School Already!!

What you must say..but yes we have started back to school. We began on Monday...

What better time than now.. The weather is HOT! HOT!....and I can't seem to get the kids to want to go out.. So, I started using up my brain cell and this was the only option....

SCHOOL !!!!! YAY!!! .........for me at least...BOO for the kids...as you know I only home school one of my beloved chitlens...But, while Bro is in school I can't very well let Syd and Ty have all the fun they to have to read and do Math... like I said.....

WORLDS GREATEST MOM....

This year I have decided to try My Father's World.. I liked what it had to offer as far as hands on..

We did Sunlight last year.. It was great program...It just didn't work for my little guy... This is one of the things I like about home school. You can try and try until you find something that works best for your kids...

In public school just have to do what is already planned whether it works or not.... Gotta love public school....

I am so blessed to be able to home school... I am not going to say that everyday is a GREAT day but, I learn something new everyday..

Something from the lesson.

Something from the kid.

Something from God.

Something of myself...

Thank God I am here....!!

Reading time.....

Learning to measure......Hope that is just the right amount......

keep up the good work B...

nothing like a good book about medicine...He love to read Non-fiction... Wonderful..

Intrigued.......?

Well, there you have it folks.. School in Summer. NOT summer school....

Having Compassion

Compassion is a word that we find in the bible..We should have compassion to one another... Showing love, mercy, understanding..

Sunday morning, one of the members of our church did a Compassion International expo.. There has been so many times I have been watching T.V., and the commercials come on to help someone who is less fortunate for just penny's a day.. PENNYs !!

My heart is always tugged when I see their sweet, hungry little faces.. But, once the commercial went off so did the emotions I had felt.. Until Sunday morning..

The Griner/Dryden's are now proud supports of a little girl in India....Her name is Simi Kahtoon.. She is 7 years old... We are so happy to be supporting her.

But, on another note... I had mentioned in one of my previous post about all my friends were having babies, or adopting..

Well, before I even thought of supporting a child my heart is being pulled to bring one home. I have been visiting this web site called Reece's Rainbow.. I have fallen in love with each of these children..

One of my good friends told me to talk to my Heavenly Father..And, well I have been. Amazing, how He speaks right to you when you are doing His word.

James 1:27  Simply says that we are to care for the widowed and the orphaned...

I believe that it begins with prayer... I am not saying we are adopting..please don't misunderstand me.. but, I am saying that if I continue to seek God's guidance that you never know what He has in store....

But here is a pic of one of the little girls off of Reece's Rainbow that stole my heart.. Her name is Lizzy and is  she almost 1 year old...
http://www.reecesrainbow.com/

• 2 trips
• 1st trip, Both parents for 5-7 days
• Wait 2-3 months for court
• Both parents travel for 2nd trip, one can leave after 4 days
• The other waits stays approx 3 weeks longer
• 10-day waiting period is NOT waived for special needs
• Up to 8 children in the home if the family income is sizable
• Both parents must be younger than 60 years
• EASY TRAVEL IN-COUNTRY
• Fee includes orphanage donation
• Married couples and single mothers may apply
• Total program and travel fees under $28K

This is what it takes to adopt one of these precious children from Russia in Region 15

The Birthday Boy

I know this is a little late in posting, but I wanted to share my 13 years party with you...

I will let you know that this is the quickest thrown together b-day party I have ever done... Thanks Nana B...

See Nana B has an in ground pool which the kids love to go there to swim.. So I pulled a few strings, talked real sweet to Nana B, and low and behold she said YES....!!!!!!  Of course, Ty was super excited....
I am also saddened by this year of birthdays... My 12 year old is now a "TEENAGER" Aaahhhh.. My 9 year old hit double digits and my sweet 6 year old is not a whopping 7....They grow so fast.... (tear)...

There's the birthday boy.......

Pool fight... I want no part of that. Those boys would hurt me....hehehehe

Soaking up the rays.....(Got Sun Screen?)

Watch out Ty I think he is about to take you OUT!!!!!

The world's smallest frog......I think....

THE NANA B........HEY WHO YOU TAKEN A PICTURE OF?......ME?

Hum I wonder what they are smiling about?

Hey Cutie.... The Husband.. You don't get to see him much.....

Finally, The Cake.... If you can't tell this is a hunting cake... See the rifleman and the deer...Oh, Ty hunts? you ask. Why no he does not.. This cake was a father's day cake at Dairy *ueen... I told you this party was thrown  together. I didn't even order a CAKE...

I know I am the world's "GREATEST MOM EVER"... Don't feel bad you can't all be as good as me... Heheheheh......

A moment to just Laugh

Yesterday was the Co-op day for this area.. I have just recently started "co-op"ing if you will.... I am enjoying getting my food of the Internet..

I know how crazy that must sound to some of you and well to some of you no....

But, I have also enjoyed blogging...as you can see I love to change things around a good bit. You may see something new about every other week or so..See the thing is I like change. I like to rearrange furniture, cabinets, and bedrooms.. I love to walk in and see things a little different. 

