tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72261159896195269852024-03-14T12:18:09.110-04:00Just another day in the lifeTina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-69576135726418196502014-03-20T23:25:00.001-04:002014-03-20T23:25:38.445-04:00A new day - A new blogHello! I am so glad that you stopped in!<br />
<br />
I am no longer posting at this address. You can now find me at:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forjustsuchatime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">For Just Such a Time as This</a><br />
<br />
Feel free to look around here and check out my posts, but be sure to come visit me at my new home!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/forjustheaderCopy2.jpg" height="97" width="320" /></div>
Thanks!<br />
<br />
~Tina~Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-9252140613930675612014-03-16T12:00:00.000-04:002014-03-16T12:00:06.057-04:00Changes on the horizon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/coins-116466_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/coins-116466_640.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Author Robert C. Gallagher quipped "Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine."<br />
<br />
Just as we are constantly changing and evolving as people, as parents, as homeschoolers, I'm finding the need to change and evolve this blog somewhat. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Some things just need updating. When I created and named this blog years ago, it was for a purpose that it far different than what it has become. I think that the name and address of the blog should reflect what that.<br />
<br />
I also think it may be a good time for a fresh start. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to stay with blogger or switch to wordpress (any suggestions?). I'm still playing with layout and look, but I hope to roll out my new site within the next week or so.<br />
<br />
So, hang in there with me, and watch for an address change soon!Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-50896696189299685092014-03-14T12:00:00.000-04:002014-03-15T19:27:46.893-04:00It's a crazy life, but it's oursThis will be a weekly wrap-up in a list form because frankly, it's the easiest way for me to collect my thoughts these days. Somehow it feels like the world went from zero to 60 around me and I'm standing still trying to figure out what happened. :-)<br />
<br />
1. The weather here is clearly bi-polar. We literally have 80* one day and 40* the next. I, for one, have given up trying to figure out what to expect from one day to the next. It makes me grateful that I don't have to get kids dressed for school every day.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
2. Tuesday was an Open House day for our Classical Conversations community. It was quite a big deal for our little group because we literally had more families signed up to visit than we actually have in our community! It ended up being a wonderful time of fellowship with some precious families, many of whom were new to homeschooling. Again I found myself grateful that God brought us to our little community.<br />
<br />
3. Tuesday also began spring soccer. Soon our every Tuesday and Saturday will be on the soccer field cheering our girls on. This year Daddy is helping to coach one team, so hopefully the games will be at different times. The downside of that is that it puts us on the soccer field all morning on Saturdays. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/march14weeklywrapupcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/march14weeklywrapupcollage.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
4. Unfortunately, Tuesday also delivered the stomach bug to our house. The 7 year old "baby" got hit just as we arrived at soccer practice. As much as I hate for any of my kids to be sick, I hate it the most when she's sick. She's the energy and pep of our family, and when she's sick, she is so quiet and still. It just feels so wrong. It leaves me unnerved. Thankfully it only lasted one night, and no one else seems to have come down with it. Prayerfully, that will stay the case.<br />
<br />
5. Bible study wrapped up on Wednesday night. I am so going to miss spending so much time with those ladies. The first 30 minutes of our time together was filled with so much laughter that there were tears and gasps for breath. Fellowship like that is such a beautiful thing!<br />
<br />
6. This week we finished our family reading of <i>Prince Caspian</i> so we spent some time watching the Disney version of the movie. It was hysterical to me to listen to my children criticize the writers of the movie for the liberalities that were taken to create the screenplay. And each one had different complaints. The oldest disliked that they distorted the battle scenes. Middle child (and oldest daughter) didn't like the love story between Susan and Caspian, and youngest child said it took way too long for Aslan to show up.<br />
<br />
7. Today is "pi" day, so the kiddos are celebrating with some other "unsocialized" homeschoolers. (I won't disagree with the weird part. There may be something a little weird in celebrating "pi" 3.14 day) <br />
<br />
Whew, I wish I could say that I'm looking forward to a nice quiet weekend, but no such luck. We have one more big Girl Scout cookie booth on Saturday followed by our usual Sunday busyness. And next week I get to go to the Great Homeschool Convention in Greenville, SC by myself at the end of the week, so the first part of the week will be CRAZY!!<br />
<br />
How about you? What did your week look like?<br />
<br />
Linking up at:<br />
<a href="http://weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/" target="_blank">Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homegrownlearners.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown Learners</a><br />
<a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/" target="_blank">Conversion Diary</a><br />
<a href="http://holysplendor.com/" target="_blank">Holy Splendor</a>Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-58303346124757846822014-03-07T00:44:00.002-05:002014-04-04T03:08:26.164-04:00That 3rd kid will break you" I think God allows a 3rd child to do things to keep you on your toes, so you don't get 'comfortable' in this parenting gig..." words posted by a friend of mine after her precious youngest child had created an interesting mess in the bathroom involving construction paper. I had to laugh. I've said similar words more often than I can count.<br />
<br />
I think that children in general are given to us by God to keep us on our toes. They reflect back to us what they see and hear us do and say. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes, not so much. With our older children, we convince ourselves that it's just because we're still learning to be good parents. Or it was just a bad day, and it's not typical. <br />
<br />
But those 3rd or 4th kids...<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/DSC_3240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/DSC_3240.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This face is my conscience. She's also the joy and crazy and imagination and silly in our family. But to me, personally, she is the mirror that reflects back to me all those things that I probably don't want to see about myself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Granted, sometimes she shows me the good stuff. When she gives me a million kisses at bedtime. And when she tackles me and tells me she loves me when I'm not looking. Or when she whispers, "You're mine," in my ear during a quiet moment of cuddling.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But all too often, it's through her I see the other stuff. When she insists that I put my phone or laptop away to give her 100% attention, and I realize that I've been spending too much time with my nose in my gadgets. When she sasses her siblings or digs in her heels and refuses to do something, and I see my own stubbornness. Tonight it was when she playfully told me that I couldn't go by without using the password. I was supposed to guess the password, and it was a word that I use "a lot." It turned out that the word was one that I would have fussed at my children for using. (Not a cuss word, mind you, but a not nice word just the same). Later when I asked my older daughter if I really did use that word a lot, she nodded shyly. Ugh! I felt about the size of a flea. I apologized to everyone and quickly prayed for God's help to bind my tongue from that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yet as embarrassing and frustrating as it can be, I really am so grateful that God would bless me in this way. I never have to worry about becoming too prideful. There will always be someone around to keep me humble.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That being said, if you know her and she tells you some story about me. Rest assured that it may well be true. Just don't tell me about it. I don't need the reminder. </div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-68532732194322086112014-03-03T09:00:00.000-05:002014-03-07T21:24:04.085-05:00Run away from home and save your marriageThis weekend we ditched the kids, ran for the hills and participated in group therapy sessions on marriage, communication, and sex.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />
<br />
Basically, we attended a marriage retreat hosted by our church. The time away was a blessing, the company was fun, the information was good and the setting was beautiful:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blueridge1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blueridge1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It had been a long time since we had had the opportunity to do something like that. And honestly, I had forgotten how beneficial it can be. (*Disclaimer - full disclosure here - yes, I do spend the first 12 hours away from my kids having to force myself to relax. And let's not even talk about the anxiety involved in walking into a "ballroom" of a hotel filled with a <strike>million</strike> thirty other couples that are going to be staring at you when you walk in. Anxiety attack much? Thank you Jesus for the gift of Xanax. *)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, anyway, here are my 5 reasons you should go on a marriage retreat (ranked in a husband's priority):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. The drive to and from the event creates an environment that almost demands conversation. So if you have those things that you need to talk about but haven't had the chance to, or haven't ever been able to finish the conversation, now you have a captive audience. That being said, however, do be willing to pull the car over and get out if the thermostat on the conversation becomes heated. You do not need an emotionally stressed driver.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Along with that, I think that you can be more vulnerable in your conversation with your spouse if you are in a place where you're not worried about having to be somewhere or someone needing something. There is a freedom that comes with that. The conversations you're able to have in your hotel room, at dinner, or just walking around can be so much more raw and real.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Fellowship with other believers, other couples is just such a blessing. And it is difficult to make that happen when you have to work around the babysitter's schedule. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Regardless of what stage, state or season your marriage is in, you will learn something about your marriage and about your relationship. You may learn a better way to communicate. You may learn that you're not alone in your particular struggle. You may learn that you're not as bad off as you thought you were! Whatever the lesson, I promise, you will learn something.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. No worries about the kids walking in on ya during sex. You could even walk around the hotel room naked if you wanted to. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I wonder how many babies are conceived on marriage retreats? Someone should do a study....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linked up at <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com</span></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-29081769920749265292014-02-27T00:41:00.000-05:002014-02-27T00:41:04.857-05:00A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity<div class="MsoNormal">
How’d the introvert get a friend?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sounds like the opening to a good joke, doesn't it? <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/1402046_10151701667015872_1283067973_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/1402046_10151701667015872_1283067973_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it’s something that this introvert has had weighing
heavily on her heart these past few days.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a topic that seems to have popped up in multiple
places: Bible study, Sunday’s sermon, so I know it’s something that God wants
me to dwell on, pray about. And I must
admit that it’s a topic that I've struggled with for far longer than just this
week. I've even written about it <a href="http://holdingmyrighthand.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/day-8-friends-part-1/" target="_blank">before</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t misunderstand.
