How does one quit being in denial

I just realized that I've been in denial for a long time. It's been 4 days since we moved and I still have a lot to unpack. I am in denial that my tiny bedroom and living room still has obvious boxes that need unpacking. In denial that kids actually have to eat more than 3 times a day. In denial that I have to order a few more homeschool items for the new year. Instead, I've been blogging, participating in live calls, accepting chess on line and scrabble on Facebook games and catching up on my friends' blogs. Everything except unpacking. But I got tired of being in denial. So, I am going to town (have to go 5 mi out of the way since the creek we have to cross on a shortcut is way high due to heavy rains we've been getting here) to get a few groceries for the kids, that is. Because I am in denial that I have to eat too, LOL! So, to stop being in denial one has to make a step. Realizing that I've been in denial and too lazy is a huge step. Praying that we reunite with hubby who would most definitely make sure I stay out of denial is step 2. The rest i hope will fall in place, that is if I keep staying out of denial!

Anyway, I had a really fun start to my day and I wanted to blog about before I get to work, finally (well, the sun is shining after hours of rain and my vit D levels are finally up!). I tuned in to a live call on Grace Talk Soup (see badge on the right) where they discussed communication and cultural differences. I had a blast! I've done a live call before with Urban Homemaker interviewing Sally Fallon of Nourishing Traditions. But there was no chat or anything fancy. I felt like a super triple tasker! I was on a live call on my long distance phone, answered the local phone and chatting! What a start to the day. You'd think I'd be revved up to get a lot done afterward, but, alas! Rain kept pouring down literally dampening my industriousness.
JoJo, the host of the Grace Talk Soup posted a funny You Tube video to go with the last episode. I laughed so hard. My kids agreed with English being crazy too. After learning Russian and Romanian I can't side with them though. I think English makes sense, well, compared to Russian, at least, LOL! Enjoy the video too!

One of my favorite talk shows tomorrow and I'll be on it too!

I am very excited about participating in a live talk show tomorrow. I've blogged about these gals before. I have their badge on the right hand side. Hope you join in the call. Don't worry about the background noise, it's muted. I still haven't figured out how to be able to actually unmute myself when it's my turn to talk, but I guess I'll figure it out tomorrow. So, why don't you come join in. I hope to have the kids fed and happy by then. Woke up really late this morning. Stayed up way past midnite. Husband is gone again and I am getting back into the nasty habit of late nite www. I hate taking time away from kids and household chores during the day, so after everybody is thoroughly worn out is my time, but, unfortunately, it's out of my beauty rest time. Oh, well. Here is the info on the call

Grace Talk Soup (Join in)
Host: Host-JoJo - jojo@artofeloquence.com
Episode: Cultural Differences in Communication
Are you from another country? Culture? Do you have a different way of communicating because of that cultural difference? Come join us as we talk about how the very same words or gestures may mean something totally different in another culture or country!
Call ID: 19736

Personal Message from the Host:
Do you bag your groceries or do you sack 'em? Do you carry your stuff in a handbag or a pocketbook? Are you from the South and jest fixin' to do something? Wherever you're from, you have a unique voice! Join us tomorrow on Grace Talk Soup for a wonderful show about the differences in how we speak. If you're from a different culture, please come. If you just have a unique way of saying something, please come. If you can't make it, just email the show at gts@artofeloquence.com and we may read your story on the air (with proper credit, of course!). How do you join us? http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736. We air each and every Thursday morning at 11AM EDT/8AM PDT. To get you primed for our Thursday adventure this week, here's one of the greatest clips from I Love Lucy on how difficult English (or Americanish :) can really be for a non-native speaker. http://artofeloquence.com/blog/lucy-english/


Scheduled Time:

Date: Thu, June 11, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM EDT

How to participate:

Call in:

1. Dial: (724) 444-7444
2. Enter: 19736 # (Call ID)
3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN

Join from your computer:

1. Click here to join the call or just listen along
2. (Optional) Become a TalkShoe member

Facebook user? You can join this Call dire

God's chisel

I was catching up with a friend on her blog and this You tube video just really touched me. I had to share it with you guys. Hope you get blessed too.

Freebies4mom great Home Depot giveaways and how you can bless others

I love Home Improvement stores. Since there are always projects to do around the house (especially our pre-civil war log cabin, remodeled, don't worry I got indoor plumbing now and even air conditioners as of yesterday, LOL) stores like Home Depot or Lowes are on my top list.
I wanted to share this great giveaway for 100 and 500 bucks from Freebies4 mom. If you win (or if you don't), please, consider initializing your purchase through our new site at the red link on the left side called Big N Marketplace. We will use the commission from your purchase for missions and poor families in my country of birth. We could get as much as 6% on any products we purchase thru August and 4% on any gift cards thru the month of JUNE (it returns to 2% on gift cards after). Commission on gift cards is very rare, so please, if you know you'll be going to Home Depot soon, consider ordering them thru our site. They are free shipping and a lot of Home Depot's stuff is with free shipping too. We have found a few more ministries we'd like to support and the commission would be a great addition to those checks. If you win the giveaway, shoot me an em, will ya? But I really hope I win. I need a new porch some kind of badly.
But Home Depot is not the only store you shop at, though, right? There are over 200 stores you can shop with free shipping. You shop at them anyway already. Most of my shopping is done on-line and some of the stores have site to store option (immediate pick up on in store items) . That was nice when I lived in a small town with the benefits of a large town. But, now, since I am in the middle of nowhere free shipping is especially helpful. So, I hope the commission adds up nicely so we can up our giving.

Home, sweet home, KY!

We are almost home. We stayed overnite in a hotel somewhere in Nashville and made it to Bowling Green, KY. We got another 1 1/2 hrs before we get home.
Here we split up. Hubby went to Home Depot and I ran to Sam's club (closest one to our home), which was closed and I had to kill 15 min. So, down to saver of all-Starbucks. While hubby and kids are sipping their overpriced drinks I hired my 13 yo to get me online so I can check my mail. Mail wasn't abundant so I decided to shoot a quick post. I won't have time on the computer this coming week since hubby is leaving Monday to CA to work and I will be unpacking everything I packed duing this pas week. So, busy I will be!
Hope y'all's summer is going great! Mine is a bit busy, but after unpacking, hopefully we'll be packing again to go on a job with dad, but that again, is Lord willing.
Be blessed and please, keep in touch. I do check my mail. Some people are addicted to coffee and some to em and www, LOL!

Who likes to say Good bye?

