Happenings

Friday today.  It's been sort of a busy day, with not much accomplished, somehow. This morning we went to WalMart to pick up Alizona's new glasses, which look very much like her old ones.  She was just outgrowing her old frames.  It's always kind of fun to have a new look, right?  While we were there we had to kill some time before meeting some musical homeschooling friends, and as you know, WalMart is not a good place to have to kill time.  My goal was to escape without spending any money, and I succeeded! Yay!

The family whose musical kids are joining forces with ours in some ensembles for our homeschoolers' recital next week got permission from WalMart to play flute and trombone music outside the front door, in hopes of collecting some money for Bible camp this summer.  We didn't get to stay and listen, but we made sure they had a bit of "seed money" to put in the trombone case, as a hint to others to drop some in, too.  

We were on our way to meet with a new music teacher, in hopes of arranging violin lessons for Alizona and possibly, Carrotlover.  We have not had an instructor in about a year, so we are really hopeful that this will work out. The new teacher doesn't need the money (their garage is an airplane hangar!), so she is not actively recruiting students. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?  Her experience in teaching has been in PS, with reluctant and rebellious students whose parents were making them play.  Her private lessons weren't much fun.  She wanted to make sure my girls would be fun to teach, and I think we put her at ease in that regard.  But we have some negatives to consider, such as a 24-mile round trip, and the fact that she does not want to come to our house. That means five of us have our school day interrupted, rather than one of us.  So... we are thinking.  Maybe a trial period would be a good idea.  Do I have to feel like she is doing us a favor, since she doesn't need the money, or even want it if it's not worth her trouble? Well, I'm just sounding off, but it's a lot of money to us...  She is really a nice lady and she gave Alison some good tips.

We got home to a pleasant email surprise -- Booklover has had a photo accepted for publication in the new Growing in Grace girls' magazine!  Yay Amy!!  She has been entered in a drawing for a one-year membership at betterphotos.com.  Wish her success!

The rest of the afternoon has been spent making brownies and supper (picante chicken -- great, easy recipe -- let me know if you want it), checking the email over and over again, and a tad bit of schoolwork.  The momentum is lost if we leave the house in the morning, so I am going to have to be more adamant about doing school first, and other things in the afternoon.

Well, that's all for now. More exciting scenes from our lives later!
`

Watch Out for What You Don't See

I am posting this video on behalf of my avid cyclist husband.  Watch carefully! (And share the road.)

 

Carnival of Homeschooling

This is the "S" edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling, hosted by Shannon at Phatmommy.com.  This week Shannon and the Carnival bloggers address:

Socialization (the homeschoolers' "S" word)
Sovereignty
Styles of Homeschooling
Science (and math and music and history and more...)
and
Sunday (Ishtar Easter Sunday)

Let me add a disclaimer... the opinions of those who submitted entries for the Carnival are not necessarily the views of this blogger.  I hate that I have to say that.

Good Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language

We really need to win that Rosetta Stone give-away.  There are many Spanish-speaking people in this area, and sometimes when we knock at a door, with Gospel tracts in hand, the person who answers will see what we are about and will say, "Uh, no hablo Inglés."  So we turn away and walk past their big American-made vehicle in the driveway, the one plastered with English bumper stickers, past a bunch of little brown kids who are speaking English to each other, past the rolled-up local newspaper on the sidewalk, and think, "Sure."  I would love to be able to respond in fluent Spanish, "Oh, that's okay, I speak Spanish.  Do you know where you are going to spend eternity?"

This Rosetta Stone stuff really would come in handy.  But we have a person living here who really NEEDS it.  It is my dear husband.  We could count him as a homeschool student, couldn't we? He is always making up "French" words in a ridiculous attempt to be romantic. This morning he approached me with soft, romantic eyes, with arms open wide, drew me near to him, kissed me soundly on both cheeks, locked eyes with me, and spoke in deep, sensuous, perfect French, "Ah, ma jambe!" which sounds remotely(?) like, "Ah, je t'aime," ("I like/love you") but means, "Ah, my leg!"  **The blogger rolls her eyes.**  Of course, I think he is very funny, but I am a little bit worried... what might he unwittingly say to a perfect stranger?

