Back in the swing...

Summer is officially over around here,well, except for all this heat....we started school four weeks ago, which I can't believe. And today we started our Monday Fun classes. This is the first year we are staying for four hours, and the first year I won't have Elisa at my side in my preschool class. She isn't quite in kindergarten, but doesn't need to be in preschool classes either...And so it was a little chaotic trying to figure out where the four of us needed to be each hour. But it was a great day, and even though I am teaching three classes, I have taught two of them many times, and the third I am team teaching with my friend Julie who is on top of things, and made sure we had our semester already planned before we started today.
I am already looking forward to this school year. After last year, things can only get better! Last year, right about this time, Mike and I had the crazy notion to put our house on the market, and it took a LONG time to get it ready for sale. And then we waited, and waited. And also saw how awesome God is in the process, by us finding and affording a house above and beyond anything we ever imagined. And so now in my new house, I don't have school stuff scattered everywhere, but in my new school room in the basement.
The room is cluttered and packed with every book and school supply imaginable, but, I know where everything is...and every day we do school, it is still there. I discovered after we moved here that there was more than one pencil in our house. In fact, there were about 100. It's amazing how much you have when it is all in one place, I don't even know how man pair of scissors I found. My school books are on my desk when we sit down to school and the kids workbooks are in their baskets. It makes the day so much smoother when I am not breathing fire wondering where the math book went....again....
And so, here we are, our fourth year of homeschooling...and so far we are all ready an excited for a new year. Gymnastics is back in session...AHG and Cub Scouts starts on Thursday...and we have four weeks down...and something like 32 to go....

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Sep. 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by smallworldathome.blogspot.com
Yay! You blogged! I'm so proud of you!
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Sep. 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Sam
Aren't you glad me and gina helped you pick out that fine home? you're welcome.

Goodbye, Fox Trace...

Tonight is the last night we will spend together at our first house. We don't move until Tuesday, but the kids are all spending the night at friends tomorrow so we can do both closings and moving on Tuesday, and they can play. So, I wanted to make our bed time special tonight, making sure we read together and all prayed together. As I prayed, I thought of so many great memories of our family in this house....and a few not so good ones too.
I remember looking at this house, almost exactly seven years ago, with a little 14 month old boy, and thinking, wow, this house is so big for us! And then, two weeks after moving in, finding out we were expecting another baby. And bringing that little girl home, only two have to take her back to the hospital not even two weeks later because she wasn't breathing. This was the house my son became a big brother in, and we became a family of five.
I remember Bekah's first step and Caleb calling her Gekah. I remember birthday parties, play dates, and telling Mike we had a third on the way. (way before we were ready) I remember getting the news of Mike's grand dad's death, and Mike's grief. I remember bringin another little girl home, and recovering from sugery. I remember many long winter months with three very young children, cooped up because I didn't want another baby with RSV. And I remember Elisa's first steps, and that she could climb on our dining room table before she could walk.
This is the house my kids learned to run in, skip in, jump. This is also the house I started my homeschool journey in, three years ago. This is the house I taught my children to read , add and subtract, and much of the bible.
This house has trees out front, on the side, and in the back that bear my children's names. It's the house my mom taught me how to plant tulips and iris'.
Here, Mike and I have laughed and cried. We have watched many a tv show and movie, had so many conversations, invited friends over, and grieved over the loss of a baby.
And so, my prayer was one of thankfulness. These are memories that I cherish, and will always hold in my heart. So, as we move on to a new house, and new memories, I just say, "Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?"
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Jun. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Such a beautiful post. I am all choked up! But I am looking forward to the HOUSEWARMING party that you are going to have.
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Jun. 26, 2008 - I can't wait...
Posted by QueenoftheHill
...to read about the memories you make in your new house. I moved to this house 4 years ago and still get choked up if I go anywhere near the old one!
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Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
Just hopping over to see what you've been up to... I don't know if you remember me or not, but I met you over a year ago when I drove from the Chattanooga area to the picnic in Maryville. Are you still going to live in Maryville? Just changing houses? I really enjoyed reading this nostalgic post. Thank you for sharing so many special memories of your first "family" home. (*Sorta* reminds me of our time in our current home.)
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Entry 7 of 83

Scattergories tag...

