Sometimes it is not easy to do the right thing. It can be cloudy what the right thing is. Other's may say "fair is fair". Other times it is a matter of perspective.
Tonight I was faced with a choice. Over at Life in a Shoe they were selling 3 Vision Forum dolls. Opening bid was $40 each. As soon as I saw one of the dolls, Abigail, it made me think of my precious Emily-- the dark skin, dark hair and full checks. I held off bidding (that's the Ebayer in me) because I figured I would wait until the day the bidding was to end so I could get the upper hand. But something unexpected happened to me. Instead of going in for the kill and out bidding someone I decided to let someone I have never even meet win because I felt it was the right thing to do. The person put in her comment when she bid how she was getting this doll for a girl she was adopting. Adoption day was coming up for them in May and now she just needs to get another one because the children are twins.
That did it for me. I couldn't do it. Even though I could have gone higher than her in her bid I couldn't take it away from another adoptive mother....ESPECIALLY for adoption day. As much as I would have loved to have that doll for my own little girl, the thought of another little girl getting that doll on the day she is to become part of her "forever family" warmed my heart.
The bidding just ended 20 minutes ago. 40 minutes ago I had been fast asleep until Emily woke up wanting to be topped off (fed). I fed her and snuck downstairs to check to see if anyone else had bid. Instead I found a nice message under the bids from the original lady who bid for Abigail. She said that she didn't want me to feel bad and go ahead and bid if I can go higher. I was tempted. She told me to-- I thought to myself. As I held little Miss Emily I realized I have plenty of time to get her this doll. Emily is only 1. I don't have a date yet for finalization. I figured I have time. Getting the doll tonight would have been more for me then her. With that, I gave my precious girl a kiss and put her back to bed. I came back down to the computer and saw that no other bids were made. I am so very happy for that other family right now. Aren't you : )
Friday, April 4, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Not so Wordless Wednesday
FLU!!! It has hit our home. My poor hubby and baby girl are sick. Chris came home from work Sunday not feeling well. Body aches, tired, headache. I just thought that he was run down. He is lucky if in any given night he gets 4 hours sleep. He gets up between 2:50 and 3:20 a.m. 5 days a week....while still going to be most days after 11. He does take a nap most days when he comes home, but still....it isn't good for you. I thought it had just caught up with him. By Sunday night he was running a fever and down for the count. Monday afternoon Emily had Early Intervention. Usually she is a happy little girl. Very playful. NOT MONDAY! It was to the point that if I just looked at her or talked she would start crying (I thought she wasn't suppose to do that until much later in life ; ) We cut the session short. Sure enough, after EI left I took her temp---102. I knew it!! During EI I said I thought she had a fever. EI reached over and told me she didn't feel warm. A MAMA KNOWS!
They both went to the doctor yesterday. He said it was the flu and just keep doing what we are doing. I praise God no one else has gotten sick (I am sure the Vitamin C pills I have been giving everyone else is helping). Since last night I have felt almost on the brink of getting something..but nothing yet. I pray it stays that way.
Emily was suppose to go to Children's Hospital yesterday to have the leads put on for her 48 hour EEG. Needless to say, I canceled. I couldn't see putting her through that while she was already miserable. But wouldn't you know...today she had one of her episodes. How fustrating. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to tape it.
Tomorrow is co-op. We don't have too many weeks left. Including tomorrow, I believe there are 6. I love my class. They are a great group of young adults. I try to make things interesting and make them laugh. Last week they were doing a dissection of a perch (fish). I was going over to the different work stations talking to them about what they were doing. Someone mentioned how tight the jaw was on their perch. So me, being the comedian that I am, put my finger slightly in--screamed and told them my finger was stuck. Their faces were priceless. It made up for the earthworm dissection. I am paranoid of worms. I am talking about full blown freaks me out (the way some are afraid of spiders). When I was a child my brother use to chase me around with them and then throw them at me : (
I warned the class of this. After they got done with their dissections that week a few of them thought they would be funny and tie their worm in a bow for me. Then try to show me. NOT FUNNY!!!
I just realized I forgot to put Easter pictures up. Here are a few. I must run and finish getting ready for tomorrow.
My crew.
Emily
Just being goofy.
She had enough Easter by now.
CJ and Emily
Emily hamming it up.
CJ helping Emily find the eggs
Emily looking in her bucket
Alex and Jessica
They both went to the doctor yesterday. He said it was the flu and just keep doing what we are doing. I praise God no one else has gotten sick (I am sure the Vitamin C pills I have been giving everyone else is helping). Since last night I have felt almost on the brink of getting something..but nothing yet. I pray it stays that way.
