To late to blog much

Full day

A ladies day here from 10 am to 2:30 Had a great time cillin with a great lady rolling a ball of yarn as she unraveled a sweater she had to repair and made two of my Pay It Forwards

These have a lot of work in them, They still needed a little tweaking.

Went to get the kids at 2:35had an extra (friend of dove's) in tow
Breathing treatments for Dash (who is like a mad man on speed) the medications side effcts also have him Jeckel and Hyde all over the place
Then Hubby walked in said hi and as he was stepping toward me to kiss me the door bell rang (did not get the kiss)
Parent came for kid who did not want to leave for anything!
Parent and kid left
Then said hi to hubs hubs said go take dash and buy him a coat and anything else he needs. I took him to the mall and had some good Mom and Son time to heal his heart. Took him out to supper too.,(Dove stayed to do homework) left at 5 got home at 7:30

walked in the door to request for possible child care at 6 am.
Then walked right out the door with Dove and took her back to the same store at the same mall (got amazing clothing deals for both kids) walked across mall 4X! Left mall at 9pm (huge exception to be out late Dove has never even been out that late in her life)
Then went to Wal-Mart NO COAT to be found.
Got home at 9:45
Returned the call... no childcare in the a.m.? I think but possibility I'll have a kid on my door step at 6am!
it is now 10:30 Woww milked that day for all it was worth.

Good night all

Hear Ye!

Shawna over at Scamps Place has launched a new site...go check her out!

Introducing Teen Lit Review



When it comes to what is acceptable entertainment for our children, there are many places to turn for information. With movies, you have a rating to guide you and reviews you can read with detailed information about the movie and their content. With video games, there are also ratings and places online to get reviews and content details. There are even Christian websites that give these reviews and details from a family-friendly perspective.

However, with books, it is difficult to find a review from a Christian perspective. There are no “ratings” on a book. Book jackets don’t go into much detail. Reading is something all parents encourage, and many of us have children who read A LOT! But, just what are they reading?

We are pleased to announce a new blog - Teen Lit Review, a place where you can find detailed Christian-centered book reviews for all genres of 'tween and teen books. Our goal is to be a helpmate to parents in finding suitable books for their teens. All recommendations are solely the opinions of our reviewers. When in doubt of a book's appropriateness, we encourage you to read the book yourself.

We welcome your comments, feedback on our reviews, and suggestions of books for review.

Please visit Teen Lit Review and let us know what you think! We have a drawing you can enter for a great read for your teenager!

Please feel free to pass this info along through blog posts and/or taking the above button for your sidebars. Please let me know if you need the code for the button. Thanks!!

Thankful Thursday

It is a very cold Desert morning here.
I just now finished Dash's coat!
Perfectly imperfect. I was a bit frustrated to realize yesterday that I had inverted the front panels. I was too far in. I appreciate that Dash did not even notice and he likes it. I made this up out of remnants I found. It turned out cute. I had to cut out the surged seam it textually bothered Dash. Sensory integration stuff can cause many an extra efforts to finish a task.
I know I can buy a soft fuzzy thread to serge with, but alas the old 1957 Phaff wins out again. It is just always the best bet for me.
I am glad that I have it.
My Children are grateful to me for the things that I sew for them. It really is wonderful that they know no in appropriate shame over home sewn clothing.

Well so much for that.
I just got back from taking them to school and He REFUSES to ware it! He said it looks babyish. So I tried to force the issue he sat cold in the car sick. Frustrated I made him put it on only to find him outside cold with it stuffed in his pack. I told him to go inside I looked around and I think I see his point. Remember when we were kids and the torment. I think I understand him. I am bummed all that work and a sad kid who feels bad over it on my account I'm sure. Oh the days of home schooling. I sometimes wish I were able to do that but alas our 6 year olds have to act 12 in order not to be tormented by others.

I am thankful that I have eyes to see his heart and help him through this maze. My poor baby to be in such a fix. Not wanting to hurt me or be humiliated at school.

New Glasses

This is the New pair I picked them up today. It is very strange to have the line after wearing progressives for so many many years.
My distance field is so much clearer. I have not seen my eye brows for years.
The lenses are smaller because the magnification space is smaller.
I think I really like them. So much less distortion.
I have to try them for a 2 week period to see if I can use these lenses.
Other wise I have to go into the prism.
Just a Mom got new glasses too.

Wordless Wedensday

Muddy shoes to wash at my sink. It rained here the other day.

