Charm Bracelets and Milestones

Very eclectic charm bracelet representing all of the places a soldier from WWII
brought home from his tour of duty.

          Did you know that Charm Bracelets have a long history. Many believe the first ones were more talismans to ward off evil spirits.  Many charms were made of bone or shells depending on what part of the world they were from.  In Egypt 1,000's of years ago, charms were used to not only show luck and faith. They were also thought to help the gods identify who they were in the afterlife.
      Jewish people used charms to carry scripture close to them.  Christians wore tiny fish to identify themselves to each other. Roman and medieval soldiers wore charms for protection when they go into battle.  Charm bracelets have been the subject of several waves of trends. The first charm bracelets were worn by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Hittites and began appearing from 600 – 400 BC.

     Queen Victoria in the 1800's started a fashion trend by wearing and giving charm bracelets as gifts. When her beloved Prince Albert died, she made the "mourning" charm popular. A mourning charm is a locket with the hair of the deceased maybe a picture of them and often carved in black.

     Charm bracelets continued as Tiffany and Co. introduced their signature bracelet in the late 1800's. Soldiers coming home after WWII would bring home charms made from all the many different places they had fought in to give to loved ones. 

     The charm bracelets most of us remember during the 50's and 60's, that were made popular by the American teenagers (our grand parents). They would collect charms to record  events in their. Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford along with other famous celebrities encouraged this fashion. Many of them wearing charm bracelets on the red carpet. 

     Charm bracelets began to loose their popularity until around 2000. And now the types of charm bracelets are numerous. There are build a bead type, european flat bracelets, Pandora type and still the ever loved dangle charm bracelet. 

     Charm bracelets have been used for many things. To collect where someone has visited, just fashion as in all blue charms or all charms of similar type. Some charm bracelets have one charm; a single heart, maybe or a locket. Some may represent something special in that persons life; music, drama, books, fairy tales, hearts, states or places one has traveled, or just a jumble of different items that represents that persons life to them. 
     I've now seen charm bracelets that are for a persons wedding, new baby, their pet, etc. A whole bracelet dedicated to one milestone or event. 
      

Milestone bracelet. Many different things
that represent the owner.

Music, drama, worship.

All hearts. Probably from different places.

Looks like things and places that this person has been or done. 

     I love the Milestones and things that represent you type of charm bracelet.  I have had a love of these fun dangly type of bracelets ever since I first saw one.

H-represents my name, Just Breathe-double meaning, I forget to breathe and have anxiety,
also, I use essential oils and I need to inhale sometimes. Pray- Important to me to pray often.
Blue stone- My birth stone, aquamarine. Family- so important to me.
Cross- Jesus needs to come first. Flip Flop- well, if you know me that is easy.
And the diffuser locket- a way to diffuse my chosen essential oil of the day.
This is my bracelet that I made that represents me. Have more I could add.

     I have decided that I will start a charm bracelet for my daughter. I will make a milestone and representation type. She is excited. This is something she can build on to for years to come. Or maybe it will be the first of many more to come.

     So, all of that to say, I am excited to start making charm bracelets. I may even start selling them. I want a way for others to be able to use their essential oils (so helpful for stress, anxiety, focus and uplifting joy). So this little bracelet may be a gateway into my already growing passions.


     So, do you have a charm bracelet? Did I peak your interest into having one? What a great item to hand down to your daughter, or granddaughter. I can't wait to make more for my friends and family. Maybe they would just be a starter if they choose to add more to it later.

How to Find Some Sanity With a Mind Dump.

     Let me start by saying that I totally understand the way a woman's mind works as far as the way each subject intertwines with the next. Our minds are like spaghetti. Each thought easily slips to the next without any explanation as to how I got from the grocery list to where I left my pedometer, to why the kids have been irritated with each other, to when the last time was I changed the sheets.




     This is a normal flow of thoughts for me and I know for many women. Add a husband, and children into the mix and wow it can now go through this and so much more at lightening speed. Sometimes without the ability for me to slow it down, much less stop it to say... sleep. Praying is when I get in trouble. Prayer is supposed to be a time to sit and be still with God. UUMMMM, well.... that is almost impossible some days. Even some weeks. So why? Why did God make us this way?
      We as moms, as women are made to multitask. It is a gift and a curse. But, we do it all day long. I don't even go to the bathroom without either having something to look over or have to answer 12 questions of my children.  My answer to so much of this almost chaotic mind buzz has been a list. A simple form I made up. I use a steno pad and have it with me all the time. I can use it to write all kinds of things down when I need to. But, I mostly use it to keep my day/week all together so I don't miss anything. 

