New Years Eve Bags

This is an idea I got from a homeschool message board and I have kinda tweaked it and made it my own. I thought it sounded like so much fun. I will post the pictures after the New Year.

Idea ~ Have paper bags with a clock on the outside of the bag, on each hour beginning at 5:00pm, the kids read a rhyme and open the bag. You have bags to open on the hour all the way to midnight!

Here is a list of what we are putting in our bags and the rhymes I made up to go with the bags.

5:00 ~ In the Bag : Twister game and party hats
Note: Twist and Shout and jump all about the party has just begun! So, put on a smile and your party hat and lets have some fun fun fun!!

6:00 ~ In the Bag : Makings for smores
Note: A better snack there never will be, if you are camping or down by the sea. We must wait for ‘08 a little bit more, but while you do, enjoy a SMORE!

7:00 ~ In the Bag : Face paint and bubbles
Note: I feel pretty, how bout you? Let’s paint our face like the fancy folks do. You be a joker and I’ll be a cat then we will blow with the bubbles till our bubble juice runs out!

8:00 ~In the Bag: Sparklers and noise maker craft supplies
Note: It’s time to get loud, its time to get brite, or we might not stay up for this long, happy night. With markers and beans a noisemaker we will shape, and then with the sparklers we will celebrate!

9:00 ~ In the Bag: A book, puzzle and suckers
Note: Let’s snuggle up and read…. now please stay awake, How bout some sugar for goodness sake! Let’s work on a puzzle for a minute or so, only 3 more hours to go!

10:00 ~ In the Bag : A movie and popcorn
Note: By now it’s time for pajamas and a movie. Has this been fun? Has this been groovy? Let’s all grab a spot and start the show, pop some corn and 1 2 3 …GO!

11:00 ~ In the Bag: Cookies and new cups for milk and a notebook.
Note: No bedtime is complete without a glass of milk and a treat, so lets pass out the cookies and eat eat eat! 2007 is almost gone and it has been great, write down a memory to celebrate!

Last Bag @ 11:45 ~ A piece of candy, and a scripture for each child to read.
Note: A last sweet treat to end ’07.Let’s read God’s word and talk to Him in Heaven.
On TV, the ball will drop, shiny and great. Happy New Year, kids, It’s 2008!!!!

Word for 2008

I read in a book somewhere about choosing a word for the new year. A word that would describe how you would like to look at life, about your attitude, hopes, dreams and even prayers. My word for 2008 is" Aware".
I want to be aware of how much the Lord has given me. Aware that my children are a joy each day even when they are cranky, messy and loud! Aware of my handsome husband and his godly influence in my life, as the leader of our home and as my pastor. Aware that as a pastor's wife, I have been given the gift to touch people in our church with kindness and prayer. Two amazing things that don't require a depth of talent or spiritual gifts ,only willingness. I want to be aware of how I take care of my body and what I eat. Aware that not everyone I love will be with me always and I should cherish each moment.

I want to be aware of the gift I have been given in an education and aware of the freedom I have to teach my own children at home and watch them grow. I get so busy sometimes with life that life goes by so fast and I don't even realize how awesome God is and how He has blessed me. I want to be aware that HE is with me always and no matter what will be. I don't know what joys and hurts 2008 holds, but I want to be aware of my God and His amazing gift of presence in my life.

Christmas 2007

Christmas

Esther's joke of the day

Esther just walked into the kitchen and said;

Esther: Mom, what did the snowman say to the other snowman?
Me: What??
Esther: I smell carrots!

Steak & Shake and Santa Clause

Every year that we have been in Florida we always go to Steak and Shake for dinner on the night that we go to the mall to see Santa. It is a fun little tradition that we all look forward to (especially the egg nog milkshakes!)

Steak

Congratulations Tim on your win! This is an amazing testimony.

A Homeschool Funny!

You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...
You get to change more than diapers, you get to change their minds.

When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope!

You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later.

