A Blog With A Lot of Labels

I really like being with my kids. I like homeschooling. It allows for things like this:
Early bird, who was up early and finished his school by 10:30am, Night Owl, who was up at midnight, listening to Adventures in Odyssey, reading and playing a game he made up, and myself, who slept on the couch because the cats fighting woke me up, I read Habakkuk, who like him I wonder why wicked and deceit prosper?, but back to being awake until midnight: Night Owl was being, ...well his nickname is Night owl, you figure it out. Anyway all three of us pile into the car, drop Steve off lunch and then head to Wal-Mart 5 minutes away. We are listening to Z88.3 when we stop at a red light, the music changes to this. John Cougar, I love this song, John Cougar rocks! Once we figured what happened we started jammin' out to that. We pulled out of the red light and about 50 feet later it was back to the Z.
We started to laugh and then someone said, "that was good way to either witness to the John Cougar fans or keep some John Cougar fans listening to the Z.
We came out of Wal-Mart sat in the car and Early Bird said "Wasn't that funny when the music changed in that spot!" The again on our way from their buddies later that afternoon they both started laughing at the change in stations thing.
We passed through the intersection again and sadly no music change.
I know that will be a funny story we share for awhile together, that's how we roll.

-Michelle
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My Dad, My Mom and A Glimpse Into The Futire

So my dad was in town this past weekend. He was just passing through and we only found out about his visit 2 days before he arrived. In his single retirement years my dad has taken up truck driving as a profitable hobby. I was thrilled he was coming! He's often like another child in the house when he comes, not able to work my coffee maker, microwave, pull out sofa, it's a wonder he even can flush the toilet or open a door. *smile*
My mother lives locally and they have been divorced for close to 5 years after 33 or 35 years of marriage. Sad, I know but I am still praying that the Lord will work in my earthly father's heart and bring reconciliation and even bring them back together.
So this bring me to the funniest thing that happened. First of all we don't tell my mother when my dad is coming; it leads to a hundred questions, none of which I have an answer to and is more trouble than what it's worth. So on Sunday night after 24 hours of being in the same town as her, she figured him out. She called him, yes they are friends and talk occasionally, and he finally gave in and said he was at my house just 3 short miles from her. She asked or he asked, we'll never know which initiated it, for her to come over.
Anyway, moving right along, my dad then enters the room I am in and begins to inquire about his clothing. Our conversation went something like this:
Dad: "My pants aren't that bad, are they?"
Dad: "Do you think I should have done some laundry?"
Dad: "This shirt isn't dirty is it?"
Dad: "I don't look that bad? DO I?"
Me (finally): "This is funny- mom's coming over and you're all concerned with how you look."
Dad: "What? I'm just want to look good for my delivery tomorrow."
Me: "That's tomorrow and since when have you been concerned with your clothing when making a delivery?"
Dad: no words a big smile then leaves the room
So 10 minutes later my mom shows up, they chat and decide she'll return later to go out for coffee. The classic get togehter in my fmaily, going out for a cup o' joe.
She leaves.
We all begin to get ready for AWANA and Bible study.
I look into my living room and there is my father, workout elastic tied to the back doorknob, doing exercises.
I think I've just gotten a glimpse into the dating years.

-Michelle
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Saturdays With My Boys

*update at bottom

So I took the advice of Janeen and didn't use my free time last night to clean. Ok so I did do my floors but I spent the rest of my time relaxing. It was wonderful. Thank you blogging friend for speaking up rather quickly!!

Of course there was the small fact that I had to run the sleeping bag, left in the dryer to the campout last night, luckily only 20 minutes away. Other than that I really enjoyed the time I had with no one around but me the dog and the cats. Even this morning was pleasant with no one to cook breakfast for, let me say that again I DID NOT HAVE TO COOK FOR ANYONE THIS MORNING!! I did however forget to turn off hubs and my alarms so I was up early and then had a surprise 8am visit from a family member who I will leave unnamed.

Call me crazy and guess where I went today--
I went to the camp out.

Crazy?

Crazy about my boys!!
After all this is not just any campout but the spring camporee!
And we're the reigning champs!
The troop to beat!
Top dog.
The big boys in the neighborhood.
So I made my way to the campout and this is what greeted me as I entered our troops campsite.
"Permission to enter?"



