Planning

I assume I'm supposed to be preparing for the next homeschool year.  That seems to be what all the other homeschool moms are doing right now.  Truth be told though, I'm ready for a break.  We've gone through several curriculum this year and still haven't found a perfect fit.  KK will be ready for real schooling next year.  I'm just getting into the groove of being able to school, keep my house clean, and fit in a workout.  We want to school year round, but have no idea where to begin.  We barely touched our science or history books this year (the plan is to knock them out over the summer).  That's not to say we didn't do any at all...we learned about random things throughout the year, but it certainly didn't go along with the curriculum.  We finally found a math program that sort of works, but Bones isn't entirely thrilled with it.  I'm more confident, but sort of still feel like a fish out of water.  Just SO much stressing right now...all unnecessary I'm sure, but there nonetheless. 

This coming week, The Hubs is off work and we're taking our Spring Break.  It's also the homeschool convention and I'm excited to go.  We went last year and The hubs was exhausted from a TDY and we wound up spending more time sleeping/swimming at the hotel than we did actually at the convention--though we did get to meet Michelle Duggar, which I LOVED!  :) 

But this year I'm planning our trip carefully.  I'm hoping to con The Hubs bring the hubs into some of the workshops as well.  I think we'd both benefit.  Hopefully the kiddos will cooperate too.  :)

OH!  Remember I told y'all that The Hubs is finishing up his last class for his degree?  Well his class is Public Speech.  He has to give a couple persuasive speeches, and he's decided to do one on the benefits of homeschooling!  SUCH a far cry from his stance on the issue 3 years ago, haha!!!

Where are you on planning for next year?  Done?  Have everything bought?  Have everything planned?  Or are you playing like me?  I think I may just keep my head in the sand for a few weeks more.  :)

Life...

Well, look what I forgot about over here in the corner of the internet...

Life has just been trucking along here. :)  (I should have an excuse for no posting, but alas, I do not.)

I'm doing well.  Been having some health problems, but my (government run) healthcare providers can't seem to agree on what to do.  I've been in a ton of pain, and instead of actually taking my gallbladder out (I have lots of sludge and 2 small stones), their course of treatment is waiting for it to develop into something more and offering to send me to the mental health clinic.  Thanks but no thanks.  A good friend has been helping me figure out some homeopathic treatments for it.  With our trip to OK, all the pain (and a few miscellaneous injuries), I have completely fallen off the workout wagon.  Hoping to climb back on asap.  If you've seen my motivation, can you please send her home?

The Hubs is doing well.  Trying to figure out where he wants his military career to take him.  He's been toying around with the idea of cross-training into another field or taking another special duty.  he doesn't want to get stuck back in a regular laboratory.  We'll see how that pans out.  He just tested for Tech Sergeant last week, he'll get those results in June.  He studied hard this year, so hopefully he did well!  Right now he's finishing up his last credits for his degree.  Speech class...he seems to like it.

Bones is crushing school.  This week we're spending all out time on fractions it seems.  I was never very good at them, and I want to be sure he understands them with no problems.  We're also learning about clouds.  It's been fun to watch him try to figure out which clouds are in the sky.  He took a reading comprehension test a little awhile back and is reading on a 7th/8th grade level.  I'm super proud of him.  He's been choosing thick chapter books with no prompting from me now, and devouring them quickly.  Still can't get him to write a book report, but he tells me what they're about.  He's teaching himself to play the piano.  I've noticed he learns by ear.  He does really well.  He'll be playing baseball this summer and he is really excited about that!  :)

KK just turned 4 last weekend.  We had fun and made a surprise cake for her.  She wanted white with purple frosting.  We made it rainbow with purple frosting and she loved it!  She is finished with Kindergarten.  Phew.   I don't know how she did it, but she just would not let me take it slow.  (Which was our plan.  She was only 3 after all...but she just sponged up everything and wants to keep going.)  She's still definitely got 3/4 year old handwriting...but she can read with little help and totally understands addition.  Still have a little trouble with fine motor things (buttoning her own clothes, etc) , but hey-she's 4. ;)

So that's what is going on here.  I will do my best to keep posting...but if history is any teacher, I'll see y'all in a few months.  LOL

God bless y'all!!!  <3

...and she's back...