Your children never ever leave the "why?" stage.

When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)

You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary.

Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog.

Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house.

You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.

Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE.

The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook.

You never have to face the dilemna of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school.

If your child get's drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol.

Your neighbors think you are insane.

Your kids learn new vocabulary from their extensive collection of "Calvin & Hobbes" books.

Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.

You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose.

If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.

Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.

You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.

You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies.

You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom.

The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.

Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you have put on your car.

If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.

Some day your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.

Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates."

You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.

You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate it's weight and verify accuracy.

You live in a one-house schoolroom.

A thought (or two) for the day

Psalms 107: 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Normally I am a NKJV girl. I like the sound, I have memorized many verses in this translation and so it just sounds more like the Bible to me. I have recently began to take my Bible Study a little deeper and explore other translations of verses and the Lord has opened my eyes and spoke to my soul so much through this. I use to think you had to pick a team and stay on it. KJV, NIV, AMP etc etc. I am thinking now it is more like a team of players and the game goes a lot smoother if you can utilize each version at different times or even better cross reference and use them all together.
Today was a good example. In Psalms 107:7 I love that the NIV's translation says FULL redemption. Meaning to the top, complete, all the way around. We are not talking about salvation. Of, course that is full, we are talking redemption from sin.

How may times does something in our life go wrong and we hear a preacher's voice in our head say ,"Your reaping what you sow". That verse in Galatians Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. KJV is true, yes you will reap corruption if you live of your flesh, but those of us who are saved are not of flesh, but of spirit and those verses say the spirit reaps life everlasting! Funny how that part doesn't stick in our head as well does it??

Full redemption! Life Victorious! So why do so many Christians live with their head down waiting for the hammer to drop on them because of all those past sins that are just waiting to catch up with them?
How much more joy would we, as Christians, have in our life if we would grasp the fact that bad things do not happen to Christians just because God is punishing us? He doesn't want us to live under that type of pressure and hopelessness, (cause let's face it, we all sin, so if that is the case, we all are waiting for that hammer to drop). I do know a certain enemy of the body of Christ that would love for us to live that defeated life.

One of my very favorite verses in Jeremiah took on a whole different light this morning as I read it in the Holman Christian Standard Version. Jeremiah 29:11 -14

For I know the plans I have for you this is the LORD's declaration plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you the LORD's declaration and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you the LORD's declaration. I will restore you to the place I deported you from.

Ever feel deported? I have. Remember His promise is to restore us because His redemption is full. Below is a quote from the Beth Moore Bible Study I am doing right now.

"Allowed to do so through our confession, invitation and cooperation, God can restore our identity, our purity and our sanity! He not only diffuses our past of all power to harm and haunt us but HE infuses it with power to help others. Redemption is incomplete if our negative past is only diffused. Satan won't be completely sorry and God won't get all the glory until the bad is used for good."

Live victorious .....your redemption is full.

Christmas First Cointhians 13 Style

I am going to post this and read and reread it this season until it sinks in!

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

My all time favorite Christmas recipe!

It is called Mocha Punch and it is sooo yummy! I only make it at Christmas and New Years cause, I promise...I would drink the whole punch bowl all by myself! I have even had coffee hater's say they like this and my children looooove it! This is a smooth, creamy punch that is like sipping a chocolate shake.

Ingredients
1- 1 1/2 quarts Water
1/2 cup Instant chocolate drink mix
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Instant coffee granules
1/2 Gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 Gallon chocolate ice cream
1 cup Whipped cream, whipped
Chocolate curls, optional

Preparation
In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add drink mix, sugar and coffee; stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. About 30 minutes before serving, pour into a punch bowl. Add ice cream by scoopfuls; stir until partially melted. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired.
__________________

Please watch

This video by Go Fish is such a blessing and really brings the Christmas season into perspective. It is only about three minutes long and it surely will bless you! Merry Christmas!!

