Meeting face to face

Let me just start off by saying I am SOOOOOO glad to be back to blogging and connected to the world again. It has been a long week with out my computer and I have really missed checking in on all of you and finding out what you are up to and how I can pray for you. It has been WAY too long since I could post pictures so I hope you don't get overwhelmed by the soon to be mega picture blog-a-thon that is coming your way.

Last week I was able to meet a blogging friend face to face. It was such a blessing. This is someone I have fervently prayed for this year. It was great to enjoy the afternoon in the HOT sun as the kids played in the water and we were able to visit. It seemed like a present day pen-pal meeting (don't worry...we met at a neutral location).

What an incredible woman. Not to mention such sweet kids. I was disappointed that we had to head home and get my kids to bed. We could have talked all night. It was such a highlight of my week. Thanks Steffany for letting us crash in on your trip.

Broken Computer =(

Hi Peapod people! This is Chuck posting for Cris... her laptop (which is the only computer she has in the house) has been acting wacky for a long time now & she finally decided to get it fixed. She expected to have it back today... but... it turned out to be a bigger problem than we had thought. Hopefully she'll be back to bloggin' soon! She misses you all VERY much and I KNOW that she is dying to tell you about some interesting things that have happenened.

No, unfortunately, no contract on our house yet. Please do keep praying with us that it will sell soon. This time of separation is hard & we don't like it one bit! We're praying daily for God's mercy.

She does have a new bear story though! And it's a good one! So stay tuned!

Chuck (for Cris)

In case you were wondering...

1. I can check your blogs and sometimes make new posts but I can NOT leave comments on anyone's blogs. Again with the computer woes. But, that shouldn't mean that YOU can't comment on MY blog (hint hint).
2. I REALLY appreciate that you are joining us as we are praying for Misty. I have shed more tears over this situation than I was prepared for. I am holding fast to the words of truth and praying for this dear family.
3. I am not only a USER of VBS, I am also a GIVER. I am working VBS this week at our church. Let's just say, "Lord have mercy on those kids and their teacher!" Whew!!! I am not used to children just flat out telling me NO when I ask them to do something. Come on people, don't give up on parenting our children.
4. We had a showing on the house today. And that is a HUGE deal. They were here a LONG time and hopefully they like it and are ready to write a contract. Keep praying my dear blogging sisters. Any action is great. I can't wait to post good news.
5. I still can't post pictures. It down right depresses me. I so wish I could share my world in pictures. I am a visual person. Love lots of pictures and I miss my posts with pictures.
6. I can not say enough positive things about my Precept study. I am just loving it and being challenged everyday. I am in the Ephesians study and it is great. (you can download it for free)

OK, I guess that is all I have to say...short and sweet. I do miss connecting with you all. Just know that I am visiting and thinking of you often.

Thanks for the great challenge to pray for those parents. I had never thought of it like that. I will be praying for those parents this week. I can't even leave my own comments on my blog...this will make sense after you read the encouragement from the queen.

Praying for a friend

Years ago, when Chuck and I were first married, we were youth leaders in NJ. It was such a great opportunity to invest in kids lives and serve where God asked us to. It has been interesting to see these kids grow up and begin families of their own. They have gone in all different directions and some of them have continued on with their own walk with God. Of all things, it has been neat to see their own fruit mature and grow in response to the Holy Spirit in their lives. Only by God's grace were we able to be part of that growing process.

Now to get to my point of bringing this up...I just got an email from a friend of mine in NJ who passed on a blog from one of "our youth group kids". I am asking you to click their link and pray for this dear family. (HERE) Darren's wife Misty is in stage IV of brain cancer and they are praying for God's healing in her life. As you can imagine with any sad news my heart is heavy, yet I am so grateful for their response to the whole thing. I see Darren holding fast to his faith and seeking for God's grace in their lives. Please let this be a testimony of how powerful God is and lift up Misty today.

