Ah, and I have found a place to hide...

Well, I don't really have to hide. I have just found a way to get out and do something on my own, for the good of the family. I have decided to venture into the business of becoming an Independent Consultant for Tupperware. Ah, yes, Tupperware! Who doesn't love Tupperware? Who doesn't have any Tupperware (call me and I'll hook ya up!)? Right now, this is the most ideal thing for me. Why? Let me list the ways...

-I make money putting on parties and showing other people how to become more time efficient, organizationally efficient, and cook healthier.
-I get lots of *free* kitchen gadgets, and some other discounted goodies.
-I get to get out of the house, for a couple of hours and leave the wee ones behind.
-I get to meet new people. I seem to have lots of disappointments lately with folks from the past and present. I am painfully shy, and I need this.
-I want to get some old bills paid off. I want them to stop appearing in my mailbox every month.
-I want to fix up my house, get hardwood floors, finish the basement into a nice school room, etc.

Is that good enough? Is my heart in the right place? I think I've got enough motivation there to keep me rolling at least for another couple of months. After that, I would seriously be disappointed if things hadn't picked up by then. There are people making a lot of crazy money in this business. Can I get myself there, I'm not sure. However, if it is meant to be, then there will be a day Mr.Murphy can actually retire from hard labor and relax with the children while I work my business. This is work I really wouldn't mind doing as a breadwinner. Hmm, now, can I get myself there? That will most definitely take time and hard work, but we'll see. One day/party/customer at a time!

So, now is the time that I am reaching out to you, my wonderful reader. If you find that you have a need for any Tupperware products (pantry storage, fridge/freezer storage, cooking aides, on-the-go products, etc.), PLEASE visit my website and take a look around. If you find that you would like to earn some extra cash and *free* Tupperware products, PLEASE visit my website, look around and fill out my contact form. If you've been thinking about hosting a Tupperware party in your home, for *free* Tupperware products, or for even a fundraiser, PLEASE visit my website, look around and contact me. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about products or the business.

www.my2.tupperware.com/captola

Ah, how I wish...

Oh, how I would love to be able to live on a big old farm, grow my own food, and be semi-self-reliant. It would be so awesome if I could win the lottery and move all of my family and closest friends onto a 100-acre lot of land. I would need 100 acres because I understand the whole concept of privacy and the need for space. Hmm, what's that saying my dear friend Heather brings up? Something about a row of hedges makes happy neighbors, although it's supposed to rhyme. Oh well. Back to Dallas, GA, my dear!

It's been fun doing what little we have to be self-sufficient. So far, we have some chick(en)s in the backyard that will provide us with some eggs, someday. I have planted a nice herb garden in the front yard, that has already seasoned up some absolutely delicious mashed potatoes yesterday night. I would really like to get a clothes line put up somewhere out back to hang our clothes. Well, not yet, I'll wait until the rain passes! But what else is there one can do to cut costs and dependency?

After paying for a pricey chicken coop project, I am not comfortable spending any more money on our yard, which includes our planned veggie garden. I could go out and try to hand till a big plot for a small garden, but it's 95% clay and 5% rock. I do have a compost pile started. It smells crazy with the chicken coop waste. We're using hay in the coop, so it's providing a nice looseness in the compost. Just today, I was turning the compost and saw a huge worm (no, not a snake) wiggling around. Yay, I love to see a happy compost pile! Maybe after these storms pass, I'll get out there and do something. Hey, cutting veggies off the grocery bill could mean at least a 25% savings. That makes it all the more worth it!

Okay, I guess I've pecked enough. Before I started typing, I had all sorts of stuff I wanted to share, and now, it's gone. I suppose I got most of it out. Main thing is that I really want that big old plot of land. Anyone know of an old fogey with no family and lots of land? I'd be happy to adopt them for a piece of dirt! Heck, I'd bake them fresh bread and apple pie every day to their last. Isn't that awful? I should put an ad in the Farmers and Consumers Bulletin for that. I bet I'd get an interesting array of responses. There's nothing wrong with adopting family. Heck, adults have kids all the time, just to have someone to pass on their money and possessions. Why not befriend someone with no family so they can pass on their stuff to someone they know, instead of the government? Something to think about!