We elved ourself!!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1127642062

Homeschooling in November

We did something a little different in November for school. We took 2 weeks and only studied the Pilgrims and did math. It was a lot of fun and I think we all learned more about the pilgrims than we will ever need to know! =) Did you know Pilgrim children had to stand up to eat their dinner and had to serve their parents before they could eat? Abby also wrote an interesting story about the first love story in America among the pilgrims. We also studied Squanto, Miles Standish, William Bradford, Priscilla Mullins and scads of other pilgrims!
I am looking forward to getting back to our normal schedule of folder work and History and Science and for Bible we are doing a Jesse Tree. It is where you study Advent and make a tree using symbols beginning in Genesis and for 25 days an ornament is placed on the tree leading up to the birth of Jesus. I have a ton of books waiting for me at the library on Christmas and we are also doing some pretty cool art projects for the season. we are also going to do a lap book on the signs of Christmas and how they relate to Christ. In science, we are going to be doing a chemistry experiment involving cooking, so I'll post pictures....they should be good and I figure I can get some Christmas baking in at the same time as school!
We will break for Christmas on Dec. 17 and leave for Virginia the next day. I am looking forward to seeing my family and we are praying for snow!

Grace under fire

I have a friend who is going through a particular trying time right now and as she faces this fire she is teaching me how God bestows His mighty hand of grace upon us. As I ranted and raved at her situation, she ministered to me by graciously showing forgiveness, determination, dignity and strength. His mercies are new every morning and His grace is sufficient because He gives us each just enough to handle what we will face on that day. Not too much as we are likely to get too big for our britches nor too little that we buckle under the weight.We might not know until heaven why some of us must go through particularly trying times, maybe just to draw us close to our Life Source, maybe to minister to others later on, maybe so that His Strength is to be made perfect. No matter what, we know all will work out for good to them that love Him....and to this we cling.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so thankful this year for all the Lord has given to me. My cup runneth over!

A heavenly Father that adores me and dances over me each day
A marriage that is fun, healthy and going strong and an amazing husband to share it with
Kids that are healthy, love the Lord and their parents
A church family that embraces us...warts and all
Parents and In laws that love me ,my husband and their grandchildren
A sister I can also call a friend and love talking to
Friends to enjoy good times with and the knowledge they will be there when bad times come
Tuesday nights with Beth, Rachel,Mandy and Karen
Coffee every morning and a backrub from the man who loves me more than anyone else
A home for my kids to feel safe in and make memories in
The hope adoption brings of a new life joining us in 2008
A country where it is still legal to serve my God and teach my children
Porch swings, pumpkin cake, rocking chairs, college football, movie nights, cafe lattes, Outback steakhouse, dsl internet, butterfly kisses and Yankee candles

Psalm 118:24"This is the day which the Lord hath made;we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Safe Haven Baby

A baby boy was left yesterday at Lake Wales Fire Station. He was born October 22. If our FBI fingerprints were in, we could have possibly been his parents. I know God's timing is perfect, but when I read the article in the paper, it just made me feel so......I don't even know.... Out of control, helpless, disappointed. I have a room ready. Crib. check, car seat, check, stroller ,check. Three children praying every night for a baby brother ....check check check.

I had myself believing I might actually have a baby boy by Christmas. Could it still happen?? Yes, the fingerprints could come today and we could be approved and have a baby ASAP. I think it is the absolute out of control element of the situation that is driving me insane. I also think that is one part of this whole ride that God is using to teach me to rely on His ever so perfect timing and direction.
I will be so glad when I can look back and say," Yes He taught me a lot during that time." Hindsight may be 20/20, but it is also a lot less painful than the actual learning and teaching process.

There is no other 2008 Presidential Candidate more dedicated to protecting the rights of parents to educate their children without government influence than Texas Congressman, Dr. Ron Paul. He is also Pro-Life.

www.RonPaul2008.com

Here are some pictures of our very cool Thanksgiving Diorama! I wanted to work on it for the next 2 weeks, but Abby got on a roll and insisted on getting it finished in two days! I love my little OCD daughter!!

