Wind River Mama

New Year...

2011-01-07T13:32:00.001-08:00

Looking forward to see how things unfold this year. I'm still adjusting to not teaching full-time. Still trying to figure out what I want to do as far as a career. It is a blessing to be able to be home more....no more hectic mornings trying to get four children here and there. Heck, even though they are teenagers (all but one), they are still in need of mom being around. I still think a half-time teaching job would be the answer, but then again, I don't know what God has planned and I can't have a world view w/out faith as the foundation. Everyone is doing great!

Be Blessed today......

Glad Summer is going to be fading into Autumn

2010-08-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

This summer has brought some wonderful family memories and times but has also brought a very rough time for me re: my work/career.

Because of this, I am so happy that school started today for my children because this is a sign that summer will be ending and we will be moving into a new season!!! Hopefully I will do so in my life also.

Financially, things will be a bit difficult if I don't find part-time work. However, I have to try to have hope and faith for things to come.

I have been looking deeply within myself and feel God has something important for me to learn.

Be Blessed.

Changes, changes...

2010-06-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

After several months of prayer, I turned in my letter of resignation at the Catholic school where I have taught school full-time for the past 2 years.

If you have ever had a time when you knew (through prayer) that God wanted you to take a step into what you see as the "unknown" (in this case, no job/income) and you knew that this is what you needed to do....however, you just did not want to let go of what you were being asked to let go of, well, that explains it. I do have faith and believe that something part-time will come along. Something that is better for our family than my previous position.

I really enjoyed some of the staff there and have become close to a couple of the other teachers, and I LOVE teaching and feel that is my natural gift in life. These were the reasons for me trying to hold onto something that I needed to let go of.

I am excited to see what comes....

Asia left for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) on the 16th. Last night was her first night sleeping out in the Wind River Mountains. Today, her first day hiking what will become more than seventy miles over the course. She is in a group of twelve other students from all over the world. They have three instructors. I am still in awe of this awesome opportunity that Asia has earned through being awarded a scholarship to this world renown school. I'm so grateful for the scholarship because most people can not afford the tuition unless they are very well off financially. (so, she is with a group of rich kids....lol....but the wilderness does not differentiate!) Naturally, we are unable to talk to her at all during the next 30 days...which makes this difficult for me! She and I are so close. (I'm close to both of my daughters, actually...thank goodness Sereah is here!) This will be one of those life-changing experiences for her and may even change the path she heads down in life. Other news about Asia....she completed her first year of high school and carried a perfect 4.0 GPA the entire year while being a three-season athlete and also being involved in other activities as well as working part-time at the local health club/gym. She had a lead in the high school musical this spring....we did not know she could sing!!!! She started dating her best guy friend and they are just so cute together. Truly a first love. Ahhh, to be young! We are excited to see where her life leads....

Sereah spent a week in Boston, MA this spring. She realized that she is indeed a city girl. (something I always knew!) She also finished up her junior year in high school with only one "B" grade (math) with the rest being A's and many of her classes were dual-credit. Next year, she is taking many more dual-credit classes and should graduate high school with nearly a year of college credit completed. This summer, she is working and taking a college class. She is looking at history as a field of study for college and will probably attend UW on a scholarship. She has grown into a beautiful young lady who has a gift for language and history. She loves the theater and speech/debate and does well in both. I am so very proud of her and am amazed that she will graduate high school next year!!

Our oldest child, Zakk, is living in Rapid City and is making some good choices in life. I think he may be getting things on-track now. So happy for him and pray it continues. We miss him and hope to see him this summer.

Eddie is nearly 16 yrs old! His mental functioning seems to have stopped at approx 4/5 year old. He is getting much more difficult to handle as he gets older...the behavior problems in addition to the Down syndrome is taxing at times. He still needs 24/7 supervision which really holds me back from a career. (much of the reason why I can't work full-time very easily) We recently found out that the state of Wyoming makes parents keep their child (like Eddie) in the public school system until age 21! If you do pull them at 18, you are stuck trying to provide services for them on your own. I really think this is horrible to make someone stay in high school until age 21, especially when he will not progress in ability. Not to mention that I was planning on pursuing my career when I thought he'd graduate, which would have been in 3 years. Now it will be 6 years. Sigh. I am glad we were bold enough to adopt him and to really make a stand for radically giving of our lives and time by raising him, however it has been really difficult.

Eli will be in the upper elementary grades next year and then off to middle school. He is quite a cool little dude. Takes after his sisters in his intelligence and his humor is amazing. He has a natural gift for understanding anything scientific...which I am in awe of. He is a musician. He has decided to add swimming to his martial arts as his physical activities. He is more of a academic-type, but we are making sure he has the other side developed also. Thankfully his JRA has been mild and should allow the physical activities to a large extent. He is taking a chemistry class next week and then will be in drama camp.

I'm grateful and very blessed.

Peace.

Steps toward getting back to "me"...

2010-04-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

After nearly a year of feeling worse and worse, I finally went in to get my blood drawn. A day later, I had a message on my cell phone from the nurse requesting that I call them as soon as I could. I called and she said that the doctor wanted me to come in and discuss my blood test results with him. This was a Friday...imagine carrying that all weekend and into next week...wondering if something was really wrong. I can't take much more leave this year from my job so I had to wait until I could get an after school appointment. Mid week. I did ask the nurse if she could share what came up and she did give me a general answer....enough to satisfy me until I see the doctor. Severely anemic. So, I googled anemia and learned that there are over 400 different types/causes of anemia. Wow...who knew! Some causes were rather frightening and without any information about my background (adopted without ANY information whatsoever), I could only narrow down based on my symptoms and what I think it may be from looking at my lifestyle/diet habits.

I am just sorry that it took me getting to the point of barely being able to function to get into the doctor. That is how much I loathe blood tests. I am glad we are on the path towards getting me back to the real "me" again....at least health-wise. I pray there are no serious underlying problems and have hope that I will again soon be well again.

I also don't feel so guilty about how I have not been able to keep up on everything around the house. It all makes sense now and I'm so glad for that. Now to move into the details and get a plan to get well.

At work, our superintendent dumped a huge amount of work on the staff with only six weeks of school left. Teaching at a private school really doesn't pay in so many ways. Things that occur there would never happen in a public school. Private schools are not what the stereotype tends to be....our students are not from "upper class". We are more like a reform school and have a lot of families with a lot of problems without the resources to deal with it. I'm sure some private schools are indeed the stereotype, but we are not. I hope to move into the public school system. If not, sub-teaching would suffice until I have the connections I need locally. Teaching is wonderful and I have such an admiration for those teachers at the school I work who are doing a great job and are dedicated.

I think an added difficulty is working at the same place I worship. There is a sub-group that has been showing up in many Catholic Dioceses that operates very much like the cultish behavior and tactics you see in Mormonism and Jehovahs' Witnesses, for example. Really very divisive and disturbing to me since I have studied this type of practice, control of behavior, and manipulation within Mormonism. Those who are in it, don't see it and the perception they hold towards any other viewpoint is very warped and paranoid. This group I speak of are known as the Neocatechumenal Way. I was required to attend the "introductory" meetings as part of my own path into the Catholic Church (rather than RCIA since I came into Catholicism during the spring and already knew a great deal of Catholic doctrine) and I had warning flags going off by the 3rd meeting. Very disturbing. Especially considering how our Parish Priest pushes this group on people. It goes to show that anyone can get sucked into something that is divisive.

Sure someone can say that just because I disagree with it, does not make it bad. Agreed. However I am talking about messing with foundational truths that the Roman Catholic church stands upon. This is not done. Liturgy and the sacrifice of the Mass is not to be changed on whit and whim. I do support groups that bring people to a faith in Jesus Christ and I see good in them. What I am disturbed with is this group operating within and causing divisions in a Roman Catholic Parish. I am seeing it happening before my eyes. We actually are attending a different Parish for Mass today because the Priest involved in this is saying Mass at our local Parish and I question things now with his presiding. I need a step back from things directly related to this group and this priest. Thankfully those leaders in this group should leave again in a few months, however they will have left these "cells" behind that do their damage. This is the third spring/summer they have been at our Parish with their recruitment tactics. As soon as they get people, they have them stop attending their local Parish Mass and they attend "the Way" for Mass....which is a Mass that is one departing from basic truths found in our faith. They claim that they do attend one Parish Mass a month, as this is a reaction to increased disapproval towards this very strange group. Freedom lost is scary....it appears very cultish to me.

Well, I suppose I have gone on long enough. This is what happens when one becomes mostly put on rest when dealing with health issues.....lots of time to ponder, and spout ones opinions.

Peace.

March 30, 2010

2010-03-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

Lent has been a blessed time but also a time of trial and seeking for answers.

News:

Sereah:

Sereah placed 6th at State Speech for the original oratory she wrote and performed. She also leaves on Monday for a trip to Boston and New York with one of her advanced high school classes. She is going to be in the High School production/musical of Willie Wonka. She is one of the grandparents and is also a Oompa-Lompa. She was on the honor roll again. We are happy for her accomplishments and it is fun to see her grow up. She will be a senior next year. WOW!

Eduardo:

Eddie still enjoys school and we are looking ahead to what he will be doing in his adult years.

Asia:

Asia was awarded a scholarship to NOLS....one that was open to all residents in our county! It was almost a full-scholarship. She will spend one month this summer backpacking in the Wyoming wilderness. It will be one of those life changing events in her life. She finished up indoor track and is now in outdoor track. She got her mile time down to 6 min 30 sec, dropping 22 seconds! She beat all but one varsity runner in the 2 mile, even though she is on the JV team as a freshman. This was at her first outdoor track meet. Her coaches were so impressed that they are now going to run her in the 800 at the meet this Thursday. (as well as the mile) We spent the day yesterday in Casper on the hunt for her prom dress and we found one. Really a beautiful dress. She and Robert (her first boyfriend) got back together and are dating exclusively again. She has continued to maintain a 4.0 GPA. She is also in the same musical as Sereah and has the part of Mrs. TV. She is also still playing the drums and will travel for a band event in April. Also still altar serving many Sundays and started her first part-time job at a local health club.

Elijah:

Elijah continues to take piano lessons and also Taekwando. He is finishing up his last year at Saint Margaret's and has chosen to move to public school for next year. He is a creative and wonderfully smart boy. I see the strength of both Asia and Sereah in him.

Aaron and I are looking at what I need to do next year. I am having a difficult time working full-time and going to graduate school. Now that Aaron is back in administration, I could take a year to sub teach at the local public school and work more on my schooling and keeping our home and being there for the children's activities.

Have a blessed Holy Week!

nice day

2010-02-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

I was able to get a good amount of work done around the house. I did not work on my exegesis paper, which I need to do. Tomorrow, I will have to. I am thinking I am going to have to limit my classes to summer break as long as I am working full-time. I still have hope of finding a half-time teaching position.

Asia is at the Simplot Games in Idaho. She has been there since Thursday. There are over 2000 high school track athletes there...the best in the nation. Future olympians. It was a great learning experience for her to compete at a meet like that. She really enjoyed it and got to meet several former olympians. I think state is the last indoor track event remaining. I sure would love to go to that. However, I am not sure if I have any leave left at my job and may want to save it for outdoor track instead. Asia set a personal best time in her mile. 6:52. It is dropping and while I was thrilled with her progress, she was not happy with that time. The time will continue to drop. She just started running competitively this past fall, and started with a ten minute mile!

Sereah is off at a speech/debate meet this weekend with her old high school. I don't know how, but she was able to go with them and compete. I assume she is technically competing for her current high school and just rode along with them. Anyway, it was really nice of the coach of her former high school to think of inviting her.

Both of the girls are doing exceptionally well in their studies. We are really proud of them. Sereah has a trip coming up next month. (Boston with her honors english and honors history classes) She has been working hard saving money to help pay for it. Asia is going to be starting her first job soon and is excited. It will be a a local health club that will work around her school activities. She also applied for a scholarship to NOLS for a 30 day backpacking educational class....we'll see if she gets it. I hope so! If not, she is going to go ahead and run her first half marathon in July. Sereah hopes to find a different job this summer.

Eli is doing well. Excellent grades and he got second place in a recent oral interpretation contest. He recited Lewis Carroll poem The Walrus and the Carpenter. I am not sure if I posted on that yet. He continues to study piano and martial arts.

Eddie....is, well Eddie! He did plateau several years ago mentally and will probably always remain functionally as a 4 year old. It is challenging for us and he still needs direct supervision 24/7. He still has problems getting around and that is difficult for all...we like to be active but are unable to do so to a great extent. It will be easier when he is grown and in a supervised center. It has been difficult raising him w/only my husband and myself and no support system. (unless we pay someone) I think it is so important for us all to think to help parents who are struggling to raise a child with developmental disabilities.