I don't know why I am that way, I just am... But, my husband on the other hand HATES it. Because he works to the wee hours of the night.. When he gets home he expects everything to be the same...HA in his dreams.. So I usually get woken up to the sound of him falling over something or hitting his foot.. That is not the way I like to be pulled out of bed.. So, I holler from down the hall turn on a light... See cause light helps us to see what is in front of us..

Anyway, I told that little anecdote to tell you that one of my very good friends says that she cracks up every time she reads my blog because there is always a different background.. well duh honey I love change...Kinda like my hair.. But, I got to thinking I just might have to blog about my blog...Hahaha did that make any since to you... So this blog is for you Vicki with all my heart I love ya girl....

You we have to lighten things up sometimes...The last post was very emotional...Today I just want you to laugh.... laugh all day long.. You know what would be even funnier? Just start laughing for no reason at all..I do but then people look at me like I am crazy.. waving my arms all around, tears running down my face, snorting uncontrollably...That's what girls are made of......

Reflection

Good Morning ( in my singing voice). For this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.

But, I do want to take a moment and reflect on my life if you don't mind. I am prolly gonna be just talkin all outta sorts and what not but please just hang in there. I promise there will be not point to my jibber jabber....

Lets look at my children's lives for a moment.

Ty and Syd go from house to house every other week... so one week with me and one week with the dad... sounds fair right?  Bro lives full time with us and has met with his bio mom on numerous occasions.. Sounds fair right? 

But, what do you do when the every other week kids cry when you have to take to back? What do you do when the bio mom drops off the face of the earth? 

You pray that God will carry you through.. You believe that He will wipe away your tears.....You have faith in your Christ Jesus......

What happens when that faith is being doubted? Struggling each day to make it...Wondering why God has allowed this...Wondering what I have done wrong to receive God's wrath....?

I will say that I am thankful that we are a family founded on the promises of God... Doubt I do..Struggle I do.. Cry daily I do.... Pray every waking moment I do......

All of my friend are pregnant or adopting children....I am so excited for them and I love being part of their lives in this wonderful journey....

But, You know how it goes.. I am getting the fever of another child... I know that Bro would love to have a baby something running around the house that doesn't have to go to it's dads every other week... And, my other two would like it to very much to stay the way it is.....

Ty and Syd tell Bro all the time how lucky he is because he gets to stay with our mom all the time... (tears fall every time I hear these words).....And, Bro doesn't know why he has not got to see his bio mom....how do I tell why? .......Our life is very messed up... But, God has brought us together to get through our struggles together... Rely in on  God is just what He ordered

Wasting away

Here lately I have been on this kick to not waste food.
Food I cook, food for snacks, and veggies.  But, it has seemed more difficult to eat all that I have bought. There has been a few times that some of my good friends have given me zucchini, squash, and tomatoes. But, I find it very hard to eat all of it. I know that I had mentioned in a post not long ago that I was putting the zucchini and squash in the bread that I make, but good grief we can't eat that much bread. So, naturally guess what happened?  WASTED FOOD. I hate, hate, hate, hate to waste food.

So what am I going to do about it? You ask

Start buying less food.

Yay, that should work.

I have a basket full of FREE tomatoes. You can't beat free, but they are about to go bad...

What I need to learn to do is can. That way I will have them for later..

That is the smart idea.. Stand back now because I don't have many of them.....Ouch my head hurts now...

Okay so the point of this post is to rant about how much I dislike wasting food. I was thinking about those who don't have a variety of food to eat. Yet, I will complain if my steak is not cooked just the '"WAY" I like...How rude of me.. Anyway.. I will try to work harder this week and let you know how I am doing with my food wasting.. Perhaps you are better at not wasting than I am..

So, GOOD LUCK MY FELLOW BLOGGERS..........

Wonderful Friday

Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. There has been so much going on this past week.  (lets see)

First...I ended up not getting Syd and Ty back until after midnight (that made for a long night) So during that "waiting" time. I got the bright idea to make butter. Yeah that's right you heard me HOMEMADE butter. I was quite easy if you don't mind shaking the jar back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Okay so you get the idea that it is a LOT of shaking back and forth right? Right! But, back to the story.. I am lying down on the couch shaking the is jar of cream off the milk. I started milking about 11:15 pm. Now, you can imagine what was going to happen next. I started to fall asleep while making my butter and slam right in to my face not once but twice. Needless to say I stayed awake from there on after..

I think it turned out pretty good.

Secondly.....We had the forth of July cookout which the family tries to do every year. So my husband tells me that he is going to have to work on this particular holiday, and he had the option to work 1st shift or second shift. Duh, honey work first so he could be at home with us that night.  Well, as it turned out he was FORCED to work second. What did that mean for us NO Daddy, No Pa, NO Husband. Anyway, by then I was in no mood to cookout.                                                                                                                   

Thirdly..We spent the day at Ty and Syd's Nana's to go swimming. We were there for about  4 1/2 hours. We had a blast. The kids love going to there Nana B's. She is the worlds greatest Nana.