I am mad!

Warning: This is a sermon/soapbox post and since no one is obligated to read my blog, I thought I would give you the chance to just surf on out now, if you want to.

My Dad did not win his election yesterday. To be honest, I had a bad feeling, just because so many people are sick of republicans and want a change. Still, it makes me mad that he has worked so hard for 16 years and then the last few months on his campaign and he lost. I just hate it for him. Is it really his fault we are still fighting a war and gas prices are up and health care is crappy?? God can change the heart of kings, so I think we better start praying for Barak Obama because I am afraid he will be our next president. The good old US of A is much more concerned with matters of the pocketbook than matters of morality.

After I got the call last night that he had lost, I didn't sleep very good and I kept waking up when I did sleep. Every time I woke up I would pray for my parents cause I know this is a pretty big blow to them. I woke up this morning and as soon as I opened my eyes the Lord whispered this verse in my ear:
“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. (Jeremiah 29:11)”

I know that is true. I don't like change and at time I don't adjust well to roadblocks, but in the bigger picture, God is in control, He sees it all, not just the situation and He wants us to prosper. He says so in the verse in Jeremiah, ....Plans ...and Hopes... and a Future. Now here is where our faith comes in, the verse doesn't say He will give us a calendar and show us the when and how of our prosperity and hopes and future, we just gotta trust HIM with that and take each day as it comes.

When the kids woke up and I told them Gramps lost the election, Nathan was so put out. He likened it to a ballgame and to lose is the worst thing that could happen. Abby, on the other hand began to tell me all the ways it was good. They can come see us more and take more trips, When we visit, Gramps won't have to go to work, he can work on his old car and ride his motorcycle. Maybe he can give flying lessons. I love how her mind works. Find the good and run with it.

For her copy work she had to write a quote by Charles Dickens, : "There is always something for which to be thankful for." I am glad she can look for the good in situations. Maybe we should all live life like we are 10 and try to find the good now matter how mad we feel.

Burke for Clerk!

My Dad is running for Clerk of Circuit Court of Montgomery County ,Virginia. The kids wrote letters of endorsement to him and they are going to be published in the newspaper up there tomorrow! Go Burke for Clerk!!

Book recommendation

Greg and I are both reading this book right now. He reads a chapter at night and then I read a chapter in the mornings. It is a really good, down to earth book. Even if you have never done Beth Moore's Bible studies or don't like her type of teaching, this book is different from all her others. She uses a lot of real life examples and keeps it interesting. It would be a great quiet time supplement. And no, I don't work for her or Amazon. =)

Thank you Lakeland Ledger!

There are days when I question homeschooling. I dream of having from 8-3 everyday on my own and what a house would look like that stayed uncluttered for more than 5 minutes. Shopping without feeling as though I am being pecked to death by ducks. Then I read the newspaper and everything is put into perspective. This was just in today's paper:

1. A 3 part series of articles on how much sexual abuse goes on to students by teachers and how little is reported or dealt with.
2. An article about parents in Tampa that are suing a private school because their 12 year old boy was bullied to the point of having his arm broken.
3.The new Florida Science plan to be implemented into every public school in the state that will be required to teach evolution as fact and nothing else.

When we first began homeschooling, we basically did it as a final option. We didn't feel comfortable with the kids in public school in Bartow and we could not really afford the $15,000 plus it would cost to place them in a private school in central Florida. Now I look at it as such a blessing. My kids are happy. They are well rested, they get along together and play for hours on their own without having to be entertained. I have time to get to know them during the day and not when they get off a bus, cranky and stressed with the pressures of homework and measuring up. They are learning about God as the Creator and Scripture to back that up. They are safe.
Is homeschooling a calling? Yes. Is it for every family? No and they shouldn't feel guilty for that. Is it for us? A resounding yes and not just as a calling, but as a blessing from above.