Okay, off to bed!

Blessings.

So, I got this new Bible today...

Yes, I ordered another Bible. How many can one have? Well, if you're curious enough, I guess you can't have too many. Plus, if you consider all of the rooms in your house that need to have one, and the fact that one should always travel with you, I don't have enough, yet.

I bought a new one recently, from adoremusbooks.com. This is an awesome site for religious education stuff, for homeschool materials. Although, I will say that it is predominantly Catholic materials, there are still non-Catholic stuff, like Math, English, Science resources that don't always have Catholic teachings in them. I like to go here when I am ordering a set of books, that if I bought them through a homeschool curriculum publisher, they'd be much more expensive.

Anyhow, this Bible is called "The Catholic Teen Bible" in the Prove It! series, put out by Our Sunday Visitor. This Bible is so awesome in that it has all sorts of sections included for teens to read that clarify our faith. It has articles that help address common questions that teens would have about God, humanity, sin, Catholicism, prayer, Mass and the Church. I love it!

I started reading a bunch of the sections to my husband, Donald, and he seemed impressed, too. There is a section on vocations, and talks about marriage, and it being a covenant and solemn commitment. Of course, we always KNOW this, but it is so nice to read out loud, as a reminder that it does mean something. We're not just roommates. We're not just partners, but two souls that have come together to live our lives as images of God and his love for us. Sort of a big commitment, huh? Marriage meant a lot to me before I came back to Catholicism, but it has become somewhat richer since I have read more on the purpose of humanity.

What does the Catholic faith have?
-St.Peter was appointed by Jesus Christ, Himself, to look over the Church and to keep the Word passed on. Our Popes have a clear line all the way to St.Peter as shepherds of the Church. John 21:15-17

-We have traditional prayers that have been used by the faithful since the time of Christ, and before, that have been spoken to God many times over.

-We have a Church with awesome tradition that has been handed down and is practiced in any Church you walk into at any Mass. You can always know what to expect to happen, what to say, when to stand, kneel, sit, and reflect.

-We have Jesus Christ, himself, in the Blessed Eucharist. We, Catholics, believe that he is there, present in the Eucharist, and it is a feeling almost indescribable when consumed. Mark 14:22-25

-If Jesus Christ was not really present in the Eucharist, why are there people who try to steal the Holy Eucharist, only to try to desecrate it away from God's House? He is there!

-Mary, Our Mother. Catholics do not worship Mary, but we do pray for her intercession. Why? She is the mother of Our Lord! Who would be better to ask for help than she. I must say that coming back to God and His Church is not very easy, for such a stubborn person as me. Being away from God is like being away from my own father, for an inexcusable length of time. I am rebuilding the relationship, and it's not as easy to speak to Him. I don't know why. Maybe I have a few more steps, spiritually, that I need to take, and I'll be much more comfortable. However, having become a mother, myself, I can feel Mary. I can feel a closeness and relate to her. I think about all that my children will go through in life. Never will they go through what Jesus went through, thank God! But life has many trials, and I wince at the thought of my children ever being hurt, by anyone or anything. I can look to Mary when motherhood gets a little sticky. I can look to Mary when my marriage is a little hectic. She is my calm, and I know that she is a good source to go to when I need support.

-The last on my list is just the fantastic gifts in which we experience Jesus's presence. Those gifts are the Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders (imagine a Father Eamon!), and Matrimony. All of these were moments that Jesus spent with his disciples, and we Christians are allowed to spend with him, now. So cool!

Time is closing in. I want to sit and read more on Fatima. I need to sit and read ALL about Fatima. So much is going on the world, and, not to sound too conspiracy theory, signs are slowly popping up that we are about to have a great battle. I wonder if my anxiety and dread (the best word I can think of) are misplaced. I have to wonder if these are those instinctual feelings that are like what animals get when something bad is about to happen. You know how animals get weird right before a storm? Has God given us that instinct to know when it is "time"? All I can say is that I am so glad to be much closer to home plate, right now. I made it back to the Church, and now all I have to do is pray, read, act (for my children and loved ones), and wait.

