This morning I am feeling such a sense of pleasure. My children are still nestled in their beds. The house is quite. David is off at work. Standardized testing was completed on Wednesday. I even got to the post office yesterday to mail back our answer sheets. I started putting away books that I have finished with and rearranging the curriculum cupboard in the basement. All I have to finish doing is grading some math papers, and all of my record keeping will be complete as well. Then all I will have to do is write my reports that are required by the state.

We are all ready to be done. The children are excited about the change in their daily routine. I am excited about being able to get outside early and not have to wait until school is finished. I think this is why we start school at the beginning of August. We have done so for 2 years, and both years have been very good years for us.

I have a few more details to workout in my planning for next year's curriculum. Most of it has already been purchased. I decided to change Natalie's math curriculm from Rod and Staff to Christian Light Education. She has been working in Rod and Staff since 3rd grade and has just finished 6th grade, but she is just not doing well with the mastery learning approach. Although I am not an advocate of changing programs so late in the game, I believe it will be best for her if we do. So, that is another expense. The Lord will provide for our needs.

Have a great Friday...
Jennie

Well, this hasn't been the best week. 

Tuesday Lance's dad was sent home from one hospital, but was very weak and unable to stand on his own, so Tuesday evening he was taken to another hospital's ER and he was admitted there.  Tests were ordered and it was found that the cancer has moved around and there is another spot on his brain.  

The Dr determined that radiation probably wouldn't be very beneficial for him at this point.  If they focus the radiaiton on the cancer in his brain area (which they think is causing his symptoms...he's not comprehending things), then the cancer on his lungs or liver could start giving him problems (in the time radiation was being done).  The radiation takes a week or two and then another week or two to take affect.  If the radiation wasn't going to be beneficial and it's side-effects HORRIBLE, it was determined that no other radiation or chemo would be done and he would be able to rest more peacefully at home.

We are extremely blessed to have two relatives who work for/with Hospice.  Lance's cousin (and aunt) have been extremely helpful in getting Hospice set up and running in their home.  It was decided Wednesday morning while his dad was in the hospital, and by 3PM Hospice was at their house with paperwork and a bed with oxygen being set up.  His dad was transported by ambulance and arrived home that evening to a bed that was already made and waiting for him.  He seems to be resting peacefully whenever I've seen him.

He wasn't swallowing on Wednesday, but started swallowing again Wednesday night, so he could take his meds and even eat a tiny bit.  (they do have soluble meds)

He seems to recognize people briefly and speaks occasionally.

We've been spending as much time as possible there, Lance took Wed and Thur off but plans to work tomorrow and then take the weekend off to spend there.

Lance's brother and his wife are staying there, day and night, (with his dad and stepmom) and that makes us feel better as we know he's being watched closely and getting the care he needs. 

Prayers are appreciated as this is a very difficult time for the family :(

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Tuesday we went to our tax guy about our tax audit.  We have everything in order, and we should be fine unless the auditor (how do you spell that??) says that Lance's work mileage isn't deductible, then we are in trouble.  It's normal in his profession to deduct mileage, as he's considered a 'self contractor'.  The miles from home to his shop and shop to home are considered his commute, but the miles from his shop to his job site are considered tax deductible.  The tax man said that it depends on the auditor on whether or not they raise a fuss over it.  We just have to wait and see.  Lance has all his log books and they contain the mileage from the shop to each jobsite, so hopefully it will all be fine.

Wednesday we met with H+R Block, as we bought the audit guarantee for the year 2006, so they represent us for free at an audit.  We did NOT buy that guarantee for 2005, so we have to pay them to represent us for that year ($120).  That's not a bad fee and may be worth it I guess.  I honestly feel like I can represent us myself, but everybody keeps telling me that is a bad idea.  I seriously have everything in order so I don't see a problem, but I guess I'll just pay H+R Block to come along too.

I called the auditor on Wednesday to make our audit appt.  She set it for June 4 and seemed quite nice on the phone.  Then I went to HRBlock and they made me reschedule it for a later date.  I did NOT want to do this and the auditor was not impressed.  HRBlock kept saying we need more time...more time for WHAT?  I can't imagine what we need MORE time for, I have everything we could possibly need.  ??  Sigh.

So our big audit appt is NOW set on June 13, the very same day as Lilli's recital.  Double sigh.  Lance and I will drive separately so I can leave early from the audit if possible, because I really should be here to get Lilli dolled up for her recital.  It's just a mom thing and it's pretty technical.  'Hair must be parted on the left side in the center of the eyebrow'.  'Hair must be combed through with gel and placed in a low pony tail'.  'Bobby pins must be used if bangs or flyaways are a problem'.  The make-up instructions are even more in-depth.  I really need to be here to get her ready.  Hopefully the audit will go smoothly and we'll be out of there in an hour or two instead of the normal 4! hours. 

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On the menu...I haven't cooked at all since I posted it.  Huge sigh.  I just haven't been home.  I am hoping to cook beef stroganoff tomorrow though.

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Our critters are all doing well, our little Buckeye the buckling is doing great and I hope to get him out to play with the girls a bit this weekend.

