Q is for Quack

OK, so this one is a tad late. It took me forever to come up with a Q photo.

Nana filled ten Easter baskets for ten grandkids last weekend... and the ducky went to baby K - who's not much of a baby any more with his amazing vocabulary, size 6 diapers and high tech computer and gadget skills.

Trust me, the chocolate is all gone from Easter... and it will take until NEXT Easter to walk it all off.

What are you taking pictures of for the A B See Photomeme?

More info about this alphabetical photo meme is below...

Join up for the Homeschool Post has A B See Meme (an alphabetical photo meme) for a chance to win a prize each month. Each week they put FIVE of the best alphabet pictures on their blog each week to showcase them and once a month, a random winner is selected from the best photos of the month. All you do is upload your photos to their Flickr Group - so you don't even technically have to be a blogger to join... you just have to have an alphabetical themed photo and a flickr account! By the way, Flickr is free!

The meme is posted on Fridays each week and you don't necessarily have to start on the letter A or go in any particular order or at any particular speed... and you can skip weeks or not - up to you entirely.

Here are the links to the past few 'A B See' posts I have done here:
A is for antique.
B is for bugging big-sis.
C is for computer.
D is for digger.
E is for eat... and Elmers.
F is for fried rice.
G is for goofy girl.
H is for Heather.
I is for insect.
J is for joy.
K is for Kreative Spelling and Killer Homeschool Deals.
L is for live music.
M is for matryoshka.
N is for national cemetery.
O is for Orchids and Opryland.
P is for Pregnant.

Tip: Use the dictionary to get ideas if you are stumped on a letter. No excuses! Get clicking!

You have until each Friday morning to load your picture on the Flickr group and be considered for the top five that will be displayed next week. [If you notice - mine is LATE, like most everything else in my life besides this little munchkin in my tummy hopefully.] Don't forget: A prize goes out each month to one random participant!

Sidewalk Talk

I'm aware ever so much more as the days pass that time is fleeting. I can't believe how big the big kids are getting... shoe sizes larger than life, long limbs and faces thin and grown-up.

I look from the almost three-month old baby's round soft new face into the gaze of an almost grown child, already fourteen. All in one minute I am young and old, happy and sad... proud and scared.

Always, I'm just a little lost.



The cousins drew chalk pictures on Nana's sidewalk this past weekend. They talked about their favorite bands and kept the little kids busy. They ate too much chocolate. It was such a beautiful day and relaxed weekend. I didn't want to come home.

It's been crazy here lately. Three doctor visits this week for Morgan's back -- insurance hassles -- errands to run -- bills to pay -- piano recital this weekend -- the daily craziness of two little ones and not enough wipes and diapers to go around. I've been feeling floppish in the homeschool category lately -- which makes for very unbloggy feelings.

And I did mention I was busy, right?



I keep wondering when -- if ever -- I can be a blogger again? The blog is so back seat lately... even if my mind is still churning out blog posts that will never see the light of day. It's getting the time to merge fingers, thoughts, and photos together in one moment that makes a blog post public. Those coordinated occasions are unlikely with my current family dynamic: teen, tween, toddler and tiny baby.

That's part of my new tagline. Like it? One of every flavor.

These are my ... Prodigious Times.

Monumental. Chocked full. Crowded. Complicated. Singular. Remarkable. And I'm quite certain: Unforgettable.



I find that I'm marveling as much as I'm mad lately. We skate from toddler crisis to explosive baby moment... lunge from teen temper flare-up to tween hormone melt-down. I have the gamut of parenthood possibilities: the complete age range of children under one roof.

I'm sure there will be much wisdom gained if we all live to tell the story one day. Until then, I'm enjoying the moments (most of the time)... and trying to remember to get the camera out.

Resurrection

There are disappointments in life, it's true.

I have had to let go of people: you can't make them love you, you can't please them all, we are all terminal - and our loved ones eventually will pass on.

I have had to let go of dreams: growing up, you realize that many of the dreams of youth aren't attainable... and when you raise a family, many times a parent must sacrifice dreams for reality's needs.

I have had to move away from places I loved... and I've been stuck - unable to afford to go places and see people I care about for various reasons.

We've had our down and out days... floods ravishing our homes, jobs lost, friends and family dying, dangerous situations, desperate times... hearts breaking.

But there has always been this:

Job 19:25 ~ "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth."

