Thankfully, all members of our family are feeling better and our busy routine is in full swing.
Middle school conferences were last week. It was a pleasure meeting N's teachers and hearing all the wonderful, positive comments about our son and his school performance thus far. I know those things to be true, but there is something extra special when other people notice as well!
G started basketball practice a few weeks ago. She is enjoying the challenge of learning new skills and working as part of a team. She is one determined young lady! Tonight, I enjoyed watching their first public debut. It was the Cougars vs Prairie Ridge! (Did I mention that we are the Prairie Ridge Cougars?) Everyone was a winner! Thirty-one 4th and 5th grade girls and all had play time!
Our little A is so happy to be back to school after missing a full week! I am not convinced that she is 100% yet, but she is improving! As I write, I am listening to her cough in her sleep and am petitioning our Lord for total healing!
As of tomorrow, Jon will be laid-off from work. He has a few possibilities for more temporary work that he will be exploring. One thing I know for sure, he isn't very good at sitting around. I am positive that he will find something to occupy his time and, hopefully, to contribute to our personal economy. Once again, we covet your prayers in this matter!
I have some exciting news to share! Most of you know that in addition to tutoring, I sell an amazing line of children's books. Last week, I had the privilege of becoming a verified supporter of Toys for Tots. This enables me to collect cash donations for TFT which, in turn, will be used to purchase books and activity kits for needy children in my community. Usborne Books is matching the donations by 50%! So TFT will receive 150% of the contributions raised in excellent, entertaining books and fun-filled activity kits. It is such a gift to be able to give!
As we approach another season of thanksgiving, we are rejoicing in the little things and trusting God in all things - because in His hands, all is well!
The Flu in K'zoo
It is just after 8 am on this warm, wet October weekday. One child is already at school. The other two.....sound asleep in bed?!!
The elementary school has been canceled for the rest of the week! The letter sent home regarding the closing stated that the building was closing due to a high number of students absent reporting flu or flu-like symptoms.
The Health Department confirmed that H1N1 is in "full swing" in our county.
Our family has had our share of sickness in the past several weeks: from sinus infections to strep throat to the flu. Our county's Health & Community Services states that "symptoms of H1N1 typically include a fever above 100, cough, sore throat, achiness, headache, chill, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting."
The local media has really jumped on this claiming that over 50 schools across the area are closed due to H1N1. But is that really the case? My personal opinion is that schools are closing because of high numbers of absentees.
Regardless, my girls and I will spend part of the morning disinfecting our home. After personally experiencing miserable flu-like symptoms for the past 3 days, I want to do whatever I can to help keep the ones I love healthy!
Cover those coughs! Wash those hands! It has only just begun!
The elementary school has been canceled for the rest of the week! The letter sent home regarding the closing stated that the building was closing due to a high number of students absent reporting flu or flu-like symptoms.
The Health Department confirmed that H1N1 is in "full swing" in our county.
Our family has had our share of sickness in the past several weeks: from sinus infections to strep throat to the flu. Our county's Health & Community Services states that "symptoms of H1N1 typically include a fever above 100, cough, sore throat, achiness, headache, chill, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting."
The local media has really jumped on this claiming that over 50 schools across the area are closed due to H1N1. But is that really the case? My personal opinion is that schools are closing because of high numbers of absentees.
Regardless, my girls and I will spend part of the morning disinfecting our home. After personally experiencing miserable flu-like symptoms for the past 3 days, I want to do whatever I can to help keep the ones I love healthy!
Cover those coughs! Wash those hands! It has only just begun!
Back to Work
This was a busy week! In addition to a week-long birthday celebration, this was also my first week back to work in three months! And was it ever a challenge!
None of us were feeling our best and I was concerned that I would have to take a sick day or two either for a child or for myself. But we put on our game face and persevered. I did allow some important parts of my daily routine to slide, and hope to fit them back into my mornings by rising an hour earlier starting next week. All in good time and better health!
It was great to be surrounded by such amazing, positive staff and these truly wonderful children. I am looking forward to seeing much growth and progress and can't wait to jump into action!
None of us were feeling our best and I was concerned that I would have to take a sick day or two either for a child or for myself. But we put on our game face and persevered. I did allow some important parts of my daily routine to slide, and hope to fit them back into my mornings by rising an hour earlier starting next week. All in good time and better health!
It was great to be surrounded by such amazing, positive staff and these truly wonderful children. I am looking forward to seeing much growth and progress and can't wait to jump into action!
Twelve Candles
This past week, we celebrated N's 12th birthday! We have a special birthday tradition of doughnuts, candles and gifts at the crack of dawn. Our tradition required some adjustments to accommodate new work and school schedules. So after some serious pondering, we decided to kick off the birthday week with our Birthday Doughnut Celebration on the Sunday before the birthday. Instead of our traditional song, we sang "Happy Birthweek to You!" and allowed one present to be opened. A few days later, on N's actual date of birth, we enjoyed a great after-school visit from some out of town family and a wonderful dinner out to Logan's with more family. Even his teachers got in on the celebration, or so it seemed - no homework!!!
