Tried a new church today, Lifechurch.tv. We needed a Saturday night church again and there really aren't that many we have found around us. I asked my new Homeschool group and someone suggested Lifechurch. My friend Lisa goes to the one in Tulsa, but I have never really talked to her about it, so I didn't know much about it. I did know the basic premise that you watch a video of the message and I didn't know how well I would like that...

Turns out the whole family loved the church! We will definitely be going back and trying it again.

I think it may be the perfect church for this period in our life. We will see...we still need to learn more about it. I just know there is something we are needing and this church had it today.

Michael had kidney stones yesterday and ended up in the ER. He apparently passed the stone(s) and is feeling much better now! I was going to do school planning, but after waking up at 4am with him in pain and going to the hospital with him, I was plum tuckered out by the time we got home.

Lately the younger two kids have been VERY hard to get to sleep. One night it took us 3 1/2 hours until they were both asleep!!! And that was with Brittany and I each taking one (with occassional breaks from Emily and, eventually, Michael) Last night took hours as well. Not really sure what is going on with that. Or how to fix it.

Today we went on a drive to Mustang to check that out. We had a great time, as we usually do on our excursions! We also took Michael to Lake Overholser and the Route 66 park. It looked so nice and cool and refreshing! Esp for the people on the boats and on Jet skis!!

Tonight I took Kaedra with me to run some errands. We had a great time and she lived the one on one time with Mommy. It was very amusing when she started squeezing all the bra cups at Walmart. Especially when she yelled, "they're squishy like you!" I think we may avoid that aisle next time!

So, on that note, I leave you.

Blessings to you all!!
(from my iPhone)

Favorite Organization Quote

Organization is making your life work for you by bringing the dailiness of life under control through yielding to the Holy Spirit concerning the wise use of your time.

~Marilyn Rockett in Homeschooling at the Speed of Life

Circling the Wagons

It's that time again! Those of you who know me well or have been reading my blog for awhile know that I periodically shut down all outside activities and concentrate only on what God is putting on my heart. I, unfortunately, find myself getting away from the basics and need to spend time putting first things first.

I love my small house but I have found that my children need much more Mom time!! I can't send them upstairs or to a far-away room anymore! We are all right on top of each other here. I have had to deal with more attitude issues and tempers here than I ever had at the old house! It is a good thing since I can now address issues that were obviously underlying! I have found I have some of those issues too!

Since I just moved, I don't really have a lot of outside activities. I did get really excited about something, volunteered to help with it, and had to back out (sorry Kim!) I am also cutting out Twitter and taking a break from Facebook. I'll be back when I have the illusion of control back. ;-)

If I do have down time, I may blog, so you may see some updates here!

Feeling better

Thank you for your prayers!

unknown

I don't know what to do.

I am not happy with our homeschooling life at the moment.

• I am bored with our school (am I allowed to say that?)
• I am not happy with the results.
• I am not interested in starting again.
• I am experiencing burnout and we aren't even doing school right now!

I have been researching different methods of schooling. Nothing is really clicking. I start to think something is, and then it isn't.

I know we are doing geography this year. I know that because I have it scheduled. And I am good with schedules. I just can't figure out the implementation of everything else and what everything else will be.

ugh.

Did I mention I want to start on August 10th?

Battered

Warning: this is sort of a "poor me" post so if you want to keep your (mistaken) view that I am all joy and sunshine, you may not want to read this.

I feel like I am standing in an ocean, up to my waist in the water, being hit by wave after wave of bad news or circumstances. These waves aren't coming from just my life, but my close friends' lives too. There is time between each wave where I start to feel like everything is handle-able and then another wave crashes down. Because I am keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, up above, I have kept my head out of the water. I am able to breathe. And go on. But I am tired of this constant battering.

I know the Truth. I know the Way. and I see the Light. It just seems a little bleary since I keep having to wipe ocean water out of my eyes.

So I lift my arms once again, praise Him and pray for the tide to go out.

or a surfboard.

