I just have to laugh...

Things just keep breaking around here! Have you ever had one of those days/weeks/months?!? Here is a list of things that have happened recently:

~garage door needs new springs (small children, not ours, were riding on it)
~yet another window in my 4 yo home won't open
~vacuum died (hubby fixed it!)
~Stu's car has broken down 3 times
~the doorbell broke (Celeste fixed it!)
~the home pc and my laptop crashed due to viruses (both in the last week)
~the ice dispenser on the 4 year old fridge stopped working

Needless to say, we're all waiting for the other spring to let go on the garage door one day soon. Oh, and we are so disadvantaged now because we have to actually open the door to the freezer and reach in to the ice bucket and pick out our ice. (She says sarcastically...) Stu was funny, he told the kids he used to have to make his own ice in the little cube trays. They really should be thankful. I just have to laugh at all the stuff that's breaking. It is at the point where it's almost comical. Last week, we husband lost his job. The company he was working for closed its doors locally. He is still "doing" real estate, but the market is moving at a snail's pace. So, in light of all of these crazy things, I am thankful for:

~healthy children
~a roof over my head
~yummy food to eat
~Jesus (he's free, too!)

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thess. 5: 16-18

Recipe Blog

Check out my recipe blog. I just added a recipe for Easy Chicken & Rice. We are always looking for simple, low cost meals to feed our big family. If you have one, please leave a comment for me. Variety is the spice of life!

Friday Felicities

Some of my favorite things:

~my laptop computer

~a tall mocha latte from Starbuck's (a special treat now and then...)

~The Homeschool Lounge

~rocking a sweet little Joshua (love the fuzzy hair on my cheek)

~Eden using the potty (several times a day!)

~wisdom gleaned from friends

~the quiet hour after 11 p.m.

~weekends

What are your favorite things? Hosted by Becky.

Some Picture Thoughts

Joshua @ 10 months

Joshua is 10 months old already and I can hardly believe it! This first year has gone way too fast and it grieves my mommy heart to think about it. Of course, I think he is the cutest baby that ever lived, but I have probably said that about all of them! Joshua is slowly cruising furniture and pulling up on everything. I am just enjoying still having a baby in the house. Hug your little ones today--they grow up too quickly!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Favorite Valentine Memory

In 1987 I was living in the sorority house (Sigma Kappa, UF). One of my sisters came upstairs to tell me there was a really cute guy downstairs with flowers for me. I wasn't dating anyone at the time, so I was like, "Wow!" What a sweet surprise it was when I went downstairs and there stood my older brother, Ed! He had a card and some flowers for me (and a big hug!). Then he treated me to lunch. You're the best, Ed!

5 Things About Me

Amanda over at Moving Forward suggested I write 5 things about me. I'll just say that you may not know them. Off we go:

1. I grew up in Sarasota, FL. My senior year I went to the beach almost every day after school. (I got out before 1 p.m.) I love to scuba dive and anything to do with the boats, oceans, fishes, etc. I haven't been diving since 1990.

2. I have been married twice. My two oldest children, now 17 and 14, are from my 1st marriage.

3. I have been a hostess, sales clerk, store manager, teacher (3 years special ed), doctor's assistant, weight loss counselor for Jenny Craig, medical office manager, and a wife, mother, & home schooler. Wife and mom are my favorite "jobs!"

4. I am a major night owl. Typically, I am up until one in the morning. It's my time to get work done, enjoy some quiet, and unwind from each day.

5. Max says he likes the food I make. Cooking is not my favorite thing! Doesn't food taste better when you don't have to make it? I love to eat out! Okay, the real #5 is that I couldn't live without music. Music is such a gift from the Lord! It lifts my spirits and inspires me.

If you want to know a little more you can look at the 100 Things About Me in my sidebar. I'm just not that exciting. I am a Mom Just Like You...

Dinner

Dinner tonight was interesting. You know you live in a large family when... First of all, my hubby was at a meeting and Celeste was at work. That leaves 7 of us. Evidently, it was the crazy 7. Jamie is getting the last drink. He is serving lemonade to Tommy and the pitcher just explodes (somehow) and lemonade goes everywhere. There's sticky on counter tops, cabinets, floor, etc. Jamie tries to "mop" it up with a dishtowel that only spreads it further. By the time he sat down he was flustered. During dinner Tommy, 4, and Eden, 2, are making random noises and humming. At the same time, I am attempting to feed Joshua with my left hand while I eat with my right. He is babbling and screeching in between each bite. The older kids give me this look. I think we live in a "zoo" sometimes. Looking back it was funny. After dinner Jamie goes to get the mop to clean up. It has been sitting on the back porch in the bucket for 10 days. Not using that mop! Hands and knees got it done right, though. Stu came home and told me to get away. Needless to say, a trip to Starbuck's and the grocery store saved me from a lobotomy, lol!

Great Bloggy Give-Away

My friend, Amanda, over at Moving Forward is giving away a $25 in Usborne books AND a set of personalized note cards from The Note House. Go check it out!!!

Monday has been a challenge. It's no wonder I don't care for Mondays! My hubby just took Dan and Max to baseball try-outs. They will be on 2 different teams this year. While baseball has been a fun sport, I'm not looking forward to the differing schedules I'm sure they'll have. Jamie is currently practicing with the track team, too. Celeste is working, a lot, and taking 4 classes at the community college. We almost never see her! Tommy, Eden, and Joshua are tagging along with mommy and just being little--life is good.

Valentine's this week. It's nice to show your friends and family you love them. I am always overwhelmed by holidays such as this. I'm hoping to love on my family that day. Stu and I need some couple time. I'm praying for that to happen this week!

Max turned 8 this week. I will never forget he was 10 pounds, 5 ounces at birth! Maximillian Isaiah is appropriately named. :)
Joshua, this morning, just being cute. (9.5 months old)

I thought I lived in Florida...

You know, I thought I lived in Florida. Today the high is 45 degrees and the low is 16. Yes, you saw that right SIXTEEN! It's downright cold here. No worries, though, because it never lasts long. My 9 year old, Dan, loves to check on the weather. We found a wonderful site that has tons of weather information about every locale. Go to the Weather Underground. Once there you can mark favorites and keep track of the weather all over the country. It's fun!

Yesterday was one of those days I would rather forget. Try nearly 4 hours in doctors' offices and 1.5 hours in transit and 15 minutes home in between... All of this with 5-6 children. No, don't try it because I already have and it's the type of stuff that makes your brain explode. Enough said. Have a super Wednesday! This week it's my favorite day.

Life is Full

I am currently reading aloud Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The boys are really enjoying it! This evening, at the end of the 3rd chapter, they were clamoring for more. But alas, it was already past bedtime. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying reading to them. We have really learned a lot about life in the late 1800's. So tonight I am feeling very blessed to be in my centrally-heated, cozy home instead of the 40 below weather in Almonzo's era with wood-burning stoves. We are trying a new approach to our homeschooling. It's more of a Charlotte Mason approach. I need something I can involve all of the children in; something that accommodates everyone here. Otherwise it can be crazy! In addition, we are using Remember Me Pockets for February from CurrClick. This is a fun and inexpensive "unit" study to do this month. We enjoyed doing some Groundhog Day activities today and learning about Laura Ingalls Wilder. There's more than we can do this month and it was only $4.99!

Also, a fun announcement: My good friend, Chris, had her 8th baby on Friday! She's a girl and so beautiful. Hop on over to Joyful Mother and take a gander. Congratulations to Chris, Donnie, and the whole family!! Jesus has surely blessed you!