I definitely, absolutely, positively hate to say good byes. I can count on one hand the times I didn't really mind parting with a place, it was probably overseas and I was ready to get back to my "home" of about 11 years now-the good ole'USA!!!
But today was really hard. I had to leave a place I really grew to love. A place where the kids and I had friends and where we felt safe, accepted and loved. A place where for over 2 years we've grown, matured and enjoyed life to the fullest. I have held my tears till I had privacy and www connection at my in laws. Then I just let them flow. Maybe I am just being tired and emotional. Maybe the adventurous spirit is not part of my character as much as it part of my husband's. I don't know. I long for a place to settle and raise the kids. And I had one for the last 2 years. It's been great! I am very grateful. My heart overflows at His grace and Mecry. But my heart also aches.
After a gueling week (we started packing Monday and I finally handed the keys yesterday at 11 am) of packing we will be facing a whole week of unpacking 2 years' worth of stuff (husband calls it junk). But I don't have to think about it yet. Not for another few days. We left AL today and made it to LA about 7 hours with many stops. My wonderful mother in law had dinner ready for us and my father in law was very thoughtful to get a small birthday cake for our youngest, who turned 8 today. My headaches magically disappeared after their warm welcome.
God is so merciful to me. I can rest for a few days before making another long trip back to KY. Then, I will tackle the unpaking part and the most daunting one of finding places to put the things in our small house in KY.
We covet your prayers for a job for my husband. As of right now we are unemployed. Oh, please add in your prayers that we want to be together as a family. It has been a long year of separation.

Grace talk soup tune in tomorrow again!

I am so looking forward to tuning in to the Grace Talk soup tomorrow! Even though I know I'll be frantically packing, I can have my phone on speaker phone and nearby. I got tons of clothes to pack! Plenty enough for a 50 min segment!

I enjoyed it a lot last week! I called in a few minutes late because I was busy making 6 loaves of bread and welcomed my friend who ended up listening to the call on my speaker phone! I ended up listening to it again the next day on my iPod after downloading it straight to it. I found it very informative an encouraging.
So, if you have a minute even while working in the kitchen (like I was when I listened to the live call last week), or folding laundry, or cleaning your inbox, or whatever task you can easily do and listen at the same time, may I encourage you do it. Click on the badge on my side bar.

Oh, did you see I added an email me button? I was so excited to have found out how to do it. I've been wanting to for a long time but had not a clue how to. I found out from a very sweet blogger called Something I made and it took me a whole 5 mins to get it on. Thanks so much for being so generous to share the info and the images with us FREELY!
Get yourself one too! Super important for people to be able to reach you (comments have their place too though). Have a blessed day!

You know you are getting old when...

If I knew how to make those cute little buttons I'd make one named You know you are getting old when... and I know I'd have Mr. Linkys with some funny ones!

I've had so many "senior" moments lately I just had to blog about it. Ok, some of you might point out that it's not really a 'senior" moment (since I am only 35), but a condition called BMADD (Busy Mom Attention Deficit Disorder).

This week I have:

• walked out of my gym and almost started crying because I just could remember where I parked. I decided to walk around the parking lot instead of being a sissy.

• then, after I had found the car and dried it up, I drove away from my gym without checking my kids out from the kids' gym. The first and second were connected because if I had checked the kids out I would have been spared the emotional accident of blanking out on my parking spot. Actually I was in such a hurry to be at a softball game that I forgot to check out the playing kid. Thankfully I realized it by the time I got to the first traffic light when I realized no one has spoken to me in the last 3 minutes.
  

• Misplaced and found my phone at least twice, sun glasses once and keys, well never mind, it'll probably happen again next week.

What have you been doing with your mind lately?

Grace talk soup tune in tomorrow!

I am really enjoying listening to this newly found talk show. I added their widget on my sidebard. I really recommend it. It has been such an encouragement to me in my Christian walk. I am listening to the current one right now in the Defending the Faith Mini Series: "I'm a good person, why do I need God?" SOoooooo good. I hope to be able to tune in tomorrow for a new one! I can't even remember how I found these gals! I had it on my ipod yesterday and was on the track at my gym. I loved what I heard while sweating like crazy! I didn't even know I em subscribed. I got an em from them today reminding me about tomorrow's show and decided to check them out again. I am so glad I did!
Here is the info I got. check them out! Sub to them for updates if you like them. Reminders are so helpful in our busy age!

You have been invited by JoJo Tabares to join a live Community Call. Grace Talk Soup (Join in)
Host: Host-JoJo - jojo@artofeloquence.com
Episode: Defending the Faith Miniseries: "Men wrote the Bible, men make mistakes"
On the Menu: For the entire month of May, we will be discussing how to answer 4 of the most common questions and misunderstandings people have about Christianity. Another question from my study Say What You Mean Defending the Faith: http://artofeloquence.com/catalog.php?item=40&ret=index.php This week answers the common issue: "Men wrote the Bible, men make mistakes"
Call ID: 19736

Personal Message from the Host:

We answer the common issue, "Men wrote the Bible and men make mistakes." on tomorrow's Grace Talk Soup show. Join the discussion as Carla and I teach from my study, Say What You Mean Defending the Faith. All this month of May we are taking 4 of the most common questions and misconceptions the world has about Jesus from my study and answering them for you right on the air! We'll not only go through what to say, but most importantly, how to answer and treat each of God's children as an individual while you answer in grace. When: 8am PST/11am EST Where: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736 Or Call: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 19736 If you miss the live show, you can always listen to the audio recording in the archives: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736 This is a powerful month at Grace Talk Soup so please invite your friends and family to come listen in. Remember that we are giving away a free copy of Say What You Mean Defending the Faith this week for our contest! Just email us gts@artofeloquence.com to tell us where you shared our link and you are entered. The more you share, the more chances you have to win! We'll be picking a winner on Thursday morning before the show! God bless... JoJo (Lucy Linguist) and Carla (Ethel the Editor) http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736

Scheduled Time:

Date: Thu, May 21, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM EDT

How to participate:

Call in:

1. Dial: (724) 444-7444
2. Enter: 19736 # (Call ID)
3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN

Join from your computer:

1. Click here to join the call or just listen along
2. (Optional) Become a TalkShoe member

Facebook user? You can join this Call directly through the TalkShoe Community Calling Facebook application.

Listen to the Recording:
If you missed this event or want to hear previous recorded episodes click here.

I ♥ Faces: Blurb Book Contest - Amateurs

This week I ♥ Faces is doing something a little different. The picture I'm entering today will be considered for a Blurb book they are putting together.

