Our Weekend

On Saturday, we went to Touch-a-truck. This is an event where the kids get to climb in and explore all kinds of big service trucks and cars including a police car, city bus, dump truck, etc. They also gave away free food, t-shirts, and lots of other stuff. The girls had a nice time. We then went and ate and then had a lazy afternoon at home. After dinner, we all took a walk down to the park and played for about an hour. That is one thing that I will miss when we move. The girls and I walk to the Library when it is a nice day and being able to walk to a park.
On Sunday we went to worship and then ate lunch with my parents. Then we stopped by to see Jeremy's mom too. It was grandparents day and the girls had made them both cards. My parents drove by the house I was interested in and it was having an open house so they looked and later I took Jeremy to look. No one else liked it as much as I did so back to square 1. I was a little down after that. Also, my new dryer that was free dries my clothes really well, but also will choose a few to leave brown stains on. While I told Jeremy about this after the first load, he still has not looked. So now I refuse to use my dryer until he fixes this or gets me a new one. It may be a while until we have clean clothes! I am still waiting for my client to go into labor. I am ready for that to happen and for us to find a house so that I can start concentrating on me and this baby and the upcoming birth.

Movie Reviews

We've seen 2 movies lately at the $1 theater. I feel rather cheap, because I hate paying so much to go see a regular movie and did not take the girls to see any of the kid's summer movies this year. We did go to the free ones at the Rave though. So I've been watching the theater at Hamilton Place for the movies to come through.
Last week we saw Kung Fu Panda. The kids loved this movie and I really enjoyed it too. It was a really great family movie. It had a positive message and was very funny. This is one I would recommend to everyone and I plan to buy when the movie comes out on DVD.
Yesterday, I took the kids to see the new Indiana Jones. I was looking forward to seeing this since I grew up with the older movies. While the movie did have some interesting parts, to me it was just not the same. Events were sometimes too fantastical. I know that the old movies had some of this too, but the new one took it too far. I really did not like the ending either. It would have been much better if they wrote something simpler. I was also not impressed with Harrison Ford as an actor. He was just not believable as Indiana Jones anymore. It really wasn't his age, but his face just looked tired and like he wasn't enjoying his adventure. The kids ( Miriam & A.J.) enjoyed it, but Lily was too scared to look during some parts. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to waste $6 a person, but I guess $1 was okay.

Giving

Several things have happened lately that have me thinking about giving and God's providence. When I was in college, I attended a congregation that was very giving towards me. By this I mean, that individual members made sure I was taken care of and had plenty of fellowship with them. I was often asked out to eat and rarely paid for my meal. There are a few who were very capable of doing this (financially) and did so often. I always felt guilty, but I remember one man telling me that one day when I was capable I would be doing the same things. Since then, I have matured as a woman and a christian, gotten married, etc. I have always remembered this and I have always tried to be conscious of my giving. I try to give generously to the church, but also to individuals who have a need. In return, I always try to be aware of how God returns this to me by help when I need it. As II Corinthians 9:6 says, "But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." This applies to many things in the spiritual realm, but in the context, Paul is specifically talking about giving. Knowing this, God also does not expect us to give beyond our means and sometimes a little is considered to be a lot in His eyes (for example: the story of the widow's mite in Mark 12).
When Jeremy and I are aware of a need or have something that could help someone else, we have always tried to help fill it. This comes in many forms from money to help moving to a meal. I feel that sometimes we do not help when we should, but we do try. In return, God has many times blessed us and our brethren have come through when we have a need. I would not have made it through the death of Josiah without God to lean on as well as all the support we had from brethren in this area and beyond. More than once when a finacial need has arised, we will get some sort of refund or bonus check we were not expecting. This does not happen every time, but it has happened. We are blessed with my husband's steady job and paycheck and we live within our means so that we are not often in need. This weekend we have 2 unplanned expenses, new tires and shocks for my husbands car and my dryer burned out. Then today, my husband found a free dryer and is picking it up tomorrow. I know that God's hand was in that although in reality it is a minor thing because we could have bought one if we had to. Just yesterday we were helping a christian family unload their moving truck (giving of ourselves) and today I am getting a free dryer. I have gained a new friend also as the family has kids very close to my kid's age and me and the mom have a lot in common. While God never promises that this life will be easy (why would we hope for heaven if it was?), He certainly provides the means for us to get by here. I have NO DOUBT that when I need help, all I have to do is lean on Him and He will provide. That is so comforting!