I will tell you.  It happened. Once upon a time my DH's brother, who happens to be fluent in Spanish, introduced my husband to his future wife, who is a petite, lovely, and proper lady from Mexico City. My DH was confident that his one year of college Spanish would carry him through this non-English social situation, so my BIL looked on in mild amusement while my DH showed off his knowledge of the lady's native tongue.  "Mucho gusto." "Bienvenidos." "Como se llama?"  And then, continuing the small talk and thinking he was asking her how old she is, he said, "¿Cuántos anos tiene?" Her look of shocked horror told him he had said the wrong thing. "YOU IDIOT!" his brother exclaimed, then under his breath he hissed, "IT'S AÑOS, AÑOS!! YOU JUST ASKED HER HOW MANY anuses SHE HAS!!" My DH apologized profusely (and in hysterics -- you know how it is when you do something really embarrassing and you don't know how to react, except to laugh your head off), but I am not sure she has gotten over it yet.  To this day there is a certain coolness between my husband and his brother's wife. LOL!

So you see, to save us potential future embarrassment, we really need this Rosetta Stone curriculum.  All of you, please, just withdraw your entries so that we can win the drawing, and I promise you I will add my DH as a Spanish student in our homeschool.  Thank you all for your cooperation. 

Saturday School

I thought I was done posting entries about our schooling, but when I remembered that it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind, I took advantage of my prerogative.

It is Saturday, many people's day off from both school and blogging.  Since we take Mondays off school (preacher's family, you know), we work Tuesday thru Saturday.  I would love to go to a four-day school week, but no one else in the house seems to be motivated to do that. So here we are schooling on Saturday, like always.  The big girls did their Teaching Textbooks today, because, and I quote, "We LOVE math! This is sooooooo fun!!".  Number three child has done no school work, however as I was de-boning a chicken this morning, she had the brilliant (eyeroll) idea to start a bone collection for science. So we boiled those bones to death, trying to get all the gunk off them, then we dried them in the sun.  Now #3 is off looking for an adequate display case.

In addition to science, we did a cooking experiment.  I have been wanting to try making our own tortillas, since the store-bought ones are expensive and taste like flour and lard.  I am sure the authentic ones don't taste like store-bought!  A little research at allrecipes.com yielded several recipes and lots of reviews with a plethora of suggestions.  We we winged it (wang it??).  As I type, our tortilla balls are resting and awaiting rolling and cooking. The plan for supper is chicken tacos, but if we get floury-lardy flat cardboard for tortillas, we will switch to Plan B, which has not been identified yet.  (Eggs?)  So Saturday School here has consisted of math, science, tortilla-making, kneading, rolling, and being flexible.  Hopefully we won't need the being flexible part!

92 Year Old Woman Witnesses to Thief

This story happened last December and to some of you it is old news. (Sorry, without TV we are sometimes in the dark ages about what is current!)  I just saw this, and I love it, lol!

 

Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Checking In Late Again

Whoops, only three days late... four by the time most of you see this... I am not doing well with the exercising thing.  Last week I did do my weights one day, and I walked to the grocery store and back (that was about 2 miles), but my littles were along, so that was no cardiovascular workout.  But tonight my DH sent me (yes, we email each other from opposite ends of the house -- how lazy is THAT?! lol) a very inspiring story about a man who has gone from 501 lbs to 230 lbs.  Read it HERE!

Oh Yes, I Forgot P.E.

Typical School Day

This is why I hardly ever say anything about our schooling, even though this IS a homeschool blog site:

Teaching Textbook
PBS Kids	Copy Work
Practicing Hymns	Discussing Villi of the Small Intestine
Relaxed Math	Art Appreciation Extra Credit

Doesn't look very thrilling, does it? 

We did add a little bit of excitement this week when we got our Teaching Textbooks for math for the older two.   After testing up to their levels, the girls are enjoying the CD lessons, because Mr. Sabouri almost always sounds like he is having a good day. Some critics say TT is below grade level, and I can see why.  Number three daughter, who is only eight, is having a great time doing the first few pre-algebra quizzes, lol. (But she does have a great aptitude for math.) TT re-teaches all the basic stuff, but that is where a lot of kids have a poor foundation. For example, my two just discovered that reducing fractions is a LOT easier if you factor both the numerator and denominator, and then cancel the like factors. Our old math didn't use that method.

