- "CAN I TRUST YOU GUYS?" -

i'm sitting here doing something at the computer & i hear kiara in the other room ask her daddy & her sister these words, "can i trust you guys?" - spike says, "can you trust us?" - kiara says, "no... can i trust YOU GUYS?" (i guess he worded it wrong in her mind) - he said, "well, yeah you can trust us... can we trust you?" - to that she said, "NOPE!" - something tells me she really didn't fully understand what she was asking - (the minds of 5 year olds crack me up!)

- "CAN I HAVE MY MARBLE BACK NOW?" -

when kiara first got in the car she was all excited to show me her new 'find' - i said, "wow, that's neat, where did you get it?" - "at school", she said - i then asked if her teacher had given it to her & "no" was her reply - "well, did someone else give it to you?", i said - "ummm, nope!", she answered - i pressed on by asking, "well, where did it come from?" - "school", she said (UGH) - "alright kiara, fill me in, how did you get end up with a marble", i asked (trying to get my point across) - she said, "we've got a whole jar of them at school in my classroom & we use them to sort - i saw this one, i liked it a lot & since no one else was taking any, i decided i'd take this one!" (saying this very happily at the decision she'd made) - i said, "well, 1) if your teacher didn't give it to you & 2) if it was hers & now it's in your backpack, what you did was you took something that didn't belong to you... you stole it - what if everyone in the classroom took one just because they liked them, then you'd have none left at school to sort?" - she sat there with a smile on her face & said, "well, see then it's no problem because i'm the ONLY one who stole, so there's still plenty for everyone to sort... can i have my marble back now?"

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(SIDENOTE: don't worry, it's in her backpack & will be returned first thing monday morning to it's rightful owner - since realizing what's going to happen on monday, she's looking at this weekend as her 'babysitting for the marble' - geeez 5 year olds!!)

- I'M BACK! -

well, i'm back in the swing of things & feeling much better (thanks for all the prayers!) - just wanted to post a bit to share with everyone so you all didn't think i'd fallen off the deep end (been there, just havn't fallen off... yet!)

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just received this picture of ruby's mama liz (lee's) - ya think these 2 are related???????????

- SHE STARTED READING! -

i've been working & working with kiara (5) to help her learn to read - she would do good, but when sounding out a word, instead of blending the letters all together, she's make each letter end HARD (really choppy) - i bought a book called, "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" (thanks angela!) & have been working with her on it - she, as of today picked up a book & began on her own reading 3 letter words

- A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE -

The brand new pastor & his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to re-open a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down & needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. & on December 18 were ahead of schedule & just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area & lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor & not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors & a cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it & headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus, but she missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew & paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked & it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor,"she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted in to it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman & she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she & her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison & never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth, but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island & was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music & the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor & his wife greeted everyone at the door & many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews & stare & the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war & how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety & he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested & put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island & to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door & he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

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True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid

- DR. REPORT -

just wanted everyone to know that i did go to the dr today & she said that it might be a swollen lymph node, but she's not sure so she's put me on antibiotics just to be sure - also, it only hurts now when i push on it (note to self: do NOT push on it!) - thanks everyone for the prayers!

- WHAT GEMSTONE ARE YOU? -

Your Gemstone is Amber

Creative, happy & logical. You shine in any intellectual endeavor.

What Gemstone Are You?

- OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A BIT -

just wanted to ask for prayer & to let you all know i'll be 'away' for a bit tonight & maybe this weekend - i noticed 2 days ago (wednesday) a knot on the right side of my neck up back behind my ear - it was very small (M&M sized - this coming from a fat lady who LOVES M&M's)

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it started off with me noticing it on wednesday & it didn't hurt unless you pushed on it (don't push = don't hurt) - then yesterday (thursday) it began bothering me without pushing on it (ie: sore to touch & stiff neck) - then today i woke up with PAIN & a migraine to boot (caused i'm sure from the 'M&M'

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i've been showing spike & he says there's really nothing he can see at all, but when he touches it, he can feel the know 'inside' - i called the doctor & i'm going in on monday morning at 10am so pray this' nothing & that the pain will go away soon rather than later - if i can get the neck pain to subside, then my headache will as well (YEAH!)

