I am so blessed that I have two beautiful, wonderful kids who care what I think and want me to know everything that they are thinking. This is a blessing that I know will one day soon end. Soon, they will be smarter and cooler than me, they will not want to tell me anything or ask me anything and I will be lucky if they call me once a week. So even though I feel like my brain is going to explode I am happy.
I am so thankful for this life that I am now living. I am thankful for the time with my children, for the impromptu fishing trips and swimming in the afternoons, for frequent trips to see family, and camping trips. I am thankful for little moments like last night when my son and I stood on the porch and watched the lightening before the storm. Even though he was not crazy about being outside with the lightening, he admitted it was cool to watch. He had never watched a storm come in, or smelled the earthy wet air right before the big drops begin to fall.
All of the precious moments that were wasted on traffic and stress for the last 10 years of my life. I will never get those moments back! I made the choices that I felt were best for my family at the time. Yet I am ever grateful that God has called me to be in the home, where I should have been all along.
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