I know, I know....

It's been for-ev-er since I blogged. Forgive me? Pretty please? Well, maybe it hasn't been that long, but it's been on my mind a lot which makes it seem even longer!

I have lots of goodies planned to blog about! I do! I do! And I *should* have more time since I have a smaller house and less responsibilities! At least that is the plan...

But, to tide you over in the meantime, because I just KNOW you're wondering, I will give you a taste of what we've been up to.

1. We are officially all moved in! Yeehaw! (I live in OKC, I can say that now)

2. I love our little-loo house (a Kaedy-ism) and love the area we live in. Michael said something today about a 3000 sq ft house he liked and I almost strangled him. But I didn't. He was driving...not a good time for strangling. And then there is the whole marriage covenant and, of course, the legality of the strangling. All around--a bad idea. But, then again, so is a 3000 sq ft house! Did I mention how much I like our LITTLE house??

3. My best friend had the memorial for her daughter, Chloe Elizabeth. I couldn't be there for the memorial or any of what she is going through and it has been hard. It threw me for a bit of a tailspin and I am working out of it day by day. It actually hit my family hard, esp Michael and Brittany and we have shed many tears over Chloe and for the Zandis. (and some for our Jacob as well) The situation has had me conversing with God quite frequently. And relying on Him and trusting Him.

4. School time is approaching and I am revamping everything! Not happy looking back in retrospect with where we are, so we are trying some new stuff. New organizational mode, new philosophy, new goals, etc. I am excited about it all but feeling a little "under the gun" for when I want to start school. (Aug 10) I have a lot of reading I need to do before then.

5. Michael had an interview with Brownsville, TX yesterday. I think we will hear something tomorrow. Like all but one of his interviews, it went great and he had a good feeling coming out of it. He also has a big meeting with the HR lady and the regional supervisor tomorrow. We think this will be a pivotal meeting since 1.they dont know him well and 2. We think they might be the problem between the interview and his consolation calls. We are praying and believing for favor tomorrow and for Michael to have the right words to say. We are expecting good things! Please join us in our prayers.

6. Well I am fading here and ready for sleep which brings me to #6. Kaedra and Ethan haven't been sleeping through the night and they are disrupting everyone! We are working on it. We'll let you know when we figure it all out!! Lol

Goodnight!!

Talk to you again soon!

Lake Heffner

Before and After

I am a huge fan of before and after pics. They motivate me and they also really give me a sense of accomplishment. So, in case you were just REALLY wondering what Brittany and I did today, here it is:


The Before pics:

Garage

One view of dining room/library combo

other view of dining room/library combo

The After photos:
(you might not be able to tell a huge difference, but trust me, WE CAN! :-)

the garage: we kept all the boxes, but broke them down for our next move. the hutch on the left hand side will be in our dining room when it is done.

these are ALL the boxes we have left to unpack. Two. WOOHOO! :-) Then we need to go buy hardware to put our kitchen table up. It was lost in the move.

Our library/computer area. (the laundry room is through the door on the left)

Anyway, I just wanted to gloat for a moment. I still don't have wi-fi up and running and actually our internet connection was down all day today anyway. Hopefully when I am back up and running regularly, I will be able to blog more. I actually have some things I want to say! :-)

More pictures to follow when we are ALL moved in. :-) My goal is by Sunday night.

Chloe Elizabeth Zandi

I would do anything for my best friend, Brandi. We have been best friends for 13 years. But yesterday she joined a "club" that I'm in that I would have happily barred her from for life.

Yesterday, her precious baby, Chloe Elizabeth was born at rest. Please pray for Brandi and her family.

Zandis- I pray that Jesus' peace, that surpasses all understanding will envelope you and carry you through this time and the months to come. I pray that you feel His presence constantly and that you are comforted by it.

We are here if we can do anything. We love you guys so much. Everyone but Ethan shed tears for your precious blessing and we all can't wait to meet her as well as Zoe, Rain and Jacob.