I found this tag on Suzanne's blog, who got it from Tina's blog...so, anyway, thought I would play along...
Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions....they have to be real places, names, and things...and you can't use your own name for the boy/girl questions....so, here I go:
What is your name? Donna
4 letter word: done
Vehicle: Dodge
City: Denver
Boy name: Dillan
Girl name: Denise
Movie: Dances with Wolves
Occupation: Doctor
Something you wear: dress
Celebrity: Doris Day
Food: Dip
Something found in a kitchen: dishwasher
Something found in a bathroom: door knob
Reason for being late: driving too slow
Cartoon character: Dagwood
Something you shout: Drats!
Animal: dog
body part: dislocated shoulder



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Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
Dislocated shoulder?! *I* don't have that body part, and I don't know very many people who do. :) But, I s'pose it works. ;)
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Jul. 11, 2008 - I don't think...
Posted by fyftn
... you will ever be late from "Driving too SLOW" I may aquire a dislocated sholder by making this comment. =)
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Jul. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
LOL!!! -- at the previous comment about possibly receiving a dislocated shoulder for what was mentioned!
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Jul. 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
Hi again! I'm tagging you! Come look here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Suzanne/561985/ (you can copy it from Robyn's tag... see link on my page.)

We sold our house!

After seven months of wondering if we would ever sell our house....
We did! We got an offer on Wednesday, not long after Mike and I had discussed going ahead with the ceiling and floors in the basement, and hours before I was going to stain the stairs to the basement to make them look better. Now, I only have to paint at our new house!
We signed the contract yesterday on ours, and made an offer on another one, which was accepted...
So now, packing up seven years of memories...oh, and waiting for the home inspections....
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May. 12, 2008 - Yipee!
Posted by Mom
I'm so glad this hurdle has at last been jumped. It's been hard to see you want something so much and have it not be happening! Keep me posted!!!

Spring in Seattle...

Home again, home again, jiggety jig...that is what my mom always says after coming home from vacation. We got to spend five days in Mt. Vernon, WA last week with my sister, Amy. We landed in Seattle around 3 p.m., to sunshine and 46 degrees. Sunshine is pretty rare in the spring so we felt real lucky...
until we traveled about 10 miles north...then we hit a winter wonderland.
I called up to my sister's and she thought I was joking because it was beautiful where she lived. And, once we got there (after traveling 40 miles in 2 hours) she was right. It was beautiful. Caleb, however had a hard time waking up and it didn't even faze him that a suitcase fell on him while asleep...
The reason I wanted to go to Seattle in the spring was because of their annual Tulip Festival up where my sister lives. It is absolutely amazing, the acres of tulips in all colors. So, Saturday, we headed out for the street fair. And it was cold. It had spit snow that morning, but cleared up, and as we were finishing up at the fair, Amy looks ahead and says " Hail in three seconds." It was hysterical. It hailed for 25 minutes, and once again, it looked like a winter wonderland. But that was nothing compared to waking up Sunday morning and hearing my nephew, Zachary, say "There is at least 2 inches on the ground."
It snowed all night and was still snowing Sunday morning. And I am talking big snowflakes. So, my kids, who haven't seen a good snow in a long time, got dressed and played in the snow. They said it was the first time they had snow like this in April. (Did I mention we were in Nashville during an earthquake before we flew out?)
Two hours later, the snow was gone, the sun came out, Danielle drove up, and we went to the tulip fields.
I don't know how to even describe the tulips. I am sure Smallworld would have a poem, but all I have is pictures....