Aaron had his contract offered for the 2010/2o11 school year....thank goodness! We have yet to recover from the financial devastation from when he was unemployed. We are so grateful for this job that he has.

Lent has started. What a time of reflection, contemplation, penance, and spiritual growth.

God Bless.

Three Day Weekend! Yay!

2010-02-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to have Monday off from work. I am really pushing the time frame with my Principles of Biblical Study class and will be spending all this weekend working on my 10 page exegesis on three verses in Habakkuk. Please pray for me that I will, if it is God's plan, find a half-time teaching job....and if not, I will be able to better manage full-time teaching second grade with all the extra duties involved for the first Sacraments the students receive, my large active family and the special needs involved, graduate school, and somehow finding time to add my fitness interests and music interests back in. I have had to let so many things go this year and it has been very difficult for me. So far work and my schoolwork is all I have time for. However, in this economy I am grateful to have a job. I just pray that next school year will bring me a half-time teaching position.

It is quiet here this weekend. Our two oldest daughters are off at two different activities. One is in Jackson for speech/debate meet and the other is in Cheyenne running indoor track. Even with the boys here, the house is so quiet! My husband commented along the lines that he did not like how quiet it is. Oh dear, what will it be like in a few years when we only have one at home?

Last week, I was very happy and blessed to receive Holy Communion from a visiting Priest who happened to be the very one I went to for my First Reconciliation! It was one of those moments where you are gently blessed in a very real way. This visiting Priest was in town to offer our Parish School Mass. (where I teach)

Speaking of Reconciliation, what an amazing Sacrament! How grateful I am for this in my life. I make sure to go monthly...it is a good "habit" to have.

Oh, one more thing! Our oldest son is now enrolled at the same University where my husband and I earned our Bachelor degrees! (and where my husband and I met!) Speaking of my husband, our anniversary is this coming week......married 18 years, I think.

I have much to do and don't need to be online.....so, that said.

Peace.

Winter Break is coming to an end...waaaaahhhhhhhh

2010-01-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

I'm just not enjoying working full-time. I love teaching, however doing it full-time is too much on top of graduate school, being a mother of a large family, married to a husband with a administrative position, etc...etc....I did not even mention having to set aside, for the most part, all of my own personal interests and activities that nourish my body, mind, and soul.

I am just praying that 2010 brings a half-time teaching position in our local district. Financially it would actually pay more than I am making full-time at my current school. Ultimately, I know it is in God's timing and plan and I must have faith and PATIENCE.

Happy New Year! Be Blessed!

My one-of-a-kind art creation

2009-11-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

The idea popped into my head when I learned that the beeswax ornaments from dreamseeds were ready for purchase. When I saw how lovely they were, I imagined them hanging from a tree branch as a type of mobile. I ordered several sets and then waited to find the right tree branch. Funny enough, I found one on the playground at the school where I teach. It had broken off of a tree during an early winter storm we had several weeks ago.

I also hung four stars on our curtains on our front window. (we live in a modest ranch style home...about 35 years old...just to give an idea) I hung two stars on each side.

I miss having more time to do things like this. Since working full-time, I just don't have time for anything else but work and basic family duties. Maybe someday, I'll find a good paying part-time job.

Homecoming Pictures

2009-10-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

At our house before they went to dinner

After dinner they stopped at his house for more pictures (above and below)

This is a picture from Homecoming. (September 19th) Our daughter and her sweetheart of several months. Basically the "first love" for both of them....very sweet and also very closely watched/monitored by both sets of parents!!!

H1N1

2009-10-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I am going to venture a guess that it has hit our home. Two of our children seem to have it. We will try to get into our family physician tomorrow and I really hope we are not put off. With four of our family being "high risk for complications" from any flu, we are especially concerned with the H1N1 since the complications that are killing people are the very complications two of us really struggle with anytime we get a nasty virus.

I did order some really heavy duty herbal medicines from an amazing and gifted herbalist right here in Wyoming. I had been saving these back for the time when we'd need them. When I saw the spread of H1N1 across the United States, I knew it was only a matter of time before it hit our community and probably our family. (all of us are in the school system daily....3 different school districts with 3 different populations and germs) I started intensive treatment of those ill and preventative treatment (beyond what I had already been doing for the past month) for those who are not ill, but most certainly were and are being exposed.

Also prayer. We try to pray a family rosary daily if we have everyone here. Today is a day we usually have the entire family here and the rosary took on special meaning in light of our current trials and also in light of a tragedy at my husbands work place. (a 5th grade student died on Friday from "illness")

Times like this, I have to really say that I am not happy that I had to go to work full-time outside of the home last year. This is my second year teaching full-time and it is too much with the intense responsibility now that my husband has moved back into administration. (last year we were both teachers and that worked O.K.) I am hoping and praying that I can find a half-time teaching position next year with our local school district. (without a commute like I use to have)

LIfe is just so special but just so fragile......God Bless.

...thoughts. Mostly random....

2009-09-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

I wonder if a personal change is coming in my life after this school year. I suppose only time can tell. That and lots of reflection and prayer.....lots and lots of prayer will be needed because I honestly feel totally lost regarding what the future holds for me. Scary, exciting.....we'll see.

I'm starting my first class towards my M.A. in Theology. I look forward to it and the learning ahead of me.

You can smell autumn in the air here in Wyoming. Changes coming upon the earth, as well as in life.

I am not sure what I think about working full-time. It is my second year doing this. This year is much more difficult due to a student I have in my class who really needs another placement (other than private schools which lack psych support/services) and my struggle trying to get support in doing what this child needs and what needs to be done to enable the other children in the classroom the chance to learn. It is amazing how one student can compromise the integrity of the learning environment for the other students in the class. In the public schools, there are support services in place. Most private schools are not able to handle these children. Depending on what happens over the next couple of weeks, I may need to take a break from teaching after this year. At least teaching in the private school system. Private schools are not the stereotype that people tend to hold. We do not hand pick our students and many private schools are the places that take the children who have failed for one reason or another in the public school system. There are often a few families who do receive special treatment due to name or financial support....this stereotype about private schools is true. Sometimes children make it through the registration process who should not have. Oftentimes children who have parents who can not/will not accept that their child needs special support services and/or the family itself needs some kind of intervention. All of our schools....at least all the public and private schools that I have seen, are not where they should be.

Maybe homeschooling with support groups in place is the best option for many people. But not all.

Our family is really happy with the local public high school. We have three children attending and all are thriving. Some public schools are doing a good job with what they have. There are exceptional teachers out there. Really dedicated people who are working at one of the most difficult jobs with the lowest pay relative to the level of education required of the teacher.

Maybe diversity in education is the answer....just like in life. However it must be celebrated, supported, and embraced. We need to realize that just because we may be different, that does not mean we are in opposition of each other. Working together goes so much farther.

I do also believe one of my own personal challenges in my own life is the dark night of the soul. I may be there.........not easy at all. If not there, then darned close to it. However many have walked this path before me and I can learn from them.

I am still enjoying making soap by hand. Really a wonderful art and science. I also enjoy my new djembe drum, but I don't have the time I need for either of these things. Nor for the time I use to have in my spiritual communion. I miss that most of all from when I was working part-time.

We'll see what the future holds. I wonder if.............

Starting a New Adventure

2009-09-12T12:48:00.001-07:00

After waiting a couple of months, I received my acceptance letter in the mail and am getting ready to start my first graduate school class. It has been about 15 years since I completed my Bachelor's degree.....so it's been a while. I'm leaving my undergrad field and am entering a different one. I know this is the path I am to take and while my M.A. will take a bit longer due to some extra courses required of me, it is where I need to be. I am really excited and a bit nervous at the same time.

New school year has started. We have 3 in high school, one grown, and our youngest is in his last years of elementary school. Time flies.

I'm teaching 2nd grade this year. New year....new grade level. My husband moved back into administration this year. I am not sure either of us will stay where we are. I am not 100% convinced teaching is where I will stay and he is not sure administration is where he will stay. Life is exciting and ripe with possibilities, no matter what age we are!!!

Peace.

After over a year of waiting....finally received Sacraments!

2009-07-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

These were at a daily Mass on July 6th.

I don't have pictures of everything....but my husband received the following sacraments: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage. I received: First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. (I had received Penance on the 27th of June and was baptized in a Christian church as an infant)

Our oldest daughter stood up as "godparent" (what is is usually called since baptisms are usually done earlier in life) for my husband. My husband and I also had our two oldest daughters be our sponsors for confirmation. Really special.

These are from the official recognition and blessing of our marriage. It was wonderful because when we originally were married nearly 18 years ago, it was not a Christian (Trinitarian) ceremony....so this meant so much to us! our youngest son stood up with us.

Here is my husband being baptized!

We are so blessed and it is amazing to all be of the same faith! It has been a long road over the past many years of searching for what we believe to be Truth.

Oh, and attending daily Mass....as one who can receive....is AMAZING!

Peace....

Our daughter and her sweetheart

2009-06-30T18:28:00.001-07:00

I must say that our children are growing up. Our younger daughter was allowed to officially date when she became a freshman. There was a young man (really great kid from a great family) who had been waiting and they are now allowed to date. This is one picture from a recent outing. The two of them went hiking up into the lower parts of the mountains. Yes...he is VERY TALL. Our daughter is tall but looks like she is short when she is next to him. We are happy that all of our teaching about standards sunk in with her because she had her own requirements that her prospective-beau had to meet for her to agree to be his girlfriend. All the talking over the years is paying off with our girls...thank goodness they are listening to our advice. I have to say that I wish my parents had been open and honest about relationships and dating and all that. It does make a difference. However, our job only intensifies from this point on.

I have posted many pictures and several blogs in the past couple of weeks. You will not see all of them on this page but will have to go to the older posts page to see them even though they are all very recent.

HaPpY******BiRtHdA*y******Little Guy!!

2009-06-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Our "Little Guy" turns 10 years old today. He is the baby of the family and is growing into an amazing older child...who I know will grow into an amazing teenager and adult.

WE LOVE YOU LITTLE GUY!

Calmer Waters (Aaron,Michelle, Eli are in the front raft...Asia, Sereah in the rear raft)

2009-06-30T14:55:00.001-07:00

Once we were in calmer waters, the raft guide in my raft switched places with me and I got to guide! I can say that Asia and I are hooked....and are looking for our next extreme adventure!!

White Water Rafting (Asia and Sereah's raft)

2009-06-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

Looking at the raft on your computer screen, Asia is the 3rd back on the left side and Sereah is the second back in the center (non-rowing) of the raft. Our Parish Priest is across from Asia.

White Water Rafting. Pics of Asia, Sereah's raft (txt way below in another entry)

2009-06-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Looking at the raft on your screen, Asia is the 3rd on the left side. Sereah is riding in the middle of the raft, second back.

White Water Rafting. Pics of the raft Aaron, Elijah, and Michelle were in (you can see where Aaron is going over and saved the raft from flipping)

2009-06-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

Read the blog a ways down about this adventure......in another post.

White Water Rafting Pics the raft Aaron,Michelle, Elijah are in. (see below a ways for the blog talking about this)

2009-06-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Pics from White Water Rafting (The single raft pics are Aaron,Michelle, Elijah's raft. See blog below for txt.)

2009-06-30T13:56:00.001-07:00

White Water Rafting on the Wind River

2009-06-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

We went white water rafting on June 27th on the Wind River through Wind River Canyon. What an experience! AMAZING! The river is the highest it has been for a decade, so this was the perfect time to go. From our family, my husband, myself, our oldest two girls and our youngest boy went. Our family was split between two rafts. (we went with a group of people and counting the entire group, there were 3 rafts) Our daughters were on one raft with most of the other teens and our Parish Priest. My husband, youngest son, and I were on another raft with five others plus our guide.

We rafted approx 8.4 miles and it took a couple of hours. I can't describe how amazing, beautiful and incredible the experience was.

However, we did have a scare. On a category 4 area called Ft. Washakie Falls, my husband fell off the raft and it was a very frightening experience. He later told me that he really did think this was the way he was going to die. He was under the raft and then the rapids just sucked him under and tossed him around and when he finally surfaced, we had a heck of a time pulling him back on the raft since he was exhausted and weighs a lot. He calls it his near death experience. I'm not sure if he will be game to go again anytime soon, but the best way to get over fear is to face it down....so I hope he goes again with us. We will plan on going next year a couple of times starting with the same one we did this year and then my younger daughter and I plan on going to what is called the upper falls where all the rapids are category 3 and 4....it will be a rush! They say one out of every two rafts flip over on the upper falls route. (so our oldest daughter and youngest son...and probably husband will not be going on that trip)

One thing is for sure...I have never been so sore in my life! (and I'm very active) I ended up with some bruises and cuts from helping to rescue my husband. Thankfully he was not hurt at all!! We later realized that if he would not have fallen out, our entire raft would have flipped and we had our 10 year old son in the raft as well as some other older people...so my husband falling out probably kept some worse things from happening.