It was not easy to choose just one photo for this contest. But one it has to be, out all the pics I've taken in one year with my DSLR. This pic was taken on a very short( one week) break that my husband was home from working overseas. It was a crazy, super hectic week. But he got a taste of what it feels like to have 4 kids in ball. This day my oldest had no game and no practice (wow, how about that?) but she was watching her youngest sister's game. It was kind of cold for Alabama and she was snuggling with her daddy. I let her borrow my beret and I just had to snap the pic. I love this photo! It gives me warm memories about my hubby who will be home in just a few days! We've been separated for almost a year, wish short breaks in between! We hope and pray to be together from now on, even it costs us a lot of money to fly me and 4 kids to be with dad.

So, here is my only entry into the Blurb Book Cotest at

Aren't they cute?

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

A very sweet photo bloggie friend came over today (an almost hour drive from her house to mine) and we edited pics together and I was sponging every tip from her!. We had so much fun together. I didn't want to rush her out! I had to take 2 kids to games and 2 to practices.
I loved learning today! The kids played happily, well, most of the time, after we ate lunch together. She also helped my oldest resize her very first hand made dress. My daughter is on cloud nine and will more than probably post it on her private blog. She looks cute as a button in it. I wouldn't have known how to resize a 14 down to a 10! I washed it and dried it in hopes of it shrinking but boy, was it still huge! Live and learn, but sew we did! I'll post her pic in another post! I think we got a ton of stuff done in about 3 hours! WOW! HOmeschool moms can really know how to squeeze a ton of stuff into a small amount of time!

Rosetta Stone Latin giveaway at Jen Ig's

I have personally tried Rosetta Stone a few times in our hsing journey and personally offered RS "help" on the Romanian version because I so want my kids to be able to talk to their grandpa. I don't know why I am not making a point to talk to them in Romanian.
Well, I know for one: I am lazy! I confess that is #1. All the excuses that the kids will speak the language of their peers is legit but it's not enough of an excuse.

• I am scared. I am not just scared of getting a ton more of rolled eyes, and i mean rolled eyes way out there in the back of their head! I am also scared of speaking Romanian in public or hearing my kids. Because of a few 4 letter words that have to be used like every other sentence in order to make a sentence in Romanian. That word is "Fac", which means I do. SO, nuf said here, I guess
  
• I am too busy and too tired of trying. I can't get my kids to listen to me and follow my directions in English. Examples just from the last few hours. Today my oldest dd wanted me to be there to help her finish her first hand made dress (at 9:30 at nite). I told her to stitch 2 rows so we can gather the skirt to match the bodice. She didn't do what I said. She was upset, so she set to do it again. She stitched way too far from the end and way too crooked. I gave her specific directions about both. My patience was fine, hers was wearing thin. You think I'd have patience in Romanian? 2 mins later my only son wants to beat me in a game of chess so badly that he doesn't hear me say: Can I please, make my move tomorrow (we play on line sitting next to each other on the couch, I know it's stupid but we get a kick out of it, besides, it's all recorded and I have proof if I win and I brag about it all over the www). So, I make a dumb move to just get it over and get him off my back and see him grin and think he is the smartest 13 yo in the world. He asks me why I made the stupid move. I tell him that I told him that I am tired and have to go to bed and he didn't listen to me, but kept moving. So, he doesn't hear me again and just gives me his queen as trade for my bad move. Can anyone hear me speak ENGLISH HERE? (and what am I doing blogging now when I was so tired that I couldn't play chess?)
  

Now, back to my topic, sorry.

When we lived in Louisiana the library there offered free access to any language of RS on line with the library card. We were spoiled rotten, I tell ya!Then, they shut that option down. I guess too many people were using it from their homes for FREE. I used it after we moved from the area till the card expired and RS decided it was time to stop the free use for everybody.
Now, I'd love to win any language of RS. It is an expensive program and worth it. So, I just saw this giveaway on my friend's blog and wanted to share it with all of you. Go enter too! YOu might win.

Rosetta Stone is the fastest way to learn a language and has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — and you can WIN the *all new* version 3 Rosetta Stone Homeschool LATIN program… FOR FREE! This is the first year you can get Latin in the brand new Version III update.

This is a $259 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!)
This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever! Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress- I love that!), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.

To win this most excellent Latin program copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR link to the contest from your facebook page and/OR email the information to your homeschool support group – Then go to the original page http://Jeneralities.com and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post. And good luck!

Vision Forum DVD giveway

Well, I just had to blog about another giveaway tonite, since it's going to be over tomorrow! It 's giveaway blog night, huh? Oh, but I did post some pics earlier too for the I heart faces challenge! Check it out a bit below. Its theme this week was laughter. Please, let me know if you like them.
So, hurry, if you want a chance, actually 4, if you try hard! My sweet friend Super Angel is offering one DVD from Vision Forum. I already chose mine and pray I win.

Camera strap slip cover giveaway!

Swanky Straps is having a great giveaway for a camera strap slip cover of our choice.

The slip covers measure 22” long by 2” wide. They are all reversible unless other wise noted and padded on either side, for your comfort.! Head over before I win! You get 4 chances to enter! I want a Hot Fire one! So, I'll be a hot mama taking pics! Oh, but now I saw the Tutti Frutti and feel bad. It's got some of my fav colors I couldn't find. Oh well, if I win maybe I can beg for a change!

I heart faces challenge-Laughter

This week challgenge at Iheart faces is Laughter! I had a really hard time choosing my fav pics.
I really am inspired by Iheart faces. It encourages me to get my camera out and take pics. I just love it. NO matter how busy I stay I have to find time to enjoy my hobbies.
For my kid entry I found this precious pic of a friend's daughter I took.

And of course for my adult entry there was no better choice than my very good friend with a gorgeous smile. Her laughter is as contagious as her smile! Back to work now!

Leaving the States and all that we are used to

Oh, I am not going to get into everything we are going to miss after we move from this great little town we grew to love. But, just one small thing I had to get out before my life turned totally crazy (as if having 4 kids playing ball is not crazy enough).
I was digging thru my pics today looking for 2 pics to enter in the weekly I heart faces challenge and just had to blog this pic as a reminder to myself. We will be leaving in a few weeks a place we've called home for over two years. We called home a small apartment in Panama City, Panama last year the whole month of August. The prices for food, imported food, which is everything that is not fruit or veggie grown locally, are outrageous! I am going to miss my favorite spagetti/pizza sauce. Check how much it is in Panama! I didn't want to look stupid taking pics of cream cheese ($3), cottage cheese and even meat! There are no sales there, people, OK? SO, next time you consider complaining about the prices in the grocery stores, just think how good we still have it here. We can clip coupons, order in bulk and shop sales fliers or just go to Walmart and match the prices from all the stores in the area. We have so many choices. Yes, food is getting more expensive here and so are our taxes on everything we buy. But, our salaries are not compared to the people in Panama or anywhere else in the world who have to buy food from the same store to eat! I, for one, am reminded and humbled daily not to complain. I feel blessed. But I will miss my Hunt's sauce for I haven't seen any tomatoes when I lived in Panama to make my own sauce. I'll have to get creative cooking there. I dread it, I'll confess, my friends. So, please, send me recipes without spagetti sauce!