I'm baaaaaaack!  :)  I've missed my little corner of the internet here.  Almost 5 months with nary a word spoken...  Sorry about that!!!  Life has thrown me a few curve-balls these last few months, and I've not been in the greatest of moods.  Here's just a snippet of what's been going on...

The person I thought was my best friend and I had a huge falling out.  It was a lot of drama and caused me a lot of pain.  We're a few months later now and I still have no clue what I did wrong.  She won't even speak to me, so I know there's nothing I can do to fix whatever it is.  It just makes it ten times harder.  We had many mutual friends, and a lot of those friendships are very rocky now.  I'm being very cautious about who I trust/befriend and let my children grow close to now.  I can handle whatever life throws at me, but I refuse to let other people get to my kids.

My parents are getting divorced after 13 years of marriage.  They've been separated for over a year now.  I kept praying that maybe they'd be able to reconcile but it's not going to happen.  Things were pretty iffy even before I left home, and of course I have no idea what happened after I left.  Things just kept escalating I suppose and my dad just walked away one day.  He left my mom and my little brother in a really bad place...no money/food/car/bills paid.  I was really angry with him for a long time, and honestly I'm still mad at him for the way he left them.  Don't get me wrong, my mom was far from perfect...but she's disabled and really has no way to care for her and my brother.  It's really frustrating, and it seems like they both keep trying to put me in the middle and pit me against the other.  I refuse to do that though.  Kevin has been my dad since I was 9 years old, and I love him a TON.  I feel like whatever is going on between the two of them has nothing to do with me.  They're both still my parents and I still love them both.  Christmas should be really interesting this year though...

The Hubs and I were really hoping to get orders to PCS (Permanent Change of Station : move) away from Ohio next year (especially after all the drama that has ensued the last few months), but God has other plans.  We found out that we'll be here in Dayton for another 3 years at least.  Hubs has a lot more responsibility at work now.  He's been made the NCO (enlisted boss) of a huge and very important section of the reference lab he works in.  He goes in early and comes home late and works his tail off all day...but we're very thankful for the job security the military provides, especially since so many others are out of work.

Homeschooling is still going great.  :)  Bones is doing really well.  We switched from Saxon Math to Math Mammoth and it is working much better for him.  I'm leaning toward Teaching Textbooks for him next year, but we will see what happens.  He's memorizing Scripture, his handwriting has improved SO much, he's learning a lot about Astronomy and really enjoys History.
Kayla is such a fast learner.  She can read so many words now.  She loves her little BOB Books and will sit and try to read everything she can get her hands on.  She can write her name and spell several words.  She sounds things out if they get tough.  Her favorite is Phonics, we're using Before the Code (Explode the Code) with her.  She really enjoys her handwriting as well, and is grasping math concepts quickly.  I wasn't planning on going all in with her yet since shes only 3, but if she's ready for it and wanting to learn I'm not going to tell her no.  :)

Around here, life is life...it's still going, and changing lots.  I just have to keep trusting that God's plan is better than mine (though I have many days when I disagree with Him...).

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
It's finally feeling like Spring! :)  Right now it's 62 and partly sunny.


Things that make me happy:
Finally making friends here!  (It's only been a year, sheesh!!!lol)


Book I'm reading:
I'm reading several right now:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Unschooled Mind
Parenting the Strong Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson


What's on my TV today:
Nothing for me.  I missed Army Wives last night, but I'll catch up later this week.