Other than that, we are trying to wind up one history class (Landmark), three Bible classes (Landmark), and two science classes (Rod and Staff -- I like this a lot). Alizona has been plugging along at Computer Science Pure and Simple... I'm not crazy about that one and neither is she, but we are in it (most of it) for the long haul. Booklover dropped that class after a few weeks.  All three girls do copy work.  And Carrotlover does spelling.  We did Easy Grammar last year(?) and we'll probably do it again in the upcoming school year.  All my kids are avid readers, so I don't officially do a reading class with them.  Booklover finished Susan Marlow's Writing Workshop with flying colors (good work, Booklover!), and Alizona is working on that now.  They have had a great time with that class!!  "Electives" include photography, cooking, graphic design, blogging, laundry, creating templates, bike riding, Legos, and etc. And, for some culture, all the girls practice an instrument or two. 

So that's our school day. Aren't you glad I shared that with you? lol.

Help for Moms, from Kid

This is something one of my girls wrote when she was about nine. On threat of being disowned, I can't tell you which daughter, but this just looks so simple, I wanted to share it with all you house-challenged moms.  I think I might try this one of these days!

Here is a story of what I would do if I had a loud, messy house. (I am the mother.)

I would:
Buy lots of plastic tubs and organize everything in the house. Then, since I have an uncluttered house, I would vacuum every room of the house that has carpet.  Then I would sweep all the other rooms. Now I have the clutter picked up, and every room vacuumed/swept, but the kitchen is still a mess, and all the ledges/trim need to be dusted.  So I call all the children, give them dust rags, and say, "Go dust the ledges and shelves in your bedrooms." I would dust the rest of the house.

After the kids are done dusting, they want to play with their toys that I just put away a little while ago.  Since they watched me put the toys in the bins, and I put a piece of paper in each bin that has a list of everything that is in that bin, they go to the toy bins, take out the toys, and start playing.  "Put those toys away when you are done," I say, going towards the kitchen to organize the cupboards and clean up the counter.  Pretty soon the kitchen is cleaned up too.  (In case you are wondering, I did stop and take a break for all this to make lunch.)

Then my husband comes home. He is surprised to see such a clean house, with children that are not fighting now.  (They quit when they got the toys out of the tubs. They decided that it would not be so bad to play together so they decided to play nicely, without yelling at each other.  Of course, these children of mine are not perfect, so they still yelled at each other a little, but it was MUCH nicer -- quieter, too!)  I made supper, and we sat down together as a family, with the children talking quietly to themselves about the the game of dolls that they were playing.  I would sit quietly with my husband and listen, thinking, "Why didn't I do this earlier??"

The End

by
?????????????????

Doesn't this sound easy?  I think that she will also be dressed like Mrs. Cleaver, with her heels on for dinner, some nice pearls around her neck, and hair perfectly coiffed. LOL!

115th Carnival of Homeschooling

One of the reasons why I like the Carnival of Homeschooling so much is that it puts me in touch with many homeschooling bloggers out there, both inside the HSB circle and beyond! There is so much to glean: math and science tips, crafts for kids, out-of-the-box ideas for learning, inspiration, wonderful essays, helpful alerts to what our legislators are up to, and much more.

This week is the 115th Carnival of Homeschooling, hosted by Janice Campbell.  There are dozens of great submissions this week, so go take a look!

Quoting Janice:

"The theme for this week's carnival is adapted from Dr. Seuss’s beloved Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  Homeschoolers are a diverse bunch, and I thought it would be interesting to read about some of the things we do.

One of the things we do particularly well is read, so I’ve also included posts that develop the theme that “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” (I Can Read With My Eyes Shut, Dr. Seuss).

Grab some popcorn, and enjoy the Carnival!"

Carnival of Homeschooling

I am finally getting to something that has been on my pile of good intentions for a long time. I kept meaning to regularly post a link to the current Carnival of Homeschooling!  If you have not been to the CoH, you are missing out. Each week a different host posts submissions from other homeschoolers, each one about various aspects of home education. 

This week's CoH is hosted by At Home With Kris, and her theme has to do with springtime, the most difficult time to keep going with our studies!  Go check out all the great posts.

(Someone remind me again next week to post the next Carnival link!)

Can You Find 16 Books of the Bible?

