Welcome--I Can Do This Participants

If you're here from the Schoology assignment "I Can Do This," read through the blog posts below to find the answers to questions 1-6. Good luck, work hard, don't be lazy, and don't quit until you are finished and submitted your answers. Have fun.

Happy Project--April 21

Mollie came off the bus carrying her Bible. So I snapped this pic. Later in the afternoon I was on Instagram and her teacher had snapped a pic of her open Bible on her desk. 

31 Days--Day 1 Some Things About Mattie

                                           
                                            Hi, I am Mattie and I am 11years old.

Back to School Pic

Over the next month, Mom and I are going to tell you about my days in middle school. The one thing I don't like is we have lockers. They are so aggravating some times, I just want to punch them. I don't have a favorite teacher, because they are all cool. My favorite subjects are social studies and language arts. My favorite school food is Big Daddy pizza. I also run cross country. I am a Christian. I'm on the Bible Drill Team at church and I'm a GA, Girl's Ambassador. I just found out yesterday that I made it into Beta Club. I really like middle school and I'm excited to share my story with you.  Mattie


I wanted Mattie to introduce herself today. She decided to only share a little about herself because she doesn't want to run out of things to say. She's like her Momma she never runs out of things to say. But nevertheless, it's the first day of 31 days of middle school life. I can't tease about tomorrow since it is her decision and she hasn't written it yet.  Come back and see what Mattie has to say about middle school life.

Back to School 2013

Back to school pictures were fun this year. Mikie always takes off on registration day to take the kids since I have to work. This year he wasn't off on the first true day of school so we decided to take pics on registration day. This was the only one he got. Mollie was mad at Maggie for telling her to let her help hold the sign and so she spit in Maggie's face. Mollie didn't like the punishment that came with it. This is proof for all of you who think our four act at home like they do in public, they don't.           

Registration Day

And then the next morning, I pulled out the tripod. After 4 practice shots I finally had us all in the frame, with arms and heads. A much better morning than the one before. 

1st true day of school

This week went to one of our favorite places Downtown Morristown and took more back to school pics. 

Still wearing those red boots!

Seven and half days of school down, beautiful weather for August and four excited kids anxious to see what the year holds.

Please Excuse Michael from School --Wordless Wednesday

In case you can't read it.

"We had to take Michael to the hospital he had a fever over 100 it was 100 and 4 point 6."

Mollie

This is the note he is taking to school today for his excuse. With his ER release of course! So glad I didn't have to write it. 

I'm Still Around, I Promise!

If you've been wondering where I am, I'm still around. School is so hectic right now, my time online is very sparse. For the next two weeks my evenings are consumed with either school activities that are mandatory for me or with final planning and prep for the A Wise Woman Builds Women's Conference at church.

I have two great books to giveaway from Tommy Nelson before the end of the month. So keep an eye out. If you're new to the blog, welcome. I hope you all will bear with me for a few more days. I will be back.

Goodbye Summer

Ok, so today was the first day of school. I can't put in to words what are putt putt trip last week meant, or what today was like. If I could have figured out how to upload my slideshow I would have had you in tears. But anyway I hope you enjoy!

Last Trip Before School Starts

Oink, Oink, Oink

Hole in One

                   

Uh, wrong direction Maggie

Score keeping is hard.

See Mollie really was there!

Yes, I got in this year!

My how they've grown since last year! 

2011/2012 First Day Last Year Comparison!

It was a dark and stormy night -- revisited

I originally posted this in May of 2011. I have been reminded lately just how God takes care of us and this reminds me of it too. Of course it's still funny and I have a doctor's appointment for my thyroid today, so time is short. 

Hope you enjoy!

Ok, so I really wanted to title this post "Oh, Hail!" but I wasn't sure that would go over well with some people. The more I've thought about the storms from last Wednesday evening and night, I want to put some memories down.