4th recap

Just a few quick thoughts on the 4th of July...for starters Chuck is home this weekend and it is always a treat to have him around. We just got home from the fireworks at our local down town. I am sure I wouldn't have taken the kids by myself, so it was really nice to have the whole family together. This is the FIRST time we have done fire works as part of celebration with kids for the 4th. How sad is that??? We have seen fireworks before but not as part of Independence Day celebration. Tissy doesn't like the noise so she sat there with some serious ear protection on (imagine firing range style). She looks too cute like that.

As we sat there with all the other "locals", I couldn't help but get annoyed by the drunk red necks that were at the park tonight (insert your own sounds of "wooooohooooo, daaang that was a big one"). It was fun to see the fireworks over the water and see them all around the lake. Very cool. It wasn't nearly as good as the ones that we used to see in NJ (how can you compare with ones that are choreographed to music).

I did notice the birds flying around and seemed a little freaked out. Animals never seem to like those loud kabooms. And I did wonder about the alligators that I always see at this park (where were they hiding out?)

So, all that to say, I hope you all had a good FORTH. Even though we are so very patriotic, we didn't even BBQ (can we be American and NOT fire up the grill on holidays?) It was a mix of work around the yard and mingle with the riff raff at the park to see the fireworks. Next year we will have to do better at enjoying the holidays.

Do you school during the summer???

For all those homeschooling families (and others too), do you do school work in the summer time? I have always had high ideals of what all we would accomplish during our lazy days of summer and somehow I never get much of it done. We typically do math during the summer months (just so we don't loose our skills). Even if it is just 2 or 3 days a week, we try and keep up with math. Last summer we also did art, which is something I don't always carve time out for during a typical school year. This summer we are also doing some themed lapbooks and pocket books. I am trying out a company called Evan Moor, and so far I really like them. Today we have been working on a book about whales. It is bunches of fun and the kids don't mind this kind of school. I hope to get to a marine science center to investigate some hands on learning, but for now the pocket book is crafty and creative.

As for my ideals of all we would accomplish, we haven't done as much as we would have liked. In between VBS and swimming, we have also enjoyed a study book called How to Study the Bible for Kids. It is really great and I would highly recommend it to any family. It takes me initiating this for the girls but they do love it when we do it.

So do you all do school work in the summer??? Or do I just try to squeeze too much in??? (Wait, don't answer that 2nd question...LOL)

homeschool presentation night

Last night was our local homeschool presentation night. It was one of those things I decided to do at the last second. I gave the girls the option to take part in it and they said yes. They wanted to do a twirling routine. They came up with it on their own and all I did was find sparkly shirts for them (you have to have sparkly shirts if you twirl). They did a great job. I was thrilled to see them so confidently perform in front of a room full of people.















They also put together their build and grow projects that we do at Lowes. Again, I am all about the free local activities. The girls have really come along way with these projects. Tally does most of it on her own (which helps because I am often the one to take them by myself). They have really enjoyed these workshops. Take the chance and check out a workshop in your area (here).
Thanks to my friend, she took a few pictures and sent them to me via email. I am becoming more and more frustrated by my lack of computer ability. I need to get it fixed once and for all.

kitchen gadgets

I was toasting my bread last night (yep, snacky dinner again) and had to have the toast tongs to pull the toast out of the toaster. It made me think about how much I really use those toast tongs. Then it got me thinking about my favorite kitchen gadgets. I am a huge Pampered Chef fan and love most of their things. After keeping house for 16 years (just celebrated that anniversary) if I were setting up house again there are some must haves that I would want.

My top 3 are:

toast tongs- for who needs to be sticking a knife down into the toaster to retrieve their toast

kitchen sheers- I use mine for everything (I actually have a few pairs) cutting up kid food is oh so much faster with kitchen sheers. And I love the ease of tossing them into the dishwasher to clean them.

Cutco knife- I have 2 and I use them all the time (they are really expensive). They are the type that I opt for in almost any cutting need. And to sing Cutco's praises they have a lifetime guarantee. They have replaced one of my knives after it broke.

