Lights and a Candle burning

This year has been weird. We started it off at our old house by leaving up our Christmas lights because they died as soon as my husband hung them. Last Christmas was so strange and sad that I am glad to have a new beginning this year in a new location. We never leave the Christmas lights up on the house - but that is just a prime example of how our life has been this year (with truly no signs of slowing in the next year and a half). We are burning the candle at both ends out of necessity. I don't like it much but it's the way it is for now. Things will have to change eventually because I don't believe that any one family can do this forever. I mean, I don't really do anything. I guess I work on the weekends and I home-school during the week and keep the house and my other things that I do -but it's not that much. I think the idea of what I do stresses me out than the actual things that I do. Does that make sense?

(That One's friend that she said goodbye to. She went
back home to Papua New Guinea)

The Christmas Card Game!

This year, our family will be having a Christmas card game!
The rules go as follows:

Each week leading up to Christmas, we will choose a random selected winner from a box. The kids will also choose purposefully selected winner on December 22nd based on the following criteria:

Most Creative
Most Beautiful
Most Animals

You have to have a family picture somewhere in the card (those are what I am drawing out of the box). It doesn't need to be a picture card -it can be a letter with a picture inside. Your card needs to be received by December 22nd to be part of the game. The winner will recieve a box of Christmas treats! If you do not live in town I can ship them to you.
You can't win if you don't play!
Happy Christmas Card-ing!

PS: if you need my new address I can email it to you.

(This was our rejected picture this year)

Autumn

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Yes, I let my kids play in the backyard in their pajamas...

How fun!

Soft landing!

The pups got in on the action.

Can you find my dapple?

My kids decided to play with our dress up hats and
pose for pictures the other night while daddy was gone.

When I get to Heaven....

When I get to Heaven, I am going to ask the Lord why people have a tendency to go off the deep end. What will you ask?

More Words from the "other one"

"Miss Lucy" came to evaluate him again today because 6 months has passed since he started therapy. Here are his scores:

He is 2 years 6 months by birth date

His Auditory Comprehension scored at 2 years 8 months

His Expressive Communication scored at 3 years 3 months

His Articulation scored below 2 years old (not surprised, we are the only ones who can understand him).

Now that Lucy has gotten him to speak so much more than he could before, she will be working on articulating the words he can already say. He has grown so much from only using 2 words! Her next plan is to use Auditory Bombardment (okay, I just love that title) to get him to say the sounds he is unwilling to say now. He is making such progress my friends! Rejoice with me!

A big fat mess?

According to my math husband, this is an abomination to math textbooks everywhere. I find them actually being put to good use. We are pressing the beautiful fall leaves the kids gathered yesterday or a Thanksgiving craft project. From the sight of the many, many different and beautiful shades of oranges, reds, browns and yellows - there has to be a Creator!

"Are You My Friend?

I've been working on this topic for a few weeks. I found this list online and thought I'd share it with you! Enjoy!

Things a friend does:

1. You give me time
2. You listen to me - and you listen without making me feel judged
3. You're quick to remind me that I have strengths
4. You help me heal when I'm hurting
5. You tell me the truth when it will help me; you don't tell me the truth when it won't help me
6. You show me by your demeanor, tone, and smile that it's important to you that I feel secure, comfortable, at ease
7. You show me that you're sorry when you hurt my feelings; you allow me to show you that I'm sorry when I hurt your feelings
8. You don't abuse me. EVER. You make sure that I know you seek to protect me.
9. You make small surprises for me
10. You find words that support the best that is in me
11. You let me cry when I need to
12. You encourage me to tell the truth to you and to admit when I'm afraid

Yes, you are my friend. And, I need you."

http://www.life-with-confidence.com/signs-of-a-good-friend.html