What is crazy but really quite fantastic was what Asia did. We don't have it in one of the pics (I wonder if the outfit does not take pics of these things when they allow people to do it....legal reasons maybe? Hmmmm) Anyway, when you look at the front of the raft you see it comes to a point and there are a couple ropes. Well, in a lower category white water area, Asias guide let her get up on the front of it. It was described to me as Asia sitting on it like one would do to ride a bull. Legs/feet dangling into the water off the front of the raft and holding on with one hand (to the rope) with the other hand raised above her head cowboy-style. *lol* She closed her eyes for part of it and just went for it! She is the child who is really wanting to take some training through NOLS her Junior and Senior year. I told her if she makes National Honor Society (expected of her anyway) we'd help pay for it since she'd get a partial-scholarship.

Anyway, may God Bless you!

I will post pictures.

Father's Day

2009-06-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderful father's day. The girls and I started out early for a good run/walk on the high school track.

When we got home, the guys in the house were starting to get moving. We gave Aaron his father's day present (iPod...he has wanted one for a long time), opened cards and waited to see what Dad wanted to do on his day.

Once decided, we packed up the vehicle and headed to Sinks Canyon for some trail hiking and then into town for a nice early supper seated outdoors at one of our favorite places to eat.

We were able to see some wildlife upclose today! Cool.

Then it was home and after a bit of housekeeping needs, we watched a movie.

Some of the best news is that my first marriage is finally officially dissolved in the eyes of the Catholic Church. We have been waiting for a year for this to happen and now that it has, both Aaron and I will be receiving not only several sacraments but also will have our marriage blessed and recognized in the church. Preparations are being made for these joyous sacraments!

A blessed day. I am going to share just a few photos from our day.

Busy....Busy....isn't this summer break?

2009-06-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Boy have we been super busy so far! I hope that "summer break" will eventually come around.

I am happy to report that our youngest daughter (high school freshman) is just about fully recovered from the surgery she had on the 5th of this month. It sure was a rough recovery, but we are all happy it is over.

I've been taking a class this week to help my teaching of mathematics. It is a long day, but worth the time.

Our youngest son has been in class at the local community college 4 days a week taking various science classes. He is enjoying himself! We are still not sure which musical lessons he will be taking later this summer.

Our oldest daughter (high school junior) is busy with her job and she will be taking a course in July.

Our daughters started into their orthodontics...thankfully we have insurance for the first time!

Lets see...our refrigerator broke down. So we had to buy a new one. There are some fancy choices out there! It is on order and hopefully will be here in another week or so.

My husband is moving back into administration. (I have mixed feelings) His first big "fiasco" was today in dealing with the swine flu. It looks like his school is the first one in the county....and with the superintendent out of town, dh was the one who dealt with the concerns. Thankfully he has been in administration most of his career and this type of issue (people freaking out) is not an unfamiliar situation.

After much discussion, my dh has decided to wait on finishing up his PhD and it is my turn! I will start my Masters degree this fall. (slowly....at first due to finances and time issues with my full-time work and dh's extra work responsibilities with his new position at his school) This is something I've wanted to do for some time, but I am moving out of my field for my Masters so I will have to take some undergraduate classes before I can be "official" in the program of my choice. It will be worth it. I know this is the direction I must move into and who knows what wonderful adventures await me in the future....all from one decision.

Life is funny and fascinating....the decisions we make really are significant. Even those decisions we may not think of as "significant". I fully believe as long as I am prayerfully following what God's plan is for me, the best will happen.

I'm thankful and blessed.

I do ask for prayers (if you are so inclined) for our oldest son. He continues to make choices that we just can't wrap our brains around. I don't know if it is the half-sibling issue on a genetic level or what...but he has been raised in the same home, but has made horrible choices and as an adult, it is coming back to him. We hope to hear from him sometime and all we can do in the meantime is pray.

Life can be difficult, however it is during these moments that I truly feel God's grace is there. During these moments, I believe that I am experiencing a small part in agony and suffering. I count this as a blessing. Sure I'd rather avoid it...but my life has been one that has been more difficult than most and as time goes on I see this in a different light. A light that is filtered through my faith. I do not expect nor do I buy into the "prosperity doctrine" that I think is doing much damage to the Christian community at large. Thankfully, we Catholics are mostly still orthodox in our viewpoint regarding suffering.

May God bless you.

I've come to the conclusion that I am not sensitive enough to be raising girls

2009-06-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

It has taken me 16 years to realize this.

I am a very direct person and this is how I prefer people to be with me. I do not game-play, nor do I engage in passive-aggressive tug-of-wars. My honesty has at times caused me some trouble in my adult years and while I am learning to be "PC"....I sure do not come by this naturally, nor is it enjoyable since I feel like it is not real. (enough)

It is possible I have become this way as an adult as a extreme reaction to the adventures of my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

I have daughters who seem, from my point of view, to need a larger than normal amount of "nicey-nicey" phrasing in any conversation that crosses into personal issues. This I am not good at. I am a facts gal and would rather get to the point, discuss, and move onto something else. (unless problem solving is needed or something further)

I need to work on this aspect of my personality and try to become more of a touchy-feely type of person. Being raised in a home where I don't remember gestures of love (verbal or physical.....whether or not I am correct....who knows since I have no memory of much of my childhood) and I think this has affected my admitted lack in being "nicey-nicey" in conversations and is something that I realize I must work on.

I don't know if I'll ever not have the impulse to roll my eyes when someone engages me in conversation that way. I'd rather be told like it is...be allowed to debate back (if needed) and then self-reflect when I am alone, implement anything that needs be, and move on.

This also may play into why I have said many times that I'd be happiest teaching at a private all-boys school. (rather than the co-ed private school I do teach at) I have come to appreciate the way most males handle conflict and this, according to my husband, is the way I tend to operate. I like things that way. However, I must bend...I realize that.

Hence, my comment about not being sensitive enough to be raising girls. (and two teen aged ones at that!)

Peace and God Bless

FINALLY!

2009-04-26T18:23:00.001-07:00

Boy oh boy! It is very difficult locating all the necessary items to make old fashioned cold-processed soap. Geeze!!! After over a month of searching for ingredients and supplies, and finally having to order online, I was all set to go this weekend.

Yesterday, I made a batch of lightly scented rose shea soap. I used a nice wooden mold that my really wonderful husband had crafted for me a few weeks ago. Today, I made a second batch of a basic hard soap which I will use as the base to my homemade laundry detergent that I've been making for well over a year now. I did scent this soap with my favorite lavender/patchouli oil combo. I didn't have a nice wooden mold (yet!) for this one so I used a clean empty half-and-half carton.

I had been ordering my basic hard soap from a really nice small company online, however I really felt it was something I could and should be doing myself.

Hopefully they end up being safe for use! I did pH test the first (rose scented) batch today and it is still too high to be considered usable, however the pH level can lower as the soap cures. I'll re-test it again in a few days and cross my fingers that it works.

I know I was a sight to the neighbors....who already see our family as weirdos. When I mixed the sodium hydroxide into the distilled H2O, I went outside to do it due to the horrible fumes that come from mixing these two. (even with the fan going and the windows and doors open!) The neighbors were out and there I was in my slippers, baggy bottoms, long sleeve mismatched shirt, long yellow rubber gloves, big safety goggles....crouching on the driveway stirring my pot while moving around the pot in an attempt get upwind to avoid the fumes.

Our oldest daughter had helped me with much of the first batch and I think that she mostly did it out of a strange curiosity as well as hope for some more material for her "dirty mountain hippy" jokes. (guess who she is referring to?) Later in the day, both she and our Parish Priest (and I) had fun poking fun at me.

We have two science fair projects going on this week. Thankfully my husband does those. We are also going into the final week of rehearsals before the musical. (our two daughters are in it) My parents are coming to visit to see the musical. Other than the normal weekly schedule, that should be about it this week.

I'm glad to have my first batches of cold-process soap made. I dream of a day when I'll be living in my dream-home-earth-ship and won't have to work outside the home and can stay home tending animals, digging, and making many things myself...and volunteering too!

However, I know how blessed I am and am enjoying where my life currently is. I look forward to teaching second grade next year and I especially look forward to finishing up this school year!

God Bless.

Sharing some photos of my wonderful job (more family photos in several more posts below)

2009-04-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

The middle school students love to come and hang out in my classroom. (I could sooooo teach middle school...if I was endorsed to do so beyond special education) My students earn special treats for good behavior and they usually want to have a game day with the middle school students. I'm sharing some photos from one of those game days. There is a photo of my daughter manning one of our "game day centers" as well as some other photos. I have really enjoyed teaching Kindergarten but have to admit that I am really excited to move to second grade for the 2009/2010 school year. (will be at the same school)

This is a photo from the speech meet. Some of my students are here in this picture (in my classroom) as well as our Parish Priest/Superintendent of Schools.

More photos

2009-04-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

These photos are from January 2009. The school where I teach and also where 2 of our children attend is a private Catholic School. These photos are from "free dress" day so that is why the students don't have their uniforms on. Every year, we host a speech meet. There are 3 winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) from each grade level from Preschool through 5th grade and then there are 3 winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) from the 6th through 9th grades combined. The one photo has all the winners as well as our wonderful school principal Sister Florence. (not all Nuns wear habits as you can see) The other two photos are of two of my children with our Superintendent of Schools/Parish Priest. Our daughter took 1st place in the 6th through 9th grade group and our son took 3rd place in his grade level. It was a wonderful event and really good for the students to be proficient public speakers. That is a skill that we are failing (in large degree) as a society to teach our youth. Not at Saint Margaret Catholic School, I'm very proud to say!

Another entry with photos (there are several...see below)

2009-04-13T11:32:00.001-07:00

These blog posts that I am doing today are not in order chronologically....I don't know enough about this to get these posts in order. (scroll down the page for the St. Patrick's Day entry and further down for the most recent group of Photos from Easter 2009) These photos are from our oldest daughters 16th birthday. (which was in February)

Another post with pictures (see below for our Easter entry/blog/photos)

2009-04-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

These photos are from our Parish Saint Patrick's Day dinner and celebration. Our daughter was the Saint Patrick Queen and one of the duties was to cut the cake. The other photo is of her with some of her classmates playing a really cool drum piece with their teacher (and our Parish Priest) Fr. Drew leading them as well as some bagpipe playing. It was a fun event for our entire family and community.

Time to update photos from the past couple of months...This blog entry EASTER

2009-04-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am sharing photos from a few events. This blog entry has photosfrom Easter. I write riddles, clues and/or maps (depending on which child/how old) and they have to solve it to find the location of their Easter Basket. I have photos from this to share. I will have to make a couple more blog posts to add the other photos since I am a bit "challenged" when it comes to adding photos to a blog. So here is one to share.

Holy Week

2009-04-05T15:32:00.001-07:00

Holy week has started and what a wonderful time of Lent. Today was Palm Sunday and Mass was really beautiful. We are very blessed.

I am also off from work for Easter Break. I am going to enjoy this week!

I also can share the changes in our jobs for next year. My husband is moving back into administration at the school he has been at as a teacher this year. He had decided to not seek anything but was asked twice by the Superintendent to please apply for an opening that they have and after some time contemplating it and praying about it, he decided to apply and will be changing position after the end of this school year. It will probably not be a long assignment due to the history of this district choosing to not renew administrators after about five years regardless of their abilities. However, the increase in pay will be put to good use and we will pay off most of our debt. We will not find ourselves in a position of not being free due to debt. (we do have a mortgage and car loans) If we find ourselves in a position like we did a year ago, we will have many more options and a heck of a lot less stress if we do not have debts to pay and just have basic living expenses to cover. Being in debt is being in chains.

I will be moving out of kindergarten and into second grade. Much better suited for me. I have spent the past three years teaching the younger end of early education and I look forward to moving to the oldest end of early education. Second grade will be a good place for me to be and it will show if I want to go back up to fifth grade. (many years ago I taught this for part of a year as a long-term sub)

I suspect that I will become a at-home mom again in a few years. Or maybe teach part-time. We'll see. I am not the one running the show of my life. God is and I will follow what He leads me to do...no matter where that is.

Have a blessed, reflective, and growing time this Holy Week!

Ramblings

2009-03-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays. Mostly for the worship but also for the rest.

Changes are coming in our family regarding both mine and my husbands current positions at our schools. It looks like we will both be moving within our respective school districts. Change can be exciting and good. It remains to be seen if these will: 1. happen for sure 2. be totally good.

We'll see. We'll know soon for my husband and next month for me. (but informally we've both been given the news that we'll most likely have changes)

It sure is warming up and spring is here. I planted seeds with my students last week. Hopefully they will grow. I am not a very good gardener, so I hope that it works so I don't have upset 5/6 year olds.

