Training Hearts

I can't get the cool graphic code to load into a post - you'll have to check out the sidebar. If you click the graphic, it will take you to the post where there is more information about this pledge.

Commitment Pledge:
We are a Christian family desiring to raise our children with the primary focus of Training their Hearts!

*“I have no greater joy, than to hear my children walk in truth..” III John 1:4

*“Train up the child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

*“Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!” Deuteronomy 5:29

SATURDAY

Quote of the Day: Jamin: "I have all the credits I need to graduate, don't I?"

Mom: "Yes."

Jamin: "Can I take one more year and then take a year to work on writing and publishing my books?"

Mom: "Um...Dad and I will talk and pray about it. Are you thinking of moving to Crescent City to write?"

Jamin: "No."

Jared: "You should - you'd have all the characters you need for your books right there." ::snort:: OK - California and all.....and well Michael's folk live RIGHT on the river and they have ALL sorts of folks tromping down to the river - THAT is what Jared meant.

Lazy a.m. We all slept in.

I began looking around for the curriculum I need to buy. This mainly involves getting the classes that Jamin would like tracked down. I'm still looking for a filmmaking course that will fit the bill. He'll do Christians Writer's Guild. He'll do another writing class that involves writing editorials, book reviews for papers, submitting magazine articles etc. He'll have composition with TOG as well as history, lit, church history etc. I ordered the books he'll need for the first three weeks.

Michael took the younger children Jared- Zander to the pool. Jamin and Josiah are working.

I read teacher's notes and cried. I couldn't believe my 16 yo - our 4th - is talking about graduating. They are all growing up so quickly now....

We picked up chicken and such at Albertsons and met the P family at the park. Their boys and our boys were good friends and they will be moving to AK this week. It was a good time of closure for the boys. I could tell that Michael and Kwame were enjoying discussing RV's, engines, and travel routes. We women - well there is never a lack of conversation, is there? ::snort::

Michael and Jared went out for a run and I'm running the fantastic four through the bath....honest. Yes, I DO love the laptop and the wireless connection. ::snort::

FRIDAY

Yesterday was busy.

Produce Co-op - Everyone helps....

Even Stacia - though none of us are sure why she thought we NEEDED the remote car????

What is THIS?

After co-op we peeled 25 lbs of potatoes. We were having company (NO THEY DON'T EAT THAT MUCH) and I wanted to make garlic mashed potatoes. I thought I would make a bunch and freeze the rest. I had just finished THAT when it was time to run. (Note, Nolan took the photo and MOM is the only one who cooperated - guess I KNOW what it's like to have uncooperative subjects ::snort::).

We had a hail and farewell. Two of our chapel staff are deploying. Two are just moving in. Our chaplain candidate will be heading back to Maryland on Tuesday. Always changes at a military chapel.

I had just enough time back at home to get dinner ready. We had a great time with Ch. C and family. They have six children - we had six at home. They had some rousing fun on the trampoline...Cy was the "big man" and had fun with them - until he got hurt. Jamin was at work. Kimberly was also here (our chaplain candidate). Deja, Arielle totally held her own in the midst of the rowdiness.....LOL Once again baby girls, BOYS, and her. LOL

We ended the night watching Mork and Mindy from Netflix and Hogan's Heroes.

Is There a Nurse, Dr, or Experienced Mother in the House????

When we've had stitches before the wound has always been "flat" and "together" when the stitches were removed.

The thought they would take these out at four days and didn't. They took them out at 7 days...but check out the photos below. The skin is puckered, we've been putting hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic cream on. It sizzles with the peroxide. Jamin works raw chicken. He hasn't been lifting weights and would like to - but I'm nervous about it.

Does this look right? Should I take him back to the ER again and have them restitch it?

Friendship in Proverbs 24

24:21 - 22 My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change, for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them.

~There you have it! Scriptural justification for all who want to avoid close friendships with us military types ::snort::

~Seriously, I believe this is talking about avoiding those who change their minds, their hearts, their beliefs constantly....KWIM?

~Again the "associate" is the same word used in Proverbs 20 and would denote a close relationship. I tend to reserve the title "friend" for those who are close to me. I think the term is thrown around a lot lately and we've lost the meaning of a "true, bosom buddy". I'm seeing through this jaunt, that there ARE levels of friendships/relationships.....so this verse is another that would apply to those "meddling, mingling, intimate, close" relationships.

24:28 - Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not decieve with your lips. (29) don't return tit for tat.

~These verses focus on MY actions and attitudes

~I must be careful not to be deceptive in my speech - in any way. . . be that through "outright" lies, exaggeration, fanciful embellishment of stories (unless others know that I am doing so)....

Working Poll!!!!

There you have it. I finally gave up on blogger. I saw that KATHY had a poll on her wordpress blog. I clicked the link and wala! A poll that works.

For those who were enjoying the mystery poll as to why it wouldn't work - you voted overwhelmingly that blogger hates me. ::sniff::

I'm not sure why the box is so long or white - but I'll play with it more later. Maybe.

Michael and Jared are still not home. I'm quite sure that CAP was over hours ago - that can mean only one thing - something had to be finished at the office. ::snort:: Ah well - I got MORE cuddle time and blog time as well.

Just Thursday

Quote of the Day: "Uh, Mom? Jared forgot his pants!" ::snort:: This shocking discovery was made as we drove home from dinner and dropping Jared at CAP. Someone didn't notice that Jared changed into a uniform.

I crashed today. I'd be hard pressed to list anything that I accomplished. I'm sure there's something - folded laundry, did dishes, made beds, watched a movie with the fantastic four, took the kids to visit Dad for a bit and dropped Jared at CAP, ran the stuff by Sherri's since I missed her yesterday, weighed some Rapadura, cleaned out a cupboard that exploded when I opened it....I actually cuddled and held Stacia a lot today....I barely saw her yesterday...like I said...we CRASHED.

But I didn't work out. I got ready to and simply couldn't make myself.

I didn't cook dinner - we had BK.

I had hoped to make some freezer meals - but didn't. My well stocked freezer is already looking frosty again and I have only 3 loaves of bread left.....time to get serious.

I'm mostly TIRED. I doubt we will begin school on Monday. I need more time to pull it all together.

Do I feel bad about today? Not really. I only wish I'd slept too. ::snort::

This has become my parenting, schooling, life motto since the girls grew up and moved out....

Isn't it a great little towel? I found it at Kobuks in Anchorage and HAD to purchase it. I look at it daily and always smile and remember: it's the little things that matter.

I got a card today from Bre. It made me cry. She talks about it being a rainy day...she had the kettle on, was preparing a cuppa tea, had the candles lit, jazz music on and it reminded her of many of our afternoons. She imagined what we'd be doing on a day like that and she was RIGHT. She missed me. She wrote just to share her rainy day with me. It's the LITTLE things like that that matter over a lifetime...so no, I don't feel bad about setting aside everything today to cuddle and play with the fabulous four. I went right away to put the kettle on - but it loses some of the charm when it's so HOT outside....maybe I'll turn the AC down real low and brew a pot for after bed time tonight....

I guess I spent the day savoring the blessing of having little ones at home while the big ones have moved on. . . and being a tad bit lazy...alright already... a LOT lazy.