So those are my 3 favorite kitchen gadgets. If you could pass on your favorites to your daughter per-say, what would make the list? What are your must have kitchen gadgets? Do share...

Tidbits

Just in case you are surprised that I am still part of blogging world, I opted not to send my computer with Chuck, in hopes that I will be up there to see him in a few weeks (my incredibly sweet in-laws have offered to come and take care of our house, garden and rabbit for a few days) and I can get it worked on then...OK, I have a few different tidbits of info that are floating around in my head and I am not sure any one of them is worth an actual post on its own, so in the spirit of leftovers, I am tossing them all in this post.

******************************

Let's start with our open house. We had one on Sunday and after working for the weekend to get ready, we headed out the door, totally prepared that no one would show up. Well, can I just say, God is good??!! We pulled in the drive at 4:05 and our realtor said another family was still on their way. We had 4 groups of people through on Sunday and 2 of them were interested and really liked it. Whew. All that work was worth it. =) Can't wait to see what happens and for now I am just thrilled and encouraged.

*****************************

The girls are part of another VBS this week. Yep, I am officially that Mom that brought her kids to more than one VBS program in one summer. They are having a great time and I am, again, so thankful for this program that churches offer.

*****************************

I am now the designated pool water tester, chemical adder, and over all monitor of all things swimming pool related. Today I learned how to shock the pool. Our pool has been really easy to manage (being a salt pool helps), but after all the rain water that has fallen, it needed some major help today. I do enjoy learning new things and now I can add this to my repertoire.

****************************

My girls are having a sleepover in Tissy's room tonight. You would have thought Tally was going away on a long trip. She packed a bag and was so excited to walk across the hall and sleep on the floor in Tissy's room. Why am I not this thrilled to sleep on someones floor? I guess I am too old for this type of simple fun to lift my spirits. I guess my girls really are best friends, they don't even need a friend to come over to have slumber party. =)

****************************

I was able to have coffee with a friend today and we had such a nice time talking and sharing about our worlds to each other. I have been motivated to expand my homeschooling experience to include lapbooks and I got her interested in the Precepts study that I downloaded for free and am currently studying. I am so grateful for the friends that I have (both near and far).

OK, hope you enjoyed the leftovers that I just dished out. (BTW, Shaleen, I often think about your story about leftovers: the ones that were destined for the trash if they weren't eaten for that meal. The whole idea is that you are eating something that is just about to go into the trash, um, yuck!!)

6 word meme

Here goes another tag. My friend tagged me and it has taken me a few days to come up with what I wanted to share. Here is the info from her blog about the "rules" about what you are to do...

This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. It’s a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blog sphere.
4. Tag 5 more blogs with links.
5. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

So, here we go....my six word memoir:

********************************************************

Look at me, don't notice ME.

Let me explain a little. I desire that when ever anyone see me, they don't see ME, but that they see Christ. I do however want others to look at me. I want people to see how I behave, interact with my family, include others...what ever I do, I want others to be pointed to Christ.

So as it is with any of these tags, I want to hear from a LOT of you. This time I am going to tag:

Ginny

Rachel

Annie

Tiffany

Greta

Hodge Podge

I didn't realize that I hadn't left a new post since Tuesday. Sorry to leave you all so stranded (since I know that you all are on pins and needles waiting for my life's measly updates). I did, in fact, enjoy my few free mornings while the girls were at VBS. They had a GREAT time. It was such a blessing to be part of this program. I wonder if that little church down the road knows what a blessing their program is to the local children (and mothers).


One of the highlights for my kids was a magician (children's performer) that was part of the program. We actually saw this guy perform about 2 weeks ago for the first time and we all enjoyed the show. I didn't realize how much my kids liked him. That was until the girls spent that last few days preparing their own magic shows and performing for Chuck and I (he's home for the weekend). They had his jokes and bits down. It was cute the first time, but somehow I am not sure I can laugh, clap and cheer every time they bring out the puppets and other props.