     Well, that works pretty well. How often does something different then your usual daily stuff come along and blow up your spaghetti mind? Makes it swirl and whirl to such a speed that I can almost not do anything that isn't auto pilot and stare into nothingness, not knowing how or where to start attacking each thing. Maybe it's a new deadline, maybe a new baby, a new puppy, maybe potty training, or school starting, a friendship dying out, a child going through a new phase, husband having  stuff at work that is weighing heavy on him. Any of these issues and so much more can send us into a tailspin. 

      So, now that I have pointed out the obvious, what can we do?  While on my hike one morning I was really struggling with being able to pray. I couldn't get my mind to form any sort of straight line of thought. My brain was whirling like that ride at the fair that you stand up and are strapped to the wall. Finally, I just cried out. "OH Lord! Help me with my schedule and my responsibilities. You can see them much clearer then I and can see where I need to prioritize. I'm too close to see clearly.  I have an overwhelming desire to sit down in all of it and do nothing. Please Lord help me."

      This may sound like a petty prayer to some. I mean, I'm not asking God to cure cancer or heal a sickness or even to find someone a job. I was asking him to help me with my schedule. A daily thing everyone has and must deal with. I must just be too weak to handle what I have on my plate. I mean other people do this sort of thing all the time without crying out to God.  These were my thoughts or actually the enemies. Because, why do I not think that God cares about my daily activities as well as my sanity. Let's face it. Those daily tasks and thoughts are what makes up our sanity.

      I got the strangest answer ever. The theology of how or anything else doesn't matter. I know the answer was from Him who loves me and wants me to be sane and capable. 

      The words I got in my brain were....MIND DUMP. Really? What in the world?

Inside of my brain.

     Then I saw it unfold in my minds eye. A long paper, actually pages taped together to make a sort of time line type of thing. Then I was to dump it all. Not randomly but in an order so I could see everything that I was responsible for. And by seeing it and writing it all in its own place, it was easier to see it all at once instead of thinking about it all at once. Now I don't know if it would work for you but, it helped me. Here is part of my mind dump. It is messy and not fancy. I guess I could go back and make it nicer but, I'm not sure how long I will need it. 

Yes, I know it is simple and a bit ugly but, it helped me get my spaghetti brain in perspective and then I was able to see what things were important and what wasn't.  I put at the top of each page a topic that was the main topic in my brain; like relationships, Faith, household, maintenance, homeschool, and several others. Then under the main topic I made sub topics (some times I had to add a page in between) like, under homeschool I put Organizing, planning, daily executing. Then I would add what I needed to do under that subcategory; Clean out school room, put together and clean out old supplies and list what I need new, set up all curriculum so that it is easily accessible, set up the desks, tables,  folders, etc. Anything I could think of to get ready. 

      One thing I realized in the mind dump was how many things weren't a permanent topic. Once school started back up that section would shrink tremendously. As well as, a few other topics would also be completed. Not an ongoing thing. That helped me realize that if I could put as many of those short term things in the top priority spots to get accomplished, I could slowly clear up my poor over worked brain. 

     Most of the items on the mind dump don't go away. And new items will fill up the finished ones, but this was a great way for me to stop and get off the Tilt-A-World that was my mind and grab that bull by the horns. I felt like I had some control over what my day would look like.

     I don't know if you are going through this Tilt-A-World kind of day but, if you are I encourage you to do your own mind dump. I realize it could be in a circle or a cluster or even a straight line, it doesn't matter, just however your mind works. I liked the timeline because for me, it was easy to make and to add things in the middle of a line by un-taping and adding a blank page. 

     I hope I have helped you today with my crazy thoughts and ideas. Let me know if you got anything from this today.

     Now to drink my "Yucky Tea" and build a book shelf.

New to Homeschooling? You Can Do It.

