In the world, not of it

If God asked you to sacrifice your family to Him, would you do it?

2010-09-24T22:35:00.000-04:00

My cousin John Robert, who is an atheist, posted this on my husband’s Facebook wall: If God asked you to sacrifice your family to Him, would you do it?

Prince Charming was at work, so I had all day to think about this before he ever saw it. He posted his reply; now it's my turn.

But first, I asked my kids what they thought of the question. Space Cadet, predictably, didn’t want to think about it.

Cornbread Muffin said, “Sure, and I’ll start with my distant relatives first. Is now a good time for a visit?”

Czarina rolled her eyes and said, “Daddy wouldn’t do that.”

Fashinista said, “I would run away and hide, and call DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services).”

Now, assuming this question is referring to human sacrifice, it is a red herring for at least 3 reasons.

FIRST REASON: God does not ask us to do something that is in violation to his written Word (the Bible).

Many ancient civilizations practiced some sort of human sacrifice. These civilizations include the Phoenicians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Ethiopians, Canaanites, Chinese, Persians, Arabians, & Romans. God has made it very clear how he feels about human sacrifice, and that He did not want His people to participate in this practice.

Deut 18:9-12 - When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.

Deuteronomy 12:31 - You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Jeremiah 19:5 - They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.

Jeremiah 32:35 - They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

Psalm 106:37-40 - They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.

They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.

Leviticus 20:3 - I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.

2 Kings 16:3 - He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 21:6 - He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

2 Kings17:17 - They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

That’s the first reason. I hope to research and write up the second and third reasons in the near future.

Thoughts, anyone?

If I hadn't moved to Georgia. . .

2010-09-24T10:27:00.001-04:00

I might never have had a Chick Fil A sandwich or some of their amazing lemonade.

I wouldn’t know what Cow Appreciation Day is.

I probably would never have heard someone say, “I might could do that.”

I would have never seen a deer stealing off our peach tree.

I would have never tasted Red Velvet Cake.

I would still believe the Civil War ended in 1865.

I wouldn’t have eaten at the Varsity.

I wouldn’t have had to correct my child’s English when she said, “I’m fixing to. . . “

I wouldn’t have known it was possible to “miss” snow. (Just a little.)

I wouldn’t have known that even when they are fixed right, I still don’t like grits.

I wouldn’t have realized I’m a Yankee.

I wouldn’t have seen “Gone with the Wind” at the top of the CNN tower.

I wouldn’t know that ants can bite.

I wouldn’t live 1 ½ hours from my kindred-spirit cousin Cheryl and have the opportunity to get to know her wonderful family.

I wouldn’t understand possum jokes.

There are a lot of wonderful people I would not have met.

I probably would not be using “Hey!” as a greeting.

I wouldn’t have spent so much time trying to get Georgia clay stains out of my kids’ clothes.

I might never have actually seen Rock City.

I would have missed out on the Stone Mountain Laser Show, and the Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens.

September 11

2010-09-10T13:15:00.000-04:00

Czarina has started a blog as an assignment from her English class at our home school co-op. Reading through her blog and the blogs of her classmates has encouraged me to get back to blogging.

Today my mind is filled with images from September 11, 2001. Tomorrow is the 9^th anniversary of that horrific day. I am wondering how my teenage friends (who were children at the time) and my young adult friends (who were teenagers at the time) remember that day, and the weeks following. My kids were 12, 10 and 6 at the time. I remember Space Cadet and I being glued to the TV, watching the same thing over and over. I would turn off the TV, and a little while later Space Cadet would turn it back on, to see if it was real, or just a bad dream. Corn Bread Muffin handled it the way he has always handled trauma: he talked about it. Fashionista (my new name for Hoodie Girl, since Hoodie Girl doesn’t fit any more) painted water color pictures of tall buildings with smoke billowing out of them.

What do you remember?

Fun with English

2010-04-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

Czarina: Yesterday, I saw two people die.
Me: WHAT?
Hoodie Girl: She means she saw a funeral procession with two hearses.

I took Space Cadet to the doctor's because of an upper respiratory infection. I was telling Prince Charming about the medicines the doctor prescribed, including steroids.
Czarina: I thought steroids are bad.
Me: They are bad if you misuse them, like when athletes take large amounts every day to make themselves stronger. They are okay if you use them the way the doctor tells you to, to help you get better when you are sick.
. . . a little while later. . .
Hoodie Girl: Mom? Czarina said you are giving Space Cadet marijuana?

This is how rumors get started. . .

GRRRRR

2010-01-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

Last year Space Cadet was approved for SSI (disability) and Medicaid. She could have gotten this years ago, but we figured we would just take care of her ourselves. Well, when Prince Charming lost his job last year, we knew we needed help.

When Space Cadet got her Medicaid card, she was assigned a primary care physician. Since our regular family doctor takes Medicaid, we wanted to switch to her as Space Cadet’s PCP.

Earlier this month I talked to someone from APS Healthcare (the place it says to call on the card) and told them about the change.

Today we went to see the doctor. The receptionist told me that they couldn’t see her because there was a different PCP on the card. I told her I had talked to someone about changing that. She checked with Medicaid, and the change was not recorded in the system.

She suggested I call Medicaid from the office there and see if they would make the switch. I called the number on the card (APS) and they told me I should have called Medicaid (a different number, which is NOT on the card) to make the switch. Well, no one told me that when I talked to APS the first time.

SO, I called Medicaid. Of course all of these phone calls contained the obligatory long phone menus, and time spent listening to how important my call is to them. When I finally spoke to a real person at Medicaid, they said the change WAS in the system (they even told me the address), but that it wouldn’t go into affect until February 1. (Why was I not told that before? And what is the reason for the delay?)

The Medicaid lady said I could call the doctor on the card and ask for a referral to our doctor. Now, why would a doctor’s office we’ve never been to make a referral for us?

THEN the Medicaid lady said that if they got some number from our doctor and a diagnosis code, maybe they (Medicaid) could issue a referral. I asked, how can we have a DIAGNOSIS code when she hasn’t even seen the doctor yet?

Then the receptionist tried to talk to the Medicaid lady. The result was that we would have to reschedule for after February 1.

I said, let’s forget Medicaid for today, and just use our insurance, and I’ll pay the co-pay. GUESS WHAT? We aren’t allowed to do that!

So we’re going back on February 2.

Aren’t you looking forward to government-sponsored healthcare?

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T21:56:00.004-05:00

It was 1960. He was 13, and my birth made him an uncle. I've heard he took great pride in being an uncle. When I visited my grandparents, he always wanted to take care of me.

I remember a couple of Christmases at my grandparents, with him there. One Christmas Eve, he went out for awhile, and while he was gone, Santa came to visit. It was too bad he missed Santa. . .

One night when I was five years old, my parents woke me up to say good-bye to him. Uncle Gary was going to the Army the next day.

I know he got to come home at least once during his two-year stint in Vietnam. It was the week before Easter, and I was shocked to see Easter Baskets for my brother and I. I asked my grandmother why the Easter Bunny came early. My grandmother replied that she had colored the eggs, so we could celebrate Easter while Uncle Gary was home. "Grandma!" I said, "You do a better job than the Easter Bunny!"

A couple of months before he was to come home, our phone rang. I remember my parents crying and telling me. . . Uncle Gary was dead. He was 20 years old. I was 7.

I'm sure I'd been told this, but I didn't remember, and so when I heard this from my brother a few days ago, it was news. . . Uncle Gary died saving the life of a friend. He was behind a boulder, his friend was wounded, and Uncle Gary ran out from safety to help his friend. The friend survived; he didn't.

The picture is the last one he sent my grandparents before he was killed. He is slightly older in this picture than my son is now. I look at that smile, and I understand why relatives used to say that my brother looked like his uncle. (My brother named his son after Uncle Gary.)

Thank you, Uncle Gary. I'm sorry you didn't get to marry, have children (who would have been my cousins), have a career, have grandchildren.

Thank you to everyone who has served or is serving in the armed forces, and thank you to the families who wait at home. Our freedom truly is not free. . . it is paid for by all of you heroes.

I feel like babbling on. . .

2009-10-24T09:52:00.003-04:00

BRAIN DUMP:

Prince Charming has been working for CRS (the Canadian company) from home for the past couple of weeks. He planned to drive up to Ontario on Monday, but his transmission died yesterday. Since the car is almost 13 years old and has 136,000 miles on it, it’s not worth it to fix it. So, he will be flying. The room he is renting is 5 blocks from work so he can walk to work, but I know it is going to be COLD at times. He also has to figure out shopping so he can eat, do laundry, etc. Also he’d like to go to church. The closest Nazarene church is in the next town, so he may have to just go to whatever is closest. His cell phone doesn’t work in Canada so he’s going to have to figure that out too. He’ll be back the week before Thanksgiving and hopefully can find a car to buy then.

Our finances are really strained and I am starting to wonder what in the world God is doing, but we are both very grateful the car didn’t die on his way to Ontario!

A local clothing store has a 50% tent sale twice a year. Czarina, Hoodie Girl and I worked there Thursday and Friday for the first time. I am very proud of my girls; they both worked hard and were very helpful to the customers. Czarina could sell a screen door to a person who lives in a submarine. She really should work for commission. They both got commended by one of the bosses before we left yesterday.

Speaking of sales skills. . . Czarina was taking orders for donuts for a choir fund raiser. At church Wednesday night she sold some to the youth pastor. Then she asked his sister in law if she wanted to buy any. Miss Barbara checked her wallet and said she didn’t have any money. Czarina turned to Pastor Steve and asked, “Can you loan Miss Barbara $5.00?” Not only does she sell, she also arranges financing!

WORK ETHIC: The girls were both complaining, after working for 9 hours on Thursday, that some of the teen age boys, who were getting the same pay they were, were just standing around and talking most of Thursday. Well, the bosses noticed who was working and who wasn’t. On Friday, those boys got pulled out of the tent to direct traffic in the parking lot. . . in the rain. As Hoodie Girl said, “That’s a job where if you don’t do it, you get run over!” They both would like to get part time jobs, but first they need to master getting their schoolwork done in a timely manner. Speaking of schoolwork, they have a lot of catching up to do!

After one semester of college when I was 18, I decided I would rather work full time, since I was making almost $3.00 an hour at K-mart (35 cents an hour above minimum wage!) After 3 years my hourly pay had more than doubled, but I realized I did not want to work at Kmart the rest of my life, so at age 21 I went back to school and got a degree in accounting. The past two days reminded me of why I did that. 17 hours and 45 minutes of straightening up clothes and shoes and helping customers left me sore and TIRED.

Space Cadet and Corn Bread Muffin each cooked dinner the past two days. Corn Bread Muffin found a recipe for baked macaroni and cheese online and jazzed it up a bit with turkey bacon bits. It was WONDERFUL!