Homeschooling in October

I realized today that I have not been posting very many school photos. One reason is that when I have all three kids up in the schoolroom ,on task, I don't want to break the momentum by running downstairs and getting my camera. One cool thing that happened this month was that Nathan is saving for a guitar and his Pa asked him to come spend a Saturday working for some cash. Well ,Nate worked all day killing hogs and Pa gave him a check for $40! Nate was so proud of his first paycheck! He wanted to save me the hog kidneys to dissect, but Pa wouldn't let him. (thank you, Pa!)
In Mystery of History we studied Moses and the Tabernacle and then Joshua, Rahab and Jericho. We drew pictures of the Tabernacle and we made a thankful tree to thank God for our blessings like Joshua did. For Science, we are studying nocturnal animals, and did a week on owls. The kids made puppets and put on a puppet show while I read the book "Barn Owl". We also looked for owls at night, which is called owling.
Then we did a really cool study on bats and the kids made a lapbook. We made bat cookies on the last night of the unit. It's kinda neat because we have bats in our chimney, so we could hear them coming home in the morning. Stellaluna was our favorite book.
Of course, they also did folder work (math and language) every day. The girls and I are reading the Kirsten American girl books and we are almost finished with book 3. It is about a girl who comes to the US from Sweden in the 1850's.
Up next is a Five in a Row book called the Pumpkin Runner and in November we are taking the whole month to do an in depth Pilgrim unit. I am looking forward to it.
OK, so now my homeschooling blog has some homeschool stuff on it! I included some pictures on a slideshow below. If you want to hear the music you have to click the sound button, I made it optional because it was kinda getting on my nerves!

October school

A Pumpkin Prayer

Cut off the top:
Lord, open my mind and fill me with Your wisdom and guidance.

Scoop out the yuckies:
Lord, take out all my fussies and frownies and fill me with Your love.

Carve out the eyes:
Lord, open my eyes to see all of the beautiful things You have made.

Carve out the nose:
Lord, help me to be a sweet fragrance for You.

Carve out the mouth:
Lord, help me to always speak Your words of love and kindness.

Place in a candle:
Lord, let me be a light to others for You have filled me with Your light

An Esther Funny

Last night I was tucking Esther into bed and I handed her a purple stuffed elephant that she sometimes sleeps with:

Esther: " Ewww. I am not sleeping with Lumpy anymore!"
Me: "Why?"
Esther: " Because Lumpy farts in his sleep and it's disgusting! I'll sleep with Fiona the puppy, she is not nearly as rude!"

I was trying so hard not to laugh, I couldn't even say anything about using a word not allowed around here!

Control Freak

OK. I admit it, I like things orderly and planned. When I go on vacation, I usually pack 2 to 3 days in advance. My meals are all planned out for the next two weeks. I already know or have bought most of my Christmas gifts. So, the fact that in the next few weeks our social worker can just call and say, "Guess what, there is a newborn baby waiting for you to come pick up" is driving me just a little nuts!
I have sort of put the whole baby equipment idea out of my mind. I mean, the domestic adoption process feels very abstract to me...there is no referal picture to stare at and count down days until you go to another country and pick a baby up.

Well, after our homestudy and all we have found out about them showing our profile very soon, I have started thinking on it a little more. We went to Target tonight and I found myself in the baby aisles just looking and making a mental list of all the thing I don't have or use to have and have given away or sold with each of our moves in the last 3 years. Car seats and strollers, monitors and bottles ect ect... Do you know you can get pacifers that glow in the dark? Only if you have been on your hands and knees under a crib at 2:00am looking for a pacifer, do you know how cool it would be to have one glow back at you! They also have an icrib. It is a dock for your baby's mp3 player! Who would buy that?? What baby has an ipod??
I was hyperventelating by the third aisle because I have a crib. That's it. Nothing else. A crib.

