Over the last month or so, my 14ds (yes, the one who hit the deer...) has experienced Providence in little things, that may even seem insignificant to him. It's one of those 'wow!, God cares about that?!' moments. These are memorial stones for him; reminders that God really does care about every detail.
Yesterday was one of those moments. He needed a chiropractor treatment. I suggested that he call and ask if the Dr. had any work for him, to pay for the treatment. Of course, he didn't call. But then, this morning, bright and early, the Dr. called to ask if Josh had time to work for him...go figure! It's stuff like this that sometimes reaches in and grabs hold of our hearts. The hugely miraculous is fun and often an adrenaline rush. But Jesus even said that some will not believe even if someone was raised from the dead. The little stuff of life, stirred by God's Hand...the regular stuff...that's what draws us to His heart.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
We got so much done today!
Cleaned out the garage, set up the rest of the planters, planted three plants, loaded up the sub to go to the dump (it's totally full!) and the Good Will, paid bills, cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, pulled weeds, threw away half of what we own (ok, not quite that much), did laundry...
Wow! How did I get all that done??? Well, I have 6 kids at home. One is only 6, but the rest helped and boy, does it feel good!
Wow! How did I get all that done??? Well, I have 6 kids at home. One is only 6, but the rest helped and boy, does it feel good!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Woodworking
Josh has decided on a loft bed plan - from furniture plans.com or something like that - and they're going to make it. If it turns out well, we'll make one for each child - 6 of them! My mother is probably moving back out here, so Becca will have to give up her bed. The plans are very nice and you download them from the site. Mission style. It will be a good learning experience and a good time with Dad. :-) He really needs to build a bookshelf too...and maybe a locker to keep some stuff in...and garage cabinets...ok, ok, I'm done now!
Half of my brain is working toward starting school in the Fall...18ds has one more year, but recently he's decided to look into the police program in which he can get immersed into the thick of things to see if it's what he wants to do. He's become disillusioned with CAP, saying that it's more like a hang out for high school. He's ready to get serious. So we have to find out what he needs - if it's a high school diploma, we'll have to fast track next year for him (I really mean, HE will have to fast track) and finish up. He'll also have to find a job for the winter, since installing windshields doesn't happen during the winter in the mountains.
It's time to start buying books...Apologia, here I come!
Half of my brain is working toward starting school in the Fall...18ds has one more year, but recently he's decided to look into the police program in which he can get immersed into the thick of things to see if it's what he wants to do. He's become disillusioned with CAP, saying that it's more like a hang out for high school. He's ready to get serious. So we have to find out what he needs - if it's a high school diploma, we'll have to fast track next year for him (I really mean, HE will have to fast track) and finish up. He'll also have to find a job for the winter, since installing windshields doesn't happen during the winter in the mountains.
It's time to start buying books...Apologia, here I come!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Way Cool!!!
So I'm still doing research in preparation for publishing...
In the process, I have been given contact with people who would normally not give me the time of day. Time after time, doors are opening that confirm God's leading in this effort of writing. I'm totally 'hooked', if you'll pardon the expression, on the drug scene in today's youth culture. Why? No, my kids are not into it. And no, I don't come from that background. So what, then? I'm still not certain. But I am convinced that I have God's leading, by more than ten separate confirmations that 'fell' into my lap. Like a rock. The best one? I got a call from an undercover cop today. How cool is that? Even better? He confirmed my story line, by his own experience. To use an old phrase from my jr. high years, I'm totally stoked!
Now you've seen the other side of the home school mom - I'm even starting to talk like my rogue cop!
Now, if you'll pardon me, I really have to tend to some chores, before my husband nixes my writing!
In the process, I have been given contact with people who would normally not give me the time of day. Time after time, doors are opening that confirm God's leading in this effort of writing. I'm totally 'hooked', if you'll pardon the expression, on the drug scene in today's youth culture. Why? No, my kids are not into it. And no, I don't come from that background. So what, then? I'm still not certain. But I am convinced that I have God's leading, by more than ten separate confirmations that 'fell' into my lap. Like a rock. The best one? I got a call from an undercover cop today. How cool is that? Even better? He confirmed my story line, by his own experience. To use an old phrase from my jr. high years, I'm totally stoked!
Now you've seen the other side of the home school mom - I'm even starting to talk like my rogue cop!
Now, if you'll pardon me, I really have to tend to some chores, before my husband nixes my writing!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
July 4th, or Where has the reverence gone?
July 4th is one of my favorite holidays.
Before we moved, we attended a celebration at a college, on the green. It was the most moving July 4th celebration I've ever attended. Everyone placed their blankets down, rolled their picnic coolers up and enjoyed the sun and company. Red, White and Blue were everywhere. Pompoms were sold, and little flags. Booklets were handed out, with the words to all of the major patriotic songs, so that everyone could join in with the music.
We stood for the National Anthem. We said the Pledge of Allegiance. Military people were honored. A men's choir sang the patriotic songs and everyone sang with them. The fireworks were choreographed with patriotic music...
It was a most moving experience, one that remains with me.
In contrast, I have not found a public celebration, since that time, that even compares. It's just a big party, and an excuse to flaunt flesh and drink beer.
Ok, maybe I'm over-reacting, but I can't help but wonder, where has all the respect gone?