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME: Hoodie Girl’s science project is how to fix broken and dented ping pong balls. Apparently you can fix them with heat, so she has tried things like putting them in boiling water (worked great) and using a blow drier (not so great, the blow drier overheated). She also used jewelry wire to hang a ping pong ball from the kitchen faucet (it is a very high faucet). Then she tried to use the heat from a lighter to get the ping pong ball hot. She got too close and the ball went up in flames -- about a foot high flame! We have a string hanging over the sink that we use to hang rubber gloves and other things. . . sort of like a mini clothes line. Hoodie Girl quickly got the gloves out of the way and I turned the faucet on. The wire broke, the ball fell into the sink, and the water put it out. No harm done (except to the ping pong ball, but it was already broken.) We both thought of taking a picture, but we thought putting the fire out was more important.

What a difference a day makes.

2009-09-29T10:30:00.002-04:00

It is amazing how fast things can change in just 24 hours.

Sunday, to thank our church for their support during Prince Charming's time of unemployment, PC bought a bunch of ice cream for an ice cream social after church. I thought it might be better to wait until he got his first paycheck, but. . .

Yesterday morning, Prince Charming got an email from the company that had offered him a job. . . they retracted the job offer. That was just a wee bit overwhelming!

He almost immediately was contacted by another company. This would be a job he would really enjoy. . . as a matter of fact, he thinks he would LOVE this job. He had an almost 2 hour phone interview last night, and they are working out a time for an in person interview. It pays about 20% more than he was making at Home Depot, and about 40% more than the job he thought he had.

Sound good?

It's in Canada.

Brrrrrr.

So, we were talking about it this morning, and Hoodie Girl said, "I'll need to get boots! Lots of boots in different colors! Because, I couldn't wear purple boots with a green shirt, I would look like Barney. . ."

I am not getting emotionally involved in this whole thing right now. It is too hard to get jerked around by what might happen verses what actually does happen.

TGIF? I don't know if I can handle more Fridays like this one. . .

2009-09-26T00:30:00.001-04:00

After 8 months of unemployment, Prince Charming was offered a job this week! The good news is it is in the next town (we don't have to move!) doing something he's been wanting to do for years. The not so good news is it is considerably less money than he is used to (although that could change), and he doesn't start until October 19, so it will be more than a month before he gets his first paycheck. Oh, and no benefits. He will be the first American employee in a German company.

Okay, so. . . we are all relieved he finally has a job! But today was a really crazy day!!!

This morning he had Job Seekers (a support group) starting at around 7:00. Then he was going to go over to where his job is going to be, and officially accept the job offer. He also told our pastor that he would help a new family in our church. They have two young boys with autism, and they are here for 6 months to do a program called Brain Balance. The husband travels with his job, so she is alone with the boys, and she needed someone to watch them while she went to an IEP meeting. She didn't know what time the meeting would be, as they told her they would call her in the morning and tell her. Prince Charming told the pastor that as long as it was after 11:00, he and one of our teen daughters would go watch them.

I took Space Cadet to her volunteer job this morning, along with my daughter Czarina, 15, to do school work while Space Cadet worked. Czarina still needs a LOT of help with her schoolwork, and supervision to make sure she is actually working. The only way I can be sure she is making good use of her time is to watch her.

I got home around 11:30 to a phone message from the pastor to Prince Charming. The IEP meeting was at 12:30, quite a bit away, and he needed to know if Prince Charming could watch the boys, which he had already committed to doing. The problem was, he had his CELL PHONE TURNED OFF, and did not know what time he was needed. I left a couple of messages and a text message.

In the meantime, my son, the first semester online college student, told me he'd been locked out of his college account for non-payment of tuition. I had been asking him to please find out how much we owed after his scholarship was applied, as I do not have access to that information, and how I could go about paying it. Well, he kept putting it off, and passed the payment deadline. He has a test he has to take by Monday, I have to proctor it (meaning I have to be in the room while he takes it), and I am gone all day on Mondays. It was Friday, and I knew we had to take care of this before the office closed for the weekend.

So, I am trying to get in touch with Prince Charming, feeling bad for this poor woman with these two autistic boys who DOESN'T KNOW if her babysitter is going to show up, feeling bad for the pastor who is caught in the middle, and can't watch the boys himself because of another obligation, thinking maybe I should do it, but I really HAVE to take care of this tuition thing, and Czarina is behind on her schoolwork (we belong to a co-op and she has deadlines), and I'm frustrated with Prince Charming because he is always committing to things without finding out if he can actually DO them. He wants to help everyone, which is great, except first he needs to see if he is really available.

Prince Charming shows up at 11:50. . . the IEP is for 12:30, and she lives 30 minutes away from us, and I don't know how far from the school. Prince Charming calls the pastor, then calls her to get directions. He tells her he and at least one of his daughters will be there to watch the boys.

Hoodie Girl, 14, is the only daughter who wants to help -- she told him last night she would help. She is trying to accumulate 100 volunteer hours this year for a presidential volunteer award. However, since Hoodie Girl was not told WHEN the babysitting would occur, she was taking a shower. Prince Charming didn't have time to wait for her. Czarina has no interest in watching these two wild young'ins, and has too much schoolwork anyway. Space Cadet? No way, not going to happen. So Prince Charming goes off by himself.

Meanwhile, I have paid Corn Bread Muffin's tuition online, but he still is locked out of his classes. So I call the college and get put into menu option purgatory. The recorded message very slowly and distinctly takes you through 9 number options. Push the number you want and. . . the recorded message very slowly and distinctly takes you through the same 9 number options. I started pushing random numbers, and kept getting the same message. After my 3rd time of calling, I finally got. . . an answering machine! However, eventually we got the problem taken care of, and Corn Bread Muffin can continue his education.

When Hoodie Girl got out of the shower and found out Prince Charming had left her behind, she shook her head and said, "Those boys are going to eat him alive." LOL. Serves him right. . .

A New School Year

2009-08-25T23:18:00.001-04:00

Last night was orientation for the new year of our Home School Co-op. Here’s how it works: We meet on Mondays at a local church. After a half hour assembly together, the kids go to classes. There are 4 blocks of classes. Middle school and high school students have choices for each hour. For example during the science block high school students can take Physical Science, Biology, or Chemistry. Students do not have to take classes every block. There is a study hall for students who aren’t in a class during a specific block. The students get homework to do during the week and turn back in on the following Monday.

Parents teach what they are good at, and let someone else teach what they are not so good at. This year I am teaching History to K-2nd graders, and History and Literature to high school students. I enjoy those classes, but I am absolutely abysmal at science, so I am grateful someone else can teach that subject to my children.

This year, Hoodie Girl is taking Physical Science, English I, History/Literature, and French at the co-op. At home, she will be doing Pre-Algebra and Bible. At the co-op, Czarina is taking History/Literature and Pre-Algebra. At home we will be working on English, English, English and Bible.

Last year I taught Middle School Literature. I expected to teach that again this year, but Hoodie Girl and Czarina asked me to teach high school!

And this is one of the blessings of homeschooling. A few weeks ago, when the public schools started back up, I heard and read from parents who were sad because their child was entering middle school or high school. They were mourning the lack of time they had with their children before the kiddoes grew up and moved out. Well, my girls are starting high school, but I’m going to be right there with them. . . and they WANT me to be.

The kids are great. I loved teaching middle school the last two years. Monday was my favorite day of the week! As I got to know each student, it was easy to pick out who, if in public school, would be the class clown, who would be the boy every girl wanted to date, who would be the girl every boy wanted to date, who would be the jock, who would be the nerd, who would be special ed, etc. (The one thing I couldn’t determine was, who would be the mean girl.) In our class of around 17 students, everyone got along with everyone else. The shy students came out of their shells, knowing they were going to be accepted for who they are. The kids were always attentive and respectful during oral reports, and over the year last year I saw the students, especially the shy students, grow in confidence over the year. As a matter of fact, one young lady who started out the year HATING doing oral reports and would speed through them as fast as she could, ended up doing a great job on her last report of the year, taking her time and making eye contact with the audience. When someone was needed at the last minute for a skit at church this summer, this young lady stepped in and again did a great job.

I still have a lot to do to be ready for our first class on Monday, so I’d better get to it!

Tightwad Fun

2009-08-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

I have two teen age girls who love to shop for clothes. With our current financial situation, I am not buying any clothes that are not absolutely necessary. In the last month I have taken the girls to a couple of different thrift stores, where they have bought clothes with their own money. Well, I guess it’s more accurate to say they bought clothes with Hoodie Girl’s money. Czarina pays her back by doing some of Hoodie Girl’s chores, illustrating Proverbs 22:7, “The borrower is servant to the lender.”

Kohls and JCPenney were both nice enough to send me $10 gift cards to their stores, so a couple of days ago we went hunting – er, shopping. Both stores had lots of clothes on clearance, plus some pretty good sales.

Hoodie Girl had money, so she could buy something that cost more than $10. Czarina had no money, and in fact was in debt to 3 different people. (NOTE: they both get the same allowance).

So obviously Hoodie Girl had more choices than Czarina.

We went to Kohl’s first, and they had great fun trying on clothes. Hoodie Girl ended up with a BEAUTIFUL new top. The original cost was $36, but it was on sale for 35% off, so with the coupon she spent around $13. That is more than she would normally spend on a top, but it is REALLY nice, and she got it for almost 2/3 off, so she was happy.

Czarina tried on things she couldn’t afford. There was one top that looked really, really good on her, and I was SOOOO tempted to loan her the extra money she would have needed. However, as I mentioned early she already is in debt to 3 people, and I am trying to teach her money management skills, so I just couldn’t.

We next went to JCPenney’s to see what we could find for Czarina. Both girls tried on lots of clothes, including some discounted prom dresses that were so low cut that there is no way Cornbread Muffin, the modesty police, would have let them out of the house wearing them.

Czarina was eventually able to find a nice top for $8.99. However, when we got to the checkout, we found out that she had to spend at least $10 to use the coupon. What can you find at JCPenney that costs a dollar? The sales clerk suggested the canvas shopping bags they had displayed at the counter. So Czarina got a top, and a canvas shopping bag.

So we had a fun afternoon of shopping, they each got something new, and it didn’t cost ME a penny!

Family Matters

2009-08-18T23:16:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite cousins lives 90 minutes away. We have lots in common (including we both homeschool), we always enjoy being together, but being the busy creatures we are, we will go years without seeing each other.

This week her mother (my aunt) and sister (my other favorite cousin) are visiting from Wisconsin. I wanted to go see them, and I wanted to take Czarina and Hoodie Girl with me.

They were not too sure, so I mentioned that my cousin has 3 teenage boys.

“Are they cute?” they wanted to know.

Then I threw in the pièce de résistance. “If you stay home, you will have schoolwork to do. If you come with me, you will not have schoolwork today.”

C. has 5 kids; 2 girls ages 19 and 10, and 3 boys ages 13, 13 (twins), and 16.

P. has 4 kids, but two are adults, so she brought her 10 year old twin daughters.

And then there was Aunt K., who is my mom’s sister. So there were 13 of us all together.