After a lot of research and a great deal of prayer and seeking, I have decided to wear a Mantilla to Mass. (and also anytime I'm in the presence of our Lord as we Catholics believe) My reasons are so multi-layered and the process of my listening to God's call for me to do this has been quite a journey. I do not like the looks I get and I hope to be back to being more invisible soon....I do not like attention in the least bit and this is probably the most challenging aspect of following what I see as something I have to do and must do.

Life continues to be quite an adventure and great blessing.

Our younger daughter was the Saint Patrick's Day Queen. She went along with it because she realizes that being as red of a redhead as she is, this will be one of the "duties" she'll probably be given for many years. I thought she was lovely and anyone who knows us personally knows how incredible looking she is...thankfully she is not too aware of it! (and she does not know about this blog so she won't read it here either!) The same daughter was Lady Macbeth in a recent play. It was quite good. She is also in a musical that we'll go see in late April.

Our oldest daughter did well at State and she is also in the same musical as her younger sister. She is learning how to drive and honestly she scares me when I'm with her! She really hates driving and would rather not learn, but living where we do without public transportation, she does not have a choice in the matter. I feel bad for her but have faith that she will eventually learn. I try not to laugh when I'm out with her...it really is that comical. Poor thing. Other than driving, she is doing very well.

Our oldest son is still making bad choices. Please pray for him.

Our youngest son is doing well also. He loves learning Latin and is sticking with his violin lessons. We decided to strictly limit his gaming and he is still adapting to it. That came about quite by chance because our computer was down (being in Wyoming, it takes a month to get a part in) and we realized how much improved his behavior and creativity was without the computer games. I guess it was a blessing in disguise.

Our middle son is keeping the same course and moving along in life. He is our guy who we adopted shortly before his first birthday. (from an orphanage in Mexico) He has Down syndrome and some other behavior challenges. He keeps things interesting around here.

Peace

Still missing home

2009-03-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

I am still struggling with working full-time outside of our home.

If you do not know me, you do not know the dynamics of our family and why it is proving to be so very difficult having me work full-time. If you do...well, you understand! (in a huge nutshell....two children with chronic health conditions, two "typical" children, and one child with severe MR, ODD, ADHD)

I'm averaging around 60 hours a week and it is really difficult.

I love where I work and love teaching, however it is the hours and the responsibilities at home on top of working so many hours that is really hurting.

I also think because my husband and I have always made sure to live well beneath our means and made sure his salary was all we counted on. Well, when he was unemployed....it did not matter what we had planned!

It is like it says in (I think) Saint James...about how we can plan all we want, but we should really be saying "if Lord wills it....we will go here and do this....". I know that.

I do love teaching and I know I am good at what I do. Teaching full-time is something we (husband and I) had talked about my doing when our kids were grown. But not before then. Part-time teaching and/or sub-teaching would work very well...but not full-time.

I guess I'm just missing home and missing what I thought life would be like this year.

I do have to say that I am grateful I am teaching at the Parish school where we are members of the Parish. I did ask to be moved to 2nd grade for next year and I hope I get moved....If not, I know I will only stay one more year. (I'm not a career kindergarten teacher) I think if I get moved to 2nd grade, it may help a great deal. I'd still be putting in the long hours but the daily physical exhaustion of teaching a full class of five year olds without an aid would be gone.

We'll see what happens. I doubt I'll know anything until after Lent.

Speaking of Lent, I hope all those who participate in this season are experiencing a closer walk with our Lord through what is being given up and by what is being done additionally. I do love this season so very much.

Peace

A day off! Yippie!

2009-02-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

I have today off from work. It is really nice. I'm recovering from what I suspect to be what is often called "walking" pneumonia (never did ask the doc for a diagnosis...just wanted the antibiotics since I knew I needed them) which is happens every couple of years with my asthma. Not a huge deal.

Days like this make me really miss being at-home full-time.

I am really enjoying my job teaching full-time and I know I'd hate it if I were in the public schools. However, working full-time at a private school is a lot more work than my public school teaching friends are required to do. So, when I have a day off.....I really love it!

I made it through my first Catholic Schools Week which is insanity for teachers at Catholic schools! I think I put in more than 70 hours that week...and when that week was over, I promptly came down with what I am now taking meds to get rid of. *lol*

Aaron and I continue to move closer to officially being able to take our first Communion. I am so happy that the past 18 years of intense religious study and seeking have finally come to a close with finding where I "fit"....not to mention what a great bonus it is that my formerly agnostic husband is also right with me! (our children are already members....except for our oldest son who is just a mess right now with all kinds of bad life choices....not going to go there)

I'm also so happy that we did not owe the government this year! See...there is a bright side to taking a nearly $40K pay cut! We get a whopping $900 from the government! Boy oh Joy....(sarcasm here)

Speaking of money, I have a company that I really like. It is "The Great Courses". If you love to learn just for the sake of learning, then check it out. They are running their huge sale now through March 12th. Putting these on the iPod makes it possible to tolerate the treadmill and/or elliptical machine at the gym during the winter months. Not to mention it takes the imagery of me being a hamster on a exercise wheel out of my mind!

Not much to post about.

Second oldest daughter took first at the recent oral interp contest at her school. Our youngest son took 3rd in his grade level at the same event. Oldest daughter just took a 5th place state ranking for her oral interp speech in Jackson this past weekend.

We must be raising some debaters....all you have to do is try to watch any TV show in this house to know that! Even the commercials are up for debate around here.

Have a Blessed Day!
M~

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

Finally finding time to post. My husband finally found a job (mid October) and I can tell anyone out there that it IS CRITICAL that you have a emergency savings fund built up to live off of "just in case". I am so grateful that we had enough to make it through. We ended up with more than a $35K pay cut but our life is running at a much less stressful speed....still crazy busy, but the stress that came from my husbands former administrative job went away with that job! We are both teaching full-time, but at different districts. He is teaching special education at a public school on the Wind River Indian Reservation and I'm at a private school teaching kindergarten. Funny because my husbands first job teaching was at a school on a different reservation in a different state and here he is again in a position much like the one he started in years ago.

We will celebrate our first Christmas as Catholics and I sooooo look forward to Midnight Mass! The church is beautiful. When I went to daily Mass this past Monday, it took my breath away. WOW. I think we have to be there a hour early to get a seat. At least that is what we've been told by those who have attended this Parish longer than we have. The early arrival will be a nice time to meditate on this Blessed Eve.

Peace

School is in session!

2008-08-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I do love teaching. However, I can say that teaching at a private school brings a whole other set of challenges as compared to teaching in a public school. One thing that will most likely keep me at the private school (even with half the pay) is the incredible support and unity of all the staff. Public school can't hold a candle to it. On the flip side, I have more severe behaviors from students in my private school classroom than I had when I taught in a classroom with children who had documented behavioral/emotional problems!

Many differences, to be sure. Good and not so good. Overall, I know I am where I need to be. I'm thankful to God for that.

Being able to worship at school and teach my children about the Bible is AMAZING! My favorite subject to teach is religion. I hope to move up to a older class in the future and my prayer is that, God willing, this will happen and that I will have a long career with this school. God willing....that is the key. I will follow Him wherever He leads me.

My husband is still looking for a job. We need one.....very much so!

This is all I have time to type. I am exhausted and have not yet adjusted to the year yet.

Peace~

July 27th, 2008 was a special day

2008-08-01T08:35:00.001-07:00

Prayer, instruction, blessing of the pool etc...before the baptisms begin and after other parts of the ceremony where there were various blessings with oil. Just so beautiful. The Godparents are in this photo who are friends of ours and we are so happy to have them be the Godparents and know they will really take a active part in our childrens spiritual lives as well as be there for them.

Second Photo: E getting baptized. He is the youngest. He wanted to be immersed so this is why all the baptisms were done using this tub and the others just kneeled over it since they did not want to be immersed.

Third Photo: A getting baptized. Our second oldest daughter and fourth oldest child.

Fourth Photo: E getting baptized. We loved how the Catholic church did the affirmation of questions since E is mentally handicapped. (he may be nearly 14 yrs old but functions around a 4 year old)

Fifth Photo: S...our oldest daughter getting baptized. She is the second oldest child in the family. (our oldest son was baptized as an infant)

Last Photo: The entire family (including our oldest son who you can kind of see in the back row) My parents are also in the photo and I'm so glad they came to the baptisms from South Dakota where they live.

Annual Balloon Ralley

2008-07-20T12:38:00.001-07:00

This close up photo was not really close up.....that is how close the balloons were to me while I stood in our front yard! We live near the college which is where they launch, so once a year we have upwards of 25 hot air balloons drifting above our house. The local hot air balloon enthusiasts float over our house (usually one at a time) several times a year. Each time I see them, I am thankful to be alive to see the beauty of a hot air balloon that seems almost close enough for me to jump up and grab onto!

The other photo was also taken outside on my front lawn but is of them when they were higher and further away. Then the other photo was a couple blocks from our house and you can see our youngest son there in the photo.

Next weekend will be the baptism of four of our children. I'll also turn 39 yrs old the day after their baptisms. Hopefully this week will also bring a job offer to my husband.

Like Saint Paul said (my very creative paraphrase) "I have learned to be happy when I have plenty and also when I go without.....in all circumstances I sing praise and joy to Jesus Christ, my Lord!"

McDonald's not environmentally friendly

2008-07-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Apparently customers must be driving some kind of gas-using vehicle in order to be served at the McDonalds drive through.

You'd think I had walked in there and yelled "RAT!" with the exclamations and shock coming from some of the employees. (special note to the very uptight and grumpy shift manager/crew leader....whatever they are called)

My daughter and I decided that we'd try one of those fancy "iced coffee" drinks that we have heard good things about. The perfect timing came up for us at the end of a very long bike ride. (it was in the 90's outside and we hit some good hills on the ride) Well, it made perfectly good sense to me that we just use the drive through window.

Wrong choice! It really was funny. First, they tried to ignore me....possibly hoping I'd give up and pedal off? Then I heard bits and pieces of their shock and horror over the order intercom. (quite funny....you'd think it was a international event or something) I was able to place my order but we found out that it is "not allowed".

This was really quite funny and it made my day much more interesting. I was tempted to ask what McDonalds is doing in light of so many more people using human-powered transportation with the high cost of fuel and with the environmental concerns.

I think this entire incident was because I live in rural Wyoming and most people around here are still driving their earth killers. (aka gazillion-ton pick-ups, suburbans and Hummers)

I think much more amusing than our using the drive through was the sight of two people who are in apparent good physical condition, on the end of a workout.....visiting......McDonalds!! Can I supersize that?

And the iced coffee? Nothing to write home about. Just brew up a batch in your Mr Coffee machine at home, add a good amount of vanilla coffee creamer, chill and add some ice cubes. At least that is how I'd make it and I suspect it would taste like the vanilla iced coffee at McDonald's.

Thankfully we did not get my oldest daughter in trouble....she works there. (and found the incident quite humorous)

Summer Birthday!

2008-07-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

We have a 9 year old in the house....our youngest is growing up! The next summer birthday will be my 39th. (later this month)

One person employed for next school year!!

2008-06-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well, things are starting to move around here! What a walk in faith this has been and I hope to sometime share the story here. (but it will take a lot of thought and time which I don't have right now)

I accepted a Kindergarten teaching position at the first school of my choice which is a private Catholic K-8 school right in the town where I live.

I am not sad to be leaving the headache that NCLB (No Child Left Behind) has brought to public school teachers. To teach in an environment where faith is a part of everything will be amazing!

My husband has some good leads on administrative positions in our area and a couple of leads out of our area. (which would mean we'd be living in different towns for a year) I have faith that it will all work out and we will not have to live apart.

It does look like we will have to live off of our savings for the month of July and the cost for us to continue our must-have health insurance under COBRA law is NUTS! (nearly $1500 a month cash) However, I am thankful we are prepared for at least one month and I have faith that that is all we will need.

So....Yeah! Praise God that I have not only a teaching job....but at the school that was first on my "wish list"!!! (most of the teachers at this school have been there for more than a decade...some longer than that...so openings are not always easy to come by) How grateful I am and thank God for His blessing!

By the second week in July I should have good news to share regarding my husbands job situation.

God bless and grace and peace be with you!

Asia

2008-06-13T15:38:00.001-07:00

Asia has her first boyfriend. Both sets of parents are allowing highly supervised visitation only!

Anyway, I thought I'd post a picture of the two of them that was taken at the carnival a couple of weekends ago and another single photo of Asia that I took today.

Pictures of Elijah at his Boy Scout Day Camp

2008-06-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

Waiting........

2008-06-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well, we are still waiting and seeking employment. Things are getting down to the wire. Aaron and I finally applied out of the area for positions, but it would be heartbreaking for me to have to move from here. However, I've been through so much more in my lifetime thus far that complaining about my attachment to this location seems rather small minded, childish, and selfish in light of things of such greater importance.