On the menu for dinner:
Meatloaf or Spaghetti Squash...I've not yet decided

On my To Do List:
Laundry
Get busy on gardening stuff


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Tried a new Salisbury Steak recipe.  It was great.  I'll post it later this week. :)

In the craft basket:

Fixing a dress for a friend
Teaching KK to crosstich a cute little duck thing


Looking forward to this week:
Getting the garden started.  The Hubs re-enlisting.  Good Friday and Easter services at church.  I'm going to do the cardboard testimony after Easter service...prayed long and hard about it, and I'm going to do it.


Tips and Tricks:
None this week...


My favorite blog post this week:
Many at a new blog I actually JUST found this morning. :)

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Red Dirt Chronicles  LOVE it. :)   Makes me miss Oklahoma though...



No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):
I don't have any uploaded to the computer yet...

Lesson learned the past few days:
I realllly need to take better care of myself all around...


On my mind:
Bones is sick...hope he feels better.  Japan.  Everyone affected by the tornadoes this past week/weekend.  A special pray God knows is on The Hubs heart as well as mine...


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We hit 80ish degrees Sunday!  It was hot, humid and lovely!  I have been SO ready for spring!


Things that make me happy:
Bones accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  I wasn't there for it (he did it in Sunday School), and that made me a little sad at first.  The Hubs reminded me that it isn't about me though, it's between Bones and the Man upstairs.  I am so proud of him. <3


Book I'm reading:
None at the moment, but my friend Anna over at Our Crazy Homeschooling Family lent me a couple books last week.  They were fabulous!!!  'Her Mother's Hope' and 'Her Daughter's Dream' by Francine Rivers were fantastic reads.  I loved them!


What's on my TV today:
Sunday is Army Wives and Coming Home.  I rarely watch TV other than those 2 shows.


On the menu for dinner:
Beans, cornbread and pan fried potatoes.  Yum. :)

On my To Do List:
Homeschool class at church
Laundry
Dishes
Schooling


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Made some tortillas last week.  This week I'm going to try to dehydrate some things.  If it turns out well I'll share. :)

In the craft basket:

Nothing crafty.  Just a few socks that need darning and a teddy bear that needs his head sewn back on.

Looking forward to this week:
Hearing Ken Ham speak at church again.  Getting some order in this house and starting a new Bible study.


Tips and Tricks:
Keep your orange peels.  I keep mine in a mason jar with some vinegar and water.  After a few days I pour the liquid into a spray bottle and toss the peels down the drain.  I dilute the liquid in the spray bottle with some water and voila, orange cleaner.  This stuff is AWESOME on getting grease off the stove.  Love this stuff! :)



My favorite blog post this week:
 Andrea at Sgt and Mrs Hub is great.  Wonderful writer and beautiful pictures.  :)

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Not necessarily a new blog, but Toni at The Happy Housewife is fabulous! Read her blog!  Everything from Homeschool, to military life and frugality.  She's great!


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

KK is SUCH a stinker!!! Went to get the oil changed and the Midas man thanked her for 'mopping his floor with her pretty tights'.  Oy vey!

Lesson learned the past few days:
Way too many lessons learned to post here.  I am learning more about everything every day, and I am so thankful for that. :)


On my mind:
The Hubs re-enlisting soon.
Family back in Oklahoma

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

'my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.' – Proverbs 1:15-16 (NIV) 

Swiftness is one of the characteristics of sin in the Scripture. Whether it is the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7 who runs to a young man or this depiction of the wicked rushing to shed blood, there is an urgency that sin thrusts upon us. How many decisions did we hastily make that caused us sorrow later on? Sometimes it is better to purposely wait, to walk away, and in so doing, keep away from the paths of wickedness.

My Dresser

Recently, my husband got me a new (to me) dresser.  I was able to pass my great grandmother's dresser onto my daughter (and have a LOT more room for my clothes).  In the dresser The Hubs got me, the bottoms of the drawers are covered in old newsprint.  There are ads for really nice men's watches for $12, Chevrolet cars with Whitewall tires, ads for meat (that actually is incredibly expensive by today's standards-thank you gov't subsidies  :/ ), ads for dresses and dressmaking patterns...it's lovely!  Mixed in with all these ads are old news-stories, and ad space purchased by companies.