Now, I know that the Lord who provides this home with a new baby will also provide all the stuff this baby requires, but still I am a little annoyed that I don't have a drawer full of freshly laundered sleepers and onsies and a nice neat stack of size 1 diapers. What's that about counting chickens?? Cart before the horse? I know !I know! I am not going to be buying anything until I get that sweet little guy in my hands. Still this process has made me rely on God and realize that HE is in control. I just wish that set better with a freak like me!

FishHawk Yard sale

Well, I didn't think I was going to get to go to Fishawk's yearly community yard sale because we were suppose to have cpr class today. It was postponed until Nov. so.... I woke up early and to my surprise, Greg said he wanted to go with me! The kids are at the beach with grandparents, so we loaded up and got there at 7:50AM. I only had $25 on me, but one of the first sales I hit had a ton of my kind of decorating stuff. He gave me a deal and I got a ton of stuff for $15. My other cool finds were crocs for Nathan for $2 (barely used, the lady said her son didn't like them) 4 dvds for a dollar each, tervis tumblers for 50 cents each, a scrapbook supply shelving unit for 2 bucks and some other odds and ends. I used my last 8 quarters to buy Nate's croc's at 9:45, so, much to Greg's delight, we were out of there by 10:00AM.The one picture of my wall , I bought all those things hanging on the wall for $7 total! You can click on the picture if you want to see my loot up close.... I love yard sales!

Our Adoption Timeline

Here is a timeline of our adoption journey:

Oct. 2006 ~ Found FBCH while researching domestic adoptions online, called for info.
Nov. 2006 ~ Sent Application to Florida Baptist Children's Home
Dec. 2006 ~ Sent out Christmas letter letting everyone know we are adopting through FBCH
March 2007 ~ Began 10 week MAPP class at FBCH
May 2007 ~ Greg finishs Mapp class
Aug.2007 ~ Set up crib
August 27. 2007 ~ First HomeStudy visit...began paperwork
August 30 2007 ~ Jackie finishes MAPP class ( I had 1 makeup class)
September 10 2007 ~ Fingerprinted
September 13 2007 ~ Delivered most of paperwork to FBCH to begin proccessing
October 11 ~ 2nd Homestudy
October 12 ~ 2nd fingerprinting and Jackie's physical

Left to do:
Greg's physical
3rd Home visit
CPR class (scheduled for Nov 3)

Homestudy #2

Well, we had our 2nd homestudy last night. I think it went well, she said we were easy to interview (I am taking that to mean boring!) We will have one more home visit next Thursday where she will talk to the kids. I warned her about talking to Esther..no telling what that child will say to her! Only things left to do are:
1. our physicals ~ I am hoping to go today for mine and Greg can go Monday
2. We have to be fingerprinted again thanks to WV and them not taking the info we had already sent!
3. Our CPR class scheduled for Nov 3

I cannot believe I sent our application to Florida Baptist Children's Home last November. Adoption is not for the impatient that's for sure! Our Social worker told us last night that they have 3 maternity cases and no profiles right now to show the mothers! That is why we are rushing to get approved. She also said they can go ahead and show us even without the cpr class taken, so that leads me to believe she wants to show our profile this month!

One of the couples that we took our adoption class with was placed with a baby boy 3 weeks ago. They had adopted a little girl a year before and now have a boy! I am so happy for them. They were so encouraging to me throughout the class and now that they have been placed with another baby, it makes me feel like the end might be in sight!! Please pray God would bless us with the perfect baby for our family.

Quote of the Day

"My greatest fear is not failure. My greatest fear is being successful at something that does not matter."

What $55 will buy you on a Saturday in Central Florida

I went to a community Yard Sale in Celebration, Florida this morning. This is all I bought for $55! Click on the picture to enlarge it!