Okay, so this Bible will help me, maybe in deciphering all of this, right? I don't know. I know that I am pretty excited. I have a children's' Bible for the kids, but it is mainly stories. It's not the Bible, cover-to-cover. I have gone to the children's Story [clue word] Bible several times to see how the gospel of the week is worded, and it's not there! How crazy is that? So, I got the teen version as I am hoping it will serve my two up into their teen years. Okay, I will share more as I read it, and offer any more information on it.

Thank you & May God Bless.

Keeping It Catholic - The Blog!: The Holy Father: Rosary Novena Feb 18 through Easter

Keeping It Catholic - The Blog!: The Holy Father: Rosary Novena Feb 18 through Easter

I once was an anarchist.

Yes, at one time, I considered myself an anarchist. In many ways, I would love to hold onto those ideals, but it's just not possible, I'm finding out.

I guess it's because I've gotten out into the world, paid taxes (especially doing Donald's self-employment taxes), had to scrounge around for enough money to pay for health insurance, and then turn around and scrounge for more money to pay medical bills that my insufficient insurance did not pay. Grrr! And then we go to downtown Atlanta and are bombarded bby panhandlers wanting a handout. And they get pissed if you don't give them something! Honestly, I remember those days of panhandling, myself. What I was thinking, I'm not quite sure. Oh right, easy money, that I somehow deserved.

I figure that it's not just education that forms a person's beliefs, spiritually and politically. It has to be life events, experience and personality. Surely, there are tons of studies on human characteristics that (pre-)determine what each person will value and how they'll live out their life. Ah, but that's another issue altogether, I suppose. Is it?

I'm thinking about the many people I have connected with on a popular social networking site. Many of these people are from grade school and high school, and some are from the few crazy years that followed high school, when we joined the Industrial Workers of the World Union and the Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation . I am amazed how everyone grew up so differently, and even how some don't seem to have grown up at all (or have they?). I am happy to say that most from my grade school, a Catholic private school in Louisville, KY, show wonderful values, motivation, and similar political views. Not all are practicing Christians, which is their thing, but we still come into agreement on the political front. I haven't come across one that is expecting the "government" to pay for their healthcare, food, or lodging. All of these people have families. They all have jobs, pay their taxes (an assumption), and are independent.

I have a few former classmates from high school (a very liberal, art school with teachers who openly boasted that they were socialists) who are very proud of the new US President. They think that social programs are wonderful. I am finding out that many of these people with this view are still in school. Many have not moved away from home. Many have not held serious jobs. Many do not have families, yet, to support. Even when they do graduate, start families, and get real paying jobs, will their views change? Will they grow to despise the IRS like so many millions of taxpayers because they feel like they're being raped of their money that they worked so hard to earn? Will they happily hand off their money to panhandlers on the sidewalk, who do nothing, but clog the walkway all day? Once their families start to grow, will they look at abortion for what it is, cold-blooded murder of innocent children? Will they look at their little daughters and pray to God that those little girls don't become teen pregnancy statistics? Or that their sweet little boy doesn't ever get another girl pregnant and then abandon her, or worse, pressure her into an unwanted abortion because the "timing is not right"? Will they be the ones to drive their children to the DFACS building, give them a personal tour, and go through all of the available programs they could be eligible for as long as they make under a certain amount of money?

How can I be sure that MY children will carry on good Christian values when they fly the coop? How can I be sure that they are not faced with a teen pregnancy? By schooling them at home, can I instill in them the understanding that less government is better? I could always teach them my anarchistic views. Heck, the political party I seem to siding with most nowadays preaches for a smaller, less controlling government. I tell myself that this is the closest thing to my Utopian ideals as a teenager. I accept that there are laws that have to be written in stone, because if they're not, someone will always want to do something stupid and not want to be held responsible.

So that's the key. Responsibility. If we can just be responsible for what we say and do (duh!), then things would be so much easier. Why does that have to be so hard to understand? I think I remember learning that this country was founded by people who were escaping an over-controlling government. They wanted freedom. They wanted freedom of speech, religion, happiness. They just wanted to live their lives, honestly, without someone breathing down their backs. I'm sure they supported one another in order to get things going. But I'm pretty sure that most of them were very independent in raising their own families. That included food, shelter, education, employment, growing in faith, clothing, and bettering the land around them.

