Merry Christmas!!

What a crazy, magical week we've had.  We went to Atlanta on Sunday to celebrate Christmas with my inlaws.  SIL, BIL, MIL, FIL were all there. (For my dad, who loves to read, that is Sister in law, brother in law, mother in law and father in law.  He told me he has trouble with my "textspeak").  The kids had a wonderful meal, great time with their grandparents and aunt/uncle.  The biggest surprise was that Leslie and Richard (my sil/bil) found a really nice mountain bike that the got new parts for and fixed up for Wes.  He loves it and it looks great.


This past week Mary Madison has been a cookie making fiend.  We've had chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar and snicker doodles.  And, we've gotten lots of goodies from church members.  Two days ago, our organist/pianist (who also teaches the kids piano) brought over some cookies and two bikes for the kids!!  Maddie and Tyler were very excited!!!!!!!  


Today we woke up to a beautiful white Christmas.  The flakes are huge and falling and guess what~it's not sticking to the roads. That is totally my kind of snowing.


Jesus has blessed me beyond measure.  And, as I live each day with Wes, Maddie and Tyler, I see such growth and change.  They learn EVERY day, whether I ask them to or not.  They love gobbling up God's creation, seeing, experiencing, and tasting that it's good.  And I know that they'll have him with them forever, thanks to that baby in a manger, who changed everything.


I pray you experience the true meaning of Christmas this year, pondering all the ways He's changed everything for you too.


Workouts:  Hmmm, can't remember where I left off.  So, I'll recap last weekend and this week.
Friday~Atletica, using heavier weights
Saturday~Two Firm Express Cardio Workouts:  Ignite and Tubocharge
Sunday~Rest day
Monday~Jackie Warner's Xtreme Timesaver
Tuesday~KCM Cardio Kick Stepboxing, vertical step mix, abs, and floor kickboxing
Wednesday~KCM Cardio Sculpt Fitness
Thursday~Joanie Greggins Holiday Workout
Friday~KCM NYC (New You Coming) Body Sculpting
Today~REST DAY!!

Life seems to have gotten in the way of tons of school work!  But, I comfort myself with the fact that the kids in the public and private schools aren't doing much seat work this week either!

We have had a field trip to the Tellus Science Museum on Tuesday.  It was my MIL's birthday so we met them for lunch and then the trip.   I came home after lunch because Tyler has a cold and couldn't go. 

Yesterday we spent part of the day purchasing Angel Tree gifts.  I also did this on Sunday due to the fact that the kids told me about their angels at the last minute.  My mother says this is payback for all the times I said to her, "By the way, I need 24 cupcakes tomorrow" and it was 9pm!

Maddie and Wes wrote up reports on the things they liked the most at the science museum. They'll finish correcting and print them out today. We've also gotten in two good days of math work.  Monday when Tyler was really sick he watched a History Channel special on the History of Christmas and yesterday we watched a documentary on the Anasazi tribes of Southwest United States while we ate lunch.

There you have it. We've really neglected history and science in the more "formal" ways this week but I think we've done a good job getting them in.

Workouts:
Monday~Atletica (weight workout using kettlebell and kickboxing principles)

Tuesday~Joanie Greggins Holiday Workout (old, cheesy cardio and cardio with light weights, but has nice Christmas music to get you in the spirit)

Wednesday~Kelly Coffey Meyer Powerscultping and Body Refiner Abs

Thursday~Firm Zero in 10 Cardio Intervals; Firm Get Chisel'd Kick it Into Gear Cardio Add-on.  25 minutes, quick and sweaty!


What I've been watching:  Christmas movies and specials!  I tortured Wes on Sunday evening by making him watch Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney in White Christmas.  Last night church was cancelled due to an ice storm so we watched Disney's Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey doing the voices of Scrooge and a myriad of other people. Pretty good!

What I'm reading:  A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens.   When I'm done with that I'll read Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie and some short stories out of my Murder for Christmas anthology.  Kind of weird that I like to mix my love for good, clean murder/mystery literature with Christmas, but there it is, lol.

I remember a book, I think by John Steinbeck, titled Travels with Charley.  I never read it, but know it was about life with his dog, Charley.  Since yesterday was about our older dog, Penny, I thought I'd talk today about Rocky.

Rocky is about 3 1/2 years old.  He looks like a Dalmatian mix, but we have no idea what he is.  But he is wild!  And he loves to walk.  So every day, first thing after I read email and drink water, we walk.

At first I was resentful of the demand on my time. Plus, he doesn't do what I call a fitness walk.  He has to  stop to sniff a lot, visit with other dogs, and lift a leg at tons of trees and weeds. 

But over time, I've come to treasure these moments.  Since I don't drink coffee, this bit of me time wakes me up. Sometimes I talk to God while we walk.  Sometimes I think through problems or relational issues.  Sometimes I just let my mind wander and enjoy the knowledge that Rocky is in the lead and knows the way to get us home. 

It's not like it's that long of a time to be out.  We walk roughly a mile to a mile and a quarter and at his stop and go pace, we're still home in 20 minutes or so.  Looking back, these are some of the best 20-25 minutes of my day.  Things are quiet. I can hear my own thoughts.  I'm slowing down, letting someone else lead.  And, I'm feeding my mind, body, and spirit.

So thanks, Rocky.  The gift of time with the Lord you have given me in 2010 can't be measured.  And I'll tell you something else you rarely hear:  You're a good dog. 

Today's workout:  KCM 30 MTF Bootcamp, Cardio Premix

PM Yoga:  YBB Pajama Time

Last night Penny, our 12 plus year old beagle, gave every evidence of having a bladder infection.  So, off we went to the vet's office first thing this morning.  Lo and behold, $325 later, I find out that she has a bladder infection, enlarged heart and fluid in her lungs.  She will have to take heart medications and a diuretic for some time.  I was very upset as I'm very, very attached to my girl.  Plus, 12 (she'll be 13 in April) doesn't seem that old to me.  Plenty of dogs live much longer.


Well, a Beagle life expectancy is 12-15 years, so she's definitely not young.  And the vet didn't even mention putting her to sleep.  So what did I do?  I paid up.  Got the medication and came home, ready to take care of my girl.  Now I'm thinking my husband may have asked about putting her down, but I just couldn't.  She's mine and I love her and since there is something I can do to help, I will.  Even at the sacrifice of something else I might not purchase!


God is so willing to do that for us, isn't he?  His only son, a part of his Holy Trinity, wasn't too much.  His heart aches to reach out to us.  As long as our hearts beat, he reaches out, never giving up, doing what it takes to heal us of our sinful state. 


And, it comforts me to know that God owns a cattle on a thousand hills, and knows when a sparrow falls to the ground.  He sees my love for my animals that he created.  And his comfort is there. 


Now that is something to rejoice in, is it not?


Today's workout:  Rest day, yay!  Tonight I'm going to do the extended stretch from Kelly Coffey-Meyers's 30 MTF Bootcamp.