3 Longaberger baskets
14 Boyd Bunnies
1 Yankee candle
2 sets of Ariel Sheets (twin)
1 Video Now and 4 discs
4 Homeschool Books
Giant Body Book
A wooden Santa
5 Mini Disney Princess
a homeschool tee shirt
A Ralph Lauren Dress(For Abby)
Shorts ( For Abby)
A Skirt (For Abby)
2 Cake Candles
17 infant boy clothes (given to me when I mentioned we were adopting!)
12 Beenie babies ( for our nursing home visits)
8 teenie beenie babies (for our nursing home visits)
A 15 pieces stainless steel cookware set with 9 lids!!!!

Not bad for a Saturday Morning!!!

Club Libby Lu

Very cool Website

Okay, some of you homeschool gals have probably known about this website for a long time, but I just found it. I thought I would pass it along because there are some really cool animal and famous people report forms. I also liked the Thanksgiving report forms.....My good deed for the day....Enjoy!!=)



http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/forms.html

You make me smile award!

Heather at http://www.blogger.com/www.blogshewrote.blogspot.com award me the You Make Me Smile award. Thanks Heather and Go Hokies! I am gonna pass it on to:

Oney ~ http://www.oneyjones.blogspot.com/ I love the biscuit saying on her blog

Heather P ~ http://www.heatherpreckel.typepad.com/ The scrapbook queen! Her scrapbook room makes me green with envy!

Loree' ~ http://www.web.mac.typepad.com/ My Galloping the Globe friend...I love the pics of your New England trip!

You girls all make me smile with you great blogs!

Pumpkin Fudge

Another great fall recipe from a homeschool friend

Nikki's Pumpkin Fudge

1 1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. pumpkin
2 TBS. butter
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. mini marshmallows
1 pkg. (12oz) vanilla baking chips
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Line 8 inch square pan with foil. Grease the foil. Butter the sides of a heavy sauce pan.Combine sugar, evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir constantly while bringing it to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, continue boiling and stir for 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows,vanilla chips and vanilla extract. Stir until all ingredients are melted. Pour into square pan. Chill until firm. Cut in small squares.

Happy Birthday Esther Hope Mullis!

Happy Sixth Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Esther!! We love you Sweetheart!

Our Virginia Week

The Cascades, Giles County, VA
with Aunt Jodi

We had a great time in Virginia last week even though we did miss Greg a lot. I still can't believe we actually pulled off a suprise for my mom for her birthday. We walked to the Cascades one day and it was so pretty, I thought I would post a couple of pics.

Esther's Snacking in Style

A Few of My Favorite Things

Yummy Recipe

This is from my FIAR friend Nikki's blog. I asked her if I could post it because it was such a hit at my house, I thought you all might want to try it out.
Chicago-Style Pan Pizza
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp. olive oil
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, well-drained
3/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fennel seed, crushed
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9x13 pan. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Sprinkle over dough. Top with mozzarella cheese. In a skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, oregano, salt, fennel seed, and garlic powder. Spoon over mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or till crust is golden brown.

It's the Simple Things

Fall is my all time favorite season and even though it does not feel like fall down here, I was so excited on my weekly trip to Wal-Mart to discover that they had candy corn for sale already. Esther and I both did a happy little fall dance! We also pulled out our autumn decorations and decided to decorate. I am going to buy a pumpkin spice yankee candle this week too. So, even though it may not feel like fall around here, it will look and smell and taste like fall in the Mullis house!

Buggy Family

I never did put any pictures on my blog from our August trip to Disney because we left right after it to go to VA/WV. I was looking through my pics today and came across this one of us getting ready to go into "It's tough to be a bug". Christmas Card material don't ya think??

A Milestone

Essie lost her first tooth today! It has been loose for a long time and she would not let any of us pull it. She tried to eat an apple today and still no go and then after lunch she was wiggling it and out it popped! I have never seen a child so excited! She was squealing through the house and is so excited to meet the tooth fairy tonight. I can not believe my baby is losing teeth! She is growing up too quick!