Pretty impressive huh?
This was all done by tweenage and teenage boys.
On their own.
With 40 lashings and a whole bunch of trees that they carry around to make cool things like this gateway out of.
My original plan was to leave around mid-afternoon and come home to prepare the office for my dad's visit this weekend only I was having too much fun, and hubs tent and airmatress is comfy and a great place to read, so I stayed through dinner.
Which was fabulous.
And cooked by the boys.
And cleaned up by the boys.
Did I mention why I love scouting??

I did get some more cool footage of the boys and I got to hike, yes hiking here in Florida is pretty much walking in the woods, but I'll take it! I am so thankful for this wonderful land God has given us and the sunshine and the nice weather!

To sum it up today was a blast and I'm reminded of how much I like my kids, and I think how much they like me, I think. I'm thankful for the unique bond God has given my boys and I- I'm reminded of His grace in my life through my children. I'm reminded of how important my time with them is, it's short and one day there will be no camporees, no gateways to brag about and no little boys to kiss goodbye (yes they both kissed their mama goodbye, in public, with their friends around), so until then I will enjoy every single minutes I can.

update: the boys finished in second place or as someone quoted Dale Earnhardt we got first loser. They understood everything except why the judges gave them a 7 out of 10 on the "kid built" portion of that awesome gateway you saw above? No adult helped build it, and it was the only gateway that 5 teenage boys could climb on at the same time.

One young scout said it best when he said "some troops would die to finish 2nd place, we're just use to first place, we'll be back in the fall!" they are all so sweet and good 2nd place finishers too!

Wearing the Same Shoes

Life's been a challenge lately, my faith's being stretched, God's becoming something new to me, something fresh, something awesome!
Today a bit of my past came rushing over me. A part of me that I thought was gone, I thought I'd kicked. I can't ever think that. I can't ever sit back and think I'm conqored this or I've overcome that. Instead it's Christ who gets the glory, it;s Christ who I give credit too. As I step out in faith, as I begin to trust God anew the enemy becomes new too. In this case he was new with some old tricks. I'm not exactly sure how the lies get into my head or how the anxiety flushes over me so quickly but it's a new battlefield with the same old enemy. What makes me smile, what makes my heart jump for joy is that the victory is won and I'm on that winning side.
It doesn't just happen once, it hits me over and over and over. Again and again I chose to believe the truth, I chose to believe God.

I'm remembering how the Israelits trusted God for that day. For that provision. They survived 40 years with the same shoes, the same clothes the mana for that day, no more, no less
.
-Michelle
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It's Friday, It's Quiet, And I'm Getting Old!

I'm sitting here in silence.
Silence.
This week has been a whirlwind and when I realized this morning it was Friday I just couldn't believe it- where did Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday go?
Anyway back to the silence. It truly is golden. There is the sound of the gentle rain and the wind through the trees, but they're like music to my silent ears.
Hubs and the boys are camping with the Boy Scouts this weekend. This is the first camp out with Night Owl in Boy Scouts and not Cub Scouts, so here I sit, alone and did I mention it's quiet 'round here?
What's a girl to do?
What's a girl to do?
First things first, I've gotten caught up on all my blog reading, priorities ladies, priorities!
I've spoken with my mother - another must around here when the boys are out.
So what ever wil I do with a free Friday night?
I know...
Clean.
I know, I know, I should sit and relax awhile, watch a movie, drink some coffee, eat some chocolate; but if you could see the state of my house, oh if you could see the state of my house. Looking around besides this computer chair, I'm not sure there is even a place to sit in this joint. With a crazy week comes piles of stuff. It's like if I don't clean off my counter or fold my clothes right away they all begin to multiply. So after I write this I'll put me on a pot of coffee, eat a Mint Milano cookie, crank up tobymac Diverse City, the ultimate cleaning music, and clean. Since we like to celebrate around here once I get a room clean I'll get to dance in it alittle. Then, most likely I'll attempt some sort of gymnastic move. I'll break out into my level 6 or 5, OK maybe level 2, beam routine using the grout on my floor as a guide, pretend I'm 12 again and in my gymnastics prime. Then I'll throw in some walkovers, twirls and jumps before quickly remembering I'm 32 and this body ain't made to do all that stuff anymore. This will constitute some pain reliever, pain-a-trate and a brief visit to the couch.
I could of course not clean at all and avoid the headache and muscle soreness all together.
But what fun would that be,
after all I'm here alone,
in silence-
oh how heavenly!