We also saw another children's performer. This guys show was to play music and dance and jump around the stage and bounce balls. I knew pretty quickly that it would be a LONG hour when his opening bit was to take off his shoe and throw it at a big inflated balloon/ball/pillow thing, to which he screamed and ran away. The kids loved it but I was quickly regretting bringing something to occupy my time. I am thankful that the local library organizes these types of shows. I know that the girls will enjoy them this summer (I will just bring something to keep me busy just in case).


Thanks to my friend for the picture of our kids enjoying the kids show this week. My girls have a blast with their friends.

OK, so moving on, Chuck has been home for the weekend and we have been busy taking care of the needful. Lots of yard work and we even had to get the chain saw out to take care of some downed trees from the wind we had this week. I also sprinkled some grass seed on some bare spots in the yard and covered them with my wonderful compost dirt (thanks Lisa for the suggestion). I just need to say again, that is the best dirt!!!

I need to forewarn you that I may be without a computer for a few weeks. UHG!!! Talk about unplugged. I hope and pray that when I am back I have great and wonderful news about a contract on our home. I am hoping for great things and staying positive.

Just so you know...

Chuck loves his new job. I have been meaning to update you on our transitioning situation. I know that many of you have been praying with us as our family transitions to a new state and tries to sell our home and we appreciate you joining with us in prayer. So far we have done well by our selves (with Chuck gone) and we are learning a new level of trusting in God for ALL of our needs. It has been a blessing to see God bring new encouragement every day.


Chuck's new job involves working with a team that makes children's Bible based curriculum for churches (check it out here). The girls have enjoyed watching these DVDs and love the characters. Their favorite one is Professor Sock. He gets them laughing out loud. He is on the DVDs geared toward younger children (take the few seconds to click and watch the video), but they still find enjoyment in it.














All this to say that when the girls got an email from Professor Sock they were thrilled. It made their day. It even included some pictures of Daddy with this little celebrity.

One of the neatest things to see is to watch Chuck just thrive in a positive environment. They are so thankful to have him there and eager to have him provide leadership. It is so clear that this is the place for him right now. We have stepped out in faith to follow where we have been lead and now we are just waiting on the Lord to move the rest of us there. Last year when we were selling our home and waiting on a contract, I just felt like it was God preparing us for another time of waiting. Here is another opportunity to demonstrate our trust.

Just as a note...I can not load any new pictures and I am totally missing my posts with all my pictures. Don't give up, I will be back to my normal blogging self as soon as I can.

In my opinion

VBS is the best invention to the stay at home mom (especially the homeschooling mom). To have a few mornings to yourself is delightful. I was informed by some of my local friends of the best VBS programs to check into. I signed the girls up for one yesterday (totally last min.) for one that has an emphasis on sports and art. The girls are taking the craft class and a painting class. And even though Tissy was nervous about going and wasn't sure about me leaving, they had a great morning. They are eager to go back tomorrow and I am SOOOOO grateful for these types of programs. Especially considering no vacation this summer and no sleepover camp (which we did last summer) this was a highlight of the week. Ahhh...what will I do for 3 whole mornings to myself...

sixteen years ago today

I said "I do" to my dear Chuck. Looking back I almost wonder what were we thinking? We thought we were knew everything about each other yet, there was so much to learn. I thought we were so mature, yet we were so young. I thought life would be easy, yet it has had it's challenges. I thought we would get pregnant easily, yet it took years. I thought we would make roots and plant our family somewhere, yet we have moved many times. I thought this house was our forever house, yet it is now for sale. I thought we would be together tonight to celebrate our marriage, yet we are in different states.

Needless to say, we have our ideas and our plans, yet God has His. In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 I would rather go with God's way, it is His will that I desire. He knows what is best.

