Prayer request:  My husband’s employer for 21 years is downsizing in Southwest Missouri.  His last day there will be April 1.  Pray for wisdom and guidance in making decisions and finding employment.  Also pray our house sells quickly.  Thanks!

Hat tip to Scott Weldon–found this on his blog.  (No I don’t just watch u-tube continually!)

This commercial makes me smile each time I watch it.  So I had to share it.  (Not crazy about the lyrics, but you can’t have everything!)

Here inside the house, I’m already planning for our next year’s schooling.  It is a long, but rewarding process!  We are still finishing up our studies from last year, I think we can actually classify us as having school year round.  Although we really cut back on the subjects through the summer months. 

As far as the inhabitants in the house, here’s an update. . . . .

Greg’s full time job continues to be stressful.  They have laid off approximately 50 workers with more being added almost weekly.  A lot of good friends have been laid off and we are continuing to pray for them and asking that God provide for them not only financially, but spiritually. 

Gregory is now as tall as his dad if not taller.  He is growing into a fine young man in which I am very proud of.  He is still playing the piano for our church and loving every minute of it.  (Be in prayer for him, his teacher/mentor/friend is planning on moving out of the state next year and Gregory is very concerned about this!)  He has taken on a new hobby too, running.  He and his dad have been running about 2 miles every couple of days. 

Sydney is taller than I am now and becoming quite the young lady.  Her compassion and tenderness is evident in all that she does.  Her latest project has been an abandoned 1 1/2 week old kitten.  She had to bottle feed it several times a day and do all the things a mama cat does for her babies.  The kitten “Mo”  (short for my favorite Cardinal baseball player Molina) is doing well and is now able to eat from a dish. 

Jordan is rapidly catching me in height too.  (Looks like I’ll be the shortest one in the house.)  She is becoming a red-headed beauty just like her grandmother was.  There is never a dull moment with Jordan around.  She is an energetic, funny, helpful child in which I wish I had half her energy! 

I guess that leaves me. . . . My life is so wrapped up in my family I’m finding it hard to single anything out.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time lately at the hospital with my aunt.  She is fighting pancreatic cancer and recovering from surgery.  The 19th of June was our annual Relay for Life in which I took part in honoring her as well as the rest of my family who have fought or is fighting cancer. 

Our family has made a couple of trips to Jefferson City in the past few months.  Here is why we went the first time.  The second time was a little more leisurely.  We were able to tour each part of the capital.  Pictures to follow.  Stay tuned!

Where does the time go?  It seems as if only yesterday I was writing about my blogging hiatus, and it’s been three weeks ago.  Wasn’t it just last month that we moved?  No, we are fast approaching the two year mark living in our new house, Wow!  Then I was sure it was just a year or two ago when we started the adventure of homeschooling.  But when I checked the records, we are coming to the close of our sixth year.  So when I realize we are six years into homeschooling that reminds me that my husband has been pastoring our church for almost 9 years.  Earlier this year I couldn’t believe my baby turned 10 years old.  How could this precious little girl be the same red headed spit fire that  could twirl a pacifier around in her mouth without using her hands?  While we’re on the subject of children, my older daughter is, gulp, 13 years old.  She is no longer a child running around climbing on everything.  She is a sweet young lady which her mom doesn’t quite know what she would do without!  Since we are on the subject of children, our oldest, our only son, is now 15 and has his driving permit.  This is unbelievable.  Wasn’t it just yesterday when he was dancing to his favorite video and falling head long into the television requiring eight stitches?  Could that really have been 14 years ago?  Looking at my children and their rapid escape from infancy reminds me of how things got started.  Are we (my husband and I) really getting ready to celebrate 19 years of marriage? 

Where does the time go?  How do I make it slow down or stand still long enough to not only get everything I need to accomplish in one day done, but to actually treasure and delight in it?  How do I stop the time from flying by so fast that will be able to savor the marriages of my children and the subsequent grandchildren to come (if God so richly blesses us)?  When does time really cease to fly by? 

But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  2 Peter 2:8

I guess I will have to rest in the fact that the Lord is in control of all things, and all things are in His time!

graphics from Art.com

My son finally got his braces off and is now keeping up with retainers and brushing his “slick” teeth about 35 times a day.  He has celebrated his 15th birthday, and we are studying to take his test for a driving permit.  (Add the fact that he is in high school–still homeschooling–and working hard at Algebra II, Logic, Grammar, Apologia Science, as well as other things. )  He is still playing piano for the church and his piano teacher is challenging him in other areas as well. 

My older daughter has celebrated her 13th birthday and is becoming such a help to her father and I.  She is really becoming a godly woman.  She also has now taken her brother’s place in the braces department.  (She had her spacers placed the day her brother got his braces off!)  Her studies are becoming a little more challenging (7th grade) and require more time and effort, but she seems to be excelling as I knew she could!

My younger daughter also celebrated her birthday (nothing like having all three of them within 31 days!), she is now 10 years old.  Wow, the time does fly!  She is in the 5th grade and loving geography this year!  Aside from two loose teeth right now, she’s been amazingly healthy and injury free!

Don’t forget my husband!  Add the three months he  had to travel to St. Louis 4 times per week and the 60+ hour work weeks, another case of shingles, preaching, teaching, and hospital visits. 

You’d think with all of this going on, I’d have something to blog about,

 but, I guess I’ve been too busy too!  Hopefully I’ll be able to slow down, take a deep breath, and post occasionally!