I remain faithful that I will see all the "why's" behind what we have been experiencing in the past several months.

My gray hair odessey continues. The new growth had become a bit obvious, so I had all my hair cut off. I have only about 1" remaining that has the hair color in it and the rest is gray. If my hair continues to grow as fast as it always has, then I'll have that inch of dyed hair cut off in about 6 weeks. It is strange having really short hair again. Not my favorite look, but I am spiking it in all kinds of crazy directions and it suits my personality quite well.

The colder than normal spring weather continues here in central Wyoming. The moisture is a blessing and the countryside looks beautiful! It is also saving us on our water bill!

Enjoy the day, focus on what matters, and God Bless.

Recent pictures

2008-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Elijah outside trying out his rollerblades.

My younger class (4 and 5 yr olds) and I right before we got our volcano to erupt.

Some of my 5 year old class. We have been working on the volcano for the past couple weeks. The toys all around the volcano are the unsuspecting houses, animals, and action hero who got ran over with the "lava". I'm holding the vinegar and red food coloring mixture that I poured into the volcano that had baking soda inside. This class is all boys and it has been a wild ride to teach this year! (Yes, one of my students has the end of a turkey baster suctioned onto his face....they think they are so funny when they do that!)

Eduardo.....wheeeeeeeeeee!!! Being pulled in the wagon by Asia who is on her bicycle. For those who may not know, we adopted Eddie when he was about 11 months of age from a orphanage in Campeche Mexico. Eddie has down syndrome, ADHD, and ODD....which equals a huge challenge for parenting!

Asia's 13th Birthday party

Elijah holding his "eyeball" pinewood derby design. He came up with this design all on his own! (we did help him paint the small details) It was not the fastest car but it was the most unique and creative!

Me, Elijah, Asia, Sereah at Elijah's Pinewood Derby race at St. Margarets School.

Update on the job situation. Aaron interviewed for a position today. He will find out in two days. Please Pray for this job! I also am trying to figure out what I am going to do for next year. I have held off on applying at a couple of schools that are the same commute that I am currently doing, even though one has the perfect position for me and I think I'd get it. (we know the principal well and this is a school that offered me a position last year that I did not take) I'm still really considering St. Margaret School....so many positives but I know the teachers there put in more hours than public school teachers due to the fundraising and all the extra stuff they are expected to do. (for less than 1/2 the pay) I'm still praying for direction and have not had anything crystal clear. I may end up sub teaching next year so I can get a feel for the various districts. That depends on what kind of position Aaron gets.........

Going Gray

2008-05-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm done with it! The bottle....my addiction for the past many years. Hiding the "real me" caused me to turn to dependence on the bottle.

The bottle is my Nice n' Easy dark brown permanent hair color. Now that I am (according to my teachers aid who is also a cosmetologist) 75% gray on the sides, 50% gray on the top, and 30% gray in back (and nearly all gray in the bang area)......it is time to admit that I am going gray.

I'm going to grow it in as far as I can tolerate it and then I'll have to get a buzz cut. Eeeek! I have had really short hair before, but it is not my favorite style. My head tends to look like it is the size of the prize winning pumpkin at the county fair. Not only that, but I realized from looking at photos of my last buzz cut (only about 18 months ago) that I looked like Robin Williams twin sister. Not the young Mork from Ork Robin Williams...more like the funny looking Robin Williams from when he starred in the movie "Patch Adams". Now that I will be mostly gray.....hmmmmmmmm, who will I look like now? (I seriously love poking fun of myself)

So, here I go! I know I will look like a complete idiot when I have a good 2-3 inches of gray grown in and then the remaining hair dark brown below that. It is already between 1-2 inches. I have to find a job before it grows in much more! How insane will I look interviewing for teaching positions when I look like I can't even keep my own appearance looking like I give a whooptie-ding-dong? Life is so funny. Maybe I'll sub teach...........

I am thankful for the gray hair distraction going on in my life. However, I need to get off of my self-centered focus and start looking around and see who needs to feel loved. Who out there is hurting. Who can I help and touch with the light of God...of Christ within me?

I suppose that is a question I'll have to pose to God. He always manages to put the right person in my path at the right time....the very person who I think I am helping, but who is really helping me instead.

Good night and God Bless!

Difficult times

2008-05-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

I have not posted for a while. I have been going through some very difficult times. Health and employment.

My husband and I will both be unemployed as of the first of June. We have been unsuccessful in finding jobs. Time is running out and with two children with chronic health conditions (which means ongoing expensive and necessary medications and doctor visits) losing our insurance on July 1st is very scary.

I think I can find a teaching job but will have to commute a ways each day and will have to be in a different town for my job each day from the town my children will be attending school. With children with special medical needs (and we have another child who we adopted years ago who is developmentally disabled) this is not the best place to be for the times when I have to come get someone from school due to health issues. (I'd be 30 minutes drive away) We have never had any extended family support to help in those times. It was manageable when I was a at-home mom, but I now have to work outside the home so I am not here to take up these responsibilities.

My husband seems to be having some kind of crisis in his life. I can not get him to get moving to start applying for work beyond the few jobs he really wanted to get. (they are not panning out) We can not pay our minimum bills on my teaching salary alone.(IF I get a job) We are not a family who spends money on anything considered "extra" (except for TV and internet) or eat out or anything like that. If I drop the phone, internet, cable and sell my car.....we still can't make the monthly bills on one teachers salary. This does not even take into account the cost of medical without insurance.

I wish my husband had secured another job before up and quitting his current one. I do feel that was not the best way to handle things.

I am having periods of great fear and worry. Then my faith will come in strong and help out. However, as those dates loom closer (last pay and losing health care) my worry, fear, and anger towards my husband increases.

On top of that, I have been struggling with a great amount of pain due to a medical condition I have. I am trying to get some outpatient treatment completed before we lose our insurance, but this treatment may not work and I may have to have a very difficult-to-recover-from surgery. Well, that surgery would not happen since we will lose health insurance and I can not take time to recover from it when it looks like I may have to be starting up a new full-time job.

My life has not been easy thus far, but I must say that this time that I am currently going through is probably the most difficult that I can remember. We have so much at stake and so much to lose. We also have the health and well-being of three of us hanging in the balance due to the upcoming loss of health care.

If you are a praying person, please pray for us.

I may not post again for a while. I have nothing really worthwhile to share while I'm in this horrible time of trial and pain and typing about it here (in part...I left some more personal and intense parts out) is really difficult emotionally.

May you find peace and Blessing!

Waiting.....and waiting

2008-04-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have not updated in a couple of weeks.

We (my husband and I) are in the waiting phase regarding our search for employment for next school year. I think I mentioned that we both resigned our current positions but will of course finish out our current contracts. (mine will finish up June 2 and his will finish up June 15)

I am waiting to see what kind of salary he gets. He is fairly certain of the district he will work in, however there are a few jobs open within that district.

The reason why I am waiting is because of the salary issue. We are expecting him to get offered less than what he is currently making. The question is, how much less? I have been praying a great deal about where I should focus my job search on. One district that would probably be a "shoo in" for me just does not feel right and the answer I've been receiving is "wait". So, I have not put in my resume and application there. I did put it in at another district and would go interview if called. However, I feel very very much drawn to obtaining a teaching position at a private school. The catch is this: the private school would pay me less than half of what I'd make in the public school and the private school does not have the benefits the public school has. (which I only really need/want retirement since health care would be under my husbands job) When it comes down to it, I will go where I feel God wants me to be....regardless of the salary. (as long as me can cover basic financial obligations....we'd just not be paying down debt in a radical way)

It comes down to what I am learning. God is teaching me a lot about trust, faith, ans waiting on His perfect timing for my life.

I do think I know where I need to be. We'll just see.....

Have a blessed day! God is so good and full of grace. (thank goodness! I need a lot of grace every day)

Good Friday/ Holy Friday

2008-03-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today is Good Friday. This is the day that Jesus Christ paid for the sins of all humankind on the cross.

Tradition in England (and other places) is to make Hot Cross Buns on this day.

Here is a little information from Fabulous Foods that I find so interesting!:
A traditional favorite on Good Friday in England, Hot Cross Buns are a spicy currant or raisin studded yeast bun, topped with a "Cross" of lemon flavored icing. While Christians have adopted the cake and the symbolism of the cross, it wasn't always so. To Pagans then as now, the cross was symbolic of the sun wheel, which symbolizes perfect balance at the time of the Spring Equinox.

Hot Cross Buns were probably originally used in ceremonies and rituals and the Christian Church attempted to ban the buns, although they proved too popular. Left with no alternative but defeat, the church did the next best thing and "Christianized" the bread with Queen Elizabeth I passing a law which limited the bun's consumption to proper religious ceremonies, such as Christmas, Easter or funerals.

Here is a recipe that we will be using today: (from FabulousFoods.com)

1 C milk
2 T yeast
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/3 C butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
5 C flour
1 1/3 C currants or raisins
1 egg white

Glaze
1 1/3 C confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped lemon zest
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
1- 2 T milk

Makes 2 dozen

In a small saucepan, heat milk to very warm, but not hot (110°F if using a candy thermometer). Fit an electric mixer with a dough hook. Pour warm milk in the bowl of mixer and sprinkle yeast over. Mix to dissolve and let sit for 5 minutes.

With mixer running at low speed, add sugar, salt, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and eggs. Gradually add flour, dough will be wet and sticky, and continue kneading with dough hook until smooth, about 5 minutes. Detach bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let the dough "rest" for 30-45 minutes.

Return bowl to mixer and knead until smooth and elastic, for about 3 more minutes. Add currants or raisins and knead until well mixed. At this point, dough will still be fairly wet and sticky. Shape dough in a ball, place in a buttered dish, cover with plastic wrap and let rise overnight in the refrigerator (see note at right if you're in a hurry). Excess moisture will be absorbed by the morning.

Let dough sit at room temperature for about a half-hour. Line a large baking pan (or pans) with parchment paper (you could also lightly grease a baking pan, but parchment works better). Divide dough into 24 equal pieces (in half, half again, etc., etc.). Shape each portion into a ball and place on baking sheet, about 1/2 inch apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

In the meantime, pre-heat oven to 400° F.

When buns have risen, take a sharp or serrated knife and carefully slash buns with a cross. Brush them with egg white and place in oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350° F, then bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack. Whisk together glaze ingredients, and spoon over buns in a cross pattern. Serve warm, if possible (Hot Cross Buns).

What a wonderful and Blessed Day for all Humankind!!!!!!!

Easter

2008-03-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a couple of our traditions for Easter.

The way we teach our children about the Easter Story is using the Bible and Resurrection Eggs.

Here is a link to where you can buy them:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=297220&kw=resurrection_eggs&event=PPCSRC&p=1018818&gclid=CNyl2IyknJICFRkTIgod0Qir7A

Sorry I don't know how to create a link in my blog. You can cut and paste the link.

We do dye eggs, and have some candy. However that is done on a day other than Easter Sunday. Many years it is done on Spring Equinox, but with both myself and my husband working outside the home, if Spring Equinox is on a weekday, it is too hectic to do it then. This year we will do the eggs/baskets on Saturday. We always have clues, maps or riddles for the children to follow in finding their baskets. We also use natural dyes for our egg dying. We experiment and create our own and it is really quite fun!! (more fun than using the commerical packaged dyes!)

This year, I'm going to also add in this:
http://blessingsforlife.com/recipes/holidays/resurrectionrolls.htm

We will go to church on Sunday. We are still searching for a home church to settle down in.

I love Holy Week.

Michelle

Today the temp is in the 50's!!!!! WOW!

2008-03-19T14:44:00.001-07:00

Today is a beautiful day here in central Wyoming. Spring feels like it is very very near.

Today was my day at the Christian Storehouse and each time I serve there, I am just so very blessed. There is something that I can not explain in words about serving the "least of these" in the community. Life gets down to the basics when I am ministering to these folks. I had to leave early to get my car in the shop so I was not able to lead the public devotional and prayer today, which I enjoy so very much. If you are having a problem or struggle....go find someone to serve who is in a worse situation. You will gain a new perspective.

Still no job contracts yet for either my husband or I. Hopefully we will soon know where we will be employed for next school year.

May God bless you during this Holy Week......

Affordable body wash

2008-03-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last month, after reading a product review, I purchased an overpriced 8.5 oz bottle of Neutrogena's Shower and Shave Wash (blue stuff...$8 in most stores). It was really nice and I enjoyed using it, however it has an ingredient list that I can't pronounce and the price tag is a bit steep for my budget on a regular basis.

I started thinking about how to make my own. I saved the empty bottle that the Neutrogena stuff had been in.

I think I have commented about how I've been making my own cleaning products for years now. Well, one of the main ingredients I use is the liquid Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps which is a 18-in1 Hemp Pure Castile Soap made with Organic Oils. I like the peppermint scented for most of my cleaning products, but I also use the lavender scent for some things.

