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.
4. Subscribe to my RSS via em or reader

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!