Faith like Potatoes?! Yes, just like that!

Different title for a post, huh? Well, I wasn't the creator of such a witty title. But it took me to finish watching till the end to get the point.
We got the movie from Netflix a week ago and today was the first day we could actually find time in the pm to watch it. Every day of the week there is either games or practices (or both). Ds played Thur and Fri games. His are way long and go way late. I love family movie nite! I actually sat through the whole movie (except the last 15 min, it was getting too long for me to sit still) and cuddled with the girls.
I thought it was a great movie. A bit slow for more than half but oh, the message was so good. I loved listening to the characters' accents as well.

Here is a bit more info on the movie. Sorry I can't write more on my own review . I have a bad headache and need some rest but I just wanted to get this out asap before life gets even more hectic this week. I have to start packing seriously on top of a busy ball week.

So, here it goes. There is even a free discussion guide on the Christian Cinema site. Be blessed!

Faith Like Potatoes is an inspiring true story of a rugged South African farmer, Angus Buchan, and is set in the turbulent hills of the KZN Midlands. Angus' manic quest for material success is slowly transformed into a wild love for God and people, as he wrestles with faith, hope, natural disasters and tragic personal loss.

The DVD is loaded with bonus features, including:

• A fascinating 54-minute documentary on the real life of Angus Buchan
• The behind-the-scenes featurette of The Making of Faith Like Potatoes
• Director and cast commentary

Faith Like Potatoes won the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Sabaoth International Film Festival and Best Feature at the 2006 Mumbai International FICTS Festival.

Faith Like Potatoes is one of the top 5 grossing domestic theatrical releases in South African movie history.

The winner of my giveaway!

I am so excited to announce the winner of my first giveaway-4 Scripture Sleuth books! Check her out at Seasons of a Godly woman blog and congratulate this fellow HSB!
Thank you all for entering!

Week 17 - Photo Challenge at I ♥ Faces-hats

I couldn't find a picture for the adult category at I heart faces, one of my fav photo blogs, so I will only enter the kids'! there is still time. The deadline has been extended. If I can find an adult hat photo I'll add it tomorrow.

I love this one because it also reminds me when it was taken-on my hubby's most recent visit at home. He took us all to Johny Brusco's (our fav pizza place and it's walking distance from our home(for just another month).
So, my handsome 13 yo munching on some pizza. He knows he is cute already, so I am not gonna feed his pride. He doesn't read my blog though!

Question about blurring the background-is it possible with a point and shoot?

I had a an em from a reader and decided to post it since there are others who might the same question -How does one achieve the blurred background effect without a fancy camera?. I asked my very good friend from Endless Light Creations to help me answer this questions. Thank you so much, dear friend!
Hope this helps!
Bless y'all and happy pic taking!

Rachel asked:

I was looking at your blog about the photos your kids entered into the contest. I was wondering how you add the depth to the photos. I love photography but am new to the whole digital editing. I noticed your kids photos have the depth that has to be added back in but I have never known how to do it. I only have basic free editing software but can't afford the expensive ones. Is there a way to do it with the cheap ones? All I know how to do is crop and adjust the color.

Dear Rachel!
I didn't add the depth of field in post processing. That came about from the aperture setting in camera.

The best way to get that effect with a point and shoot camera is to:
1. Choose the portrait (head) setting.
2. Pull your subject away from the background.
3. Zoom in as far as you can with your camera (just the optical zoom, not the digital zoom.)
4. Step back to get everything you want in the frame.
5. Click the shutter.

Your mileage is going to vary with this method, but it gives you a place to start. Unfortunately point and shoots don't offer the flexibility of settings like an SLR or a DSLR camera does. Sometimes you can fool it into giving the results you want.

If you are more interested in learning about how your camera works, may I recommend the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's complicated, but I read it the first time while I still had my point and shoot. I keep my copy at the library, LOL.

Alien Skin Bokeh Giveaway at I ♥ Faces

This is a great giveaway at my favorite photo blog I heart faces for those who love photo editing software. Head on and comment, twitter, etc for more entries. I hope to win!

Edible giveaway on Mom Start

Ok, as you can tell I am on a roll entering giveaways (instead of sleeping). I already won one and offered my own. I found many giveaways that are worth to mention to my sweet friends. Who doesn't love sweets, just ignore this post. Whoever wants a $30 sweets' treat head on to Mom Start. She reviewed yummy stuff from http://www.ediblegiftsplus.com/. Many ways to enter, one entry per every twitter, wow! That's a lot of entries! Got plenty of time! I already satisfied my sweet tooth by eating half of a chocolate bar. Had to ask the kids to hide it. Hope they remember where (no, they don't like the chocolate I like, so I ain't worried about them eating it!). Ok, going to bed, I hope.

I can't believe I won that giveaway already!

Well, how about that? I won the MK giveaway I blogged about the other day! Yahoo! I just found this giveaway from the Springtime Carnival giveway. There are ton more giveways still going on. right now. Go enter and eme if you win something! Bless ya!

Mary Kay giveaway on Traveling Pilgrim

Since I am taking part in the Spring giveway I am entering some of my fellow bloggers' giveaways as well. I've been using MK products for a few months now and love them. Here is a great way to enter a giveaway for $20 worth of products. Enter away! There are more than one way! WOW! I didn't know I was good at poetry!

My first giveaway-set of 4 Scripture Sleuth books

This is my own first giveaway ever. Laura of Heavenly Homaker inspired me to participate and here I am. My children have really enjoyed these books. I just saw that #5 in this collection is out but at the time we ordered them there were only 4.

You can visit other giveaways on the blog. Other bloggers' Mr. Linky's links are right there. Just enter away the ones you really want!
My giveway ends on Cinco de Mayo! I will em the winner Wednesday, May 6th.

So, here are the ways to enter this giveway for extra entries. Please, comment back for each one to count as an extra entry.

1. Leave a comment why you would like to win this set.
2 Become a followers (right hand side link bar, just click follow). Please, comment that you did for that extra entry.
3. Blog about my giveway with the correct link to it.
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Arboretum photo contest-our kids' entries and victories

So, another year (and the last one since we'll be moving next month, sniff, sniff) in Auburn brought our 3 youngest children 3 more victories in the Arboretum kids' Photo contest.

