Blast from the Past

Do you remember these dresses? I distinctly remember wearing these in the 70's, remember seeing photos of them in the 70's. ::snort::

I was at Walmart trying to find a life vest, pool chemicals and filters when I saw THESE. No, they weren't by the pool things. They were in fabric where I was looking for cheesecloth so that I can make yogurt covered pretzels. ::Snort::

I KNEW this would solve a problem I've been having the past few weeks: company when I'm in my swim suit. I can throw this on - it's isn't flattering, but it is modest. I bought enough to make myself one and then saw the stuff to make a shirt.There was a LOT of it - enough to sew Stacia two dresses. She calls them our swimming dresses.

I had no idea she would love matching me. The boys never want to. Arielle would rather eat artichokes than wear a dress.

"We are Ladies - Princess Ladies".

Today's To Do List

You know I love my lists.

Tend to big rocks

School - independent

School - couch - one week of TOG

Bake Bread

Call HEB - confirm prices

Walmart

Bank - cash checks for produce

Call Chick Fil A - tray for PWOC Project Night

Put chicken in freezer (because I'll forget if it's not on the list)

Make laundry Soap

Keep trying HEB for young coconut info - I tried

Post Office

Make New Produce Co-op Order Forms

Check on PORF for plane ticket to PWOC Central Region Leadership Weekend

Remove photos from Central Region's PWOC site

Meet Mike for dinner

Drop Jared off at CAP

Sew Swimming Dresses

Pick up living room

Wash bedding

Make Bed

Add order to "final" United order

Swim - Update - I swam with the littles - that means I played with the kids.

Update Blog

A list helps me focus on the fact that I DID get something done - even if it wasn't ALL that I wanted to get done.

Pool Blahs....

The water test's fine with the ph, alkaline levels, chlorine on the test strips. The water, however, is cloudy. What would you all do? Keep dumping in chemicals?

It Feels Like Friday!

A very normal day around here. Gym, school, laundry, co-op ordering....did I say school? We are zipping now. We finished a whole week of TOG today - of course we are saving the hand's on things until we are done with "school". LOL Workbooks for next year arrived yesterday. Arielle and Nolan began them today. Maybe we are doing next year this year....

The highlight of the day was Stacia, Nolan and I going out to the Rec Camp to pick up Mike.

He promptly hibernated at the base library.

Everyone was home tonight! We ate dinner. Mike went to finish studying. Arielle and Nolan played Settlers of Catan. Josiah, Jamin and Jared headed to the gym and found some other men to play basketball against. I swam with Stacia and Zander.

The young ones are in bed. The older ones are back from the gym and settling in. Mike is nearly done with studying and will take another ACSC test tomorrow.

Cindy emailed that my page prints from Costco are done. I wanted one page of 3 as glossy and one page of 3 as matte so I could see which I like best. They did them all one or the other...and so they did the other print again. I'll be able to see the SAME photos in both finishes. I'm excited to see them. Friday night is our PWOC project night....I need to decide which photos I'm going to work on.....digital or traditonal. I don't think I can get a wifi on base...haven't been able to so far. Security being what it is. ::snort::

At one of the first Mom's Night Outs hosted by our local homeschool support group I was given this. I knew I would want this but I wasn't quite sure what I would do with it.

It's been wonderful. We have a built in entertainment center. We don't have a TV. THIS was perfect. It slid right into the place of honor.

I load it with books we are using for school and other books on the same topic. It currently houses books on Rome for the next few weeks. The books are handy for me when we are doing couch school, and they entice the younger ones to pick up books that may not necessarily be "meant" for them. (Yes, I know the blue is a bit bright...but you rarely see the blue).

If you have a chance to get one of these - grab it. For more of my WFMW posts click here....and to read hundreds more ideas go visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Summer Days

I had to drag myself out of bed this a.m. I did not want to go to the gym; but I did.

I did want to meet Mandy at Olive Garden for lunch.

I headed to Hobby Lobby. I had hoped to get supplies to make the farewell gift we have planned for PWOC but Hobby Lobby didn't have much in the way of 6x6 page protectors. I need to look online for a better price. We're frugal around here. LOL

We had to force ourself to do school this afternoon. Why does it seem so MUCH more tedious in the afternoon.

We closed out the United order. I should be thinking of a produce order - but that can wait for tomorrow.

After dinner we enjoyed the pool....even Jamin joined us.

The atmosphere changes when the big boys are in the pool. ::snort:: All six who were home are in the above shot. Josiah is working.

Zander was right in the middle of all the fun. As I snapped photos I saw something fly across my line of vision - it was ZANDER and I caught it on film/memory card?

The best photos of all will not be blogged. Jamin was lifting Zander high and his swim trunks fell off. What a great photo....it's spectacular...but somehow I know Mike won't let me post it...and it may not ever get printed. We shall see. It's honestly a discreet mooning really. ::snort::

Jamin and Jared headed for the gym when the rest of us came in. I love the way the pool tires out the little ones so the sleep so well at night. I may have to keep it up year round. ::snort::

Complete Security

Who wouldn't desire complete security? OP SEC (Operation Security) is something military members and spouses strive for. It's no wonder this verse leapt at me this a.m.

"He who walks in integrity walks securely, he who perverts His ways will be found out." Pr 10:9

To walk uprightly or in integrity is to walk in wholeness and completeness. It encompasses moral uprightness - honesty. It's the state of being in an unimpaired, perfect (mature) condition.

I strive for a whole and integrated life. I want the various parts of my life to ADD UP. When I walk in honesty I have the great freedom and ease of knowing that my progress will be unimpaired. When I do NOT walk in integrity in each part of my life, things get "off balanced", "off kilter"....think one square tire with 3 round tires. I may still arrive at my destination but I'll be limping along. I may have a blow out and suffer harm.

Security simply put is a calm assurance or confidence.

As I walk in obedience in each part of my life, my life will become one of integrity; whole and complete. That will result in a calm assurance and confidence because of God's gracious work in my life. As I pervert God's standard in any area of my life this will become apparent to those around me. Regardless of what we believe, our walk is on display to others.

I long and pray for wholeness, uprightness, integrity in each and every element of my life: marriage, parenting, schooling, health, ministry.

©2008 D.R.G.