The chicks are all doing great and the bronze turkey poults are really getting big.  The guinea keets are all doing well and they are definitely the more wild ones of the bunch.  Anytime we open the cage they run to and fro.  They are so cute though...and FAST!  LOL

Our new chickens are laying pretty good.  We get 5 or 6 eggs per day now.  We were already getting one or two with just our one little hen we had.  I think the new chickens are either young or stressed from the move.  They don't seem stressed, so I'm thinking young.  Some of them are laying medium white eggs and some are laying large brown ones.  They all lay in the same nest, so I'm not sure which hens are laying which eggs.

I plan to let them out to free-range tomorrow afternoon/evening.  We'll see how it goes and if they go back in the coop to roost.  If they do well, then we'll start letting them out each morning for a day of free-range before locking them in again at night.

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Lilli had her first T-ball practice last night.  It was so much fun to watch.  One little girl hit the ball and ran straight to second base...right over the pitcher's mound!  LOL.  It was not Lilli.  Lilli was worried about that.  She didn't think she'd know which way to run.  :)

Lilli did great and had a wonderful time!  She didn't want to leave when we were all done!  She was so tired though.  Practice goes from 6-7:30 on Wed nights and then again from 1-2 on Saturdays.  Her coach was awesome with the kids and they all seemed to have a great time.

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Today was Lilli's field trip to the zoo.  We had a great time but both of us were pretty tired afterwards.  I had 4 girls to watch over while we walked around, and that's just a lot for the zoo.  Each girl had their own ideas about where to go and what to see and how much time to spend at each exhibit.  One girl wanted to run to everything and one girl couldn't keep up no matter how slow we walked.  LOL.  Leashes.  They should give leashes to the parents attending field trips.  HA!

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Tomorrow we are pretty open.  I need to call and schedule Lauren's VCUG for June (to check her kidney reflux).  Lilli has school and then we'll head over to Lance's Dad's for a visit in the early evening.

Lance is spending Saturday and Sunday at his dad's. 

Lilli has a couple things going on Saturday and we'll visit Lance's dad as much as we can.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, I'll post updates when I can.

Hugs,
Lisa

We purchased some plants from WalMart and are going to try container gardening.  We bought a tomato plant and a bell pepper plant, both which already have yummy things growing.  Also we purchased some seeds which we're starting in small containers which we will later on transfer to larger ones.  Also, we bought two hanging plants (strawberry and tomato) that are more like kits.  Charlie surprised me with an herb collection kit and some basil and lavender.  This will be our first garden of any type in a few years, so I'm pretty excited to see how it all works out.  I'm going to move everything outside tomorrow as the storms should all be history by then.  My aloe plant got a little too wet so I had to bring it in, hopefully it will be okay.

We bought some turkeys from Target tonight, one goes into the freezer and the other into the fridge to thaw.  I want to try Trisha Yearwood's turkey recipe and see how it works for us.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Last night we left the kids here while we made a quick trip to the grocery store.  They were under orders to peel potatoes for mashing.  While we were gone they not only peeled and cut the potatoes (plus put them on to boil) but rearranged the living room!  We were only gone maybe 20 minutes, but they got lots done.  We were so surprised!  I think maybe we'll keep them!  :)

It has been such a blessing having the grand-babies back down here.  They have been with us for a few days because Michelle ended up in the hospital er for very bad head aches and her head swelled.  But Jeffie has been with us most of the time because he doesn't want to leave here.  But they both left today until Saturday night or ??.

Jeffie has a favorite place to sit when he is here.  It is on Bubba's (my hubby, he is called Bubba because he is carring on the family tradition of male grandpa being called Bubba, I named my grandfather Bubba, my girls called my dad Bubba and the torch has been past on to my hubby)  shoulder  Jeffie will crawl up on his shoulder they will talk and watch fishing and hunting shows.

Here is a picture of Bubba and Jeffie hunting deer 2 nights ago:

They look so cute .

Here is my sleepy deer hunter :

Here is Bubba with Maddie:

Here is Bubba with Maddie and Jeffie who is hiding from his mom Michelle so he wont have to leave, it worked she let him stay:

Well that is all for today.

God Bless, mj

Ok this is my second try at posting...my pc is eating my posts today. 

Our spring started of with 2 weeks of nice hot weather and ever since then it's been cool and rainy.  So I'm just now starting to get into the garden.  

I'm working on the shady garden right now.  This is my patch on top of the hill that boarders a pine bush.  I've found it to be a wonderful place to grow cooler crops in the summer heat.  Cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce seem to love it especially and keeps them from bolting.  It has just one problem...It's infested with cleavers!  If you have never seen cleavers they can be a useful herb but NOT in the vegetable garden!  They are very invasive, choking out everything in it's path.  It's leaves are covered in sticky hairs that rip your arms like velcro when you try to weed them out.  So this year I'm trying something new, fabric mulch! 

Yesterday it wasn't raining so I got two rolls put down and planted some of our cabbage, celery and lettuce.  I hope to finish covering the garden with it soon and get some bark mulch on top to.

Cabbage

Celery

Lettuce