And even though it hasn't all ended up quiet like I thought it would, I am glad for how it has all happened. I continue to choose joy as my response to all of the bumps in my path. And I MUST say, I am so grateful for God's grace in our marriage. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am just so glad that Chuck asked me to be his bride. I know for sure that I love him more tonight than I did sixteen years ago. I am so glad that our love has grown. (miss you sweetie)

Summertime Dreaming

Now that summer has officially arrived (well, I guess there are a few more days until the calendar says it is the first day of summer) I start thinking of all the things I would love to do during the summer. Somehow summer offers the free time that we all don't have during the year. Here is my wish list...

- Catch up on scrap-booking
- Clean and organize closets
- Sort out the school room
- Organize my files and desk
- Tidy my laundry room

Those are the things that I really should be doing. But then I like to day dream and imagine a wonderful vacation or trip that we could take as a family. With our family on the verge of transition and the need to save all our extra money (and the fact that Chuck has started a new job and doesn't really have vacation time yet) we don't have plans to take a vacation this summer. But since I am day dreaming here, we would be taking a trip out west and meet up with my family and take one of those wagon train tour trips. The kind where you travel the trail like a pioneer family and have "Cookie" make your meals for you over an open fire. Can't you just imagine my pioneer girls having a blast with that. Of course since this is my dream, the weather would be dry and cool and Tristen would not faint at all.

That is my dream summer vacation trip. And I do believe that dreaming is good for the soul, so do share your dream vacation trip. If you could take a dream vacation where would you go and what would you do? Dream with me...

refreshing

I have been busily caring for our home while Chuck is gone. Lots of watering the grass seed and the garden (you see we really need the rain). Often the first thing I do in the morning is put on my yard boots and head out to take care of the watering before it gets too hot. We have had a very unusual dry (not as in not humid...just no rain) season. I normally would just let the grass go and not give a care about it, but, with the house for sale, it really needs to look good. I am out there in my PJ's and boots (be thankful I can't load pictures right now). I often stop what I am doing and pray with Chuck when he calls. We are still praying early in the morning together seeking God for His mercies on our family and home.

By the time we are done I get back to working in the yard and now it is later and even more steamy. By the time I am done, I am full on funk. Sticky, sweaty, often dirty ready for a refreshing shower. It is amazing how gross I feel. Just the humid weather and the sweat mixed together is NOT a good feel. I have recently found a new soap (which I love) and we also changed our shower head to one of those large rain heads. It is the best feeling to step in and wash all that icky funk right off of me. I am loving that cool refreshing feeling.

And then as I am enjoying that refreshing feeling, I am thinking of all those who don't have this type of luxury. I am not talking fancy shower head and new soap, I am just talking about clean water. I have had the blessing to go on a few missions trips (years ago) to visit third world countries and have seen first hand what the conditions are really like. Washing clothes and getting drinking water from the same source that is used for waste. We really don't understand what a blessing our life is. Clean water is a luxury.

I feel so transformed when I am clean. That refreshing feeling is almost magical. I love it. Recently when we were doing our end of the year testing I made sure the girls felt clean and "well groomed" on those testing days. I just know how much it makes a difference when you are fresh and clean. I only wish everyone had the chance to feel that refreshing feeling.

Congrats to my dear sister on their home

Just want to shout out to my sister and her family. They just put an offer on their first home and it was accepted. I am SOOOO happy for them. What a big deal. They are missionaries in Japan and are home in the states for a year (though their home is all the way across the country from me). We have been praying with them that God would lead to just the right place. And this place seems perfect for them.

We are praying with you Susan that all the details fall into place. I know this home will be a blessing to you and yours and God will honor all that is done there to bring Him glory. Woo Hoo!!! Doing the happy dance for you. =)

If I could get my computer to work right, I would...

I would scan a cute picture that Tally drew of us going to get Daddy (he is coming home for almost 2 days).

I would upload some new pictures of the girls hair cuts.

I would share a few posts that I have in my head that would be SO much better with photos.

I would leave comments on every ones blogs (I can't close any windows that open up).

