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Crying over spilled milk......

Just so y'all know, I'm still quite upset about the lost blog post!  Sucked into the black hole of webdom.......

But, I have had a Pepsi Throwback and a Hershey bar....and I think I may be able to recompose now.

(How's that for drama?)

OK, my favorite things for the moment....in no particular order.....ENJOY!

1.  PINTEREST  Oh holy unhealthy addiction, Batman!  This is a great community for finding ideas, inspiration, even recipes!  Try it- you'll LOVE it!  This is my newest project- for the new schoolroom/Ab's bedroom....


2. You have GOT to try Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips!  Oh my soul....YUMM-O!!!!  HINT:  If you don't have time to make the chips, try Stacy's Cinnamon Pita Chips.

3.  Heels!  Who knew??  I haven't worn heels in 16 years....since someone near and dear to me- on our way out the door on a date- said "Wow, you're not too graceful in those, are ya?" (He's ALWAYS known JUST what to say!  Melts my heart... anywho..) But recently some other people near and dear to my heart- again, you know who you are- called me "dowdy" and the next thing I know we're shopping, I'm trying on heels, and they're in the floorboard of the car on the way home with me!  (And I've bought 3 more pairs since then!!)  Now, lest you worry that I've sunk into an abyss of stereo-typical female hoarder shopping.....remember that tree that fell through the house??  It's resting place was, of all places, my closet and my schoolroom!  SO!  Wanna see some picks????

I KNOW!  Scandalous for a homeschoolin' momma, huh?!

4. Menu planning.  Do you menu plan?  With all of the turbulence of our lives lately, we had fallen into some pretty unhealthy and muy expensioso eating habits!  Well I decided I had enough (which tells you it must have gotten pretty bad because I LOVE to eat out!) and me and the kiddos sat down and planned a menu for the next week and are really enjoying cooking and eating at home!  Sigh....baby steps....getting back to normal one day at a time.  Would you like some free pintables to help you plan your menu?  Try here at Organized Home.  They have some good info to share!

5.

 

Right now, and most always, I'm really loving my Andy.  We've had a bit of a rough year.  Well, that's an understatement.  We've had the second most horrible year ever.  I have never, save the year my daddy got sick, experienced 12 months that have been cram packed with such debilitating happenings!  But here we are, celebrating our 15th anniversary this month- together.  And I love him so.

OK, so I only gave you five, but I'll come back and give you five more soon!  The house still has no roof or AC and getting on the computer is a true act of love!  Oh, I do have a piece of good news...a review coming soon on a book!  Why?  Because...

!

Rrrrrrrr at Blogger.....

I just spent 2 hours making an UH-MAZING blog post on 10 favorite things complete with pics and links and Blogger ATE it!!!!!!!!!

ARRRRGGGGG! 

Will be back soon with a re-post.......but for now, I gotta get a Pepsi and something chocolate!
        +   =

A week in Gulfport

The kids and I headed off for a week of fun after VBS.  Af ter leading crafts for 70 preschoolers- I find that the day after the last day of VBS is the PERFECT time for a vacay!!!!!!  :o)

We hit Nonny's and headed off to a super fun new waterpark attached to a hotel in Bay St Louis called Barnacle Bill's.

Barnacle Bill's was a blast because there was NO water above my kids heads- which meant I could relax a bit and enjoy myself.....

with my sister......

and my momma!

The kids REALLY enjoyed themselves as well!  This is the summer of swimming for the Cain kiddos!  They're really taking to it and their confidence in the water has grown.... finally!

Ben doesn't look happy...but he is I promise!!

After such fun at Barnacle Bill's, the kids began a week long Ocean Expo Marine Camp at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulf Port.  I admit....I was jealous.  And for some reason I could never seem to get an answer when I asked when the "mommy" camp would be held!

They got to go fishing on a pontoon boat, seining, crabbing, touch crabs and animals in a touch tank, see a dolphin training exercise, study the gulf , and go to the beach.  They talked about gulf ecology, marine mammals, pollution, and lots of other awesomely interesting ocean topics!  Abby got to take an excursion to Ship Island for a day even!
While the kids were having their fun..........the ladies decided to have some of their own!!!!  Dolphin smoochies, anyone???

What?  Don't like fishie breath?  Well how about just some tummy rubbing then?

Bo REALLY enjoyed the tummy rub!

