I don't think I have blogged all summer.  Been busy with my part time grocery store job which debt forced me to take.  I hate being away from all of my children, but especially my youngest.  Tomorrow we go to my nephew's birthday party and a family reunion on august 2nd.  We are tentatively starting school on August 4th.  But my dad is in bad shape in the hospital now, so that date may get pushed back.  "Life comes at you fast"!

I am currently reading Middlemarch.  It reminds me of Wives and Daughters, which I read a few years ago and loved.  "So many books, so little time"!!!!!!

Melanie

  Yesterday was my oldest baby's 18th birthday!!!  We had cake and lunch and a good time. 

My 15 yo son, Matthew, is currently working at his volunteer job at the local nature park as a junior counselor.  I will be doing more training this week for my grocery store job.  This summer is just whizzing by with all the activity.  We are also all trying to get in a lot of reading.  My 7 yo daughter fell asleep last night  reading "Busy Times"--that's my girl!!!  I am reading books on homeschool encouragement along with good literature.  Rachel, my 9 yo, is working on writing her second adventure story of the summer.  She is insprired by the Indiana Jones craze. 

God is good, as always, and is providing for our needs even when it looks like we might not make it to the next paycheck.

Have a great week!

Melanie

  We have been reading, reading, reading!  Our public library started its annual reading program for children and adults, so even my son, who hates to read, is getting in on the reading action. 

  The children have also been diligently working on their chores and I have been pretty much keeping up with mine so things have been going more smoothly and the atmosphere is more relaxing here. 

  But next week, I start job training and I am hoping now that the children know what their chores are, things will go almost as smoothly. 

  If any of you have used Beautiful Feet for Early American History, I have a question for you.  Did you find the book America's Providential History to be an absolute necessity, or could you do the curriculum just as well without it?

  Have a good weekend!

Melanie

  Am I a little confused about what season it is here?  No, I just had an extra can of pumpkin left over from last autumn that I have been itching to use, so I finally put it to good use this afternoon.  It was a good day to bake because it has been pouring down rain most of the day. 

  Yesterday's weather was vastly different.  Mr. Sun was shining on us strongly here and the girls and I went over to the neighbors so they could play in the sprinkler with their friend and I could sun and talk with their mom.  I wore a bathing suit (very, very, rare for me!) which I would not do if the yards in our neighborhood were not as private.  The sun felt really good and my shoulders got a little red.  It was a fun change from the routine!

  Now the girls are making dough from a recipe for Christmas tree decorations (maybe are confused about the seasons), another indoor activity.  I am curious to see what they will make out of it. 

Gotta go drive my youngest to the dentist!

Melanie

  I see that a few other blogs are posting memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, so I thought I would put in my two cents worth.  I was introduced to the "Little House" series by my maternal grandmother, Cledith (Bowling) Fee.  I was about eight years old at the time and our family was getting ready to leave our house in northwest Indiana for a trip to Grandma Fee's house in southeastern Kentucky.  A few days before we left, I talked to my grandmother on the phone and she let me know that she had purchased a book for me from my uncle's school book club called "Little House in the Big Woods".  I thought the book must have been about some animated house in the middle of a forest.  Little did I know that the book my grandmother had waiting for me would start a long love affair between me and the Little House series.  I probably devoured the book in a few days while visiting Kentucky and thought there was all there was to that.  Back home in Indiana, while at a bookstore, I realized there were MORE books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder about her life.  I was on cloud nine!!!  Whenever I was allowed to purchase something on a family shopping trip, or asked for a gift, it was the next "Little House" book.  My adventure with Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of the many ways my Grandma Fee enriched my life while on the earth, and her memory continues to enrich my life each day.  Thank you, Grandma.

Melanie

  I will be getting down to business this week making chore cards for the children, revolving menus, and reviewing library books so I can decide whether or not I want to purchase copies for homeschool.  Along with the usual laundry and such.

  I want to make this week really count as far as productivity and time with the children because next week I start my cashier training and will be away from them for a total of 24 hours.  But really, I should have that mindset whether something like that is coming up or not (redeeming the time), shouldn't I?

  It really hit me this weekend that my oldest baby is joining the National Guard when he brought home a packback they gave him with "One American Soldier" embroidered on it.  I fingered that embroidery and got misty.  I just gave birth to him yesterday, didn't I?

  Well, time to get busy!

Melanie

I have to share something funny with you.  Our 6-month-old beagle/mutt mix, Jackson, was standing in the middle of the living room and began to bark as if a stranger were at the door.  I turned to look at him, but noticed he wasn't facing the front door, but the cardboard stand-up of Ernest P. Worrell (the "Hey Vern, Knowhatimean" guy) next to our computer desk.  Jackson continued barking at Ernest for several minutes, much to the delight and amusement of my daughter, son, and myself.  I guess he was being a good watchdog!!  Funny thing is, the stand-up as been in that spot even longer than we have had Jackson, but it is was like he just noticed it.  I was about a foot away from Ernest at the time, so maybe Jackson was protecting me.