Today has been a good day and I was busy all day. We homeschooled then went to a PAFT (Parents are First Teachers) group meeting. We got to ride the train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad for free. This was the first time that Lily has ever been on a train. Both girls had a lot of fun. Then we went to look at a house I was interested in. i really love it and I would make an offer on it. we just have to see if everyone else will agree. I plan to take everyone back over to look soon. I also reduced the price on our house so hopefully it will sell soon. After that we went by Target to get a few things. I had to buy Lily another nightgown so we could avoid any more bedtime melt downs. She has one gown she wants to wear every night. She will not wear any of her other pajamas. So now we have 2- one to wear while the other washes. Finally we went by the church so I could get all my stuff ready for bible class on Sunday (I teach the preschool class). Some friends were there cleaning and organizing so we got to chat and play while we worked. Now I'm finally home making a quick dinner and I still have to go get groceries tonight. I normally do my grocery shopping on Thurs morning, but was unable today. I think Miriam will go with me and we will have some girl time.

First Grade

Today is our 20th day of homeschooling this year. So far everything has been going pretty well. Miriam is certainly capable of doing everything easily so far and it has mostly been review anyway. I'm questioning my choice to use more workbooks this year. She has always seemed to like workbooks, but I can also see that some days she is bored with them. I have decided to do a project every few weeks that will get us out of the books and more into hands on things. She is reading really well which is a relief. I was worried she might have a hard time since we didn't practice enough this summer and we are using the Abeka readers this year. When she is concentrating, she will fly through a story. When she really doesn't want to read, it can take forever. I can always tell when she is bored or doesn't want to do the work, because she becomes a contortionist. Miriam can get into so many positions and move around so much, it drives me crazy. It doesn't matter if we are at the table, the couch, or in bed. She also likes to stand beside her chair a lot. I just don't know why she won't be still. In school she would be expected to sit at her desk, so I expect the same at home. I'm trying to think of some way to tie her down!
One thing that I really love about homeschooling is that it is easy to see where they need more help or review. We were doing a calendar yesterday and she couldn't tell me the months of the year. While we did this in Kindergarten, it is just something she has forgotten. So that is easily remedied and I am going to start going over the calendar every day and we will review the months of the year until she knows them again. It is great to be able to adjust your lesson plan to fit in something that is needed. This year is going good so far- only 160 more days to go!

Sweet Dreams

This is something that I just had to post about. I think Lily only dreams about candy and sweets. There are certainly worse things to dream about, but it gives new meaning to "sweet dreams". This morning and yesterday morning, she tossed and turned a little and was whining that "She did want some ice cream". Someone in her dream either wouldn't share or ate it all before she got some. She has done this in the recent past also with gummy bears and chocolate. I have to hold her close and comfort her until she goes back to deep sleep. After we get up I will ask her who wouldn't give her the ice cream and she doesn't know what I'm talking about. She has let me know that she wants me to buy some ice cream at the grocery store this week. I think I am taking the girls to $1 scoop night at Baskin Robbins today. I have to get that poor baby some ice cream!

Pregnancy Brain

I've got it! Yesterday I told someone at worship I would come by their house after we ate lunch. After we ate, I just wanted to go home and forgot all about going by. I in fact did not remember until I saw them again that night. I felt guilty for not showing up, but also shocked that I forgot. I am normally not forgetful. I have done this more often lately. I am also starting to feel lazier. Not that I still don't get things done, but I don't want to. I am not staying on top of things quite like I should, but they are not horrible either. I am getting tired by mid afternoon. I guess I must really be pregnant! Now that I'm in my last trimester I am starting to feel it. I still am not getting prepared and probably won't until October.
I am actually already getting prepared for our trip to Disney world next year and that is 6 months away. I guess to me, there is much more planning involved in our vacation than in having this baby. I have been saving my money and now am already deciding what rides to ride and where to eat. I guess I want this vacation to go really well since this is the biggest (longest, most expensive) vacation we've been on and we won't get to go back soon. I'm really ready to go now!