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i'll post when i can/when i feel like it, but prayers are appreciated more than you know - guess now the term 'knot-head' really applies!

- KARLEIGH GOT A PICKY (ouch!) -

well, i picked karleigh up after preschool & she asked where we were going (as it's usually more of the kids, but it was just her & i) - i said, "well, we've got to go somewhere" - smiling she said, "where?" - i said, "well, to the doctor for a picky" (smile leaves instantly) - she said, "i don't want to get a picky, they hurt!" - i said, "well, daddy's home with kiara & ruby & they're all praying & i even talked to nana & she's praying too"

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we get in the office & she's doing pretty good, but had to bring silkie along for comfort - they called her name & she froze! - i was behind her nudging her a bit - she then said she had to potty (nerves, i'm sure) so we went - we then were seated to wait for the nurse to get the picky ready - they then came for us & shared that she had to get 5 shots OUCH!

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i held her & they did the 1st (SCREAMED!!!), then they did the 2nd (SCREAM!!!), then they did the 3rd (SCREAMED!!!) & i said, "karleigh, remember honey, nana's praying too" - then they did the 4th (SCREAMED, "NANA'S NOT PRAYING HARD ENOUGH!!!) - then they did the 5th (SCREAMED, WAS FIGHTING MAD & WAS DONE!!!)

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i put her coat on & the nurse (who was very sweet) said, "karleigh, would you like a sucker?" - karleigh says, "NO, IT'S NOT HAIR DAY!!!" (nurse looks very confused & i didn't even offer an explanation) & offers a sticker instead - karleigh bribes her out of 3 (1 for her & each of her little sisters) & off we go

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she's sleeping right now, but keeps moaning & saying, "oooowww", only for me to go in there & she's sleeping - poor baby girl!

- HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARLEIGH!! -

yes, today was karleigh's 4th birthday (WAAAA!) - she'd school this morning & got to take a treat for her 'friends' (she chose popcorn... her fav!) - we then took our kids (all 5 of them) to chuck e. cheese tonight for pizza & games (her fav!), so she was thrilled - we then had a cupcake cake (whoever though of these was an incredibly smart person!) & she did it all in her new outfit & boots (although she did ask this morning if she could ONLY wear her boots!... FYI, 'no' was our answer *wink*) - all in all she'd a good day - happy birthday karleigh, we love you more than any other karleigh in the world!!!

- IT'S A GOOD THING WE KNOW SIGN LANGUAGE 'ROUND HERE! -

well, it's a good thing we know sign language around here! - brittan's got an MP3 player & has had it for awhile, but i bought spike one for christmas (the ONLY thing the man said he wanted) - well, since he got it, he's been using it a lot - with him working at home, his desk's our kitchen table (i know, not ideal, but it's all we've got for now) & so while there during 'off hours', he'll use the headset & 'zone' - i'll find myself walking into the kitchen just chatting away, only to find i'm talking to myself!! - he's no idea i'm saying anything to him until i stand there staring at him, he then notices, pops off the headset & says, "whut?" - last night i was coming through the living room where he & brittan were & said something to them as i headed 'round the corner - no one said a word & as i looked back, i noticed they both had their headsets in!! - i started signing to them both, whatever it was i was talking about (i'm SURE it was important too!) & they both started laughing, answered me back in sign & just kept on 'zoning' - like i said, it's a good thing we know sign language 'round here!

- WHAT FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM ARE YOU? -

I'm Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

You're kind, popular & generous. You tend to be successful at anything you try. A social butterfly, you're great at entertaining a crowd. ` You're most compatible with strawberry ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

- SMILES FOR HAITI -

i'd a young girl call me awhile back & introduce herself & shared a minute of so with me about her plans - she informed me that she was interested in helping the children of haiti & was going to do all she could to 'make a difference' in their lives - i then talked with her mother & found out some things about this young lady

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her name's cathryn, but goes by katie & since we're friends now, that's what i'm going to call her! - anyhow, katie turned 10 on september 17 & is in the 4th grade at her school & i hear she's a very good student - she got a kitten for her birthday & name it babe & they tell me she loves all animals & children - she's the type of child that'll bring home injured animals just to try & nurse them back to health - she shared with me that it's her dream to become a veterinarian when she grows up & to adopt children

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she & her mom went to her school & shared her 'vision' with her principal - VISION: she's wanting to collect as many donations as she can, calling it SMILES FOR HAITI, get them to me (she's in pennsylvania & i'm in indiana) & then i'll take care of getting them to haiti immediately - she's on a roll too, as she's already collected medicine, baby wipes & brand new stuffed animals... way to go katie!

