Grains of Sand

For today March 30, 2010 Outside my window.... a bit of frost covering the ground this morning but the sun is peeking over the horizon and it is promising to be a beautiful day filled with sunshine. I am thinking..... of all the plants I'd like to add to the garden this year. I am thankful for..... brewed coffee awaiting me when I wake up (thanks to my wonderful husband). I am wearing..... jeans, a brown shirt and cream colored sweater with my new cute shoes. ☺ I am hearing..... the peace and quiet of a sleeping house. I am going..... to bring M to the eye doctor for a follow-up visit today. I am reading and being inspired by..... What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent (watch for a review coming soon). I am hoping..... to connect with a good friend this week. I am creating..... a bookmark for a friend. On my mind...... amazement at how one person can make a big difference in people's lives. From the learning rooms..... a muc...

The kids and I have been able to view a female barn owl in California, thanks to Sportsman's Paradise online.  She currently has 2 owlets and 3 eggs.  There are quite a few wildlife webcam's to view from fish to deer to birds on this site.  Pick your favorite.  It is always fun to get an up close picture of nature's moments.  Fascinating! We hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

I read a post on the LPM Blog today called 10 Things You Might Not Know .  I had so much fun reading everyone's things that I think you should head over there and read a few.  Here are the 10 Things You Might Not Know about me: 1. I love stationary and thank you cards, I can't leave a store without one in hand. 2. It bothers me when I walk into a store with someone else and the person greets us by saying, "Hi Guys". 3. My food items cannot touch each other on my plate. 4. I do my best thinking in the shower. 5. My least favorite food is pizza. 6. I don't like having my picture taken, it makes me feel self-conscious. 7. I love to bird watch, binoculars and all. 8. The same person has cut my hair my entire life. 9. I love surprises and hidden treasures. 10. I received a big stuffed dog as a reward for potty training when I was three, I still have it.

For today March 23, 2010 Outside my window.... clear sunny skies, robins searching for worms and sparrows flocking to the feeders. I am thinking..... about a good discussion I had with my sister. I am thankful for..... wireless technology that allows me to update my daybook from the comfort of my family room couch. I am wearing..... athletic pants and a track and field sweatshirt from my high school. I am hearing..... the coffee pot brewing up a good morning. I am going..... shopping today with all of my three children.  Should be interesting. I am reading..... Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore and loving it. I am hoping..... to pick out new paint colors for my daughters room and the kids bathroom. I am creating..... a list of home maintenance items. On my mind...... the amazing way the God takes care of the details. From the learning rooms..... end of the year projects and preparation for next year. Noticing that..... the p...

About six months ago, my husband and I started to notice that one of M's eyes turned inward when she focused on objects at a distance.  As our awareness increased, we noticed that her left eye was the culprit and seemed to turn inward not only viewing distances but also close up. We made an appointment with the ophthalmologist who examined M's eyes and diagnosed her with Strabismus.  Stabismus is a visual defect in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions.  The eye turn may be constant, or it may come and go (as in M's case).  More specifically M has a common type of strabismus called Accommodative Esotropia which occurs in children usually 2 years or older.  In this type of strabismus, when M focuses her eyes to see clearly, her left eye turns inward.  This crossing may occur when focusing at a distance, up close, or both. Glasses reduce the focusing effort and often straighten the eyes.  So far, this seems to be workin...

It all began with a flyer telling us to mark the date.  The AWANA Grand Prix, Friday March 12, 2010.  The pinecar kit was purchased and Patrick and L began brainstorming together.  What shape should the little pinecar be?  How about colors?  How do we make it fast?  How do we make it cool?  Slowly an idea took shape and the little pinecar was coming to life in the minds of a boy and his father. We are not woodworkers.  We do not have any fancy saws, drills or tools to make the job of shaping a car any easier.  We used sandpaper wrapped around a WD-40 can and lots of elbow grease to shape the car.  Next came paint.  Yellow and red were the must haves.  The car was painted many coats of yellow paint and then the red flames were applied.  The painting portion of the project was the most time consuming due to the amount of time needed for the paint to dry.  Good thing our procrastinating family got started two weeks ...

For today March 16, 2010 Outside my window.... a beautiful sunrise and a forecast of sunshine all day!  Hello spring! I am thinking..... about a difficult phone call I will be making later on this morning. I am thankful for..... the freedom to school my children at home. I am wearing..... cozy pants with a pink long sleeve shirt, soon to be replaced by a t-shirt this warm day. I am hearing..... the sound of saws and hammers as some work gets underway at the neighbors house. I am going..... to adjust my morning schedule so that I can once again fit a walk in before my husband leaves for work in the morning. I am reading..... Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson. On the nightstand, Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I am hoping..... to increasingly parent my children proactively instead of reactively.  I am creating..... a few little Easter surprises. On my mind...... my kids, my husband, my friends and how I can encourage and...

I am completely and utterly in love with this man!  He is the only boy I have ever called on the telephone.  The only boy I've asked out on a first date.  The only man who completely stole my heart. He is 38 years young today.  He has a few more gray hairs (from wisdom!) and a few laugh lines on his face.  He is the father of my children and my best friend. Happy Birthday Patrick! As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men.  (Song of Solomon 2:3)

For today March 9, 2010 Outside my window.... the sky is gray and a thick fog is enveloping the community. I am thinking..... of how challenging our homeschool days have been for the past couple weeks. I am thankful for..... the beauty of the changing seasons and especially the anticipation of spring being just around the corner, it is one of my favorite times of year. I am wearing..... a mis-matched outfit of many shades of blue. I'm hoping to get some spring cleaning done before putting on a more 'respectable' ensemble. I am hearing..... a few birds outside, the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard and the hum of the refrigerator.  I am going..... to begin a sex education unit with the children and look into joining a book club. I am reading..... Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson.  Looking forward to Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I am hoping..... my husband will have an offer of employment from a previous employe...

For today March 2, 2010 Outside my window.... the sky is gray and overcast, however I have hope that the sun will sneak a peek today. I am thinking..... that I might just want to stay in my jammies all day. I am thankful for..... my three beautiful children! I am wearing..... new jammies that make me think of spring. I am hearing..... Sesame Street on tv. I am going..... to take it easy today.  I've been running a lot these past few days. I am reading..... Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson I am hoping..... to step out of my comfort zone more and more every day. I am creating..... a list of birthday ideas for my hubby. Pondering these words....  "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." ~ Helen Keller On my mind...... those around the world affected by natural disasters. From the learning rooms..... with March ushering in spring, we are going to be focusing on the seasons. Noticing that..... our whole family could use haircuts.  ...