I had a great time, being among kindred spirits. My girls hung out with the boys, playing Rock Band and Wii, and having lunch together. At one point the 19 year old was installing Rosetta Stone Spanish on the computer, and then showing her 16 year old brother how it works, and how to set up a schedule to complete it within a school year. Before we left, my girls said several times, “Now you have to come visit us!”

We got in the van to come home, and Czarina said, “They are so nice. NOBODY is that nice!”

They are. C’s boys are wonderful young men. And my girls have three more friends for Facebook.

2009-05-25T14:26:00.006-04:00

May is always really busy for us. Last week we had two major events!

Monday we had our last day of our homeschool co-op. The middle schoolers were having a little party afterwards, but we could not stay, as Czarina had a dress rehearsal at 5:30. We got home about 4, ate an early dinner, Czarina got dressed in her costume and she and I left at 5. Dress rehearsal went until after 9. Lots of things went wrong. I've learned from when Hoodie Girl used to be in the choir that a bad dress rehearsal is usually followed by a great performance.

Czarina was a flag girl who danced in with the American flag. Then all 6 girls danced onstage with the flags.

Czarina singing with the ensemble.
Czarina had a long speech about coming to America, seeing Ellis Island, and finally being free. She did great!
Tuesday night was the big performance. Czarina was really nervous, but she did great.

On Thursday, Space Cadet and Cornbread Muffin (formerly known as Fatso) graduated from high school! They were two of 9 students from our homeschool group that participated in the ceremony. Because we had only 9 students, we could devote time to each student's life.
Friday morning we all (well, except Prince Charming) slept in and then had a lazy day -- we needed it!

This week we have an orthodontist appointment, 2 dermatologist appointments (Cornbread Muffin and Hoodie Girl have been part of a 12 week study, and tomorrow they get paid!), a middle-school movie get together, Teen Library Council meeting, a choir party, another graduation (for Cornbread Muffin's friend), and a planning meeting for next year.

And hopefully, a job offer for Prince Charming. He had an interview last Wednesday, and he really wants this job. Looking at our checking account, I can see -- he NEEDS to get this job!

The Telephone Game

2009-05-15T11:56:00.001-04:00

Remember the game “Telephone”? One person whispers a sentence to another, who whispers what he thought he heard to another, and so on down the line, until you get to the last person and everyone laughs at how much the message has changed.

I found out last night that there is a rumor going around our Homeschool co-op that Fatso has received a full ride scholarship to Yale. I had to chuckle because Fatso hasn’t applied to Yale. Fatso hasn’t applied anywhere yet, because paperwork is not my strong point and I need to finish getting his transcript together.

Space Cadet & Fatso have both received mail from all the Ivy League Universities, as well as lots of other colleges, starting when they first took the PSAT several years ago. The mail increases every time they take another test. Fatso has especially received a lot of mail from Stanford. Space Cadet received an application from either Harvard or Yale, I can’t remember which. She also received a scholarship for Trevecca Nazarene University for a few thousand dollars (can’t remember, doesn’t matter because at this point she is unable to be a full time student).

Anyway, somehow all of this translated into someone thinking Fatso has been accepted into many different colleges, with a full ride scholarship to Yale. As if Fatso would even consider going to a liberal university like Yale.

He hasn’t applied yet, but with Fatso’s GPA and test scores we don’t anticipate him having any difficulty getting accepted by Patrick Henry College in Virginia, where he plans to major in political science and hopes to eventually go on to law school. He is a finalist in The Home Depot Fund Scholarship, and we expect to hear soon if he is a winner.

Epiphany

2009-05-07T23:17:00.001-04:00

May is usually a busy month for us, with end-of-school-year events and all. The week of May 18th will be especially busy for us this year. On Monday, we have our last day of our Homeschool co-op. Monday evening is dress rehearsal for the Joyful Praise Choir, which Czarina is a part of. In addition to singing with the choir, she will be dancing, carrying the American Flag, and giving a rather long speech about being an immigrant. OH – yesterday at rehearsal, the choir went through almost the entire musical. Some of the students still were using their scripts. Czarina’s part is near the end, and after she gave her speech – without her script – everyone in the choir applauded. This was almost two hours into the rehearsal, and they had not applauded anyone else.

Then on Thursday, Space Cadet and Cornbread Muffin (which is what Fatso now wants to be called) are graduating with seven other students from our co-op. After graduation is a group graduation party.

We have a plan for Cornbread Muffin. He plans to major in political science (surprise, surprise) at Patrick Henry College in Virginia. The first year or two he will be living at home and doing distance learning. (Way cheaper, he will still need regular orthodontist visits for awhile, and he doesn’t have to leave his cat.) Then he wants to go to law school, become a lawyer, and bring down Planned Parenthood for multiple instances of covering up statutory rape and botched abortions. In his spare time he will be helping the downtrodden.

We do NOT have a plan for Space Cadet, my beautiful girl who started reading when she was two, scores unbelievably high on standardized tests (as does her brother) yet is graduating from high school at the age of 20. Poor Space Cadet, she has a number of health issues. Also she is very frustrated with the effect of Asperger’s Syndrome on her life, and feeling like she is just not growing up fast enough. (I have heard that people with Asperger’s Syndrome are developmentally about 2/3 of their chronological age. That puts Space Cadet at around her younger sisters’ ages.)

People have asked what the plan for her is. I’ve been replying that right now, there is no plan. She is going through a medication change, she has been sick a lot, and we don’t know if her headaches are stress related, side effects, or what. We recently had her evaluated by a neuropsych so that she can remain eligible for our insurance although she will not be a full time student. (When we have insurance, that is. Prince Charming has a job interview on Monday!) She is interested in college, but she would not be able to handle it right now, and definitely not full time.

This morning I have an epiphany. We don’t have a plan for Space Cadet. BUT THERE IS A PLAN! God has a plan! He’s had a plan since before she was even born! A plan to prosper her, and give her a hope and a future! (See Jeremiah 29:11) There IS a plan, we just don’t know what it is yet! That gives her, and I, hope.

I just don't get it

2009-04-13T23:56:00.002-04:00

I know I should be in bed instead of reading/watching the news online. . .

But I just don't get it. I'm reading about the girl in California that was apparently kidnapped and murdered, and possibly raped, by a female Sunday School teacher.

There are way too many cased of child abuse, molestation, etc.

How can someone treat a child that way? What possibly could be going through a person's mind that would make them do this?

Fish flavored Prozac

2009-04-12T22:36:00.003-04:00

I wrote this in November, and just found it while looking for something else. It might make you laugh, so I'm posting it now:

I have a 1 ¼ inch jagged gash on the palm of my hand.

I got it while trying to give liquid, fish flavored Prozac to the cat formerly known as Peace, now referred to by me as “The Beast”.

The first 3 days, I was able to sneak up on her, grab her by the scruff of the neck, and stick the syringe in her mouth while she was hissing.

The 4^th day, that didn’t work. I wrapped her in a large towel and one or two of the kids held her while I stuck the syringe in her mouth while she was hissing. That worked the 5^th and 6^th day, also. However, she got more and more violent each time, and it was the 6^th day I received my wound.

On the 7^th day, a couple of the kids and I tried to wrap her in the towel, but she kept disappearing inside of it. Cats have rubber bones and can contort themselves into all kinds of impossible positions. We did not succeed in getting the medicine in her on the 7^th day. I was not willing to sacrifice any more of my blood. (I soaked through 4 bandaids when she scratched my hand on the 6^th day).

On the 8^th day, the kids’ friend Jizzle came home with us after church. Jizzle was shocked to think that we couldn’t get medicine into a cute fuzzy little 9 lb. critter, so he offered to help.

Or not. After quite a struggle, he decided he’d had enough.

Enter Prince Charming. “I’LL get her medicine in her.” (He’s so cute when he goes all macho.)

I did not know that Peace, er, The Beast, knew such horrible language. Prince Charming attempted to hold her in the air by the scruff of the neck until she got tired of struggling. I really wish we had a video of this. That cat is one awesome fighter. But she does have a potty mouth.

He had to let her go before she wore out, as she was coming very close to biting his hand. He later remarked that it didn’t seem right to get her so worked up just to try to get medicine in her to calm her down. (Reminds me of the time a nurse in a hospital woke my Mom up to give her a sleeping pill.)

A little later that day I saw Peace curled up on Space Cadet’s lap. Peace is Space Cadet’s cat, (although Peace would probably say Space Cadet is her Chief of Staff) and she is the one person in the family that has not assisted in attempting to dose the cat.

She’s a smart kid.

UPDATE: Five months later, Peace is still hissing at Prince Charming and I whenever we attempt to pick her up.

Who needs the Comedy Channel?

2009-03-19T10:39:00.003-04:00

My kids know that they are not supposed to give out personal information to strangers online. So when they play games online with people they don't know, they get creative. . .

Several years ago Fatso, when asked about his location and age, said he was an 87 year old cross-gender monk from Brazil.

Hoodie Girl recently had this exchange:

Random guy playing on Yoville (online game): What country are you from?

