Summer is flying by!

I can't believe that we are almost to the end of June!!  Where is the summer going?  Every summer, I assume that I will have all kinds of time to do the things that I really want to do.  Somehow that is never the case! :)   It seems that I am always so busy with something, and yet I'm not accomplishing the things that I have planned to do.  Oh well, I guess that's just the way it goes. In addition, I always feel like I should be extremely happy and upbeat in the summer, but I usually end up feeling a little on the down side.  I think it's because I see it going by too quickly.  I know I need to just praise God for what He has given me, and be thankful for everything. 
I am very excited for an upcoming trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan at the end of July.  I am going there with my dad and my sister.  We are huge fans of Christmas, so Frankenmuth ( specifically Bronner's) is the perfect place for us!! 
Oh yeah......I turn 40 in about 2 1/2 weeks.  I am not quite as down about it as I keep thinking I will be.  I am in a small state of shock that I will be approaching my "middle years."  Time has gone by so quickly!  I really hope my family is not planning any sort of crazy "over the hill" party.  I believe that I would be a little depressed by that!!
I want to take this opportunity to praise God for all He has blessed me with over the past years.  I have a wonderful husband, two terrific sons, a great family that surrounds me, a loving church family, and so many other blessings.  I know I don't deserve all that God has done for me, but He has blessed me anyway.  I am especially thankful that I have been given salvation by believing that Jesus lived a perfect life, died for the sins of the world ( including mine), was buried and rose three days later.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!

I didn't write at all in 2012!!!

I can't believe that I didn't write anything in 2012!!  I had better get busy. :)  I think I will focus on different topics depending on what mood I am in.  I have written about home schooling, and I will continue to do so; but I believe I'll write about other topics, as well.  Perhaps some recipes?  Or maybe just venting? :)  I think I'll vent right now..... Yesterday morning I awoke to sewer backup in the basement.  Talk about a "crappy" start to the day!!! Praise the Lord, it was not an expensive fix, but I did not want to deal with poop in the basement!  Well, as the repairman stated, " At least it's you and your family's poop and not the neighbor's."  I guess that does make it a little better!!  :)  I suppose what I need to remember is that I really do hate when anything goes differently than I have planned, but I need to rely on the Lord at those times.  He is my rock, and I need to praise Him no matter what is going on. 

Wow! Summer vacation is here!

This year was a bit different for us.  My oldest son began high school and went to a school outside of our district.  He ended up doing very well, both academically and socially.  I still home schooled my youngest son and he did a great job.  It was very difficult for me to let go of my oldest son and let him grow up in a different environment.  I had home schooled him throughout his middle school years and we had really developed a special bond.  I miss those days, but it is wonderful to see him spread his wings!  He is involved in the school band, and he really enjoys that!  He didn't have that same opportunity when he home schooled, so I feel blessed that he could join the band after not playing for several years.  I just feel thankful to God for the opportunities He has provided for myself and my family.  He needs to remain central in our lives, and I want to give Him the glory!!

Yeah, but......

Well, another school year is about to begin!  Beginning our third year of home schooling, I figured I would not be too nervous this year.....but I was wrong!  I do feel a little more confident than I did when we first began; but I still have butterflies!  I always want to do my very best, but I sometimes lack the gumption to put my thoughts into action.  I have great ideas for various activities, but I need the motivation to put feet to my ideas!  I feel very blessed to have found a great curriculum, so I believe I will just continually pray for God's hand of guidance on our home school, and leave the worries to Him.  I thank God that I can stay home with my family and educate my children with God in the center!

Book Review

I just received a free copy of the book Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down by Jeremy Kingsley.  This copy was courtesy of Bethany House Publishers.  I read this book over the course of an evening and found that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Kingsley deals with the many seen and unforeseen circumstances that can render a person hopeless.  He uses personal experience to help the reader understand that hardships happen to all of us at some point.  Kingsley relies on Biblical principles to equip the reader in dealing with their own personal heartache.  The tools given in this book were very insightful and could benefit a reader in learning to rest in their faith during difficult times.  I will certainly recommend this book to others.

Just starting out!

Well, here I am!  I truthfully have no idea what I am doing, but I am going to try it anyway! :)  I believe that this blog will be a great way for me to share my thoughts and ideas with others.  Let's begin with a little bit about me.  I am a Born Again Christian, which is the most important description about me.  I am blessed to be the wife of a wonderful husband who supports my desire to stay at home with our sons.  I am in my second year of home schooling, so I will be writing quite a bit about that adventure!  I absolutely love to read........ too much sometimes!  I'm excited to start this new journey, and I hope you will come along for the ride!