More updates

My nephew Andrew, has gone home from the hospital. He is doing well. Praise the Lord!

I'm sure you want to know about our Sunday at the church as candidates. Well, we had some good services. There was one couple whom I thought had a little control over the congregation and I felt funny about that. I actually would've thought they were the pastor and wife if I didn't know better. Anyway, we had a good time at the church and the clerk and his wife took us out to dinner. In the end however, we didn't feel this was the church for us. We didn't feel that connection that would or should feel when you go to another church. Anyone needs to feel connected before leaving their current church and going to another. So we are still here and waiting on the Lord. It's going to be alright!

The kids are still doing well in their schooling. Joseph has finally gotten to the point where he will write stories or paragraphs on his own! It has taken a lot of patience but we have succeded! This brings something to my mind. While we were at this church, the clerks wife asks me when the kids are going back to school. I told her that they already were, that they were homeschooled. She looked utterly shocked to say the least. The look on her face told it all. I don't know that she was quite keen with the homeschooling idea. She asked me if I had to turn in the papers and tests that they do to be graded ??????? I was like, no I grade them. Then she asked if I had to have credentials. I was like no, not in this good ol state. She asked more questions and then made a statement that made me realize that she did not really support the homeschooling idea (either out of ignorance or skepticism). She said " There is a lot of people doing that homeschooling around here. It's really getting to be a big thing. You know our former pastor's wife was a school teacher." Maybe I took her wrong but I guess to get the real thought you had to see her face. I just smiled and said "yup" LOL Then I changed the subject because I really was starting to feel awkward. There were many other things that were said and happened that I knew before the second service started that it was NOT the place we needed to be. But I did pray and ask the Lord to show my husband this if this was right what I was feeling and if I was wrong that I would accept it and go there. In the long run, He did and my husband expressed the same feelings to me. So praise the Lord! I really pray that we go to a church that supports homeschooling. PLEASE LORD!!! PLEASE!!! :)

Jenn

Updates on everything

I know I haven't been on here in a while so I thought I would update on everything.

My nephew Andrew's surgery went very well. They removed the tumor without damaging the optic nerves or blood vessels. However the pituitary stem was damamged. They can control that with meds so everything seems to be fine. He went home from the hospital last night. Praise the Lord!

My husband and I are going to a church this Sunday to minister as candidates for pastor. We feel good about the service and are waiting on God to show us which direction to go.

As far as homeschooling, everything is going well. I'm reviewing and getting everything caught up and prepared for the new subjects coming up in the next month or two. The kids are really learning the way I would hope that they would. I think I am figuring out the homeschooling thing. FINALLY! I'm becoming a little more organized and it really helps me. In case you haven't heard about Homeschool Tracker, it is such an easy program to use, and it's FREE! There is a free version you can download to your computer and it is such a help! You put the assignments in for the year and you can track the attendance. You can print out reports for report cards, attendance, book lists, fields trips, teacher's assignement report for each week. It's an amazing organizational tool! I'm using it this year even more than last year because I see the benefits. For those of you who must keep up with all of these things for the government this is a great tool! Go check it out!

www.homeschooltracker.com

Happy Schooling and God bless!

Jenn

Prayer Request

Those of you who read my blog know I have two boys. I do not know how I would react if something were to happen to them that was out of my control. My nephew Andrew was found to have a brain tumor and cist pressing against his Pituitary Stem and his Optic nerves. This is very serious. Tomorrow they are taking little Andrew, I forgot to mention that he is 5 years old, to the hospital for brain surgery. This is a very delicate surgery that will take at least 6 hours to perform. I asking everyone that can to please pray for Andrew tomorrow morning from 7am everytime the Lord lays him on your heart. The Dr. is concerned about his eyesight, even though the cist is laying against it, they do not know whether it is attached (which could cause problems removing it) or if it is just pressing against it. If it's pressing against it they will drain the cist and remove is and the tumor. Pray that the Dr's have wisdom and that God will guide their hands to be able to remove this without damaging the optic nerve (which could make him go blind)

Also, I know this is not as urgent as the former request, but my husband and I will be going to a church to minister as canidates for pastor. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and discernment to know if this is the church that HE wishes for us to Pastor. We want to be totally in God's will for this. We will be going to this church on July 27th so please pray for us on that day.