Hoodie Girl: Germany

Random guy: That’s a beautiful country

Hoodie Girl: I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there.

~~~~

Czarina has joined the local homeschool choir. In their patriotic performance, scheduled for May, she plays -- believe it or not -- a Russian immigrant. She has a rather lengthy speech to memorize about coming to America, and she is doing well with it. The main difficulty with us is that she is trying to learn proper grammar, and the character she plays does not have proper grammar.

There is one other difficulty she is having. As she talks about being on the ship and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, she is supposed to say, "We rush over to the ship's rail to see her."

But she keeps saying, "We rush over the ship's rail to see her."

Rather a different word picture there. . . .

25 Random things about me

2009-03-06T14:14:00.002-05:00

1. Some people think in pictures; I think in song lyrics.
2. I kissed dating goodbye while Joshua Harris was still a little boy.
3. I’ve been in 27 states and 7 countries.
4. I decided I wanted to adopt when I was 13 years old. . . then when I was 47, adopted a 13 year old.
5. I am athletically impaired.
6. I always enjoyed taking standardized tests.
7. I hate taking personality tests. They never offer the right options for me.
8. Much to my surprise, I find myself missing St. Petersburg, Russia, and hoping we can go back.
9. The best thing about being born into my family was that I couldn’t marry into it.
10. I am scientifically challenged.
11. I bake delicious but really ugly gluten free birthday cakes.
12. I grew up with the TV on all the time, and learned to hate it. My husband grew up with no TV at all, and wanted one. Our compromise: We have one TV, which we never watch.
13. My son says I am the worst Sonic (the hedgehog) player he has ever seen.
14. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was getting a root canal.
15. I needed the root canal because of a tooth that broke while I was eating corn flakes.
16. The reason my tooth was in such bad shape to begin with was that I went 11 years without going to the dentist. (Too busy taking kids to various appointments).
17. I’m a multiple ovulator. My oldest child is a surviving triplet, and my youngest is a surviving twin.
18. I love having teenagers.
19. Monday is my favorite day of the week, because that is when our home school co-op meets and I get to teach Literature to a great group of Middle Schoolers.
20. My favorite places to shop are online and at thrift stores.
21. Czarina told the psychologist in Russia that Space Cadet & I were the kindest people she’d ever met.
22. I won the school spelling bee in 6th grade, and was anal about spelling for the next 25 years.
23. Christmas Day 1987, Prince Charming & I were on our honeymoon in California. We had lunch in Subways. There was a shabbily dressed young man sipping some ice water, and one of the employees was trying to get him to leave (because he wasn’t buying anything). Prince Charming took him to the counter and bought him lunch, and I thought, “Wow, I’m married to this wonderful man!”
24. I have never seen American Idol.
25. One of my children does not currently have a middle name.

Oops, I did it again. . . sorry Lord. . .

2009-02-25T19:43:00.001-05:00

I have always had a faster than normal heart rate. Just sitting around reading a book, my normal heart rate is between 90-96 (and it doesn’t have to be an exciting book!) Right now it is 108.

Several years back (7-8) I became alarmed because my heart started beating even faster, and I was having chest pains and dizzy spells. One night I woke up, checked my heart rate, and it was over 140 bpm. . . a little scary! I ended up having all kinds of tests. They couldn’t find anything wrong, just that my heart beat too fast, so I was put on some medicine and sent home.

Recently I have been having a recurring of the super-fast heart rate, not being able to sleep because of “hearing” my heart in my head. . . it’s like a pounding headache, only without the headache. . . and dizzy spells. Sometimes my legs feel like they just don’t want to carry me around, also.

So that, combined with the fact that my medicine is prescribed by the year and the year is almost up, meant I had to contact the doctor.

Now, I spend a LOT of time driving kids around to classes and appointments. (If I am homeschooling, why am I always in my car?) And I happen to know that is it NOT easy to get an appointment with my doctor. Often it’s not easy to even talk to someone, as the line is often busy. And usually when we call we get the physician’s assistant, who I LIKE, but this time I really wanted to see the doctor. I looked at the calendar before I called, and started what could best be described as a “rant” about how on earth am I going to be able to fit an appointment for me in, I feel terrible, the day is just starting and I want to go back to bed, etc., etc. My dear hubby gave me a hug.

Then I called, and. . .got to talk to someone right away, who told me the doctor JUST had a cancellation for. . . TOMORROW. This interferes with taking Fatso to his beloved Physics class, but since Prince Charming is home (due to not yet having a job) and the class is 5 minutes away, Prince Charming can take him without using up too much of his job-searching time. (And BTW, Prince Charming is working so hard at finding a new job that I recently told him I saw more of him when he had a job. . .)

Anyway, once again God has shown that He is taking care of me. I am sorry, Lord, that I forget that sometimes. . .

Well, I stayed home from church tonight because I’ve been feeling dizzy, and I didn’t think I could handle the noise level. I’m going to post this and go to bed. If you feel like sending out a prayer for me, I would appreciate it. I am anticipating that the doctor will tell me to get rid of some of the stress in my life, but I REFUSE to give up my kids. . . LOL.

Oops, I did it again. . . sorry Lord. . .

2009-02-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

Oops, I did it again. . . sorry Lord. . .

I have always had a faster than normal heart rate. Just sitting around reading a book, my normal heart rate is between 90-96 (and it doesn’t have to be an exciting book!) Right now it is 108.

So that, combined with the fact that my medicine is prescribed by the year and the year is almost up, meant I had to contact the doctor.

Anyway, once again God has shown that He is taking care of me. I am sorry, Lord, that I forget that sometimes. . .

Must See TV

2009-02-21T09:03:00.001-05:00

We don't watch much TV around here. If we got Fox News, though, I would definitely watch Mike Huckabee.

Face to Facebook

2009-02-16T23:38:00.003-05:00

I have been thinking about a few old friends for quite some time. There are two in particular; my best friend from high school, Nancy, and a close friend from my early 20's, Tom. They both have had a very special part in my life and helped shape who I have become. I've been looking for them both now for probably about 10 years. Just last week I was telling Prince Charming that there were people I missed having in my life, and these were the two I mentioned by name.

Now, Hoodie Girl has been asking me if she could get a Facebook account, since I said no to a Myspace account. I had been putting her off, telling her I needed to get on Facebook first to see what it's like. I've had friends send me friend requests for Facebook, but hadn't found time to get an account.

Well, when Fatso got a Facebook account (being almost 18 he does have more privileges than his 13 yo sister) and sent me a friend request, I figured it was time. It didn't hurt that I had more time than usual last week, because Czarina was sick so I wasn't spending 5 hours a day doing school with her.

I typed in my information, including what high school I went to and when I graduated, and then. . . Nancy's picture popped up as someone I "might" know! I sent a friend request and we both ended up in front of our computer screens with tears in our eyes. We have been getting re-acquainted after more than 20 years!

Then I started searching for other people I might know, and I found Tom! So we are catching up as well.

I've found other friends too, from high school and my OM days. And some other people have found me.

a disease by any other name still makes you feel crummy

2009-02-12T18:14:00.003-05:00

I do not know what the differences between these diagnoses are:

bronchitis
bronchial-sino syndrome (not sure of the spelling on that one)
asthmatic bronchitis
bronchoiolitis

Czarina (who has a history of respiratory illnesses including the above, asthma, and pnuemonia) was diagnosed at the Urgent Care Clinic on Saturday with asthmatic bronchitis. We took her to her regular doctor yesterday because she really wasn't getting better with the meds the Urgent Care doctor prescribed. He thinks she doesn't have bronchitis, it's asthma. Her breathing sounds horrible, but she at least isn't coughing as much as she was.

We have a Bible Quiz on Saturday, and it's near the International Grocery Store, and we were planning to go there after the quiz. . . the ladyd who runs it is Russian, and they have a lot of Russian foods there. I'm hoping she's well enough by Saturday to go. She's taking 5 different meds right now (including the inhaler and nightly cough syrup) so I hope this helps!

Hand Me Ups?

2009-02-11T08:06:00.003-05:00

Hoodie Girl has been gaining height and losing width for some time now. Last night she told me her Teen Bible Quiz t-shirt was too big, and asked if she could trade for a smaller one. (As Quiz Coach, I am the keeper of the T-shirts). Later I told Prince Charming about it, and he said, "Great, now I can have a Quiz T-shirt!" referring to the one that is now too big for Hoodie Girl.

So, now Prince Charming is getting hand me downs from his 13 year old daughter!

Can someone please explain this to me?

2009-02-07T18:15:00.002-05:00

Why is it that a kid who will fake illness to get out of schoolwork insists on doing her schoolwork instead of resting when she is very obviously ill?

And now she is on an antibiotic, a steroid and an inhaler.

Steroids and hormones. What a lovely combination.

Fiddler on the Roof and FAME

2009-02-06T23:34:00.001-05:00

About 19 years ago, when Space Cadet was still a baby, Prince Charming and I went to The Fox Theatre to see Fiddler on the Roof. It was good, but our seats were way in the back and the stage and performers looked very small.

Tonight, along with Czarina and Hoodie Girl, we went to see a Homeschool production of Fiddler on the Roof. Our seats were very good. . . we were in the second row. It was amazing. We especially enjoyed the 15 year old boy who played Tevye, the main character. That boy has a bright future ahead of him!

(When Tevye refuses to let Chava marry Fyedka, Hoodie Girl leaned over to Prince Charming and whispered, “If you ever do that to one of us, I am going to slap you!” Then she ranted on the way home about the unfair racism of the whole thing.

Czarina has decided for some time now that she is going to be a star. . . actress, singer and dancer. She is already talking about how cool it will be when she opens for the Jonas Brothers. She doesn’t seem open to any other option for her adult life. My other kids at some point have all expressed interest in creative yet impractical careers, and I have always asked them, “But how are you going to earn a living while you are waiting for your (acting, singing, writing, film directing, etc.) career to take off?” Czarina doesn’t NEED another option. She is going to be a star and earn lots of money.

sigh

I’ve talked to her about the steps needed to get to such a career, and that there are a lot of very talented people who DON’T become stars. Last month she joined the Joyful Praise Homeschool Choir (which has drama in their productions as well). Hoodie Girl was in the choir for several years when she was younger, and it was a great experience for her. The director is an amazingly talented woman and the productions are always top-notch. Plus it’s a great group of kids.

Their spring productions always have a patriotic theme. This year the characters include immigrants from other countries. Czarina plays an immigrant from. . . you guessed it. . . Russia! She is in one scene where she has a long speech to memorize about how scary it was to leave Russia and come to America. She also sings part of a song in Russian. (The song is My Country ‘Tis of Thee and several people sing part of it in different languages). She gets to wear “Russian native dress”. We need to figure out what that is and put it together. She also is one of the dancers during a dance number, and gets to wear a pretty white flowing dress. She is really excited!

