Quick Takes 7/30/10

*1*
I'm experimenting a little with the blog post today by centering everything. Like it? Hate it? Indifferent?

*2*
Discovered General Foods International's Dark Mayan Chocolate Latte...oh my! That stuff is goooood--adding a squirt of whipped cream to the top is a nice touch :).

*3*
Hubby is cutting grass and it's already 86 degrees at 9:45 a.m.! Our local temperature is supposed to reach 100 degrees later :P. I'm thankful that he's getting to be home for a while today, after several long, stressful days.

*4*
Re:long, stressful days....Our church's steeple was struck by lightning and caught fire on Monday. Thankfully, the fire damage wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, the water damage was considerable, ruining the ceiling, sound equipment, organ, etc. As pastor, Hubby has spent the last several days in meetings with insurance adjusters, architects, repairmen, etc.

*5*
Praise the Lord, we have a place to meet this Sunday! A sister church in the area is letting us use their sanctuary for worship while they are having Sunday School. Arrangements for future services are pending, awaiting the results from asbestos tests. The presence of asbestos will lengthen the rebuilding/repair process.

*6*
A setback such as this will act as a "refining fire" for our fellowship (excuse the fire pun). We'll be back to basics for a while & issues that are usually overlooked may come to the surface. With God's help and an extra dose of patience and longsuffering, we can come through this trial a more unified, holier body of believers!

*7*
Our school year is just around the corner. I've been placing curriculum orders and items are slowly drifting in. I love to get packages in the mail :).

Later Days!
Kelly

7/27/10 Daybook

I am thankful for...
*My church and my church family
*Our local firefighters who responded so quickly to the call that our church steeple was on fire.
*Our fellow believers from another church who made the 911 call about the fire.
*That God protected the church from much worse damage!

From the learning rooms...
*In the process of setting up workboxes for my younger kids so they will be able to visualize the work that needs done and what they've already accomplished.

From the kitchen...
*The lunch mess waiting to be cleared away....

I am wearing...
*Pink shirt, blue shorts, apron

I am creating...
*Order

I am going...
*To enjoy Quiet Time in a little while :)

I am reading...
*The Bible--just began the Read the Bible Through in 90 Days plan.
*A couple of homeschooling books from the library

I am hoping...
*That God will use the fire at the church for His glory!

I am hearing...
*The 4yo slamming doors
*N. & K. giggling about some scheme-in-progress

Around the house...
*Clean garage--I'm still in awe :)

My favorite things...
*Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream
*Fresh tomatoes

A few plans for the rest of the week:
*Church service at an alternate location tomorrow night :(

Later Days!
Kelly

Back to reality...

After a completely topsy-turvy week, today we try to get back into routine. Last week, hubby was away as camp pastor at a children's music camp & all 4 kiddos were with the grandparents for a few days. That's right...I was ALONE.

By all accounts, the week was a success for all. The kids had a terrific time: water day, going to the movies (Despicable Me), seeing their cousins, going to Stumphouse Tunnel, and getting spoiled :). Hubby had a great time at camp and 28 kids made professions of faith! I got the garage cleaned, the bushes trimmed, the van cleaned, and several other projects done that I've been putting off...is procrastination a spiritual gift?

My parents brought the kids home and were able to stay a couple of days to continue the "Doting Marathon". Just to keep things interesting, let's throw in a Coupon 101 class for me, a Cafe on the Hill youth fundraiser, a youth lock-in, AND a youth carwash! Top it all off with wonderful worship services yesterday, followed by a youth pool party after evening service and you have a very tired family.

So, how do you follow-up such a frenzy of activity? With the kids asking "What are we going to do today?"

Later Days!
Kelly

7/16/10

1. We traveled Back Home to visit family :). Just had a terrific evening eating and talking with grandparents, siblings, cousins.

2. Of course, we just discovered that K. forgot her suitcase, so we'll be going shopping tomorrow...do you think she planned it that way? Can you believe her dad and I LET her forget her suitcase!?!

3. Congrats to my niece Peanut on her new braces--looking good!

4. Happy early birthday to my nephew Brett! You're actually turning out ok in spite of your dad :). Hey, bro! lol

5. It is time to make some tough decisions regarding curriculum choices! It's amazing how fast the summer is flying by...we'll be starting school before too long and I better have some books for these kiddos to study.

6. It's easy to get overwhelmed looking at all the curriculum catalogs and websites that come to my attention every day! Have you seen the Rainbow Resource Center catalog????

7. Our Haiti mission team should be arriving home pretty soon. I can't wait to hear their stories about how God is working in that country. I'm pretty sure there will also be some stories of heartbreaking devastation.

Later Days!
Kelly

7/13/10 Daybook

I am thankful for...
*Our local library! Our library trips on Tuesdays are a highlight of our week.
*Our local Books-A-Million--after the library today we went to B-A-M because the kids had some $$ to spend.
*Kids that love to read!!!

From the learning rooms...
*I don't even want to think about school starting back soon. Thankfully, learning never stops!
*I'm sticking flashcards with Spanish words everywhere :).