The kids are writing parodies to some of their favorite Christmas Carols this week. I've had "Let it Blow" from Maddie and "The 12 Days of Christmas, Redneck Version", from Tyler.  Wes is still working on his.

Maddie left for her 13th birthday trip to NYC with her Aunt Leslie this morning and they arrived safely about 11:15.  Thank goodness for texting, I have no idea what worried mammas did before cell phones!

So today the boys and I took a virtual tour of a Christmas tree farm in Ontario, Canada that we found through our everythinghomeschooling.com website.  It was fascinating.  We learned all about how seedling trees are grown, how long it takes Christmas trees to grow (8-12  years, after 2 or more years as seedling trees), how they prune them for shape, weed, keep bugs away, etc.  It really is a year round job, much harder than you'd think.  We also explored the origins of evergreens being used in Christmas celebrations and the history behind Yule Logs.  Very fun!

Tyler went to piano today and Wes made his annual pilgrimage to McDonald's to have an Egg Nog Milkshake.  With his dairy allergy he will certainly have a nosebleed, lol, but thinks that once a year it's worth it.  And, because they had to fix the milkshake machine and we had to wait, he got it free, which made it that much tastier.

I've embarked on 31 days of praise during the month of December.  I thought that would be an awesome way to end the year.  I'm putting a praise moment thought each day on my Facebook status and it's been neat to hear how it's encouraged people.

This week's workouts:
Monday~Kelly Coffey-Meyer Muscle Definition, workout 2.  I used pretty heavy weights, for me, and challenged myself.

Tuesday~KCM Stepboxing, cardio and abs.

Today~30 MTF LIFT~Powerscultping Workout and Body Refiner Abs.  I had to decrease my weights, still a bit sore from the heavier workout on Monday.

I got time alone today and it was wonderful.  I told the children what their assignments were and left them in the capable hands of their dad, who is off work on Friday.  I spent time reading my Bible, window shopping, and running a few errands all alone.  I talked to God in between errands, listened to Christmas music and, sometimes, just the sound of silence.  It was very renewing for me.

After that, I came home and the kids and I had lunch.  I rested for about 20 minutes and hit my workout while Tom was drilling the children on mopping the floor!  Don't I have the most wonderful husband ever?

Today I've been meditating on the knowledge that God will work in me the things that please Him.  Think about that.  All we have to do is surrender.  The rest is his job.  And he will do it. Doesn't that make you want to break out in praise?

Today I told the Father that my resolution for the coming year is to enjoy Him.  So often I think about serving him, pleasing him, crying out to him and a million other things but never just enjoying him. As a child in a Daddy's lap does.  This year, I'm praying for that experience to become as much a part of my life as breathing is.

What are you looking forward to during the coming year with YOUR Father?  Ask him and I know he will be willing to hear.  He is, after all, the perfect Father who gives us every good and perfect gift.

Today's workout:  Tonya Larson's Step Pump, step workout only; KCM 30 MTF Body Training, Hip Mix (ouchie floor work for the glutes, hips and abs)

What I'm reading:  31 Days of Praise by Ruth Meyer

What a fun, crazy day we had!  I got up to walk Rocky and it was 25 degrees, brrrr.  I can't complain after my friend Kel told me she had 19 inches of snow at her home in Buffalo!  Eek!! 


After the kids got their written work going, we did some fun math probability exercises.  We took some Hershey's Special Dark M and M type candies and divided them into colors.  We put 35 in a cup~20 of one color, 10 of another, 5 of the final.  We came up with the percentage of times that we should draw certain colors out.  Two times we did this 10 times and came pretty close.  We also discussed how the more times you do this the closer it would come to fitting into the probability tables.  Of course when we were done the candies disappeared into the childrens' mouths!


Wes, Tyler and I also watched a science program from History International while we ate lunch.  It was on prehistoric animals and was fascinating.  Did you know that there are scientists who study the respiratory systems of beetles and can tell you how they breath and how it determines how large they can become? 


After school and my workout, we ran an errand to pay for some fruit Maddie sold for her American Heritage Girl troop and then went to Petland to purchase a Crittertrail for Twinkie, the hamster we inherited.  It is so much fun to watch him running, crawling and climbing~a far cry from the little jar he'd lived in while a tiny thing.


I find myself being grateful for my children. They say the funniest things and simply bring me such joy and laughter. Today I'm particularly grateful that I've gotten to share this much of their lives with them.  God is truly good to me.


Today's workout:  30 Minutes to Fitness LIFT.  I did the Powersculpting workout and bonus core work from the Body Refiner section of the DVD.

Tis the season~to spend all your money at the dentist office.   I had to have a cavity/crown done early this afternoon and needed to concentrate on school with the kids this morning.  1 hour, $900 spent and one temporary crown in my mouth later I decided that one of my kids should be a dentist.  That's my brilliant retirement plan.;)

Well, I did manage to concentrate on school, though.  We did science work today.  The kids are graphing the highs and lows of the weather for the next week, and seeing any patterns they can find as to when it is warmest, coldest, etc.  We also examined different weather maps to see the colors used to see types of precipitation, highs and lows, temperatures, etc.  And, just to remember how much fun it was to be in 8th grade, I got to do some Algebra with Wes.

No workout today, just too busy with school, dentist, and then church and Hanging of the Greens.  I've been toying with giving my body and extra rest day each week anyway. 

Just haven't had it in me to write lately.  It's not been the busy nature of life, that's always there.  I've just been emotionally and intellectually tired, if that makes sense.  I needed a break from my normal routine so I took it.

We studied the usual Thanksgiving things in unusual ways last week and had a good time doing so.  This week we're looking at winter as a theme with our other homeschool work and have done some fun things. 

One of the things we've enjoyed the most is studying Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."  We studied Frost himself, discussed what the poem was saying and the power of poetical speech.  Wes, Maddie and Tyler all took a hand at writing their own winter poem and the results were astounding~they were all three really good!  I'll have to ask the children if I can post them here.

Today we studied this history of Advent and the science behind the Winter Solstice.  And, the kids are all three working on a short story about a type of toy they would invent and how it would work.

I'm blessed beyond measure.  I sometimes find myself being introspective and a bit down this time of year, thinking I should do more or be more like so and so.  But God is there, reminding me that the only person I need to hear "well done" from is my Father. And he's crazy about me.

So I pray we all take time this season to soak in his grace.  To look back with gratitude for the first advent, God in a body, and reach forward in anticipation to the second advent, God triumphant.  That's one thing I certainly want to celebrate.