I decided to use this Dr. B's soap to make a body wash. Here is what I did with the recycled Neutrogena 8.5 oz bottle:

1. Fill the bottle most of the way full with purified water.
2. Then add the liquid Dr. Bronner's

I do turn the bottle upside down one time before I pump it out onto a washcloth to use in the shower. It works wonderfully!!!!

I am not sure how to figure out how much it costs to make, but it can't be more than a couple of quarters.

Give it a try if you want! You will have a natural bodywash that costs less than even the White Rain brand body wash. (which has a ingredient list that I can't pronounce)

By the way, I can pronounce all the ingredients on the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap!! It is also Certified Fair Trade and is not tested on animals.

On top of that...if you already have the Dr. Bronner's on hand, you may decide to give making your own cleaning products a try!

Have a Blessed Day! That is all for now...I need to do some chores around the house now and enjoy just working in my home. (which I love)

What an experience! I found "my people".

2008-03-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

I'm being slightly sarcastic in the "I found my people" line, but WOW! The Democratic caucus was really something else. There was a great deal of diversity, but I couldn't help but be drawn to seeing how many people there were like me.

I saw more active fleece in that line than in all the Old Navy commercials ever made. Eccentric people were there! I saw dreadlocks (which I think I'll try), facial piercings (already have), old hippies and intellectual types, environmentalists, birkenstocks, running shoes, fanny packs, hats like I wear....heck, people looked like me to a great extent! I have no idea where all these people came from. Probably Lander (NOLS) and Dubois!! (ha ha...you will understand that comment if you live here and know me well) Even the vehicles were different. I did not see any jumbo sized, jacked-up, big-tired, full-size pickup trucks. Except for the one that went tearing through the parking lot and right back out, which brought many comments from the waiting crowd that could have been spoken by me. (My People!!!) I did not see any Hummers, and very few earth killers from other companies.

You can not possibly understand this blog entry unless you are someone very much like me living in a state where you are a very obvious minority. I love who I am and am solid and confident in my own self....but I can't help but say how neat it was to see that I was not the odd one in the gathering!

Politically speaking, Republicans outnumber Democrats 2 to 1.

There were also many working class folks and other folks who generally make up the democratic party. But my eyes were drawn to people who were a closer reflection of myself. I saw myself in 20 years in some of those faces....it was cool.

At the caucus where I went, we were told that the last caucus drew 30 Democrats out to caucus. There had to be at least 1000 people in that high school yesterday. It was a great experience. I also realized that I need to commit to caucus each time I have the opportunity...this is a right I have as a American and it is something I have never done before. Something that people in other nations who do not have the blessing of freedom that we have would probably never take advantage of.

I was able to see the returns on TV. Since it was a Saturday afternoon, the only news channel I could find that was covering it was Fixed News (aka Fox News) and although I had to sit through hearing many insults towards Wyoming Democrats, it was cool to see the numbers coming in. Obama easily won.

It was a day that I will remember.

Democrat Caucus Tomorrow

2008-03-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

If you are in Wyoming and are a registered Democrat, don't forget to caucus tomorrow! If you never have, this is a very important year to do so! Wyomings delegates (12...I think) are really quite important in this election cycle.

Lander Valley High School is where folks who live around me need to go. They lock the doors at 10:00 a.m. (stupid, if you ask me...how democratic is that????) so be there by 9:30 a.m. at the latest. We are going to be there at 9:00 a.m. (I'm actually not sure what my husband is registered as....he may be an independent and if so, he will just go along for the ride and to keep me company)

Here is a interesting article about how Wyoming really is important this year for the caucus. Not since 1960 has Wyoming actually had any pull in the nomination. (in 1960 Wyoming pushed JFK over the top to be the nominee)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-wyoming-democrats,1,6986401.story

2008-03-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

Zakk tattooing his first customer on March 1, 2008!! It was a pretty large tattoo and it turned out really really well. The guy is coming back in for Zakk to touch up his other tattoo and the guys friend also promptly scheduled his own appointment with Zakk to tattoo him! I'll post a image of the tattoo as soon as I can.

Way to go Zakk!

BYOB

2008-03-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

Noooo.....I'm not thinking about "Bring Your Own Beer" in my title, but rather "Bring your Own Bag"!

I learned something new today while at the grocery store. (Smith's for my local friends who read this blog) If you take in your own cloth grocery bags, the checker should take five cents off per bag that you provide! I had no idea that stores actually charge the customer for those plastic bags! That is what I learned today. I plan on reminding the checker each time and I will be inquiring at the Evil Place (aka Wal Mart) and Safeway to see if they will also give me a credit for providing my own bags.

I hope to come back and finally add in the photo of the cloth bags I made. However, my son has the digital camera at the tattoo shop today and tomorrow so he can make sure to get photos of his work to go into his portfolio. He was tattooing his first customer today!!!! I did take a photo of him doing it and I'll also add that in another blog when I get the camera back.

Have a Blessed Day!

Economic Stimulus Package

2008-02-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.chateaumezcal.com/2008-tax-rebate-calculator.htm#rebate
Hopefully that link will work.

Go there to figure out your rebate.

We owed the IRS this year (we were totally not expecting that....we were expecting a refund!) so this will help cover July when we won't have any income due to my husband switching careers. I hope the number it spit out was accurate....I followed all the directions.

By the way, I think this will not stimulate the economy because it seems like everyone I speak to needs this money to either put on debt or just put food on the table and pay bills. (which is what we will use ours for!)

Stepping out in Faith

2008-02-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

We are in a time of change.

My husband resigned his position at his 6-12 principal job effective for next school year. (which means his last paycheck will be in June and our health insurance will end the 1st of July) He does not currently have another job. He is looking and we are only looking (at this time) in our own county because we really love living here and do not want to move.

This decision came after intense prayer and seeking God's will concerning the deteoriating condition of the upper level administration in his school district. It was the right thing to do. However, stepping out in faith in this way is a challenge and a time of learning.

I also told my employer that unless they can offer me a regular education full-time position for next year, that I will not be returning. (I had told my administration this before my husband made his resignation official) My school is a good one and they are doing everything they can to find me a full-time position in the area I want because they don't want to lose me to another school district.

We'll see how things pan out.

In times like this, when you know that God is leading you, peace prevails. Such a time to learn about faith and God's goodness and grace!

Our children are taking the change in stride. This affects them because (starting next school year) they will no longer be commuting to the school where my husband has resigned his position from. The children will attend a much larger district where we live. There are positives and negatives in this change. More opportunities, but less personal attention from teachers.

We are also seeking a new church to attend that is in our own town. We just can't continue to commute to attend church out of town. The gas prices are just going up too much. Plus it will be good for the children to attend church in the same community where we live and where they will be attending school next year.

God is leading, all will be well.

We are blessed. I have a strong, happy marriage. I have a rock solid faith walk with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I have children who may drive me crazy, but I am crazy about! All of these relationships take work and do not come naturally! I must seek God daily...I must guard my marriage daily....I must continually work on my relationship with my children. I don't want to give the impression that these things just come naturally. Anyone can have the same strength in these relationships. It all starts by being totally born again in Jesus Christ. Sold out to Him instead of being sold out to the world or even your church rules and regulations. It is about relationships.....not religion and rules. (I know, I say that all time time....but for years I was in a dead religion so I know what I'm talking about)

Fear does start to creep in at times. Yesterday was a difficult day for me. I started thinking about the pay cut my husband will be taking due to leaving his position. I also worry about the medical issues since we have two children with chronic health conditions. (as well as 3 other family members on medications that are necessary) However, fear and confusion are not from GOD....especially when we know we are walking in His will and following Him. Refocusing on Who we are trusting and taking some time for prayer is what helps and then the peace comes back.

I'll update when I know more. My husband was already offered a job (less than a day after resigning) but it would be a $31,000 pay-cut. It is not time to jump into the first thing that comes along. He also feels that it is not the job for him.....so he is looking, praying, seeking.

Laundry detergent

2008-02-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Make your own and save a ton of money. Yes, this does work and you can use it in the new HE machines. Mess with the ingredients until you find the balance that works for you and for the type of water you have. (hard/soft)

I use:
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow box)
Borax
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (I get the big box of it from Wal Mart)
Soap (Brands that work: Fels Naptha, Zote, or any other hard basic lye soap....check my links section for Mo Soap where you can get a big ole' brick of lye soap for a great price!)

Grate up the bar of soap. I then blend, in very small batches, even parts of each of the above until I have the amount I want. You can use a blender or a food processor.

I store mine in a recycled large container from the natural yogurt that our family eats. You can use any plastic container with a lid or a glass container with a lid.

I have a huge washing machine that holds something like 20 towels in a load, so I use a full Tablespoon of the detergent. Sometimes 1-1/2 T. if the load is very dirty/soiled. However, if you have a regular sized washing machine, I hear from friends that use a similar recipe that they only use a teaspoon per load!

I do dissolve mine in hot water before putting it in my machine. I have found that works better for my own preferences. I have been using the Zote soap because it is dirt cheap (Wal Mart...less than 90 cents for a bar) but I am going to be order a few bricks of the Mo Soap. I have also considered using a bar of Dr. Bronners castile soap....I'm not sure how that would work. I may try the Dr. B's if I find I need to make up more laundry detergent before I'm ready and able to budget in a order of a few bricks of soap from Mo Soap.

I have tried homemade laundry detergent recipes in the past and was never pleased with the quality. (just google and you'll find tons of them online) I was given this recipe by Sara Urbanik who is an amazing homemaker (and human being). It is a great recipe and we've been using it for about 6 months now and the savings to our budget is incredible. It works....and for those who know me and the ways in which I use cloth instead of paper in our home for various things, you know I have soiled laundry!!! (more so than most mainstream people *lol*)

A nice fabric softener recipe that works is just 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 distilled water, essential oil of your choice, and just a tiny shot of dishsoap to help things blend better. I keep it in a quart canning jar with a plastic lid. I shake it a bit to blend the ingredients before I pour it into my fabric softener dispenser. I change the scent when I have to make up more. Right now, I have patchouli and lavendar scented fabric softener.

I have been making most of my own cleaning products for a few years now and it really is cheaper. It is also better for the health of my family and the health of the environment. the book I recommend getting for cleaning recipes is "Clean House Clean Planet". (or maybe it is Clean Home, Clean Planet....you'll be able to find it) That was one book purchase that was worth it!!

Change......exciting or full of fear?

2008-02-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

CHANGE.....I'm not talking about the kind you find under the sofa cushions.

Change is a part of life and life is made up of a series of changes. Actually, our very bodies change moment by moment so you'd think we should be "at-home" with change.

I use to struggle with change a lot. That would be an understatement.....it would freak me out and send me into a tensioned "what-if?" existence full of fear of the unknown.

Change has changed for me. I do attribute it to my relationship with Jesus Christ. Because He is my Rock, I do not fear change that is in His will. Yes, my initial reaction (flesh) is to lean towards "what if"....but then the peace takes over. Change becomes more of a exciting anticipation of change than a fearful event of future, scary/bad unknowns. Even if things don't look reasonable at any time during the process of change, if I am in His will, I know greater blessings will be waiting for me. I am willing to follow along in total faith.

Does this mean I am a brainless idiot? No, I know the difference between God's leading and me "checking my brain" at the door and just acting like an idiot. I also know that my own intelligence can not solve and order my life's path into the best that is available for me. Sure I can muscle through and run things in my own independence. However, I have learned that I am not the best person to be captain of my own ship. (that is God's job)

I have been expecting and anticipating great change. I have felt it coming for the past several months. I have no idea how it is going to manifest but I am starting to see the very tip of it all.....and I'm glad I can only see that much at a time. I'm glad that I am being taught more about walking in faith. Seeing by faith. Reasoning by faith. (which to me means not reasoning and relying on my own knowledge/sight)

Life can be difficult. For example, this past week I have had a week that if I were to type out what has transpired in my family, it would seem unreal. If this past week had happened a number of years ago when I was being led by "religion" and "rules" and trying to earn my way into God's grace through church "obligations", I would have fallen into what a life like that usually brings: Victim Mentality and self talk like "I'm just Enduring to the End". Other nonsense such as that which totally insults what Christ did for me on the cross. How thankful I am that I truly understand and live in a relationship with God rather than a relationship with a religion/church/group. The difference is grace...pure and simple. Again, we human beings get in there with our arrogance and adding on rules and regulations and muck it all up which leads people into false sects of Christianity and into works...works...works. I know that because I use to be one of those people. Back then, I would have fallen into my own human reasoning to deal with my past weeks events. Thank God I am free from that!!! This past week was unbelievable, but with my daily walk and very personal relationship with God, I walked by faith. I was able to praise Him and know that all things do indeed work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That is reality for me.