A government became necessary to run the business of worldly issues. Government became necessary once there were so many people that an order was needed. Basic laws were written so everyone coming together knew what was to be expected in order of responsible behaviour. It makes me wonder if size is an issue. There is such a great debate over immigrants and the number our country accepts into citizenship every year. Is the population becoming too great in number that at some point humans become unmanageable? Can we continue to grow and expect simple laws to reign, or is it really a necessity to write more laws that apply to larger masses?

I start looking at my children and wonder if living in the largest, most powerful country in the world IS the best place for them. It isn't the safest, surely. I'm sure there are smaller, quieter countries out there, right? Who are those neutral countries who do not get into wars? I remember a couple small ones mentioned. However, they are not always out of harm's way. But I'm sure it has to be so much easier to live in a smaller country. Ireland. I'll research Ireland. What kind of government do they run? I've met a bunch of Irish immigrants in this country. What would make them want to fly/sail all the way over here to live? Have they saturated their own markets and towns that they are just spilling over into our country?

Okay, so what prompted this? I'm just frustrated that there are still so many people happy with the new leader of our country. I have read all of the dumba$$ rubbish that has been stuffed into the new stimulus package. I cannot comprehend how this is all being accepted by the majority of the public. Our government is turning to communist countries to get funding to "stimulate" the economy. What makes sense in that? Or is that how it works when the population gets so big?

Now look, I am busy worrying about all of this. I am busy caring for my family and household. However, I am also able to pray and hold concern for another issue, that I mentioned earlier. Abortion. How is it that many supporters can make excuses that our President is too busy with "fixing" our economy, and doesn't have time to tend to the issue of abortion? How is it that he managed, within his first couple of days in office, BEFORE "fixing" the economy, he found it necessary to okay the country's finances to be used to fund abortions performed out of the country? What? Okay, that's more than my little peabody brain can even digest. I'm not sure what to say about it. The only thing I can say is that no one who voted for this evil person, should be surprised about what he's done so far.

And I just may become an anarchist all over again. Why not, it makes as much sense as anything else going on in DC!

Sinus infections suck!

Man, we've gone through the children having colds, and I'm the one left with an infection. Honestly, I would prefer it that way. I can't stand to see either of my babes sick. I thought I was over the whole cold thing, until late this past week, when I realized my face was really puffy and red around my nose and sinuses. I had such a bad headache that I could feel pressure through my eyes, ears, and down the back of my neck. So, what do you do when you have insufficient insurance? Natural home therapies! That's what I've been doing my home study about anyhow, right? So, here's my regiment:



--Two echinacea/golden seal capsules 4 times a day.

--Two pau d'arco capsules 4 times a day

--Airborne every two hours

--Echinamide syrup 1 tsp. 4 times a day

--2000mg Vitamin C every couple of hours

--Saltwater sinus flush twice a day



So far, it's working wonders. Of course, since I'm taking everything in my cabinet, I won't know whom to give the credit for helping me get better faster. I'm also putting about a tablespoon of lemon juice in my water glass every time I get a refill of water. This is to help thin out the mucous so things can flow and not build up in my sinuses. Whew!



So, I'll post and let you know if I'm cured tomorrow. This is driving me crazy as I thought I was improving our diet recently by buying so many more fresh fruits and vegetables. I've been making sure every meal has something raw and fresh in it. Although, I also do know that it makes your body stronger once you've been sick. No one else has yet to get sick or sicker since a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully once I'm over this, it'll be time for Spring and warm weather activities to resume.

Later.

Hmm...

Well, I couldn't really come up with a title, and then started to wonder, "Is there going to be a point to this?" Sure, there'll be a point, I am just not sure what that will be, yet.

Some updates for those who are following along my posts and may be concerned:

1. I am feeling much better since Friday. This is partly because I have not watched the news on the telly since Friday. I do have an email subscription to townhall.com, so I am somewhat staying on top of something. Although, I received a very saddening email from my mother about the awful fires all over Australia. Please say a prayer for those poor people, towns, animals, all whose lives are lost and forever changed by crazy fires. Some of the fires have been intentionally started, some not.