Football Saturday

We are a college football family around here! Since Greg grew up in Florida he has been a Gator fan all his life and it seems as though my children are following in his footsteps, I don't mind too much and I even like Tim Tebow and the gators never have had to play my Hokies! Yes I am Beamer Ball, Orange and Maroon HOKIE!!
All 3 of my kids were born in West Virginia and we loved it there so much that every time we see a bumper sticker or ball cap with WVU on it we all shout Go Mountaineers!, So we have a little bit of that in us too! So here is my shout out: Go Hokies! Go Gators! Go Mountaineers!
And now I think I will go watch a little football, followed by a little football and then maybe we will end the evening on the couch watching a little football!

A sweet savour

In my Tabernacle Bible study we have talked about the incense that the priests were instructed to keep burning continually and how that in Psalms 141:2 David writes" Let my prayers be set before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Also Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing" which, I have always thought to be a very difficult thing to do.
I love the word picture it gives us though, thinking of my prayers as incense makes me think of this smoke going up from my lips to the throne of God. It is easier to pray when HE seems real, isn't it? The offerings and incense offered in the Tabernacle was a sweet savour unto the Lord. Are my prayers just as sweet? I wonder sometimes when I become a "Control Freak" in my prayers and try to tell God exactly the best way a situation would work out, is this smell not quite so sweet? Hebrews tells us to come boldy before the throne and I know because of our great high priest (Jesus) we are able to, but I want, like David, for my prayer and my life to be sweet unto Him....is it?
I have been struggling with this question until I found this great little verse in 1 Corinthians 2:15 " For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved and in them that are perishing." I love that! We are a sweet savour to God and He gave us the Holy Spirit to let us know if our heart is not pure, but guess what? Even then, because of Christ, we are still sweet to HIM! And that, my friends is called GRACE!

My First Blog award!

My first Blog Award!
I was nominated for the Nice Matters Award from Amy in Ohio at www.stick2home4school.blogspot.com! Thanks Amy!

Happy Grandparents Day!!

Since Sunday, September 9th is Grandparents Day I just wanted to say "We love you"!!!
to:
Memaw
Mammy
Grandma Greenlaw
Nana and Gramps
Grandma and Pawpaw
Ma and Pa

Thanks for all you do for us and for loving us so much!!

Legos

Our house has become a Lego Land for the past week! Our friends, Doug and Leanna bought Nate a submarine set of Legos when we were in WV last week and he has been playing with it on the dining room table. Abby decide to bring out her big tub of Legos and now there is a small city built in the dining room! I really don't mind them, even though we have a "no toys in the dining room" rule most of the time.

I was looking at the legos this morning and it got me to thinking about how God takes the small seemingly unorganized parts of my life and molds it to fit into HIS plan. HE makes me useful even when I feel very much like a small plastic molded lego. The cool thing is when HE is ready to build me into something else, HE can take all the pieces apart and what looks like a great big mess, HE molds into something else that HE is able to use for HIS glory. I kinda feel like all the parts laying on the table waiting for HIM to create in me a work and its hard to wait and see what that masterpiece will be.

I don't like change very much and yet that is what I feel we have been doing so much of the last few years, kinda like all my lego pieces are just laying out there on the table and I am waiting for God to reveal HIS plan for our lives and as I wait (sometime more patiently than other times), I am filled with the reassurance that God is the master planner/potter/creator and HE will, IN HIS TIME make me exactly what HE wante me to be!

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.

Ancient Egypt

We are studying Ancient Egypt in The Mystery of History this week . We took a good look at pyramids and how they were made. Did you know that some pyramids were as long as 10 football fields and 40 stories high?? We also looked at the process that goes into mummifying. The girls decided to make Nathan the dead King and mummy him up. He was cool with that, he said,"just don't flush me!"

Home Study

Our first of three Home Studies for adoption will begin in about 30 min.! If you see this blog, please pray for us this morning as we take another step of faith in this adoption process! We are excited, but nervous! Thanks ~ Jackie

West Virginia Wedding