Emily was suppose to go to Children's Hospital yesterday to have the leads put on for her 48 hour EEG. Needless to say, I canceled. I couldn't see putting her through that while she was already miserable. But wouldn't you know...today she had one of her episodes. How fustrating. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to tape it.
Tomorrow is co-op. We don't have too many weeks left. Including tomorrow, I believe there are 6. I love my class. They are a great group of young adults. I try to make things interesting and make them laugh. Last week they were doing a dissection of a perch (fish). I was going over to the different work stations talking to them about what they were doing. Someone mentioned how tight the jaw was on their perch. So me, being the comedian that I am, put my finger slightly in--screamed and told them my finger was stuck. Their faces were priceless. It made up for the earthworm dissection. I am paranoid of worms. I am talking about full blown freaks me out (the way some are afraid of spiders). When I was a child my brother use to chase me around with them and then throw them at me : (
I warned the class of this. After they got done with their dissections that week a few of them thought they would be funny and tie their worm in a bow for me. Then try to show me. NOT FUNNY!!!
I just realized I forgot to put Easter pictures up. Here are a few. I must run and finish getting ready for tomorrow.
My crew.
Emily
Just being goofy.
She had enough Easter by now.
CJ and Emily
Emily hamming it up.
CJ helping Emily find the eggs
Emily looking in her bucket
Alex and JessicaSaturday, March 29, 2008
Catch Up
I knew that I haven't been blogging to much lately...but I just realized that I have only posted 4 times this month! That is a quarter of what I was doing. That's awful. I am going to make it a point for the month of April to blog at least 15 times. That breaks down to at least every other day.
This is the time of year that I look back on the what we have done this school year and what I would like to do in the next. The homeschool convention is less than a month away. I want to have a game plan when I go. This school year has been a mixed bag. I had never homeschooled before this year with a baby in the house. All I can say is, I don't know how people that have baby after baby do it. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying this sarcastically....I am giving them a HUGE amount of credit. I just don't know how then get everything done. But believe me...I am NOT complaining. Miss Emily is such a blessing to our family and she is worth every gray hair on my head that I color : )
I had planned on staying home from this year's convention. I have now decided I NEED to go. I need a fresh perspective. I need to hear from others how they are doing it. I need to be around 3,000 other people that are doing it too. Last night at our homeschool support group meeting one of the ladies who has finished her journey with homeschooling said "whenever I go to the convention I feel like I am going home." Yes, that's it! I need to go home.
Tonight my honey and I are going on a date. I am thinking dinner and a movie. My mom is going to bless us and watch all the little darlings (not that CJ needs too much watching while we go out).
Oh, one last thing. Over at The Heart of the Matter Rachel did a great post today. I urge you all to go and read it (you can get there from my side bar). It is about not comparing ourselves to others and each one of us bringing something unique to homeschooling. I loved it. Just what I needed to hear.
Toodles,
Judy
This is the time of year that I look back on the what we have done this school year and what I would like to do in the next. The homeschool convention is less than a month away. I want to have a game plan when I go. This school year has been a mixed bag. I had never homeschooled before this year with a baby in the house. All I can say is, I don't know how people that have baby after baby do it. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying this sarcastically....I am giving them a HUGE amount of credit. I just don't know how then get everything done. But believe me...I am NOT complaining. Miss Emily is such a blessing to our family and she is worth every gray hair on my head that I color : )
I had planned on staying home from this year's convention. I have now decided I NEED to go. I need a fresh perspective. I need to hear from others how they are doing it. I need to be around 3,000 other people that are doing it too. Last night at our homeschool support group meeting one of the ladies who has finished her journey with homeschooling said "whenever I go to the convention I feel like I am going home." Yes, that's it! I need to go home.
Tonight my honey and I are going on a date. I am thinking dinner and a movie. My mom is going to bless us and watch all the little darlings (not that CJ needs too much watching while we go out).
Oh, one last thing. Over at The Heart of the Matter Rachel did a great post today. I urge you all to go and read it (you can get there from my side bar). It is about not comparing ourselves to others and each one of us bringing something unique to homeschooling. I loved it. Just what I needed to hear.
Toodles,
Judy
Friday, March 21, 2008
What I wish I knew....
Over at the Heart of the Matter they pose a weekly question on Friday's. This is the first week that I am leaving my 2 cents on the matter.
The question: What You Wish You Had Known Your First Year of Homeschooling
I wish I knew about learning styles and all the different ways there are to homeschool. The first year I bought a full curriculum from one company. Now I am very eclectic in my approach. I use what works best for my children.
My first year I wish I had known to relaxed more. I was so afraid of getting it all right (sometimes I still struggle with that concept). This is my 6th year hsing and I am amazed at how much my children have learned...even in those times that I feel like life has taken over and not much has gotten done from their books.