One of my favorite news stories is talking about how 'People Refuse to Play Nosy Neighbor When the Indiana Welfare Rolls Opened'.  It talks about how so many people were illegally getting on the rolls and nobody was paying attention.  About how if this was kept up, someday the rolls were going to be severely overflowing and the government was going to be in huge amounts of debt because of this, (sound familiar?) that there was no way to cover the costs of all these programs without ensuring that only the truly needy were enrolling.  Hmmm...look at where we are today.


My absolute favorite thing in all the drawers of the dresser though, is a square of space purchased by Louisiana Pacific.  Here is what is said in this small space, forever imprinted under my t-shirts:

         Okay America, On Your Feet

For too long we've been waiting for others to solve our problems.  City Hall. The State House. Uncle Sam. The Government. But somehow the problems just keep getting bigger. Things don't work. We're immobilized by partisanship and petty politics. Worst of all, we're beginning to doubt ourselves.  Maybe Yankee Doodle isn't so dandy anymore.  There's a gnawing feeling that the good old days may be gone forever. And we wait. And feel helpless. And grow depressed.

Well, it's time we stopped fretting about America and started doing something about America. Each one of us. Right where we live. Starting today. This minute. And that's where YOU come in. Do something positive in your own neighborhood. Make your home and yard a place to be proud of. Encourage your neighbor to do the same. Lend a hand. Encourage the young. Reach out to the disadvantaged. Take control of the things you can control.

If you're concerned about the course America is taking, don't take it lying down. Take part. Prove that one man can make a difference. You'll be amazed at how others will follow. A better America depends on better Americans. Together we can turn things around. Yes we can!

This morning at church, the Pastor said something that intrigued me.  Something I'd never considered before, but that should have been glaringly obvious.  As Christians, we KNOW that if we're believers in God, if we do good in His eyes, if we follow His teachings in His Word, if we give to Him -- He returns the favor!  He blesses us beyond reason!  The poverty level in America is somewhere near 14%.  America is increasingly turning her back on the teachings of God.  If (the majority) of America is not giving thanks where it belongs, if we're not doing what we ought to do -- then why SHOULD He bless us? 

On that note, what are YOU doing to help others in need?  I do NOT believe in Socialism/Communism whatever... I believe if you're not willing to put in the work then you don't reap the benefits. Don't work = don't eat.  However, I think that as Christians we have a duty to help others.  To build them up and help them out until they can get on their feet.  Not to do FOR them, that becomes a vicious cycle...  But to pray over them, to build them up, to encourage them. 

Welfare and programs like it are truly the downfall of our society.  Why would anyone WANT to work for themselves when they make more from a Welfare check/foodstamps/healthcare?  What have these programs done to build people up?  To show them the pride you get from a day's wages?  To know that YOU put in the work and you EARNED every cent that is given to you for it?  We're teaching people that they're incapable of fending for themselves and their families.  Whatever happened to "teaching  man to fish", rather than just giving him everything?  Why should men stay to help raise the children they helped bring into the world?  The State can probably provide for them better than he can, right? :/  This leads to the breakdown of the family system in America. 

No family system.  No God. Wefare rolls overflowing.  Debt beyond control. 

What are YOU doing to help America???  Me? I'm praying.  I'm trying hard to encourage others.  America CAN be great again...the Good Old Days don't have to be over -- but only we can do something about it.


(I know this post went in a thousand different directions, and I know that not everyone will agree with me...but this is who I am.  I am passionate about my God, America and I LOVE politics.)

Happy Homemaker Monday (2)

Well, it is the second Monday of the year.  How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions so far?  Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom does this little meme every Monday, and I'm going to try to link up to it as often as possible.

 The weather in my neck of the woods:
The ground is covered in snow, it's 13 degrees right now (feels like 5) and the high for today is 29.  Brrrrr....