Anyhow, with the "time of the month" passed, I am doing nicely. Our sick bugs seem to be packing up and leaving the house. We've had a bit less coughing and sneezing. So, we should be up and ready for those chicken pox to take over here pretty soon. Yay!

2. I am taking some of our impending and looming finances and getting them under control. I see that I am the one ultimately responsible for how our money is spent, and I will be making sure that my significant other follows whatever plan/scheme I come up with to handle things. Man, some people want to be doctors, some lawyers. I never knew that being a housewife/mom entailed a whole slew of specialties. Really, I could consider myself a CFO, CEO, nurse (doctors are for the serious things), chef, gardener, maid (that came WAY before kids or the "housewife" title), chauffeur, mechanic, appliance repair, teacher, storyteller, etc.... I could go on all night long!

So, yes, I stress out about money, how to spend what we have, if I should spend it, if I should hole it away "just in case", and if we'll have any in another month or so. Why bother worrying about it? Heck, if it's not here next month, it's nowhere, as far as I'm concerned. You know, it's like the 1973 toilet paper crisis that was caused by Johnny Carson. You mention that there's a shortage and everyone gets into a frenzy that the world is ending. Same thing happening with our idiot politicians! Okay, that's not what this post is about.

Okay, so I think that is enough updating for one post. We're good, our neighbors are good. I think we'll all be okay. Gotta think that way! Heck, Sarah got a 100% on her spelling test today. That's a cause for a celebration, right? Her wonderful father, my husband, told her that he would up her commission (orders from Dave Ramsey to call it as such) if she would get 100s on all of her spelling tests. Hmm, pressure. I'm not sure if I like that kind of pressure. She is only 5 years old, and she gets nervous enough taking her spelling tests. We'll see. She'll forget he said anything, and he probably has already forgotten about telling such a thing.

BTW, that post about us getting chickens should be coming very soon. I have a book on hold at the library: Your chickens : a kid's guide to raising and showing by Gail Damerow. I am very excited to go check it out of the library and read all about raising chickens. How's that for getting finances under control? We go through 18-24 eggs week! Imagine the money we'll save, the snakes removed, less ticks, ahhhh... I can't wait!

Have a blessed night, day, until next time...

Ahhhhh, I feel so much better today.

Yes, today is a brighter day, literally. I have all of the windows open on the backside of the house. I also have the back door wide open. It is so nice to have fresh air and bright sunshine coming through.

Yesterday was such a rough day. I usually have one of those a month, and I should be banned from all technology on those days. I must say, I did get some phone calls after yesterday's post! That was nice, and thank you, to those who called. It really brings it home as to how powerful hormones are, not just on our physical bodies, but also our minds. It's such an intricate system.

So, today I'm going to chill out and be lazy. I've kicked both of the children outside so they, too, can reap the benefits of fresh air and sunshine. They're having a blast. Being stuck inside is such a drag for these kids, also known as the "forest children" by relatives. So far, they've both already had to change their clothes due to a muddy creek, that according to Sarah, is full of "goo". I asked her to please not play in the goo, but if she'd like to bring some to me, I'd be happy to look at it. For some reason, I have the picture of Dr.Seuss's "blue goo" from Fox in Socks. I seriously doubt it will be blue, but I wouldn't doubt that Eamon would chew the goo!

So anyhow, we're good here at the Kingdom of Murphy. Now, I must go search about raising chickens! And I'll save that for another post...

Why are we, as a nation, so stupid?

You know, I used to not use fluoridated toothpaste because I had read that the Germans were sedated by the government during Hitler's reign. I now use fluoridated toothpaste, I guess, because I eventually felt that sounded sort of silly. Now, I'm beginning to wonder what in the world we are being fed that has made this nation such a lazy one.

America has always had a reputation to not be settled with second best. We've always been innovative, curious, demanding, and motivated. We've always had such a great reputation for advanced everything: quality of living, education, financial markets, etc. Within such a short period of time, it is looking like we're losing so much of those reputations. Our schools suck, people are losing their homes to foreclosure, crime is going up and our nation is in a financial crisis (or so it is told by our "all-knowing" president). We just elected a guy to presidency based on a campaign of change. What change that is supposed to be, not many could explain who were voting for the man.

