This Old House

It is cold! Last night it hurt to be outside to go to class. I have no clue what the temperature was, but when I got home, I went to do a load of laundry and the water wouldn't come out into the wash machine. I wasn't sure if it was broke or what... so then I checked the shower which is on the same wall and it wouldn't come on either. Edgey had already pulled the faucet out to full bore. There wasn't even a drip. The little space heater was on it and everything. So I think it must be frozen somewhere from the hot water heater to the bathroom.

We really haven't had any problem this year considering how cold it already has been. It has frozen before during the night in the past....so we have learned to have a space heater pointed into the shower. Sometimes we have even had to let it drip continuously to make sure the line stays open, but this is ridiculous. It happened in the daylight.

The other thing that is a bummer or a blessing depending on how you look at it, is that we have a cold porch room on the back of the kitchen where we keep our refrigerator and our chest freezer. Our kitchen is very small. It has been so cold for the past 2 weeks that everything in the frig section is freezing also. I can't keep any produce in it or it will freeze. :( My celery froze and my lettuce, etc.... My milk has been freezing too.... well getting lots of ice crystals in it. The kids laugh when they get their cereal in the morning because it plops out in the bowl instead of pouring.

So... just sharing some of the joys of living in a home built in 1915.

We are supposed to go visit my grandpa this afternoon. I think I will see if I can take a shower while we are there.

Shalom

I was just thinking about this word.... We talk about Jehovah Shalom meaning God is peace, but there are many more meanings to this word than I really knew. I go to Shalom Bible College. I've seen it for years. So what does it mean?

Strong's Concordance 7965 - (Hebrew) Shalom ..... peace, tranquility, contentment, welfare, salute, health & prosperity, completeness, safety, soundness in body, friendship in relationships with others and God especially in covenant relationship, peace from war

People in Israel use this all the time as a greeting. I used to go to a group called Iowans for Israel. They greeted each other with this. I think I might start saying it again. No wonder the Jews are so blessed. Every time they say this they are blessing others with each of those things. The power of life and death are in the tongue. Choose life.

Just thought I would share.

Shalom!

Miracle

Well, I'll have you all know, that my computer somehow miraculously saved most of my homework. When I tried to pull it up, it had saved everything but the last 2 sentences I had been working on. So PRAISE THE LORD!!! And appreciate all your gracious thoughts toward me and my PC.
I supposed someday I will venture into Big Mac land.... but for now, this is what I am stuck with.

The other problem had nothing to do with MY computer.... it was their server.

I went to class tonight. They had me signed up to do praise & worship next week, but the lady that was supposed to do it, wasn't there..... so I got to do it tonight instead. Had to learn a song super fast. Luckily it was pretty basic.

Tomorrow, I have to take my grandpa to his Dr. appointment. That takes all afternoon. He does everything slow. I am lucky if he is dressed by the time I get to his house. It really wears him out. He has a pacemaker/defibrillator and is on 20 different medications because of his heart and blood pressure. The thing that gets me, is he eats crap.... like giant white muffins and sugar cereal for breakfast, fried foods for lunch. He used to eat pretty decent. Maybe he just doesn't care anymore. We went out for fish a couple of weeks ago and he had fried fish with french fries at a "nice" restaurant.
I know he would feel better if he would just eat decent....

Tonight after class, I ran to the grocery store. Trying to figure out what I am going to make for the next few days. My schedule is getting horrible. I hate it when it gets like that. Something practically everyday... I may have to start saying no again.
I did have fun last Friday. My daughter had a playdate with another little girl her age. Jesse played with the little brother who is only a little younger than him. They totally had a blast and I was so glad, because Elizabeth has been begging for some girlfriends. I got to hang out with their mom and was actually elated because we have a lot in common too. It was pretty great... we use most of the same curriculum and she had ideas and I got to share some ideas too. She likes coffee! That was a plus. We ended up there for almost 6 hours. Not intentionally but the kids begged to keep playing and wanted to have supper together.... so we let them. Her husband cooked pancakes and eggs for supper. What a guy!! He even did dishes afterwards. I was pretty impressed. Hopefully we can develop that relationship a little more and I hope I didn't wear out the welcome there already.

Thursday I have another homeschool meeting. We get to talk about a chapter from the Charlotte Mason book on "bickering siblings" and "The Will". I hope to get some ideas from that topic. I'm sure it won't be boring. I already looked up a bit of info on the internet and had to laugh at this...