I am blessed with a myriad of friends.
Homeschooling friends, parenting friends, church friends, parents of my
kids’ friends friends. For an introvert
like me, those are the easy friends.
Those are the ones that come from simply being alive. From being a church going, homeschooling
parent. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hard one, the one that always seems to allude me, the
one I struggle with, the one that God is constantly placing the desire on my
heart for is “that” friend. Sunday my
pastor called it, “the friend that knows everything there is to know about
you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
That’s a hard one for someone like me. The combination of introvert plus nomadic
youth plus self-esteem struggles make it difficult to be willing to put
yourself out there, emotionally bare and naked, for others to see and judge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But it is so important.
So vital. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Without such transparency, it becomes easy to hide. It’s easy to hide our sin, avoid
accountability. And it’s also easy to
hide our hurt, our struggles, our lows.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
And we begin to stumble in darkness. Maybe not that dark at first. But it gradually gets darker until we find
ourselves stumbling into a pit. And pits
are hard things to crawl out of.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But by allowing ourselves to be transparent, to allow the
light to shine through, if only for a moment, we can avoid the darkness. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Find that someone you can be transparent with. Or someones.
The process can be so scary, so difficult, so messy. But the alternative is so much worse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Side note: I occasionally write on another blog: <a href="http://holdingmyrighthand.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">He's Holding My Right Hand</a> where I tend to muse more about more personal and transparent issues. In other words - more me and less family. However, I felt very convicted to post this here this week. Maybe someone other than me needed the reminder. At any rate, feel free to visit me at <a href="http://holdingmyrighthand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HHMRH</a> as well. - Blessed by you! ~ Tina)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
Linking up today at <a href="http://walkingredeemed.org/" target="_blank">Walking Redeemed</a></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-11305559541930467362014-02-21T16:21:00.000-05:002014-02-25T01:11:08.254-05:00Weekly wrap up - the randomness editionI'm feeling extremely discombobulated this week (I just LOVE that word!) So I thought I'd do my wrap up totally different.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Things I/we're loving this week:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Nicer weather - It's been in the 60's and 70's. Though why my daughters think that means they should be outside playing in the water hose is beyond me.</li>
<li>Our little CC group - We made the decision last year to jump ship from a much larger and more established CC community to a brand new and much smaller community. It was a stressful decision making process over the summer. But my 10 year old said it best today: "Everyone in my class is my friend. Last year there were lots of people in my class, but none of them were my friends." That is the difference. And honestly, I feel pretty much the same way about the adults. </li>
<li>My Bible study group - The funniest, most supportive group of women I've ever known. I am amazed that God took this introvert and placed me in the midst of these women. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would have been comfortable in a group like this, I would have laughed out loud. Thank God for not allowing us to stay where we are.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
Things I / we're not loving this week:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Headaches - my headaches are back with a vengeance. I go for a second epidural shot in my neck next week. In the meantime, I'm dealing with obnoxious neck and head pain. </li>
<li>Technology - my kids have spent way too much time with their faces stuck in their Kindle Fires or laptops this week! We are pulling the plug on this. Be prepared for the scream heard 'round the world.</li>
<li>Escaping dog - our dog, Bernie has made it his mission in life to escape from the backyard fence by any means possible. So far these include pushing, climbing, digging, and teleporting. (My kids say no to the last one, but I'm not convinced.) It's become quite the battle of wills between the kids and the dog.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Things I/we're did this week:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>It's Girl Scout cookie time, which means it's cookie booth time. Which is where you'll find us pretty much every weekend from now until the middle of March.</li>
<li>Today ended up being a mom and Sarah afternoon when I had to take Sarah for a follow-up at the allergist. She talked me into lunch at Ci-Ci's pizza (yuck!). It was nice to chat with just her. Wow, is she growing up. She was sharing things with me about conversations with her friends that I didn't realize she was having. Nothing inappropriate, but I didn't realize we had gotten to that stage of life yet. Sigh. This needs to happen way more often...</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/feb21collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/feb21collage.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What am I/ we reading?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>As a family we're reading <i>Prince Caspian</i>. The two older kids keep commenting on what is different or the same about the book verses the movie. The youngest gets mad and points out how she hasn't seen the movie so they need to be quiet! Ah, fun times.</li>
<li>I'm still in my <i>Gideon</i> study by Priscilla Shirer. I'm also still working through <i>The Core</i> by Leigh Bortins. I've zipped through a few light reading titles recently, so feel free to check out my Goodreads page.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
Oh, and one last picture. A "selfie" we took at lunch today. After we took it, my priss said, "Mom, put this one on your blog." Love that sweet girl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/2014-02-21008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/2014-02-21008.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How was your week?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linking up this week at: <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/" target="_blank">Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a> and <a href="http://homegrownlearners.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown Learners</a>.</div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-66985753756148288072014-02-17T00:38:00.002-05:002014-02-25T01:11:24.307-05:00Casting stones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Judging. We all do it, don't we. Or maybe it's just me.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But I'm not as obvious about it. I don't go around pointing out people's flaws. For me it's more of a, "God, why is that person seeming to thrive when they act like such and such when we struggle so and we've done nothing wrong?" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Or, "Have you seen how their kids act, Lord? I may be a slob, but at least my children know how to behave in public."</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And since I'm not as obvious about it, it's not as bad . . . right . . .<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/beach-141768_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/beach-141768_640.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That was basically the conversation I was having with God today, mostly focused on topic number one when I heard Him say, "Are you casting your stones, Tina?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I rolled my eyes at God </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(I promise; I think we have the relationship of Him the ever patient, long-suffering father and me the obnoxious, smart aleck teenager. I'm just trusting that since He created me and He knows my inner most being that He also has a sense of humor about these things. But I digress)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Heavy sigh, I get it. No one is righteous, no not one. (Romans 3:10), All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let he who is WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE. (John 8:7 - <i>rough translation</i>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I mentally put down my stone. I'm not better. My sins are just different. My life and my calling and my path are just different. What gives me the right to question any of it?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then tonight at the drive-thru on the way home from Awana, there was clearly something weird going on between the clerk and the car in front of us. And the transaction was taking FOREVER! (or at least 5 minutes) And my 10 year old daughter started in with, "What is her problem? Can't she just get out of her car and go inside already? Doesn't she know that there are people behind her that are hungry? She obviously doesn't care. And those clerks, they ought to at least tell her to move. Good grief!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I smiled up at God, closed my eyes, leaned back and said, "Sarah, are you casting stones?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And God, as He so often does, took the stones out of my hands and placed them on the ground to continue the work of building His foundation in my children. I am merely a go-between. </div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-50850247523760569772014-02-15T22:13:00.000-05:002014-02-25T01:11:43.773-05:00Boost Your Blog in 100 Days ChallengeI admit that I feel rather new to this blogging thing. In a lot of ways I feel rather clueless. I want to expand my voice, but who has time to search and scour the internet trying to self teach when I have a million other things to do (and a Kindle full of books to read.) And frankly, it would be nice to have someone to guide and encourage me as I went. So I was excited to come across the Boost Your Blog in 100 Days Challenge. It's the idea of Thaleia at <a href="http://something2offer.com/" target="_blank">Something 2 Offer</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/boost-blog-400-host.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="boost blog 400 host" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10199" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/boost-blog-400-host.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<strong>Why Thaleia choose 100 Days? </strong>In her own words she says: "Well, to be honest I am a very, very busy mom of 4 children 11 years and under. I do not have extra time to spend laboring over by blog and Social Media. I want results and habits that can transform the limited time I have into something incredible. Spreading out 10 challenges over 10 days each just sounds better to me. Spending just 10-15 minutes a day versus an hour or two makes more sense to me. Easing into each new challenge should help create a habit a little easier. This will also give you a better understanding of why a particular challenge should be done daily or weekly and how it has helped you."<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Quick clarification- anyone with a blog CAN participate. I did seek out an initial 100 bloggers to help promote this series in exchange I am using their blogs to direct people to during the 10 days of <a href="http://wp.me/p2C3NH-2CX" target="_blank">Comments Challenge</a>. Hope I have not confused anyone. You may do one or all 10 challenges at your own pace or join in daily.</em><br />
