Life in General!

Hey everybody! I have not posted on here since May of last year. A lot has transpired since then. As all of us are experiencing the staying at home because of this coronavirus, it has caused a different way of life for so many of us. I for one have had a little change in my life where my kids don't get to see other kids as often as they would like to. As we homeschool, it hasn't really changed my kids being around each other and myself, so that is still just a reality and our normal day of life. However, I will say that I understand this is not other people's reality. This is something a lot of people say they could never do.  But I say to that person, you can do it and I guess you're being forced to do it. But we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. One thing I will say about this circumstance is that it is bringing out the best in people. It is bringing out strangers helping strangers in the grocery line. It is having a person give you an encouragin...

Hello!  We are almost done with our school year.  This is year number 11 for us.  The kids will be in these grades next year - Savannah 11th, Siler 9th, Sarah 7th, Sully 5th year at Keowee, and Seth 2nd.  This has been a good year.  I feel like it has been a fast year.  So I have had a neat opportunity and started a job!  I am still homeschooling, but I am working with a company called VIPKID.   They are based out of San Francisco and Beijing.  I have this amazing opportunity to teach Chinese children English.   I started this in March.  I apologize for not posting and kind of falling off the face of the planet lol!  I have never worked a consistent job along with homeschooling and caring for the home.  It has been and still is an adjustment.   I think, though, this will be a wonderful thing for us. So that is an update on me and the children.  Benson and I will celebrate 21 years on June 6th!...

Hey everyone!  I hope you are well today :0). If you are like us, you have been dealing with lots and lots of rain.  Can I say that I have really tried my hardest to not complain about it?  It is a lot of hassle to deal with - especially all of us that care for or teach children.  It is so hard because they can't go out and play.  So, yes, there have been Nerf wars in our house and more video gaming and TV watching, but I know that sun will come out sometime.  They will go out and play and build and work.  But until then, this momma is saving her sanity.   But I didn't write this post to talk all about that lol!  I wanted to share a bit of the scripture I am reading.  Almost a year ago I was challenged by a wonderful speaker to change areas of my life.  I chose to try to get more sleep and read my Bible daily.  I have to say that the good Lord has helped me with those areas.  It is in His strength that I accomplish anyt...

  I cannot believe that January is almost over!  It just seems like I put the Christmas tree up.  I actually don't mind it, though.  I am not a huge fan of the cold.  Benson is - he is what I like to call a "Human Heater."  LOL!  But I have to say that I do love the beauty of winter.  The ice on trees and the ground are pretty spectacular.  Our Australian Shepherd, Bear, loves the snow.  It feels good to him.  I guess it is like anything else where you can find the good in things.   With January being the "Sanctity of Life" month, I have to say that I find good in it.  Sadly there are people in our world that do not agree with me on when life begins and abortion.  I do not see why we need to get rid of a baby.  I know that yes there are awful circumstances some people are in -rape, incest or perhaps the life of the mother.  With rape and incest as the case, I think the way the baby got here is awful.  ...

Wow!  I think our sickness in November and then our Christmas busyness kept me from posting.  But I am back lol! I have been having a wonderful time off of the usual doings at what we call "Camp GrandmaPoppa!" My parents have had us up for our family Christmas.  We have had a wonderful time.  I have three days left until reality hits.  But that is ok.  One can only handle so much down time. To update you on where life is for me at the end of 2018, I am still meeting two goals I set at the beginning of the year - not perfectly but better than other years.  I am still getting to homeschool with a 10th, 8th, 6th and 1st grader, and  Sully is in his 4th year at Keowee Elementary.  Benson has had a great year with his flooring installation business, and we give the Lord all the glory for it!  I have decided to try to take on working for a company called VIPKid that teaches Chinese children English.  I am new, so I haven't started tea...

  Fall is here!  It is my most favorite of all the seasons!  I love Christmas as my favorite holiday, but I just love all the fall-ish things about this season.  But I have to say that I think the pumpkin spice usage has exploded big time!  Lol!  I am looking forward to some times of outside fires and hayrides - leaves changing color and cooler temperatures.  Yes!  I love fall!   And if you have been reading along with me, you know that I am in a Bible study called Triggers  by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake.  I have just been majorly blessed by their book.  Well, the chapter I am in resonates with me because I have to deal with a family of 7 that lives on a farm.  That being said, that means extra dirt and extra messes.  I am fine with it, though.  I LOVE living on a farm.  And our farm isn't huge, so I don't have huge messes.  And my loving husband has helped our kids learn to rinse off their shoes befor...

  We are well into starting up school as I'm sure you are too.  I can't believe the second week is over.  I feel as though the years are starting to fly by me.  If you have been following me over the past few months, you will remember that I am sharing parts of an amazing book called Triggers  by Amber Lia and Wendy Speake.  I have their permission to share.  I am excited to share about this next chapter.  It is quite heart touching.  I have really been blessed by this book.  Particularly because it has worked on my heart which in turn has worked on others in the family.   This chapter really moved me.  Wendy Speake is the one who wrote this chapter.  She starts off with saying, "Having a child with special needs, behavioral disorders, and learning difficulties can be one of the most difficult weights to bear.  And under pressure, mom's can explode, marriages implode, and love erode." I get this.  I have 5 child...