November Catch up Post

Hello Turkey! I can't wait to gobble you up, no pun intended!

Oh my gravy...is it the end of November ALREADY? When did that happen? Sorry about the pitiful state of my blog this month, we've just been busy, busier, and busiest around here. School is in full swing,,,4 days a week with Fridays being 'life lesson' day...grocery shopping, house cleaning, cooking, baby chasing lessons, etc. ABeka for Arithmetic and Language Arts and then My Father's World for Bible, Art, History, Science, Music and Geography. We studied an overview of the world, maps and globes in the early part of the month, and have started our study on North America that will last until the new year. David is still doing gymnastics thanks to Jodi's generosity and is at the gym on T, TH and F from 4:30 to 7:30, and 8-9 on Sat AM. Phew...that's a LOT of gymnastics. Happily, it coordinates nicely with Jodi's tutoring job at the gym and she does almost all of the ferrying back and forth. We work on getting all of school done before he has to leave, which helps Mama with her accountability with school not dragging on all day. Pat is looking forward to joining a karate class soon after the new year and is doing well in school...settles in and gets it done. He's finally caught on to the concept of just working instead of fussing about it and then you can get back to the playing. (Thank you Jesus!) He really enjoys his tent room and spends many happy hours there, making little forts, reading to himself or the littles and entertaining Titus in there. Dan has introduced him to the idea of working out and set him up a little workout routine which he follows religiously...and even 'coaches' the other kids when they want to play, too. David is hoping for his own room soon, but that depends on what size house we can find when we move from here. Derek is catching on to his letters, colors and numbers quite well, considering I only sit and do 'formal' school with him about one day a week. Other days is just reading to him, singing songs and educational videos. He LOVES to get up to the table with the big boys and 'help' do project with them...and I'm fine with that. It's the busy season for me at work right now and I'm not ashamed to admit that working until 2-3 AM 4 nights a week is kicking my behind. I keep telling myself that it's only for the next few weeks...but at 7 AM the next morning, I don't really care, I just want to sleep more. I find myself discouraged that I haven't even BEGUN my Christmas prep yet. There's been no money to buy gifts and no time to craft gifts, so maybe I'll steal Jodi's idea and promise everyone a date. We shall see how that goes. I'm having trouble even finding my Christmas spirit this year yet, so I ordered White Christmas from Netflix and put it at the top of my Que...LOL! That should help. Dan is still working, still in Hurley and still hating it. He actually said the other day that he had considered walking off the job (Dear God in Heaven...NNNNoooooooo!) The one co-worker just refuses to behave like a grown up and is driving him to distraction. Same guy actually threatened Dan the other day (he MUST be crazy) Anywho, I'm just praying that he can manage to deal until his job switches to somewhere else. I just keep saying to myself that the Lord will provide...and He will, just not necessarily in my timing or the way I want. And that's the hard part. But that's ok too, because the hard stuff brings growth in my life, and I need that.

Moving on...Thanksgiving was great, Karen and Ty, plus 'Shua and Lauren came for dinner with us. Everyone pitched in to get dinner on the table and it was delish! Dan helped me with the Turkey and I think Julia Child would have been proud. No turkey has ever been so lovingly prepared for the oven...Muahahahah! We sat around the table and chatted a while, then Dan put away food and Karen did the dishes....can it be Thanksgiving EVERY day?? : ) We went and had pie at Mama Lou's house and chatted with everyone there. Friday we spent the day at home doing absolutely nothing...and doing it well! Saturday was our pie and coffee get together and was essentially a game night without pizza. We ate pie and guzzled coffee until we were on a sugar high and had bloated tummies, then sat and played games for hours. It was AWESOME...really enjoyed it. So here it is, the last day of November: Dan is at work in Hurley, the boys are in bed and all I am hearing is the dryer tumbling our last load of clothes for the day and myself typing, I'm headed out for work in 30 minutes and life is full. And good. And God is blessing us... in SPITE of us. A few prayer requests and then some pictures to get you up to date.

• Dan could use some prayer to calm his pressure at work, he's about to be at the breaking point.


• I need to get the house back to being a safe haven for him so that he can rest and refresh while he is at home.


• While we are making great strides in our schooling adventures, there is always room for improvement. Jodi and I were talking today that I always say that this is the best year EVER for homeschooling...and it is, but as I look back, I always see what I could have done better, or not done at all, or differently, and sometimes I get frustrated that it isn't going as well as it could, or I'm not keeping up with with homeschooling Jones' so prayer for me to remember that I'm doing the best I can, or if I'm not, to use that discouragement as EN~couragement to change directions and make THIS the best year ever....PERIOD.
  
• Jodi and Aaron are going through some changes and are struggling a bit...pray for them, their marriage and their children. Help Dan and I to be better examples of not only forgiveness, determination, and making it work, but of love.
  
• Karen and Ty are going to Cali for Christmas to see Dolli and family. Travelling mercies and to have a wonderful time together!


• Dan and I need to get back to having regular time together, away from the kids and the house. Prayers for not only the TIME to do that, but the opportunity to do that without sacrificing what little family time we have at this point.
  