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at the meeting just before christmas, the principal seemed very supportive & said the school plans on collecting money to buy new swings for the handicapped children enrolled at the school - she also said that they usually raise more than they need & she's willing to donate whatever's leftover to SMILES FOR HAITI for the children!!! - they'll start collecting in the next few weeks, so we're just praying they get an over abundance for the kiddos that attend there & that there's leftover (we LOVE leftovers) to purchase things for the kiddos of haiti too!!

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she & her mom are now readers of my blog, so if all of you out there that are reading this, would comment to my new friend katie, showing her as much love as you can muster up, encouraging her in what she's accomplishing & praying for her, i'd sure appreciate it & i'm sure she would too!

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i let her know that spike & i go to haiti on a fairly regular basis & that one of these times, we'd love to have her & her mom travel along with us... wouldn't that be fun to see her passing out items to the children (items that she collected for them!)

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katie, i've told you before & i mean it, thank you so much because what you're doing DOES make a difference in a child's life

- WAS IT SOMETHING WE DID? -

we go to olive garden today for a late lunch, walk in, tell them we're a party of 6 (if they only knew what they really meant!), they told us to wait for them to get a table ready, then in seconds they came to get us - they took us into a back room where there was a HUGE table that seats like 14+/- & it's the ONLY table in that entire room (kind of like a banquet/meeting room??) - they say, "here's your table" & we all just look at them as there weren't hardly anyone else in the entire restaurant as it was like 3:30pm & we were the in between crowd (between lunch/dinner) & here they are seating us (just the 6 of us) at this huge table

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we sat down to hear kiara squeal t her sisters, "GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE OUR COUSINS!!" - i said, "what cousins are you talking about?" - kiara says (smiling), "you know, katharine, noah & maddie!!" (speaking of our best friends in the entire world, the caswells) - she thought we were meeting them as we've met them there before & sat at that same table for all 11 of us so being seated there today, meant they were coming (in her mind anyway)

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at first we didn't like sitting back there all alone, but in the end it was kind of nice, secluded & 'just us' - all in all it was a good day *smile*

- HOW 'BOUT A PART TIME HOMESCHOOL MOM... DOES THAT COUNT?? -

well, i guess that's what i am, huh? - our girls all go to different schools, brittan to high school, kiara to the local kindergarten (mornings), ruby to the deaf school (3 full days/week) & karleigh to a christian preschool (2 mornings/week) - they all love school so much & have a wonderful time - what i started doing quite awhile back was when they come home from school, i started giving them 'homework' in the afternoons - they were doing so well & enjoying it so much that i ordered some school curriculum & have been working off/on with them for many months now taking it slow to see how they handled it & have really noticed a change - at this time, it's not something i'm going to do full time as for instance, i'd be doing ruby a horrible injustice in taking her out of her deaf school with my limited ASL knowledge (it just wouldn't be fair to her), but will be doing it part time so to speak - i just bought another book the other day & have been waiting until school goes back (next week) to begin - so i guess full time/part time really doesn't matter... i'm still a homeschool mom!! (THANKS ANGELA!)

- HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 -

i can't believe it's already 2008, where's the time gone? - over the past few days, here's what's been going on (& not going on)
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GOING ON:

saturday - taking down the girls' hair

sunday - church

monday/tuesday - 2 day 'hair-fest'

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NOT GOING ON:

talking to my friend angela

reading blogs

blogging

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here's some pictures of 'the finished product though - tell me whatcha think!

karleigh (purple) & ruby (blue)