Life...

January continues to move along.  We continue to not have a typical schedule (although I am longing for it).

Monday - Randy had a bronchoscopy so we spent much of the day at the hospital for that procedure.  We expect the results to confirm his current diagnosis of Sarcoidosis, but go back to find out for sure next week.

Tuesday - Our dog died.  We were very sad.  Spent the day dealing with grief & loss.  Also had our home inspection to recertify for another year of foster care.  Janae home sick.

Wednesday - Homeschool Co-op.  (It was nice to get out!)  The kids seem to be enjoying their classes.  Josiah has severe back pain so he went to the doctor while I took another child to a therapy appointment.  Janae home sick again.  Josiah in severe pain...stomach unsettled as well, although not sure if from pain or virus.

Thursday - We will see what the day holds!  So far I was awakened around 3:00 by Zach, who now has stomach cramping as well...and he proceeded to wake me about every 20-30 minutes until it was time for me to get up.  Little One has a visit so I do need to make that happen, otherwise we will be here.  Those who are well will go to school (or do homeschool).  Those who are not, will continue to rest.

I will drink coffee...and tea...and coffee...and get through this day!

I am also taking an online course on Savvy Minerals.  I've never used much make-up...just dabbled a bit.  So I have a box of fun samples here and am excited to learn more (I am getting older...)!  I'm a bit behind on watching the videos, but hopefully can catch up today or tomorrow!

Enjoy your day!
~Karen

Snowy weather

The weather recently has been snowy...more the nuisance type than anything.  It has however, resulted in a lot of 2-hour delays and early dismissals for the school kids.  I think they have had only a complete day or two of school since Christmas break!  We have also had lots of appointments.  This makes it more challenging to do school with the kids that are homeschooled, but we continue to plug away.

As I may have mentioned, I am doing a book study on the book "Switch on Your Brain" by Caroline Leaf.  I am really enjoying it!  I am also currently doing a study on homeopathy.  This is challenging me as well.  I'm not quite sure what exactly I think about it all, but I enjoy learning about new (or in this case, old really) things!

My week was supposed to be very busy (appointments every day) but due to the weather, many have been canceled.  With the kids being off on monday, having an early dismissal yesterday, and a 2-hour delay today, though, it's been a bit challenging to find a schedule/routine.  On one hand I appreciate that my week is less full due to things being cancelled/rescheduled, but on the other hand, I find myself longing for a typical and regularly scheduled week.

So I am enjoying my coffee and thinking about what my day will look like today.  Homeschool Co-op has been canceled/rescheduled.  I would like to have the homeschooled kids do their school work, do some cleaning, and do some office work.  We will see!

Enjoy your day!
~Karen

My "Word"

My word this year (or until I get a new one) is "Hope" (Hebrews 6:19).  I actually started with this word in October or November when I knew it would be my next "word" and decided I didn't need to wait until January.  :-)




















I used to be amused by people and their "words".  But a few years ago, I felt God impressing me that "restore" was what he had for me.  I looked up some scriptures and focused on them.  Last year my word was "remember".  This past fall, "Hope" came to the forefront and I switched to Hope. 

I have been blessed these past few years with focusing on one particular word for a period of time.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Time to start writing 2018 (or /18) on all your dated items.  :-)

It's Ice-Skating Season here in the Northeast!  Where we are, we haven't had that particular season in several years.  Sometimes it's only a day.  Sometimes we have to much snow.  Other times the temperatures just hover in that miserable 30ish temps...to cold to be comfortable but to warm for fun winter sports.  But this year, it all came together perfectly.  Randy took the kids skating this morning.  Then we went to an extended family gathering.  Now they are skating again.  I'm enjoying the quiet with the baby.