See what I am saying..

Fourthly...One of my best friends had her sweet little baby. I was very honored to be asked to sit with her other 3 kids while she brought Haddi Ruth into the world.. Then we had church. What a day..But I have to say that I am truly blessed.

Thursday....We got up early left the house to hit the library, Chic*-FIl-*, to the movies. We saw Mr. Popper's Penguin. (An awesome movie). Then off to Wal-*art for some shopping with the kiddos. Spent nearly the whole afternoon there. (YAY!!) We got home around 4:45 and sat for a few min. Up and out the door again to go and see sweet Haddi Ruth.. While we were there my pastor and his wife came in. We all went out to eat. 3 adults and 8 children.. I was thinking we must be CRAZY. But, all turned out great.. We have such wonderful children.. Home at last.

Friday....We met some more really great friends at And....Bounce. Stayed there for a few hours, and then she so kindly invited my and my children to go out to eat with them. I have to say I have some really awesome friends.

Now for some just random pics. I hope you don't mind....

One of my bestest Friends right here. I just love her and her kids...She is my Friday fun....

I know that you are wondering what is this? This here is my oldest sons idea of a modern day cup holder...At least it wouldn't tump over so easy right...

This is Ty playing with my camera.. He took like 50 pictures of me folding clothes. And I thought this one turned out pretty good.

These are some of my girls from church.. I can put them all in the "Big Sister Club".  What a blessing.

Bright lights small city

Tonight was our annual night of fireworks in my little town. What is funny is a town of this size, there as a pile of people out there tonight. There are all kinds of games for the kiddos to do. Many different little shops to shop at and music to listen to. It is really like a back yard thrown down for rednecks everywhere. And, yes if you must know I was there tonight. (Please don't judge the redneck in me).

But, as I was watching all the many different scads of people and all the chattering going on I got to thinking. There was so much excitement in there air.. I mean everyone was happy. People were howdying each other asking how is the family.

I want to see people like that for Christ. I mean I want to hear cheering, hoopin and hollerin. I think back to the time when David was bringing the  Ark of the Covenant back home. David was dancing before the Lord.
DID YOU HEAR ME DANCING BEFORE THE LORD. How many of us really feel the spirit the way David did. People in American are not hungry for the word of God. We as Christians stand back and let the world run it self into the ground. If you are like me you may think what can I do?

So what can you do? We/You/Us/I can go out and boldly proclaim the word of God. There is no other country where you can just walk up to someone and tell them about Jesus. 

I want to dance before the Lord. I want the courage that my fellow brothers and sisters have in countries where if you speak the name Jesus you could be killed. Now, please don't miss understand I am not strong enough to live in that type of constant strain. But, why do I not take time out of my "BUSY"  day to tell someone about what Christ has done for me? Because I am a chicken. I find that I don't want someone rejecting what I have to say. I expect people to be ready for Christ and I have to understand that there are going to be people that don't want to hear the truth. And, I am not ready to hear that. It is kind of like out of sight out of mind. The same purpose if I don't tell then I don't get shrugged off.

Saul/Paul was a Christan murderer. He killed people for believing and one day God said enough Paul you will now proclaim My word to the world and He did faithfully.

I pray that one day I will stop being a DEAD christian.
I pray that one day I will get of my butt and scream to the world what God has done for me.
I pray that one day I will look back at my life and I can say I was a true servant to God.

One day....When I completely submit my entire life to Christ. One day.......

Burning the midnight oil!

Late nights are coming more frequent as you can see by the time of this post. I recieved a call earlier this evening from my sweet, workaholic husband. He wanted to know if I minded if he worked another four hours. Yeah sure honey go ahead. Did I mention that he has already put in four hours overtime in this morning?

No, oh sorry. Yeah the dude like left the house at 10 am to venture off into the work force. That is 12 hours if he came home at his regular time. So, now he is working an additional 4 more hours. You gotta love a man that LOVES  to work. I do.....

Yeah I miss when he's not here. I think about all the family time that he doesn't get to sit in on. But, you wanna know something even when he is home he is NEVER really home.

I respect Family time for other families, because they actually have family time. That is wonderful.

Bro and I went to a dear friends house today to go swimming and, I was super glad for the invite. I knew Bro and I would desperately need something to do today. I know he gets tired of hanging out with mean ole mom. I know I would.

Just to let you ladies know I had plenty of great pictures of you guys. But, I didn't know if any of  you would still love me after posting ya'll in your bathing suits. Hehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, we were there for over 3 hours with some pretty awesome ladies. As I was driving home and thinking about what all these wonderful ladies would be doing. I came to realize that everyone of their husbands were on their way home from work.. to spend time with their wives and children. I am so happy for them.

Right now, as I am writing this post my husband is still at work. Making a living for this family. I appreciate all the hard work he does. Because if his long gruesome hours I am able to stay home, but I do keep telling him it is a God thing. Because if God didn't want me home I wouldn't be here. I would have a 9 to 5. Yeah right not in this day and age. I would be more like welcome to Bur*er King may I take your order....NOT