<h2>
Meet the Hostesses:</h2>
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/honey-400-e1392232059637.jpg"><img alt="honey 400" class="size-medium wp-image-8591 alignleft" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/honey-400-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Honey Rowland</strong> blogs at <a href="http://honeyslife.com/" target="_blank">Honeys Life</a> about homeschooling, family life and green living. With a passion for self sufficiency and natural, special needs parenting you'll learn about everything from natural, local foods to essential oils and homeopathy to gardening and farm life. Honey has also turned the constant 'talks too much' report card comments into a home business. She runs social media while obtaining new sponsors and advertisers for herself and other bloggers. So whether you're curious about chickens or children, ask...'cause she's dabbled and babbled in just about everything<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Michelle-Simplify-Live-love.jpg"><img alt="Michelle Simplify Live love" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10189" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Michelle-Simplify-Live-love-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a><br />
<strong><br />
</strong> <strong>Michelle Marine</strong> blogs at <a href="http://www.simplifylivelove.com/" target="_blank">Simplify, Live, Love</a> where she shares down to earth tips for the thoughtful mama. Michelle. along with her husband, 4 kids and a bunch of animals, lives sustainably in barn on 5 acres in rural Eastern Iowa. Michelle is an avid gardener and from-scratch cook of real food; she cans produce, homeschools, and teaches community college classes in addition to blogging. Her husband is building their forever home to the German Passive House standards and they plan to live off grid yet still enjoy modern conveniences. Simplify, Live, Love chronicles their attempts to live sustainably and strives to remind people to live simply and frugally yet still enjoy life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Martiel.jpg"><img alt="Martiel" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10190" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Martiel.jpg" height="300" width="299" /></a><br />
<strong><br />
</strong> <strong>Martiel Beatty</strong> from Amazing Success Academy specializes in helping artists build online businesses and blogs. She is a fiber artist, expert blogger, author of Blog Notes, and GIMP Wizard. She is also the founder of Sewmantra and started the Academy because she couldn’t find an affordable, knowledgeable and effective program that supported handmade, indie-artists. Find out how she can help you build your business today. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.amazingsuccessacademy.com" target="_blank">Learn More Now</a>!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/lisa-family.jpg"><img alt="lisa family" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10197" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/lisa-family.jpg" height="295" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Lisa Nelson</strong> from <a href="http://squishablebaby.com/" target="_blank">The Squishable Baby</a> focuses on creating positive learning experiences through everyday life. I believe that learning about – and respecting diversity, different religions, other cultures, charity, and our environment – through play, through crafts, through lessons, through giving – will not only produce more empathetic children and adults – but will put a child on a path to a love of lifelong learning.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Thaleia-300-light.jpg"><img alt="Thaleia 300 light" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-10192" src="http://something2offer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Thaleia-300-light-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a><br />
<strong><br />
</strong> <strong>Thaleia Maher</strong> blogs at <a href="http://something2offer.com/" target="_blank">Something 2 Offer </a>where she is generous in giving advice and helping others find free resources that meet their needs; be it for homeschool or life! She is a BIG researcher who wants to encourage families on their homeschool journey. Wife to high school sweetheart. Mother of four (including 2 little reds!), Sister, Daughter, Christ-Follower, Talkative, Creative. Hoping to figure this whole life, blogger, social media thing out! So be sure to keep tabs on her journey of life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Days 1-10: <a href="http://wp.me/p2C3NH-2CX" target="_blank">Leave 100 Comments</a> with Thaleia begins Feb 15.<br />
<br />
<br />
Days 11-20: Grammar Mistakes Bloggers Make with Michelle<br />
<br />
<br />
Days 21-30: Using Twitter with Honey<br />
<br />
<br />
Days 31-40: Topics for 100 Blog Posts with Martiel<br />
<br />
<br />
Will reveal more soon! So stay tuned! Want an email reminder when a new Boost Your Blog challenge goes live ? <a href="http://eepurl.com/Od-Rz" target="_blank">Sign-up!</a><br />
<br />
<br />
We'll be working together over the next 100 days to improve our blogs and maximize our use of social media. And we'll be gleaning from various experienced bloggers who are making their blogs work! I'm excited! <br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Don't just sit there: tell your friends, tweet about it, share on Facebook, pin this post, add it to your <a href="https://www.google.com/calendar/event?action=TEMPLATE&tmeid=dGlyZ2w0Mm4yZ3VwcXBpY2ZtNzNvYzY4MDggdGhhbGVpYS5tYWhlckBt&tmsrc=thaleia.maher%40gmail.com" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.google.com/calendar/images/ext/gc_button1_en.gif" /></a> !</span></h3>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="372151">
<a href="http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=372151" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="http://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=007" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />
<br />Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-79989619755380761742014-02-15T00:04:00.000-05:002014-02-25T01:11:58.720-05:00Weekly wrap up - in which it snowed A LOTHappy Valentine's Day!! My hubby and I celebrated by enjoying a nice, sit down dinner at Waffle House. The original plan was Outback, but the 2.5 hour wait convinced us to try something a little out of the ordinary. And truthfully, I had a great time at Waffle House. I enjoy the down home, carb-filled breakfast food and the joking between the cooks and wait staff and customers is always enjoyable. My favorite part of the evening was a heated discussion over the pronunciation of the word "Worcestershire Sauce." I still say I'm right!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Well then. It has been quite the week here in South Carolina. If you were watching the news a few weeks ago, you'd know what just a couple of inches of snow did to the Atlanta area. So over 6 inches falling over a 3 day period caused a bit of excitement around here.<br />
<br />
The beginning of the week was business as usual, including a fun Valentine celebration with our Classical Conversations community on Tuesday. Since we have such a small community, only 14 children, we gathered everyone together in one room, and all the kids exchanged valentine cards, had snacks and drinks. And the best part was that not only were all the kids in the same room, but so were all the parents. Perfect social time! Especially since the impending snowstorm canceled our weekly lunch.<br />
<br />
From Tuesday afternoon until Friday we became snowbound. Our little road was covered in 6 inches of snow and then ice covered snow. So was our yard and our entire neighborhood. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/snowcollage1Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/snowcollage1Copy.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />
There's something about a snowstorm, especially in a place where you don't normally get one, that causes people to slow down, take a breath, and forces togetherness. We rarely get a chance to have Daddy home for any length of time, so when we do, we try to take full advantage of it. Or maybe I try to take full advantage of it. In this case, that meant cuddling up watching rented movies while the kids entertained each other and themselves, after a healthy amount of sledding and snow throwing all together of course. The kids also got to spend some time showing their slick sledding moves to their Papa for a few hours. I wish I could share some pictures of the cool sledding, but we were having so much fun that no one thought to bring a camera. <br />
<br />
Today since Daddy went back to work, we squeezed in a bit of school before the kids headed back out into the yard to play or work. John and I tried to break up some of the ice that persisted on the steps and sidewalk leading the front of the house. It's amazing that the pictures above and the pictures below were taken only one day apart. Ah, gotta love a South Carolina winter! Next week we're expecting highs in the 70's!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/snowcollage2Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/snowcollage2Copy.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As for me, I'm learning, again, that I learn as much from my children as they learn from me, if not more. No matter how hard I try, how big I talk, how much I want to, there is always a part of me that feels a need to compare myself to those around me. In this case I found myself thinking about how we took snow days when many of our homeschooling friends did not. And that I had to make snow cream because "everyone" in the south has <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2159065_make-snow-cream.html" target="_blank">snow cream</a> when it snows. Even, to a point, that they should really make a snowman. Why? Because there was snow. And everyone else makes a snowman. Ugh! Good grief!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So how did this crazy, amazing group of kids remind me to stop comparing myself to everyone else? First, I asked them if they wanted to build a snowman. (yes, I did sing it, in case anyone was wondering.) Unanimously they answered, "Nope." Really? Nope. Not interested. Oh, okay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I mentioned the snow cream thing. They asked me what it was. I told them that it was kind of like ice cream but it used snow. Slightly intrigued, they wanted more details. So I proceeded to tell them what the ingredients were and what the process required. At which point they all made faces and each said, in their own way, "There's already ice cream in the freezer. And we don't have to make that."