It has been an amazing privilege to parent N and a joy to watch him grow, learn and mature. We are so proud of our son and we love the person he is becoming! Children are a blessing!
1st Grade, 4th Grade and Middle School! Oh, My!
I love September!
Cooler temperatures,
falling leaves,
new tennis shoes,
and six uninterrupted hours of quiet!
Ahhh! So refreshing!
The kids seem to be enjoying it as well! The girls are happily sporting their new outfits and N is ear-to-ear grins with his new middle school I.D. card around his neck! Middle school?
How did that happen?
N starts his day very early and is at the bus stop around 6:30 am. He metamorphosed into a responsible, independent young man before my very eyes! I have never felt more proud and sad at the same time! He likes changing classes, having extensive lunch options and meeting new friends. Not so crazy about the homework, though! I can't say that I blame him there - the other night we spent over two hours together working on math!
This is G, my young Nancy Drew wanna-be! (This summer, she read every Nancy Drew novel that she could find on the shelves of our local library!) She is loving life as a 4th grader and wishes she could do N's math homework for him! She loves a challenge! G has enjoyed reacquainting with old friends and making new ones.
N starts his day very early and is at the bus stop around 6:30 am. He metamorphosed into a responsible, independent young man before my very eyes! I have never felt more proud and sad at the same time! He likes changing classes, having extensive lunch options and meeting new friends. Not so crazy about the homework, though! I can't say that I blame him there - the other night we spent over two hours together working on math!
This is G, my young Nancy Drew wanna-be! (This summer, she read every Nancy Drew novel that she could find on the shelves of our local library!) She is loving life as a 4th grader and wishes she could do N's math homework for him! She loves a challenge! G has enjoyed reacquainting with old friends and making new ones. 
Our little A is also very fond of school! She is proud, spirited and independent. She has "the best teachers, in the best class, in the best school in the whole world!"Jon and I are so blessed with our three happy, brilliant, amazing children!
"We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us - one gracious blessing after another."
John 1:16 NLT
Employment Update!
Jon was laid off of work a week or so before Labor Day which meant that we were able to spend the kids' last week of summer break and the holiday weekend together as a family! What a blessing!
Earlier, I shared the possibility of Jon going to Texas. It was a "no-go"! We had prepared for the worst, but were graced with the best! Thursday before the holiday, Jon received a call to return to the welding work on Tuesday! It could not have worked out better!
I am looking forward to returning to "the best job ever" this coming week! And I am so thankful for God's provision during my hiatus this summer and for the gift of being able to be home with my kids!
Earlier, I shared the possibility of Jon going to Texas. It was a "no-go"! We had prepared for the worst, but were graced with the best! Thursday before the holiday, Jon received a call to return to the welding work on Tuesday! It could not have worked out better!
I am looking forward to returning to "the best job ever" this coming week! And I am so thankful for God's provision during my hiatus this summer and for the gift of being able to be home with my kids!
A Run Well Done!
This morning, G and her Aunt Suzanne competed in the Grape Lake 5k. G took 1st place in the "Under 10 - Girls" catagory! Way to go, girl!
Counting My Blessings
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” Colossians 1:11-14Once again, my husband Jon has worked himself out of a job! I told him he was too efficient! On Friday, he interviewed with a construction temp agency. They have a job for him………in Texas!
For the past month, he had been working three hours away, which left me single-parenting Monday through Friday. I couldn’t help but wonder if this situation was just God preparing us for something more. It now appears that I was just getting my feet wet!
My frustration, tears and disappointment have passed and I am now resolved to make the best of the situation. There is so much for which I have to be thankful: a home, food, clothing, two vehicles, paid bills, abundance, family, health and work when so many go without. Contentment is relative. For as many as have more, newer, bigger and better than me, many more have less, older, smaller and worse. But, have or have-not, we all can have Christ.
Christ Jesus is every girl’s dream come true – to be known, to be loved, to be accepted, to be rescued by a prince. For that, I am so thankful.
A Big Fish Story
It was a quiet Sunday morning and not many campers were aroused. Jon, N and G grabbed some poles and headed out onto the lake. Jon cast out a line and had a bite before he could pass the pole, so he set the hook and told N to start reeling! It was a fighter! When the fish broke water, N froze. Jon shouted "Reel! Reel!" Did I mention that they were in a paddle boat? Without a net? When the fish surfaced close to the boat, Jon reached down and grabbed it by the mouth! They paddled into shore, took a few quick pics (Thanks, A.L.) and released her back to the lake as she was full of eggs. Jon claims she was a 21" large-mouth bass! And my son, well, he was the envy of the lake!
Good "Buy", Grocery Challenge!
The All-You Grocery Challenge has come to an official end. My exit form is submitted and the winner will soon be chosen. But that is not the end. Win or lose, we are all winners! I resolve to take those practical tips and new insights gleened from the challenge and "bank-roll" them into my coupon cutting, deal seeking, money saving repertoire! This is just the beginning!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