Special Delivery. Tie them together. Yes, I'm serious. This is a common
event in our home. Fuss too much and get tied together. I tell them they can
untie themselves anytime they want. All they have to do is wait until I hear
genuine laughter, see sparkles in their eyes, and love and forgiveness
controlling their actions.

We actually did this the other day with Elizabeth and Jesse because they were arguing about who was going to sit by dad at the dinner table. Give me a break. They didn't get tied together but they did have to hold hands and eat until they could be nice. It was kind of funny seeing Jesse try to eat with his non-dominant hand.

Frustrated

I had a good weekend although it was slightly busy.... I didn't have a lot of patients, but the ones I had were time consuming... sort of.
Anyway, right now I am frustrated.
I have been working on my lesson plans today and was starting to get ready for the spring semester and transferring the course information to that and It transferred EVERYTHING to the spring semester..... so now the record I had for this past semester is in Feb and March. UGH!
I am disgusted because I contacted the company to try to fix it and they said I have to sign up for a $50 fee if I want support. Whatever! So I guess I am back to writing it out by hand and saving it in a notebook and hoping the house never burns down. :(
I don't know what God is trying to show me in this one. Perseverence maybe? My analysis skills are lacking.

So then I am doing my homework for my class tonight and typing it on the computer so it will be easy for the teacher to read and easy for me to write and my Microsoft works program is "not responding" and froze up. So now I have 1/2 my homework done (which is almost 3 pages worth of work) and it isn't saved and I can't save it. What a huge waste of time! What am I supposed to learn from that?

Watching Joyce this morning is not helping me much at the moment.... except I keep thinking about her laughing about the lady that told her the devil is really after me and it is making me upset. Joyce was just laughing. If you know the devil is after you and it's the devil, then why are you upset?

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

So I guess that's my verse for tonight.....

Goals

I am working on one of my year goals today..... getting ahead on my lesson plans for homeschooling. I am usually about a week ahead, but I have it as a goal to really plan for a few weeks at a time and adjust later. It seems to be helping me not feel so much pressure for my time. I feel like I am on the computer all the time though. I have been doing all my lesson planning online. It is a free service called HomeSchool Inc. and they keep track of lesson plans and what has been completed and what hasn't. It has an option for the kids to get online and communicate with the "teacher" and feedback, etc..

I suppose I can write my goals on here then y'all can keep me accountable for them. Not sure I want to do that or not....

GOALS - Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Personal - Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

1. Try to go to bed and get up earlier
2. Read each book of the bible 20 times starting in New Testament (if you want to understand why I want to do this go to this website. How to Change Your Mind
3. Walk 4-5 times each week
4. Eat healthy

House
1. Declutter 15 min. weekly
2. work on attic
3. plant flowers and do front exterior
4. paint downstairs
5. 2 loads of laundry daily

Family
1. (can't say this one outloud- but it has to do with counting) :p
2. Go on date once a month with each family member (at least 1-2 hours alone)
3. Speak encouraging things daily to them (Mon - Jesse, Tues -Eliz, Wed - Ethan, Thurs - Edgey, Fri - dogs) Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily...

note: I am not a natural encourager like my husband and have to truly make myself do this - so if this seems like a strange goal, that is why. Someday, I hope that it will just become habit. When I read my goals and read the accompanying scriptures daily, then it will get into my heart.

Job - Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
1. Do informal presentation
2. Attend at least 4 monthly unit meetings (hate these! because I have to go during the week)

Ministry - 1 Tim 4:13-16 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1. Finish Throughly Furnished
2. Book Report
3. Capture that sermon (10)
4. Finish Degree exam
5. New Testament synopsis
6. Finish typing blood covenant syllabus

Homeschool
1. Keep ahead on lesson plans
2. Focus focus on Jesus! (this is difficult too sometimes, even though we have a Christian curriculum.... we always have to get requirements out of the way and sometimes things get out of focus.)