Czarina would also like to audition for community theater, and heard about auditions for actors, singers and models on the radio. She wrote down the number so we could call.  I told her that before she adds anything else to her plate (she is also learning to play the piano), she needs to be able to do her school work mostly independently and maintain a B average for one semester. Right now I am spending about 5-6 hours a day with her on schoolwork, as her reading level is about 3rd grade and her schoolwork level is 8th grade. Today she tried very hard to do as much as she could by herself. I guess the prospect of fame is a great motivator for her!

2009-02-05T09:19:00.001-05:00

2009-02-01T16:05:00.001-05:00

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Have you seen this?

2009-01-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

WOW. . .

Trusting in the Lord. . .

2009-01-26T22:56:00.001-05:00

Honestly, I’m not much of a hymns person. I’d much rather listen or sing praise songs or contemporary Christian music (I love the Newsboys!!!!). But right now there are lyrics to a hymn going through my mind. . .

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

Today was “Axe Day” at The Home Depot corporate office. Ten percent of the employees were laid off, including Prince Charming, whose last day will be Friday. We knew this was a strong possibility. Since he has only worked there a little more than a year, we weren’t sure of what his severance package would be.

This is the 4^th time in our 21 year marriage that Prince Charming has been laid off. The other 3 times, we had a cushion in the bank. This time, we have none . . . we are living paycheck to paycheck. And with 4 teenagers in the house, including one who will be in college next year and one with special needs that we don’t yet have a plan for, and adoption debt, things are. . . tight.

But God has always taken care of us. Good things have come from each time Prince Charming has lost a job. Usually we’ve ended up financially ahead.

We are blessed that he has two months of severance pay/benefits and then will receive a lump sum equal to one month’s pay.

As Prince Charming calmly told me the news this evening, I reminded him that each time he has lost a job, he has been a great witness to those around him. Everyone else is usually freaking out, but he is trusting God. He actually was encouraging his boss who was very unhappy about having to tell employees they no longer had a job.

So, we are looking forward to seeing what God is going to do. Prayers are appreciated, though!

11,000 words

2009-01-23T17:21:00.005-05:00

Czarina and Fatso

Space Cadet and Hoodie Girl (in a rare appearance without her hoodie)

Space Cadet and Czarina:

Hoodie Girl and Fatso

Hoodie Girl:

Czarina:

Space Cadet:
Fatso

Festival of Life

2009-01-18T16:22:00.004-05:00

This Friday and Saturday hundreds of teens from all over Georgia descended on Dublin, GA for the Church of the Nazarene's annual Festival of Life.

The purpose of FOL is to help teens develop and use their talents for God's glory. The two day event has teens competing in different categories such as sports, academics, performing arts, visual arts, writing, etc. First place winners (and those who make a sports team) go on to compete at TNT (Top Nazarene Talent) at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville in April. (Regional Bible Quiz finals are also at TNT, but the teams for that are decided at State Teen Finals in March.)

This was my 4th or so time at FOL. I love going to FOL. For me, it's like a vacation. I get to chill out, watch really talented kids perform, and it doesn't cost me anything because the church pays the way for chaperones.

Hoodie Girl loves FOL and has been hoping for a chance to go to TNT. She has a really good shot at making the B Quiz Team so we thought that might happen. At FOL she entered 4 art categories and prose. In art she placed 1st in two categories and 2nd in another, and in prose she placed 1st. So now she has 3 entries for TNT, in addition to possibly quizzing.

This was Czarina's first time at FOL. Czarina is a bit shy of trying new things and especially going to new places. She was okay with this trip, and enjoyed her first stay in an American Hotel. "This is the life!" she said.

Czarina entered 3 art categories and poetry. She said several times that she did not want to win anything because she did NOT want to go to TNT (which is a 4 day event).

Czarina placed 2nd in two of the art categories. . . and FIRST in poetry!

(The girls were teasing me because when Anastasia got called up to get her first place medal, I started crying. Can't help it. It's what I do.)

Czarina wrote a song in Russian a month or so ago. Hoodie Girl helped her translate it into English. This is what she entered as poetry.

Czarina is not sure if she wants to go to TNT. I told her that the Jonas Brothers live in or near Nashville. I told her its like a 4 day party. They have a great concert on the first night, and lots of great food. And Trevecca has a beautiful campus. PLUS we get 3 nights in a hotel, and the hotel keeps the pool open after hours just for the TNTers. (Georgia usually has 2 or 3 busloads of people going to TNT, and we all stay at the same hotel.) She is thinking about it. She needs to decide fairly soon, because if she doesn't go then the 2nd place winner will represent Georgia.

Cookie Monster

2009-01-15T15:47:00.001-05:00

Are these not the cutest cupcakes you've ever seen?

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I wish I'd seen this picture when my kids were still young enough for a Sesame Street birthday party. . .

Cats can be very useful

2009-01-12T22:53:00.001-05:00

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This is just a little bit scary. . .

2009-01-11T02:40:00.006-05:00

Fatso has been interested in politics for may years, as evidenced by these pictures:

Here he is (in 2004) at the County Republican Headquarters in our county. He has been going to meetings and some conventions with Prince Charming since he was 13.

(That same year Space Cadet and Hoodie Girl, 15 and 9 respectively, went to a meeting or two themselves. It's not really their "thing", but Hoodie Girl became a life long supporter of our local sheriff after he gave her a beanie baby named "Righty"):

Here is a "photo op" with our local State Representative. Fatso was running for president of his co-op Elections Class and got State Representative Billy Horne to endorse him!

Fatso's campaign poster:

Prince Charming pointed out that Fatso turns 18 just before the 2009 convention season starts. Prince Charming is always a delegate or alternate for the county and district conventions. He's been to the state convention a few times also. Guess who else is hoping to be a delegate this year? Since at the precinct and county levels there are usually more spots open than people to fill them, chances are good he WILL be a delegate.

WOW. . .

I just don't understand it. . .

2009-01-08T22:09:00.001-05:00

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Why I love having teenagers. . .

2009-01-02T17:14:00.003-05:00

. . . they can COOK.

Prince Charming always has a hard time thinking of things he wants for Christmas. This year (last year?) he came up a list of foods (mostly desserts) that he would like someone to make. So Fatso, Czarina and Hoodie Girl all gave him coupons for baked goods (they didn't want to all bake at once!)

This week Fatso came up with his OWN RECIPE for a Moon Pie Cake. It was delicious! (Fortunately Prince Charming is generous and shared his gift with the family).

Tonight Czarina and Hoodie Girl are each having a friend spend the night. They asked me, "Can we make dinner tonight?" Um, yeah, I can live with that!

The Year in review

2008-12-31T19:14:00.001-05:00

Wii hope you had a Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T14:06:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated Advent all month long as we usually do. This year Fatso read to us from Bartholomew’s Passage each night.

Several years ago Prince Charming introduced the idea of a Christmas Eve Silent Service (in the Quaker tradition). That particular year our kids were too young for something like that. This year someone decided it was time to do it again. It was really, really amazing. You can’t imagine what it is like without experiencing it, I don’t think, and I’m not sure how to describe it. We just sat there and focused on God. I know Space Cadet and Fatso enjoyed it. Czarina fidgeted A LOT. But it was a great time to stop and focus on God’s gift that we celebrate at Christmas.

We made a rule when the kids were younger that no presents could be open without the entire family, and that we would not open presents before 7 am. Czarina’s first Christmas with us was in 2005, when she was here with the hosting program. She did NOT want to get up in the morning. Fatso and Hoodie Girl pulled her out from UNDER the bed.

Well, I found out this month that 2005 was the first year she’d EVER celebrated Christmas. She had no idea what to expect! And it had never occurred to any of us that she wouldn’t know.

(After the 1917 revolution, Christmas was banned in Russia for more than 70 years. Some people started celebrating again in the early 90’s, but apparently no one Anastasia knew celebrated Christmas, and they didn’t celebrate it in the orphanage.)

This was Anastasia’s third American Christmas (she was in Russia in 2006), and she was really into it!

After we all opened our presents (one present at a time), the kids noticed a little gift bag left behind the tree. The label said, “To the Millers”. They decided to open it together, pulled out some tissue paper, and then pulled out a couple of remotes. . . to a Wii? They were a bit confused. “Did you buy us a Wii?” I told them to look in a drawer, and all pandemonium broke loose. “We have a Wii! We have a Wii!” They were so excited I was afraid one of them was going to lose control and wee. . .

Then Fatso stopped and asked, “Mom, how could you afford a Wii in today’s tough economic times?”

“If you’re really worried about it, I could take it back,” I replied.

Fatso didn’t think that would be necessary. . .

Adventures in Shopping

2008-12-20T22:30:00.006-05:00

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday! Prince Charming and a couple of the kids still had shopping to do, so today he took Space Cadet, Fatso and Czarina out, while Hoodie Girl and I stayed home.

Czarina and Hoodie girl have a clothing budget. They each have a certain amount of money every 6 months, and they can buy whatever clothing or accessories they want with it, but when the money is gone, that is it. Their current budget lasts until March.

Prince Charming called. They were at The Limited Too and there was a Jonas Brother's Hoodie on sale for $12. Could Czarina buy it? I told Prince Charming Czarina can buy WHATEVER she wants, but when the money is gone, it is gone. Okay, does Hoodie Girl want one? I called Hoodie Girl to the phone and she talked to Prince Charming about colors and sizes. Do they have any with Kevin's picture? No, she doesn't want one with just Joe or just Nick. If there isn't one with just Kevin, she wants one with all three of them.

A few minutes later, he called again. Is it okay if Czarina gets a white hoodie? I remind him that it is HER money, and she can get what she wants. . . she just needs to realize that white gets dirty faster, etc. Oh, and can she buy a t-shirt, too? It's HER MONEY, I remind him, and she can buy whatever clothing items she wants with it. Hoodie Girl prefers a black hoodie. Is it okay if Czarina gets the same hoodie as Hoodie Girl. Yes, they love to dress alike.

A few minutes later, the phone rang AGAIN. They are checking out, and the hoodie is not $12, it's $22. Does Hoodie Girl still want one? No, Hoodie Girl does not want to spend $22 on a hoodie. She will wait for the after Christmas sales and see what she can pick up then.

Now, how many Dads would go to this much trouble to help their girls get Jonas Brothers stuff?

A while later, they returned. Czarina has purchased a Jonas Brothers hoodie, two Jonas Brothers t-shirts, and one long sleeve Jonas Brothers shirt. She has about $6 left in her clothing budget, to last until March. Should be interesting.

She also has two 15% off coupons, good for the week after Christmas. She won't really be able to use these (unless she wants to use her allowance money, or Christmas money from Grandma) so she gave them to Hoodie Girl.

(I realize my verb tenses are all mixed up here. . . sorry, it's late and I'm tired. . . )

2008-12-17T10:56:00.002-05:00

Hoodie Girl just found out that Fatso is going to the same Christmas Party she and Czarina are going to tomorrow night. Concerned, she began grilling Fatso on manners. This is the tale end of their conversation:

Hoodie Girl: What do you say when it’s time to leave?

Fatso: This wasn’t as lame as I thought it would be.

Hoodie Girl: No, you say thank you very much for inviting me. What do you say if you see me?

Fatso: Twinklestar! How’s your constipation problem?*