I know that whatever comes, I have an eternal reward waiting. There is comfort and hope in the Gospel story because of my Lord's resurrection and promise of eternal life for those that love Him. Even if there is pain on this side of eternity...

John 17:24 ~ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

Take away a man's purpose, and you take away the meaning from his life. Purpose is essential. The Christian has purpose because of the resurrection of Christ.

He rose again. That means there's more to this life than heartache and eventually dust.

People may fail you. Life may hurt.

But JESUS LIVES.

I know my redeemer lives. And that makes all the difference in the world.

May your heart be open to Him and His promises this Easter... as the world celebrates his resurrection and the promise of His return. May you find healing and hope in His Word. He's the only thing that won't disappoint.

My Homeboys

I'm still here, working on getting myself moved to WordPress in the background. There will be construction dust for a long time, I figure. Everything is slow going in my world right now.

I did manage to get the big camera out last week and snap these shots of the boys while they sat together in front of the window. Totally candid despite their smiles once they figured out I was taking pictures.

There are some things you just can't do with Instagram. Long live DSLRs and blogging. Amen.

Why this Blog is Blank

Lately the days just seem to be running together. I looked back on my April calendar and almost every appointment has an X through it because I have been so absorbed with just living life with four kids.

Nobody told me that laundry and housekeeping for SIX was the devil. All you people who are blogging out there - who are homeschooling out there - with more than four kids... you are MY HEROES. True dat.



I stood up today and hardly ever stopped - moving, cleaning, cooking, gathering, sorting, feeding, shuffling, driving, walking, picking up, folding, putting away, tucking in, rinsing out, pouring, shutting, checking, ... and here I am...

...finally...

at 11:24...

...able to SIT.

The muscles in my arms are quivering like I had been swimming all day. Did you ever do that as a kid? Swim ALL day long and be almost jiggly rubber when you were done? SO stinkin' tired that you could hardly do anything but eat, drink, and fall into a pile of pillows on a couch or bed and DROOL?

That's me the past 2 months. A puddle where I once was. Just call me 'slushy'.

What's sad are all the blog posts that will never see the light of day. You'll just have to trust me that I can write interesting and encouraging things... stories about family, about my grandparents, about children and motherhood, faith-filled devotions, great homeschool tips and ideas...

They pop in to my head while I'm doing all that STUFF up there in paragraph number three. They pop in to my head when I'm about to fall asleep. They pop in to my head when I'm in the shower (the only 10 minutes a day when I am not in charge of someone else).



And then, they disappear in to the urgent moments that swallow up the rest of the day. "Do the next thing. Do the next thing. Do the next thing..." ... "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can..."

Someone needs to invent a waterproof recorder so you can dictate notes in the shower. To yourself.

Yes, I know I'm crazy.



Anyway... I'm still here. I'm still homeschooling (barely - but I'm sure it will get better). I'm still a blogger (I think). I'm still moving to WordPress (eventually). And I still love you for checking in over here while things are so quiet. Trust me, they are NOT quiet in my house!

I love you forever,

Relevant Sponsorship Request for October 2011

1. Conference Divas, 2. iPhone Pic, 3. Wonderful Grace, 4. Ann Voskamp, 5. Hot Mama, 6. Broken Phone, 7. Silver Reminder, 8. Beth and Cheryl, 9. The Kiss of a Friend, 10. Flowers, 11. Pregnant, 12. Traverse Dash, 13. Chevy Reflections, 14. Rear End, 15. Flat Travelers, 16. Hugging Ann, 17. Geek Central, 18. Sheraton, 19. Session, 20. Tools, 21. Sally and Jenn, 22. Road Warriors, 23. 1,000 Gifts, 24. Holly (not Hobby) and Heather, 25. Blue Ridge Bliss, 26. Speaker Fun with Flatties, 27. Yummy Mess, 28. Backseat Mo, 29. Traffic, 30. Self Portrait, 31. DaySpring Treats, 32. Twitter Glow, 33. Sweet Penny, 34. Homeschool Mamas, 35. Tennessee Travelers

Last October, I had the privilege to attend a wonderful conference in Pennsylvania, by way of the Smoky Mountains and Washington DC. My whole family went on a colossal field trip together (talk about a bonding experience). It was a dream come true - a God-sized one. If you click on the link in my sidebar where it talks about the Relevant Conference, you can stroll down memory lane with me.