     I remember the months when I was researching and reading everything I could get my hands on about homeschooling when my oldest was about 2 ½ -3 years old. I was a preschool teacher before I had him and I didn't see the use of sending my baby to preschool when I could teach all of what he would learn. I wasn't big on letting go of my baby for several hours a day at this point.
     I found a local homeschool group. I had gotten their name from another group and their phone number (no one had websites then). I called and talked to the nicest lady. Becky was her name. I still know and respect Becky so many years later. She encouraged me to come to a park day and a Mom's Night Out. I wasn't so sure. But, I made an effort to go to the MNO. I was completely overwhelmed by what they knew and how they seemed so nonchalant about what they were doing.
      Well, months passed and I was doing school stuff with my big boy and we were having so much fun. I found a couple of moms to meet at the park occasionally, but that never seemed to go over well. Honestly, the other kids were mean. Hitting and biting and my kid was always on the receiving end of this. He hated it. I hated it. We stopped.
      Then came baby number 2. He was very ill and all thoughts of school were on the back burner. His stint in hospitals and monitoring blood and meds lasted for several months. But, once we were home safe and sound, I really kicked into germ mode. KIDS ARE GERMS. Other peoples kids of course.

Germ filled monster. Just look at him ready to spread germs to my darlings.....

     After having such a sick baby I was terrified of him getting sick again. I kicked schooling the boys into high gear. I tried to go to another MNO or two of that group I had found but, was always so overwhelmed. They were so nice but, I just couldn't get past all of their sharing of how this could work. It was too much at once.
     We went like this until my oldest became 6. That is the age for mandatory attendance in school of some form. It was kindergarten. Come on, I could do kindergarten, right? How hard can it be? I went back to that homeschool group and devoured all the info I could. Curriculum, schedules, books, classes, groups, park days, you name it. I was in. But just for kindergarten. Only weird Kool-aid mustache kids with big hairy dogs in station wagons homeschooled. And I really refused to wear a denim jumper (the "required" uniform of all homeschool moms).
      Kindergarten was over and now we were looking at 1st grade. I went back to the sparse internet to find chat rooms of homeschoolers. Maybe I could find some people to connect with. The first group I found was having a park day. It was close so we went. I introduced ourselves and the kids were off to play. After a few minutes my oldest came to me and said, "Mom, the kids are all wearing small bags around their necks. Why?"
      I had no idea. So I asked, thinking maybe they had all made a craft or something. The other moms told us they were the kids bags of spells. That it was to protect them and get them used to having them with them.  I was somewhat shocked. I asked what kind of teaching they were using (trying not to be rude). They said they were a group that practiced Wicca. Really. Wicca.
     We left. I did much research on them after that meeting and was amazed at all that the Wicca community had said about homeschooling and how important it was to them to have the freedom to teach their kids their beliefs. I didn't go back to the group but, I gained enormous respect for them and their beliefs.
      The next local group I found was at a park just down the street. I checked to see their beliefs and found they were an open group to any belief. I figured, well that might be a fit. But, I wasn't going to jump in and join the group playing right away this time. My kids and I held back and played on our own while I watched to get an idea of who these people were.
      You will never guess what showed up! Seriously. It was like a page out of my fears. An old wooden paneled station wagon pulled up and parked.

It wasn't this nice.

It was very dirty with a bent antenna. When the doors open a giant, dirty, hairy sheep dog jumped out.

This big dirty beast.

Then came the kids. There must have been 6 of them. All wearing very wrinkled and looked kinda dirty clothes. It looked like they may have slept in them. All of their hair was everywhere. AND (I'm not kidding), they all had what appeared to be Kool-Aid stains on their upper lips. Kool-Aid mustaches.




And to top it all off, the mom gets out of the coughing station wagon in a.... Wait for it.....

That was not making me happy at all. I am not going to wear one of those.