This all comes back to change. Is change something I fear? Not anymore!!! I know that I am living and walking daily in God's will for my life. Change is exciting. The feeling of change coming on for me personally is like the anticipation and expectation I have when in a roller coaster that is going up, up, up.....getting ready to hit that big exhilarating drop where I throw both arms up in the air and enjoy the ride! In my life and the way I walk in relationship with God through love and grace, the safety bar is Jesus Christ Himself holding me in for the duration of the ride. That is how I let go, throw my arms up, smile, and say WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Tattoos......so far!

2008-02-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is the first big tattoo I had done. It is on my right shoulder/arm. You can't see all of it in the photo since it wraps around a bit, however you can see most of it. This piece has has two artists work in it. (the lotus flower was my first tattoo and the rest of the design was done by a second artist named Sigrun Hornberger) So, this piece is often called a "add on" since a second artist added onto what someone else started. The small lotus flower was done when I turned 35 yrs old and I had it on my arm all by itself until late summer 2007 when I had the artist who is mentoring/apprenticing my son Zakk add onto it. I wanted an earthy design keeping with the oriental feel started with the lotus flower. You can not see the detail of the butterfly but it is just out of it's coccoon. That symbolizes my own new creation after I came to believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. The lotus flower was done in the traditional colors representing motherhood/mothering. The flowers are cherry blossoms which are one of my very favorite and the leaves bring in the earthy feel. The colors used are traditional for the oriential feel/theme of the piece. The tattoo is a 1/4 sleeve. I love it and it is what you'd call a custom piece.

This is the second tattoo I had done. It is on my left shoulder/arm and was completed in January 2008. It is almost a 1/2 sleeve. (lets call it a 1/3 sleeve *lol*) You can't see 100% of the tattoo in this picture since it wraps around my arm more than is shown. The banner is my own handwriting and says "Only God May Judge Me" and this is a reminder to myself not to judge myself for my past and also a reminder to me to make darned sure I'm not judging others around me because it is not my place to do that. (it is God's alone) It is really cool to look down and see my own handwriting on my skin! The Chalice with the living water flowing out of it (and the flames) are symbolic of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and it is a vision that God gave me shortly after that experience in my own life. It is a brilliant, custom designed tattoo and was also done by the gal who is mentoring my son Zakk. It carries a huge amount of personal symbolism and is also very significant to me on a spiritual level. Sigrun Hornberger is the name of the artist and she is a great artist and I'm so glad she is the one who has taught my son the craft of tattooing. Her example and mentoring teamed up with Zakks amazing natural talent is providing the foundation for Zakk to be one of the best in the field. The work he is already producing is excellent and far beyond what a beginning artist usually does when just beginning the art of tattooing.

From this point forward, any work done on me will be done by Zakk. (my son) I have plans for my back but it will be done slowly. I'm taking a break from any major ink right now since it is kind of a pain keeping up on the aftercare and not being able to go swimming for 8 weeks afterwards and how painful the larger pieces are. (the red ink especially is nasty and heals slowly and I have a lot of that in my second tattoo) I have some really fun ideas and some very spiritual ideas that will eventually be inked on my skin. I think tattoos are beautiful. (well....some are spooky, but I like what I have!!) When they are done by a real artist, they are truly a living work of art and I feel that mine are true art.

10 Things I'm Thankful for Today

2008-02-15T15:18:00.001-08:00

I'm thankful for so much, but I'm going to look at just today and list 10 things:

1. A great devotional and prayer time this morning
2. The day off work to finish up my sewing
3. The sun shining to break up the very cold spell
4. My husband and children being home early today
5. A good workout on the treadmill due to having legs that work and money in the budget for the gym membership.
6. Herbal medication on hand for my cold
7. A warm bed to sleep in tonight in safety (thinking about those who don't have either warmth or safety)
8. Working washer and dryer
9. Time to sit this afternoon with a cup of herbal tea and a magazine
10. That I am alive to see this day and anticipation for what tomorrow will bring

At-Home Day

2008-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Today I stayed home for work. I almost always have Fridays off, so today and tomorrow add up to some much needed and enjoyed at-home time. Time for me to get some projects done!

I will always be a at-home mom at heart, even though I do enjoy teaching.

My two day plan, beyond my "normal" daily home keeping duties will include some special projects:

1. Make up some natural sugar scrub for my own use since I am out and it will be a week before I get more from the local gal who makes amazing products!

2. Get the canvas shopping bags sewed up. I have some fabric that I found in a storage bin and I am going to use that to make shopping bags so we are not using plastic beyond what we can recycle here at home as garbage sacks. I thought about buying the cheap .99 bags that Safeway sells, but that would still be impacting our environment more than my making them here out of that found fabric. (it would impact more to buy because it costs to truck them in and to manufacture the bags) In this case, my time is worth the extra effort.

Speaking of shopping bags, there is another easy way to recycle something into something new. Get a old tank top that is going to be thrown out (or get them from Goodwill) and just stitch the bottom shut. You use the shoulder straps as your bags handles. These would not be as durable as the canvas or twill ones I'm making, but they are truly simple!

I'm using a paper sack from the grocery store to make my pattern for the ones I'll be sewing up. If I can find my digital camera, I'll take a photo of the finished bags and post it here. I sure hope I can figure out how to use my serger since I have not sewn anything for months and months. (one of the things I miss from when I use to be at-home all the time and had time for these things)

I'm also planning on taking a day off from the gym today. (since I am feeling a bit yucky...that is why I stayed home today)

The scrub recipe I use is not nearly as nice as what I buy locally, but it works in a pinch if you are desperate! I will post the website for the gal who makes up my stuff as soon as she gets one online. (you just have to try her products! I LOVE them and use four different things she handcrafts) Anyway, here is my cavewoman scrub recipe:

1 C. sugar
1/4 C. raw honey (locally harvested is best)
1/2 C. high grade olive oil

Mix. You can add essential oil if you want, but I don't bother with this recipe since I like the natural smell. It does not blend as well as the stuff you buy from someone who puts more time and effort into their formulas, but it works and does not take but a second to stir up a bit before using.

Ok...off to do what I am saying I'm going to do!

EDDIE

2008-02-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Eddie is....well uniquely Eddie. It has been a challenge raising him with his ADHD, oppositional defiant behaviors, and his Down syndrome....but one thing can be said about life with Eddie. It is never boring! We have managed to get him to the point where he is able to be trusted at night sleeping in his own room without our worrying about him burning down the house, hurting himself, or others. (or the animals) That was such a huge accomplishment for him and a relief for the rest of us!

He is a teenager and has all the attitude and hormones that a "typical" teenager has but the twist here is that he is mentally functioning around the age of a "typical" 4/5 year old. What a combination!

He really enjoys going to respite care. He also loves attending any school event. (mostly due to the consession stand!) He enjoys any animated movie. He enjoys family Bible study, even though he has not a clue as to what we are discussing....he just loves to get his picture Bible out and flip through it and then pray at the end. He is still obsessed with the big yellow school bus' he sees around town. (and he loves to ride the bus!)

He is quick to help out if we ask him and even though he requires supervision 24/7, he is fairly easy to manage now that we have him on a "even keel". He is still a very small person.....about the height of your average 9 year old.

His hips are still giving him great trouble due to one leg being significantly shorter than the other. He is finally getting special shoes made for him and we hope this solves that problem. His speech is still very difficult to understand and if you don't know him, it is impossible to understand until you get to know him.

He is a cute kid and while he is onrey as can be, he is also as loving as can be. He loves to tattle on anyone he can tattle on. (even the dogs) He is sassy and is working on not talking back to mom and dad when we tell him something. (the teenager in him)

Eddie keeps life interesting around here! He sure loved the homemade valentine that I gave him this morning and he shows us all how to appreciate all the "little things" in life.

ASIA

2008-02-14T07:59:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day to all!

Updating on Asia. My goodness, where to start! Asia is so beautifully complex that only those of us who know her will understand what I mean by that.

She is in middle school this year and is becoming so strikingly beautiful that it sometimes takes my breath away. She is also very independent and headstrong. I think as she gets further into the teen years (she is just entering them), she will be the one who causes Aaron and I to go gray. (ha ha, I'm already gray but thank goodness for hair color!!!) She is doing very well with her school and loves to be involved in a sport. She really dreads the "down time" between her various sports.

She still has a great interest in animals and science but she is starting to wonder if maybe working with youth is her calling in life. She loves to come to my (mom's) classroom and volunteer and seems to have a natural ability with children.

She is the one at school who will stand up to injustice and she takes the fallout that comes along with taking a stand. (and does not let it bother her)

She knows what she likes, feels, and wants and even if that may change from moment to moment, she moves full-steam ahead with determination. She and her sister clash often because they are both so dynamic and strong in different ways. (and know how to get at each other)

I suppose that is about it. Asia is pretty easygoing and she is the apple of her grandfathers eye. We think she is pretty cool too!!!

SEREAH

2008-02-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Short update today. My husband and I were finally able to watch our oldest daughter in action debating. It is her first year on the debate team as a freshman and we have been hearing wonderful things about her skills at it. All of you who have known her since she was a baby know that she has been debating circles around the adults in her life since preschool. (and we are not stupid people!)

She was amazing. I was really awestruck listening to her. She is really going to take this somewhere. It will be interesting to see if her debate experiences over the next 4 years will influence her adult professional choices for her career.

She looks so tiny to her opponents with her 4'11" height and I think they assume that she will be a easy person to beat. Then she opens her mouth.....WOW! I'm really proud of her and it is a blessing to see another child doing something that is utilizing their natural God given gift.

She'll get home late tonight and I look forward to hearing about the other debates that she had. (she had 3 total but we only saw 1)

Aaaah.....to have a mind like hers..............

ZAKK

2008-02-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

I am going to try to share what Zakk has been up to. This is the super-condensed version because I am making lunch, doing laundry, trying to get ready to go to a speech meet out of town, and make it home in time to get a good cardio and weight lifting session in at the gym tonight.

Anyway, Zakk will be 18 in just a couple weeks. He is nearly done with his vocational training, which is an apprenticeship at a really great tattoo shop. (I'll post a link to the shop in my links section) It has been a really in-depth experience and he really was very fortunate to find an apprenticeship at this time in his life and at a very high quality, reputable shop. Zakk tattooed himself and it looks amazing. (he has one more sitting to do on it to finish it up)

He really is an amazing artist and he has what it takes to be one of the best there is in the world of tattooing. He was inspired by his Uncle Brad, who is a exceptional artist. (up at Black Hills Tattoo for anyone near Rapid City who wants something done!)

I learned some lessons from Zakk regarding his dreams and my dreams for him. I had a hang-up about him having to go to college and get at least a Bachelors degree. That was my idea of what he should do....my dream for him. Totally unfair. He was going to do this, but it would have been to please me, not follow his own calling in life. He did speak to me months ago about this and explained that he is not interested in college. I learned....and apologized....and supported his vision for his own dreams for his own life. Actually, I see how arrogant and out-of-line I was to try to impose what I thought he should do. Working at something you love is the most important thing. (I later found out that good tattoo artists make a excellent salary, so that was good to know!! However it all comes down to living well below your means)

He will be going 1/2 days next year for his senior year so he can tattoo also. I am proud of him and it is a blessing to see him moving into what is his calling and his gift for his life.

He also has a very serious girlfriend. They have everything planned out together and I hope things work for them. First love is something-powerful........

Beginning of many updates.

2008-02-08T07:52:00.001-08:00

My last post was in October 2007! Yikes!! Sorry to my friends and family who read this blog.

Many wonderful things have been happening in our family. It will take more than one post to touch on the "new news".

Today, I will share my own thoughts and what has been happening with me individually.

I have started to serve in a local Ministry and for those who know how much I really really dislike speaking in front of groups of people or having any attention brought to me, will agree that it is only through God's power working in me that I am able to do what I'm doing. It is a small step, but I know I am following what God is leading me to do and I know He is using this beginning experience to prepare me for other plans later in life.

I am leading at the Christian Storehouse one day a week and it has been such a blessing to me and a challenge too. I lead a devotional and speak a little and offer an invitation to come to Jesus Christ. Then I take prayer requests and pray over those who assemble there. I also do other tasks involving keeping things running smoothly and leading a group of volunteers. The Christian Storehouse is a Ministry that reaches out to the poorest of the poor in the Riverton area. We serve the homeless, the addicted, those who are mentally ill etc... I am so grateful to the Lord for placing me there to serve. The first few times I was there, I would come home and just weep and pray for what I saw.

People are hurting. People are lost and we as believers need to break out of our comfortable Christian life where we only associate with those who are like us. Break out of serving God only on Sundays in our comfortable churches. Break out of this "sleep" that has brought so many followers of Christ to become too busy to help "the least of these". We need to remember who Jesus hung around with and served while he walked the earth. I personally need to be reminded and it is easy to do.....just open up the New Testament and read about what Jesus Christ did. Who He ranted and raved against, who He reached out to, what He told his disciples, how He communed with God the Father, and the example that He set for us. That example is still relevant today.