Our victorious day started with a very late start (like 1 hr before the awards ceremony, thanks, baby for calling to wake us up), a quick run to Kroger to get some milk for cereal and milk (no time for cooking eggs and clean up) and a run to receive the prizes at the awards ceremony at the Arboretum. Right after we fried ourselves at the Auburn City Fest. Then I took one of the girls to an extra softball practice where she slid her behind off and got sunburnt to top it all. Then I dropped the oldest at the golf course, and repeated the pick up process a few hours later. Busy day, huh? The kids wanted to relax (LOL, they needed the relaxation) so they watched the Netflix treasure in the mail-box-The tale of Desperaux. I wasn't impressed at all but am enjoying the quiet to put this post together.

This year our oldest didn't want to spend the time taking pictures or editing them. He won first place in Youth last year. It was his last chance to enter in the Youth category, oh well. Can't push a kid, can you? But then, he'll have to compete against adults, ouch! The rules of no man-made ites in the picture unless taken in the arboretum is hard to follow, but for small touch ups PS and just simple Picasa is so handy!
The 1st place winner got 2 coupons for ice cream at our famous Cold Stone Creamery and the other 3d place winners got gift cards to Bruster's and Marble Slab.
You can sign yourself and your family for BD club on all these site. I didn't get a confirmation from the Marble slab people, but I didn't care for their ice cream the only time I had a cone there.
Their winning entries are listed first. Their other entries didn't even get an honorable mention. I was very bummed for their other entries were really the best and I wasn't prejudiced either!
I had fun teaching the girls how to edit in LR2. I framed and resized them using one of my favorite blogger's PS actions. So, enjoy!

This year, drum roll, please...
our dd2 won surprised us with

1st place with the entry titled

Family

Little Red Riding Hood
(please, don't ask why she titled it this way)

Sweat bud

lOur 1st dd won 3r place with her entry titled

Sunset

Heaven's lights

Princess Lou

And our youngest 7 yo dd won 3rd place with the The Boogie man

Heaven's violets

and... you guessed it! Elvis

Redeeming their prizes-free ice cream cones! Got to share, right?! Thin mints ice cream is so yum! Even mom got a few licks!

To drink or not to drink is not the question!

1. My dearest loves coffee. Fully leaded, an I don't mean caffeine, I mean sugar and cream and all the works (talk about calories here, baby!). So, this post is for him and for those whose wives or husbands have to have a cup of coffee every day to wake up and what not.
   

So Ok, baby, you've been trying to tell me that coffee is not unhealthy. I know you've emed me articles (from the www's most "reputable" sources) after I sent you ems from other REPUTABLE www's sources! I finally gave up on this "battle". Enjoy your cup baby, OK? Just don't let me see the sugar you put in there, OK? And I am Ok with the raw cream.

I don't have a problem with coffee, tea or whatever we enjoy, as long as it doesn't become an addiction. But I had no clue I really can get addicted too! I never allowed myself to be addicted to Starbucks or any special brand of something or other I wouldn't be able to live without if I was somewhere out in the boonies. Having withdrawals and headaches is no fun, you know. But, I have to admit I am addicted to

Hershey's Cacao Reserve Extra Dark Chocolate with Cacao Nibs

now. And I owe it to a very sweet friend of mine. Before the Reserve I could have a bag of Hershey's kisses in the house (hidden in my closet away from the kids of course) and eat one or two every once in a while. Well, the milk chocolate is a thing of the past. It is unhealthy you know! Now it's the dark chocolate thing. I ate a whole bar of Hershey's dark chocolate with cacao nibs in 3 settings. I didn't ever realize what I was doing till my last square. As I was winding down for bed time and playing a chess game with my 13 yo (he was beating me, so stress factor here, get it?) he sarcastically remarked that I am addicted to that chocolate. I was not, I defiantly spouted, and popped the last square in my mouth! Then I realized that I ate that whole bar, a square at a time all day long. I am ashamed to confess that I have an addiction now too! Ouch! They are also getting more expensive y'all. So, please, don't start it.
I have anothe addiction while I am eating chocolate:www. Oh, and I forgot that this one leads to another one-staying up late. Not healthy at all. So, here, you have it now. Sorry baby for judging your addiction so harshly.
Luke 6:37
" Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.

Back to coffee. I personally enjoy a good cup of coffee, not a bitter one though!. With NuNaturals stevia and raw (heavy) cream. I've finally found the perfect sweetener for coffee. I personally don't taste the aftertaste of Nubrands as other stevia brands ( which could be easily drank with lemon water or tea, but not in coffee, it's awful). But this brand has been my trusted friend in coffee for over two years. So, coffee is a rare treat. Maybe once a week or a month. So, I guess according to this video I am not drinking enough to get all the benefits coffee has to offer. So, I conclude that anything less than 6 cups a day is UNHEALTHY!
So, I cringe at the thought of me or a loved one getting addicted to less than 6 cups of coffee with sugar (since even NuNaturals stevia doesn't taste good to some) and the chemical laden dry or liquid creamers. I cringe, I bite my tongue and I pray.
I pray we are addicted to Jesus and his Word more than anything else. I pray we all learn to enjoy life and each other.
I am off to play a late game of chess with my oldest. It's finally quiet in the house, no one needs me and I can actually think to make a worth move. Oh, should I watch this not to turn into another addiction?

I ♥ Faces blurb giveaway

One of my dear Alabama friends introduced me to I ♥ Faces.
I don't think I've ever been the same again. I was encouraged and challenged to go out, use my camera, edit the pics and share them with the rest of the world out there. I entered into a free contest the very next day! I was so inspired by the multitude of moms and dads out there who just plain love photography. They have tutorials, giveaways and free contests! I hope to enter the Blurb giveaway. I am glad I have a bit more time than the self-portrait one. I took the pic in a hurry, edited it an hour before the deadline and couldn't go to sleep afterwards. I loved checking some of the other bloggers who linked to the contest thru Mr. Linky. I met quite a few homeschooling parents who are awesome photographers. I was so blessed to have met two very dear friends in Alabama who helped me with photography so much! The memories of all my friends I made in Alabama will linger with me for a life time! There isn't much time left before our move from AL to a location we don't know 100% yet, but I know I can always be connected with my Alabama friends! God is so good!

A tax poem

A TAX POEM

Since joining Entrecard I've had so much fun finding other bloggers (like I don't have enough to read already). I found this blogger today and just had to share. Please, read the post below the tax poem as well, about the Iraqi woman in the burka... Just too good to pass.
At first I thought this was funny...then I realized the awful truth of it. Be sure to read all the way to the end!