When the day was over, God treated me to one amazing sunset......just to top it all off-

And then the last day of camp we thanked everyone and headed to the movies....cuz who could pass up Cars2 in 3-D???  When we came out, God gave me a sign......

to go shop for a little bit at the Maxx! (My favorite!)..........

before someone stole my debit card number and drained my checking account!

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!!!



But the bank terminated my card and is restoring the money to my accout- so all's well that ends well!  It was a fun week!

The 2011/2012 schoolyear at a glance

At some point, I must plan for the next school year!  I'm a little thrown off this year because I am purchasing my curriculum so late......Everything is a little behind.  But the amazing thing is that I am finding comfort, rather than anxiety, in my lack of control

All I'm going to say about the house is this.......it hasn't been started yet.

Back to school...

I am schooling both children this year and I am absolutely thrilled.  I have thought and planned and read and I think I've figured out the curriculum and the books- but I havent put it all to paper yet.  I was wondering, what do you do?  Edu-Track?  Homeschool Tracker?  A journal?  I'm thinking of the Old Schoolhouse's Primary Planner to help me get a bit more organized.  So here's what I'm thinking of covering and I'll let you tell me what you think and help me fill in the holes:

Abby 4th grade
Tapestry of Grace
Teaching Textbooks
Exploring Creation through Human Anatomy
Simply Grammar
? Spelling
Copywork
Nature study

Ben 1st grade
Copywork
Nature study
Exploring Creation through Human Anatomy
Phonics Museum
? Math
Tapestry of Grace

So what do you think? Any suggestions for Math or Spelling?  We'll be attending a co-op one day a week that will cover geography/maritime geography, our science, and art.  (The kids will still take art once a week with Belinda Youngblood because she is AWESOME and we love her!)  I love planning for a new year- seems there is nothing quite so exciting and full of possibilities.  So share with me!  What are you planning for the upcoming year?  I can't wait to hear!

Cainberly....and a lesson learned

Do you remember Cainberly?  Here she is in her hayday- April 5,2002!

Here she is almost 9 years later exactly......

And here's the schoolroom...

And my bedroom....

Believe me, I prefer the tranquility of this....

But this......

is my reality.

I have purposefully not posted these to the blog- trying to give myself some time to make sense of it all.  To seek God.  To understand how close to truly meeting my Lord  Abby, Ben, Andy,and I were (about 3 feet, in truth).  We are not the worst off for the wear.  In fact, Andy and I can't bear to hear folks say "I'm so sorry!", even though it comes with the best of intentions.  There are whole towns in Alabama wiped out- Concord, Phil Campbell, Hackelburg....places you never hear on the news.  It's bad.  We are not in the same group of those victims. 

We are inconvenienced.  We're a bit stressed.  We are dusty and disorganized.

But we are not devastated.  We are not destroyed.  We are not homeless.  And we are not hopeless.

I can tell you stories about how it happened.  I can tell you how it looked, how it sounded, how it felt.  I can tell you all of these things- but want I really want to say is this......

He is so good.

So very good.

He brings peace to a time that seems loud and chaotic.  He brings hope to a situation that looks grey and bleak.  He brings love to a home that is buckling under the pressure, and that pressure not of a tree.  He brings grace, oh such sweet grace, to hearts that are hurting, wandering- grasping.

He brings a smile, a tear, a joy everlasting.  He brings gratefulness.  He brings a blessing from shambles.

He brings life.

And what more is to be said than that?

Sweet home Alabama

Dear Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I type this blog entry. Many of you are fully aware, but for those of you who are not- last Wednesday Alabama was rocked by two waves of tornados and severe with that devastated much of our beautiful state. The out-pouring of immediate love and support has been overwhelming. This is not a quick fix disaster, and I ask for your continued prayers in the weeks and months ahead.
While we Cains are safe, and grateful for it, our home suffered a hit as well. A giant oak came through Cainberly and I am writing to you from our "home away from home"- a duplex two blocks up the street. We are patiently awaiting a visit from the insurance adjustor- we know there are others so much worse off than we are. We have no current needs, but I would ask that you please pray for Abby and Ben. As you can imagine, this whole event has been quite a mess of emotions for them. We are settled in the temporary housing- so they seem to be a little more at ease now.
Please check out the Christian Service Mission here in Birmingham if you would like to donate goods or funds. They are doing extraordinary things in the name of relief. Another option is Samaritan's Purse- the founding organization for Operation Christmas Child. Their website, www. Samaritanspurse.org will update how they are serving in Bessemer/hueytown and Tuscaloosa. (both are on Facebook)
Thank you so much for all of your prayers, messages, and encouragement.
With much love,
Marla