I can't help but walk around the house with this feeling of impending doom. I have to think about the job security of my husband and the stupid lawsuit being brought against him from something that happened almost a year ago. I try to think of useful things I can possibly do to add income to our household to alleviate unnecessary medical bills. I think constantly about what it would be like to send my children to school and just go back to work. Would that actually help our situation? Would that actually be best for our family? I love to homeschool my daughter and raise my son myself, but am I enjoying a luxury that I don't deserve?

How can raising my own family be financial burden? My husband goes to work everyday. He really doesn't miss any work days, unless he's bound to a hospital bed with a broken collarbone... I remember missing at least one day a month when I had a paying job, before motherhood. Yet, somehow, we are faced with the uncertainty of what our situation will be like next month. Maybe I should just be happy that we are here, somewhat healthy (other than the croup), we have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Donald's not worried about it. Then again, he doesn't pay the bills. He doesn't think about the fact that we have some plans for our house, and all of those plans require a good bit of money to be saved. Forget saving money, sorry Dave Ramsey. I need to remind myself that I have married an extreme person. A person who takes extreme measures and does extreme activities. I don't really think that should impact our finances, if responsibility were factored into the extreme decisions.

Oh well. I'm quite sure not much will change. Week to week, bill by bill, the money will never change. The debtor names will change from time to time, but I have a feeling that we will be forever owing someone for something. Maybe a break from FNC will help subdue some unnecessary stress. Whatever it is, I just wish something would give with the "stimulus" bills and packages. It feels like a soap opera that has played out its storyline way too long, and the point of the whole thing has been lost.

Okay, politics is obviously not my thing. But it's been enough for me to watch the news channel more than needed, and now I'm all in a tizzy trying to figure it all out. And I still have those old feelings of conspiracy theory that all of this is just a set up that is controlled by some higher powers. All of this is a small part of a domino affect that will be getting someone what they want in the long run (money), and they're just playing with society like it's a big puppet theater. Whew!!! Don't try to think too much when it's that time of the month, huh? Don't vote me for president. I'd have to be locked up once a month so I don't obliterate the world out of crazy hormonal feelings.

Now, I must go say five Hail Marys and an Our Father.

Fun websites for children

My daughter, Sarah, is always asking to get onto the computer to play games. Of course, I allow her as long as she has completed a certain amount of school work, cleaned up a certain mess, or if she's just been extraordinarily well-behaved. Here is a list (since I do love lists!) of some of my approved sites that I'll let her go on without my hovering watch.

bellasara.com - Is a website for those who collect the Bella Sara horse trading cards. There are a lot of free things to do on the site without the purchase of any cards, which are very expensive. The child can tend their own foal, play simple games, and furnish their own little house. There is no interaction with other users, that I can see.

www.buildabearville.com - A website that does require the ownership of a Build-A-Bear stuffed toy to sign on. This is an okay site, although I do go on and check her account. There is interaction between users, and I am leery of other users who may take advantage of young children when "trading" objects/money. You can block any trading options, which is what I like to do. There many games, activities, and events that the user can participate in. And, of course, they get a "Cub Condo" that can be furnished with all sorts of wonderful objects that are won, bought, or traded.

mathslice.com - I love this website for either creating math worksheets or playing online math games. I set up what type of math problems I want my daughter to practice, and she loves it. It is a nice break from sitting at the table, filling out a boring worksheet. Although, it's all the same!

dressupdollgames.net - I'm not quite positive about this website as far as it's childproofness. From what I've seen so far, it's a good site. Sarah loves fashion. She loves to design clothes for her dolls, and this website lets her do that, virtually. She has the option to choose what type of doll she will dress up, from fairies, princesses, different ethnicities, etc. I like it so far.

nickjr.com - This is an easy one. There are tons of things to do on this site. Most of the games are educational, a plus. My daughter can navigate around the site pretty easily. I haven't had to worry about where she may end up after clicking on some link posted on the side of the page. My son has even had fun watching different video clips off of this site.

holyspiritinteractive.net - This is a wonderful religious ed. resource. It is built for parents and children. For parents, there are tons of great stories to download to read to children, there is the Saint of the Day list that is very helpful and worded for children, I think there are even printable for younger children. My daughter loves doing the jigsaw puzzles of Saints and Bible stories.