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxe s drove me to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax..
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food=2 0License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recu rring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility T axes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax


STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class=2 0in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians!' And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?!?!?!?

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!!!! YOU can help it get there!!!!
GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN !!!!!!

Gloating over a chess victory!? You bet! It was against my husband!

Dear Seasonsmom,
You won the game titled Challenge against your dearest husband ,
Your new rating is 1400,

Game PGN:
[Event "Friendly game"]
[Sit "www.chesshere.com"]
[White "Seasonsmom"]
[Black "benderdundat"]
[WhiteElo "1400"]
[BlackElo "1442"]
[Date "2009.04.21"]
[EndWay "Check Mate"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 h6 5. e5 Nc6 6. Qc3 Qe7 7. Bf4 dxe5 8. Nxe5 Qe6 9. Bb5 a6 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. O-O c5 12. a4 Qd5 13. Na3 Bd6 14. g4 f6 15. Rad1 Qe4 16. Qg3 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Rxe5+ Ne7 20. Rxc5 O-O 21. Rxc7 Re8 22. Rxe7 Bb7 23. Qc7 Bf3 24. Rxg7+ Kf8 25. Qf7#

Today was a very victorious day for me. I was so hoarse after yelling at my youngest dd (7) softball game that I can't even scream for myself now! By the way, she played shortstop and she was so awesome helping her team win 17 to 14. First win they won this season! Oh, was I happy for her!
I know, I know it's not very Godly to gloat over a win in softball or any other sport for that matter. But I WON! I had a chess victory, against your own hubby! I really, truly wish I had a flesh defying victory in my walk with Christ. But nothing in this area to brag about! But this chess victory-it might be my only chance ever! I've got to record it for posterity! It's for y'all, my kiddos! Remember your momma! A person with many interests and talents! I normally am pretty humble if you really get to know me :)
So, I beat my very analytical minded husband in 2 on-line games of chesshere.com. He resigned from the first one and tonite I got the honor of saying CHECK MATE, baby! How about that? Two games, can you hear me? Not one! So, I am in intellectual heaven, if there is such a thing. I am not a very smart person, even though I speak 3 languages fluently and can switch back and forth in a conversation or in writing, I don't consider myself very bright. I just had to Miriam Webster (on my links bar for easy access at all times, easy for kids too, just click and type your word, don't ask your mom!) the word fiend! So, see, I don't even know many words in English! I am learning every day! I am so blessed to be able to homeschool my kids and learn new things every day!
So, to back it up I started playing chess seriously a month or so ago. I mean really playing, like a game or two per day with the kids. The stinkers were beating me mercilessly. Now, if you know me long enough you'd know how much I hate losing now. I cry like a baby when I lose. I run to my closet if my kids are laughing too hard. I am a perfectionist, I admit it.
Well, that's what I got for forcing my kids to learn chess. I've been taking them to a small chess club (with our homeschool group) that meets in our local library for about an hour once a week and making them learn from chesskids site. I have to keep a tight eye on that door so no kid sneaks out before the hour is up. In the meantime I would visit with another mom or do something. Not anymore. Last chess club I played my 11 yo d and she beat me! But I didn't let it stop me! I will push on! Now, with two victories under the belt I might be getting thirsty for victory!
I love you baby! Thanks so much for inviting me to play for points now! I promise, I won't rub it in again. That's it.
I think I can go to sleep early tonite! No more analysis boards to study, no blogging or picture editing! I can truly rest in my victories. Life is so much fun! God is so faithful!

I heart faces Week 15 - Photo Challenge Self-portrait (Kids Category)

This is my first time ever participating in this kind of contest! It's free and fun! I found so many homeschool moms who love photography! It really helped me get out and use my camera! You go now! THere is another one every week! Check them out!


Out of all 4 kids only 2 were willing to help me! Oh well, my 2 only lenses weren't too much help either. But I better hurry up and post before the deadline closes!
I was holding the camera in front of me! That was not easy! But I had a ton of fun!

Can't wait to revamp my blog

I've been itching to revamp my blog and had hoped that I can tackle this problem on my own. But, oh, what a mistake! I felt like a basket case when I saw how my 3 column template messed up on me! I also have so many widgets and buttons that I am super afraid to do any more at this point, especially, since my previous normal 2 column template failed to save.
So, since I am a busy mom to 4 kids, the sole driver and adult in this family at the moment (not for much longer, hubby should be home end of May and we might be all together again) I decided to ask for help. I've asked a homeschool graduate for help but she never got back with me. I twittered, but no answer. So, I finally asked another one. I hope it doesn't take long for I don't think I can stand it much longer.
It's way past my bedtime but here I am sitting listening to a level 3 Spanish podcast (it's finally quiet and I can listen to more complicated stuff like future tense or present perfect, yuck!) after checking cool photo, homeschool and parenting blogs, spending 15 min on Waste book and reading homeschool info in search of new curriculums. But I am getting very hungry and need to head on to bed before I make the mistake of eating past midnite!
But I just wanted to blog and let my friends know that tomorrow there will be pics! I am on a photo assigment. I'll be posting a self-portrait (after I take one with one of the kids) and the girls' photo entries for the local Arboretum. They did an awesome job and I can't wait to see if they won any categories.
So, hang in there, thank you for being patient with me and my blog. Till then, if you are in mood for beautiful photo blogs I've added the buttons for on the sidebar. There are more photo (hoomeschool moms too!) bloggers all the way on the bottom of the middle (supposed to be left) side column. So, go drool there please, till I get my act together and fix my blog the way I envision it in my mind. I didn't buy my 40D for reasons of continual excuses, did I?
Oh, and can you tell I got a new toy this year, way past my Bday again, but it was my own fault for I couln't figure out what I wanted anyway? You can see the blog version of my iTouch in the right hand corner of my blog, so cute. I love my iTouch. I love listening to free educational podcasts and being able to check my mail in wifi spots or read it off line. I've learned today things we are learning with the kids in history right now. How cool is that? Reinforcement! But that's another post of its own. I'll blog all about it in a few days so, if you haven't been using the free iTunes educational things you won't be missing them ever again!
Have an awesome day!

The entrecard world is addictive!