DENIM JUMPER.
     So, I was trying to get over my shock that exactly what I had told my husband my vision of what homeschool families are like, just stepped into my line of view, when these kids started beating the crud out of each other. Girls, boys all of them, hitting and wacking each other. They had lightsabers, wooden swords and even sticks. It looked like Lord of the Flies. I wondered how long before the moms noticed. I realized the moms were encouraging it. Cheering them on and laughing.
     "O.K. Boys we are out of here."
All I could think is that, I was right. All homeschoolers are WEIRDOS. Really. Now what? I needed help navigating the basics of homeschool but, I cannot connect with these people. They and I are not the same. HELP.
     After agonizing over all of this for a couple of weeks. I signed us back up to homeschool and tried to reconnect with the original group I had talked to. Sweet Becky was there again. She got me signed up in the group so I could get the paper newsletter in the mail. (I'm telling you this was 15 years ago).
     I got the newsletter and read it. OK, I should meet these people. So, I started going to the MNO.  I was so uncomfortable I didn't know anyone and I really was brand new. These ladies had been doing this forever. They would try to help me and I would leave feeling like I was drowning. Like I had been blasted all night with a fire hose. I would come home and my husband would ask how it was. I would want to cry but, I stayed positive for him. "It was fine. The ladies are nice. I have a lot to learn."
     I would spend hours at night and at nap time following bunny trail after bunny trail on the internet. Remember, the internet was very unsophisticated. Yahoo groups were king. I read and read and took notes. I learned about so many different kinds of ways to homeschool. So many curriculums and Styles. I didn't know there was a style of homeschooling. And the groups all said you needed to declare your style. Some groups were very exclusive and high IQ's and some were so lackadaisical, they played Legos all day long.  There was the " you have to write out all lesson plans and follow them to a tee groups" and the "all play is school. Don't worry. They'll learn eventually".  I wasn't buying either group. I had to find my own ground. I needed something in the middle. I went to the book store (we had so many books stores then. No Amazon), and thumbed through many books. Again ranging from one extreme to the other. I found a few I thought might be helpful.

The Unschooling Handbook This book was great. It gave me a good overview of what really Unschooling is. That it isn't lazy parenting. That it was actually way more work for the parent if done the right way.

Should I Homeschool by Elizabeth and Dan Hamilton. This is an old book. Written in 1997. But, it gave a great over view of what homeschooling was and where to start.

There were so many more. Some of them weren't very helpful. But these were the first ones. Now there  is a plethora of books and information. Maybe too much. It can get mind boggling. But, remember you are doing this for your family. Not just for you and not just for your children.

      I know you think you are doing this for your children.  Just wait. You will be surprised who it is that changes and grows because of this new adventure you are looking into. You will grow so much. I went through all of the emotions you are, and all of the same fears. What if I mess up my kid? What if he ends up having to live with me for the rest of his life because he can't function in society? What if he never gets married because he's weird? What if he can't be a good employee? What if he doesn't go to prom? How will it effect him if he never has a group of kids to get together with 20 years from now for a reunion? Will he have friends? How can I teach him to read? Write properly? Do I have to let him dissect a frog on my kitchen counter???? Am I qualified? Am I able to do this? Will my husband support this? Will my extended family think I'm crazy? (Mine already did). Will he be normal? Wait! What is normal? And so many more of these kind of questions floated in my head at 2am. I prayed so much.
     Please believe me.  This is life changing. You will become a better person and more well rounded as well from doing this. I realized how much I didn't know.  Guess what? I learned so much more then I ever did in school. And I was actually enjoying it. Now that doesn't mean that all days are rosey and fun. No way. So many days I left the table thinking, this is crazy. Why am I subjecting myself and my kids to this? Why not send them to school and get my life back. I could have a clean house and time to do things. I don't even know what things I would do now but, I'm sure there are things. When Jr. High hit for each of my boys, I actually cried a few times. I lost it. I yelled. gasp.  Everyone knows that a homeschool mom is full of immeasurable amounts of patience. NOT.    But, we stuck it out and we started to have familiar people we saw at assemblies and park days with this homeschool group. I could actually talk to these ladies and ask if I was going crazy or if I was doing it all wrong and should just cut my losses.  Without me realizing it I found a friend that I could call on the phone (before text and Facebook) and vent a little and laugh a lot. I don't know that she was my best friend in the whole world, but she was my homeschool friend that was in the trench next to me.
      As time went on I had baby number 3 and 4. Baby number 3 put me on I bedrest for 6 months. Everyone asked if I'd put the boys in school. All I could think was, WERE THEY CRAZY? There was a good portion of that was selfishness. I was a afraid I'd curl up and die without my boys to be here. That I would feel I had failed. (this is my feelings. Not what anyone else should feel or believe).   Also, it really seemed like I would be sending them away in the middle of life. Shouldn't they be a part of our family and what is going on? We homeschooled through it and it was the best thing for us. We got so close and have so many stories and really my kids learned so much that year. We had an amazing curriculum that year. It was the first year I had bought a curriculum in a box. An all in one.
It was called