Kneebouncers.com - This is my last favorite site. This is one for my son, who is 3 years old. He likes to think he is a big boy for having his own ".com" to go on. This is a keyboard interactive website for wee ones, that has little lights, sounds, and movement that can be stimulated/activated by pressing any key. Of course, my son always finds the keys that cue other programs on my computer, and next thing I know, he's got 10 different windows open doing who knows what.

Okay, I''m all typed out now. I felt the need to share some of the sites I approve for my children. I know that when I started out homeschooling, and when I started to let my daughter get onto the computer to play games, I searched for other parents' lists. There are a few other sites I may post in the future of homeschool resources. There are so many places on the internet for parents/teachers to find information and ideas to use to teach their children. But all that is for another day...

Starting, again?

Lists: current events
current favorites
current dreams


1. We're all sick, like the rest of the world. That would figure since I just started to work out, doing Tae Bo On Demand. Man, that is so fun. Anyhow, it started with Eamon getting the "croup", and it's making its way through the rest of us.

2. Waiting on chicken pox to set in. We have been exposed to the wonderful pox, so it's just a matter of time for those little boogers to come out. I am actually looking forward to this, as it is imposing on our social calendar. However, this is something that I prefer happen while the children are younger.

3. I am watching for PT jobs to open up at the hospital. What? Looking for a job? Yes, I am. Partly because we could use the extra money for stupid, unnecessary medical bills. Partly so I can go do something and hubby can connect with the kiddos. I told him this morning that I was leaving [the cooking area we were both trying to inhabit at the same time]. He said, "Oh yeah, where to?" So, I playingly said "California." Well, that brought on a question as to where the children would want to go, or with whom they would go. Of course, anyone who knows my children would know WHO they would go with! Husband had the gall to actually ask and then sulk with the answers given. Silly man. What do you expect from two little children who are always with their mother? I mean ALWAYS. So, I figure, hows about a part-time job to get out of the house, make a little cash, and give dad some exclusive time with the babies. We'll see...

4. I need to get off of here and work on my LLL stuff. I'm almost done! Yay! I am so thrilled to actually finish something. I started working on my bachelor degree 10 years ago. For the past 5+ years, I've only had a couple of courses to go to finish that degree. I'm still a couple courses, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Well, at least I'll have this experience and knowledge with LLL that I can complete my degree someday down the road. The two different educational backgrounds will work together, eventually.

5. Homeschooling my 5 year old is so fun. I am actually really excited that I will be required to send in an intent form and monthly attendance report. How can that sound exciting? Because I haven't done it, yet. That's why! Give me a couple of months. Surely, I'll change my attitude. My daughter wants to homeschool, too. She looks forward to some of the things we do as schooling. She becomes so proud when she can utilize what she's learned to do other things. You know, like telling time on the clock. Figuring out when something is going to happen by counting time in increments of 5 min. Sounds silly? Not for a 5 year old! She does math problems at night with the clock to keep her mind off of thumbsucking. That's a determined little girl.

6. I mentioned exercising previously. Yes, I am trying to add exercise into my schedule at least 3-4 times a week. I really like doing Tae Bo because it gets the blood pumping, it gets me moving, Billy Blanks is hilarious, and I feel soooooo refreshed after doing it. I have also agreed to walking with a very good friend of mine 3 times a week. So far, we've walked maybe 5-6 times since the new year came. The weather has not been very cooperative with our intentions and plans. That's okay, because Spring is right around the corner, and I plan to try to walk every day, then. Oh, I haven't told my friend, yet, but when she reads this looooong list...

Okay, I think I'm all worded out. I don't want to complain too much about anything. I just wanted to make a list. Sometime it feels good to make a list. Hmm, what kind of journal would that be? I could pop on here, make a list of whatever feels pertinent, and be done with it. Hmm...