The year ended on a bit of a tougher note for me.  The family gatherings were lovely and a nice break in my week.  But one child has been struggling.  It's hard to continue to stay upbeat when 1 member of the family just spirals into negativity...and when most words out of said child's mouth are negative...and especially towards mom.  So, I've struggled with that this week.  I'm hoping that by next week (after 4 days this week of working towards normalcy) we are a bit more stable emotionally!

Overall, though, we had a pretty good year!  But I am ready to move on to see what 2018 holds...I think.  "Little One" has been with us over a year now.  I expect that 2018 will determine whether he becomes a permanent family member or not.  Of course, I thought that 2017 would have us farther along in that decision as well...so we will see!  I am hoping to continue to transition us to healthier eating, with more foods that we can ALL eat (because cooking separately for one is just extra work).  I am on a quest to find recipes we all like that we can all eat.  Unfortunately, I have a few children who, before taking a bite of any food, will ask suspiciously, "Is this gluten free?!"  Even when I say "no" or "yes, just like it always has been", they sometimes don't believe me!

I want to learn to drink more water.  I want to start taking some supplements (I'm getting older, after all, and should really look after my own health as well as my children's!)

Other Areas of Life:

• Household - Getting a better handle on managing everything would be good!  :-)  Figuring out what I can delegate to children would probably be helpful for all of us.  Meal Planning would help with meal prep (*Note.  Figure out a way to schedule in time for meal planning.)
• Homeschooling - Get it done!  Have fun!  Learn things!  :-)  Our Winter Semester of Co-op starts next week.  I'm looking forward to hearing about the kids' classes.  Zach will be learning about Winter Olympics, Wagon Train West, and continuing learning Botany.  Autumn will be adding (something with computers) to her Geography and Ancient History.  Mark will have classes in "Sensory Discovery", Natural Disasters, and Creative Movement.  I haven't heard yet whether my schedule will remain the same or be changed.
• Business - Trucking - I'm hoping to do better with scheduling regular time in the office every (or every other) day so that I not only get done what "NEEDS" done, but keep up with the little stuff that can so easily slip through the cracks.
• Business - Young Living - Same with above!  And create a specific plan to be more efficient in regards to offering classes, sharing with my team, growing professionally/personally, blogging and posting to my Facebook page.
• Internet - Do a better job of having specific times to do both business and pleasure on the internet (blogging/Facebook/business/shopping etc.).  Minimize using the internet as an unhealthy coping technique to life stress (although a funny video may be just the trick to keep a positive mindset...provided it's just 1 or 2 and doesn't morph into minutes/hours).  :-)
• Spiritual - Some years I read through the Bible (as far as I get).  Other years I work through a devotional guide or Study guide.  Last year I split between doing some book studies and reading 4 chapters a day (Old Testament + Psalms/Proverbs/Prophecy + Gospels/Acts + Romans-Revelations).  I think this year I'm going to study a book (or possibly 2 if they are short) for a month at a time.  I had done this a few years ago and appreciated the focus that brought.  So, what 12 books shall I study this year?  I think I will start with Genesis (January) as my kids are quizzing on that book.  And we'll go from there...I should make a list and blog about that another day.  :-)
• Simplify - A household of 9 just seems to always be overflowing with "stuff".  I am in no way a minimalist (nor do I intend to become one).  However, January is a time when I like to go through closets and cupboards and pass on what is no longer needed/used.
• Other Obligations - Facebook Groups.  I  want to focus on the ones that are important to me personally or in a business sense, and drop the rest.  (This goes back to minimizing time spent in cyberspace instead of the people in my household.)  I want to be able to give my best to a few rather than less mediocracy to many.
• Learning New Things - I'm doing a study with a friend on "Homeopathy".  I love to learn about new things and am interested in what she has to teach!
• Family Life - We are looking at what vacations to schedule for this year.  We've enjoyed our extended camping trips in the past years and are thinking about what we could do this year!  Randy & I have a weekend away scheduled as well (adding a second one could be a nice thing if we can work that in).

Okay...blog post is way to long already...

Happy New Year!

~Karen