Melanie

Here we are at Saturday.  The children and I are at the library to do computer fun and check out books.  Ran to the post office next door to here for my hubby who is at work.  I will be going home to some laundry and kitchen scrubbing; I really noticed how messy it was this morning in the sunlight. 

My oldest son just popped into the library!!!  He is going to stay with us until tomorrow after church!!!  What a surprise! 

I am really inspired to get chore organizing and assignment sheets done; I just haven't done it yet.  (active mind, lazy body).

Melanie

  I'm behind today!  Slept in and so far only have one load of laundry done and am just sticking a frozen pizza in the oven for lunch.  Ran a few errands for hubby and so far that is about as productive as I've been today.  Our homeschool area looks a lot neater than it did yesterday and it inspires me to get it all cleaned today and get those assignment sheets started. 

I got my teacher's manual for our family bible day in june, and it really has some neat ideas in it.  Our theme is Walking in Sonlight. 

Well, I had better go and get some things done; it won't happen with me sitting in front of the computer!

Melanie

  The 25-cent crockpot works!  I was putting pieces of chicken in my "old" crockpot for tonight's dinner, and decided to plug in the 25 center along beside it, filled with water, to see if it would heat up the water, and it did. Yeah!

Almost all the laundry in the house is done, except for a lot of the girls' dirty clothes.  Where did they get all these clothes?  I guess it is a spill-over from when I bought them too much and most of it still fits them.  Can't complain about that. 

I put a dent in our homeschool paraphanalia(spelling?), and am working toward getting all of it neatened up with possibly an assingment sheet for each child written up for the first week of the 2008-2009 school year.  I'm feeling ambitious.  That way, I won't be in a rush when August rolls around. 

I am also hoping to have schedules written up so that everything can run relatively smoothly when I start my job at the grocery store. 

Melanie

  You are reading the blog of one of Marsh Supermarket's newest employees.  I went today for a second interview and got hired as a cashier.  Orientation is May 31st and the store supposedly will open around July 1st, so I have a little bit of time as an unemployed woman.  I didn't want to work outside of the home, but we are really strapped for funds with all the debt, medical bills, high foood and gas prices, etc.  I am looking at it as another way to be a help meet for my husband.  And hopefully get a discount on groceries. 

  I really have to knuckle down and get those schedules done now that I will be out of the home part time!  Today will also be a day of catching up on laundry.

  I think I sold about $20.00 of items in the used homeschool curriculum sale yesterday and didn't spend over $15, so I made $5 and acquired some things we need for next year.  I would love to homeschool my children until college, hope it continues to be a possibility for us. 

  Haven't tried the new crockpot yet; I'm thinking of trying to heat water up in it first to make sure it works.  It would be awful to expect dinner in the evening only to find spoiled food at room temperature.

  I'm off now to see what some of you have written!

Melanie

  I found a crockpot at a yard sale today for 25 cents!!!!  It is kinda rusty on the outside and looks like it stayed outside where someone's dog slept, but it cleaned up well, and if nothing else, I can use the lid from it for the crockpot I already have.  What a bargain!!!  I have a second crockpot now!!  Acquiring a second one is one of the things I wanted to accomplish this spring/summer, so I can cross that off my list. 

  I have also checked out a few books from the library on cooking and freezing, something I want to get good at.  Does anyone have any good cooking and freezing recipes they would like to share? 

  The other things I need to get done this weekend are getting ready for participating in a used homeschool curriculum sale, and "cleaning up"  our homeschool paraphinalia.  Monday the 19th is our last day.  I also intend to make a "Managers of their Homes" type of schedule, but whether or not I stick to it is another story.  In other words, I am dreaming of being a lady who has it all together.  I am a very undisciplined person when it comes to getting things done and scheduling, so I need to start somewhere. 

  I want to put in a kudos here for my husband who is working long hours, doing his best to please me, and being very generous.  He rocks!!

Melanie

  I am blessed with a seven-year-old daughter who brings me much joy.  I relish watching her innocent little girl world of planting a solitary seed out in the yard to watch it grow into a weed, illustrating her own books and narrating the story to her daddy and me, turning inanimate objects (such as a jar of mustard) into a "baby", and tasting the rootbeer on her puckered-up lips when I ask her for a kiss. 

I have so much to thank God for!!!  We never want for food, clothes, shelter, gas in the vehicles, etc.  When we want to learn something for homeschool or Bible class, there is always the library or the internet.  And the weather is beautiful this time of year, so we can go outside and bask in the sun!

Have a Happy Mother's Day!