I should be sleeping, as I promised my husband on the phone tonite. But, it is not easy to reprogram your body to go to sleep earlier if one's been doing it for a long time now. But it is a brand new school day tomorrow and I should be up and early tomorrow. But, I found a cool site with links to Christian bloggers who use Entrecard (a neat, but time consuming tool my bestest and dearest friend took a lot of her precious time to help me figure out, you know I am forever grateful for every minute we spend on the phone, I love you so much! You are a treasure).
So, after the hours we spent talking she sends me a link to this great blog that has compiled a list of other EC bloggers who are Christian! Beware, EC is addictive. Like I said, I should be sleeping, not dropping cards on other blogs!
I found so many cool uplifting blogs. One of them had a very interesting Youtube video I just couldn't resist sharing. I don't have cable but did enjoy watching an episode of American Idol one time while working out at the gym, so I was familiar with the judges and their attitudes to contestants. This one really blew me away. What a lesson in not judging the person by looks, age, etc. The lady reminds me of my mom so much. I miss her terribly. Yesterday whould have been her 69th birthday. I totally forgot to call dad and just talk to him. I knew he'd be in a very sensitive mood, which I usually avoid, but it really totally skipped me! I talked to him just a few days ago but it would have been really good if I did it on mom's birthday. He is so lonely.
But you enjoy this lady, who should have been famous many years ago. I haven't heard a voice like hers in a while!

Math can be fun, right?

Yes, we do our school at home. All of it, not just the homework! We love it, well, most of the time!!!
No, we don't always allow our kids to fall asleep on the couch doing their school. This child happened to have been woken up by a performance driven teacher (mother) on an early Monday am. But the child was very grateful not to have to get on a yellow bus but instead she relished the warmth of a fuzzy blanket and a hot breakfast in her tummy. She let her teacher know quite a few times, which perplexed the teacher some. The teacher was looking for the reason of such extended gratitude.
The child must have been struggling with some allergies too for she had a bad headache (thus, so many thank you, but can I skip school today, please?). Teacher was in no mood for getting out of work that am, so she told her to suck it up and get it done. Can't be that bad, right? Start on your favorite subject. She did. 15 min later she was snoring blissfully and the teacher grabbed her fancy camera for later blackmail. The less driven teacher let her get a good nap after which the headache cleared up the math gone done, as well as the rest of the subjects.
So, that's my quick story. That's my math wiz, asleep attempting to do her Saxon math. Please, no offense to those who totally adore Saxon. It just not the favorite with me. But, my dd1 asked for it, I got it for her used! I couldn't stand it, she fell asleep doing it at least 3 times in the last 3 months.
A dear blogger friend told me about Teaching Textbooks! We got them and started using them. I loved the ease of the computer doing the grading, till we had 3 comp crashes that lost all the grading. Oh well, we are not too concerned. But now the same friend blogs about a funny math curriculum that gets results. So, if we go that route I know there won't be any falling asleep on the couch math princesses! Check out the life of Fred when math seems too boring. Oh, and if you do end up buying it, please, go ahead and thank my sweetsavages blogger friend and me for letting you know! So, to answer my own question-yes, math can be fun and I intend to make it this year!

My first Youtube video, took me that long!

I really should be working on helping the kids edit their photos for our Arboretum photo contest. Instead, please, don't ask me why, for I don't know why, I uploaded my first Youtube video. It was way too cute to not share it with my friends.
We went to the country of my birth, Moldova, in 2005. We totally forgot about buying a camcorder and capturing those precious memories with my dad. But, a few of them did make it somehow. After a computer HD crash it was a very heart tugging moment to find a few of these precious videos. Our kids are so grown now and it's so fun to watch these videos.

Hail, Alabama!

We've lived in Alabama for over 2 years now. The weather hasn't surprised us as much as it did this year. The amount of rain, the fluctuations of temperatures have really been amazing, to say the least. The first year we moved here I attempted to garden. Without any rain I gave up on gardening in AL the same year. But, I wish I didn't this year, even after getting rid of the dog who dug up my raised beds. This year has brought so much rain that my poor son can't keep up with out lawn. He wishes he had the customers he acquired his first year. We've had rain upon rain. With quite a few tornadoes, one touching down just miles away from our home only days before our first snow on the first day of March. Then yesterday we had the tornado sirens going off numerous times and then hail! Now, the kids thought it was super cool and even wanted to dissect some. But, in their business with the friends who got stuck at our house in the middle of the storm the hail pieces melted. I was glad for I had no clue how to help them safely in that process. I really wished dad was at home to figure that one out and take over the hands on science lesson.
During hubby's stay a few games were cancelled due to very wet fields but each girl had a chance to display softball skills! DS had tryouts on the same day with games and he wouldn't have been able to be there if dad wasn't home. He must have really prayed. For with 2 games going on simulateneously there was no way for me to be 10 miles away for his tryouts! Talk about thanking the Lord for divine intervention in sending dad home at the right time! Lord, you really care for me, don't you?
So, cold one day, T-shirt weather another the week has been quite a different one. Poor hubby looked very chilled after the girls' games. I wondered why he grew a beard while living in the tropics for the last year. But it came in handy in AL spring! He wasn't at the ball fields in the fall either. That was cold, it wasn't bad at all this past week. LOL! I thought, surely, after hubby's departure the weather will act perfectly. But, sneaking up on us, it continues doing so. Here a few pics of the week with dad. Enjoy! Was able to edit some, but am getting way tired to continue. Have a great Easter and may the meaning of a resurrected Christ me so ever clear to you, my friends! Bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus!

And there was first day and there was first nite and it just wasn't good

I drove my husband to the airport yesterday. We had a full 8 days together as a family. It was all good. Except that it was weird again to sleep alone in our bed and have a different schedule without him today. First nite and first day. They weren't bad. But they weren't good. They were without him. No, the days weren't lonely, oh no! No time for that! They were very busy with taxing kids to practices clear across town from eah other or making sure school gets done. But the nites can get lonely, even with a kid in your bedroom. Oh, let me explain here.

