Book Reviews: YADA YADA and Tsars

TWO MORE SPRING READING THING BOOKS READ....

*Yada Yada Prayer Group* by Neta Jackson. Reading this book AFTER reading the second in the series has confirmed my determination to read books in ORDER. I didn't like knowing what MUST happen next. ::snort:: Another fun book with the theme of being "sinners saved by grace" clearly shining through. Josiah got the next one from the library for me, and I'm adding it to the spring reading thing list. LOL

Earlier in the year we watched the movie with this same title. I determined to read more on this subject. This is a great book. It is well-documented, historical and yet reads like a novel.

*Nicholas and Alexander* by Robert K. Massie.

For the first time I really GET what happened in Russia during this time period. I understand WHY Lenin and such had to attempt to destroy the church. The Russians were a deeply religious people. I understand how Rasputin got such a hold on the Empress. It saddened me to read of the steps along the way that led to the death of Tsar Nicholas and his family. If he'd been a bit quicker to act, a bit less determined to maintain the monarachy as is, a bit quicker to discuss the really tough issue of Rasputin with the Empress....I was ashamed at the lack of insight showed by the American President - along with most other European Governments of the time. Of course, we're looking BACK now and we KNOW that they were all murdered, at that point in time it was assumed they'd simply live out their lives in exile.

From the back cover: "A wonderfully rich tapestry, the colors fresh and lcear, every strand sewn in with a sure hand. Mr. Massie describes those strange and terrible years with sympathy and understanding...they come vividly before our eyes."

Pregnancy Update...

I'm very tired. I'm sick. I have no energy. I want to sleep all the time. I'm also fighting a UTI. I won't be going to Arlington this weekend. I'm simply not up to it. SO....I've dragged myself out when I HAVE to be out and other than that I've been taking it very easy. I watched a disc of "Waltons" and "Here's Lucy". I've begun and finished a book on the Romanovs.

I DID get up yesterday and do a bunch of things that needed done....and I made DINNER. Here are my dinner helpers.

BIKE RIDE

Another weekend event: Mike took the younger ones for a bike ride. I'm banned from biking while pregnant. 1. I have a well established history of clumsiness and 2. I'm still dizzy a lot.

They had a great ride and when they got back Zander was ready to ride his REAL BIKE! This proved to be the last ride with the trike (until Stacia is riding).

MYSTERY SOLVED or Projects Galore!

I've been complaining about a peculiar odor in the little boys' room since we moved in. We shampooed carpets, painted etc...still there. We thought that it may have had something to do with Zander's potty training....but really I'd cleaned with Odoban, bleach, carpet deodorizer etc.

Our dishwasher constantly backs up. We've had two folks look at it and the only way to fix it would be to move it or something or other. The pipe has to go too far and make too many turns before it drains. SO....when it backs up we have to shop vac the water out of the washer, take the pipes apart and vac them, and put it all back together. The older boys have gotten good at this. It appears they've also gotten tired of it. One of them taught Nolan (8) to do this and proceeded to instruct him to take care of it when it backed up last Thursday. Thursday afternoon I noticed unexplained water on the kitchen floor. I couldn't figure out where it came from. I mopped it up. Thursday night I noticed lots of water in the boys' closet. Neither would confess to having brought water in to the closet, the closet shares no plumbing walls...we couldn't figure it out. I wasn't about to accuse either of them of lying so I simply had them help me clean it up. We took the opportunity to reorganize the toys and really clean their room.

I meant to mention it to Mike but he got home LATE Thursday night and I left EARLY Friday a.m. Right before co-op on Friday Nolan told me there was water in his closet again. Hmm....far too busy to stop right then, but would have to remember to mention this to Mike. Friday afternoon, Nolan came in to tell Mike and I that there was water shooting out of the pipes in the pan cupboard and there was water all over the kitchen. Oh yeah - I meant to mention that water thing. ::snort:: Mike went to investigate. When Nolan had fixed the dishwasher he evidently didn't get the pipes quite tight enough. When we ran the dishwasher it would flood. AND on further investigating, Mike discovered the water ran under the oven, under the floorboard and into the boys' closet. (SEE THE PARAGRAPHS ARE CONNECTED!)