I stayed up too late last night so this morning I only caught the last 5 minutes of Joyce on TV. Then I was mad... I fell asleep again and woke up to John Hagee.... yelling Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! and clapping his hands together really loud. I figured I better get up. Then Elizabeth came running in the bedroom and said that Buddy peed on my red chair. Then I was mad again. Buddy has had a problem the last 2 days with going in the house. No problem up until now. What's up with that!?? He peed on a sack of Jesse's toys. Then later he peed on another plastic sack of Elizabeth's toys. They carry their toys around in plastic bags during the day. I don't know why. The kids were totally grossed out. LOL I told them, maybe they should keep them picked up off the floor and then he wouldn't pee on them. So then there's nothing on the floor.... he goes for my red chair..... grrrrr. So I made the kids take their little hind ends out into the freezing cold every couple of hours today. They weren't too happy about that - kids or dogs.
So that is how my morning started.

I had my first bible college class of this term tonight. It was mostly introductions to the classes. I am taking Intro to Prophets and Hebrews: The Better Covenant. They are both taught by my favorite teachers. Yay! Sometimes the teacher can make the class, if you know what I mean.
I am afraid I will have a LOT of homework. Not looking hugely forward to that but I do enjoy digging into the Word...
Just like that song Bill and I have started singing: The more I seek you, the more I find you. The more I find you, the more I love you.

The instructor asked me to sing tonight too. I was having a hard time finding a song that wasn't too high... at the moment, for some reason, my voice is in low mode. It makes higher songs difficult to sing. Anyway I picked something I hadn't sang for years and years. It turned out to be the perfect song.... went right along with our class and also the praise and worship immediately prior to my song. It just flowed. It was a God thing. I was thankful. It's cool when that stuff happens because you know that God is orchestrating it.

I hate eating before I have to sing because it makes crud in my throat. I usually do not have supper on Wed nights or Sunday mornings if I sing. I did not eat anything for supper tonight either. I was very hungry after class. I went to Taco Johns to get cheap 69 cent tacos and, since I am trying to behave, a cup of pinto beans. Well the guy at the drive through screwed up my order on the computer and had to redo it. I sat in the parking lot and ate a taco and 1/2 the beans and realized I got jipped out of the 2nd taco. So I went back through drive through... and told them what happened. It was the same guy again. They were getting ready to close. He apologized then proceeded to get me 2 more tacos and a potato ole with cheese sauce and even asked me if I wanted a coke.... I stuck with my water but I was blessed. It was too much to eat so I shared with Edgey when I got home. I asked God how I was supposed lose weight and eat potato oles too? It was His fault. :)

More Tim Hawkins

More laughs... I would like to get a whole video on this guy. He is a hoot.

This is the Tim Hawkins guy again. Edgey was about rolling on the floor with this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L30-O9xC8U&feature=related
It is about church!! LOL It reminds me of how I think when we pray for lunch at McDonalds. Duh.

Then this one is one that he does on homeschooling to the tune of Adams family music.
Hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc&feature=related

Oh, and this one is definitely for Conner!!! You gotta watch this one man!
It's called Cletus take the Reel.... LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfs3BJZxKkc&feature=related

We went to Jesse's playgroup this afternoon. It's called Young Knights of the Kingdom. During the nice days they go to the park and chase each other around with swords and guns. I'm not sure they are learning much chivalry in this.
Today, since it was cold, we went to some church and had a game day. I had fun.... not sure if the kids did. Jesse said it was boring, but none of them bothered me. Ethan and I learned how to play mancala and a homeschool dad and I had a showdown in Boggle. I lost. LOL
Elizabeth got to play with her new friend and Ethan played ping-pong with some of the older boys and watched them play Stratego (star wars version). I suppose I will have to learn that one to play with him. I used to love to play board games, but don't seem to get a chance to play many. Jesse is a bad sport most of the time.

This weekend I don't have to work unless I am going to cover for my friend.... hopefully someone else is taking that on. She is supposed to sing Star Spangled Banner at the hockey game tomorrow night. I'd like to see that. She wears knee high black patent leather boots and we call her the Nazi nurse because she comes in scrubs and those boots. It's very funny.

Laughter

Edgey's dad was here for a few days this week. On Tues night, we went to his hotel to go swimming again. I actually went and sat in the hot tub. It felt good after wracking my body on the railroad tie. I am really feeling pretty good... maybe a little stiff but not in pain.

Having a hard time sleeping the last couple of nights again. Did some bible study stuff and watched National Treasure DVD. I wanted to watch it in case I go see the second one in the theatre. It looks really good and I have been wanting to go. I also watched the comedy video BANANAS 2. I needed a good laugh. On our homeschool loop we have been passing around some funny stuff. I put out a list of things men shouldn't say to their pregnant wives in the last week of pregnancy.