Before school that morning I had "informed" my children that Nana and I would be getting pedicures, shopping and having lunch for our Mother's Day gifts. I told them there would be no early pickups from school today, belly aches, head aches and just not feeling good wouldn't get them picked up. I would only pickup early if they were dying. I told Mollie's Parent's Day Out teacher basically the same thing I had told the kids.

Nana and I got our pedicures and were shopping when it started raining and the wind picked up. As we were running in TJ Maxx my cell phone rung. It was Kristi, Mollie's PDO teacher. She had drawn the short straw and had to make the call. "I hated to have to call," she said. I was thinking about just telling her to let her take her nap somewhere else, but as I was thinking, "Oh what a wonderful day," she told me school was letting out early because of the storms.

Nana and I grabbed lunch and went to pick up kids. By this time the sun was shining which I've since learned is not a good thing with wild and wacky weather. As the big storms came closer to town the kids and I debated whether we wanted to go to church. But Michael, being a 6 year old genius, told me, "We are safer at church, because we can hide in the back class room downstairs and God is there. He will protect us." You guessed it, we went to church.

Mikie had decided he was leaving work 30 minutes early to beat the storm, walked to his van and had to return to his office because of a tornado warning in the county where he works. At 5:10 he called to say he was leaving, an hour after he originally tried to leave. He barely made it out of the front gate when another tornado warning was issued.

Church activities were busy that night as usual and there was only heavy rain. We stood around and talked and finally got home about eight o'clock.

As Mikie went out to bring Maximus from his outdoor kennel to the basement I heard a tornado warning had just been issued for our county. I quietly and peacefully told the children to go to the basement. Oh, okay I can't lie, they were upstairs, I was on the main level and I panicked. "Everybody downstairs, go to the basement now. I don't care that you're peeing. Finish in the basement. GO, GO, GO NOW!!!!"

 I've always aggravated my Mother (Nana) that it is her fault I'm terrified of storms. The last tornado that went through our little hometown was 34 years ago. She was pregnant with me and working at the White Way. The manager didn't know a tornado was coming through town and told her to hold the front door shut cause the wind was blowing everything in the store. Needless to say when she finally decided she couldn't hold the door shut and took off to the back of the store they realized what was going on. So I'm sure there is some inter-womb caused fear of storms there. Which one day I will think to ask my friend Kristel if that is possible.

Back to Wednesday night, as we went down the steps, I turned them around and sent them for flashlights while I informed Mikie who was now standing in the backyard looking up at the sky what was going on. One of these days the inevitable will happen he will become a lightening rod. I've heard we have other friends who may join him in this same demise.

As Mattie cried uncontrollably about her friends who didn't have basements, lived in apartments and the trailer park, about the cat who was afraid of the dog in the basement and chose to stay upstairs, and the bunny in the cage upstairs that I wouldn't bring to the basement because of the dog, Maggie and Michael discussed what they would do if Momma and Daddy died. This whole conversation was taking place in a very small bathroom which contains a toliet and vanity and at that time, 3 small lawn chairs, 4 very upset kids, one sitting on top of the toliet and a great dane. I shut the door and went outside with their Daddy.

As the first hail storm began, I went to the hallway outside the bathroom and sat down. Michael was deep in conversation with Maggie.

"If Momma and Daddy get killed I'll shoot myself with my new bow and arrow. I can't live without my Momma and Daddy." Me, "Michael your new arrows barely go through the target all you will do is hurt yourself." Him, "Then I'll get out my BB gun and shoot until I die." As much as I appreciate his dying love for me and his Daddy I couldn't help but laugh. Mikie broke up the woe is me and made them go to the sliding door to watch the hail storm. Once it stopped they had fun playing with it. And of course hollering "Oh Hail!"

