Want to win an Ipad for Christmas?

A sweet friend is having a contest to give you a chance to win an Ipad to help them bring their sweet Kylie home from China.  Click on the link below for you chance to win!!


http://taylor-family-blog.blogspot.com/


O:)
Melissa

Summer School Wrap Up

Well since I haven't posted since May 24 I decided to give a brief overview of what we learned this summer.  After last year's catastrophe (remember, the students were bad so the teacher quit after the first week?) I decided to go about it with a little less fervor this year.  Still have some things to do to keep them off the TV/computer, but not totally bored and picking on each other to death.  Of course, for the record, with at least $1000 worth of toys in this house I can hardly see how anyone would be bored, but that is beside the point.

In between the many trips we took this summer, our main goal was to learn the 50 state capitals (since TCAP is apparently not concerned about that!) and read as many books as possible and complete book bingos.  By reading books they earned popsicle sticks which would equal screen time.   Also, Leah got started on her Bible Drill verses for the fall. 

I'm happy to report that Leah and Katie both mastered the state capitals with lots of practice.  We learned about 5-6 each week, reviewing as we went.  They found them on the US map, learned the capital, and we made a treat from one of the states each week.  Some recipes bombed, some were "the" bomb.  We tried homemade ice cream (Missouri), Caramel Corn (Nebraska), Dragon Cookies (California), Pumpkin Chunkin' Cheesecake (somewhere northeast) and the TOTAL bomb was learning to make funnel cakes (PA).  Oh my gracious stars those tasted JUST like the fair!!!  And so easy to make!

On to the Book Bingo and reading.  I don't think anyone actually completed their sheets just yet, although Leah and Katie have only one book left.  We had fun again reading all kinds of new books we never read before and award winners.  It is getting difficult, however, to find Caldecotts we haven't read yet.  I might need to take it off the list for next year.  The rule is you can't count on your bingo sheet a book you have read before.  Rebecca did not finish hers either, but she took on Harry Potter this summer and conquered!  That girl is NUTS!  She would read one of the first ones in a day and a half!!!  The total pages read for the summer were:

Katie - 2066
Leah - 2224
Rebecca - 5476 (HP, remember?)

So I'd still count it a successful summer over all.  Not sure what I may have up my sleeve for next year, but there is a chance its going to have to do with out west or US Presidents.  I'm sure knowing all the US Presidents is not TCAP worthy either. 

In other "educational" news, check out my new blog, "The Year of the Great Homework Project" to see what is shaking at our house this school year!

O:)
Melissa

What's on my nightstand ....

I have always gotten a kick out of my sweet friend Alicia's side bar "on our nightstands". She usually has one or two books listed that she and Derek are reading at the time. I can just imagine her nice, neat, orderly, uncluttered room with these few books resting on her nightstand with probably one lamp and nary a dust bunny in sight. And they are always deep, heavy, thoughtful, life-changing non-fiction books.

Mine, on the other hand, does not fit that description at all.


What's on my nightstand?

Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake (current book club book I just finished tonight)
AAA Mexico book (dreaming of Mazatlan for our 20 year anniversary next year)
Royal Wedding People magazine
A journal Rebecca and I try to keep going back and forth (last entry, before EAsia, and it is apparently my turn since it is on my nightstand)
Jesus Calling by Sara Young (yes, He is calling from way down stack one)
More Joy for the Journey : a Woman's book of Joyful Promises (would probably be more joyful if it moved closer up)
Family of Value by John Rosemond (a library donation that sounded good...)
Who is my Shelter? by Neta Jackson (Yada Yada House of Hope Book 4 that I couldn't hardly want for, arrived late February)
Things Pondered by Beth Moore (Mom gave it to me and I know if it moves to my bookshelf who knows when I will read it .... no comment)
Simple Deceit by Nancy Mehl (Harmony Series Book 2 I couldn't wait to read, probably arrived in January ... apparently there is another one coming out next month ...)
The Missional Mom by Helen Lee (heard her on the radio and knew I had to get her book as soon as it came out .... January)
5 Conversations You Must Have with your Daughter by Vicki Courtney (I have 3 daughters and I love Vicki so figured this was a must have ...)
8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters by Dannah Gresh ( see above ... Christmas gift I couldn't wait to get my hands on ... )

.... and other miscellaneous items like pens, post it notes, my book light, ponytail holders and clips, bookmarks, lotion, picture frame (of one daughter), clock, phone, but no lamp. Luckily it is on the wall since there is no room for it. And yes, a fair amount of dust bunnies.

Although I did just finish reading Serendipity tonight, the other books are often not touched because I want to read them all NOW!!! How can I decide which one to read now??? And heaven forbid I move them to the bookcases (see Things Pondered above).