My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures


I had never done this kind of curriculum and I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it. It was all scheduled out and planned out so overwhelming. I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I like a spine but, not a full fleshed out thing like this. I learned quickly that I don't have to do everything on the schedule. I can and should make any curriculum I am using my own.  This realization is huge. If you are new, you are thinking, how? I'm not a teacher. I don't have a degree. I don't know how to do this. You will learn I promise. Give yourself permission to not do everything.  It is freeing and empowering. This is one of the biggest benefits that I have gotten from homeschooling my kids. Strength and the ability to say, "enough." I know it sounds weird but, you can do this.
     Last night I did a homeschool information night with a dear friend. There were probably 12 people there, including 2 dads. My friend and I took turns answering questions, and sharing what we could. I felt badly looking into these moms and dads faces and seeing all of the stress, confusion and bewilderment on them.  I wish I could do it for you. Give you a curriculum and hold your hand. Help you execute it. But, this is like labor. You can have whoever you choose to be there helping and coaching you but, no one is pushing that baby out but, you. I can share my experiences and give any advice you ask for; and I will but, again, you can do this.

     Never in time has there been so many options available to you and so confusing. There are so many curriculums, styles, beliefs.  When someone tells you this is the only way to teach something stop and re-think it. Truth is, there are a million ways to teach anything and so much to learn and teach. It is limitless what you could teach and all learn together. We have done some boxed curriculum, we've done Unit Studies, we've done some of the latest and greatest that others talk about and we have done some of the very old McGuffey reader type of schooling. I am sure there are many more ways we will find to teach and learn over the years to come. But, the questions I ask for my family are; are you learning anything of value, are you enjoying it at all? Is there something else you want to learn?
     Again I say, you can do this. And you aren't alone. We should all be grateful to the families that pioneered this for us all in the 1980's and 1990's. The ones that did this when it was thought to be illegal and there was no curriculum for them to wade through. They did this (denim jumpers and all) so that we can have the freedom to teach our children.
     One more thing. Homesschoolers are all different. There are Brainiacs, Hippies, Religious, Atheist,  Athletes, Surfers, Fast Food Lovers, Organic Crunchies, Liberals, Conservatives, and so much more.














You cannot put homeschoolers in a box anymore and assume they are all alike. I truly haven't seen those station wagon, Kool-Aid mustache homeschoolers again but, I suppose they are still out there too.  Just know there is one rule when you homeschool and that is that you are a veteran homeschooler to anyone that you have homeschooled one day longer then someone else. And we are all going for the same goal: happy, healthy children. So we always help others out, no matter what our differences are.
     Have fun. Stop and watch the caterpillars crawl. This is an amazing lifestyle you are choosing.

New Year, New Goals

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good
and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope."

   



     I don't usually make a bunch of resolutions. I tend to break them too fast, and then feel like I failed. However, with that said, this year I decided I would use this time to start fresh. I'm calling them goals though. Not resolutions. Just to be clear, goals, not resolutions. ( I think I may have an issue with that word. hahah) I have several things I want to do different this year. So, I will write them down here, and then there is a record of them. Hopefully, this year I can follow through.

     Spiritual- I want to be reading my bible daily. I will read or listen to at least two chapters a day. If I am not studying or reading in a particular area I will read the daily Proverb (there are 31. Makes one a day) and my Birthday Psalm. (I am 42 I will read the 42nd Psalm until I turn 43.) I will be able to study these and meditate on them.
     I will spend quiet time with God daily. At least 20 minutes each day. I will practice just BEING in His presence.
     I will encourage my children to continue reading their bible daily and to go to there bible study group weekly.
     I will continue to go to our bible study weekly, once it resumes. And do the weekly study.

1 Corinthians 10:13
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

     Physical- I will walk 4-5 days a week. At least once a day for at least 30 minutes each time. Hopefully, I will be able to do more then 30 minutes but, I want to get in the habit of getting out each day again.
     I want to be healthier and loose weight (who doesn't?hahah). I want to lose 35-40 pounds by the end of the year. I will use a food tracker, use my pedometer to get my 10,000 steps a day, and add the Essential Oil Protocol that I have written down. I want to feel good and go down several sizes.
     I will drink one-half gallon of water a day.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Philippians 4;13
" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

2 Timothy
"God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
(this one I need the most!)

     Mental-I want to focus on the positive. I will look for the blessing in every situation. Even the seemingly bad ones. I will list 5 blessing each day that bring me joy. I will choose joy and not focus on the unjoyful things in life. I will keep my focus on what He wants me to do and be.

Philippians 4:8-9
" Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."


