KNOWN

Every Wednesday night for the last 5 years I have spent at our churches weekly youth group gathering. After some group time we break out into smaller groups.
It's fun.
I have had this same group of girls for the past two years, during their junior and senior year of high school.
In may ways we do life together, but we also play together. Here are some recent pics of what we do together...

We watch movies in a sweet private theatre. We watched the best movie of all time:

We dance around on stage.

We talk.

We play foosball.

We go out in public together.

We invite new people to join.

We don't want out picture taken, there are two girls in this picture.

I am not the only one documenting this journey.

We buy a fruit basket for an elderly neighbor because one of us feels lead by the Holy Spirit to do so.

So we hang each Wednesday night but the fun doesn't stop there. Hope you enjoyed.

4 The Love of DETROIT

The website isn't fully up and running but it's enough to wet your palette. I am scared to death of this venture but am trying to be obedient.
If you didn't know it: I love Detroit.
One day I dream of a loft apartment there, shh... don't tell Steve- he has to fund it *smile*
Pray welcome.
Thanks for clicking, now go.

Giveaway!

My friend from Maine,
who I met in Florida
and she now lives in Alaska, is having a giveaway.
Go here to enter and mention my name so I can get another entry.

Welcoming Another Week With A Smile

You know when you can really feel the spiritual battle closing in?
Well it's been that way for me lately and it seems I need more time with God and less time with you people on this here blog.
So I am checking in to say all is well.
We are alive.
I am alive,
and God is so worthy of our worship.

I heard recently read that worship is about God and His attributes and not about me. Like I've been telling myself after reading Crazy Love: "this movie is not about me."
O' I feel like dancin' when I hear that, and dance, soon I shall.

Another bit of exciting news! I am serving on the next Lighthouse Via de Cristo!
When I got asked I really wanted to say no but I knew that God was calling me; I also know God is knocking at my heart and life to practice obedience.
Ugh.
I am a rebel, obeying just goes against who I am. --eek!--
But.... since I've been called to grow up in my salvation I am listening obeying.
and I am being blessed beyond measure.

This week is full of
trips to New Tribes Missions in Sanford,
library and bookstore visits,
sewing
kid-sitting
and family, family, family!

May you all have a blessed week and focus on the glass being half full!

I should have known...

... when I saw them conspiring.
and looking up at this

Then they put my baby in a metal ball and shot him into the air like a spitball in math class.

The Daytona Sling Shot.

So as the Lord will have it I will add an 8-year old girl to our home school next week. I realy wish I could say more, but for now that's the extent on the who is coming.

Now to use this blog for some of the what? the like are we gonna do??
I don't have elementary curriculum anymore, so here's the plan:

She starts next Monday and I have a 5 week commitment.
I've never homeschooled a child who wasn't always homeschooled and am starting mid-year, hmm...

We'll start with a Saxon math placement test, I like Saxon and am familiar with the curriculum.
Then I figure we'll start a unit study on Greece. We'll read, write, draw while we learn about Ancient Greece.
I'll use this Lapbook on Ancient Greece as an outline.

For now that's it.

Didn't See This Comin'

Conversations I never thought I'd have:

Me to Son: "How are you doing with the boundaries and standards you set with your girlfriend."
...that began a another nice conversation.
Teenagers.
Love them, but secretly wish they'd grow small and back big again ;-)

Project Valentine

Totally copied the tile and post idea from ym friend Heather. Seems as though while H was spray painting I was sewing!

Just Sayin'

*updated at bottom

Well, it's been a crazy week.
Not sure why. Seems like one of those weeks where I was never where I was suppose to be, yet didn't have anywhere to be.

I think my minds been all over the place.
In about two weeks we will have an 8-year old girl move in with us for a few months. This excites me, makes me nervous and when I look around my teenage boy home I wonder where and how she'll fit in.

A yard sale at my mother-in-laws today is suppose to be where I am right now, but a killer headache kept me in bed most of the morning. So much for selling the pile of yard sale stuff sitting in my dinning room. Maybe tomorrow.

Yesterday I was without car only to realize my Thursday Bible study started up again. Fortunately I made it there and home, but the 2.5 hour time I am usually away from home was bounced up to 6 hours away and catching up on those missed hours is not fun for me. Not. Fun. At. All.

8th grade homeschool is not going well this month, but we'll catch up; I hope we must.

Hmm... really I am wanting to get away for a week or so. And when I say away I do not mean a trip to see family. I love them but I am ready for some time with my family alone. That will not happen as none of them crave that same thing. Plus the finance thing, ugh.

Speaking of, last fall we started to put into practice Dave Ramsey's steps to financial freedom- love it and equally hate it. Means saying no to a lot of things, fun things for me. It means cooking cheaper- which means more time for me in the kitchen, and if you know me I struggle with kitchen time, but am forced there because if I don't we don't eat!

So I guess this post has become a bit of a frustration/life/whatever type of post.
Giving my burdens to the Lord. Trying to take on His yoke, after all it's easy and light.
Just some days I would rather not believe, rather not trust, rather not seek Him. Honestly some days I'd rather wake up and do whatever the heck I wanted. To kick all I know to be right aside and live a little for my flesh.
Just sayin'

But today I press on.
Press on toward the goal and remember that 2 Cor 4:17: these light and momentary troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. At least that's what I'm believing even though I don't want to =)

Oh and did I mention my mother-in-law, the real one, and father-in-law, the step one, come into town on Saturday. Not too much stress, just the pull to be with them 2 towns away while life still goes on here at home. Better up the gas budget this week.

well, I am doing much better. Had a great, well-overdue time with Steve. It had been a while since we had some slow-down time together. He reminded me that I love to create and that it had been awhile since I had created anything. So I spent the better part of the afternoon in the garden, weeding and watering; and in the sewing room, sewing and creating a new pattern. Too often I put off activities that give me strength. Some well needed therapy. So now I still press on...