This whole event occurred within 15 minutes of getting home from church and the power went out in the process. We spent the night in the basement, sat in the bathroom several more times, one included Mikie when he saw a cloud he didn't like the shape of over the lake. At 4:30 the next morning when Mikie got up to go to work we all went to our own beds. School had been canceled and we slept for a few more hours. Once we got up I surveyed the damage, which fortunately wasn't too bad, considering our neighbors got much worse. Pictures on the news and Facebook showed the damage to our friends homes and cars and to our little hometown were an F1 had passed through tearing up the high school and lots of homes, which started in that cloud Mikie didn't like over the lake.

As the kids and I spent the day doing basically nothing cause we were mentally and emotionally exhausted I thought about how God has blessed us. I don't know why He continually blesses my family. We aren't anything special, we just try our best to follow His will and do what He tells us to do. I pray for those families in my hometown and other counties close by that have damage and have lost loved ones. I can't understand why the Lord lets things like this happen. But I've realized it's not for me to understand or comprehend. Only to trust to Him.

Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord -- Giveaway

This month I have several books to giveaway from Thomas Nelson. The first book is for parents Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord is by Pastor and Author Dave Stone. I have been reading this book this week and I must say it is a great read. It is full of great insight and guidance.



The following is a release from Thomas Nelson books;
"No matter how perfect the family pictures look, every family struggles and is dependent upon God’s grace and mercy. As a father of three, Dave shows parents that they have more influence on their kids than any other factor in their lives. Brimming with warmth and humor, Stone gives parents creative examples of how to help kids develop their own faith with ideas such as praying at significant times, encouraging kids to display Scripture in special places around the home, and serving others alongside their parents."

We try to develop our faith in everything we do, but we don't always succeed. One thing that we do everyday is to pray together in the car on the way to school. Each one of the kids has an assigned day to pray first, it prevents arguments. I always pray last. It usually takes us at least 15 minutes for everyone to pray so the 25 minute trip to school is a great time. I've picked up some other ideas from this book that I want to use with our kids.

I would recommend this book for any parent. Leave me a comment below and let me know that you would like to win this book.

Share your own creative way you help your kids develop their faith. Leave your comment by midnight on May 13th, Mother's Day for a chance to win.

Disclaimer: Thomas Nelson gave me a copy of this book to review. One winner will receive a copy. I will pick one winner using random.org on May 13th. Happy Mother's Day!!

Busy Week Here at MJ's House

This is a crazy, busy week as was last week. This is the last full week of school. I will try to post an update this week about Honor's and Field Days and field trips. But until then I've found a new website and blog I really like Margaret McSweeney. This week the Pearl Girls are offering a Mother's Day series. So each day this week look for a post from one of the Pearl Girls here on my block. I hope you enjoy them and have a great week!

Week in Review -- April 22-28

As part of our daily post, Sunday will bring the "Week in Review" for a lack of a better title. This has been TCAP week at school and to be honest we are so worn out that we haven't done anything really exciting this week.

I finally broke down and bought a DSLR camera. A refurbished Canon 2ti. I am now looking for a cute, one of a kind camera bag to carry it in.

There have been several funny quotes from the week but Michael gets credit for the most memorable.

Michael, "Oh man, my zipper is unzipped."
Me, "Well zip it before you get out of the car and your barn animals get out."
Michael, "They've all escaped already, cept the chickens. All I got left is two eggs."

He is so funny and quick witted. He comes up with a lot of good ones. On Thursday he got his nose busted by another little boy over the ball bag at Extended School Program (ESP, after-school care). I threatened to get him one of those signs that says "______ number of days accident free." He was currently on eight, now he is back down to three.

Saturday the plan was to meet my four children from other mothers at one of our favorite places and spend the day. You will read more about the place in a few weeks, I don't want to give away why we were there quite yet.

We had a great time minus the boys, one of whom was competing in the State Bible Drill Competition and Michael who had gotten into trouble and wasn't allowed to go. This is his sad, "I do it cause I ain't got no brother," face.


We had a great time without the boys and even got to meet a new boy, actually he is someone's special someone.

Last evening, the Young Women's Mission group hosted the second annual, "Go Ye Therefore" Banquet. The banquet serves to raise money to provide scholarships for members of our church who are going on mission trips. The girls did an awesome job as was expected.