Things that make me happy:
Hearing my kiddos laugh and play together.  Seeing something 'click' for Bones.  Watching Kayla play 'mommy' to her babies. :D


Book I'm reading:
Bible.  Going to try to read through it all this year.


What's on my TV today:
Watched 'Robocop' with The Hubs.  It was a bit gory, but I tend to like action movies.  No TV today though, it's a school day. :)



On the menu for dinner:
Something with chicken.  I'm not entirely sure yet.  It was supposed to be beans, but I forgot to soak them.


On my To Do List:
Schooling
Fold Laundry
Do dishes


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Chicken Tortilla Soup.  I've made a variation of it before, but it just wasn't very tasty...  I need to try again.

In the craft basket:

I have several things I need to make for friends.  Make-up capes (anyone have any idea how to get started on that???), Aprons for an adult and toddler, handmade gifts for 5 friends (Facebook thing).  I also need to make some more doll clothes and get started on Barbie clothes.  Draft Dodgers as well.


Looking forward to this week:
I was looking forward to trying to get a routine established, however the Air Force threw a wrench into those plans.  The Hubs has to work nights this week (and possibly next), which means he'll be home during the day.  I am looking forward to having him allll day tomorrow though.


Tips and Tricks:
I can't think of a single one this week...



My favorite blog post this week:
A post from Andrea over at Sgt and Mrs Hub.  It is beautiful. 

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):

A friend of mine! :)  Leyna at 3 men and a Lady.


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Came across this photo earlier...seems like SO long ago.  My baby Bones and itty bitty KK. 

Lesson learned the past few days:
That I am enough.  I don't need to be anything more-or less-than what I am.  I am exactly as God made me, and that is good enough for me. :)


On my mind:
Homeschool stuff.  We're going to be switching a lot around in the next few months, and it makes me a little nervous.  I'm super excited though!!!


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I actually have 3 verses on my heart right now, I will share 2 here and delve deeper into them in a later posting.

Proverbs 16:9  In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Choices...

I had an entire post typed up and ready to go. I was proofreading it before I posted it, and then decided not to keep it. It was going to be all about the drama that seems to surround me in this little life I live... As I was reading it, I decided that if I posted it, I was just keeping the drama near me, and I wasn't doing anything to better my situation.

I've made many choices in my life. Mundane, everyday choices -- Mayo or mustard? Sweet tea or soda? Red or pink polish? Truly life altering choices -- Do I tell my mother I just had a baby? Do I keep said baby? Do I tell him I DO still love him? Do I leave everything and get married?

The choice I made today is both mundane and life altering. I am making a conscious decision to NOT let the drama affect me anymore. I choose to ignore them. I choose to be the bigger person. I choose to be myself and do what I feel is right for my family and myself-even if others disagree. I choose to not worry about what others think. I will live right near the main instigators for several years, and The Hubs is best friends with some of my other problem people. I have no choice but to put a smile on when I see them. No choice but to bite my tongue. No choice but to play nice.

I am choosing to not be friends with them any longer. It is high time I surround myself with good people. God people. :) People who accept me as I am. I refuse to sit in silence any longer while others try to make my life miserable. I'm not very good at standing up for myself. I forgot how to do that about 7 years ago-but that is a blog post for another day. I rarely stand up for anything but my children, which isn't a bad thing. I just have to learn to be assertive for myself once again. I am not a pushover. I am strongwilled. I am determined. I am stubborn!

I know this post won't make much sense to anyone. It's pretty much nonsensical rambling at this point as it is. I just needed to get it out.

I have another post in the wings, I'm just unsure of posting it. I decided in November that rather than calling my New Year's Resolutions 'resolutions', I was going to call them my 'Goals for 2011'. Seemed like a fantastic idea to me at the time. However, now we are a week into 2011 and I've not yet hit 'publish' on that post because it seems like many others in the blogosphere had the same idea. I don't want to look like a copycat... There I go again-worrying about what others think...Someday I'll get there. :D

Blessings!
Anna

Monday...

