In the Storm

Reflections on April-May 2011

I missed recapping April so here is April and May. Reflections on April 2011 

1. We went south for my niece Laura’s wedding to Ian. It was a beautiful wedding and all my kids were there with my grandbabies too. Unfortunately I didn’t get the four of them together for a picture. 

2. I made 14 digital scrapbooking pages in April alone!! Digital rocks! 

3. We did the great room change. Moved the Georgia Boys upstairs to the larger 14x20 room and moved the scraproom/office down to their old bedroom. Actually we only got them moved upstairs in April. 

4. I made 6 new recipes in April. We tried Garlic Soup, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Linguine with Hot Italian Sausage, Arugula, Tomatoes, and Baby Mozzarella, Leftover Shredded Pork Enchiladas, Roasted Stuffed Zucchini Boats, and Fresh Blackberry Pie.

5. I made a wedding gift for my niece and her new hubby Ian and I bought a gift for my daughter Ashley’s birthday. We also gave my mother (in-law) a birthday gift.

6. We got a computer virus that had us down for several days.

7. I am behind on my One Little Word class with Ali Edwards.

8. We enrolled the Georgia Boys into a Homeschool Co-op for this fall. I will also be teaching a class, Atmospheric Science.

Reflections on May 2011

Busy month! I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with my mom, and my sisters Sandy and Paula. Awesome cruise! Loved the Bahamas.

I have been busy making digital album pages which I've posted on the blog.

I made a wedding gift for our neighbors. They invited us to their wedding ceremony. They loved their gift.

I made 5 new recipes in May: Spicy Bourbon Chicken, Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Leftover BBQ Pork and Penne Skillet, and Bacon Meatball Subs

We attended a Boy Scout Court of Honor and the Georgia Boys earned their 2-year pin for Boy Scouts (which means they've been in scouts 7 years); Hoosier Man earned his 7-year pin in scouting! Awesome!

Hoosier Man and Georgia Boys spent a weekend smoking Boston Butts to sell for Boy Scouts fundraiser. Very tiring weekend.

I finished my latest bible study with my Saturday night ladies. Awesome study. This book will remain on my bedside table for review regularly. We decided on our next study - the book of Acts!

I worked several weekends! Praise God!

Hoosier Man and Georgia Boys picked up another mowing job. They have 3 paid mowing jobs now.

I found the evil Pinterest online. But it has given me many ideas for crafting, and decorating.

The boys and I are absolutely lovin' homeschooling! We are reading The Last of the Mohicans right now and studying about the Bahamas in Geography.

I had a meeting with my co-teacher for Homeschool Co-op. It went awesome! She is a wonderful lady, love her. We planned out our schedule and aside each other things to do to get ready for August. She is writing tests and I am writing labs.

The boys and I decided on 100 days of Summer 2011 for this summers activities! How fun. We've already been swimming at the pool.

Biggest activities have been painting the offic/scraproom, putting up shelves and begin organizing the room although it isn't done yet and our guest room is not put back into order yet.

I received an amazing Mother's Day gift this year:
My red chair! And...

 
a Vera Bradley Blue Lagoon Weekender!

Reflections...

On March...

Very quiet month

Our computer had a nasty virus that we couldn’t fix for almost two weeks – thus no computer...means no blogging, and no recipe-finding, and no digital scrapping.

We got a gift into my mom when we visited her down in Florida for a weekend of yard work. She lives on an acre land and the yard needed a good clean up. My sister, brother-in-law, brother, nephew all came over to work together to get her yard racked and blown, house pressure washed, car washed, and water pump fixed. It was a tiring but good weekend.

I made several new recipes that everyone enjoyed even a couple new dessert recipes that we shared with small group. Speaking of small group, we began a new study this month. We are now in the book of Mark and lovin’ it.

I began physical therapy on my neck and back. Oh my, it has done wonders in just the short time I have gone. They think my posture is the ultimate culprit to my pain. I work through many different exercises at each session (two a week).

I had a homeschool co-op meeting to discuss the new school year 2011-2012. Some valuable information was passed and I meet several more homeschool moms.

Jeff and the boys began yard mowing for the year. This is a wonderful side job for Jeff and the boys. It gives Jeff his breakfast money and teaches the boys invaluable lessons.

Our run, walk, or swim 500-mile challenge has Jeff in the lead but Jarrod is a close second. The month had Jeff in a commanding lead over John and Jarrod with me a close second but the boys have been spurred on to get out in the morning before we start school and get a two or three mile walk in. This month was also a swimming milestone. We all swam 1-mile swims.

