Still Waiting...

I realized I haven't shared an update about our adoption process in a while. Not that there's much to share.

There have been no calls from our resource developer for a few months now. Back before Thanksgiving, we did receive an email asking if we'd be interested in a sibling group of 3. Their picture was just beautiful. Three little brothers, aged 2, 3, and 4. If I could figure a way to use symbols on this keyboard to depict my jaw dropping, I would! Three little boys 4 and under??? Was this some kind of joke? Didn't we already prove that we are no match for little fellas in that age group?

A Song in My Heart

Here's a song that's been on my lips and in my heart recently. I'm so very thankful for His grace and mercy.

How We Afford Our Vacations

Recently, after seeing on my facebook page all my pictures of our summer travels, I had a friend ask me how we were able to afford all our traveling, that we must be rich.

I know the comment was made in jest, but I have to admit, it stung a little.

We are not rich. ~ Well, I suppose that depends on how you define rich. If you mean rich in God's abundant love, mercy and grace; rich in family and friends; rich in love for each other, then YES we are overwhelmingly rich! If you mean rich with much money at our disposal, then no, sadly we are not rich.

I was slightly taken aback by that comment, but it did get me thinking. How do we afford our vacations and travels? I thought about that and I came to some conclusions, so I made a list. And it got me thinking, these are simple things that anybody can do, so why not share them with others?

2012 Highlights in Pictures

January

 

just a little gemstone excavation kit I found to enhance our geology study...

Off to a Good Start in 2013

Well, January has come and gone. Thankfully, I didn't make many New Year's resolutions, therefore, I haven't broken any. *wink*

Pretty much the only resolutions I made this year were to continue doing what I can to live healthier, to be more frugal and resourceful with what I have, and to live a more simple life.

Thankful in 2012

Well, it's 3:00 am and I'm wide awake. That's one thing about being on break from school... we (that would be the kids and me) stay up late at night and then sleep late the next day. So, my internal clock is out of whack!

The New Awana Year ~ 2012

Awana is back in full swing in our church. We actually started back in August, and these pictures are from our first night.

First night chaos...

My New Job

I have a new job!

I've begun babysitting my friend's 4 month old grandson. I usually have him 2 to 3 days per week, so it doesn't tie me down too much, and it provides a little extra income to help us make Kate's car payment. :)

He is such a doll and I've become quite attached to the little fella. I do miss him on the days when I don't have him.

Family Getaway

We went to Panama City Beach, Florida recently. We had a couple days off for fall break, so we accompanied my husband's sister and her family on a mini-vacation. I'm not sure what it is about the beach, but we seem drawn to it, for sure.

Our 2012-2013 School Year

I think I can say that after almost two months back in school, we have settled back into our "normal" routine. Normal -- don't you just love that word? What's normal anyway? Just a setting on the washing machine...

The Path Toward Healthy

I've been on a quest recently. A quest to live healthier. To live more frugally. To live more simply.

I've been reading several different blogs and websites, and have gleaned numerous ideas about how to achieve these goals. You might want to check these out: Holy-Spirit Led Homeschooling, Hidden Treasures, diy Natural.

I've been making my own laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, fabric softener, all purpose cleaners/disinfectants and window cleaner for many months now, and I have to say I've been quite pleased with the results.

Not only have I seen significant savings in our grocery budget,

Wedding Anniversary

I recently (like in August) celebrated 22 years of marriage to the love of my life. I've been thinking back over these wonderful years that God has given us. Of course it hasn't been just picture perfect. We've had our share of ups and downs, to be sure. But, if I could go back and do it all over again, I'd still choose him. I know, in the deepest recesses of my heart, that God picked him out just for me.

 

Cars and Hearts, Who Knew?

We finally found a car for Kate. Because we never buy new cars, we shopped around for quite a while, trying to find something that would meet all our requirements and still fit in our budget.

It had to have a high safety rating, have (fairly) low mileage, have a good mpg rating ('cause she has to drive it 40 miles round trip per day to school), and, of course, it had to fit within the budgeted amount we had to spend.