Tales from the scales * to humbly begin again*

Today I begin again...
I have before me the choice to avoid this issue and just get bigger and weaker and less healthy
Or
I can begin again...
humble myself and start over...choice is a powerful thing. I have only failed if I stop trying. so...I begin again. I am so disappointed in myself. I have lost ground on my knee and it is my own fault. It is my own choice to neglect myself, my responsibility to care for myself. I deemed myself not worthy by my own actions. I must begin again and stand up to that lie. I need to set myself up as more than worth to pursue this endeavor. I have lost my knee I think to neglect of exercise. I hope I can get it to recover the neglect. I am very angry at myself.
Sugar is so addictive and I need to first step it. I fell again into the sugar bowl of life. with the intense cavings and affiliations that are there. I must replace the voids and begin again. It is so hard to give it up! I am such a junkie to it.
Today I have two sick kids so I think. It is perhaps sugar that is leaving them more vulnerable to illness. It is really hard on immunity. I am pained in my joints too. week and fatigued of body. I know this experience I have been on this road too many times not to know the end of it.
I must begin again.!
I admit I have a problem and I desire to face it. YIKES!

Time Travel Tuesday

Time Travel Tuesday ~ 2013 Edition

Let's travel forward this time! Where do you see yourself in five years? Will you be living where you live now? What's going on in your life five years from now???

Visit Annie's Time Travel Tuesday

In five years Dove will be 15 and Dash will be 12...Teenagers. I will be 52 years of age! yikes. Beloved will be 55. Wow.... Dove will in all hopes be in 8th grade and Dash in 6th. They will be in two different schools. Dove may be home schooled if needed. Dash will be on the fast track and on his way to higher education. It is my desire that he will still have his sight and hearing if not then It is my desire that we further his education as much as possible with a special school to meet his need. May that not be the path, is my hope for him.
We will be raising our children. Having a good relationship with them where they know they can trust us. I want to offer them a place of haven in the midst of the stormy world.It is my desire to live a long life with Beloved together. We do need to cover our life insurance needs better.
We, during our peers retirement years, will be raising our children. It is my hope that we are able to attack our mortgage to get this home paid off so we will have no mortgage to interfere with the college needs and the income less years to follow. It is my desire that once the children are established in schools with relationships that are healthy we play it out until they are out of school. I see us here for many years for that is our lot. We looked at other options but we find our selfs here earning a living to support our family in the best way we are able in the most productive and ample environment as possible.
It is a reality that Beloveds folks will be in greater need of our help so I would assume that will also be a part of our life then.
Perhaps with creative avenues and ventures I might be able to be a big help in that through ebay and etsy... I hope we can one day be debt free of the mortgage.
I desire a sound mind and a strong body. Healthy children and a healthy husband. Perhaps some travel. Most importantly I have a desire to be debt free. We are a mortgage off from that. The adoptions were the greatest investment we ever made. The lives of the children were worth every hardship they are a gift and a treasure. We are so blessed. I wish that the expenses associated with the adoptions were gone though. That is my big goal. No more mortgage at retirement in five years I hope we will have made a big dent in that!

Are you a dumb American?

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Are You a Dumb American?

Wow what a different day.

We were giving him a breathing treatment and he was so dog gone cute Beloved and I could not even keep a straight face without tuning away to smile wide. He is doing alright with the steroids and the albuterol. I have to keep an eye on him. This child that sits next to him and coughs at his face all day is getting over pneumonia. We have to watch Dash for infection now that his lungs are compromised. This Doctor was new at the practice and asked me if Dash had cochlear implant... I had to tell him of the Ushers Syndrome thing ...It always hits me so hard to speak of it. I pray that this is not the road for this child. God is in charge not me.
I took him to lunch, he wanted to order for me so we had our Taco Bell to go and went over to the fountains to sit outside and eat. We spoke of procreation for he saw birds mating that little boy was so startling " they do that so that God can make more birds...Just like people make more people." I told him how some folk do it just because its fun and they do it outside of marriage and that that was not the original plan. He gets it. Then I told him of abortion and how that when the mating makes life it is not for life that they do it, so they kill it. (I can speak form a personal understanding of this) not judgment just facts laid out simply.
I have a really great child her, MY SON, My son a hearts desire twenty years in the waiting and life is given to me through another woman who chose to give him a life unselfishly.

What Donetta means

What Donetta Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Tackle It Tuesday

Change in plans, this is what I will be doing for the next three days three times a day. His Asthma is in a bad way they put him on steroids. Asthma is three fold
1. inflammation = steroid help
2. spasm= albeuteral
3. mucus+ a med given at the doctors office in the breathing treatment.

Doctor thinks it is allergy related to the mucus, exposure to the sick child in his class causing the spasm and the spasm causes the inflammation. Dash is pretty rattly in his chest but better after the breathing treatment. We have a svn or breathing machine here at home and will be using it .

Everything else pales!
Nothing really Matters when this is the task at hand :)

Good Morning!
Well out late and up early. The children are at school, Beloved has a lunch and the kids get to eat at the cafeteria today. My car still in the drive way was brisk to enter this morning. so... I got a lot of the Christmas stuff packed up just have the wrapping stuff,cards and paper to organize...

and all the ornaments to sort and put away properly. I am so slipping I never have just tossed them all in a basket like that before. I think I will not do it again either, shat a pain!