Workouts:  I started a Kelly Coffey-Meyer rotation last week.  Here were my workouts:

Monday, November 22~New You Coming, body sculpting
Tuesday, November 23~30 Minutes to Fitness (MTF), Kickboxing workout number 2
Wednesday, November 24~30 MTF LIFT~Powersculpting and Body Refiner Abs
Thursday, November 25~Thanksgiving, off
Friday, November 26~Cardio/Sculpt Fitness, Sculpt Premix
Saturday, November 27~Get Ready, Step Go
Sunday, November 28~Rest Day
Monday, November 29~30 MTF LIFT, Olympic Lifting
Tuesday, November 30~30 MTF Cardio Blast, Athletic Step; V-Core Floor Core and Stretch

What I've been reading:  John Grisham, Surviving Christmas (cute book)
Livia Washburn, The Christmas Cookie Killer
Murder For Christmas Short Stories, ed. Thomas Godfrey

I enjoyed the serendipity of a different kind of day.  Last night Tom, my husband, told me that he was going to Atlanta for some errands, etc. and would take Maddie and Tyler with him to visit his mom for a few hours.  So early this morning off they went with their school books to have a day away.  Wes and I went to breakfast together after we walked the dog and then he came home to get his schoolwork done as well.

I got some extra cleaning done~dog blankets, throws, slipcovers, etc~then did my workout.  After that I went to the mall, which I never do, and spent Maddie's money on some clothing she wanted at Justice.  It was fun to buy her clothing with her own hard-earned money!!

Now I have cookies baking in the oven to take to the Hayride/Bonfire and then I will to take Wes to his overnight scouting event. Do you remember Oatmeal Scotchies?  I've not had one of those in YEARS and they're as good as I remember, yummmmmm......

I'm looking so forward to being at home tomorrow and mopping some floors, washing sheets and bedcovers, and watching football with no where else to be all day.  When I was younger I would have died having to stay home all day on a Saturday and "be bored"  but now that I'm older, I appreciate the beauty of days unfolding before me with no plans.  Thanks God, for the gift of downtime.

Today's Workout:  Slim Series Firm it Up (hour long lower body workout~I bet I'm a bit sore in the lower half tomorrow.)

Today we had a great learning experience.  Aside from the usual coursework, Mary Madison wanted to go shopping for some things for a sleepover she has tomorrow night.  Since she's been babysitting, she has been saving her own money and learning about tax, interest, etc.  She bought some things and discussed the benefit versus cost of various items.  She's turning into a savvy shopper and I'm really proud of her.

Tonight I have Bible Study and Tom is in charge of dinner for the kids.  I love those nights!

Tomorrow evening we have a hayride with the homeschool group and Wes is spending the night and cooking BBQ for a sale with his scouts.  I'm so excited about having a Friday morning off and a Saturday with no soccer.  The Lord is truly good, isn't he?

Today's workout:  Kelly Coffey Meyer Get Ready Step Go (cardio step workout and standing abs)

Today was one of those days my children love!  When they woke up I said, "Mom has declared an unschooling day.  Now, GO LEARN!"  I had to take Maddie and Tyler to piano in the middle of the day and desperately needed to get some work done around the house and some errands run so this seemed like the best way to accomplish that.

My stipulations on these days is that they play no video games, don't watch TV or read junk.  They must learn!  And boy, did they!

Wes studied Stonehenge.  He looked into various theories about how the stones were moved there, why it was made, etc.  Tomorrow he'll write up his theory and back it up with some facts.

Tyler studied his piano more in depth.  He tends to play by ear and really needed to study reading the notes.  He also worked on multiplication with decimals and did some independent reading.

Mary Madison worked on math alone.  She is really wanting to move up to the next level in her workbooks so she did that.  And, she worked on a play she's doing with the homeschool co-op this weekend and ended up doing some studying of the history of Thanksgiving to go along with that.  Plus, she gave the dog a bath!!

When the boys got done with some of that work, they decided to play learning games.  They played Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and did a form of BINGO I can't even understand, lol.  They love to add twists and turns to things in order to make them more complicated~thus sharpening their reasoning skills.

We also got lots of straightening up and chore work out of the way, which always feels good.

I am so grateful to see my kids being more proactive with their learning and chores.  And, to see the blossoming of my prayer life a bit after a period of staleness. I just have to thank the Father~He indeed is so good.

Today's workout:  Slim Series Mix It Up (high rep, low weight workout with some cardio).

Seems like things have been conspiring against me spending time blogging like I want to.  But, in fact, we take the time to do what we want to!

Last week we had our last co-op day until the end of January.  The kids had a great time but secretly I'm glad to have my mom time Friday mornings back.  But, I bet Tom will miss all his free time he got on Friday mornings as he will have to help the kids out again!

This week the kids and I are looking at the History of Thanksgiving.  We're doing some writing and studying and enjoying finally seeing the leaves begin to change.  And, enjoying some rainfall.

Funny thing about rain~it seems to encourage you to slow down, doesn't it?  And that is always needed.  God says to us to "be still and know that I am God."  I can't be still when I'm constantly rushing around.

So today, let's take a few minutes.  Pet the dog or cat.  Sip a cup of coffee or tea.  And feel deep with in your soul the grace that slips in as we relax in the knowledge that HE is God~and is in control.

Workouts:
Thursday, 11/11~Tracie Long mix:  Kickback (weighted cardio kickboxing), 20 minutes; Power Up (plyos and stretch), 20 minutes

Friday~ 11/12Tracie Long Lift Higher (30 minute lower body workout)  This was my 16th anniversary too!

Saturday 11/13~some yoga and dog walk.  My in laws were here for Maddie's last game and then she had 4 girls over for a sleepover, no time for any other formal workouts.

Sunday 11/14~rest and recovery from sleepover!!

Monday 11/15~beginning of a Slim Series/Kelly Coffey-Meyer week.  Slim Series is a high rep/low weight series.  I did Shape it Up, a total body workout based on opposing muscle groups.  It also has a light cardio effect.


Today:  Kelly Coffey-Meyer Cardio Kick Stepboxing.  I did the warmup, 45 minutes of stepboxing and stretch (54 minutes).

Big news of the day here is that the Taco Bell about 1/8 of a mile from us is done remodeling. The kids had to go in and ogle at the new decor, lol. 

Other events included: piano, shopping at Walmart, and doing some online Christmas shopping. I live a very normal life, don't I???

The kids ended up studying history together today. It was awesome, we looked back at how history descended from Abraham through Israel, Greece and Rome to the United States.  We looked at why we have the government we do, why the nation was founded on Christian principles, etc.  It's amazing to me how all history really is HIS story~and to see the kids get that too.

Maddie is really excited because my new Samsung Strive phone came today. I've always had a pretty normal phone and this one is purple, too cool.  That means that she has inherited mine and now has her very one cell phone. She feels very grown up!!

Tyler did a great job on his multiplication tables today, which has been his weakest area. Maddie has really been proactive in getting lots of work done as well. All in all, just a good day where God allowed me to glimpse some growth in my children.  Truly, I am a blessed woman.