Before we moved, we attended a celebration at a college, on the green. It was the most moving July 4th celebration I've ever attended. Everyone placed their blankets down, rolled their picnic coolers up and enjoyed the sun and company. Red, White and Blue were everywhere. Pompoms were sold, and little flags. Booklets were handed out, with the words to all of the major patriotic songs, so that everyone could join in with the music.
We stood for the National Anthem. We said the Pledge of Allegiance. Military people were honored. A men's choir sang the patriotic songs and everyone sang with them. The fireworks were choreographed with patriotic music...
It was a most moving experience, one that remains with me.
In contrast, I have not found a public celebration, since that time, that even compares. It's just a big party, and an excuse to flaunt flesh and drink beer.
Ok, maybe I'm over-reacting, but I can't help but wonder, where has all the respect gone?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Revenge of Bambi
So, my 14ds is learning to drive. The other day, dh took him out to drive the Neon. For those of you who don't know, that is a rather small vehicle, and low to the ground. The first key, up here in the mountains, if an elk or large deer (they can get quite large around here - the elk are often larger than horses) jumps in front of your car, you should NOT put on the breaks, but speed up. Putting on the brakes will shove the nose toward the ground, making a very effective ramp for the elk to ram into the front seat of your car. Given the size of elk antlers, this could be a very bad thing. On the other hand, in a car like the Neon, maybe it doesn't really matter...
Josh, being new at driving, has a longer reaction time than those of us who have driven for awhile. He did not see the deer until the last minute, at which time it chose to leap in front of the car. The result? There is paint scraped off the front bumper of the Neon, somewhere in the woods of Conifer is a deer who is limping pathetically, and Josh needs a new pair of boxers.
Josh, being new at driving, has a longer reaction time than those of us who have driven for awhile. He did not see the deer until the last minute, at which time it chose to leap in front of the car. The result? There is paint scraped off the front bumper of the Neon, somewhere in the woods of Conifer is a deer who is limping pathetically, and Josh needs a new pair of boxers.
Publishing...!
I'm finished!
I'm ready to submit my stories to an editor. I'm very excited, in fact I even danced to the tune of my printer, while it cranked out 112 pages this morning.
And now, I think I can get my house clean. And catch up on the ironing.
I'm ready to submit my stories to an editor. I'm very excited, in fact I even danced to the tune of my printer, while it cranked out 112 pages this morning.
And now, I think I can get my house clean. And catch up on the ironing.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Well, ok!
My house is a mess!
I'm about a month out from publishing...so now it's that last stretch to the finish line, the kind that narrows your focus and causes everything but your goal to fade away, almost nonexistent in the background.
I've got a title, two stories, one which still needs its conclusion, and possibly an artist for the cover. I still need to complete 2 interviews, write up a commentary for the appendix, write the legend that introduces the stories and find an editor...
Title: Stoning the Crows
Story 1: Operation Scarecrowe
Story 2: View from the Crowe's Nest
This is a little rough, but it's close:
Jacket teaser (or whatever you call that blurb...):
Mike Malone was a good cop. A little unorthodox, a little too close to the edge on many occasions, and a little too cocky for his own good. But he was a good cop, nonetheless. He had the good fortune to possess everyman’s face. A little alteration here and there, and his own mother would not recognize him. A quick study, he became his new persona, shedding all evidence of his real self. And this fact would prove to be his biggest challenge…
What's odd is that the locations I picked, not having EVER been to New Jersey, are accurate representations of the history portrayed in my story. Hm. How does that happen? Was I led by the Holy Spirit is this endeavor? We shall see...
My 10yo dd is also writing a story, which I will focus on next, so that she can publish too. It's about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. She's a little stuck on Judas Iscariot at the moment, but we'll jump that hurdle shortly. I'm happy that my work has also inspired her. And I think she can do her own artwork - she's pretty good!
Back to making my house LOOK orderly, even if it isn't at the moment...
I'm about a month out from publishing...so now it's that last stretch to the finish line, the kind that narrows your focus and causes everything but your goal to fade away, almost nonexistent in the background.
I've got a title, two stories, one which still needs its conclusion, and possibly an artist for the cover. I still need to complete 2 interviews, write up a commentary for the appendix, write the legend that introduces the stories and find an editor...
Title: Stoning the Crows
Story 1: Operation Scarecrowe
Story 2: View from the Crowe's Nest
This is a little rough, but it's close:
Jacket teaser (or whatever you call that blurb...):
Mike Malone was a good cop. A little unorthodox, a little too close to the edge on many occasions, and a little too cocky for his own good. But he was a good cop, nonetheless. He had the good fortune to possess everyman’s face. A little alteration here and there, and his own mother would not recognize him. A quick study, he became his new persona, shedding all evidence of his real self. And this fact would prove to be his biggest challenge…
What's odd is that the locations I picked, not having EVER been to New Jersey, are accurate representations of the history portrayed in my story. Hm. How does that happen? Was I led by the Holy Spirit is this endeavor? We shall see...
My 10yo dd is also writing a story, which I will focus on next, so that she can publish too. It's about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. She's a little stuck on Judas Iscariot at the moment, but we'll jump that hurdle shortly. I'm happy that my work has also inspired her. And I think she can do her own artwork - she's pretty good!
Back to making my house LOOK orderly, even if it isn't at the moment...
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