I did a Week in the Life of our family and scrapped each day digitally. Along with that week’s worth of pages I made 18 other digital scrapbooking pages. I really am getting to the point where I need to place an order for 12 x 12 photos of my pages.

God's Creation

 
 

Reflections

On February 2011

1) Our recipe box is filling up fast with fresh, new, fun recipes. All the recipes we tried this month are keeper recipes, like: Carrot Soup, Zucchini Crisp, Patty Melts, Garlic-Zucchini Pasta, Spicy Cole Slaw, Texas Corn Casserole, and yummy lunch sandwiches and wraps.

2) Jeff and the boys went to the Wilmington Island YMCA for a Boy Scout campout and Rockwall/Rope challenge. All three climbed the 40-foot rock wall, completed the zipline, and Jarrod completed the Ropes Course. It was one of their more exciting weekends.

3) Jeff took a day off work and we headed south to Jacksonville for a homeschool field trip to the MOSH (the Museum of Science and History). We enjoyed our day a lot. Then we had dinner with my brother Rich before we headed home. We ate at the Soul Food Bistro – wonderful. Good to share a meal with Rich and visit even for just a short while

4) I began my latest bible study, the Uncommon Women by Susie Larson. I also began an individual study by Cynthia Heald – becoming a Women of simplicity.

5) I began cleaning out the attic – and have gotten stuck. So much stuff and it is sitting in my scraproom – just sitting there waiting for me to precede, and organize it.

6) The boys and I visited a Homeschool Co-op that we will be joining this fall. We sat in on a Writing class that was awesome and the boys loved the geography class they sat in on. I will be teaching Atmospheric Science – an Intro to Meteorology to Middle School and High School students. So excited! And scared!

7) We have been moving right along on our challenge to move more. Jeff took the lead the last day of the month when he ran and walked 2 miles. We have a long way to go but I’m loving’ the challenge..

8) I’ve had some back issues. Had xrays that were clear – good news but I still have the issues. I should be getting a Physical Therapy appointment in the Month of March or April.

9) Jeff and the boys are healthy

10) I got on a digital scrapbooking roll and realized I completed quite a few pages. Just a recap.

 
 
11) Valentine's Day was quiet. But I made decorations to share with our small group. I loved how they turned out. I plan on a few 'St Patty's' decorations too! Even though we don't get into the whole St. Patrick's Day celebration - but I have some cute decoration ideas.

12) I loved sneeking a gift in to my mom. She loves the Big Easy and What's Up Doc but somehow lost her VHS copies. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon for us and went ahead and found both movies for her. She was so excited. The Bible tells us that it is better to give than to receive (I think it's in Proverbs). I agree!

13) The boys learned a big lesson in 'doing it right the first time' when they cleaned up a neighbors yard but didn't do it right the first time. The neighbor got sighted and charged for the yard being a mess and the home owner's association having to send someone to clean it. Now there are some extenuating issues but the money they were paid for the work went back until the extenuating issues are settled. They may not get that $60 back even then. Lessons are good.

14) We had a pretty good month of homeschooling. The boys and I are still enjoying it and each other.

Reflections

On January 2011.

I completed my MBA (stress-filled as all get out); my last class, Strategic Resource Planning was very intense. The final exam ended up being an all-encompassing exam from the entire program. Crazy! My final paper was a full blown business plan but I made an A in my class and I graduated with a 3.83.

John and Jarrod were promoted to Star rank in Boy Scouts. They each had a board of review and sat for a Scoutmaster review as well. So proud! They are on track to make Eagle Scout around 16 years old.

My daughter Elizabeth received a date for Air Force basic training. I am very excited for her and very proud of her.

My son-in-law Brad made Staff Sergeant in the Air Force.

I began a Precepts bible study at church on Thursday mornings. We are studying Lamentations, Nehemiah, and Esther.

John and Jarrod serve for the children’s ministry on Thursday mornings while I’m in bible study. It is a wonderful opportunity for them and for the children’s ministry.

Jeff and the boys went on the first campout of the year for the Father-Son freeze out – and they froze. On Saturday evening the temperatures dropped to the low 20s. They were prepared as good scouts should be.

I worked every weekend so financially that was a plus.

We began our 500-mile Run, Walk, or Swim challenge. Jarrod has an early lead.

I made several Valentine decorations that turned out wonderful. Can’t wait!.

Note to self: I like the idea of recapping the month. It wouldn't be a bad idea for a month-in-review type layout with a various pictures from the month. I think I'll add this to my list of things to do.