Melanie

Today after Bible class and worship, some of us went to the nearby park for hotdogs and fellowship.  A good time was had by all!   My husband even showed up, which was encouraging.  This has been a good weekend and I have my Heavenly Father to thank for it. 

Melanie

  Time to start getting back to things I really enjoy again; and I have really enjoyed blogging here in the past, so here I am again.  I am thrilled to see that spring has finally decided to arrive and bring with it the promise of summer.  This is extremely short, but I am going to get back to my "homelife":  tuck the kids in bed, get the laundry out of the dryer, etc.  Just wanted to post a positive thought.  Hopefully my future blogs will be more involved!!!

Have a good night!

Melanie

I'm back (for today anyway) to making entries in my blog after neglecting it for quite a while.  I am feeling much better emotionally with the help of natural supplements and encouragement from friends and warmer weather.  Hello April!!!

We took a break from homeschool this week and I have been doing some decluttering.  It feels really good to get rid of physical baggage that doesn't do a thing for our family but make us a slave to our possesions.  I plan on doing a lot more decluttering this spring and summer, I'm addicted!

I have also been doing some personal Bible study with the guidance of someone of my same faith who has done a lot of studying for themselves. 

All of the above have contributed to my digging out of my feeling of despair.  Thanks be to God; I asked and He was faithful!!!

Talk to you later!

Melanie

  It has been so long since I have blogged that I hope I haven't forgotten how!!!!  I have been going through the post-holiday--winter duldrums--perimenopause--blues and just now feeling like doing anything but the bare necessities.  Thank you to those of you who checked in on me in my "absence". 

  I have never so looked forward to Spring as I am this year!!!!   I know there will be much for me to do and I think I am finally going to feel like doing it after this winter depression I am crawling out of.  Sounds like I need one of those SAD lights, doesn't it?  My heavenly Father, understanding friends, and good natural supplements have gotten this!!!! 

  Hope everyone is prospering in all realms and drawing closer to God!!!

Melanie

  Last night I suffered from severe PMS, it gets worse every few months or so, so I must be getting closer to menopause (in my 40's).  I'm trying to look at the transition as a positive part of my life, but when the PMS hits, everything goes negative.  My hubby agreed to me taking a long bubble bath while he helped the kids assemble their tacos, and that really helped relax me.  I then ate my taco and got the kids ready for bed while hubby retired early. 

  I am looking for the postive woman I once was; this has been the worst winter of my life! Hormonal changes, a cancer scare, financial difficulties, weather that keeps me stuck in the house!  But let me tell you, God has always been there waiting for me to call on Him and proving his love for me.  I know there is a verse somewhere that says "Joy cometh in the morning"; I need to make it my job to look that verse up today and meditate on it. 

  Hubby went back to work today after a bout with pneumonia.  The doctor really wanted him to wait until Monday, but his boss was really concerned about Saturday (today), so Shane went in.  I don't think the children or I will catch it.  He is a smoker with an exisiting lung condition, so I think he was much more susceptible to it than we will be. 

Have a great weekend!

Melanie

  I usually don't go this long without blogging; just haven't been in the mood.  We're pretty sure hubby has the flu.  He says he has never felt this bad and he never shows pain, so he must really feel bad!  I am loading myself up on vitamins and immune boosters in hopes that I don't catch it from him. 

The weekend went well; the girls and I were able to stock up on groceries.  Bible class and worship was great.  Sunday night was a really uplifting all-singing service. 

Don't know if I will try to tackle anything today.  Homeschool and chores for the kids have been going well.  I am trying to get all of the girls' laundry done today.  Intend to take photos to post things for sale on ebay.  It is amazing what you can find that other people will pay money for when you just clean out a few drawers or baskets.  Hubby will be missing at least a day's work at one particular job that doesn't involve sick days, so we really need the extra coming in that ebay can bring. 

I'm still exercising!  Did it today and yesterday!  I believe it is actually helping my mood!  My sam-e supplements came in the mail yesterday, so I will be giving those a try soon. 

Well, I must be going.  Much to do.

melanie

  Today, in honor of frugality, I will be looking around the house for "victims" to post on ebay to sell in order to help bring in some income.  Reminds me of what Dave Ramsey says: "Sell so many things the kids will be afraid they will be next."  Tomorrow will be our big spending while trying to be frugal day.  We will hit Aldi, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.  My hubby and I decided to return the crock pot his mom got us to Wal-Mart to use for groceries or maybe a much-needed lamp.  She got it for us in October and we haven't taken it out of the box, so that tells us we don't really need it and it would do us more good being exchanged for money we could buy necessities with.  I asked him "What do we tell her when she visits us again?" and he said, "What if she doesn't visit?"  I guess if she ever asks on the phone, we could say the crock pot has served us well. 

Well, I had best be ending this and start looking for my ebay victims, homeschooling, laundering, etc.  Have a great weekend!

melanie