I am so getting tired of taking care of stuff all the time. I think if I learn e bay and sell some stuff off I would be much happier and not so worn out.

We gave the kids each a basket to empty the car out. It just collects. I saw Dash got something oil looking on the back seat when I turned to tell them good bye. I have this to put away. His asthma is still bad today. All of this may stop to get him an a appointment at his pediatrician's (23 miles away). There is some heavy equipment working across the way at a neighboring house and it has been going for days...I am so fatigued of the vibration and noise it causes.

I have the bottom three shelves to do here. So much of this is ABeka curriculum. I need to sell. I must get up and running. I have a great referral for a home school site. It is so hard to bring myself to totally letting go of this.

I'd like to see this dusted and the glass cleaned. Under the TV is a mess the kids have made too. Man! kids are so messy!

Decorating would bring me some pleasure too. It is so fun to have some excitement for the family. I have some cupcake cups and sprinkles too. I was going to make some cards too. I have so many desires and thoughts of things I would love to do. So little energy and time :)

I just love the vibrant place mats I found at Wal-Mart cheep. They are so colorful.

Jewelry sales and creating is another avenue I need to hit. The education cure is needing attention. With a etsy store up and coming This is in need of consideration and tidying. I have three pay it forwards to create. I have not forgotten you three girls. I was looking into your favorites just yesterday. Pinks and browns for one and silver for another. See I know just have been busy but that was noted in the pay it forward when I posted. I hope you are still planning to do yours as well.

This is a time consuming task. I just replaced the little green ones at Christmas with two larger ones. Chew able vitamins take up a lot of space in the daily compartments. I sort and then each day they just open up and there it is. I start new habits with great intentions. It is the long term follow through that is a hardship for me. I must begin again over and over. I must begin again with my knee I must begin again with the weight loss too. I get so frustrated with myself!

Valentine Decorations
Ornaments away in garage
kitchen tidy
Vitamin Pill boxes
Start again

A full day of meal preperations for the week ahead

I started off my morning with Dash, he was having asthma I think, no fever. A bad cough and the desire to stay home. I saw that it was a need for him to have mom time. So off to build a Lego Mall, cafe and body shop pet store and weapons outlet too. :)
After some albuteral he was alright.
Asthma it is a real breath stealer.

I made up a batch of Apple Crumble. love this apple peeler/corer/slicer

It makes such even pieces

The rice dishes for the week are one for fish it has sushi rice with herbs de Provence and parsley powder using a chicken broth base. The other is a rice I think it is spelled arsio? with the taco mix seasoning and a little kitchen bouquet for color.

This one is for supper tonight. It has ground lamb cooked then the basmati rice, curry and turmeric in Chicken broth as well.

left ariso(?) right sushi and lower is Basmati

I will serve the lamb tonight and the others will be put up for the menu this week.

Home cooking means lots of dishes!

Ginger snaps for the kids after school too.

Well off to the garage to pack up the Christmas things. I want my car parked inside again. I really miss it being nice and warm and clean.

Herberer Theater Tonight

We have been invited by the Director and the Performer to attend

An Evening With Harriet Tubman
January 15-17, 22-24
Time: 12:10 P.M. , Doors open at 11:40
**PREVIEW NIGHT Jan 14th, 7 P.M.**

The play was amazing!
Very good historical understanding.
She was so much more than our history has ever told us.

A dramatic narrative detailing the life of American Legend Harriet Tubman. Known as "The Moses of Her People" , Harriet Tubman is said to have led over 300 of her bondsmen out of slavery. Harriet Tubman led a life of reluctant fame and adventure. Based on documented events, this original piece is written and performed by Larrissa Brewington
Directed by Kandyce Hughes

Kandyce and I have been friends many years over 20, Her husband and Beloved are best friends of well over 30 years. We loaned the play a musket riffle for the performance and as a gift to our family we have been given admission for the whole family. This aught to be a lot of fun tonight. We are both Civil War buffs.

Canyon Lake Arizona

Sunday Drive
We got a little house bound and Dash has a bit of a cough so we went for a ride. We drowe around on the new 202 freeway and then found our selves on the way to
Canyon Lake

The Lake is drained so that repairs can be made to the Dam.. with the water level down we just had to go explore.

I found a nice drift wood.

We would have water way over our heads normally so it was very interesting for the kids to see.

This area is called the Geronimo Formation. The landscape it breath taking.

If you look across you can see how low the water level is.

The children are dwarfed by the embankments this is all normally under water.

the shells were so numerous and amazing. The rocks were covered with moss that made them look hairy.

The sunset was amazing!