Today's workout:  Tracie Long Staying Power (AWT with Cardio and weights, abs and floor work)

Today we spent a lot of time on the usual suspects, i.e. math, spelling, English...But Maddie and Wes also did a creative writing project that was lots of fun.  They had to tell whether they would rather be a fruit or veggie (both fruit), which fruit and why.  Maddie wanted to be a star fruit, Wes pineapple (can you say he wants to be in Hawaii????).  We also spent time studying Jacques Cartier and the founding of Newfoundland and Canada (did you know Canada sounds like a Huron word for village?) and battle between the English and the Spanish Armada.

This afternoon Tyler played with Garrison, Maddie did her Bible Study with Mary Jane.  When the kids finally got home for dinner, Tom decided to pull out some new "toys" he found at a yard sale.  He got several albums at a yard sale~Grease, Elton John's greatest hits, Footloose, etc.  We all had a BLAST dancing around and our entire family did the Hand Jive, lol~even Penny, the beagle.  Maddie helped her out with her paw motions, too cute.  What a fun serendipity!!

God sometimes gives us the greatest blessings when we least expect them~like a time of dancing and singing as a family. I pray you've found some wonderful gifts from the Father today too.

Today's workout:  Tracie Long Step Forward(cardio, abs, triceps and chest workout)

What I'm reading:  Donna Partow, Becoming a Vessel of God's Power (our current Bible study selection).

Things never seem to slow down like I think they will.  I could bore you with all the details but suffice it to say, things have stayed busy. 

Today we had a AT&T come and bundle our Internet, phone and TV service.  The Internet is faster, the TV is definitely improved and I got a cool new cell phone free for adding a line for DD.  Yes, it's time, I guess.  Just hope she doesn't abuse the privilege.

Tom was home sick with a headcold but somehow we managed to do schoolwork.  Maddie was working hard on her math, Tyler on his English, and Wes on his algebra while the installation occurred.  We also read history and studied William Shakespeare, and read a summary story of MacBeth.  We did some extra cleaning that gets neglected over the weekend.  Maddie had American Heritage Girls and they boys are both at scouts~need to go get them both soon.

I was reading today about purity and frankly, it's an uncomfortable topic for me.  I'd love to talk about making my life more powerful in the Spirit, but not about cleansing of sin and radical purity.  Sometimes I just wish I could make a few of my own decisions and have God say fine, lol.

But he doesn't work that way, does he?  When the going gets tough, I just remember that he formed me, knows my frame, and how I best operate.  And his call to purity is FOR me. 

Just like I feel so much better after a shower, when done with exercise, God's cleansing makes me feel renewed, refreshed, and open to all he has for me.  So Father, clean me up~I love that squeaky clean feeling.

Saturday's Workout:  Kelly Coffey-Meyer 30 Minutes to Fitness, Kickboxing, workout 1.

Sunday's Workout:  Rest day, yay!

Today's Workout:  The start of my Tracie Long week.  I did Longevity Defining Shape (weight workout).

What a week!  It seemed to fly by at the speed of light.  Thursday Maddie had soccer practice and I had the first Bible Study I'm leading with some women in the church.  Today we had homeschool co-op and then I had to go shopping at the store.  Ugh, I hate doing that on Friday afternoon!

In the midst of all of this we also had to change out some winter clothes, take care of pets, laundry, regular cleaning chores, and school, of course. Throw in piano lessons and some dental visits and we had a busy time. 

Today I was slowing down and reading my scriptures this morning.  I got to the verse Hebrews 2:9 where it says "but we see Jesus."  I just had to stop and thank my Messiah that we can see him.  Not just learn about him, think about him but SEE him.  See him in the faces of other brothers and sisters in Christ.  See him in the daily miracles and serendipities of our lives.  See him in the wind, rain, sun, and trees that he created.  See act on behalf of his children~and be challenged and amazed.

So today this is my prayer.  That I may see Jesus.  Daily.  Hourly. Minute by Minute.  Especially when things are busy.

Thursday's workout:  Kelly Coffey Meyer 30 MTF Cardio Blast, Plyometrics.  I always feel so accomplished when I do that workout.

Today's workout:  Kelly Coffey Meyer Cardio/Sculpt Fitness, Cardio Leg Premix

My Mary Madison is 13 today and in honor of her birthday I chose blue, her favorite color.  She's had quite the day.  We went to Olive Garden for lunch with another friend of hers who is homeschooled too. She also asked me to declare an "unschool" day since her brothers have summer birthdays and don't have school then.  So she played games, did crafts and art projects, and read a favorite book~a perfect day for her.

Even though the teenage hormones rage and things aren't always fun, I wouldn't change a second of my time with her.  Having children has been one way God has insured that I stay humble, teachable, and in touch with my sin and self-centeredness.  And just when I think nothing can go right in a day, my child or children do something fabulous~like smile at me, tell me a joke or give out a hug.  And it simply makes everything worthwhile. 

So Father, thank you for the reminder that you love us simply because we are your children.  And though you love us too much to leave us where we are, the knowledge that we belong to you is enough to make you smile.

My workouts this week are all from Kelly Coffey-Meyer. Her workouts are mostly based on a 30 minute system~you workout 30 minutes but it is tough!

Monday's workout:  30 Minutes to Fitness Weights:  Biceps, Shoulders and Triceps, with Low Impact active rest intervals


Tuesday's workout:  Step Boxing:  Cardio and Abs

Wednesday's workout:  30 Minutes to Fitness Weights:  Back, Chest and Legs, with Low Impact active rest intervals

Whew, what a great weekend.  My parents made it here Friday afternoon and we ate dinner at Outback Steak House that night.  Saturday we went shopping at some Thrift Stores and ran around.  We also watched football and baseball and the two youngest kids went Trick or Treating. Wes held down the fort with our trick or treaters and had fun giving out candy.  After church today, my parents took off for Kentucky.  We had a lunch at church and then I came home and napped. 

Right now Wes is walking the dog, Tom is picking up Maddie from a Halloween party, and Tyler is on his way home from a friend's house.  The house is quiet~Penny is lying by my side and we're enjoying the silence.  I love having my family in and HATE that they live so far away.  But I must admit that these moments of quiet are serendipities that I just soak up.

I also had a long talk with my brother today which is always nice.  I never thought he'd be a phone person but he's becoming more so the older we get and that's so much fun for me.  Which just goes to show that our prayers matter.  God may not answer in our time or way, but the years of praying over my relationship with my brother are starting to show fruition.  We're VASTLY different people~in looks, personality, and many other ways.  But at the end of the day I love him because he's my brother and I need no other reason.  I think he's at that place right now too and I just have to say that all praise goes to the Father. 

You see all those years I prayed for God to change my brother made little change.  But the relatively few years of praying "Change Me" have done the trick.  I'm learning that it's okay to pray for other people and their "issues" but never before I get the log out of my eye. 