-Michelle
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On Believing God

God has been so good lately. About 6 months ago my husband Steve comes home from his job, where he is a part owner in a construction company on the beach here in Florida, and tells me he's praying about opening a yard shop in our town. By yard shop I mean bulk mulch, rock, soil, pine bark, pine straw... To make a long story short we opened our shop, Sticks and Stones, Landscape Products two months ago on a piece of property just .5 miles from our home!

So far it's been great. Steve works more set hours and can still make AWANA and Boy Scouts with the boys. Everyday but Thursday Early Bird finishes his schoolwork and bikes down to the property to help dad. He gets paid $0.25 for every bag of mulch he bags. I can also slip down and hold down the fort for them if both Steve and his partner have to be out on a delivery. Most mornings I slip him down breakfast and have coffee with him, I think starting tomorrow I'll bring a daily devotional for us to read together.

That's the other side to this story, faith. We truly believe God that this is what we are to be doing. Actually for me it's more of a trusting God through Steve. The funny thing is I'm not trusting Steve at all, instead I'm trusting God and ya know what? trusting Steve is easy- cause it's not him but God who's in control. God is the Alpha and Omega and I know what He's done for us in the past so I have hope for the future! "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12b.

When we opened shop we put everything we had into it. There have been unexpected costs and we've gone through our savings... but the best part is that God has been providing for us like crazy!! Our food bill is on a serious diet- and twice this week, and it's only Tuesday, someone else has cooked our dinner. Monday night my small group at church came over for our quarterly monthly dinner at my house and viola! not only dinner but lunch today for 2 and my dinner tonight. Then today out of the blue one of the ladies from my Monday night study brought me over the fixin's for spaghetti w/garlic bread and 2 -$10 coupons for food. Humbling but I'd do the same 'cause that's what friends do.

We covet your prayers as we are choosing to believe God. We have a desire to be debt-free in the next 10-13 years so we can serve God in some way more part time or full time, if that would be His will. After all our boys will be out of the house and we'll be 40 and 41 years old. So this business has the potential to be very profitable and help us reach our goal. In the meantime we offer the following skills for hire:
tutoring, handyman work, work at home business opportunity partnering with Melaleuca: the Wellness Company, and will be holding a yard sale!
(hehehe)

For any of you who have done Believing God study by Beth Moore- I've been wearing my bracelet since May 2006 and cling to these truths and the scripture that supports them:

God is who He says He Is

God can do what He says He can do

I am who God says I am

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

God's Word is alive and active in me

I'm Believing God!

-Michelle
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Have Courage

Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

"Be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart." Paslm 27:14




-Michelle
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London Anyone??

This is great. Take 60 seconds to do this, I guarantee you will show someone else, it's too funny not to.
1. go to www.google.com
2. click on "maps"
3. click on "get directions"
4. type "New York" in the first box (the "from" box)
5. type "London" in the second box (the "to" box)
6. click on "get directions"
7. scroll down to step #23

-Michelle
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Happy Easter!

Mark 16:6"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

$49.50 and a Bunch of Memories

Early Bird made $49.50 yesterday. I just about cried.
He's started a lawn business and between his two yards, besides ours, and bagging some mulch for dad at the shop he finished his day with $49.50! Where has the time gone? It certainly has flown by. I still remember when he won a dollar at an easter Egg Hunt 11 years ago! He was so happy to have his own money that he got "All by mysef Momma!"

As I tucked my little man into his bed last night, we reminisced back to when he was a toddler. When he was two he'd climb up onto high things and say "Watch this Bubba" and jump off. He'd jump from the sofa, the kitchen table, the equipment at the playground and one time right into the deep end of the pool! We moved so much in his first 5 years and each time we'd move his dresser we'd find snack wrappers stuffed in places we didn't know existed. Then there was his famous "I smell sumfin?" He'd stick his little nose right into my mouth and sniff. "I smell sumfin momma and I fink it's chocolate"- oh this is my son, always on the lookout for chocolate.