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible.  It was a lulu -- kept people looking so hard for facts, and for others is was a revelation.  Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized; but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We wanted it to be a most fascinating few moments for you.  Yes, there will be some easy ones to spot.  Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better.  See how well you can compete. Relax now for there are really sixteen names of books of the Bible in this story.

Find the answers right here, but not before you have looked for a while!! No cheating.

How Others Have Shaped Who You Are

Recently I received this letter from a friend who is a missionary's wife in South Africa. Lots of good things to think about here, and I wanted to share them with you all.  For her privacy's sake, I took out names and left only first initials.  DH is dear husband, DD is dear daughter.
 

 DH was bringing home a half to a bushel full of mangos every Saturday from the village of M, where he teaches a group of men.  Since we live in the area where these grow abundantly he was able to purchase these for less than three dollars.  Now it is good thing we like mangos!  Because of how quickly they would ripen I would go to cutting them up and we would have mangos on cereal, in muffins, cobbler, pies, on salad and even froze some for later.  As I worked on cutting them up I was reminded of a co-worker that shared with me how to easily cut up mangos.  She had been raised on the island of Barbados and had eaten mangos frequently.  Daily I am reminded of how others have affected my life as I carry out daily activities.  Let me share a few examples that have come to mind and maybe it will cause you to be grateful for how others have influenced your life. 

 How can any woman not think of her mother every day when she goes about her daily task?   The daily disciplines of life from personal hygiene to household chores cannot be attributed to anyone else but Mother.  I think of my Mom as I pull out my sewing machine and am blessed that she is such a wonderful seamstress, though her daughter did not pick up the talent as well.  A straight line is about the limit of my ability.  The little ‘craft’ projects that I do around the house or with my daughter I also think of my Mother, who has done this kind of activity for years with children.  Things from cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, writing letters, keeping up with old and new friends via letter writing, email or talking on the phone are all lessons learned from Mom and her example.  How many times did I say, “Mom, how do you do… or how do you spell…?” I remember truths from the bible such as serving that Mom taught when we would be helping her do something for the church and or for others.  She would always say “we are earning stars in our crowns”.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my Mother.  What more could I be learning from her even today long distance? 

 I think of my Father when I think of my salvation, for it was my Father who prayed with me that night so many years ago at our dining room table.  Whenever I think of my heavenly Father I can see the love, security and acceptance of my own earthly Father.  What a blessing to have such a loving example all my life.  I also learned from my parents example of a husband and wife working together to build a godly home.  My father led and my mother followed.  They appreciate and love each other. 

 My brothers and sister, their families, have affected my life as well as friends in ways such as; words of encouragement, actions and challenges to grow in the Lord.  Thank you to each and every one of you for your influence in my life.

 As I teach my daughter throughout the day, especially when it comes to preschool activities, I am reminded of the teachers I have observed and worked with over the years.  I was privileged to help with the two and three old class right out of high school leading the singing.  What fun it is to sing some of those songs with my own daughter that I sang over 25 years ago with other children.  I am so thankful for all the opportunities I had through the years to work with every age group, seeing now that it prepared me for working with my own child here on the mission field.  As I was making some puppets the other day to use in teaching DD I was reminded of the opportunity I had to work in the puppet ministry, what wonderful memories I have of that time.   What of all the Sunday school teachers, Preacher’s and their wives and Evangelist I have heard through the years that have touched my life with a special message delivered from the Lord just for me.  The list could go on and on.

 My husband…what could be said of him?  How has he, affected my life in the last five years? It is said that a woman is the completer of man so it must go in hand that he also completes her.  I have often been amazed at God’s plan in putting the two of us together.  For those that know me well know that I am a very practical person.  My husband is gifted of the Lord to love beauty in more ways that I have even imagined.  I am THANKFUL for this.  I would probably have gotten to heaven and told the Lord He put too much gold there!  Being with my husband I see and understand a side of the Lord that many don’t take time to appreciate like they should.  God loves beautiful things and created such a variety of it in His world.  My husband is frequently commenting on the flowering trees along one particular road noting the beauty of them.  I am always enjoying the majestic view as we drive down ‘our’ mountain into town.  God put a lot of detail and finery in the Tabernacle and Temple. I often wonder do we limit the Lord in this area of our lives, when God wants to abundantly bless His children with some of the finer things of life.  I think one of the greatest attributes of DH’s life that I have observed is of giving.  He loves to give, rather simple or extravagant.  Yet isn’t that an example of our heavenly Father?  The one priceless gift that DH gives over and over is the gospel to as many as will listen to him. 