My goodness...this post seems a bit dark. Sorry about that...negativity is rearing it's head today. I am really frustrated about several things over which I have no control, and that frustrates me too...LOL! On the upside...Advent starts tomorrow, Dan will be home in 3 days and we have NEW friends coming for game night...all is well! OK, a few pics and I'm done...this is MUCH longer than I anticipated. Hugs all around!
~K~

Pat is hard at work...he's a champ!


David LOVES his long hair!

A place for plans to keep me on track

Oooo, look at Daddy's new fish!

'Shua and James enjoy some time with Rusty...he's so cute!

Jared and Kelly have made a masterpiece...man, we need to get a life if that is considered entertainment...LOL~

Devin turned 15 this week...he's getting so grown up!

A Day Late and Dollar Short

Story of my life...right? LOL! Well, here it is Saturday afternoon and I'm finally getting on here to update everyone on our state of being. As I sit here, Dan, Dave and Pat are helping Karen move into her new apartment, Jodi is putting Titus down for nap, James and Derek are jumping on the trampoline and Aaron is nursing a migraine...never a dull moment. ; ) Actually, the reason that I didn't blog last night is that Dan and I were out Christmas shopping, grocery shopping and renewing our Sam's membership, hence the dollar short part...On the upside though, we have food in the cabinets, a new way to save money at Sam's and several more Christmas secrets in the closet...hee hee. With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I am reminded of how grateful we should be every day and aren't. We are paying our bills down bit by bit and still can afford an occasional luxury. I have been looking over my journals as I sort through the 87, 392 boxes of paperwork I found in the garage (sigh!!) and I was reminded of exactly HOW BAD it really was for a while....no wonder I was pretending to be Scarlett O'Hara and saying I would think about that tomorrow...LOL! I am soooooo grateful to not be there anymore, but I am even farther down the road to be grateful for those hard times that made us determine whether we were going to sink or swim and also for those times that drove to my knees and into the loving arms of the Father. God is so gracious to us if we just ALLOW Him to be! Moving on...We are enjoying Aaron's visit and looking forward to Dad and Mom's also. Rumor has it that Ricky and Alec are going to try to sneak in a visit in the early parts of December, but that remains to be seen. For now, dinner is simmering, a fire is crackling cheerfully to keep us warm and soon Charlie and Devin will be joining us for an evening of laughter and games. So, I must get off of here and tend to my family and home (*sigh of contentment*)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all!
Blessings,
Kristy
PS. To those of you that know my very first lost boy ever, Dariel...he had an accident at work this week and smashed his hand in a press and broke it....pray for healing of the hand and patience for Dariel...waiting for things to get better was never one of his fortes! Ha ha ha!

Aahhhh, the good life! BTW, do you like the couch covers??

November Musings ~ 2008

As I sit here sipping gingerbread tea and listen to my two favorite labor saving devices (the dishwasher and the clothes washer) whirr in the background, I peek into the living room where all 3 boys are curled up together and watching a movie. I see into the kitchen where the cabinets are full and I think about my closet, where many holiday secrets are already hiding. I think about my favorite hubby who is off taking classes to make himself more useful to his company...and Jodi who is out doing something fun with her two boys and I just can't help but heave a sigh of contentment about where God has led us. Don't get me wrong, its not all sunshine and roses, but it IS so much better than where we were...and I'm talking about emotional places, not location. We are busy making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas...having survived the 'non-specific fall holiday' that just passed....and only having to explain to 38 people WHY we don't celebrate that holiday. At least only 35 thought we were crazy...ha ha! Anywho; as we look forward to fall weather, REAL fall holidays and the birth of our Savior, our hearts always turn toward home and family. We are so anxious to see Dad and Mom again...it's just been forever! We also think of all of our dear friends and family back in IL and spread across the country really, and I just want to thank all of you who have prayed diligently for us. For those who make efforts to keep in touch...we appreciate your letters, cards and calls so much...you can't imagine! Continue to keep us in your hearts and prayers as life is never perfect, but God is always sovereign. A few prayer requests and praises...

• KAREN got a JOB!!!



• Jodi is having all of her wisdom teeth plus two molars extracted on Monday...OUCH!



• My work is headed into the busy season; pray for grace and patience as I forge ahead with only 3 hours of sleep 4 days a week



• School is going really well for D and P, they are learning to self-motivate, schedule their own work times and work with less 'hand-holding'



• Derek is busier than ever...and asking how everything works...I think we have another Dan on our hands...oh my!



• Jodi and I have decided that our kids are getting smarter, cuter and more devious with each one....start praying now for us to survive...ha ha ha!



• Charlie was in a motorcycle accident this week, it wasn't serious, but he is stiff and sore, plus his bike is messed up



• Ricky OFFICIALLY joined the US navy this week....you decide whether that's a praise or a request



• Joshua is working on putting together his testimony to share with the church...pray that he finds the right words to say



• John and Dolli are making great strides in repairing their relationship...pray that they bring their marriage under the will of God and that they continue to grow closer together.

I guess that about sums it up for this week. I will be posting a few pics and then I'm out, to enjoy my labor saving devices...ha ha! Have a great week everyone!! I miss you all! Lost boys, mama K loves you!
Blessings,

Kristy and the Man Crew

Just checking to see if I've still got it...yup, I do!

David taught Titus how to hold his own bottle this week.