Every year has brought about new challenges and blessings. One year we started the school year with me having back to back surgeries. Another year we moved at the being of the year. Twice we have had children placed in our home for adoption. I have taken care of a mother who as had open heart surgery. Life does not stop happening because I homeschool. And you know what....that's okay!!! Some of the best lessons my children have learned haven't come from a book. It has come from LIFE. They have learned about compassion when taking in a new sibling. They learned about honoring your mother (even when you are in your 30's) when they saw me take care of mine after surgery. They have learned about putting others first and serving their brother or sister when another is sick in bed. THESE ARE LESSONS THEY WILL NEVER LEARN IN A SCHOOL OR A BOOK!!! Isn't that great?!
The question: What You Wish You Had Known Your First Year of Homeschooling
I wish I knew about learning styles and all the different ways there are to homeschool. The first year I bought a full curriculum from one company. Now I am very eclectic in my approach. I use what works best for my children.
My first year I wish I had known to relaxed more. I was so afraid of getting it all right (sometimes I still struggle with that concept). This is my 6th year hsing and I am amazed at how much my children have learned...even in those times that I feel like life has taken over and not much has gotten done from their books.
Every year has brought about new challenges and blessings. One year we started the school year with me having back to back surgeries. Another year we moved at the being of the year. Twice we have had children placed in our home for adoption. I have taken care of a mother who as had open heart surgery. Life does not stop happening because I homeschool. And you know what....that's okay!!! Some of the best lessons my children have learned haven't come from a book. It has come from LIFE. They have learned about compassion when taking in a new sibling. They learned about honoring your mother (even when you are in your 30's) when they saw me take care of mine after surgery. They have learned about putting others first and serving their brother or sister when another is sick in bed. THESE ARE LESSONS THEY WILL NEVER LEARN IN A SCHOOL OR A BOOK!!! Isn't that great?!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
Wired Up!!
Emily had her first EEG last week. After having to get up at 5 and not being allowed to go back to sleep she wasn't exactly a happy camper. This EEG came out normal. Next step is a 48 hour EEG. They will hook her up..24 leads of her head, then send her home with all the wires in a backpack that she will carry around (sounds like fun with a 15 month old doesn't it!!). Will post when this is happening. After testing we brought her out to lunch at Cracker Barrel (she still wasn't very happy with us---but we can't blame her).
Emily had her first EEG last week. After having to get up at 5 and not being allowed to go back to sleep she wasn't exactly a happy camper. This EEG came out normal. Next step is a 48 hour EEG. They will hook her up..24 leads of her head, then send her home with all the wires in a backpack that she will carry around (sounds like fun with a 15 month old doesn't it!!). Will post when this is happening. After testing we brought her out to lunch at Cracker Barrel (she still wasn't very happy with us---but we can't blame her).
Friday, March 7, 2008
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!!!!
I don't know if you have heard yet but CA is the first state to make homeschooling illegal. Yes, you read right...HOMESCHOOLING ILLEGAL!!! Can you believe it!! I don't know all the details. What I do know is: California Appeals court decided on Feb. 28, 2008 that almost all forms of homeschooling would be illegal. A parent needs to have a certification to teach their own children. HSLDA was NOT a part of this case. Dr. James Dobson, who is outraged, and Focus on the Family are speaking out against this ruling.
HomeSchool Legal Defense Association is moving in. If you go to their website HSLDA you can get info about the case and sign a petition. I urge everyone to look into this... whether you homeschool or not. What's next if they make this illegal...next Private schools? Help protect our right. We all need to get outraged.
Toodles,
Judy
HomeSchool Legal Defense Association is moving in. If you go to their website HSLDA you can get info about the case and sign a petition. I urge everyone to look into this... whether you homeschool or not. What's next if they make this illegal...next Private schools? Help protect our right. We all need to get outraged.
Toodles,
Judy
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I'm back!
I haven't been blogging much. I had gone through a period of time that I was feeling so blah that I didn't want to sound negative and turn people off to my blog. I was feeling very stressed and overwhelmed. I was believing all the lies that like to sneak into our heads about homeschooling. You know the ones: "I am terrible at this" "Should I send the kids to school..they would probably be better off without me teaching them"......stuff like that.
Luck for me, I have the BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!!! I didn't want to talk about how awful I felt but he knew something was wrong. So last week he set up what I like to call "24 hours of spoiling". It started last week on Tuesday. Chris called on his way home from work saying we were going on a date that night. The weather was questionable and at first I told him I just felt like staying home (when you are that down you don't feel like going out). But after some convincing, I decided to just give in. Boy I am glad I did!!! We stated off going to a little Italian restaurant, just the two of us. Then we headed to the movies (bonus-- during the week it is only $5 a person). Being as wild as we are, after the movies we ran to Kohl's so I could pick Emily up a dress I saw on a previous shopping trip. We finished up the night by stopping at The 99 Restaurant to pick up take-out dessert (yummy). We had a great night.