So Father, thank you for all those blessings I take for granted.  Time with family, the taste of chocolate on my tongue, the purr of my cats, the big eyes and wagging tails of my dogs, the cool Fall weather.  Thank you for the warmth of my home, blue October skies, friends and answered prayers.  Mostly, thank you for the gift of learning that it's never too late for your grace to change me.  So this "old dog" bows in obedience, waiting for you to show her all kinds of "new tricks."

Friday's workout:  Firm Lower Body Sculpt II
Saturday's workout:  Do walking the dog and walking all over the place shopping count?(I had 13,000 steps on my pedometer)
Today's workout:  A true rest day (except for the fact that Rocky "made" me walk him a bit this morning).

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie's Caribbean Mystery

We accomplished so much today that I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend with my parents.  I got my hair cut, bought a fabulous cashmere sweater for $8 (you will soon find out I love to consignment shop) and we mopped the floors, washed sheets and slipcovers, and spruced up a bit more.  Maddie also gave Penny a bath (our beagle) so she smells good for Grammy and Gramps!

In between all of that, we got some math and other seat work done but nothing too creative this week. (Okay, we did watch a documentary on the History of Halloween and the technology used to mummify people during lunch a couple of days this week.  Do NOT watch how to mummify while eating, lol)  That's okay, we did were busy with life and that is what counts.

As far as workouts, I exercise pretty hard for about 3.5 weeks per month and the last 1/2 week I do more recovery type workouts and throw in extra rest days.  It really helps me with soreness, motivation, and plain ole' fun.  So, I hit that spot today too.  It feels good to gear down just a bit. 

As I cycle through my workout routine with lighter and more intense, I realize that we all need those spots on our lives. The older I get the more I realize my need for them. And God, fabulous creator and perfect Father, has built that concept of Sabbath into our weeks.  I often find myself not using Sabbath that well.  Instead of seeing it as a burden, what if we approached it as I do my recovery time?  With a sense of lightness, anticipation and playfulness?  Lord, this week, I ask you to build in me a sense of joy in rest.  Let me never think the world can't go on without me, but that I can't go on without YOU. 

Today's workout:  My FAVORITE recovery workout:  Dance off the Inches Country Line Dance.  I don't usually like country; I don't line dance.  But I love the fun quality of this little gem.  It is so refreshing and fun.  I just found out the same instructor has a new DOI Country Line Dance Party coming out in December and I may have to ask my husband to get that for me for my Christmas gift!!

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie The Secret of Chimneys.  I just recently saw a production of this on PBS and HATED it.  They put Miss Marple in there and made one of my favorite characters the murder.  So, I want to re-read this to remind myself of what a good story it really is.

God seems to be hitting me with a theme lesson this week, so I thought I'd share.  In Sunday School, we studied how different denominations need to work together in spite of differences that aren't vital to walking with God.  The problem is, however, what seems insignificant to me (i.e. the method of baptism) may not be to someone else.

Yesterday we went on a field trip to Chattanooga to see the replicas of the Nina and Pinta from Christopher Columbus' voyages.  In learning how a ship works and the history of Columbus' life, it was fascinating to see how he lived.  But one thing caught my attention and that was how the Pope put a bounty on Columbus for saying he'd proved the world wasn't flat~since that went against church "doctrine."  And yet Columbus himself said he believed in God. 

Today I was cleaning the house for a visit from my parents this weekend for my daughter's upcoming 13th birthday.  (How did THAT happen????)  And, by the way, the kids have helped a lot.  What is the difference between good enough and perfection?  When is it good enough so that I don't drive my family crazy and forget to enjoy these days we have together?  (By the way, I think cleaning and cooking are a consequence of the curse given as sin entered the world so I'll never have a perfect house anyway~I'm just not good at it).

So, what do you require of us, God?  To major on the things of the Spirit that are eternal and of value.  To do those things that change lives, not cause bickering and division.  Back again to Sunday School, and Micah 6:8:  "  And what does God require of you, o man, ...but to do justice, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." 

Lord, my kids may never remember if my house was perfect when Grammy and Gramps came.  They will remember if I treated them well while making it a warm place for their grandparents.  My kids may never remember all the details of the trip to see the Nina and Pinta.  But I bet they remember their dad being generous with a tip for the people who work on the ship as volunteers, except for tips people give.  They may never figure out a way to convince everyone that their doctrine is correct.  But they can seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.  And, in the end, we need to be sure what we're thinking is doctrine truly is...anyone had any "flat world/round world" beliefs you've gotten hung up on?  I sure have!

At the end of the day, isn't that what matters?  Because the heart of the matter is this:  "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son..."  Through my actions and words, may I go offer him to others too.

Saturday's Workout:  Firm Get Chisel'd Kick it Into Gear Quick Cardio Blast; Slim Series Express Cardio Sculpt

Sunday's Workout:  Cathe Low Impact Circuit Step Cardio premix

Monday's Workout:  Tracie Long Focus Kick Back; Tracie Long Focus Reach Further, Balance section only

Tuesday's Workout:  Rest Day

Wednesday's Workout:  Firm Burn and Shape

Today was homeschool co-op day.  I planned to get up early, go to McDonald's to read my Bible alone, walk the dog, and then get to the co-op by 9am. Well, Tom got up to go with me and got busy with some things.  I got home about 8:20 and had time for a doggie walk with Rocky or makeup application.  I opted to walk the pooch and went out without anything on my face but sunscreen.  Tyler told me I look the same as WITH makeup.  I'm not sure if that's a compliment or it means I need a serious makeover!!

I took a nap after co-op as the darn cold is hanging on and then exercised.  Wes and his dad did some work together and then went out for a long bike ride. Maddie worked on cleaning her room well for Grammy and Gramps to come visit next week~she was scrubbing the front of her door and said she had no idea how much elbow grease I'd put into doing all this FOR her over the years.  A great lesson, huh?  Tyler spent time cleaning up his room a bit too and then after they both practiced piano they took off to spend time with their friends on the next street over.

So now, the chili is cooking.  Tom and Wes are doing a project in the dining room (Tom ordered glass shelves for my china cabinet and they're installing it~for the life of us we can't think how two glass pieces of a cabinet could get lost in a move).  And I'm sitting here, enjoying the sound of silence~except for Penny's snoring, lol. (She's the 12 yo Beagle).

As I sit in stillness, I'm reminded that God designed us to have flow in our lives.  Times of work, times of play; times of intense study, times of reflection; times of exercise, times of rest.  Balance is so elusive in a culture that demands constant action.  Father, help me to see the need for balance~and to teach that to my children. For without balance, it's hard to hear that still, small voice you often choose to speak in.

Today's workout:  Slim Series Express Cardio Core

Yesterday I ended up going out to lunch with Tom and then came home and napped instead of exercising.  I told the kids that yesterday was an "unschool" day~go learn something. They LOVE it when I do that.  Wes studied quasars and galaxy types (sombrero, elliptical, etc); Maddie practiced piano and learned about the piano mechanics, plus did some art and reading; Tyler spent time learning about Greek Myths (he got interested while reading the Percy Jackson stuff).  It was nice to see them learn on their own and gave me a break to rest!!