Hoodie Girl: You say NOTHING because YOU DON’T KNOW ME!

*Hoodie Girl would probably appreciate it if I tell you she does NOT have a constipation problem. . .

Memories

2008-12-15T21:45:00.002-05:00

We've been having trouble with one of our computers getting hung up -- not to the point of The Blue Screen of Death, but hung up and not doing anything.

It hung up this evening as Czarina tried to use it. I sat down in front of it and tried to figure out what was going on.

Czarina (who chatters incessantly at times) was sitting on the couch saying, "Too many memories, too many memories. . . ." and I'm wondering what unpleasant things she is remembering, if this is a post traumatic stress thing, and how I should approach her about it. . .

. . . and then I remember. . . Prince Charming had said the computer was hanging up because we were using TOO MUCH MEMORY. . .

Earning her keep

2008-12-15T00:49:00.003-05:00

The other night after we went to bed, Prince Charming and I heard some curious noises. Prince Charming guessed it to be a rodent. Well, we haven't had any signs of live mice in the house since we got Peace 8 1/2 years ago (although she has brought a few dead ones in from outside. Actually, that is when Prince Charming decided she was a contributing member of the family and gave her permission to sleep on Space Cadet's bed.)

Tonight, Space Cadet hadn't been in bed for very long when we heard some other curious noises. Space Cadet came upstairs and announced, "Peace brought me a present." Space Cadet had gotten up to do something she'd forgotten, turned on the light. . . and there it was, on the floor next to her shoes, a cute little gray dead mouse.

Space Cadet is grateful it wasn't IN one of her shoes.

I Celebrate the Day

2008-12-07T15:45:00.003-05:00

Last year I bought Relient K's Christmas CD, Let it Snow Baby, Let it Reindeer. The song "I Celebrate the Day" quickly became a family favorite. Check it out!!!

Isn't God awesome?????

Kitty Bulb Tester

2008-12-03T12:33:00.000-05:00

see more crazy cat pics

2008-12-02T22:16:00.000-05:00

FINALLY after 2 ½ weeks, our washing machine is fixed. All the money we’d saved on our water bill after getting the front loader was spent at the Laundromat. Oh well, at least it was under warranty.

organize pantry
clean out fridge
defrost freezer
start holiday baking
do “pre-Christmas decorating cleaning”
put Christmas lights up outside

Those are just a few of the things I’d had planned for the week beginning November 17. But, the kids and I ended up being sick, so I spent several days doing their chores (since they were sick), watching videos, taking naps, and driving my sick self to the Laundromat.

The following week (Thanksgiving week) they were better, but I ended up with bronchitis.

It is tradition for me to make a bunch of pies before Thanksgiving. I freeze what we don’t eat, and we have pie for breakfast on Christmas morning. Well, I was not up to that AT ALL, and Czarina & Hoodie Girl spent the day before Thanksgiving rolling out pie crusts and making TWELVE PIES. Apple, pumpkin and cherry. (They possibly would have made more, but they ran out of pie plates.)

I slept most of Thanksgiving. I got up in time for the WONDERFUL dinner Prince Charming prepared. He even cooked the sweet potatoes I’d purchased, and he doesn’t like sweet potatoes.

After dinner I watched the kids put up and decorate the tree, then I went to bed.

Now, I had not gotten my pre-Christmas decorating cleaning done due to being sick, and things in the living room and deteriorated pretty badly from us all being sick. But when I woke up on Black Friday, the living room was BEAUTIFUL. Czarina and Hoodie Girl had cleaned the living room AND decorated it. . . including putting out the deluxe nativity scene and other Christmas decorations.

I think I will keep them. . .

Stop and Smell the Chicken Soup

2008-11-18T23:17:00.003-05:00

If there is a Murphy’s Law of appliance breakdowns, it is this: Appliances always break down on Fridays.

Our 3 month old Maytag front-loading washing machine, which has cut our water bill almost in half, blew a gasket Friday. Literally. Somehow the sheets that Fatso was washing got caught in the rubber gasket around the door, got all twisted, and pulled the gasket and some round wire thing away from the door.

Being a Friday, I could not get an appointment until Monday. Being that we are gone all day on Monday, I scheduled an appointment for Tuesday (today).

The good news: the washer is still under warrantee, so we do not have to pay anything. The bad news: it will take about 5 days to get the parts, so the repairman is coming NEXT Tuesday.

Tonight was our Homeschool co-op’s Thanksgiving Dinner. We were all looking forward to going. The high school history class was demonstrating different craftsman’s skills from Colonial times. Fatso’s was glassblowing, which obviously he could not really do, but he downloaded some videos to show on the laptop, and made a really nice display.

But he got sick this morning (upper respiratory stuff) and couldn’t go. Space Cadet wasn’t feeling well either.

I discovered there is a Laundromat close to where the dinner was being held, so Czarina, Hoodie Girl and I went there this afternoon to do about $16 worth of laundry. Our timing was pretty good for getting to the dinner on time. But while at the Laundromat, I noticed Czarina’s voice was getting hoarse, and Hoodie Girl’s nose was a bit sniffley. They insisted they were fine and wanted to go to the dinner. I’ve had a low-grade headache all day, and an occasional cough.

At the dinner, Hoodie Girl’s home-made ginger snaps were a big hit. Some of that is probably due to Czarina standing by the dessert table, telling everyone, “Try my sister’s ginger snacks! They are really good!” Well, that got people to try them. . . but then lots of the middle school boys went back for more. (If the way to a man’s heart is really through his stomach, Hoodie Girl is making quite an impression!)

After the dinner they went home with Prince Charming, who’d met us there, and I stopped by Wal-Mart for a “sick person run”. I got two chickens, ginger root, garlic cloves, different juices, Kleenex®, and some vitamin C.

Tonight I am making chicken broth in the crock pot. . . tomorrow I will turn it into chicken soup. Instead of complaining that we don’t have time to be sick, we will be taking it easy, eating chicken soup, drinking lots of fluids, and watching a movie or two. Hopefully we will bounce back and get to do all the neat Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating type things we hope to do next week!

Heroes

2008-11-11T10:13:00.000-05:00

more animals

Christmas Shopping

2008-11-06T17:49:00.001-05:00

I just overheard this conversation:

Fatso: I could get Dad a Jonas Brothers T-shirt for Christmas.

Hoodie Girl: That's a great idea! Make sure it's in my size, though.

The Day After the Election

2008-11-06T14:46:00.006-05:00

I do not know who wrote this. I read it on one of my Myspace Friends' blogs. (I also don't know why some of it is highlighted. I have tried to change it with no results.)

Day after election....

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order – (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Christ.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

Remember who you are and who He is.

Wrap Rage

2008-11-03T17:07:00.006-05:00

Last week I did something I've never done before. . . I made the minimum payment on one of our credit cards. We have ALWAYS paid our cards off each month. However, due to factors such as price hikes in gas and groceries this year, high medical costs, feeding 2 adults, 4 teenagers and 2 cats, and having a higher mortgage payment because we refinanced to pay for the adoption, things have been rather tight.

It's not a good feeling.

We have some medical things we HAVE to take care of, but I'm not sure how. I get frustrated with myself for not trusting God. He has always taken care of us before.

On Thursday evening I put a bunch of books, DVDs and CDs for sale on Amazon.com. So far I have sold 7 items! That has been a blessing. It is not a huge amount of money, but it helps.

Remember my post about trying to open new CD's? Today when I logged on to Amazon.com to print out a packing list for one of my sales, I saw this:
(You have to click on it to get it big enough so you can read it.)

"Wrap Rage". What a concept. . .

2008-10-31T17:29:00.000-04:00

and raised by wild seals," />
see more crazy cat pics

That's Entertainment

2008-10-29T08:59:00.003-04:00

Czarinaisms:

"Look! Daddy shaved the grass!"

"Just a minute. I'm shuffling my tea." (She meant "stirring".)

Looking outside this morning to see frost on the grass: "It's crunchy outside!"

And from Fatso:
Fatso had to draw the Great Seal of the United States for his co-op history class. Fatso has many talents, but drawing is not one of them. Below the seal he wrote, "You go school with the art skills you have, not the art skills you need."

And from a homework assignment turned in by one of my literature students:

"The British soldiers were sharpening their bonnets." ("bayonets")

Who cares if we can't afford Netflix or Cable TV?

Democracy

2008-10-28T17:35:00.002-04:00

We participate in a Homeschool co-op that meets all day on Mondays. Yesterday they had elections for Student Council. Fatso was running against one other guy for student council president. (Hey, might as well go for the top, right!) Out of all the different positions, he was one of only two with any kind of prepared speech, and his speech was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. He lost by a narrow margin, but they gave him the position of “journalist” for the student council. Now he gets to go to the meetings and give his opinions and vote.

Then today Space Cadet and I took advantage of early voting. This was Space Cadet’s first election. We waited 2 hours in the cold and then about 15 minutes in the building before we cast our ballots. I am glad to get it over with. . .

When I got home from voting, there was a message on the phone. . . we missed Fatso’s orthodontist appointment.

I know how to solve the illegal immigration problem

2008-10-23T17:13:00.003-04:00

I just got Hawk Nelson is My Friend in the mail.

I would like to listen to it, but I am having trouble getting it open.

It has occurred to me that if we can get the people who package CD's to seal the border, we will no longer have an illegal immigration problem.

The Incredible Edible Egg

2008-10-20T17:50:00.000-04:00

When Space Cadet was small, she watched Beauty and the Beast roughly 5,000 times. Because of this, I have most of it memorized.

Recently this little verse has been going through my mind:

When I was a lad I ate four dozen eggs
Ev'ry morning to help me get large
And now that I'm grown I eat five dozen eggs
So I'm roughly the size of a barge

My family eats a lot of eggs, so I usually buy them in the five dozen packs. (Yes, if you were wondering, there actually are people who buy that many eggs at one time.) We repack them in 18 pack containers.

Last Monday, I bought 5 dozen eggs when I did my weekly grocery shopping. The kids, as usual, carried the groceries in for me. They are great that way.

On Friday, Hoodie Girl wanted to bake cookies for the middle school party. . . problem, there were only 3 eggs left.

Okay, I know certain people in our family really like eggs, but really. . . one dozen eggs a DAY? And I myself had only had TWO eggs in that time period. But that’s one of the things about having teenagers. They fix themselves food whenever they’re hungry. (Which is often). And they love eggs. This is why I have 6 frying pans.

Well, I had a few things I needed to pick up at Kroger, so I added eggs to the list.

The lady bagging my groceries commented on how many eggs I was buying. I told her the above story. (Well, except the lyrics from Beauty and the Beast.) I’m used to comments about my groceries. Particularly about the large amounts of hand soap I buy (thanks to my OCD handwashers. . . ), and the many pounds of bananas.

I paid for my groceries, walked out to my van, and. . . discovered the five dozen eggs I had purchased on Monday were STILL in my van. . .

Can anyone say Salmonella?

Well, Prince Charming thought I should add an egg fight to the list of festivities for the middle schoolers. . . I thought not.

Noprah

2008-10-18T23:08:00.003-04:00

A web-site I am familiar with sent me this email:

The Oprah Winfrey Show is looking for families willing to discuss how they are handling the financial crisis with their teens. Are you a parent that is having a hard time telling your kids "we can't afford that right now." Do you feel challenged when discussing finances with your teens? Are you looking for simple explanations that can help your family? If you are a parent struggling with the daily challenges of raising money conscious teenagers in a troubled economy- we want to hear from you.