Well it didn't stop there. The next day, Chris booked me a one hour massage with my favorite massage therapist. I like to call this my "One Hour Vacation". Sylvia is FANTASTIC!!! 1st off, she knows exactly what I like: scent~~orange. music~~a CD of various nature sounds. It starts off sounding like I am sitting on the beach and I can hear the ocean. Next, it sounds like I am walking through a rain forest during a thunder storm and I am can hear the animals. It plays different sounds like that. Each one transporting me to a different place on the globe. Last but not least, Sylvia doesn't talk!! She talks to me before the massage to see how I am doing and if I need any certain place worked on. After that she says three sentences: 1. Is the pressure alright. 2. Roll over. 3. Thank you. This is very important to me. Most people that I know that didn't enjoy a massage was due to the fact that the person talked the whole time. This is not relaxing at all. Don't get me wrong. I will talk to you all you want about homeschooling, having 5 children, and what I do all day being a SAHM....just not during my one hour vacation. This is my time to forget it all. AND I DID!!! I was so relaxed that I nodded off. I realized it when she asked me to roll over. This isn't the first this has happened.
Later in the evening, Chris brought the boys to Zachary's basketball game and came home with flowers for me. It was just the perfect ending to my perfect 24 hours of caring. That time honestly lifted me out of the funk I was feeling. It let me know how much he loves and appreciates me.
In other news, I am learning how to scrapbook. Saturday I went to a scrapbooker's dream. It was a 12 hour event put on by the area Creative Memories. It was awesome. It ran from 10 am to 10 pm. You brought your stuff and off you went. 12 hours of scrapbooking...alright, it was more like 9 after the lunch and dinner break we took and minus the last hour. I just couldn't do anymore after 9p.m. because my eyes were starting to bother me. I got 6 pages done. Not bad for someone that is new and didn't know ahead of time what they wanted to work on.
Have a great day!
Toodles,
Judy
Luck for me, I have the BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!!! I didn't want to talk about how awful I felt but he knew something was wrong. So last week he set up what I like to call "24 hours of spoiling". It started last week on Tuesday. Chris called on his way home from work saying we were going on a date that night. The weather was questionable and at first I told him I just felt like staying home (when you are that down you don't feel like going out). But after some convincing, I decided to just give in. Boy I am glad I did!!! We stated off going to a little Italian restaurant, just the two of us. Then we headed to the movies (bonus-- during the week it is only $5 a person). Being as wild as we are, after the movies we ran to Kohl's so I could pick Emily up a dress I saw on a previous shopping trip. We finished up the night by stopping at The 99 Restaurant to pick up take-out dessert (yummy). We had a great night.
Well it didn't stop there. The next day, Chris booked me a one hour massage with my favorite massage therapist. I like to call this my "One Hour Vacation". Sylvia is FANTASTIC!!! 1st off, she knows exactly what I like: scent~~orange. music~~a CD of various nature sounds. It starts off sounding like I am sitting on the beach and I can hear the ocean. Next, it sounds like I am walking through a rain forest during a thunder storm and I am can hear the animals. It plays different sounds like that. Each one transporting me to a different place on the globe. Last but not least, Sylvia doesn't talk!! She talks to me before the massage to see how I am doing and if I need any certain place worked on. After that she says three sentences: 1. Is the pressure alright. 2. Roll over. 3. Thank you. This is very important to me. Most people that I know that didn't enjoy a massage was due to the fact that the person talked the whole time. This is not relaxing at all. Don't get me wrong. I will talk to you all you want about homeschooling, having 5 children, and what I do all day being a SAHM....just not during my one hour vacation. This is my time to forget it all. AND I DID!!! I was so relaxed that I nodded off. I realized it when she asked me to roll over. This isn't the first this has happened.
Later in the evening, Chris brought the boys to Zachary's basketball game and came home with flowers for me. It was just the perfect ending to my perfect 24 hours of caring. That time honestly lifted me out of the funk I was feeling. It let me know how much he loves and appreciates me.
In other news, I am learning how to scrapbook. Saturday I went to a scrapbooker's dream. It was a 12 hour event put on by the area Creative Memories. It was awesome. It ran from 10 am to 10 pm. You brought your stuff and off you went. 12 hours of scrapbooking...alright, it was more like 9 after the lunch and dinner break we took and minus the last hour. I just couldn't do anymore after 9p.m. because my eyes were starting to bother me. I got 6 pages done. Not bad for someone that is new and didn't know ahead of time what they wanted to work on.
Have a great day!
Toodles,
Judy
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