I'm leaving.....

in an Expedition with 3 kids driving to LA without my hubby...... The kids and I are heading out to my brother's wedding in LA tomorrow morning. J will be renting a car and meeting us Friday. Then we will rid back together. I sure hope I don't forget anything crucial. We have snacks at the ready and I am packing a lunch for me so that I don't eat fast food. They kids all have great metabolisms so they can eat all the junk they want... Me on the other hand... 40 is approaching quickly..

Tonight A has his final basketball practice, and although he is going to miss the last game, I told him that he has to practice with his team. I also have Bible study tonight and I don't want to miss it. We are doing Beth Moore's Esther and I am enjoying it. One day I will write about it here.

Ok I am off to pack!! Did I mention that this is the first time that I have made this trip without J driving??? Should be an adventure.

Sibling Battles, Family Love and Friendships

My boys have been fighting a lot lately. And not just any fighting, but they ugly talk fighting. I absolutely HATE potty words. My oldest thinks it is funny to say that his younger brother eats poo then the younger brother gets angry and starts choking his brother. You could say "boys" but I will NOT tolerate it!! They have a friend that talks this way all the time and the parents do nothing about it and it drives me NUTS!! So I had a long talk with them about family. I told them about all my "best" friends I had growing up and how I haven't seen any of them in years!! YEARS!!! But I still have my brother. Sure we fought and bickered, but we still love each other and would be there for each other at a moments notice.

Then I got to thinking about my "friends". It is sad to say but I really have had friends for quite some time. Sure there were ladies that I did things with, but generally I was never part of "the group" They all had babies and I didn't, then they had school age children and I had a baby. I was left out of mom's night out because I wasn't a mom. Then I was left out because I couldn't participate in the 'birth stories" that always seemed to happen on any ladies' trip.

A few years before we moved here we had several "friends" turn on us. It was the most aweful experience and hurt beyond belief. I felt rejected and accused. Nothing I said was heard and I was interrupted before I had a chance to speak. The could that went there to "supervise" the lynching, said word none to my defence.

Then we moved, "you'll be back" was the one comment we heard the most. Not "we will miss you". Why would I want to go back?? Nobody will miss me!! And they didn't. The first 4 years we were here not a single "friend" called to see how we were doing. We called them a couple of times but it is tiring being in a one sided friendship. So we dropped it.

God has blessed me recently in several ways. First he has placed a really good friend in my life. I can call her anytime and say "let's do dinner" and she is there. We talk and laugh and it is the kind of friendship that I love. Second He has re-placed a dear friend (and her hubby) back into our lives. I have missed this lady for so long, but circumstances pulled us apart, and I missed her. We got together last time we were in LA and it was like old times.

God is a faithful friend. He will never leave us. During the time of "friendlesness" He has enabled J and I to grow close in such a way that it is amazing. I love spending time with him, he is my favorite person to be around and the love of my life! I couldn't ask for more. God has also showed me that sometimes "friends" can be our downfall. They can take us away from the things that are important. He wanted us here in TN and if we had really close friends then we would have never moved. It would have been too hard. I saw the removal of friends from our lives as a pruning. He wanted us to grow and these friendships were not allowing it. Pruning is painful, but it is necessary for growth.

Many of my old friends I have reconnected with and I love chatting with them and reading about what is going on in their lives. God has healed a lot of old wounds and I am glad that I went through the hurt. It was the only way for growth and for me to learn to fully trust in God.

He is Faithful!!

R

Another Dress for L

I love this pattern from the Handmade Dress it is easy to make and very fulfilling. I made it for my brother's wedding at the end of the month. L asked me if she could bring one of her dolls to the wedding and I said yes, so of course I thought Chloe needed a new dress too. I love this fabric line. It is the Stonehill Collection and I picked it up at Joann's when it was 1/2 off. Of course I bought way too much so I will have to figure out something to make with the rest.

Excuse L's hair.... So, now I need to make a skirt for myself and if I have time a new top. Have a great day today. The kids and I have a bit of running around to do.

R

I Hate Math

My hate for math began around the 5th grade. Fractions are evil and I hate them!!LOL

Well, my oldest is in 5th grade.... and he needs me to explain fractions...ME!! So I take his book and read it. Now I do have to say that I wish I had this math book when I was in the 5th grade. They really explained it well, and all that I learned came flooding back. So I was able to explain it to him.

I have no problem admitting to my kids that I don't really know something. I want them to know that learning is something we do our whole lives. J was in school almost our whole marriage!!LOL But I do see a time when A's math will have to be done with dad in the evenings. I am thinking that, until then, I will need to read his math book first so that I can know what to expect when the questions come.

I love teaching my kids and in the process I have learned so much. I have learned a lot about my kids and how they learn, and that helps me help them with their work. I have learned that I love homeschooling. I never doubted that I would, but I am glad that I do. I love spending the day with my kids. I waited so long for them, that I cannot imagine someone else spending all day with them and I only get nights and weekends... I would miss them too much.

Have a great day!! The kids and I are heading out for our weekly fun day. I have no idea what we are doing, but it will be fun!!!

R

Bread and random stuff

Sorry no pictures so you will have to use your imagination...LOL

This so far is the best loaf bread recipe that I have made. It came out nice and full. I used whole wheat spelt flour so it didn't rise as high as I would have liked but it was still yummy!!! I also used 1/2 the honey so it wasn't as sweet. I don't care for sweet bread unless it is a breakfast bread. I also didn't use the lecithin or gluten... that may help with the rise too.

Oh well, I am sure this thrilled you all beyond belief.

I do have to say that the Lord has answered a long time prayer request and I am so happy. Thrilled really, and no we are not adding onto our family...LOL

Well, we are looking at a few more days of cold, and we only have one more day of wood left. Not too sure what we are going to do about it. It has been a fairly cold winter this year. We seemed to skip fall. Maybe spring will come early. I am ready to get the veggie plants in the ground. J wants to make the garden a tad bigger this year but because our back yard is very shady we don't have much room. Oh for more land!! I would gladly take a smaller house on more land!!!!

I am waiting on a few patterns to come in from Canada. I want to make the girl and I a few shirts and skirts for the spring and summer. I have a few skirts for her planned I just need to cut them out and sew them up.

Well, I guess that is enough. The kids needs to get their chores going and then start schoolwork.

Have a wonderful day everyone

R