Below are some pics from our fun Saturday, as well as, from my new camera. Hope you enjoy.

What did you do last week, anything exciting. Let me know and enjoy this coming week!

Caught holding hands. Young Love!

Mollie loves piggy back rides.

Let's climb the ramp and see what town looks like from up there.

Program at each place setting

Go Ye Therefore Banquet

Following the Lord's Path

Everything I have known for the last six years, four months, one week and three days changed this past Tuesday. I feel like I have become a traitor. I've deserted the path of  life I've known for so long and always wanted to have.

I know that this new path is the Lord's will. He has opened door after door and I have willingly followed. I have no doubts, only curiosity about what else He has in store.

I'm very thankful to have been able to be a stay at home mom for so long to our children. I am very thankful to have a husband who shared my passion for me to be home. He has worked long, hard hours everyday as well as through many deployments to make sure that I can be home and that we have everything we need. Notice I didn't say want. Living on one income has been tough at times. I'm not sure why the Lord has blessed us with the things we have. I have an ideal that it has to do with being faithful stewards with our money and continually giving of ourselves, our time and our money.

My first, before having children, passion was teaching music in the school system. Now as I reenter the workforce I get to do that again. I taught music and chorus for seven years before staying home. As my youngest enters kindergarten, I knew that I wanted to go back to work. I am very thankful for having the opportunity that is set before me this school year. A different school system and a new school for my children. New opportunities for them that they wouldn't have in our previous system, add to the excitement.

Expectations are high for me to succeed, not only mine but those of my administration and the high school choral director. It's nice to have a position where the success of your students is really appreciated and everyone wants to help you succeed. Not to mention all the technology, student keyboards and computer workstations, smart boards, elmo's, overhead projectors. Let's just say I felt like I was in music teacher heaven when I first walked in to my classroom Tuesday.

For many moms, working is their only choice and I have a very high respect for them. I have done both, worked with two kids while pregnant with the third and stay at home. I'm not sure how we are going to make it work, leaving so early for school, pick ups, working late, meetings all the things that come with working. But the Lord will take care of it. It was tough being home, it's going to be tough working.

I won't even go into the guilt that I originally felt about uprooting Mollie and not helping in her class since I did the oldest three. But I know it's best for her. I'm glad the Lord has turned my yellow brick road a different direction. I can't wait till tomorrow when I get to meet my middle schoolers at both of my schools. 

The Lord works in awesome ways. What are some ways He is working in your life today?

GiveAways on Frugalissa Finds

If you haven't checked out local blogger Frugalissa Finds you need to do so today. She has several giveaways running through next week. Not only will you find these awesome giveaways, but also great deals at local stores among just a few of the cool things on her blog. Just click on the link above and find all the contest and great deals!!

Who Inspires You?

We all have those people, besides our parents, in our lives who have really helped us become who we are. When I was in high school my piano teacher encouraged me to teach piano to younger children in my home. I did and loved it! From that experience I knew I wanted to be a music teacher. Because of the love and support of Ms. Omega I majored in Music Education in college and taught public school music for seven years before becoming a stay at home mom. I continue to teach piano to several students and enjoy hearing and seeing their excitement as they succeed one song after another.

As my youngest looks forward to starting kindergarten in the fall, I see another chapter of my life opening up, thanks to my children's kindergarten teachers.  My oldest two girls had the same kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McAvoy and my son has had her teaching buddy, Mrs. Duckett this year.

Over the three years that we have been in kindergarten I've come to realize that I will eat my words. I remember my very first day of teaching music. I had three kindergarten classes back to back and I told myself there is NO way I will ever teach kindergarten. Fast forward thirteen years, I'm chewing on those words right now. After teaching kindergarten through eighth grade music, staying home with my children and volunteering in the classrooms of those beloved kindergarten teachers mentioned above, I am proud to announce that I will be adding my K-6 elementary education endorsement starting this summer and praying for a kindergarten position. Although I know it won't be at the same school with these ladies cause that means one of them would have to quit.

