Noah's Hands Of Hope

Noah is a 5 year old boy who is living with a mitochondrial disease.  He has struggled much in his short life, but is such a blessing to all those who know him (and some~like myself~who don't "personally" know  him!).  His mom's blog is on my blog list Praying for Noah where she writes about their life.

Noah's family has started a foundation to help other families who are dealing with the same illness.  You can see their website HERE.  They are in the middle of an online auction to benefit the foundation.  If you can, please visit the auction website, check out the things they are auctioning off, and bid if you can.  The foundation will truly appreciate your help.

websites:

Blog~~ http:www.prayingfornoah.com
foundation website~~ http:www.noahshandsofhope.org
auction website~~ http:www.nhohauctions.com

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31

What We've Been Up To...

I realize that I've not been writing much this past month.  Life has been busy and we've been even busier (is that possible?!).  So here's a few snippets of life in our household...

Head lice!  Head lice!  More head lice!  I've always been grateful that we've never had to deal with lice.  I never had it as a child.  And until last year we've never had to deal with it with our children.  Then it went around our oldest daughter's school last fall.  Kids were leaving school in large numbers as parents had to go to the next town to get lice shampoo because our little town ran out!  We thought we might  have seen eggs in our daughter's hair so we treated her just to be sure.  Never had any problems after that.  Until about 4 weeks ago when Sweetcheeks started scratching her hair.  All the time.  I looked at her hair and didn't see anything.  Yet she continued to scratch.  All the time!  We thought she might have dry scalp so we got shampoo to treat that.  She continued to scratch.  Then about 2 1/2 weeks ago I was combing her hair when I spotted it!  ICK!  Those creepy lice just make me itch.  She has been treated 3 times since then and we are still dealing with them!  I've washed bedding in HOT water, pillows in the dryer, vacuumed the floors, the furniture, mattresses~anything I possibly can vacuum!   Her combs are washed in the dishwasher.  We haven't used any barrette's, etc in her hair.  We've picked through her hair more times than she wanted to sit through!  UGH!  I went around the house yesterday like a crazy woman with the vacuum again, washed the bedding again, treated her again.  We are praying that this will be the end of it.  A friend mentioned her car seat, which I never thought of, so we treated that yesterday also.  We are so grateful that no~one else in the house has gotten them (don't ask me how that happened~in this case I'm just glad the kids aren't sharing!!).

Helping grandparents.  Grandpa wanted to cut down a tree, so we had Sport help him with that (and the littles wanted to watch!).  I am so thankful that homeschooling affords us time to spend helping loved ones!

Sunshine thought that the chainsaw was to loud!

Stinkerbelle turned 15!  I can't believe that our oldest is that old already.  Seriously, I can close my eyes and remember her as a baby.  This is what happens when you aren't looking!  She started driver's ed classes (scary!), started the track season (first sport since her surgery last fall) and is becoming a beautiful young woman. 

Enjoying the weather.  We've had some very unusual weather here lately~even reaching 80 a couple of days!  The kids loved being outside (without getting bundled up!) and some of us have had a hard time concentrating on school work!  It is nice to see the grass green again, and a few plants have started to make their appearance already!

Sweetcheeks lost her two front top teeth within just a week of the other.  She lost her bottom front teeth a couple of months ago, so she has an adorable smile right now.  She is the only one of our kids to loose all four front teeth together.  The other kids lost either the top or the bottom ones, and they were grown in before they lost the others.  Her grin makes me smile!

That's the (very!) condensed version of life right now.  It is busy, but good!  I know someday I will look back at this and wish for it again!  Some days I feel like I'm just surviving and not thriving...but we're sheltered, clothed, fed, and (usually!) happy.  What more can I ask for?

Have a great day!

Blessings,

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY~March 13, 2012
Outside my window... Beautiful!!!  The sun is shining and temps are going to be in the 60's for the rest of the week!  Snow is all melted and I think the grass has started to green in the past few days.  I can't help but think we'll pay for this beautiful weather in the future!
I am thinking...about spring!  I can't wait for flowers to come out and to start the garden and flower beds.
From the learning room...Sweetcheeks is reviewing letters and colors.  Sport is working on geometry, learning more about George Washington, Bible review and test.  I can't remember what is going on in Science (I did my lesson plan several weeks ago)
I am thankful for...my washing machine.  I have about 5 loads to do today.  I'm grateful for this machine that makes my life so much easier.  I don't know how our great grandparents did without.
From the kitchen...vegetable soup and rolls.
I am wearing...jean skirt and white short sleeved shirt with a pink shirt underneath.
I am creating...some blankets for my Etsy shop.
I am going...to get off the computer as soon as I'm done with this post (read my last post for better details!)
I am reading... Bible, and the Duggar book A Love That Mulitplies
I am praying...for wisdom for myself and hubby for some decisions that need to be made
I am hearing...washing machine, dishwasher, and kiddo's playing outside
Around the house...hanging clothes on the line outside for the first time (YEAH!), today is living room cleaning
One of my favorite things...time change when it stays light out later
A few plans for the rest of the week...taking a sick kitty to the vet this morning, homeschool co-op this afternoon, taking Stinkerbelle out for her birthday (something hubby and I are starting this year~taking the birthday child out alone for his/her special day), enjoying a (hopefully) stress~free weekend!
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Our kitty Whiskers watching longingly as the kiddo's play outside in the snow a few weeks ago.

Thanks for stopping by!  For more thankful daybooks, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Have a great week!

Blessings,

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31

Balance

We have come to realize in the past few weeks that we have created a problem in our home.  We are all spending to much time using electronic mind wasters instead of using our imaginations and using precious time wisely.

We got a Wii for the kids for Christmas.  We said we would never get a video game system in our home.  It would just create problems we don't need.  Then we were hearing from friends how some of the games were great for creating fun family time.  So we caved and got one.

It is a monster.

The computer is too!

The kids want to play on the computer all the time.  If not that, then the Wii.  If not that, then watch a movie or TV (movies we borrow from the library, and all they watch on tv is either PBS kids, or a few shows on qubo).

They have become addicted to these things.  And it was time to check where this behavior was coming from.

M. E.

Yikes, when I looked at how much time I spend on the computer each day, it is a bit frightning.  It all starts out harmless enough.  Looking for a recipe, updating the blog, checking friend's blogs, paying a bill, placing a hold on books at the library, looking up homeschool ideas, crafts, music, clothes....the list could go on.  I tend to go from one thing to another, and before I know it, an hour has passed.  It is soo easy to get sucked into the web.

I am reminded about my verse for the year...
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31
Is everything I'm doing for the glory of God?  I don't think so!

So..... we've made a few changes.  More to the point, I'VE made a few changes.  You probably noticed the lack of posting the past month.  That was purposeful.  I tried to stay away from the computer as much as possible.  If I want the kiddo's to cut back on electronics, I knew I would need to do it also.  I've come up with a plan (hopefully I'll stick with it and it will work) to only be on the computer for certain amounts of time each day.  The kids are only allowed electronics for a certain amount of time each day also.  After a couple of days of whining (mostly by me!), we found for the most part we could live without it!  Well, at least live with less of it!  The weather has been fairly nice this past week, and this week promises to look even better.  Spring is on it's way and it is time to get outdoors.  The kids spent a good amount of time outside last week, and I know they will this week too.  Hopefully this phase of our lives was just due to being stuck inside during the winter. 

We all have better attitudes now that we know what is expected about electronic use, and we are eager to keep the warm weather so we can have fun outside...and start that garden and flower beds!

Have a blessed day!

Blessings,

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31