In the canyon is a little "town" Tortilla Flat... they actually have a post office,general store and a bar/restaurant. The kids had to have their photo on the "horses butts".
The walls and ceiling in this little place are covered with $1. bills YES real ones. They say $40,000. worth of $1. I suppose it they ever need them ...

We got the children some 6 shooters for $4 a set at the little shop, they were so excited to get to the car to open them. We gave them the choice of the shooters or the $4 to save toward there toys on the refrigerator waiting to be earned. Dash said he would rather earn the money for the toy.

Sunset in the south west is joy!

Oh the sky was just too wonderful!

The little one lane bridges were charming to cross. No one knows the rules any more and it can be a free for all.

My soul is refreshed after such a fun time together in the great outdoors.

Menu Plan Monday

Having the inventory done I was able to finish the menu quickly as I stood in the hall and listened to Daddy Man read from the Chronicals of Narnia, Prince Caspian. I love his reading voices (yes plural) he is astounding!
I placed all the meats for the first four days in the outside refrigerator to defrost.
I will pre-bake Saturdays and Sundays chicken once thawed while I make Tuesdays meal and set it aside. I like to have more free time on the weekend.
I will make Thursday and Friday's rice tomorrow to save efforts and then stow them in the refrigerator. I'll just have to fry the fish and re-heat the rice for movie night on Friday. Sundays soup will have all of the left over vegetables from the week if any and I'll amend it as necessary.
Backing will be done for breads and Grains snacks like cookies and muffins.

Join us at Organizing Junkie

Carnaval of family life. *Life Celebrated*

The Carnival of Family Life is coming to Write From Karen - AGAIN!

Read on …

If you’re not familiar with the Carnival of Family Life, here is a brief summary:

Goals of the Carnival of Family Life
The goal of the Carnival of Family Life is to provide readers an opportunity to sit down in front of their computers, relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, and be inspired, amused, motivated or experience a couple of “A ha!” or “Me, too!” moments while reading and considering the various entries.

In essence, the Carnival of Family Life is all about your family. The definition of family is broad and this Carnival encompasses all of those interpretations. Write about a family antedote, a funny family story, the meaning of family as it applies to you, family tips, products, etc.

Write your article, post it to your blog and then submit the permalink. I’ll compile the links and post article excerpts here on January 14th.

You can find more about the program and the guidelines here. You can also find this week’s Carnival of Family Life at Pajama Mommy (beginning January 7th).

So tell us about your family - we’re listening

Life Celebrated

Having a thing to anticipate is a way that energy is kept alive and the electricity of excitement charges the air with a tingling that races the adrenaline into every pore.
Holidays come and go monthly. seasonal celebrations of events unfold. Although we are not Jewish is is a beautiful culture,as are so many cultural events.

New year 1-1
Martin Luther 1-16


Ground Hogs Day 2-2
Valentines Day 2-14
Washington and Lincoln's Birthdays 2-20,22


Ash Wednesday 3-1
St Patric's Day 3-17
First day of spring 3-20


April fools day 4-1
Palm Sunday 4-9
Pass Over 4-13
Good Friday 4-14
Easter 4-16
Earth day 4-22

May Day 5-1
Mothers Day 5-14
Armed Forces day 5-20
Memorial Day 5-29

Flag Day 6-14
Fathers day 6-18
First day of Summer 6-21

Fourth of July 7-4
Americans with Disabilities Act 7-26

Labor Day 9-4
Grand Parents Day 9-10
Patriots Day 9-11
First day of Fall
Rosh Hoshanah 9-23

Yom Kippor 10-2
National Children's Day 10-8
Columbus Day 10-9
Harvest

Election Day 11-7
Veterans day 11-7
Thanks Giving 11-25

Pearl Harbor Day 11-7
Homukkah 12-16
First day of winter 12-20
Christmas Day 12-25
New Years Eve 12-31
Kwanzaas

Birthdays
Adoptions days
(we Celebrate the day the Judge said yes!)
Anniversaries
Weddings
Funerals

There are so many cultural events that lend them selfs to understanding through teaching and celebration (even if it is just to acknowledge them for educational purposes). The more we understand each other the more we learn to understand why folks are the way they are. History is also a large part of holiday interest.

In order to keep a budget there are many items that are exchangeable to each holiday. Things to collect are so easy to find at the end of the prior holiday after the things go on clearance.

Red can be used for Valentines and Mothers Day, Fourth of July, Election Day

Greens for St Patric's, Earth Day,Christmas

Whites for St Patric's Day,Easter, Election Day

Thanksgiving browns can be added for Ground Hog Day ,Earth Day
Pinks for Valentines, Easter and such.

You get the Idea so when a holiday ends and your out and about and see a clearance item of such color think seasonally.
Teach your children sociology through celebrations it instills a love of culture and silences bigotry as well.
When you can retroactively end bigotry you wield a powerful sword.:)