There are some that have influence my life through my husband such as his Father and Mother, Sisters, Pastor C and family, Preachers, Evangelist and many others.  Often I have learned from them as DH shares of things they have said or he observed of them. 

 How will my daughter influence my life?  In many ways she has and will continue to challenge me further in my walk with the Lord.  I know more scripture verses now since training her in this area.

 The scriptures profit me every day just as II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  Along with the scriptures is the Holy Ghost indwelling me and teaching me through what I read and through circumstances of life.  John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

 There are influences of people that I have never met but only read of their testimonies in books.  I think of Darlene Deibler Rose's testimony of her imprisonment during WWII, and how God sustained her and blessed her with so many things, even 90+ bananas. (***If you have not read or heard her testimony I would encourage you to do so as it will greatly encourage you.) Mary Slessor, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, David Livingstone, E. M. Bounds, George Muller, Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth, William Borden, and the list could go on.  Many of these are from generations past and I often wonder if the Lord should tarry will there be any from this generation that the next generation will say influenced their life for the Lord.

 I must also take time to mention fellow missionaries here in South Africa that have and continue to influence my life: G and J, G and S, G and K, and J and D.  I would also like to mention our new friend, former missionary wife, L.  God has used them to help us become adjusted to life here in South Africa. 

 
“I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:…” Revelation 1:11.  When I think of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who I should be emulating more and more every day, I am reminded of the words to my favorite hymn, O to Be Like Thee. (Written by Thomas O. Chisholm and William J. Kirkpatrick)

 

1)      O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

2)      O to be like Thee! Full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wandr’ing sinner to find.

3)      O to be like Thee! Lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer others to save.

4)      O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming, Now to receive th’ anointing divine; All that I am and have I am bringing. Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

5)      O to be like Thee! While I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love; Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, Fit me for life and heaven above.

Chorus: O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou Art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

 

Now it is your turn to be thankful of those that have so greatly affected you life.

 THANK YOU. 

Missionary wife to the Republic of South Africa

February 29, 2008

***A great book about Darlene Deibler Rose is Evidence Not Seen, written by her.  You can also hear her testimony here.

MOMS Challenge

Oh yes, it is Monday, report day for the Moms of Many Exercise Challenge.  Well.... I am not doing so good.

Tuesday I rode 2 miles on the new 3-speed cruiser that my older girls and I are sharing.  In low gear.  For toning, right? Here's a funny: I said something about cellulite to my girls and they both said, "What's that?" I told them not to worry, they will find out someday.

Wednesday I jogged on the rebounder for a minute; also exercised patience with rebellious child at dentist.

Thursday... nothing.
Friday... nothing.
Saturday... this is the day when we normally go door to door and invite people to church, or else ask them if they have ever considered where they might spend eternity.  I get a little bit of walking in most Saturdays.  But not this one.  We attended a funeral that we thought was going to start at 10:00 a.m., but it did not begin until noon. I exercised patience again, lots of it, and so did my sweet children.  We did very well.

Sunday... rested.

Today.  Mopped kitchen floor.  Went to our new Target and Kohls stores.  I exercised my meek and quiet spirit as I gaped in disgust at the slutty clothes on the racks in both stores.  sigh.  I was really hoping to see something long, something that didn't expose belly, thighs, or breasts.  Silly me.  Where's a lady supposed to find modest apparel these days?? Rant rant rant ... Whoa, my meek and quiet spirit is really weak.  Here I go again. I'm really trying to strengthen it.  I'm sure it is just like a muscle.  The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets, right?  Took a walk with four-year-old after supper.  That no way qualifies for exercise, but it counts because I had to put shoes on.

I don't think I'll be losing inches any time soon, but for those of you who are serious about this, I'm all for ya.  Keep at it!

A New Category

Welcome to my new category, Sally's Culinary Failures, lol.  I had a bag of Rhodes dough in the freezer for weeks, and I was tired of it being in the way. So yesterday I decided to use a recipe that I got at the Taste of Home Cooking School, and get rid of that odd-shaped bag in my freezer.  This recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread sounded good to me, because I also make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, and we LOVE those. Here is the picture of the bread, from the magazine.  It looks beautiful and delicious, right?