Since this is something we had just been dealing with, I sent out a quick email:

I am happy to reply to this as I have 4 teenagers!

I have 3 bio kids ages 13, 17 & 19, and also a 14 year old we adopted from Russia last year.

We were already pinching pennies because of the high cost of adopting our daughter. I am blessed to have kids who are willing to sacrifice for a good cause! Like, most of our clothes come from Goodwill or clearance racks. (Only stuff in great shape though!)

They all do chores and get allowances, and they use their allowances for things they want, going to the movies, etc. We get them gifts only on holidays (Christmas, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter) and the rest of the time if they want something (used to be toys, now DVD's, music, books, video games, etc.) they buy it themselves. Two of them have gotten pretty good at selling the stuff they don't want anymore on eBay.

We have made a few more changes in the last few months.

I told the family I was spending XXX amount of money on food each week. Once I spent that, I was not going to the grocery store again before the next Monday, we could just eat what we had in the house. (We ALWAYS have plenty of food, it's just not always what they want!)

For my two youngest fashion-conscious daughters who want lots and lots and lots of clothes, I have given them a clothing budget. I will buy their shoes, underwear and coats, but everything else has to come from their clothing budget, which has to last them 6 months. They are being a bit more discerning about what they buy. (In the past I have bought clothing items that were worn once or twice and then they didn't want them again.) This is new and neither of them has exhausted their budgets yet, so the jury is still out on how this is going to work.

We COMBINE TRIPS to stores. (None of my kids have their licenses yet.) If one of the kids wants to go to a store or whatever, I tell him/her when I will be going that direction. If the kid JUST CAN'T WAIT, then he or she will have to pay for the gas for the extra trip.

I clicked “send”, and forgot all about this.

Until the next day, when I received this email:

Hello In the World-

Please contact me at [phone number] when you are free to talk.

Thank You,

Leigh Posner
The Oprah Winfrey Show

I went to the Oprah web-site, and saw that they are looking for parents and teens for a show they will be doing on “frugal teens.” Uh-oh. . .

Ha! I can count on one hand how many times I have watch Oprah.

One of my favorite songs has this line:

What if the family turned to Jesus,

Stopped asking Oprah what to do?

Plus, I HATE speaking in front of people.

So unless I get a telegram from God, I am NOT answering the email. (Don’t even think about it, Krispy. Or Rake.)

I thought this was all rather humorous, and I told my kids about it. Here are their replies:

Space Cadet: There is NO WAY I’m going on NATIONAL TV. Who KNOWS what I might do to embarrass myself!!!!

Fatso: Yeah, let’s do it! I’d love a chance to grill Oprah on her support of Obama!

Czarina and Hoodie Girl: Mom, we’ve got to do this! We’ll be famous!!!!

Hoodie Girl: Where do they film Oprah?

Me: I don’t know. Maybe New York City?

Czarina and/or Hoodie (can’t remember exactly): NEW YORK CITY! Sometimes the Jonas Brothers are in New York City! Maybe we could meet the Jonas Brothers!

Hoodie Girl: And if we go on Oprah, maybe she’ll give us a new car!

Dream on. . .

potpourri

2008-10-16T20:47:00.000-04:00

Teen Bible Quizzing
Last Saturday our church hosted the second quiz of the year for the northern half of the Georgia District. (The southern half met in Savannah.)

Out of 4 quizzes, Fatso quizzed out 3 times without error, and 1 time with error, for a total score of 350 (the highest possible for 4 quizzes is 360).

Hoodie Girl quizzed out without error the first two quizzes. This is going to sound horrible, but I begged her not to do better than her older brother. . . this is his last year, and she has 4 more years. She says I jinxed her, but she ended up tied for 4th place, a real record for her. (Fatso was in 1st place).

In cumulative scores over the entire district, Fatso is tied for 3rd and Hoodie Girl is in 12th.

Czarina is really hanging in there with the quizzing. She only got to answer one question; she knew the answers to several other questions, but she keeps getting out jumped. I think she is doing great!

College
Yesterday Space Cadet, Fatso and I met with a rep from Patrick Henry College (which is in Virginia). All of this college stuff is a bit overwhelming. We need to be making a decision in the next few months.

Johnny Tremain
Tomorrow night my Middle School Literature Class is coming over to eat pizza and watch Johnny Tremain (which is the book we recently finished). I previewed the movie Tuesday night, and the book is way better.

But here is what is really cool: Our rec room in the basement has been a wreck ever since we got our new washer and dryer (I think it was in August). They brought the appliances in through Gordon’s home office (aka junk storage room) and I had to move stuff. Plus the kids had left big messes down there. I had been thinking I was going to have to get the kids to clean it up, when lo and behold, Hoodie Girl just started cleaning it on her own. And she didn’t stop there. . . she decided it needed to be made “cool”. She enlisted Prince Charming’s help, and . . . they are actually finishing it up tonight. I’ll try to remember to take a few pics.

Old Friends
A couple of weekends ago, Prince Charming and I went to Operation Mobilization’s 50th Anniversary celebration. I saw people I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. I was having a grand time chatting with my old friend and former roommate, Susan, when she made reference to turning 50.

FIFTY? Susan can’t be FIFTY. . . she’s only 2 years older than I am!!!!

Regardless, we had a great time, and I wish we could do it again. . .

More Etiquette and More Stuff

2008-10-09T22:46:00.011-04:00

Tonight was etiquette class, and once again I forgot the camera.

They had several role-playing exercises. For practicing introductions (for example, who do you introduce first), Space Cadet was a princess and Hoodie Girl was a grandmother. Then they role-played job interviews, and I was a bit nervous when they chose Fatso and another young man who, like Fatso, loves to be the class clown. Fatso was happy when the teacher asked him to show us the WRONG way to do a job interview. He got a lot of laughs.

We found out Prince Charming's name. We also found out, much to Czarina's chagrin, that Prince Charming is 18 years old.

Tuesday night Czarina, Hoodie Girl and I went to a local upscale shopping center for a middle school scavenger hunt. Each team was given 25 or so clues of things they needed to get pictures of. The pictures had to be in order. We used digital cameras so the scorekeepers could see them on the display, and we didn't have to print them out. Our team didn't win any prizes, but we sure had fun! I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the evening, though!

In other news, today the treasury department introduced the new one dollar bill:

Etiquette and stuff

2008-09-20T12:33:00.006-04:00

I am loving the cooler weather, and being able to have my windows open.

Especially after seeing last month’s electric bill. Yikes!

I enrolled the kids in a once a month etiquette class (some of you may be thinking "it's about time!), which started last week. They had to dress up so Fatso wore a suit, and all 3 girls wore skirts (first time they’ve worn them at the same time), Hoodie Girl did NOT wear her ever-present High School Musical Hoodie, and I forgot to take a picture! Well, there is always next month.

The young men had to be “gentlemen” and escort the ladies. Fatso was an excellent escort, but at home complained that he would never use any of this in real life. “Mom, they act like girls are idiots who can’t decide on their own where to sit. I don’t know any girls that stupid!”

Czarina and Hoodie Girl particularly enjoyed learning the Fox Trot and Jitterbug, and had fun talking everything over once they got home.

One of the young men who escorted one of them was quite good looking, and as they talked about him they dubbed him “Prince Charming”. I asked what Prince Charming’s real name was, and Czarina said they didn’t know. When I pointed out that everyone was wearing name tags, they looked at each other and laughed. Well, there is always next month.

Our Homeschool co-op started September 8. We are there from 8:30-3:45 on Mondays. Then they have homework to do the rest of the week. Fatso & Space Cadet are taking US History and Spanish II, respectively. During the rest of the time they go to study hall or the nearby library and work on their other subjects. Czarina and Hoodie Girl (both 8th grade) have General Science, Art, Literature (which I teach, and is tied into History), History, and Hoodie Girl also has Writing.

The homework has been a pretty heavy load, especially when we add our other subjects, like Math and Bible Quizzing for both of them, and helping Czarina to learn to read and write English. I am thankful that this year Hoodie Girl has been almost entirely independent and very diligent in getting her work done. I have been working with Czarina from the time we get up in the morning until about 4:00 each day, and we are both wearing out. I have to read all the 8th grade work to her and then explain what everything means in 2nd grade English. She flunked her first science test, but I have figured out a way to help her study for the next test. In Literature, it took us forever to get through The Witch of Blackbird Pond. She enjoyed the basic storyline, but there was a LOT she didn’t understand. The next book is Johnny Tremain, and I have decided that Czarina gets to watch the movie so she understands the class discussions, but we will read instead the Felicity series from American Girl. She should be able to read most of that herself with a little help.

In History we started with an overview of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance/Reformation period, as a prelude to the discovery and founding of America. She remembers Martin Luther as “The man who started Halloween.”* Actually she is doing pretty well in History. . . on her first quiz, she actually found a mistake the teacher made. The multiple choice question was “Who started the Reformation,” and Martin Luther was not listed as a choice.

Okay, I guess it's time to get back to planning for my next Lit class. . .

*For those of you who are not history geeks, Martin Luther is credited with starting the Reformation when he nailed his 95 theses on the Wittenberg Church door on October 31, 1517. As I keep reminding Czarina, he really had nothing to do with Halloween.

Dear Mr. Obama

2008-09-11T18:35:00.002-04:00

Fun with English

2008-09-04T17:34:00.002-04:00
First of all, I’d like to make clear that I think Czarina is doing an amazing job of learning English. I am amazed at how well she reads at times. However, there is still a lot she doesn’t know. . .

When you need to find someone to relay a message for you, it is not necessarily a good idea to ask the person who is just learning English to do it.

Czarina will get off the phone with her friend Masha, also from Russia, and tell me something that Masha’s mom wants me to know. It usually makes no sense to me whatsoever.

So, I will call Masha’s mom and what she tells me is NOTHING like what Czarina was saying.

A few weeks ago, Prince Charming decided that he and I would drive separately to church Sunday night, because he needed to stay late to help count the collection money.

He forgot to tell me this until it was time to go. I was in the bathroom and Prince Charming told Czarina, “Go tell Mom that Fatso & I are leaving for church.”

Czarina called through the bathroom door, “It’s time to go!” As far as she was concerned, she had relayed Prince Charming’s message.

Well, I knew it was time to go. I grabbed my purse and Bible and ran out the door, locking it behind me.

And realized Prince Charming’s car wasn’t there.

And my car keys were locked in the house. Because I didn’t need them, because Prince Charming always drives the family to church.

Only Prince Charming had already left. Did I mention my house keys were also locked in the house?

I sat down with my cell phone and attempted to call Prince Charming while Hoodie Girl ran around the house trying to find a way in. First call, wrong number. Second call, right number, no answer. Of course Prince Charming is going to turn his Blackberry off before he goes into church. Hoodie Girl ran back around the house and said all the doors are locked, all windows closed.

Czarina asked, “Doesn’t Space Cadet have key?”

Duh. Of course Space Cadet has a key to the house. So Space Cadet let me in, and I got my keys, and we were only a few minutes late for church.