Today we got our regular stuff done and then worked on doing some chores we'd neglected.  The house really needed to be swept, dusted, etc.  Tyler and Wes tackled Tyler's closet and that was a chore!  Maddie cleaned up the screened-in porch, which needed attention too.  Then we spent time reading and went to Barnes and Nobles to see if there were any new books we wanted to check out at the library or purchase.

Today I was praying for Tom and the kids from the book of I Thessalonians.  I was praying that we'd be kept pure and blameless until the time Christ returns.  And, I was thinking about what purity means and even looks like today. It's so unpopular and uncommon that being pure in body, soul and spirit, as the scripture says, will help us stand out like "stars in the universe" so that others are drawn to Jesus.

Lord, as Wes and I are fascinated by the stars in the universe, may everyone one of us in this house blaze forth, lighting the way to you, as a star over a stable did many years ago. 

Yesterday's workout:  Cathe Total Body Stretching, Stretch on the Stability Ball, segment 1 (rest day)

Today's Workout:  Cathe Shock Cardio Circuit Blast (with definite modifications, I think Cathe's legs are made of springs)!!

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie Halloween Party.  I read this one about this time every year.  I enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but it was a bit more violent and rough than I generally like so I'm not going to read the other two in the series.

I've really enjoyed using these fall colors for a bit!  The gold, orange, etc. make it feel like fall to me. It feels like fall in the mornings but has been in the mid-80s in the afternoon.  But tomorrow the high is supposed to be 75, that's more autumnal.

Today I slept in because of my cold.  I definitely felt better so I got Rocky out and we went walking. We saw three does crossing the road and I'm convinced they're the same ones we saw last week, they must be living in our subdivision!

I took the kids out for breakfast and we had a lovely time. We'd not gone out like that in forever so it was a good way to spend some of my "mad" money this week.

When we got home, the kids did their math and other seat work.  Mary Madison and Wes began working on their Abraham Lincoln biographies and did really good jobs. Maddie said that from studying Lincoln she learned to follow her dreams.  Wes said he learned to state his opinion~and he really has a hard time with that, so the lesson was worthwhile.

During lunch we watched something I'd recorded from the Travel Channel.  Extreme Rides.  It discussed the most extreme roller coasters and rides throughout the United States, and one in Canada.  I thought it would just be fun but the kids got into seeing all about centrifugal force, Gs, weightlessness, etc.  The program did include some very informative lessons on how they made the coasters.

Tyler spent part of the afternoon playing chess with Wes.  He has a neat chess set with papers that tell you how to set up the board and give suggestions for how to counter moves, etc. He spent a good part of his free time working through that.  I can see that this winter I need to take advantage of the chess lessons offered through the homeschool group for the two of them.

Today I've been reflecting on what it means to "let the Words of Christ dwell richly in you" from Colossians. So often, my mind just wanders when my hands are busy or I'm resting.  How incredible would it be to discipline my mind so that I can meditate on his law day and night, as it states in Psalm 119?  I'm going to try to sneak more of that into my life. How about you?

Today's workout:  Kelly Coffey-Meyer 30 Minutes to Fitness Cardio Blast, Athletic Step section

Started fighting a cold on Friday night so I've been feeling puny.  The good news is that by this morning my sore throat was gone and I did rest get a good nap in this afternoon.

The kids were a huge help today by doing all their work.  We discussed various types of moons as we watched a show on the Universe during lunch.  We ended up looking into regular versus irregular orbits of moons and theories of how moons are captured or formed. 

The kids are also writing this week on something they learned to do and how they learned it.  Maddie and Wes are writing biography reports on a person from the Civil War era.  We also really want to get to the library and check into some new books!!

Saturday's workout:  Firm Wave Rock Solid Cardio
Sunday:  Rest day
Today's workout:  Firm Jiggle Free Arms

Busy, busy last couple of days.  Yesterday we did a lot of regular work in our workbooks, catching up from Wes taking the day off for the braces.  We also wanted to get ahead so we didn't have to worry about the work today when we got home from co-op.  After that, we made a trip to the library and then Maddie had soccer practice and I had Ladies' Bible Study.

Oh~Wes, Tyler and I also watched a History Channel show we taped on Barbarian warfare techniques and weapons.  Tyler cracked us up by announcing that Boudica(a Celtic warrior queen who lead her people against Rome) would be his kind of woman~he liked her spirit and style, lol.

Today we had co-op so we got up early to get going.  When I was walking Rocky, there were three beautiful does in a a neighbor's yard, not 10 feet from us.  Rocky and I just stared, as did they, and then the quietly walked off after 10 seconds or so.  What a beautiful serendipity!! 

After we got home from co-op, I had to run to the grocery.  My remote for the car door has a crack in the top and won't stay on my key chain.  So, I have to unlock the doors manually.  After getting all my groceries, I put the key in, unlocked the doors, threw my purse in the front seat (along with my cell phone), closed the door and went to open the back door to load in the groceries.  Guess what?  I'd locked the door, aarrrrgh.  So, I accosted a stranger, borrowed her cell phone, and got Tom to bring me the spare door key.  Thank goodness we just live about 1/4 a mile away. 

I then came home, exercised quickly, and fixed baked spaghetti casserole (okay, it's mostly spaghetti, sauce ,pepperoni and cheese, no big deal, lol) and got in a quick workout.  Now Maddie has a friend spending the night and Tyler is at the friend's house~a swap. Wes and Tom are at a football game and I'm getting ready to settle in with a good book.  Thank you Father for beautiful moments such as seeing a deer, good books, and the sound of silence.

Yesterday's Workout:  The Firm Calorie Explosion
Today's Workout:  The Firm Wave, Rock it Off

What I'm reading:  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larson (highly recommended, I hope I like it).

Wes got his braces on early this morning.  He said he didn't feel a thing and was told they may be sore this afternoon for a bit.  He came home and promptly fell asleep!  Overall he's fine with wearing them BUT bummed because he's not supposed to eat nachos or bacon, and those are two of his favorite foods.

Maddie, Ty and I got the chores done after he left and then spent the morning cleaning rooms, doing math, and reading Story of the World.  Tyler found it fascinating to look at the invention of the Gutenberg printing press as a turning point in allowing us to become a modern civilization. 

Since Ty has a slight cold, he is also resting now. Tom is on his way to take Maddie to piano and then I'll spend some time getting ready for my first Women's Bible study class tomorrow night.

Today's workout:  Powerfit Plus Cardio Kick
                               Powerfit Harmony Upper Body Blast

What I'm reading: (I've been neglecting this) Valerie Bendt's Unit Studies Made Easy

Wow, haven't gotten to write in a bit.  We had a great weekend with our friends, but it was hectic.  We got involved in some major traffic on the way home and barely had time to change before dinner.  On Sunday I was tired so I decided to take an extra day off from exercise and it was the best thing for me.