What's a crazy bibliomaniac like me to do??? Well, go to BAM!! (my fav store, next to Kohl's and Target) and buy some more that are on sale!!!

O:)
Melissa

EAsia, the beginning

EAsia, oh EAsia, where do I begin? You were a dark, cloudy, rainy, yucky place at first to me. All I could see and feel was uncertainty, headache pain, nervousness, excitedness, sleepiness!, dampness and dreariness. I was advised about what EAsia would be like, but my ears did not listen. I’d been to Thailand and it is Asia and I loved Thailand so I’d love EAsia, right? I could handle EAsia, right? No. Thailand is not EAsia. Not by a long stretch except that it takes 100 years on an airplane to get to either place. And the people have the same skin coloring. Other than that, nothing is the same.

My ears heard there would be squatty potties, and I giggled at the thought. I did not understand that would be my only option for the most part when we were out. My ears heard it would be hot, or maybe cold, but dress in layers, and all I heard was hot. I did not understand that it would be cold. I saw the weather say it would rain at least the first three days. I did not understand it was a cold, drizzly rain. Or that it would last all week. I heard the beds would be hard, but that ended up being the least of my worries. I did not hear about the lack of toilet paper or paper towels or napkins.

BUT! What my ears and my heart heard was that there were mkids who never get to see and talk English with other white kids (besides their siblings) who needed childcare so that their parents (who hardly see or talk English with white people themselves!) could “conference” together. My ears and my heart heard there were villages that the O family worked in and they needed help with checking the health of the children. I could do that! I could go to the other side of the planet and love on kids. That is a specialty of mine. And I could take my daughter, who also loves to help others. God graciously provided the money, so we boarded the many planes to get there and headed to the other side of the planet.

How the flu was a sweet Jesus kiss

(These pictures were taken at their Christmas parties at school.)

Don't get my wrong, I love my sweet Rebecca Jo. But lately, in preparation for our big trip to East Asia, we have been spending A LOT of time together. My other little monkeys were getting a bit jealous and I wanted to spend time with them too. I kept thinking of ways to hang out with just them, but time and money were not our friends in that regard.

Then, they got sick. Now, luckily it was not a full blown, nasty, throw up, complete lethargic kind of sick, but sick enough to take both to the doctor on Tuesday. And guess what, FLU x 2. Oh joy! (sarcastic at this point) I'm thinking I feel bad for them, but man NO WAY can Rebecca and I get the flu two weeks out of our trip. And I don't even want to think that because that sounds just like the devil would like to do! So after beating the devil up in prayer about this and kicking his caboodle right out of our house over that, we settled into a routine.

Rebecca and I got started on Tamiflu ourselves, she was banned from anywhere near their room, and Leah Lou and Katie Roo were sequestered to their room. Luckily they room together in the bonus room so there was plenty of room to move around, watch TV and movies, play games, etc. Sheets were changed and washed every night, baths were given every day and Lysol was sprayed generously. They have a table in their room too, so meals were brought up and their little medicine cups were lined up according to the ailment of the moment: Benedryl, Tamiflu, Ibuprofen, Mucinex, Delsym, Zithormax, etc. After lunch they would settled in their beds and watch a movie, and take a nap. Sometimes really long naps!

As the week wore on, I'd think, ok, maybe Katie can go back today, or maybe Leah by Friday, but they were both home all the was through Thursday. By Friday I was sure Katie would be ok at school, but Leah was still coughing here sweet little yellow head off. So, at 8:00 Friday morning, I decided Katie was good for school, at least until lunch, and Leah was back to the doctor That visit thankfully revealed that her cough was just her asthma bit that just flares up about once a year and was not contagious any more!

After the doctor visit on Friday, we headed over the WalMart to get craft and snack supplies for our trip. Let me just tell you, Leah was the perfect person I needed with me for that. My little me kept me on track and organized and helped me think through some challenges that were presented over pudding colors how many marshmallows were in a bag.

As we were driving back to get Katie, it occurred to me what a sweet Jesus kiss this week had been. Yes, it was hard for me to get done what I needed to get done being nurse and waitress and maid. Yes, Leah did miss four days of school and is spending her whole weekend on homework. But you know what, I got my sweet, special time with my girls. I got a whole week with them where we all got along and everyone was happy (besides the fights we had about yucky medicine...). That was my sweet Jesus kiss.

I am happy to report that all are well now and I believe we are just down to some occasional Benedryl and Delsym. Neither Rebecca or I are showing signs of flu symptoms. I have let Leah and Katie out of their rooms and can finally put that Lysol can away.

Thank you Jesus for always showing up where I don't expect you!

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33