     Emotional-I will not dwell on hurts and emotional heart ache. I will not stew in anger. I will let the Lord have those. When I have trouble with emotional pain or old scars, I will spend time with His word and meditate on those words instead. I will ask the Holy Spirit how to release those pains. I will find patience for my children and those around me. I will exercise that patience. I will not let how others perceive me hurt me. My family, close friends and God know who I am and I will be happy with that.

Psalm 39:2-3
"I kept very very quiet... but, I became even more upset. I became very angry inside, and as I thought about it, my anger burned."

Psalm 32:3 
"When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long."

Relational- This one is easy and hard for me. For my family it's easy. For others it is hard for me. I have a hard time giving time to others then my family. And that is what I am going to do. I will give time to others. Time with friends to build on relationships. Also, time to those that make me uncomfortable. I know that is odd but, with my anxiety, I have trouble wanting to even talk with others. I will reach out and talk to people and make an effort to talk and connect with others. I tend to not want to let others outside of family encroach on our family and our time. Maybe to a fault.

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Galatians 6:2
"Bear one another's burdens."

1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Encourage one another and build each other up.

Hebrews 10:24
"Spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Financial-  I will help to pay off our debts and save where I can. I will consciously look for ways to save money rather then let it bleed out.

Romans 11:36
"Everything comes from God and exists by his power and is intended for his glory."

Deuteronomy 8:18
"Remember the Lord you God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth."

Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, " Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""

Vocational- I will work at my household and keep it well. I will plan out menus and schedules to keep it tidy and running smoothly.
     I will keep the kids school schedules working and keep them on track. I will keep classes and credits updated and encourage all of them to reach further then they think they can daily.
     I will work at the Oils and build on my business. I will help Greg where I can in his business to help build it and secure new business.


Colossians 3:22
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."

Colossians 3:23-24
"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."


     Ha! That is quite a collection of goals.  I really want this year to be different. I feel like I have gotten in a rut. I am on a cycle that is stressful and unhealthy. I have gained weight due to the stress, and haven't been able to loose it. I want to be happy and joyful about all that I have. Not worry about what I don't have or what I once had.

     I would love company on this journey that I have before me. I will help others to be accountable as I would like someone else to be accountable to. I crave to have a friend come along side me and say, "We can do this." I will add this to my prayer list.

     OK so here it is. All written down. YIKES.

New Blog Name, Same Family.

     I wanted to change my blog's name but, I couldn't figure out how to change it. Since I don't drink Sweet Tea anymore, I supposed it was time for a change. I gave up sweet tea because I don't drink the caffeine anymore. I used to be able to handle just the bit that was in the tea but, not anymore. Makes me jittery and the sugar is just not good for me. So, I'm an only water girl now.  So, time for a new name. I'll link the old blog here so you can (I can) go back and read the old stuff but, time for new things.
     It has been awhile since I have been on my blog so, let me see what is new? My oldest is 17 and driving. YIKES! He is a Junior in high school and a Sophomore in college. Pretty awesome. He works at the church in the tech department (volunteer) as a director. He is in charge the cameras and all that goes with it. He is an awesome kid.
     My 2nd son is into surfing and skateboarding. He is teaching himself to play guitar. He had gotten some Birthday money and spent it on an inexpensive electric guitar. He is having a ball. His fingers have to be raw. He is a Freshman this year. He really likes being a high schooler.
     My 3rd son is in second grade. He loves co-op. He is so excited to go see his friends each week. He also, loves to play with his sister but, really enjoys playing alone too. He is riding his bike and running with the dog all over the yard.
     And my 4th and only daughter is in Kindergarten/1st grade. She is the princess of the group. She likes to play with her brothers. Very girlie but, the first to climb high in the tree and enjoys when I get a bit freaked out by it. She loves her dolls, her dog and her bike. She adores her daddy and wants to live next door to me forever. Hope her husband is ok with that.
     My darling husband is the most amazing dad ever and great friend to me. None of us can wait for him to get home at the end of the day. Even the dog gets excited when Daddy is home.

     Being as it is winter, it is colder then I like. I miss the beach and the rejuvenating feel of the ocean. I don't miss the Sea Urchins. (Story for another day).

     So, I'm back. I am a bit older, learned a bit more and have had a few more life experiences then before. I will come here from time to time to record some tidbits of our lives and why it is special to us. Hope you'll come and sit a spell with me and we can share a cup of hot tea or coffee if you prefer.