I mentioned the ongoing smell again and mentioned that I wanted to shampoo it all. While taking out the carpet Mike got a good whiff and recognized the smell...cat urine. It appears that the former owners must have had cats and they used the large closet for, well...gross. We took the carpet outside. Washed it over and over with soap and Odoban. We hung it to dry. Then the storms began - it's had several great fresh water rinses.

Meanwhile, I've been mopping and scrubbing the concrete several times a day with bleach water..... Their room is a MESS as all the toys and such are in the middle of their room...but soon it will all smell nice and be put back together.....Of course I'd like to paint the whole room and replace the carpet in their room too. I'd REALLY like to take ALL our carpet out and put in wood or tile...but we have to resell the house in a couple of years.

Mike also fixed a belt and muffler on the Honda this weekend...and a few other things. This led to a comment such as, "It's hard to believe you guys survived 6 months with me gone!" ::snort:: Um....I thought about this....things ALWAYS are breaking around here....when he's here we let HIM fix them....when he's gone I blog about it. ::snort::

Friday/Saturday - CAP and Snakes

Jared finally made it to Civil Air Patrol on Thursday. This is something he had researched last summer. We decided to wait until Mike was home before committing to another weekly outing. Thursdays will be long for him with HoF from 1 - 5:30 and CAP from 6:00 - 9:00...we shall see how it goes. The idea is to begin now when HoF is about over and go through the summer.....and then add everything else back to the routine.

I got a call last night from the doctor's office. It seems that my lab work on MONDAY showed that I had a UTI. It was nice to get some meds and start to feel a bit better.

Krista called and it was fun to talk to her. She misted me up when she said that Master's Commission out there have been praying for me and the baby since hearing that I was pregnant. I reminded her that the first trimester is critical.

We watched *Honey I shrunk the Kids*. I plan to head back to bed soon and either keep reading about the Romanovs or watch some Waltons.

The boys and Mike headed to the paint ball field at 9:00 a.m. They met several friends and had a good time. Mike came home at 11:00 so that I could run to a ladies luncheon. My friend, Debbie, picked me up and the plan was for Josiah to bring her boys home where she would pick them up. The boys got home right before we did. LOL The big excitement I'm hearing about is that Jared found a 5 foot snake on the field...almost stepped on it. It coiled. Then someone began pelting it with paint.

The chapel ladies had lunch at Miss Hatties, a local historic hang out. It was good to get out and relax with ladies. I do find myself fairly distracted and pukey feeling these days.

I came home and addressed some graduation announcements. Not sure what the evening holds but it will be tame for me. LOL

GRADUATION MANIA

WooHoo! everything arrived today. Here's Josiah with the loot....

He will be getting a diploma from NARHS, but we wanted to give him one too.....The girls always said the one they earned from US was harder to get than the one the state school awarded. ::snort::

Inside: With Hearts of gratitude

for God's enabling grace

we are pleased to announce the

Home School Graduation

of our Son

Josiah Michael G

Please join us........

Michael & De'Etta

Inside: Meadowcreek Academy of Excellence - Whereas our son Josiah Michael G has not only mastered a body of knowledge pursuant to a high school education, but has also demonstrated Godly wisdom and personal maturity based upon faith in Jesus Christ, We, his parents, present him with this high School Diploma....it is evidence that he has fulfilled all requirements for graduation and is given with confidence that he is equipped, by the grace of God, to meet the challenges of life as an adult. Dated this nineteenth day of May, Two Thousand Seven....then Proverbs 9:10 and our signatures....

New Game

 

I picked up this game at the used book sale last weekend for .50. We are enjoying it. It's a great game for younger ones to enjoy.....Arielle, Nolan, Zander and I have been playing it in the afternoons. Stacia is the chaos factor...robbing our cards but contributing little to the objective of the game.