Yesterday the kids and I did a lot of spelling exploration.  I gave them words in a kind of game from the book we read on the Lost Colony of Roanoke (yes, we finally finished it).  All three also did some online games, quizzes, etc. with different levels of spelling just to mix things up.

Today we spent time reading about Sun exploration.  Nuclear fusion, Coronal Mass Ejections, Magnetism, Sun Spots and Maunder Minimums made for some lively discussion.  Tom gave us an article in a National Geographic and the pictures were breathtaking.  We also spent some time looking at pictures of Saturn's rings and how they think they have ice tsunamis in them. 

The funny thing about the Sun is that I remembered a song I learned about the sun in elementary school and the kids had a ball laughing at me singing "The sun is a mass of gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace.  Where hydrogen is built into helium..."But hey, they will know all the basics of they learn the song!

Tomorrow Wes is getting his braces on so he talked me into getting him a Southern Style Chicken sandwich for lunch and pizza for dinner~out of fear that he would be too sore to eat junk food, lol.  Plus he has to give up popcorn, chewy candy, etc.  In fact, I think I hear him making a bag of microwave popcorn all for himself right now.

God thank you that in every thing we study, we see you.  As your Word says in Romans, you've left your fingerprints throughout nature so we can find you.  Lord, may I be found by you, and in you.

Today's workout:  WHFN Steamin' Cardio
Yesterday's workout:  WHFN Pump

I've not done yoga since last week and really need to get back to it tomorrow.

Busy, crazy weekend here. We're going to visit a friend overnight and then come racing home for soccer.  Maddie is staying with a friend tonight so we'll pick her up in time for soccer since my sister-in-law and brother-in-law are coming for the games.  Then Tom and I have a dinner party at a church member's home.  I'm just glad the kids are finally old enough to stay by themselves without a sitter.

Tom took the kids to co-op so I could get some laundry, etc. done before leaving.  I also squeezed in my workout and had my time alone with the Lord.  I'm not one of those people who loves having a bunch to do~a slower, less busy pace suits my personality much better~so having that time was absolutely crucial to me.  I just love my husband~who is now at the bank still trying to get all their mess worked out, grrr....  Oh well, no matter what happens this is my truth:  God is good.

Today's workout:  Tracie Long Training Better Burn, Better Buns(med ball cardio, core and lower body)~included some nice yoga stretches. 

Tomorrow is a rest day, yay!

Today was crazy.  The bank messed up something in our checking account big time and we had several bills bounce.  Now they have to figure out why the problem occurred, and we need to stay on top of them to make sure they pay the fees.  But it's a headache, we gotta call everyone who had a payment bounce.  Such is life. Tom has decided we should move to more of a cash system so I had money for groceries and some other things this week.  While this was great, it also meant this had gone on for a few days before we caught it.

Well, we finished cleaning in the Den.  I'm so glad to have this out of the way.  We're going to visit our good friends in Blue Ridge tomorrow to see their son play in the band for Homecoming.  Then Saturday Tom and I are going to a dinner at the home of people in the church. 

Today I was reading about the importance of God's word in our lives.  How lost we are without it, how we should be asking Him each day as we read it to sink it deep within, helping us apply it.  So, I'm going to leave you with a wonderful verse of scripture.  Apply it, meditate on it, and let its riches sink deep into your spirit, bringing you joy:

Psalm 118:7  I was in trouble, so I called to the LORD.  The LORD answered me and set me free.

May you truly find freedom in him. Oh, and P.S.  If you don't have a copy of the New Century Version of the Bible, it's fabulous.  Very readable, the kids love it.

Today's Workout:  WHFN Upper Body Burn
PM Yoga:  I don't think I'll do any.  UBB had ten minutes of lovely yoga at the end (all the WHFNs mix weights, cardio, yoga and pilates, to varying degrees) and I want to watch baseball and college football.

P.S.  Looks like I didn't miss much by not seeing the Reds play last night!  For my VF Homeschooling moms that read this I will say:  :eek:  Too bad I don't have those emoticons in my blog!!

Brrr, 39 degrees while walking the dog this morning is entirely too cold for the first week of October.  But things are looking up and it's supposed to be about 83 tomorrow. 

Today we cleaned in the kitchen.  Actually, Wes did the most but he's going to be gone all day with his Dad to an event~he doesn't even know about it yet~so he'll get out of cleaning the den with us, which will probably be the toughest task with all the books we have in the built in bookshelves!

One of the highlights of my day was going to lunch with Tom.  We only get to do this about once a month and I really look forward to it.  Adult conversation, and no kids trying to eat off of my plate, lol.  And, I actually get to sit down and be waited on.  So nice.  Wes was jealous because we went to Lone Star, one of his favorite places.

Tonight we have church and although I'm glad not to cook, I really want to be home watching the Reds~I never get to see them play.  Oh well, I'll see a few minutes before I leave.

Thank you God for morning dog walks, blue October skies, dates with my husband, and that my self-esteem is found in you and not in my 10 year old son (who told me today that my sweatshirt was "bulky and makes you look big." ) Too funny!!

Today's workout:  WHFN Fast Cheetah (mostly cardio, some pilates and yoga)
PM Yoga:  Probably Shoulder Stand, Plough, Happy Baby, and Legs on wall on my own.

Today we were cleaning in the living room/dining room.  I got up this morning just dreading cleaning all of those wooden blinds.  So, I just went ahead and began.  Mary Madison jumped in and we had all of them, the windowsills, and all the furniture cleaned really well before we knew it!  Then she walked the dog with me and I took her out for a bagel at McDonald's for being so helpful. Then Wes took over and cleaned the baseboards and floors.  Tyler was sleeping in late so he's had to help Tom cook dinner~he got off lucky, actually.

Yes, Tom is grilling burgers tonight. He volunteered to be in charge of dinner and I went window shopping at Ross and TJ Maxx for a bit~just so I didn't get drawn into cooking, lol.

Maddie and I watched an Agatha Christie movie we taped on DVR from PBS~The Secret of Chimneys.  It was AWFUL~they added Miss Marple, changed the entire story, and had one of my favorite characters in the story become the killer. I just don't like the new Mrs. Marple~they change the story lines a LOT with her, I guess to differentiate them from the other Miss Marple movies.

I sold a large, expensive piece of exercise equipment on Craigslist~my Fluidity bar, like a ballet bar.  I enjoyed using it for many things but honestly, we just don't have the room for it here.  I will really like socking away the money as I'm in need of a couple of new sweaters for the Fall to wear to church, with jeans, etc.

As I was studying my lesson today on taking my thoughts captive, I realize how I'm often defeated because I think I can't control my mind.  Well, I can choose to cry out to the Holy Spirit for help in what thoughts to focus on, what to put into my mind through various forms of media, etc.  So, I'm going to keep a log one day this week of how I spend my time, and how my thought life relates to it.  Should be EYE-OPENING!