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I pray that they always stay that way. This isn't the first time this type of thing has happened. It actually happens more often than it doesn't. Generally none of my kids care what other people think about what they do. They have their own style, and they know what they like and what's important to them. I pray it stays that way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And as for taking snow days this week, we got to hang out with Daddy! That's worth a few extra days into the summer. Daddy won't be here then anyway...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, how was life in your neck of the woods this week?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linking up this week at: <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/" target="_blank">Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a> and <a href="http://homegrownlearners.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown Learners</a>.</div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-76032656027198840672014-02-12T19:50:00.001-05:002014-02-25T01:13:00.900-05:00#wordlesswednesday - what a snow day looks like<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbbiyDWA1EaRq10sDbhJwr8vF9jUlcYCm5gdMqqmMbQrPVYrHpy8xJK7N9i-c8qGhK06DT2KiV6rtt-kHv5rcCar_3iMmymqiOVr32-Jtc7T4a3R1N6kLAVn-e6QJggQw-AonGWjrtd9C/s640/blogger-image-1165580157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbbiyDWA1EaRq10sDbhJwr8vF9jUlcYCm5gdMqqmMbQrPVYrHpy8xJK7N9i-c8qGhK06DT2KiV6rtt-kHv5rcCar_3iMmymqiOVr32-Jtc7T4a3R1N6kLAVn-e6QJggQw-AonGWjrtd9C/s640/blogger-image-1165580157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaz7J8fZJA7ltGhghvFAdCpRjYCYSJJGQ0kfdDkPJmlim7czAOIJ16KAfca6dDTvD8QKsZRw65UWpnNyu2mbN3u0z-CTKrQYcI6k1njZNh44Y3N6suiGrwuMWsYBQT7Rc153Zfe9nfXnB/s640/blogger-image--1026386410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaz7J8fZJA7ltGhghvFAdCpRjYCYSJJGQ0kfdDkPJmlim7czAOIJ16KAfca6dDTvD8QKsZRw65UWpnNyu2mbN3u0z-CTKrQYcI6k1njZNh44Y3N6suiGrwuMWsYBQT7Rc153Zfe9nfXnB/s640/blogger-image--1026386410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L_EoITWQZAp4jOIImeCBmoN2f26v4pHluHGXlGJnljrelAPBIoTM8u3lWHCOqolkqA07tItH4nHnvqtGpiH_vcSUA1jUA9mkqqvJw6Z2YXJ1raPqb8PPuw53ihmfcXsdgFECSJJO6gCq/s640/blogger-image--842170444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L_EoITWQZAp4jOIImeCBmoN2f26v4pHluHGXlGJnljrelAPBIoTM8u3lWHCOqolkqA07tItH4nHnvqtGpiH_vcSUA1jUA9mkqqvJw6Z2YXJ1raPqb8PPuw53ihmfcXsdgFECSJJO6gCq/s400/blogger-image--842170444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaz7J8fZJA7ltGhghvFAdCpRjYCYSJJGQ0kfdDkPJmlim7czAOIJ16KAfca6dDTvD8QKsZRw65UWpnNyu2mbN3u0z-CTKrQYcI6k1njZNh44Y3N6suiGrwuMWsYBQT7Rc153Zfe9nfXnB/s640/blogger-image--1026386410.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbbiyDWA1EaRq10sDbhJwr8vF9jUlcYCm5gdMqqmMbQrPVYrHpy8xJK7N9i-c8qGhK06DT2KiV6rtt-kHv5rcCar_3iMmymqiOVr32-Jtc7T4a3R1N6kLAVn-e6QJggQw-AonGWjrtd9C/s400/blogger-image-1165580157.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbbiyDWA1EaRq10sDbhJwr8vF9jUlcYCm5gdMqqmMbQrPVYrHpy8xJK7N9i-c8qGhK06DT2KiV6rtt-kHv5rcCar_3iMmymqiOVr32-Jtc7T4a3R1N6kLAVn-e6QJggQw-AonGWjrtd9C/s640/blogger-image-1165580157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAhpgC7LEblJGbXXBd8lYIJ2cRQkzbpu09Tpcx297NzjmY2tek2Gx2flaEWeVx-gXtkbTMf1qXD4Ohm5wq7qg3p25deYRhOmcOy8Jkp2QcWMlNXO8SZg2_QpzI60Wzb1FI8ecHI-d4c5g/s640/blogger-image-2108889926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAhpgC7LEblJGbXXBd8lYIJ2cRQkzbpu09Tpcx297NzjmY2tek2Gx2flaEWeVx-gXtkbTMf1qXD4Ohm5wq7qg3p25deYRhOmcOy8Jkp2QcWMlNXO8SZg2_QpzI60Wzb1FI8ecHI-d4c5g/s400/blogger-image-2108889926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbbiyDWA1EaRq10sDbhJwr8vF9jUlcYCm5gdMqqmMbQrPVYrHpy8xJK7N9i-c8qGhK06DT2KiV6rtt-kHv5rcCar_3iMmymqiOVr32-Jtc7T4a3R1N6kLAVn-e6QJggQw-AonGWjrtd9C/s640/blogger-image-1165580157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEkpbmgSOoESUrseq7n5kcwwKS8of6wAvuoOxRb2OlLiGnF21p74XS1TDYu-AyBL6bnFgl2g7gSIRtT_en5lTUjL-Mr_NM_E3cpV2jqycbEALXEfgvWR350VX04bGbUSCI0ZV-0TD1hkh/s640/blogger-image-1141313642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEkpbmgSOoESUrseq7n5kcwwKS8of6wAvuoOxRb2OlLiGnF21p74XS1TDYu-AyBL6bnFgl2g7gSIRtT_en5lTUjL-Mr_NM_E3cpV2jqycbEALXEfgvWR350VX04bGbUSCI0ZV-0TD1hkh/s400/blogger-image-1141313642.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>in sotto voice: (Bananas in chocolate sauce in an attempt to make frozen chocolate covered bananas)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPtFWhaUyk-JlZIQsWMd4Uzl0hUB-BTA_wx9wnf5JL-aP2m3ZL43dtNMcO-tY3pWOdAO6QlVrY8qHThXaTuEzale7oeUHarNxT1EoNzs-ekSQCT5G_TbTCjtOz0kvSm65qDb4n6aw8tTw/s640/blogger-image-1452155925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPtFWhaUyk-JlZIQsWMd4Uzl0hUB-BTA_wx9wnf5JL-aP2m3ZL43dtNMcO-tY3pWOdAO6QlVrY8qHThXaTuEzale7oeUHarNxT1EoNzs-ekSQCT5G_TbTCjtOz0kvSm65qDb4n6aw8tTw/s400/blogger-image-1452155925.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-48339814184558313082014-02-11T00:17:00.000-05:002014-02-25T01:13:15.949-05:00Gratituesday - my husbandI saw this idea on another blog (shout-out to <a href="http://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/" target="_blank">Heavenly Homemakers</a>!) and I thought it was perfect for what had been running through my mind. I had just been thinking about how grateful I am for my husband. I know that sounds cliched, but it's way more than what you can imagine. I'm grateful for the regular things: the fact that he puts up with me and tickles Bethany every night and encourages Sarah and makes John feel needed and important and that he has the most infectious laugh.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/Facebook-20140211-121119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/Facebook-20140211-121119.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
But there's another part of our story that I was thinking about.<br />
<br />
Chris was laid off 6 years ago when the housing market crashed. He worked for a company that did external home improvement, and not a whole lot of people were in the market for that, so....<br />
<br />
For 2+ years he stayed home, working odd jobs and tirelessly searching for a job in any way he could. With no success. Then our church offered him a position with their buildings and grounds (read janitor). The idea was that he would be there for a short time until he could find something in his field. That was more than 3 years ago. <br />
<br />
This guy who used to manage warehouses with more than 50 employees and $3 million budget is scrubbing toilets. For a pittance. It's hard physical work. And he has fibromyalgia. He hurts constantly, but yet he gets up every day and goes to work. <br />
<br />
And more than that, he's trying every way he can think of to earn money. He's working as a sales person for a local home delivery service going door to door trying to get customers. He helps a friend with his business on the weekend for referral fees. He collects discarded scrap metal and turns it in for scrap metal. And he still searches every day for a job in his field, sending out resumes and making phone calls. <br />
<br />
And it's hard.<br />
<br />
Neither one of us can understand why God has chosen to have us walk this path right now. It's a hard path to walk down and some days are harder than others for both of us. But I am so proud of him. And so thankful for all he does to ensure our family is provided for.<br />
<br />
I want to know what you're thankful for today....<br />
<br />
<br />Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-70717162268123877222014-02-08T02:01:00.000-05:002014-02-25T01:13:34.380-05:00Weekly wrap up - the I'm really tired editionSo in our world this week these things happened:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The girls painted in the tradition of Monet during CC.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1773.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sarah decided that the easiest way to get her clothes from the dryer to her room was to wear them all.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1779.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1798.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John posted this to his Facebook page. So proud of his unabashed love for Jesus.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzqTFNfeDnE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I'm continuing in my Bible study of Gideon. We really started focusing on the importance of recognizing and releasing your grip on your weaknesses so that God's strengths can be revealed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The timing is perfect, as always.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/IMG_1777.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I've been physically, emotionally and spiritually tired this week. A lot has happened around us to cause some disappointments and questions to resurface. Especially in regard to my husband's job situation and our financial situation. It seems that the more we follow God's will for our household in terms of school and having me home full time, the less God blesses our finances and Chris' career path. On the way home from dealing with one of the 3 not yet paying out jobs that he is working on the side, I heard "Weary" by Newworldson. The words just echoed my heart.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Weary, I've been weary for the longest time</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Weary, living with a worried mind</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Can you hear me?</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">I could really use a friend</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Weary, and I'm knocking on your door again</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Oh, my burden I can't tow</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Can I lay it down?</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Will you help me let it go and put it in the ground?</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Weary </span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">You melt my frozen heart</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">You fuel my flame</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">I need a brand new start</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">I'm calling out your name</span><br style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;" /><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;">Weary</span></span></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.807999610900879px;"> </span></span></i></span>
<a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/newworldson/weary-lyrics/" target="_blank">http://www.songlyrics.com/newworldson/weary-lyrics/</a></blockquote>
<br />
On high notes, this weekend we are looking forward to meeting our new youth pastor for our church. And the girls and I are going to an opera after church on Sunday morning. I'm excited, them not as much. I'll let you know how it goes. How did things go in your world this week?