It's kind of early to be talking about a conference that happens in October, when it's only April. That's what I thought... and then I found out that a lot of people are thinking about it (and tweeting about it) - because it SOLD OUT last month. I had resigned myself to accept that it just wasn't in the cards for me to attend this year. Then a friend of mine sent me a message about the (In)Courage sponsorships. I started crying like a big fat cry-baby when I read the post (and took that as a sign that maybe I really do need to go again if God is putting it on my heart to feel so deeply about Relevant). They are offering 8 different sponsorships to eight different women - so that they can attend the conference. It's in Pennsylvania, sure, and I'm in Texas... but if God wants me to go, I'm more than willing!

Here are the eight sponsorships that (In)Courage is offering:

1. A Hope & Encouragement (DaySpring Card Ministry partnership)
2. (In)Courage Photographer
3. Home Blogger
4. Frugal Blogger
5. Micah 6:8 Sponsorship (social justice & mercy)
6. A Writer’s Craft
7. Newbie Blogger
8. Veteran Blogger

Now I want you to guess which ones I applied for. I'll give you a hint: I applied for FOUR of them. You can apply for as many as you want, but you can only win one.

This year, if I went, the family would have to stay at home. Just me and the 9 month old (wow - he'll be 9 months old by October!) would be jetting off to PA, unless my 12 year old had her money saved to go with me. One of her best friends lives in PA - 30 miles away from the conference location (and she's a super awesome babysitter and photography assistant)... so she might be traveling with me. I'd like that. I'd also love to visit my buddy, Beth.

Would you pray for me? Pray that if it is the Lord's will that I attend Relevant 2011, that He makes a way without debt and trouble. Pray that my heart is steadfast and accepting of whatever His answer may be - either way.

And hey - YOU - if you love blogging and being challenged to write for the Lord and do it well... why not apply for one of the 8 sponsorships yourself? What have you got to lose?

First Weekend in April: A List

A List

1. Finally caught the man in a picture. That in itself is a Sunday miracle.

2. Morgan made lemon pound cake for small group - complete with her home made lemon zest glaze icing. I'm too lazy to cook, so I bought a Sam's Club rotisserie chicken and a loaf of french bread.

3. My #3 can navigate the iPhone all by his lonesome. He can even get on Netflix and pick out a Blue's Clues movie and start it. But he still calls it "Koo-Koos".



4. Morgan cleaned out her closet (while I was drooling my brains out on my pillow for a Sunday afternoon nap). She's going to get free time tomorrow night on the computer because of the amazing job she did.

5. I got my vitamins from Vitacost.com in the mail. I'm putting the kids on D3 supplements. Did you know that over 80% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D? Not sure what the Gogi Berry juice is going to do, but I hear they work magic.

6. There is no way to dig out of the laundry situation. It would take a whole 'nother weekend.

7. I'm still only in chapter 6 of "One Thousand Gifts". Don't ruin it for me by telling me what's next. I'm 's a v o r i n g' it.



8. The three things on my weekend to-do list did not get done: paying bills, doing database work for school, finishing the TAKS test with the kids.

9. So now you know what Monday's list consists of.

10. I watched a show about the Amish this weekend and was tempted to move to PA for good. Then I remembered that Amish women can't blog or do instagram. Just kidding (mostly).

A Clean Desk is a Sign of ...

Un-procrastination. Sometimes it takes money, sometimes it takes effort, sometimes it takes a little planning. This time it took all three. Finally my stars lined up and this project came to pass: installing the new overhead lighting in the 'office' corner of my game-room.

Now I can see!

On top of that, the computer has been wiped clean. Unfortunately, I've already gotten the 'blue screen of I-hate-Windows-forever death TWICE. I was kind of hoping the money I dropped on software would be worth it; that the problems with Vista were the only problems. That my computer would love me after Win7.

Do we really ever WIN with computers? I guess not.

I'm using the rest of my weekend to tackle my checkbook, paperwork, bills, homeschool lesson plans and record keeping, and a serious deep clean of my house. We're going to purge the kids' rooms (heaven help us). I'm pretty sure if there were a boogie man, he'd be in one of my two big-kids' closets. There's no telling what we might find.

I suppose this is nesting in reverse... AFTER the baby is here. Whatever works.

The goal is to simplify. It seems the more stuff we have, the more we have to work to keep it all put away. Funny how stuff is like that.

What's your big project this weekend?