MT

Today is our Mock Trial competition.

I coach the homeschool high school Mock trial team.  Today is out first competition.  We have been working 4x a week since late September for this day.This is the 3rd year I am coaching, and the first year I don;t have my own kid in it.  It has been a delight to work with all the kids.  They are as different as could be, but get along wonderfully.  

The last 2 times we competed, we went to county champs, beating all the public & private high school in the county.  Which is about 17 or 18 schools.  The kids really want to live up to the "fame".  All I want them to do it their personal best.  And I expect their personal best.  If we win, but they didn't do their personal best, they will hear about it.  And they better shape up for the next competition.  If we lose, but they did their personal best, then I am okay with that.

I am nervous for them.  My love  & my kids are coming.  YIKES!!!

We will spend some time in prayer, for we all need it. 

Boo-boos &Playoffs

I love to ski.  I don't ski anymore as my knees are shot, but Samuel loves to ski.  He & John go every Friday in the winter, and maybe some Saturdays.  That little kid flies down black diamonds with his daddy behind him.  I am totally jealous.

When he started, I tried to get Chloe on the mountain also.  She said no.  How about snowboarding? Ummmm, no.  

For those of you who ski, and I imagine those of you who snowboard, for I have never been snowboarding, you understand the thrill of the ride.  The excitement of the wind and speed.   The cold air filling your lungs and the quietness of winter.  You are in a world that is all your own, conquering the mountain and its a fabulous feeling.

Josiah is a snowboarder.  He accomplished ( to my delight) what I was not able to.  He took Chloe snowboarding.  She pretty much went kicking & whining.  But, so what.  She went. 

And you know what??

SHE ENJOYED IT!!!!!

Go figure.  duh

Here is her battle wound.  It looks worse then the picture.  Its pretty gross if you ask me.  Its actually a hole.  3D-ish.   The scar will be pretty nasty, but nothing a decent pair of dance tights won't hide. 

Still when asked, she said she would do it again!!!

Playoff season have begun.  So, Steelers have made it to the playoffs.

*****YES!!!!!******

Have I ever told you how I bought the NFL movie of when the Steelers won the SuperBowl 2 years ago.  I did.  And I watch it.  Often.  Sometimes, when its the middle of the summer, and I am going through football withdrawls, I pop that baby in there and then life is not so depressing anymore.

Yes, I need a life.

My husband is not as big a football fan as I am ( But remember, he is a Bills fan, so its understandable)  ( ouch!)  ( sorry honey)

So tonight, at 8pm , you know where I will be. Do not talk to me.  Do not ask me any questions.  Its do or die time.

Welcome to Steeler Country.

Have a beautiful  Lord's Day tomorrow.  May you seek HIS face with all your heart.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Wow, so yesterday, we finally decided that yes indeed, we would go over a friend's house to celebrate the new year.  But then John came home from work at 8pm.  Exhausted.  We then decided maybe staying home was not such a bad idea after all.

It took Samuel absolutely NO EFFORT to stay awake.  I guess being 9 has its advantages.  I played Bible Baseball with him until it was almost midnight.  And can I say, I rock!!  Its a Bible trivia game and the more you know the better score you get.  It also helped in keeping me awake. 

Chloe & Josiah were downstairs watching a movie, and if we joined them, I would have fallen asleep so fast, I would have been in my 5th dream well before 10.  

John fell asleep right after he ate dinner.

Wow.  We are getting old.

Since we were not planning on being home for the midnight hour, I had no sparkling apple cider to toast with.  I had some seltzer water, but no one was interested in that except for me.  Samuel did have some fire crackers my sister got him for Christmas, and we went out side and enjoy them.

Well, as much as one can enjoy being outside while freezing.

John went back to bed & Samuel followed right quick.  Then came my favorite part of the evening.  Chloe, Josiah & I decided to spend some time in prayer together.  It was amazing and I had never done that before.   Bring in the New Year wrapped in prayer.

Which leads me to my next point.   I started a Bible memorization challenge for the new year!!  It started to day, and I already learned my first verse!!  Okay, I already knew it so it wasn;t too difficult, but its 250 verses in a year.

http://www.scripturememorychallenge.org

I desire to spend more time in the Word, in prayer, and in general presence of my King.  I am reading Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Terry Maxwell.  I have read it before and enjoyed it. This time around its convicting this crusty soul.  