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linking up at:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-up/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="new"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/kbmomto3/weeklywrapup125.png" size="125" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.managingyourblessings.com/category/homeschool-mothers-journal/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/homeschoolmotherjournalbloghop.png" height="134" width="200" /></a><a href="http://holysplendor.com/" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="For the Display of His Splendor"><img alt="For the Display of His Splendor" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/dalynnrmc/ChristianFellowship_hopbutton_zps4becc7b5.jpg" height="200" style="border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-73701129688359628312014-02-05T16:13:00.001-05:002014-02-05T16:13:05.419-05:00#wordlesswednesday - Favorite night of the week<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw8LKk0g-K9W02SaMCU94TB6OkxHIn7CrY9eEuyoUqx2UMslCyWtldPJ1Cg6jaMiG-leJsz5nDIyACCYbW_gWnaUKJDplcPgQVHHq-8mZ9luRdiYtB5fsiJbT88fm1yiFhxpmvt_liiNv/s640/blogger-image-1269935411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw8LKk0g-K9W02SaMCU94TB6OkxHIn7CrY9eEuyoUqx2UMslCyWtldPJ1Cg6jaMiG-leJsz5nDIyACCYbW_gWnaUKJDplcPgQVHHq-8mZ9luRdiYtB5fsiJbT88fm1yiFhxpmvt_liiNv/s640/blogger-image-1269935411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIKP7ru0fuQXTUowekmpiFZlfHzafsm4vPt7zdFhjv0C609yYttd8rAgf9Q3Gej1LfD7V94NGlFaOqHn4i-RrJyuFNH5ptGPkis4tnM8HcRbqr9bXSEqAKoGDrsygAOnNlmwG3uMucus0/s640/blogger-image--1441142425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIKP7ru0fuQXTUowekmpiFZlfHzafsm4vPt7zdFhjv0C609yYttd8rAgf9Q3Gej1LfD7V94NGlFaOqHn4i-RrJyuFNH5ptGPkis4tnM8HcRbqr9bXSEqAKoGDrsygAOnNlmwG3uMucus0/s640/blogger-image--1441142425.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw8LKk0g-K9W02SaMCU94TB6OkxHIn7CrY9eEuyoUqx2UMslCyWtldPJ1Cg6jaMiG-leJsz5nDIyACCYbW_gWnaUKJDplcPgQVHHq-8mZ9luRdiYtB5fsiJbT88fm1yiFhxpmvt_liiNv/s640/blogger-image-1269935411.jpg"></div>Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-55687652319190232802014-02-01T16:03:00.001-05:002014-02-25T01:14:14.672-05:00Weekly wrap-up - The one in which God showed His grace...againIf you read my<a href="http://fussell5.blogspot.com/2014/01/weekly-wrap-up-one-in-which-i-was.html" target="_blank"> wrap up last week</a>, you know that I had come to a realization that I have been failing my family and disobeying God by not forcing myself to be more structured in my homeschool and home life in general. So, as I sit here on Saturday, I can't help but giggle at the many curve balls that God tossed at me this week that allowed me to test my resolve to stay in a routine but allowed me to still have the flexibility (and later sleep!) that I desired!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
I was extremely nervous going into Monday. I had made a declaration in front of so many people and in front of God that I was going to do better. I was going to get up early and stay with a schedule and complete everything that we needed to complete to have a successful school day. I actually had butterflies in my stomach on Sunday night!<br />
<br />
Of course I needn't have worried. Monday went off beautifully! We had a wonderful day. The two older kiddos and I started working on a modified version of CC Essentials program. Bethany and I read through Theodore Geisel's <i>Ten Apples Up on Top</i>, and we continued our reading through the middle ages in <i>Story of the World</i>. We also began reading the story of Gideon from Judges 6 in the Bible and came to the beginning of the end of <i>The Magician's Nephew</i>. The day wrapped up with scouts for everyone. Overall it was a wonderful, if not exhausting, day.<br />
<br />
Then came Tuesday. And with Tuesday came the threat of the polar vortex. Schools in our area planned to send home kids at noon. Offices prepared to close at lunch. None of that would have mattered except that I had a scheduled appointment to have an epidural shot in my neck at 1pm. Originally I had intended to have all of our together school done before hand since this was my first such shot and I didn't know what to expect. But with the unknown of the storm, I was afraid that my appointment would be canceled. So I called to see if they could work me in earlier. Thankfully they could and did. So, at 8:30am, I left my house to get an epidural shot in my neck. When I got home at 10, the kids were up, but all I felt like doing was crawling back into the bed. So that's exactly what I did. I gave them instructions to get done what they could do without me, and went to bed for the rest of the day. And thanks to the list on the board, they did most of what we would have done. The older two even helped the youngest with her math!<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, we had a snow day. I don't do cold or snow, but Daddy does, and normally I wouldn't let them get away with a total snow day, but Daddy was home all day. And when Daddy is home all day, no school work gets done. It just doesn't. :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/feb1collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/feb1collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thursday and Friday were nice and calm and structured. We enjoyed reading the story of Gideon together. In History we moved into the age of exploration and learned why we memorize that Magellan's crew but not Magellan sailed around the globe. And with a bit of sadness, we finished reading <i>The Magician's Nephew</i>. It was such fun, though, to see the way the kids, even Bethany, the youngest, were able to clearly connect the dots between this story and <i>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</i> which we had read before, as well as to the Biblical story of creation and Adam and Eve and the fall.<br />
<br />
All in all, I would say that this week was a success. I'm grateful for the structure. But I'm also so grateful that God allowed me to see that I can do structure yet still have some flexibility to breathe. Which is what I need to feel safe, I think.<br />
<br />
How was your week?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-up/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="new"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/kbmomto3/weeklywrapup125.png" height="200" size="125" width="200" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://holysplendor.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="For the Display of His Splendor"><img alt="For the Display of His Splendor" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/dalynnrmc/ChristianFellowship_hopbutton_zps4becc7b5.jpg" height="200" style="border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/category/homeschool-mothers-journal/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/taf2911/blog/homeschoolmotherjournalbloghop.png" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-17712299839766762192014-01-28T23:50:00.002-05:002014-02-25T01:14:39.018-05:00Lunch - It's the best part of the dayI've decided that my favorite part of our weekdays is lunch. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the food, even if we do manage to make a trip to Chick-fil-a.<br />
<br />
On our Classical Conversations days, we get to spend our lunch visiting with some of the most down to earth, precious people we know. The kids play and chat. And I get to laugh and chat. I've said before, Tuesday is my favorite day of our homeschool week.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The rest of the week, we use our lunch time as our read together time. There is something precious about having all three children with a 5 year age span sitting together listening and discussing and debating about what we're reading in history and literature. <br />
<br />
Our history tracks along, to an extent, with where we are in Classical Conversations. We're behind right now because this year's cycle has moved pretty quickly, and what kid wants to zoom through things like the Crusades and the Black Plague?<br />
<br />
As for literature, we've read biographies like <i>Gladys Aylward</i>, fun stories like <i>Ralph S. Mouse</i>, and classics like <i>The Magician's Nephew</i>.<br />
<br />
There's no better way to pause during the day than to pile up together and read good books.<br />
<br />
What's your favorite part of your day together?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/"><img alt="works for me wednesday at we are that family" src="http://wearethatfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/wfmw-300x198.png" height="198" width="300" /></a></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-24787573955427990652014-01-24T15:18:00.002-05:002014-02-25T01:15:04.241-05:00Weekly wrap-up .... the one in which I was reminded that I have a heritage to live up toThis week started as all the rest. Sunday we made it to church and Awana. Monday we managed the basics of school, but it was a holiday and all so that was "okay." Tuesday was CC and J's writing class at the middle school, which are always fantastic. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quick funny story - we all know that homeschoolers don't know how to stand in a line (tongue in cheek joke there). Didn't think about the whole fire drill experience until J found himself caught in the middle of one at the middle school on Tuesday. Fun times. Hehehe</div>
<div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
Then Wednesday I found myself texting a friend who I knew was in a dark place emotionally and saying, "If it helps to know you're not alone, it's noon and I'm still hiding in my bed. Depressed much?" I've traveled the road of depression and anxiety for quite some time now, and I know my signs and usually I know my triggers. Hiding from my family in any form is a big red flag.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
Thankfully my friend and I were both in places emotionally and physically where we could chat for a few minutes and during that time I realized something. These past 6 months are the first time since I can remember where I haven't had to adhere to someone else's schedule. I've always either been a student or an employee or the parent of a small child who selfishly and regularly demanded my attention. Now I find myself in a place where no one sets my schedule but me. My children are old enough to fend for themselves, so to speak. They don't require my constant supervision. And I'm realizing this is a very difficult place for me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt what God is calling me to do. He is calling me to home educate my children to the best of my ability and to create a loving and safe home environment for my family. The thing is . . . I am finding that an incredibly difficult thing to do. Not because I don't want to. But because I know what needs to happen, and I find it difficult to make myself do it. And then add in a chronic pain issue and the excuses just write themselves. <br />