From the kitchen...
*The lunch mess waiting to be cleared away....

I am wearing...
*Jeans, tunic, apron, toe-ring :)

I am creating...
*A mess--got to get to those lunch dishes!

I am going...
*To my exercise class with friends tonight :).

I am reading...
*The Bible--just began the Read the Bible Through in 90 Days plan. I'm reading in Leviticus now and am so thankful that Jesus' sacrifice paid for my sins so that I don't have to depend on animal sacrifices!

I am hoping...
*To go Back Home this weekend to see family!

I am hearing...
*Near-silence, as my children peruse their new books.
*Occasional outbursts from youngest :)

Around the house...
*Laundry everywhere!
*Pieces of cardboard from N.'s projects
*Cat and dog hair--ugh.

My favorite things...
*Chocolate-covered coffee beans
*Books

A few plans for the rest of the week:
*Making more Spanish vocabulary cards
*Church tomorrow night--I'm leading Girls in Action this week
*Packing to go Back Home :)

A few pictures for thought...



Our latest attempt to save money involves learning to give haircuts. Our friend T. graciously gave us a lesson :). Result: Hubby, N., and M. look like new recruits, we saved big bucks on haircuts and shampoo, no more messy bedhead!

7/9/10

1~We had a terrific time at our Honduran friends' house last night! They have such hearts for God and ministering to His people. They'll be leaving the States soon to hold a crusade in Honduras--please pray for the Rodriguez family.

2~A Disaster Relief team from our church is heading to Haiti today. Though other events have pushed Haiti from the headlines lately, the situation there is still devastating and will be for a long time to come. Please pray for the people of Haiti, the many mission teams and aid workers devoting their time, and the families of the teams as they, too, sacrifice by releasing their loved ones to serve.

3~I need to get serious about learning Spanish! Bits and pieces of my high school and college classes have stuck with me but not nearly enough. Eldest will be studying Spanish for high school credit this year--I guess I will be, too :).

4~Youngest is "cooking" breakfast at his play kitchen. I love the way that boy takes care of his stuffed frog!

5~Haircut time for the men of the house. N. is not really looking forward to it but a haircut DOES mean he can spend even less energy on grooming :).

6~Kermit, M.'s stuffed frog, probably doesn't need a haircut, but I bet he'll go anyway. LOL

7~Must tear myself away from the computer now and go out for my walk/jog/wog before it gets up to 100 degrees again.

Later Days!
Kelly

7/06/10

I am thankful for...
*All my family and friends--we've had a variety of guests for the past few days and it's been fun.
*The USA! We had a great Independence Day.

From the learning rooms...
*Decisions, decisions, decisions...working on my "wish list" for the next school year...homeschooling 11th grade, 8th gr, 4th gr, and 4K will be expensive :).

From the kitchen...
*The smell of sausage frying and biscuits cooking...my mom is cooking breakfast.
*Homegrown tomatoes from Papa's garden--yum!

I am wearing...
*Pajamas :)

I am creating...
*The above-mentioned wish list--it's much more exciting to BUY curricula than it is to USE it :).

I am going...
*To the library--it IS Tuesday, after all!

I am reading...
*The Bible--just began the Read the Bible Through in 90 Days plan
*Mrs. Sharp's Traditions

I am hoping...
*That the cooler weather continues...but I think it's going back up to 100!

I am hearing...
*My parents and my children talking, eggs scrambling :)

Around the house...
*happy noises

My favorite things...
*My family
*Chocolate

A few plans for the rest of the week:
*Library today
*Church tomorrow night

A picture for thought...

"Tourist-y" photo in front of the Taj Mahal



Later Days!
Kelly

Quick Takes 7/2/10

1. Happy Independence Day (a little early)! Amidst the cookouts and pool parties, take a few minutes to thank God for the U.S.A.! As a country, we have our faults but I still think we live in the best country in the world!

2. Can't wait to use the new grill for the first time--burgers, hotdogs & corn-on-the-cob coming up!

3. Company's coming! We have family and friends coming to visit for a few days--can't wait to see everybody :).

4. I still get a laugh out of watching our Roomba "robot" vacuum :). It's almost like watching a pet run around...plus, the way our cat and dog shed, it picks up enough hair to pass for another pet! In fact, we named it Wall-E after the robot in the movie of the same name. What? Doesn't everybody name their vacuum?

5. I have finally gotten around to hanging some pictures and decorative pieces on the walls! We've lived here almost 2 years and it looked like we'd just moved in. It's amazing how much difference it makes!

6. Congratulations to our local baseball team, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, for winning the College World Series! I'm not normally a Gamecock fan, but if the Clemson Tigers couldn't win it, at least another SC team did!!

7. I use entirely too many exclamation marks, don' I?!?! I guess I'm just an energetic person...not. LOL

Later Days!
Kelly

Clank! Bang!

Aaaah...the Sounds of Summer....

Eldest and Hubby are assembling a new gas grill. It will make its inaugural appearance when we burn some meat for July 4th!

I'm hoping the near cessation of the clanking noises coming from the other room means the grill is almost finished!