Today's workout:  Tracie Long Training (TLT) Strength in Movement (functional type weight workout with medicine ball cardio between weight segments).
PM Yoga:  10 MS Yoga for Relaxation

I've been having trouble getting into the blogging world, for some reason~but now the technical difficulties seem to be gone! 


Over the weekend we had soccer games, church-wide yard sale, and the boys went with their dad to an amusement park in Chattanooga.  I was so tired Saturday that I took a long nap yesterday before Maddie and I went shopping for a costume for Halloween.


Today we got a good start at our fall cleaning.  We swept the whole house really well, all three kids did some deep cleaning in their rooms, and we did some deep cleaning in the hall bathroom.  The kids are supposed to do the cleaning in there but without intervention, you are soon unable to see out of the sliding shower doors due to soap scum~ya know how kids can clean!!


Mary Madison had American Heritage Girls and Tom had United Methodist Men so the evening was busy as well.  But, Wes is excited because he's now 5'4", as tall as his Grammy.  He's definitely growing!  And, Maddie is about a 1/2" shy of reaching me.


I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the screened in porch doing my prayer study today.  The serendipity of a quiet moment with cool breezes, taking in the power of God's power and how to harness it to use against the Evil one is simply hard to beat.


Blow through our home, Holy Spirit~cleaning out our hearts of sin, yes~but also of those "good" things that keep us from receiving your best.


Saturday's workout:  The Firm Upper Body, no yoga, too tired
Sunday's Workout:  Rest Day.  PM Yoga:  Shoulder stand, plough, Happy Baby on my own
Monday's workout:  TLT BBBB~warmup with med ball and active stretch: Tracie Long Power Up, all
PM Yoga:  Crunch Candelight Yoga (one of my first relaxing, restorative yoga workouts, will always be a favorite).


What I'm reading:  Joyce Meyer Powerful Thoughts

Friday!  And an entire week of Fall break ahead.  We are going to do some deeper cleaning next week, a room a day, for a couple of hours and the kids are so excited.  Okay, they're not.  And Dad, if you're reading this, since you're retired we expect you to come stay for the week and help~I know Mom has you trained REALLY well with all of this!!

Okay, so today was co-op and the children are settling in and really enjoying it.  Even Wes, who was less than enthused about taking Drama and Drawing, is learning and having fun.  Plus, he's met another homeschooled guy a year older than he is.

Okay, funny co-op story.  One of my jobs is to gather all trash at the end of the day, put it all into a larger bag, and then get Wes to take it to the dumpster.  Well, when I hit one trash can, all that was in it was a red solo cup.  I picked it up to throw away and it had a DEAD MOUSE in it~I about died, lol.  The older kids said it was dead in one of their class rooms so they decided to throw it away.  I'm just glad it was the older kids who found it, not the Kindergarten class~chaos would have erupted!

Tom got the van back and the bill was only $70~I absolutely love our godly, hilarious mechanic.  It's nice to have someone you can trust for something about which you know nothing.

I took Maddie and Tyler to Pier 1 and Michael's this afternoon to look around.  Ty had to come because Tom and Wes were both gone.  It's so funny, he had a ball looking at both places.  And, I can trust him to look at things on his own and not touch touch breakables, be wild, etc.  For those who know Ty, you KNOW this is such a sign of maturity in him~he really has grown up a LOT in the last 6 months and we're really proud of him.  And proud of what a good big sister Maddie is to him.

Tonight we went out for appetizers at Chili's, such a treat for the kids.  They were worried about not getting enough to eat but had such fun sampling things that we all had enough.

I have not had enough time for the Lord the past two days, though, and am feeling the burden of it. Tomorrow I really need to spend time alone with him, letting him love on me to renew my strength.  During this weekend, I pray you will find such time for you.  It will be even more refreshing than the cool weather moving in.

Today's workout:  Tracie Long Step Forward
PM Yoga:  YfSR, Easing Neck and Shoulder Tension (my shoulders and neck feel INCREDIBLE after doing this three days in a row).

Dentist time for Maddie, Wes and I today.  Always so much fun!  Tyler took his math books and The Number Devil and entertained himself the entire time we were there!  He also taught us many things about Fibonacci numbers, number triangles, etc. He was also asking me to teach him how to add fractions with different denominators and to multiply three and four digit numbers.

When we got home, we decided to eat lunch and do some reading and schoolwork.  Mary Madison had to babysit for a couple of hours at 1:15 pm and then reminded me that we needed sketch pads for Homeschool co-op tomorrow.  In the middle of that, we got a call from Tom that he had to take the car to be fixed so off we went to pick him up.

Maddie had soccer practice so after that, I was very ready for some yoga and Bible time.  One of the most beautiful things I've found is that God always gives me some time for studying his Word, if I just ask him to show me. 

Lord thanks for time with you, time with the kids, and time to see how much my children will learn all on their own. Their questions, thought processes, and amazing creations are always reminders of how creative you are.  Please, Lord, unleash your creativity in my life.

Today's workout:  WHFN Push Pull (yay, some heavy weights again)
PM Yoga:  YfSR, Easing Neck and Shoulder Tension

Some days it's just so much fun to see what the kids come up with~and other days it's a struggle to get them to stay on task.  Today was a little of both worlds.

Wes and Maddie had no trouble with their invention reports.  Maddie chose Beatrice Kenner, an African-American woman who had at least 5 patents.  She was truly amazing.  Tyler was dawdling terribly and finally chose to write about a kid who came up with an edible spoon for wet cat food so she wouldn't have to clean the spoon off, that was too funny~and true.

Finally everyone settled down to Math, piano, etc.  Wes and Tyler are reading The Number Devil, a story about a kid who hates math.  It's filled with humor AND advanced math concepts.  Ty especially can't put it down~and Wes wants him to give it back to him.

After piano, Dollar General for Tom, and the Thrift Bread store, we finally got home for an hour or so before church.  Ty went to church with Garrison, his homeschool buddy, and had a great time.  He was pretty happy because he missed chili night at church~and he hates chili!

As I sat on the kids' piano teacher's porch during their lessons, I studied my Bible study lesson on the power of God.  You know, in Ephesians Paul says that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us.  Can you imagine?  When is the last time you prayed not just for God to give you strength but to give you power, to unleash that power through you?  I want to pray that~and often.  I don't want to just make it through life but to see God's power working through me to reach other people out there who are dying without him.  How about you?  Wanna pray that prayer with me?  Who knows what we can start?  What serendipities we can experience?  I for one want to find out.

Today's workout:  Powerfit Harmony Cardio, Move it!; WHFN Floor Burn
PM Yoga:  YfSR, Neck and Back Tension, passive stretch.  That was so wonderful I could seriously have fallen asleep on my mat.  Aahhhh.....

What I'm reading:  Becoming a Vessel of God's Power, Donna Partow (I think this will be the Bible study I begin leading with a small group of women next month).