<br />
Later that day as I sat down to hastily work through 4 of the 5 lessons due for Bible study that night, I came across a passage that spoke so strongly to me. In it Priscilla Shirer says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>One reason I believe the Lord led me to Gideon's story and has now brought us into this study together is to remind us of the significance of His unique calling. As mothers to our children, as employees in the workplace, as part of His body in our local church, or as influencers in our communities, God has deliberately positioned each of us to be His representative, beckoning our ailing culture to Him -- one person at a time. Yes, our calling will look different from Moses' and Gideon's. We will probably not be leading pilgrims out of bondage or troops into battle. But no matter what God's plan looks like in our lives, His hand is on us to wage war against the enemy within our spheres of influence. (Gideon: Your weakness. God's strength)</i></blockquote>
A couple things sucker punched me - His unique calling, one person at a time, wage war against the enemy...<br />
I know what He is calling me to do. And I know what three people He is calling me to influence. But this is a battle against the enemy, and the enemy is kicking my butt.<br />
<br />
And somehow I spilled this out to my precious Bible study group that night. And no one laughed (out loud), and some commented and helped me to process what I was trying to say. That I crave structure and need structure but don't know how to create it for myself. Then during the teaching video, Priscilla said something to the effect of "Christianity is not meant to be an inward facing 'religion'. It's to always be outward facing. As long as we are looking inward, we will never be victorious. We must always be looking out and up at what Jesus can do through us."<br />
<br />
And Thursday, I woke up. No alarm, no situation. I just woke up. And I even tried to go back to sleep for a little while, and I couldn't. God graciously gave me the energy to get up and get moving. To grasp some structure and some sense of accomplishment. And I was so grateful. I know that it was only through God in my that these things were able to happen. My children were so happy. My girls even decorated the gingerbread houses that have been hanging out for two months waiting patiently to be designed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaTJncyXaSv_SZWfjoZX-C6UFIIJPbsLKLehCEa-klNVro4AjbtnFJ2hGVL_ZaATYS90Z5iFsEWCZXtTPUK8vEUEi7SUZ9dvriDBCVlMg34O9vPxV7mpD6Vj3WPYavTnJvzcUtdiLlCuq/s1600/1617524_10151846429860872_1535628090_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaTJncyXaSv_SZWfjoZX-C6UFIIJPbsLKLehCEa-klNVro4AjbtnFJ2hGVL_ZaATYS90Z5iFsEWCZXtTPUK8vEUEi7SUZ9dvriDBCVlMg34O9vPxV7mpD6Vj3WPYavTnJvzcUtdiLlCuq/s1600/1617524_10151846429860872_1535628090_o.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And now it's Friday. That day of wrapping things up. Of review and calmness. Today we decided to visit our favorite home away from home - Chick-fil-a - for a special Friday treat after we got the essentials done. And the most precious things happened. A gentlemen sitting at the table next to us stopped on his way out and said, "I wasn't listening to you, but I heard you and your family and some of your conversation and bantering. My children are all grown and mostly gone. I have two granddaughters who live in Virginia. It was so nice to 'hear' a family out together like you." Ahhh, what a God thing. That my little family, just being together chattering and joking and just being could bless someone else through a simple "homeschool lunch". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Later today, B, the youngest, is testing for her low red belt in Tae Kwon Do. This will make her even with her older siblings, and they (the olders) are so excited about it. They have been drilling her like mad to make sure she's ready. This belt is a big deal because the next color up is black. Granted, they have several steps of red before they get there, but still. It's hard to believe that they are all this close to being black belts. My peace-loving son and girly princess daugthers.</div>
<br />
I realize that a lot of this is much heavier that what I usually write here. Typically I save this for my other blog <a href="http://www.holdingmyrighthand.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">He's holding my right hand</a> , but I felt so strongly that I needed to share this here, with you. I don't know why. Maybe someone else needs to know that the struggle they're facing within themselves isn't because they aren't good enough. That's a lie. Those of us who are believers in the one true God have have the power of a mighty God inside of us. We are members of a royal priesthood, a chosen people, God's special possession (1 Peter 2:9). We are daughters of a mighty warrior king. And if there's anything I've learned from my own Tae Kwon Do princess daughters, it's that a real princess can take out her enemy without a hair going out of place.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-up/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="new"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/kbmomto3/weeklywrapup125.png" height="200" size="125" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://holysplendor.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="For the Display of His Splendor"><img alt="For the Display of His Splendor" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/dalynnrmc/ChristianFellowship_hopbutton_zps4becc7b5.jpg" height="200" style="border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-69879382958173640642014-01-21T22:35:00.001-05:002014-02-25T01:22:33.502-05:00It's the nerd life for me"I'm such a nerd," my friend said laughingly to me. "Here it is a Friday night, and I'm working on school stuff."<br />
<br />
The funny part is that, to me, that seems perfectly normal. I don't think there's any time when I'm not thinking about school stuff. It's part of my every thought process. Kinda like breathing.<br />
<br />
I think that's part of why I've come to LOVE going to homeschool conventions. I can totally get my nerd on and no one thinks I'm weird. Probably because I'm surrounded by other nerd parents!<br />
<br />
So what's the big deal about these conventions? What do I get out of them?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
1. <b>The speakers and the sessions</b>. I've had the privilege of sitting at the proverbial feet of experts in the fields of writing, reading, teaching from a classical perspective, reading using the Socratic method, organizing your homeschool, saving money, teaching special needs, dealing with one's own ADD, and more that I can't begin to remember. The Lord has taught me so many lessons through each of these speakers. And the greatest gift we can give our children is to show them that we love learning. They learn by seeing. If they see that it's important to us, it will, hopefully, become important to them as well.<br />
<br />
2. <b>The ginormous vendor hall</b>. I hate having to choose a book without having first put my hands on it. I want to flip through it and read a few pages. And if I can even talk to some people who are familiar with it, or even better have written it...well that's an extra score! Sometimes I find some great discounts on curriculum in the hall. Other times, I go back to my hotel room with my notebook full of information and costs and compare notes to determine what I'm going to buy and when and where. But there is nothing that compares to being able to actually put your hands on the products and talk to those who are knowledgeable about them face to face.<br />
<br />
3. <b>The other attendees.</b> I'm not naturally an outgoing person. But that doesn't mean that I don't find myself in a conversation or two with another mom or two about our situations. It's always good to know that we're in this craziness together. Sometimes I can offer support to someone else. Sometimes they can offer support to me. Either way, it's nice to know we're not alone.<br />
<br />
4. <b>The time to myself</b>. I have the type of personality that craves alone time. I work hard each week to carve out an hour or so to myself with no one around, simply to maintain my sanity. It's not that I don't love and adore my family. I think they are amazing. But I physically need to have that time to myself to recharge. So it has become a special gift from my family to go to these conventions and make choices solely about myself for a change. As a mom, it's the only time that ever happens. And it is truly a gift. I get to choose what time to eat and where. When to go to bed, when to get up, which sessions to attend, what to watch on tv in the hotel room. It is so refreshing and renewing. When I come home, I'm not only recharged to continue our school, but I'm recharged to continue our lives. That being said, I know many couples who go to these conventions together and use it as a time to get away together. And I think that is extremely valuable as well.<br />
<br />
If you've never had a chance to attend a homeschool convention, I strongly recommend you go. Be prepared to be overwhelmed the first time. It's a lot to try to take in at once. I've included a link to my favorite below. Just a disclaimer, this is an affiliate link. This is not the only homeschool event out there. This just happens to be my favorite. And if you go to the one in Greenville, SC, let me know! We'll have to try to hook up! We can revel in our nerdiness together!<br />
<br />
<i>*This is an affiliate link - See <a href="http://fussell5.blogspot.com/p/this-policy-is-valid-from-25-february.html" target="_blank">disclosure </a>*</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<a href="https://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com/?ap_id=taf2911" target="_blank"><img alt="GHC | 300 x 140" border="0" src="https://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/GHC_300X140.jpg" /></a>Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-21682188555122825412014-01-18T22:59:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:45:36.887-05:00What is your identity?I've been rather quiet lately. In part because of the holidays and because of some health yuckiness. But also because I've been struggling some to determine what I wanted the identity of this blog to be. See, I read many other bloggers. And everyone seems to really be focused in on, or good at, something. It could be schooling or homemaking or parenting. But it's usually a clear focus. And that's my problem.<br />
<br />