Here is what I made:

ROFL!!  Not delicious, and definitely NOT beautiful.  I don't know what happened!  Yes, I greased the pan.  No, I didn't get it into the oven before it had risen too long.  No, I didn't know that one can of pumpkin pie mix and one can of pumpkin plus some spices are not equal substitutions.  (Does pumpkin pie mix have egg in it or something?? Maybe a bit of sugar??)  I had one bite of this mess and said, "Yuck."  It wasn't that bad, but it definitely wasn't to die for.  As far as I'm concerned, it was a tremendous waste of good chocolate!  We had it for supper last night with an egg casserole, and I thought sure I'd have to toss most of it into the trash.  But guess what?  I was wrong!  (This is when I like being wrong.)  My other resident chocoholic, Booklover, thinks this creation is wonderful great.  Out of the twenty-four rolls it took to make this, I estimate only four are left. Good thing Booklover is a twig.

Checking In, Almost Late

A couple of days ago, Alizona had her last fit over the HTML mess on my template.  We struck a deal: new template for unlimited computer time as long as it took to fix it.  Didn't she do a good job?!  Thank you, sweet daughter!  Carrie, my HTML consultant says to skip the bold type-face; you are going to have to find your glasses.  So sorry!

Okay, here's my exercise update:

I totally forgot to exercise this week...
I rode a bike around the block once on Wednesday -- does that count? I also walked up and down the aisles at Smiths and Safeway today.  And I exercised my right to the pursuit of happiness.  Oh well. I'm so bad at these things!!  (Did you notice I dropped out of Blogger School after about two weeks?)  I'll try to do better this week.

I Need One.

If you are old and have the shakes,
If all your bones are full of aches,
If you can hardly walk at all,
If living drives you up the wall;
If you're a grump and full of spite,
If you're a human parasite,
Then what you need is a Wonka-Vite!
Your eyes will shine, your hair will grow,
Your face and skin will start to glow.
Your rotten teeth will all drop out
And in their place new teeth will sprout.
Those rolls of fat around your hips
Will vanish, and your wrinkled lips
Will get so soft and rosy pink
That all the boys will smile and wink
And whisper secretly that this
Is just the girl they want to kiss!
But wait! For that is not the most
Important thing of which to boast.
Good looks you'll have, we've told you so,
But looks aren't everything, you know.
Each pill, as well, to you will give
An extra twenty years to live!
So come, old friends, and do what's right!
Let's make your lives as bright as bright!
Let's take a dose of this delight!
This heavenly magic dynamite!
You can't go wrong, you must go right!
It's Willy Wonka's Wonka-Vite!

~From Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator

(I really don't want that part about the boys wanting to kiss me.  I would be fine with just the fat falling off my hips...)
 

Acclimated (NO, Not Me!)

It's official.  My husband is 100% acclimated to this desert environment.  I just put him to bed.  It is 80° in the house, and he is under a sheet, an electric blanket (not plugged in), a thick comforter, and two more blankets on top.  I think I'll change my name to Abishag...

As for me, I am still not acclimated after four and a half years of living in probably the one place on earth that has been affected by global warming.  It was 83° here today and I was roasting.  It's going to be one looonnggg summer...  but with the Lord's help, I am going to do my best NOT to complain, "UGH, IT'S SO HOT IN HERE!!!!" (or, "out here") one time this year!  Think I can do it? (I think I have already blown it.)


Other news:  When I kissed my big girls good-night tonight, they told me they like me.   Isn't that nice?  That's different from saying, "I love you."  We have to love each other, but we don't have to like each other, though it's nicer if we do.  (And I'll admit, sometimes we don't!)  It was nice to hear them say that, because I don't think I was a very nice mom today.  I told them I don't like my tongue.  It's too sharp and critical and hurtful at times.  Words that have already been spoken are free to do their damage.  Sometimes that damage is hard to repair.  And sometimes harsh words cause those we love to become superficial with us, and they refuse to be drawn out.  Please, Lord, let me keep my girls' hearts. No, you keep them.  Just please share them with me.


Be patient with me while I play around with my template colors, style, and fonts.  Should I make this bigger??  (How's this, Carrie? If this doesn't work for you, wear your glasses.)