We had a great weekend, for the most part anyway. It's pretty rare that The Hubs isn't off volunteering, or that one of us (usually Hubs) isn't out with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. This weekend there were no volunteer hours, and no nights out. Just family all weekend long. It was great!

Friday nights around here are ALWAYS pizza night, whether we go out for pizza or make some form of it at home. Usually I just throw a pizza together or make bubble pizza, but I decided to do something different this time-and it will definitely be our new way of spending Friday nights. I got a brand new baking stone from Pampered Chef last week and couldn't wait to try it out. I cooked up some sausage, chopped up some peppers, onions, mushrooms and olives and made some quick pizza dough and sauce. (That's another thing I do around here, almost everything gets made from scratch) Kayla and Bones helped me roll out the dough and then I let them make their own pizzas. I didn't even try to fix it when Kayla threw all the pepperoni in one spot, or when Bones clumped all the cheese in the middle. The Hubs even seemed to enjoy making his own pizza. Everyone ate it up with no complaints. :)

Saturday I woke up with a massive migraine, and it SUCKED. The Hubs and I managed to get the rest of the boxes emptied out of the shed though, and get it fairly organized. There were so many spiders in there though! I was freaking out! I finally finished a shelf I built back in Texas, I thought it looked odd at first, painted a dark green and a dark red...but with everything on it now I like it. :) Rob let me sleep the afternoon away to try and get rid of the headache, but it wasn't working. The kids came and snuggled with us for a bit and I LOVED it. I love my babies!

I watched "World Trade Center" with Nicholas Cage and bawled like a baby... I've always thought about all the people on the planes and in the buildings that were hurt, but I never really stopped to consider how many Firemen and Police Officers were lost that day as well. Did you know that only 20 people were pulled from the rubble alive? How terrible...

Church was great yesterday. I'm trying really hard to convince The Hubs to go to a Small Group, but he's just not ready. I'm trying to be patient, but I'm really not a patient person at all! I'm glad we're finally back in church at least, and I LOVE the church we found here.

Anyhoo...Time to make our menu plan for the week. :)

Anna Joy

Hello!

Hi there! I'm Anna Joy.

I'm a twenty-something mother and wife who needs a break at the end of the day. I am a stay-at-home-mom, and I love my job. :) I have a 2 year old daughter, "Kayla" and a 6 year old son, "Bones" . The Hubs is in the US Air Force, and has been for 7 years now.

The Hubs and I have been together for 8 years, and married for almost 4. I love him more than words...  We recently moved from Texas to Ohio, and will hopefully be here awhile. We're southerners by blood, so this it quite a change for us. Kayla and Bones have never seen snow as we've spent years in Florida and Texas, so I'm sure this winter will be quite interesting.

I like to sew, but cannot manage a straight line for anything. I also enjoy cooking, and am learning to try new recipes often. I like to do the dishes as long as I don't have to put them away, same for laundry. I miss my clothesline in Texas. FAVORITE chore ever was hanging the clothes on the line. Vacuuming is somehow therapeutic to me, but I despise mopping. I make my own laundry soap and baby wipes because well, I can. I like to paint, although I'm terrible at it. I also build furniture. Those tools in the shed? They're all mine! I am learning to be more frugal, which is one reason I taught myself to cook and make things myself. I am trying to lose weight. Not "those last 10 stubborn pounds" either, but pretty major weight.

I am patriotic, and a very Conservative Libertarian; I am strong in my beliefs. I have faith in God, and believe there is a reason-and season-for everything. To me, there is no such thing as a "coincidence", there is Divine Providence in all that happens.

I'm sure this blog will become a place for me to talk about everything under the sun. I need a place to get out at the end of my day...even if it's only virtual. I'm not sure I have much to say that's not already been said, but I'm going to give it a try! :)

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll come back soon!

Anna Joy