We found a 2006 KIA Optima.

Random Summer Stuff

 I couldn't help but share this picture. It's our little diva after her first trip to the groomer's this summer. :)

 

 

 

Also, this summer a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) celebrated her 43rd birthday.

Busy Summer Days Give You Something to Think About

I have used my last few posts trying to get caught up from our overly busy summer. I've talked about all of our various road trips,  and our comings and goings. We did have a few lazy days at home, with nothing on the agenda.

 

I tried to focus most of my time over the summer on my kids. They're growing up so fast... changing so much.

 

Now, more than ever, I can see the importance of spending as much time with them as I can. Even in all of our busyness this summer, we were together. We were busy as a family. This time with them is so fleeting.

 

I used to think, when they were babies and toddlers (and even preschoolers),

Myrtle Beach, SC

 

Have I mentioned before how much we like the beach?

Yes, of course I have. We like it so much, we went twice this summer. I mentioned earlier that we have had an extremely busy summer, going more than usual. In fact, we'll be going to Panama City Beach for a fall break with my husband's sister and her family later this month.

Fernandina Beach, FL

 

We have some friends who rent a beach house for the summer, and they invited us to spend a few days with them in July.

 

There's nothing our family enjoys more than spending time at the beach. Especially my husband.

 

That's him, out for a morning stroll, looking for shark's teeth.

Six Flags and a Braves Game

A couple other fun trips this summer ~

We chaperoned our church youth group on two different trips -- one to Six Flags, and the other to an Atlanta Braves baseball game.

 

I'm not one for riding all the rides at amusement parks, but I'm always game for tagging along and watching everyone else have fun :).

July 4th

We travelled home to spend a few days with and to celebrate Independence Day with our family. We grilled -- the menu consisted of smoked Boston butt, grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken, layered salad, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, baked beans, deviled eggs, hash brown casserole, macaroni and cheese, and rolls. For dessert there were brownies, cookies, cakes and homemade ice cream... There were alot of us.

Summer Vacation - Part 3 - Washington D.C.

This is the third and final post in this series of our vacation to the great state of Virginia and Washington, DC. If you missed the first two, and are interested, you can go here for part 1, and here for part 2.

We only allotted ourselves two days for touring DC, knowing full well that we'd never be able to see everything in such a short time. It was two hours, one way, from our resort to DC. So our plan was to leave early and stay late, and try to squeeze in as much as we possibly could. Walking, walking, and more walking. Wow, that makes for a loonnngg, tiring day! It was worth it to me, but to the rest of my family... let's just say that although they thoroughly enjoyed the sight-seeing, each of them is not quite the history enthusiast that I am.

Summer Vacation - Part 2 - Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

This is the second of a three-part series about our vacation to the great state of Virginia, and Washington, DC. If you missed the first post, and are interested in catching up, you can go here.

Since our resort was not too far from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, we paid a visit there one afternoon. Undoubtedly, not everyone gets such a thrill as I did from visiting this plantation. How can I explain it? To walk in a room where someone from our American heritage walked, to touch the very walls he touched, to see the chair in which he at one time sat.... yes, I know... there's no help for me. Now if we had been able to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon, too... well, that would have sent me right over the edge :).

Summer Vacation- Part 1 - Shenandoah Crossing Wilderness Resort

Wow! Our summer was so busy. We were on the go, much more than usual! I can't believe I haven't taken the time to post much! I guess now that we're back in school and settled back into a routine, it's time to play catch up again :).

We'll start with our trip to Virginia and Washington DC, right after school was out for summer vacation. Let me just start by saying this was my dream vacation! I have wanted to visit DC for quite some time now, considering I am such a history buff!

A Wedding

I shot my first wedding recently, for a friend's daughter. I vehemently expressed that I am not a professional photographer, and weddings should definitely be shot by a professional!

I am comfortable shooting sports pictures, natural outside photo shoots and things of that nature. But a wedding... my heart still skips a beat just thinking about it.

Obviously I was very nervous, for you only have one shot to get it right. You don't get a do-over when shooting a wedding, you know.