Because I'm what you could call a jack of all trades but master of none. I know enough about a whole lot of things but not a lot about enough things to be considered extremely knowledgeable or to feel I should be giving advice. Yet I still felt drawn to continue this blog. To continue with my ramblings and rantings and whatnot. The question remained how.<br />
<br />
Then two things happened last week that encouraged me greatly. The first came in the form of another blogger. Kasey over at <a href="http://www.walkingredeemed.org/" target="_blank">Walking Redeemed</a> wrote a post about how to write so that people will read what you're writing. One of the things that really stuck was the phrase "write what you live and live what you write". Hmmm. <br />
<br />
While that thought was tumbling and bouncing around in my brain, I had the blessing of attending a women helping women training event at our church co-hosted by our women's ministry and FCA and led by Ellen Dykas from <a href="http://www.harvestusa.org/" target="_blank">Harvest USA</a>. The event was wonderful, and I learned a ton, but the relevant point here came when Ellen said that we tend to look at our identity from the direction of the adjective and then the noun. In my case, I would say that I am a homeschooling, homemaking, anxious, student ministry advocating Christian. But what we should do is reverse that and look at things from the noun first and then the adjective. So it would look like this:<br />
<br />
I am a child of God who struggles with anxiety and depression and routine, teaches my children from home, believes strongly in the power and importance of student ministry, and sometimes reads a book that I can't wait to share.<br />
<br />
So with that perspective, and the perspective of writing what I live, it only makes sense that this blog become just that. Not a homeschool blog or a parenting blog or a student min blog, but a blog written by a child of God who loves and does all those things. That is something I think I can get behind! Because that is where I live. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!</span></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-30823667480005081812014-01-17T16:26:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:45:51.012-05:00Fitting into the moldI've been thinking lately about what type of homeschool family we are. What philosophy we mostly follow. Because it does matter, you know. Apparently you must choose a philosophy and stay there forever and ever and never lean or sway. At least, that's the feeling I've been getting off of some folks lately. And I know that people really just want you to validate their own decisions. They just want you to tell them that what they are doing is right. But what you are doing may not be right for me. <br />
<br />
I've written before about <a href="http://fussell5.blogspot.com/2013/11/who-are-you-really.html" target="_blank">who we are</a>. So I think I have finally figured out what we are.<br />
<br />
We are a classical, Charlotte Mason, unschooling family.<br />
<br />
How do you like that? I'm pretty sure I managed to swing from both ends of the pendulum with that one. But I decided that I have to stop beating myself up for not neatly fitting into some preset mold that just doesn't work for us. There are three very different children in my house. We started out with a classical model with my oldest (though we didn't know that's what it was at the time), and he really struggled with it. In the past two years, we've participated in a Classical Conversations community, and my middle daughter is thriving. The youngest goes through the motions, but enjoys the fine arts parts the best.<br />
<br />
I was berating myself the other day about not being stricter with my oldest, not forcing a more classical model on him, when he walked into my room and announced, "Mom, I have a complaint about one of the CC history sentences." He went on to tell me that he thought it was not sufficient for the battle of Midway to get a mere mention in a sentence because it played such an important role in the success of the US during World War II. And he continued by giving me all the specifics I didn't want to know. :-) Hmmm, crazy thing but he's learning on his own because he's following up on his own interests. A little unschooling if you please.<br />
<br />
Then there's the youngest who is still struggling to learn to read on her own, but has an phenomenal comprehension and vocabulary because she loves nothing more than to sit and be read to. It doesn't matter what the book is. Charlotte Mason, anyone?<br />
<br />
Isn't it a wonderful thing, though, that we don't have to fit into one mold. I mean, sure it would be much easier if you could cookie cutter everything and make everything fit everyone, but I am so glad that my children are all so different. Because it's their differences that make them who they are. J with his wisdom and knowledge of self, S with her mercy and grace, B with her joy and flexibility. They each play such an important role in our family and in my life.<br />
<br />
And for whatever it's worth, this is my weekly wrap-up. Because it pretty much wraps up where my brain has been all week. LOL<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-up/" target="new"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/kbmomto3/weeklywrapup125.png" size="125" /></a>Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-3568180056875806282013-12-27T01:36:00.002-05:002014-01-31T00:46:08.733-05:00Confessions of a homeschool dadSitting at supper after church on Christmas Eve, my husband announces, "I have an idea for a blog. I'm going to call it 'Confessions of a homeschool dad' and my first post is going to be about how embarrassing it can be to take your family out in public because they think that they are supposed to be learning or teaching something every where they go."<br />
<br />
<br />
The comment came as a result of something that had happened during the church service. Our pastor was explaining the importance of the Council of Nicaea just before the congregation participated in a communal recitation of the Nicene Creed. As soon as the pastor mentioned Nicaea, the kids and I looked at each other and whispered "Council of Nicaea, Augustine of Hippo", two points on our history timeline from Classical Conversations. During the actual recitation a minute later, I found myself wondering what the difference was between the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed. As we finished reciting, I looked toward my husband, but before I could open my mouth, he put up his finger and said, "shhh." <br />
<br />
To be honest, this is not the first time I've found myself whispering with the kids during a church service or movie. I guess it's because we're always together, so I think of every thing as a learning opportunity. Also, I know that kids learn best when they can make connections between concepts and real life. And it's become so commonplace, that I don't even think about it anymore. So I was taken aback when my husband said it was a little embarrassing. I would never want to be an embarrassment to someone or a stumbling block or distraction to someone else.<br />
<br />
So all this has me wondering, when is it appropriate to have those conversations and when isn't it? It's important to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. So how do you do that without being disruptive or embarrassing? I'd love to know what other homeschooling moms do. Or is this a problem only I have?<br />
<br />
Because really, it was very important for me to know the difference between those two creeds at that exact moment. :-)<br />
<br />Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-12449663817019303302013-12-19T23:54:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:46:27.262-05:00Ugh - It's "that" season againI've been a bit quiet lately because, well, we've been crazy busy. But also because the month of December frustrates me.<br />
Yep, I said it. The Christmas season, the best time of the year, the culmination of the year grates on my last nerve.<br />
<br />
<br />
To be fair, it's not the season or the month or the time that annoys me. It's the people. One glance at my facebook feed, and I become overwhelmed with Santa debates and elf on a shelf discussions and don't forget the constant reminder to "keep Christ in Christmas."<br />
<br />
The whole thing makes me what to hide under a blanket until January.<br />
<br />
Don't misunderstand. I'm not judging. A few short years ago, I was right there in the middle of the fray. I agonized over whether allowing my kids to believe in Santa would cause trust issues or take away from the "true" meaning of the holiday. I over-compensated by throwing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" parties on Christmas Eve complete with cake and singing. We even blew out candles! Whenever anyone asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas, I was quick to prompt them to share that the real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. On Christmas morning, we read the Christmas story, then I peppered my kids with questions to make sure they "got it" before they could open presents. And the big ticket item gifts were from mom and dad, not Santa because, why would we allow some mythical person to take credit for what we had done?<br />
<br />
But over the past few years, something has become very clear to me. How you choose to celebrate Christmas ..... DOESN'T........MATTER.<br />
Frankly, neither does how you recognize Easter or Halloween for that matter. Because the very things we are trying to encompass, to embrace, to teach during the Christmas season are lessons that come over time, not over a month.<br />
<br />
I've worked with kids since I was a kid myself, and there is something I can promise you: if you are not disciplining your child all year long, teaching him right from wrong, demanding respect and honor, showing love and mercy EVERY SINGLE DAY, why on earth do you think that he should / could / would suddenly learn these lessons in the 24 days before Christmas? And should the motivation really be to get presents? I'm fairly certain that doesn't quite translate in real life. Actually, I know from experience that it doesn't. Furthermore, do you really want your kids to learn these things in response to an inflated "magical", mythical version of a dead person and a creepy looking elf (sorry, that elf on the shelf thing creeps me out (-: )<br />
What happens when the elf is gone? Or the belief goes away? What's the motivation then?<br />
<br />
And about the keeping Christ in Christmas thing. Look, I'm not saying that we shouldn't take advantage of this amazing opportunity to share our faith publicly. When else do you hear praise music on all the stations of the radio? I'm just saying this: If you are not keeping Christ in the other 364 days of your year, that one day WON'T......MATTER. And as parents, we should be living out our faith every day in front of our children so that, in the big picture of things, Christmas is just another day in which we get to celebrate Christ.<br />