Wake up everyone! And to myself, I say......"Wake up even more Michelle!"

Lets get out there and serve "the least of these" in honor and praise of He who gave everything for us.

Ok...stepping off my soapbox. Don't think for a minute that I think I have things together. I have been one of the worst sinners there is. His grace is HUGE....it was big enough for me. He offers me His grace every single day.....He does the same thing for you.

Removing the exercise log

2007-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Since I stink at keeping the thing up to date, I took my exercise log off of this page. I'm still doing it (exercise) but I'm not doing that part of this page justice. I'm going to replace it with a current booklist instead. (which is something else I like to do)

Friendship

2007-10-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been deeply hurt (maybe even repeatedly) by "friends", then you know the fear that can overcome you regarding forming new friendships. This fear can bring about loneliness. Friendships are important to our lives. I have gone many years without any female friends due to being deeply hurt. The enemy wants to separate and place us in a state of fear and disconnection. This is a trap and if we think we are protecting ourselves by our self-imposed seclusion, we are buying the lies the devil is selling.

I stepped out again (last year) and created a friendship with someone I met at work. Wouldn't you know that she ended up betraying me and trying to take my job? I can look back now and laugh......because it did not defeat me. I am so grateful I had a relationship with the one friend who will never leave...the best friend....Jesus. He was there for me and helped me to get back up and brush off the hurt and keep on reaching out. I was able to see that this was a desperate attempt by the enemy to derail me from the path that I was heading down. A path that the Lord was leading me down. The attempts to derail me were futile because He who is in me is much greater than he who is in the world!

All during that time, I was praying for Godly friendships. I have developed a couple of them since my experience last year. I also still pray for the Lord to place friends in my life that He wants to be there. Also for me to do my part. I do have to do something! I can't just pray for friendships and then hide out in my home or under the deception of being "too busy". Will I get hurt again? Sure will....that is a guarantee. Any friends I make are flesh and blood, however so am I.

I'm about to take another step along the path of cultivating friendships. God has answered a prayer of mine to find a women's Bible study group. I stumbled across a flyer when at the doctors office last week getting my flu shot. I have a phone number to the local branch of Stonecroft Ministries. http://stonecroft.gospelcom.net/ (their online site) I'm going to call and join a group.

My gut level fleshly reaction is to put it off....see that old fear will try to rear up again. However, I know I possess the Peace that passeth ALL UNDERSTANDING. That is peace that is not from the world, but from Christ Himself. I have that peace within me and it will guide me.

Don't let fear hold you back from life. From your destiny. Step out. You will get hurt. However the greater tragedy is to not follow the path that God has laid out for you. If you don't have Jesus in your life, invite Him in. Don't know how? Ask a Christian friend or pastor. Ask me. Reach out.....we all have to do our part. No excuses. No fear.

a bit under the weather

2007-10-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm glad today is Friday and I have it off from work. I've been fighting some kind of stomach bug...not bad enough to put me in bed, but enough to limit my activities to my job and chores around the house.

Hopefully it will fully pass by soon. I don't like not being able to work-out. However, I know not to push myself too much or else I will end up in bed sick.

Short entry. However, there is always something to be grateful for and I feel blessed today. Very much so.

Today is another day and a blessing

2007-10-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

This morning was a learning experience for me on a personal/spiritual level. There are times when God will speak to me through His word...oftentimes taking scriptures that may not mean anything to anyone else when put together, but mearn exactly what I needed to hear or learn at that point in time. God disciplines, but gently......I wish I was such a great parent and teacher to my own children. He showed me some verses. I'm going to list them but they may not mean anything to anyone else. The first that I was shown was Luke 13:1-9. The next was Eph. 4:29-32. I read them in my Amplified version first, since this is what I am currently using as my primary Bible. Then I got out my NLT and Message and read them. This took me into a wonderful time of learning, communion, and gentle rebuke.....all through prayer and re-reading of these verses. As I tend to do when needed, I summarized and claimed some of the verses in my own words and have printed them out on 3 x 5 index cards for me to place in strategic places around the house and also one to carry with me so I can re-read and claim these words until I feel that I have been transformed. (or you may say changed, or moved to a new level) I usually speak these outloud if at all possible. Anyway here is what I wrote on those index cards:

"I declare I will guard the way I talk. I declare I will not let foul or dirty words come out of my mouth. I declare I will speak only in a way that helps others. I declare each word from my mouth will be a gift. I declare that I have made a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. I declare that I am gentle and sensitive with others. I forgive quickly and completly--following the example of the Lord Jesus' forgiveness of me"

Don't get me wrong, I don't speak like drunken sailor. However, God showed me that the area of speech (and preceeding that, my thoughts) are in need of transforming and I have gone long enough clinging to my old habits. I have faith that just like I have been delivered from worry...that I will indeed be delivered again. It always works best when I let God guide me though the teachings of His Holy Spirit. Transformation is much easier when it is accroding to His plan and His timetable.

Tonight will be my day off from running since my husband and I are going to enjoy a date together. We are going to go to a movie. I will record my walking. I'm sure my daughter Asia will be happy to have a day off. She gripes about heading out on our runs but five minutes into the run, she is off like the wind leaving her old mama way behind. I love to see that because I want her (and all our children) to be better than me in everything!

Have a blessed day.

The Bible and other thoughts

2007-10-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

I tend to write down various quotes in my Bible....quotes that tend to catch my attention.

Here is one:

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold on me."-------Martin Luther

I am a early riser. I like to get up around 4:20 a.m. each weekday and on weekends I'll sleep in until 5-ish. My morning time is key to my daily life. I get one cup of coffee with vanilla sugar-free creamer and I grab my guidebook for life......aka my Bible. I do tend to study one version for a while and then switch to another one. I find that I learn so much more when I study the Word in the various translations. Currently, I'm using the Amplified Bible. (the one put out by Joyce Meyer) I usually get in a little over a hour of Bible study and prayer. It is my "fuel" for the day. I don't know what I'd do without this very precious time. I like to give God the firstfruits of my day because he is first in my life. Right now I'm in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament reading about Moses as he received the ten commandments. I also read in the New Testament and I'm currently in the book of Luke, just finished up chapter 12. I like to read a chapter in each and then I have three devotionals that I also look up the recommend verses and then read the commentary. (the Devotionals are "Daily Bread" which was the first I started to read a few years ago, In Touch Magazines devotional which is from Dr. Charles Stanley, and then the newest is Turning Point Magazines devotional which is my least favorite of the three....but I'm giving it a chance)

There are so many great verses in the book of Luke! Chapter 12 has some great teachings by Jesus about not being anxious, worried, fearful, frustrated etc... One I really like is:

"And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]? If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?"
Luke 12:25-26 Amplified

How true and timely those words are to all of our lives! I don't know if I'm the only one who has struggled in the past (and still do to a lesser extent) with worry and overthinking things. When I fall into that old pattern (of which I have been greatly delivered) I realize that I am of little faith! How can I be resting in the promises of my Lord and Savior when I am worrying about this, that, and the other? I can't. He has given me His peace and that peace passes all human understanding....that peace has been given to me. It is mine to claim! How blessed I am.

Work today was fun. I love my job. I do think I'm coming down with a cold....it is that time of the year and it seems that I tend to catch a few of the colds that my students bring to school. I realize how fortunate I am to laugh as much as I do at my job! I heard recently that the average adult laughs only 4-8 times a day!! The average child laughs 150 times a day! Becuase of my great fortune of teaching young children, I think I'm closer to the number of laughs of a child than to my adult friends.

Well, I need to go run errands before going to meet the school bus. I am hoping to get in a run today when I get back from the bus. It may be a short one due to how I'm feeling, but that is better than nothing. Hopefully I'll have time to record the mileage. So far today, I've walked nearly 2 miles just with my daily work.

Be Blessed!

A house full of teens and nearly-teens is insane!

2007-10-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well, today is Sunday and it was one of those emotional-roller-coaster-teenage-filled days. I'm the mom to three teenagers which will move to four teenagers in March 2008. Oftentimes I wonder if I am cut out to parent even one child....let alone five of them!

I'm glad the weekend is nearly over and I will head off to work tomorrow and they will head off to school. YES!

The weather was so beautiful today. The leaves are brilliant in their fall color and it was fairly warm today when I went outside to exercise. I'm so grateful to live in a region where I get to enjoy all four beautiful seasons that God has created.

Speaking of work, I'm sure glad that I stayed at the part-time level in my teaching contract again this year. It is the best of both worlds. I have time home each day to manage our family needs, my own needs, and I also get to teach early education in a small public school.

My oldest is apprenticing as a tattoo artist and he will start working officially the first of March 2008...by "officially" I mean as a paid independent tattoo artist. He will be renting space in an established shop right here where we live. He is still in high school, so he is juggling working in his chosen career with adults and being in school all day with other high school students. The apprenticeship just fell into his lap and it was a opportunity we could not pass by. I believe God really blessed my son with this opportunity. Tattoo artistry is what he wanted to do but we never imagined he'd be chosen as an apprentice while still in school. (he will be 18 in February) The competition for the apprenticeship was tough with this being the only "higher end" shop in the area. (which in Wyoming....means quite a ways) I'm proud of him but also feel bad for him with how he can't find much in common with the other high school kids now that he is working in the adult world. He also works part-time at the local theater which is something he does not want to give up so he will continue to do this part-time after he is taking on clients at the shop. He loves working at the theater and has good friends working there also. It is good to see him find ways to use his God given gifts and talents. However, once he is too old for us to carry him on our health insurance he will have to figure out how to pay for his own policy or find work that carries health insurance....a problem many in our country deal with daily.

I'll talk about that at another time. Our health costs each month eat up almost all of my salary....which is really very high and is probably something most folks can't even imagine. So I have a lot of opinions on health care costs and what I feel our country should be doing about it. A suppose a person tends to get strong feelings about topics that touch their lives in a radical, strong, and stressful ways on a daily basis.

I suppose that is all I have to say today......I hope to be somewhat regular on my blogging.

Wind River Mama

New Year...

Glad Summer is going to be fading into Autumn

Changes, changes...

Steps toward getting back to "me"...

March 30, 2010

nice day

Three Day Weekend! Yay!

Winter Break is coming to an end...waaaaahhhhhhhh

My one-of-a-kind art creation

Homecoming Pictures

H1N1

...thoughts. Mostly random....

Starting a New Adventure

After over a year of waiting....finally received Sacraments!

Our daughter and her sweetheart

H*a*P*p*Y******B*i*R*t*H*d*A*y******Little Guy!!

Calmer Waters (Aaron,Michelle, Eli are in the front raft...Asia, Sereah in the rear raft)

White Water Rafting (Asia and Sereah's raft)

White Water Rafting. Pics of Asia, Sereah's raft (txt way below in another entry)

White Water Rafting. Pics of the raft Aaron, Elijah, and Michelle were in (you can see where Aaron is going over and saved the raft from flipping)

White Water Rafting Pics the raft Aaron,Michelle, Elijah are in. (see below a ways for the blog talking about this)

Pics from White Water Rafting (The single raft pics are Aaron,Michelle, Elijah's raft. See blog below for txt.)

White Water Rafting on the Wind River

Father's Day

Busy....Busy....isn't this summer break?

I've come to the conclusion that I am not sensitive enough to be raising girls

FINALLY!

Sharing some photos of my wonderful job (more family photos in several more posts below)

More photos

Another entry with photos (there are several...see below)

Another post with pictures (see below for our Easter entry/blog/photos)

Time to update photos from the past couple of months...This blog entry EASTER

Holy Week

Ramblings

Still missing home

A day off! Yippie!

Christmas Eve

School is in session!

July 27th, 2008 was a special day

Annual Balloon Ralley

McDonald's not environmentally friendly

Summer Birthday!

One person employed for next school year!!

Asia

Pictures of Elijah at his Boy Scout Day Camp

Waiting........

Recent pictures

Going Gray

Difficult times

Waiting.....and waiting

Good Friday/ Holy Friday

Easter

Today the temp is in the 50's!!!!! WOW!

Affordable body wash

What an experience! I found "my people".

Democrat Caucus Tomorrow

BYOB

Economic Stimulus Package

Stepping out in Faith

Laundry detergent

Change......exciting or full of fear?

My Tattoos......so far!

10 Things I'm Thankful for Today

At-Home Day

EDDIE

ASIA

SEREAH

ZAKK

Beginning of many updates.

Removing the exercise log

Friendship

a bit under the weather

Today is another day and a blessing

The Bible and other thoughts

A house full of teens and nearly-teens is insane!

HaPpY******BiRtHdA*y******Little Guy!!