I know that God has a mighty plan for all of our lives and we want to live it to the fullest everyday. Have peace in your soul and may God bless you today!

Jenn

Our first day....

Today was our first day back to school. I took abotu a month off and feel that it is needed to get back into the swing of things. This day went a little more stressful because I've found that Joseph has trouble focusing on his work. I'm constantly reminding him to focus. Today I got a little frustrated with him but we made it through the first day. We only did Math, English, and History. I'm going to be adding Science to this to do some review of last year before we head into the new books. It's going to be interesting to say the least. I'm also going to get a start on decluttering my life. It seems that things have gotten so cluttered that I can't stand it anymore. My bedroom is the worst because we have all the school books in there along with the washer and dryer (which went out the other day btw), computer desk and all the other things. We really don't have room anywhere else for these things so that is where they go. I'm hoping that when can have a house one day so that I can be a little more organized with where I put everything! AHHH the thought! One day at a time, I know, but you can't help but hope right?

Well off to fix lunch for my little ones and go check out a handheld mixer that someone is giving me. Have a wonderful day!

Jenn

Getting ready for School!

Well I decided to start next week with their school. I feel that it would be time to get started and I can see where structure is going to be good for them and myself! LOL I came up with a schedule of my day. There still may be some things that I didn't list specifically about what I may do during the school time but this is mainly as a skeleton to go by. Boy do I need that. I think that toughest part is going to be getting up at 6am every morning but I'm going to try! I thought I would share my schedule with you so that those of you who haven't seen a schedule before or are thinking of making one up for yourself can see what another person has done. So here is the link to the pdf file.

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/kjvmom/2008-09_School_schedule.pdf

Have Fun!

I was allowed to borrow the book Managers of Their Homes by the Maxwells (which I am getting to send back to her so don't give up on me! ) and I enjoyed it! I learned quite a bit from it about scheduling. I don't do everything like they do specifically but it was good to see what others did. I won't be able to go out and buy one just yet but I know that if I ever get the chance I probably will. It was a good resource for me.

I pray everyone is doing well at your homes. It seems things have slowed down a bit right now. I will have more decisions to make in the coming couple of months. I really don't know what to do about them but I'm trusting the Lord that I will have the answer when that time comes.

Have a wonderful day in the Lord! Remember, the Word says,

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. " Psalm 27:14

Looking and waiting on our Lords return,

Jenn

A new month!

Well I've got several updates on different things in our lives right now. First, the VBS went really well. I was pleased with the cooperation that I recieved after a few changes were made. I wasn't thrilled about making the changes but sometimes in life we can compromise to an extent.

My husband recieved his ordination certificate. So he is now officially ordained! Hallelujah! We've waited so long! What this means now is that we will be seeking a church to pastor. I'm not sure how long the process will be but I believe that by this time next year we will not be living in this area. I'm so thrilled about the possibility of having a ministry elsewhere.

Tonight I'm playing for a wedding. I'm not really crazy about playing for weddings but I told this couple I would so I'm honoring that promise. I get really nervous. I feel like I'm at a piano recital. Anyone know how that feels? Anyone remembers those piano recitals? At least I can have the music in front of me. I went to the rehearsal last night and it seemed to take forever. A lot of things that should've been done before that point were not taken care of. It took longer than I would like to but it seems all the kinks are out so everything should run smoothly tonight.

I'm going to be starting school next week. It won't be a full load but definatly be schooling. I would like to review somethings from last year before moving on to the next year. I feel that it will help them in the long run. I haven't recieved their testing scores back yet but am looking for them to arrive any day now.

Well I have to run. I've got a lot to do today along with their karate classes so I've got to get these things done. Have a wonderful day!

Jenn