Top 10 Things Not to Say to Your Wife in the Last Week of Pregnancy
1. Honey, I don't mean to alarm you, but have you ever read about anyone actually popping from being so big?
2. Hey Babe, is it OK that I invited some of the guys from work over to see how big you are? They won’t believe me.
3. Honey, come in here and see this horse giving birth on TV. Oh, man that looks like that’s gotta hurt.
4. I challenge you in a touch your toes contest.
5. Honey, I was just straightening up the bedroom…can you tell me if this is a fitted sheet or a pair of your underwear?
6. You're dreading labor?! Do you know how sore my feet get from standing beside you that whole time?
7. Boy it would be really nice if you went a week or two late so I could watch the six-part mini-series on PBS.
8. No, I couldn’t eat another bite honey. I ate so much I feel…like you.
9. Why don’t you go take a nice, relaxing, hot bath? But don’t put much water in the tub because it’ll overflow when you get in.
10. No, you don’t look huge. “Huge” is such a harsh word…I prefer the term “healthy.”

http://www.familymanweb.com/top10/top-10-things-not-to-say-to-your-wife-in-the-last-week-of-pregnancy

That started a big thread of comedy. A lot of Youtube videos from christian comedians. I'll put some links here. If you can get them, watch them! Hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IR5HWr9IIw&feature=related - Tim Hawkins on marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uFRr67Dhic - Anita Renfroe Don't Breathe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM&feature=related - this one is Anita Renfroe doing the mom song



Last night I watched, on the computer, the clip from Thursday's Joyce Meyer show. B kept talking about how funny it was. My slow telephone line wouldn't allow me to see all of the actions, but it was very funny. At least I knew what she supposed to be doing.... throwing herself on the floor and kicking around.

Laughter is good medicine!
Prov 17:22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Edgey's dad is here visiting this week. He has some type of government training for his job and it is here in Des Moines. So Edgey and the kids have been enjoying him all weekend and he will probably be here for most of the work week.
Last night I went to go get buns for hamburgers.... his dad wanted to grill.... and I went to get in the van. Everything has been melting so my driveway is pretty muddy except for the edges. Luckily where I had to walk wasn't muddy, but unluckily, I slipped and fell on the ice that hadn't melted. It was one of those slow motion deals.. I had my left hand on the door handle and was hanging on to that when I fell. I landed on the edge of the railroad tie..... right between my spine and right hip, like where your right kidney would be. Oh boy!! I thought I was going to die.
I ran my errand after wiping the mud off my backside, then when I got home, I had Edgey put some of my "pain-away" and "chiropractor in a bottle" oils. I thought it would help with muscle soreness and pain. It did really help! I was surprised a little I guess. What actually was hurting this a.m. was what he didn't put the oils on. The front of my right upper leg... some muscle got pulled and back of my right calf... more muscle pulled... and a spot behind my right elbow and on my left hand where I was holding the stupid door handle. :(
Well, I just thank God I didn't hurt myself worse. I almost hit my head... I could have been laying there with a concussion and a broken back and no one probably would have found me until I froze.

After supper, I went to a homeschool meeting... They had a special speaker there called Steve Deace. I guess he has a talk show on WHO radio. His little lecture was really great! It was about Worldviews. Some of the things he talked about:

- Ideas Have Consequences
- What you think about all day long and the way you think about it is what you will become...
- Your faith is the foundation of your belief system. Your beliefs form your thoughts, actions, emotions and behaviors.
- Rather than teach our children to behave right, we must teach them to believe right. When our actions don't line up with our beliefs... the kids rebel.
Kind of like - do what I say, don't do what I do. Or a father that goes to church or preaches on the weekend but comes home from work during the week and immediately goes and sits in a lazyboy with a remote and pays no attention to his kids or wife. It goes against everything the bible teaches.

He gave a lot of statistics... they were pretty scary.
25% of "Christians" do not believe in a physical resurrection
52% believe the Holy Spirit is just a metaphor and not real
As he went on, it just got worse and worse.

So what was the important point?
We need to teach our kids:
What do others believe and why do they believe it?
What do we believe and why do we believe it?
and What do others believe about what we believe in?

Otherwise they will end up another statistic.

I was very challenged.

Happy New Year !!! 2008