He was and still is the greatest big brother we could ask for. I recalled the day I peaked outside of the shower and saw he had Night Owl pulled back like a sling shot in his Johnny Jump up, saying "Momma, momma watch what Bubby can do!" then proceeded to let him go. This was the day I knew I was in for a treat over these next years of having boys. Night Owl loved it and laughed and smiled the whole time, do you know the damage that could have been done. Extra guardian angels working overtime best describes those toddler years! My little man loved to place stuffed animals all around his little brother while in his swing, in his bed or anywhere! It was like ET, find the baby among the animals. Night Owl loved it! He laughed and smiled every time his big bubby came into the room. They had some good times together when they were young and now they've grown to more adventurous things.

Yesterday at lunch we were having a discussion and I mentioned how everyone puts their pants on the same, one leg at a time. They decided it would be fun if they did not put their pants on that way. Instead they decided it would be more adventurous if they put their pants on while begin shot out of a cannon- two legs at a time. They'd have the pants hanging somehow so when they were shot out of the cannon they would fly right into them. "Ouch, that may hurt" I said. That's when they instituted the we'd have to be shot into our cup first before our pants to help with the impact!

So as I watched my Early Bird mow his lawn, yes I had to drive him to his job and wait while he mowed, after all he may be growing up and becoming more independent but he still needs his momma now and then. As I watched him I could see my little man, 2 years old climbing onto my old blue sofa yelling "Watch this Bubba" and jumping off like he was on top of the highest point in southwest Oklahoma. As he started the trimmer I saw a little man riding his bike for the first time, helmet as big as him and a smile even larger! As he surveyed his job I choked up, where has my little man gone?

It's making more sense now, no matter how big they get, no matter how independent they become, I will always see them as my little men. They'll always be the little men who need mom to wipe their tears away, to help them tie their shoe or button their coat. I am enjoying these days but somehow those younger years will always be close to my heart. The snuggle days are few and far between and I look forward to the day when I will experience them all over again through my little men's families. Until then, we'll be eating everything we see, growing faster then the weeds in my front yard and cherishing each day God has given us together.

-Michelle
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boys!

Can someone tell me why I can never find my camera cable?

and...

What happened to this silly striing can on my back patio?



-Michelle
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The Past 3 Days

Our homeschool group visited Old St. Augustine Village last Friday. If you ever make a trip to St Augustine, don't let this little gem pass you by. I found by organizing this trip that most of the "locals" think they've seen all of the nations oldest city, when in reality this area has been missed.

We met at 8:30am an successfully caravaned, all 5 cars worth, to St Augustine and parked close by! Our tour guide was interesting and he used large words and cracked jokes and couldn't have been any more perfect for our homeschool group of 13 boys and 3 girls.

We learned that Napoleon's nephew eventually made his way to St Augustine via New Jersey and lived in one of the houses we visited, the setters who married locals lived longer, slaves were first freed in Florida in St Augustine and we even saw the exact spot where Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was read.

Friday night Night Owl headed over to Orlando with a friend to Ignite Orlando, a free concert of some great Christian artists. Family Force 5, Thousand Foot Crutch and tobymac were the big names. Early Bird, Steve and I were headed over a little later- cause you know how much of a toby fan I am the boys are, so we had to make the trek. Well, when we were almost there a friend called to tell us the main sanctuary was full so we'd have to watch from the overflow on a TV screen. We swung a U-turn and headed home, how could we be so close to the actual concert and have to sit and watch it on a screen- not I said the fam. Night Owl did get to stay with his friend and eventually made it home by 1am. Since we were dead tired, Steve and I hit the sack and Early Bird waited up for his little bro- I'm so blessed that they're best friends. Thank you Jesus.

Saturday I worked a little before having dinner with some friends and their family in from out of the country. I visited with a friend who is a child psychologist in Germany, very interesting. While our two countries vary in many, many ways, the heart of man, women, parent, child, is in the same state. Interesting conversation. You know in Germany they are more apt to tell a parent of a child with ADD, ADHD, and other behavior "problems" to practice behavior training before any medication is ever introduced. They are also more apt to drop a child's treatment is the parent doesn't want to be involved or do their part.

Yesterday we relaxed, did some yard work and attended a meeting at the church. We also caught up on some Heroes episodes.

Anyway that's a little recap on our weekend. Hope you had a great one too.

-Michelle
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