I was reading this verse today, and came out and shot me right between the eyes!!

Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?  Galatians 3:3.

This is the story of my life. 

Which probably explains why I feel so behind the eight ball constantly.

So, for the new year, my goal is to seek HIS face.  :)

  

A Boy and his dog(s)

I love dogs.

I think every boy should grow up with a dog, if at all possible.  There are many lessons and comforts a dog brings to the life of a boy.

I found this sight the other day.  It was too precious to pass up not capturing it.

Samuel trying to make sure Reilly was smiling for the camera.  Reilly was trying to figure out what Samuel was doing, but letting him do it anyway.

Daisy is a little whacked in the head, but we love her anyway. 

So, Joe is allergic to everything.   I mean EVERYTHING.  When he comes over, he is totally pumped up with drugs so he doesn't die sneezing on us.

His mom is also a big believer that a boy should have a dog.  But when you are allergic to EVERYTHING, the situation doesn't really lend itself to achieving the goal.

Well after much research, she found a non allergenic dog!!!!

Meet Jack!!!!  (or Toby) (Or Toby Jack) ( Its not been decided yet)  Still.....he is a cutie pie dog!!

He is a Havenese and he sure is cute.  He will only be about 15 pounds soaking wet after a big meal, but Joe now has his dog.  And both boys are thrilled!

Tonight we went over a friend's house for Christmas.  I know, I know, its the 30th.  But since they are Catholic, they celebrate Christmas until the Epiphany (Jan. 6)  So, their Christmas parties last long into the New Year.  We had such a great time.  They have 7 kids so far.  6 girls and 1 boy.  It just so happens that their son is exactly Samuel's age. 

 

And so tomorrow is New Years Eve.  We have been invited to several places, but for the first time, I just want to be home.  I am too depressed to celebrate.  

But I sure hope you all have a wonderful New Year!! May the blessing of our Lord Jesus be upon you home, and may this coming year bring with it all the hope & grace God has to give! 

See you on the flip side!!   :)

Sad Times

We have a radio station here, that start playing 24 hours of Christmas music the week of Thanksgiving.  Its fantastic!!  I love it and immediately tune to it and leave it on in the car for forever.

When I got in the car today, the radio went on and guess what???!?!

They were playing NON CHRISTMAS music.

Sad times.  

:(

Well, till next year..........

JOY TO THE WORLD!!!!

THE LORD IS COME!!!!!

WISHING A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! 

Remember the reason for the season, and be blessed by the Gift. 

For unto us a Child is born.....

Take time for HIM, and take time to enjoy your family. 

Keep the focus

I put this on top of my piano because whenever I get overwhelmed by the season.... I'll just go stand there are look at it, and remember. 

Notice my cute Advent "wreath" on the right?  (before I put the candles).  I picked that up 2 years ago, and have never regretted it.  We have Advent at church, but this family has never had the honor of lighting the candle. 

 

So I decided that we would get our own, and do our own Advent celebration and devotions at home.  It has become one of those"good memories" family things.  We look forward to it, and the kids love lighting the candles, and seeking our Lord's coming in a personal way. 

On another note, my friend Tina, has a nativity set out on her front lawn. It is one of those cement ones that weighs a ton.  She asked her love to build her a little house to put it in this year.  She went online and got directions and measurements for him to follow.  He stated he was a contractor, and not to insult him by giving him directions.  He knows how to build houses, and this was small potatoes. 

I went over to the house 2 days ago.  There was this ENORMOUS "garage" in front of her house.  It was well built and nicely painted.  And it took every bit of my self control not to burst out laughing.  By the look on her face, it was best to just tell her how nice it was built and leave it at that. 

She is thinking since its so GRAND, she is asking her friend who has a farm, to let her borrow some live sheep for Christmas Eve to put in there and make it cute.  Meanwhile, her nativity set is lost in the grandness of it.  I think after the holiday season, it will go in the back for an extra shed.

Oh those husbands of ours. :)  They are a joy and delight.  But sometimes you just gotta love them inspite of themselves.  And learn that life is good, and God is great.