So in the mean time, I am still here and need my man (AKA hero of our home) to get here and help me solve all those computer issues. Not to mention, help me in the garden, edge the yard, get the pine needles off the roof, check the pool water, get new mulch for the flower beds and put new pine straw down in the garden. That's a pretty big list for a day and a half. All this to say, I am THRILLED he is coming home for a quick visit. We miss him and obviously NEED him too.

What is that one spot?

Again, I am posting without new pictures (waiting to see if I can fix the camera for new pics) and I always have thoughts and questions running through my head. Sometimes it is even hard to choose which ones I will blog about. I do love asking questions. It is such a great way to "get to know someone". To get a glimpse into someones world.

So this morning, I opened up my fridge and for a moment, saw it through a strangers eyes. You see, cleaning out the fridge is not my favorite job. In fact, there are quiet a few homemaker type jobs that I just don't enjoy (another post, another time). I am trying to see my home through the "buyers" filter. See it how someone else would see it if they were a perspective buyer. If you haven't figured it out, or aren't a regular follower of the Peapod, we are selling our home.

Let me back up for a second, and fill you in. About a week ago, the girls and I were having our lovely neighbor ladies over for tea. We had set the table adorn with elegant teacups, fancy sandwiches and homemade scones and other pastries. I am trying to introduce the girls to the idea of entertaining and teach them the lost art of having someone in your home. We had all just sat down to our lunch and a realtor showed up at the door, perspective buyers in tow. At that moment, with no notice, we had to show the house. I quickly invited them in, apologised for not knowing they were coming, and ran to turn on the lights. The girls and I (with our tea party stranded at the table) shuffled through the house to make sure all was well. I threw my dishes from preparing for the tea party in the cupboard (dirty and all) and tossed the rest of any remaining clutter in the laundry basket and covered it with a towel.

After that showing, I realised that we need to be ready at any moment, at any time. Of course I don't really enjoy living in the perfect mode. And I know that the girls would rather not have to always have their rooms spotless when we leave the house. I need to let myself have one spot where I can have my mess, my clutter. And when we have a perspective buyer come by, it is easily contained to one area.

So, back to my original question. What is that one spot, hidden behind doors or drawers, that you keep your mess. You know, the mail that you need to go through, coupons you are hanging on to, magazine you want to flip through.... Where is your one spot of mess? Right now, it is my desk (I can shove it all in the drawer) or the laundry room counter (where my trusty basket waits to hide something).

Vermiculture

I have some new pictures that I am eager to share and new things to post on...but, alas, my camera is not working with me. So, I must dig into the past for some old pictures and post on some other things for now.


All that to say, I have been meaning to post about VERMICULTURE. What is that you say? Well according to dictionary.com it is the raising and production of earthworms and their by-products. The girls and I had the opportunity to widen our world and tour a worm farm this year. In fact, we toured it twice (couldn't get enough the first time) with some homeschool groups. It was fascinating to say the least.


I have often teasingly called myself a tree-hugger, believing to be quiet GREEN in all I do. (Though not as green as I thought I would have tested out to be ~ see HERE). Through different information I have learned there is always more I can do to keep it GREEN. Worms would be one way to do this.
















On the tour we learned all about a certain type of worm that actually eats your garbage (well, your organic trash ~anything that grows). We learned all about having your own worm "condo" and how these worms eat as much as their own body weight in food everyday. Not to mention how their worm castings and tea (waste) is great for your garden. The woman who gave the tour is so passionate about these worms and all they do to cut down on the amount of trash that we actually throw away. It was challenging to me to work on reducing the amount of junk going into the land fills.















I didn't purchase the worm condo, but I know a few who have. I also know that this is a growing trend to do what we can do to keep it GREEN. If you are interested in reading more about the worm process...check out their site ~see here. Don't worry...I am not trying to sell you on the worm products or anything. No pyramid scheme here. Denise had asked me to post on this, so this one is for you my friend. =)