I can honestly say both of these ladies have greatly influenced the last four years of my life. Watching as they involve themselves in the lives of each child in their classroom, working with parents, teaching the basics of kindergarten as well as life skills, these ladies can do it all. They have allowed me to step into their lives and considered me a friend, we've shared laughter and tears. We've comforted each other in time of pain and sorrow. We've chopped apples, dressed like pilgrims, dyed Easter eggs, panicked over emergency phone calls from parents, sang silly songs and they've taught me to bite my lip.

As summer break approaches I will miss my Wednesday fun of working in Mrs. Duckett's class with her and her extra special children and spending time with Mrs. McAvoy and her class when they team up for activities. As much as I don't want my youngest to start kindergarten in the fall, I also can't wait to get back into those kindergarten classrooms to learn more from those amazing teachers. I know that all of the kindergarten teachers at our school are as amazing as these two ladies it's just that I've spent more time with these, so please don't think any different.

So as I start the next journey in my life's book, I am thankful for teachers who not only take my children under their wings but also me. Who are willing to be "real" and themselves in the classroom just like they are in their own homes. Who inspire, encourage and believe in all from the youngest to the oldest (me) students in their classes. Thanks ladies for changing the lives of not only the students that you teach but this mother also. As the book by Robert Fulghum says All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.




Has someone inspired you to make a life change? Leave me a comment below and you will be entered to win a copy of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Contest ends Friday, May 27, 2011.

Disclaimer:
I have not been paid for citing this book. The book being given away was purchased with my own money.

I have barely touched the ways these ladies have inspired me, writing it all down could be a book.

My girls have had wonderful teachers every year, I've just spent more time in the classroom with these.

One lucky winner will be drawn. Good luck!!!

How Do You Spend Your Tax Refund?

I finally filed our taxes tonight. You would think working at H&R Block that I would have done them sooner. But no, I procrastinate. Having four children and the Making Work Pay Credit give us a pretty good chunk of a return. If it weren't for the kids we wouldn't get anything back. We don't have a lot taken out of the paycheck. Better to have the money in hand each pay period than to loan it to Uncle Sam and get it back at the end of the year. Because of the kids our tax liability is low to zero every year which we love.

After I filed I sat down with a notebook and my return and budgeted our refund. Now I'm not going to tell you how much we got back total but I will give you some idea of what we are going to do with it.

Each person who worked this year will receive up to $400 back on their return. If you didn't work or worked very little you will receive up to $400 too. So I decided that since the President wants us to spend some money in this poor economy we should split the amount we will receive and use it as blow money. I have lost 27.5 lbs so far and think that a new spring wardrobe on the government is exactly what I deserve. Well of course Mikie doesn't., so we compromised. I can spend $100 on clothes, he gets $100 for whatever he wants. Hopefully clothes, cause he's lost 2 pants sizes too. But nonetheless the rest will purchase new living room furniture and I can move the money I was saving for it to something else.

The next thing we agreed on was to take the amount we received from the additional child tax credit and split it between the four kids mutual funds for college. It won't be a huge amount but it will help in this year’s contributions.
We received a month's worth of Parent's Day Out fees in the daycare credits so that will be budgeted for PDO. Which will free up some money in the monthly budget.
Then we had about half of the refund left. I was thinking I would use it for school, my teaching license runs out next year and I've only taught 4.8 years of the 5 years that I needed to teach on this license. That's what 4 kids in 4.3 years gets ya.

Anyhow, after talking with Mikie we decided it would go into the used car fund. So I'm keeping my eyes open for a newer Suburban. As for school, Mikie will graduate in May and we still have money saved from his degree. I can also use military spouse options. Now I just have to decide on what classes I want to take.

So I know that most people use their refund for vacation, to pay off bills, or buy a car. But what will you do with your tax refund? Leave me a comment and let me know!