We have 3 girls. They all share one room. If you have even 2 girls you know that sharing a room with tons of clothes and girls' things can be very challenging. Well, since my husband's new job out of the country I've decided to let one girl share our bedroom (it's sort of long and narrow, so plenty of room for a twin size bed) and hoped for some sanity if only 2 share a bedroom. So, the oldest had her turn first. That was a huge blessing for the younger ones.
Then the middle one was relieved to finally have her privacy and last nite our 7yo baby inherited the privilege for the first time. I overheard her talking to her Build-a-bear Annie (she is really a bunny, not a bear) telling her how cool it was to have half a room all to herself and not to have to pick up behind her sisters. It was way too funny to listen to her.
It's been different to have a child share my bedroom. My "sanctuary" has never been the same since. I've had more of my kids' friends see my bedroom mess that I care to even mention. How can I stop an innocent friend who is not spying on me really, but just trying to play with my girl's dollhouse, which happens to be in my bedroom? It takes them a few days to get adjusted to their new location, my bathroom and the ease of getting to it on the first floor. But after that it's so ingrained in their smart, little brain that it's hard for them to get adjusted back to the old girls' room. One girl went a bit farther that we thought in that respect on hubby's recent visit.
While hubby was home our middle daughter( who shared the bedroom with me prior to his arrival) wondered into our bedroom at nite after a bathroom trip. She was desperately trying to get back into her bed which, by that time, had dad's suitcase and stuff on instead. We couldn't figure out the noise since we were woken up by the continuing sound and, finally, I investigated. Needless to say, it was absolutely comical and we could laugh in the middle of the nite at a poor child's embarassment, and not ours...
So, life it is different. My days and my nites. But it's a stage in my life I FINALLY learned to accept. Gracioiusly, mercifully, joyfully as need be! My room hasn't been the exact pristine picture I'd love to see myself on a daily basis and I've been embarassed lately, but, truly, I have no time to clean up my mess right off sometimes because I am too busy making sure the kids get their rooms cleaned ( so no one is stealing underwear and socks from each other (my girls like to hide them anywhere but the laundry basket so they buy the undies and socks from me lately for a charge of a quarter per each, period). In a rush to get out of the door to a game or a practice or grocery I drop some clothes on my bed in a hurry and then they build up. In fact I keep a (neat, most of the timet ) pile of clothes on hubby's side of the bed and when a kid attempts to lead me with a glance to my mess when rebuked of theirs, I have an excuse: it's there so I don't feel like dad's not there at nite. Yeah, right. It worked a few times. When I do get to clean my bed totally and get to organizing my drawers and such they wonder... Inconsistency has been a monster and I want to kill it! Anyone wise enough out there to tell me how? Please, make sure your advice it's free and not an ebook to buy, for I can't afford it in today's economy :)

Supervising the kids cleaning their messes has taken a huge chunk of my time, not to mention the ball season and other things going on in our lives at the moment. But, truly, without modeling the order, patience, kindness and other things we've been struggling with here lately, should I expect the desired results? No, not really. So, off to my lonely, messy bed I must go to make it right. Denial has never helped anyone. A kid is finally asleep in my bedroom, lights won't bother her. The house is quiet (almost if that teenager can finally settle down too!) and I can actually hear myself think and can pray outloud and no one but Jesus would hear. Wish me another day and another nite without hubby to be a productive one tomorrow. One filled with service and love for my family or others in need. I'll just take it one day at a time. Lord willing, we can make it victoriously for another 2 months and then we can be together again. Pray for us, for our job situation. We want our family together again soon.

A weekend to remember

"Forgiveness is the oil of relationships" Josh McDowell

My dearest friend Beth has mentioned how much she'd enjoyed attending this Family Life A weekend to remember marriage conference with her hubby. She prayed for doors to open for us to be able to sneak away for a few days and be refreshed. I've tried numerous times to schedule one but with hubby working out of the country and coming home for just a few weeks in between it seemed like an impossibility. Matthew 19:26 assures us that With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." So, her prayers were honored this past weekend.
Our friends helped us split the kids so we can sneak out without guilt and remorse. All the kids ended up enjoying the company of their own friends and didn't even miss us one little bit! Sniff, sniff...
It totally rocked to be with just my husband this weekend! I really didn't want to return home to the daily grind, but most of all to the reality that upon our return I'll have to help him pack to leave again. But, we were both refreshed and renewed in our commitment to our marriage. See, since July of last year he's been working out of the country, coming home for 1 to 2 weeks after 8 weeks of work. So, it's been very taxing on all of us. Please, pray for our family to be together. We really need it. Our kids are growing so quickly and being separated is not an option for our family. We will be separated for another 2 months or till my dh completes the project he is committed to in Jamaica. But we don't know what after that. We really would all like to be together.
I don't really have time to expound on all the things we've learned this weekend (house is a wreck and laundry is piled high) or the things we did together, but I will say we learned to brand the motto of the conference "Love like you mean it" on our hearts. I learned that I didn't really forgive or love as I should have. A lot more came out of the weekend and I'd like to encourage any one, regardless of the state of your marriage to make it a point and get away to attend this conference. Ok, I'll just mention that we ate at a very different restaurant this time for the Saturay sweetheart time of the conference and enjoyed it a ton! We really wanted to make it to the Sundial but they couldn't change our reservations to a later hour! Hubby agreed we'd have to make it a point to go there next time! So many choices, so little time, huh?
Last day of the conference we were eating b-fast in the hotel when Ben tried to make conversation with an older lady sharing our table. She happened to be Russian. We were tickled pink and ended up praying for her (she was in Atlanta for treatment of her sciatic nerve) and just let her talk about her life. We wished we had more time that morning. Needless to say, it was hard to break away from her and wee were a bit late for the session that morning, but it was well worth it. I didn't know I'll get to speak Russian twice that day!
I also was able to stop by a Russian store in Atlanta on the way back home. It was so crowded with elderly people from a nursing home eating borsht that I had to have mine to go and enjoy a huge serving of buckwheat! Oh, I was in heaven! I also didn't have to share it with anybody. Hubby doesn't have a huge appreciation for neither of those. He had a khachapuri instead with some Community coffee he was very surprised to find the Russian store serve.
My loot is pretty incredible (to me). I won't bore you with the detailed description but I'll just share with you some pics. I know you won't beg if you can come over and have me share some red caviar on a piece of buttered (you heard me, it has to be buttered) whole wheat bread or kvass or some of that cold smoked mackarel. So, I'll just suffer in silence and eat it all by MYSELF, well except the candy. The kids are conniving a plan on figuring out my stash. I only share with them one a day so that it can last for at least week. Those caramel truffles were a true find. They are so good!!! Oh, and I almost forgot that halva(h)! It's the thing in the container with the green plastic lid! It is a scruptious, very high fat, sweet desert. This particular one is sesame seed based. See the link to Wiki to see how different countries make different halva(h)s. The one we had in Bosnia was a bit different that the one I had in Moldova, Russia or Ukraine.
The only thing hubby got was a bottle of Borjomi, which is naturally carbonated mineral water from the country where we got married-Soviet Georgia! He was very patient waiting for me in that store filled with foods that brought back so many childhood memories. I tried to hurry and didn't even explore half of the store.
So, that was my weekend to remember. Company of dearest friend and husband, wisdom for a lifetime, food and all! Please, continue praying for our family. We covet all your prayers! We want and need to be together!