Aside from the highlight of the tulips, we had a great time as a family, especially just spending time with my sister and her family. this was one of the best times I have had with Amy in a long time.
Tuesday, Mike, Caleb, Scott, and Zachary got to go back down to Seattle for a Mariners game. It was a fun night for the boys, and the girls got to stay up and watch Enchanted.
Wednesday came too soon, with tears and goodbyes, but what memories I have of this time together!
Our trip home was LONG to say the least. We got caught in a storm in Dallas, and couldn't take off because of a tornado warning. (note the weather theme of this trip) We sat on the plane for 3 1/2 hours before taking off. We landed in Nashville at 4 a.m. Knoxville time, and drove up to our house at 6:45 a.m. But, hey, we saw the sunrise! And now, time to catch up on our sleep...
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Apr. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Those tulips are AMAZING!!!
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Apr. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sadie423
The tulips are beautiful! We went to a wildflower farm in TX once, but it wasn't nearly as nice as those flowers
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Apr. 29, 2008 - Hi from Kathy P - your husband's co-worker's wife
Posted by Anonymous
Hi: My husband (Mark P.) works with your husband. He told me about your blog tonight so I was checking it out. I have one too. but have no time to keep up with it. We have 8 children with one married - we have adopted several times - now your husband will remember who we are . . . . Loved those pics to Seattle - I am from Oregon and Mark is from Idaho Kathy P.
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Apr. 29, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I forgot to leave my email address: chatkat@bellsouth.net Kathy P
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Apr. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
What gorgeous snow and tulips! I can't believe that my 8 yo dd recognized your kiddos after nearly a year since seeing them for ONE time. :) Thanks for sharing all of your weather-related adventures and photos to go with them. The tulips remind me of the ones I saw in Holland as a seven or eight yo. (My dad was stationed in Germany at the time.)
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Jun. 26, 2008 - You didn't need a poem!
Posted by QueenoftheHill
Those photos say it all. I can't believe how beautiful it is there. Why have I never been to the tulip festival -- or even heard of it? The King is from Washington, after all. Men!

Surprise, surprise...

Ok, I stopped even reading everyone else's blogs because I got sick of seeing mine with nothing new on it. So, after much procrastination, and laziness, I am back :) So here's a bit of me the last two months...
This little girl was one of my lights in a very dark time...and she still prays for the baby every night.

My Bekah turned six, and had a fun High School Musical Birthday party...
Caleb turned eight, and Duncan joined us for the second annual Chic- fil -a birthday lunch
Danielle came for a fun girls weekend, and trip to IKEA!
My four favorite people on Easter...
And, Caleb, earning his Wolf badge and giving me my mother's pin....

What I wished I had a picture of, is the day I forgot to put the emergency break on in our stick shift car. Mike thought it had been stolen, but no, it was stopped by our neighbor's deck....yikes...that was February 29th, leap day, and I am so glad it is now spring...
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Apr. 25, 2008 - welcome back!
Posted by DrHibiscus
nice to have you back in the blogosphere. great pictures! I would be happy that spring is here too, if it wasn't for my darned allergies...
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Apr. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Welcome back! Look like you got the flickr thing figured out--sorry, I was out buying garden stuff!

Glory Baby...

Glory Baby
by: Watermark
Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby…baby..You were growing, what happened dear?You disappeared on us baby…baby..Heaven will hold you before we doHeaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…Until we’re home with you…
Miss you everydayMiss you in every wayBut we know there’s aday when we will hold youWe will hold youYou’ll kiss our tears awayWhen we’re home to stayCan’t wait for the day when we will see youWe will see youBut baby let sweet Jesus hold you‘till mom and dad can hold you…You’ll just have heaven before we doYou’ll just have heaven before we do
Sweet little babies, it’s hard tounderstand it ‘cause we’re hurtingWe are hurtingBut there is healingAnd we know we’re stronger people through the growingAnd in knowing-That all things work together for our goodAnd God works His purposes just like He said He would…Just like He said He would…
BRIDGE:I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabiesand what they must sound likeBut I will rest in knowing, heaven is your homeAnd it’s all you’ll ever know…all you’ll ever know…
Thank you, Smallworld for blogging words that I can't put into words right now and for understanding how I feel. One day I hope to get my thoughts written down.
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Feb. 10, 2008 - Praying for you ...
Posted by arajbrown
as you try to put it all together. Love you- amy
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Feb. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
I love you!!
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Feb. 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by bestsister
Praying for you too. Barbara
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Feb. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LaDonna C.
You are on my mind and in my prayers...I'm so sorry.
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Feb. 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jennfromtenn
You are in my prayers. Jenn
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Feb. 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Mom
You are in lots of Arizona prayers too. We love you.