<br />
Here's my point: celebrate Christmas with your family in whatever way makes you happy. If you love going all out and doing the Santa and Elf thing, good for you. That's awesome. Have fun with it. (For the record, we do Santa "lite", and when we told our 12 year old the truth 2 years ago, he was not devastated and did not feel betrayed. He understood the game for what it was and is thrilled to get to play a part in it for his sisters now. As to how the others will react, I'll have to let you know.)<br />
If you want to use Christmas as a time to focus in on the birth of Christ and what that means for you as a believer and child of God, that's wonderful. Do it. Throw that birthday party. Sing happy birthday to baby Jesus.<br />
<br />
And if you want to do a little of both, go for it. There is no right answer. But whatever you decide to do, remember this. Christmas only affects a small, small portion of the time you have with your children. <br />
<br />
What are you doing with the rest of the time you have with them?Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-87045148683641202702013-11-28T02:44:00.001-05:002013-11-28T02:45:50.245-05:00ThankfulnessThe trend this month on Facebook was to post a "thankful" post every day for the entire month. Not that I'm not thankful, but after awhile it starts to sound redundant and obvious. There are only so many ways you can say you're thankful for your God and your family. And really, I'm lucky to remember to brush my hair every day! And I'm supposed to remember to post a thankfulness post everyday. Yea, no.<br />
<div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
But I am thankful. And I hope that I show my thankfulness not just for this season. But in every day, and in everything,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were blessed this week to sit under the teaching of a precious friend during our community Thanksgiving service. And William reminded us that, like Habakkuk, despite our circumstance, our situation, or anything else, we are to be thankful...anyhow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our circumstances have been less than ideal. My husband, our sole provider, has been in a thankless and sorely underpaid job for several years. But in the midst of the emotional and financial and even spiritual trial, we have much to be thankful for. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful for the openness we have with our children. That they understand true gratitude and selflessly give themselves and sometimes their belongings to show love to others.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful for a husband who works hard and tirelessly to provide what he can.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankfully to God for providing what my husband cannot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful for the humility that comes with being in our situation. We've been here so long that we're just too tired to be anything but wide open with our needs and our hearts. And as a result, God has consistently provided for us through the grace of others.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful that we do have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies and clothes on our backs. And I'm thankful that we have loved ones who would never allow that to change.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful for friends who listen when it becomes too overwhelming and pray for us, for me. For friends with whom we can also rejoice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm thankful for laughter and cuddles, for chocolate and wool socks.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I'm so very thankful that the one who created me, who knew me in my mother's womb, who knows all things and commands all things... that He promises to love me and provide for me and make all things work for my good and to His glory. That my God, my Abba, has me tightly in the palm of His hand. And that even though I can't see the end of this season of our lives, He already knows it and has planned it perfectly for us. And that I can rest in the knowledge that God is God. God is good. And He always does what it best for His people.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, on mountain tops and in valleys, we have much to be thankful for...anyhow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<i>"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, </i></div>
<div>
<i> yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. </i></div>
<div>
<i> GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakkuk 3:17-19</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-64652951743756120592013-11-25T17:31:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:46:47.584-05:00Eureka! I've got it! *did you say that with a British accent, or is that just me?*Do you ever read a book and spend most of the time trying to figure out where the title came from? I do. I can't stand to have an unknown gnawing at me. I want everything to be clear and crisp. I want the answer. In fact, one of the quickest ways to get under my skin is to tell me you have a secret, and then not tell me what it is. Drives me crazy!!<br />
<br />
So, I've been gnawing on the problem I mentioned in my last post. What is the point of this blog? Why do I struggle with the idea of just sharing our story? What did I think it was supposed to be about?<br />
<br />
And I finally figured it out.<br />
<br />
I started this with the idea that I was going to write a homeschool blog. Here's the problem with that. I don't consider myself to be a homeschool mom. Instead, I consider myself to be a mom who homeschools.<br />
<br />
Did you catch the difference?<br />
<br />
First and foremost, I am a mom to three amazing people. It just happens, in the course of that "momness" that God has led our family to homeschool.<br />
<br />
See the education, the "reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic" part of this, is just one part. And if I'm honest, it's one of the smallest parts.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I believe in the value of a solid education.<br />
<br />
But even more, I believe in the value of a solid character. And that is what God is calling me to build into my children. <br />
<br />
Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."<br />
<br />
Deuteronomy 6:4-8 - "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."<br />
<br />
I don't want this to be a "homeschool blog". I don't want to just write about our homeschool story. <br />
<br />
I just want to write about the story of our family. The struggles and triumphs that come with being a mom. <br />
<br />
And I want to hear your stories too. Regardless of how you choose to educate your children. Because being a mom is hard. But it's good.<br />
<br />
Love, <br />
<br />
~TTina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226115989619526985.post-87370716081723197202013-11-22T01:39:00.001-05:002013-11-22T18:53:12.563-05:00#weeklywrapup and a little of what's the point?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Since technically it's Friday, and I don't anticipate anything out of the ordinary happening today, I figured it was safe to write my wrap-up. We had three standout moments this week:</span></div><div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
In our Classical Conversations community, we launched rockets for science. It was a fun way to continue our study in astronomy. After a few false starts, and lots of laughs, we managed to launch 6 rockets (2 of those we launched twice for good measure). I'm sure we could have spent more time discussing the mechanics of the rockets, but really all anyone wanted to see was the launch into space and the plummet to earth. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This afternoon we did our annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox shopping. For years, each kid has gotten to fill a shoebox themselves. I generally give little guidance other than requiring they include toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. It's always fun to see what they choose to include. I pray that the boy and girls receiving them know the joy and love that was put into each one.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally, this evening my crew tested for their next belts in TaeKwonDo. We've been with our DoJang for over three years, and it's a blessing to watch them grow in the confidence, agility and ability. All four grandparents got to watch them test this time, which was a special treat for the kids.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpl4Dqj0XhFbETCQAG0dmNYjaumVLnGy3qn5z3UKmgiLNfS-OvQNY3Ay-bK9lVPsfA6MdHjbg6PJH9TL2hhUifsrAsG8E4cTWwWQF9YIVeRHGevw63loHXbSK3BSwk4ELFTw9Hsf6liQs/s640/blogger-image-1296059594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpl4Dqj0XhFbETCQAG0dmNYjaumVLnGy3qn5z3UKmgiLNfS-OvQNY3Ay-bK9lVPsfA6MdHjbg6PJH9TL2hhUifsrAsG8E4cTWwWQF9YIVeRHGevw63loHXbSK3BSwk4ELFTw9Hsf6liQs/s640/blogger-image-1296059594.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>As to the "what's the point" part of this post, I've been mulling that question for the past week in regard to this blog. What's the point? What am I trying to accomplish? I could come at this like so many do and give advice and direction, but the truth is that I don't feel qualified to do that. I'm so far from having figured this homeschool and parenting thing out, that I could be starting from scratch. I don't have any great words of wisdom, or fantastic strategies to do anything. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So again I ask, what's the point. This is the conclusion I've come to (for the moment).</div><div><br />
</div><div>I love to write. It's how I process my thoughts and where I use up most of my words. And I love to share our story. Not because it's amazing or extraordinary, but because it is so very ordinary that maybe someone else will get encouragement in knowing that there's someone else out there in the muck like they are. And I love to hear other people's stories. To hear where they're coming from, and what's important to them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, for now, I guess I'll continue to share our story. Someone once told me to "write what you know." And our story is all I know.</div><div><br />
</div><div>~T</div><a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-up/" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/kbmomto3/weeklywrapup300.png " alt="" size="300X91"></a>Tina Fussellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05080290323426784695noreply@blogger.com2