~~~~~

I had neglected to put the sun shades up in the car while we were at the pool.

I said, “Wow, the steering wheel is hot.”

Czarina asked, “WHAT didge ya say?”

I said, “The steering wheel is hot.”

“What didge that?”

I pointed to the steering wheel. “This is a steering wheel.”

Czarina whispers something to Hoodie Girl, and they both laugh.

Hoodie Girl said, “Mom, Czarina thought you said `Mr. Will is hot!'” (Mr. Will being a friend from church). More peals of laughter.

And yes, I am trying to teach Czarina that didge is not a word.

~~~~~

So what did you do at the library?

I on the computer.

What did you do on the computer?

I went to that web-site, you know with the brown guy. The brown guy with the Underdog. Remember?

Umm, not really.

Singing the song. With the raven. The brown guy. Oh, never mind.

I later figured out that the "brown guy" she was talking about was Kyle Massey, who is in "That's So Raven" and sings a song at the end of the "Underdog" movie. I still don't know what website she was talking about.

God is so awesome!

2008-08-27T21:11:00.001-04:00

I have been much in prayer today because tomorrow one of my children starts a class at one of our home school co-ops. This is a NECESSARY class that I can NOT teach myself. (I am science intolerant). The problem is one of unforgiveness and overt hostility towards another classmate over something that happened last year.

We have discussed this many times, and I just keep feeling like I’m not getting through.

Tonight we went to church. I hang out with the youth group on Wednesday nights, and tonight, the youth message was on forgiveness and the hypocrisy of a Christian holding a grudge.

I do not know if it sunk in, but I do know that the message could not have been any clearer!

2008-08-26T19:51:00.000-04:00

more animals

Fun with history

2008-08-23T22:09:00.004-04:00
I always enjoy looking over my kid’s history answers. Here is a recent example from Space Cadet:

Q. Who reformed the calendar in ancient Rome?
A. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar in ancient Rome. (Sadly, he didn’t think to cut out the Ides of March.)

Q.What is an example of ethnocentrism?
A. One example of ethnocentrism is thinking that Hispanics are time wasters because they focus more on when everyone’s come than when the event was technically advertised to start at. Myself, I like the Hispanic method. It lets me sleep in.

But my all time favorite is from a report she wrote years ago about Leonardo da Vinci:

“The Mona List currently resides behind a pane of bullet proof glass in the Louvre. Why anyone would want to shoot the Mona Lisa is beyond me.”

They're in!

2008-08-22T16:13:00.004-04:00

Space Cadet and Fatso have been accepted to do Distance Learning classes at Patrick Henry College! They start next week! I was a little worried because we sent the applications in a little late, and then I didn’t hear from them. . . but we’re in!

Pinch me, I'm dreaming

2008-08-21T13:53:00.005-04:00

Saturday night we had a Teen Quizzing party at our house. It was supposed to end at 8, but everyone was having a great time so we went until 10, and then one of the quizzers ended up spending the night.

We had our first practice quiz on Sunday afternoon. Our “core quizzers” are Fatso (also known as “Izzle” for quizzle, I mean, quiz purposes), Hoodie Girl (which is what my youngest child wants to be called), Bizzle and Jizzle.

There are also two other young ladies coming, who have both said they would come to practices but don’t want to compete. One if them is Czarina, who thinks her English is not good enough for quizzing. Well, I had an idea to just pick out 8 quiz questions a week for her to study, and ignore the rest. Then I thought, what if I did that for the other girl as well? At practice, they BOTH answered questions. . . out of two quizzes, Czarina got 3 jump questions and 3 bonus questions. Everyone was quite amazed! The other girl is encouraged by her success, and Hoodie Girl is encouraging them both to go to the first quiz. Hoodie Girl thinks we should have a girl team and a boy team. Our first quiz is coming up in a few weeks and it would be way cool if we had 6 quizzers!

We started school on Tuesday. We are not at a full load yet because our co-op hasn’t started yet.

This is what last year looked like:
Space Cadet would start her schoolwork around noon and finish (hopefully) by dinner time. She would also spend a lot of time in her own little world, take 1 ½ hours for basic hygiene needs, and complain that she never had time to do what SHE wanted to do.

Fatso would get up and get started on his schoolwork, finish in a timely manner, and have all sorts of time to spend on his interest.

Czarina would be frustrated because she would see what Hoodie Girl was doing, and feel like she (Czarina) wasn’t learning anything. We had been told in Russia to make her first school year in America all about English, and that’s what we did. Czarina attended the same co-op classes as Hoodie Girl, (science, history, writing, literature and art) but did not have to do all the work. At home we worked on reading, writing, understanding and speaking English. Czarina was mostly pretty co-operative, but sometimes would get in a little snit and not want to do anything.

For most of the school year, Hoodie Girl would go off in her room or the basement to “work on schoolwork”, and I would usually find her reading a non-school related book, or drawing. It would be time for me to make dinner and she STILL wouldn’t be done with her school work. Along with this came speeches about how horribly unfair life is, and about how boring school is. Hoodie Girl lost many, many privileges and spent much time grounded. She also had a very difficult time with the concept of following directions. And her writing? Hoodie Girl was a “stream of consciousness” writer. Her first co-op writing assignment, she wrote 13 pages and got 69% because, although her report was interesting and fairly well-written, she did not follow the instructions.

Fortunately by the end of last school year she got her act together and ended up with straight A’s for the last semester. However, it still took her forever to do her school work.

This year (or this week, at least)
The first two days, Space Cadet was done with her school work (and her shower) by NOON. Today she was working on her last assignment at 1:00. She has had lots of time to work on private projects.

Fatso – no change. He gets up, does his chores, does his schoolwork, and gets on with his life.

Czarina will not be able to complain that she isn’t learning anything. She is the one child I have that I have to work one on one with a lot, due to language issues, but she has been very co-operative this week.

And Hoodie Girl has absolutely amazed me. . . she starts her school work right after breakfast, FOLLOWS THE DIRECTIONS, does not complain, and is done by noon!

(Of course, once the co-op classes start no one will be done by noon, but this is a good start.)

I am looking forward to a great year!

Help me name my youngest child!

2008-08-14T09:19:00.001-04:00

On this blog I have chosen to go the way of many wiser than I, and give my kids “code names”.

I’m kind of stuck on my youngest child’s name.

Space Cadet (there’s a fine line between rocket scientist and space cadet) and Fatso (who is a teen-age boy with hollow legs and an amazing metabolism) chose their own names. Czarina got her name because we adopted her in Russia (Czarina means “Russian princess”).

The youngest can’t think of a name she is willing to be called. I thought of using her family nick name, “Skippy”, which was given to her by my husband’s sister’s husband’s father when she was about 5. I also have considered “Drama Queen”. We also have considered Strawberry (I have no idea why), Superchick, and Supergirl (again, I have no idea why).

Maybe I should give her an artist’s name (but not Van Gogh, because I like her ears) because she is drawing all the time. Or. . . Karaoke Queen, because she loves to sing (as long as no one but Czarina watches/hears).

Anyway, I would like to hear YOUR suggestions! Please leave a comment with your ideas! (And be kind. . . )

And speaking of artists. . .

You can’t go outside until you pee in the popcorn. . .

2008-08-12T16:39:00.000-04:00
We have two cats. Peace, 8 years old, belongs to Space Cadet. Before we got Peace, I prayed for a cat we would not be allergic to.

I should have prayed for a NICE cat we would not be allergic to.

Not that Peace isn’t a good cat. . . she’s very good. She doesn’t scratch the furniture or pee where she’s not supposed to or keep Space Cadet up at night or chew things up, or go into the cat food bag between meals. . . she wouldn’t even DREAM of jumping on the kitchen table. . . she’s just good.

She’s also very rigid, antisocial (except to Space Cadet) rarely affectionate, is very rude to “THAT KITTEN”, and a TERROR at the vets.

When it was time for Fatso to get a cat, I prayed for a nice cat we would not be allergic to.

I should have prayed for a nice OBEDIENT cat we weren’t allergic to.

Sherifina, 17 months old, is sweet. Sherafina just reeks of sweetness. She is cute and funny and affectionate and playful. She ADORES Fatso, and follows him around like she’s a puppy dog. She waits outside of the bathroom for him. She purrs up a storm. She likes to have her belly rubbed. She is friendly to visitors.

She also escapes from Fatso’s room (she has figured out how to open the door), jumps on the kitchen table, meows loudly at night for Fatso to wake up and play with her, scratches the couch and the furniture, and last week chewed through Czarina’s headphone cord AND the USB cord for Czarina’s MP3 player.

She also tries to get into the cat food bag between meals. Peace is totally disgusted by this. “We don’t get our own food!!! That’s what we have SERVANTS for!”

Back to Peace. . . we’ve had to make several vet trips with her this year. The vet’s assistants tremble when we walk in with Peace. There are notes all over Peace’s chart. “Be careful. . . she bites!” On a recent vet trip a new employee said, “I’ve heard about Peace!” They gossip about my cat behind her back!

To get blood work from Peace, she has to be sedated. So several months ago, when we could tell she wasn’t feeling well, we took her in and they did blood tests and a urinalysis. (Prior to the test results coming in, the vet suggested we put her on Prozac. . . I am NOT making this up.)

Turns out Peace has a urinary tract problem. They sold me some expensive food and the vet said to feed it to her for a month and then bring in a urine sample.

Um, excuse me. . . am I supposed to get this cat to pee in a CUP?

No, the vet explained, we can clean out her litter box and line it with shredded wax paper or unpopped popcorn. I had wax paper, so that’s what I filled it with. Then we had to keep Peace inside until she peed.

About 40 hours later, I was wondering if maybe it was not healthy for a cat with urinary tract problems to hold it in so long. . . until Fatso sat in a chair and said, “gross!”

Of all the kids that could have sat in the cat pee. . . it had to be the one with OCD. . .

Fortunately I had been wanting to get rid of that chair anyway, but I wasn’t about to sacrifice any more furniture, so I took her to the vets, they sedated her, and got the coveted specimen themselves.

Unfortunately, she’d gotten WORSE. I was told to mix a certain supplement into her food, and try again in a month.

Times up. After paying the last vet bill I decided to try the popcorn. So this morning Space Cadet cleaned out the litter box and refilled it with unpopped popcorn. Peace keeps trying to tell her, “This is just WRONG!” She wants to go outside, but we keep telling her, “You can’t go outside until you pee in the popcorn!”

And I’m praying for my furniture.

Stay tuned. . .

How not to save money on school supplies

2008-08-12T12:48:00.002-04:00

This is the time of year when many stores offer incredible details on school supplies to get people into their stores.

One Sunday night a few weeks ago I sat down with the ad inserts and made a chart of who had what for sale. Office Depot had notebook filler paper for 15 cents and plastic 2-pocket folders for 1 cent.

Since there is an Office Depot right around the corner from Fatso’s orthodontist, and he had an appointment Monday, we stopped by after the appointment.

I was patting myself on the back as I carried out my 59 cent bag of school supplies. I didn’t even use up much gas (always a consideration these days) since it was so close to the orthodontist’s office.

Forty-five minutes later I pulled into my driveway and. . . discovered my purse was missing.

I called Office Depot and yes, someone had found and returned my purse. So it was back to Office Depot.

At the cost of about $12 for gas.

I was so relieved to get my purse and see that my credit cards, cellphone, etc. were still in the purse.

Later though, I went to get some cash and. . . it was all gone. Whoever found my purse relieved it of it’s cash before they turned it in.

I think there was around $40 in there.

So. . . my 59 cent bag of school supplies actually cost me more than $50. . . .