My very nice friend, Mary(who refuses to blog so I can’t link to her! lol), let me borrow this book and let me tell you, there are a ton of great ideas between the covers!! The idea that I recently put to the test were my “Label Sheets”. All three kids enjoyed them…especially the kid I was really trying to “reach” with the sheets.

I have an account with Enchanted Learning so that is where I head first for printables. The labels were made from leftover scrapbooking paper and are removable because I used just a smidge of removable poster putty. If any of you have put together a MOTH schedule you all know the stuff I’m talking about! lol!!

I have also made a “Label Sheet” of the insects basic parts and the parts of a flower. Fun!

I made Belle a “skinny scarf” out nubby yarn that I found on sale at Michael’s. I love the colors but sheesh the stuff was hard to work with! I had to use a big blue crochet hook that Jake has named the “toddler hook”. I was going to take a photo of it but I can’t find it…something tells me that I might find it back in Jake’s room……not being used for crocheting but as a weapon!! Anyway, I added the smooth turquoise yarn and that made the crocheting much easier since I could actually see my stitches.

I put together this generic game board a few weekends ago. Right now we are using it for reviewing our History lessons. The board is designed to be used with lots of different subjects. To make the question cards, I use the label format and I type up the Q & A and then tape it onto cards I have cut from scrapbooking paper. I have also made a set of “Action Cards” with such things as “Forgot to turn off the stove…return home”, “Surf’s up dude…spend a day at the beach”, “Visit the Butterfly Garden and do some research” and this is one of my favorites (which you will probably find sad!lol!!) “Make a run to the border to buy your mom a burrito!” When you draw this action card, you have to go all the way back to the big red sombrero. There’s also a space where when you land on it, you accidently “blow out your flip-flop, step on a poptop, cut your heel so you have to head on back home”….and we all sing that line from Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville”, changing the words that need to be changed so that it is kid-appropriate! lol!! I know…very shameful! Anyway….the game board is fun for all of us!

Here are my “Befores”…I will post my “Afters” late Tuesday evening. This is part of my studio…well, I can dream of having a studio right?! These are photos of my “Project Shelves”, my “Design Wall” and the “Bins”. The bins were the ones I used to organize all of Gus‘ medical supplies. It pleases me to use these as storage space for the books and quilts that we send out to Gus’ Gang families. I couldn’t just use them for “stuff”…even the bins that Gus has left behind are special to me…

I’m going to be cleaning and organizing the shelves and the bins….the X and O quilt must leave the design wall soon! It’s driving me a little nuts! lol!!

Check out more “Tackles” over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

The Good:

• I can now do several basic crochet stitches…and I made two dish rags out of a bright pink, orange and yellow cotton yarn. I picked up another skein in blues and lime greens to make some more rags.
• I got to catch a “Calgon Moment” without a certain little girl hanging out with me! I call this a good even though I really do enjoy our “girl chats” in the spa!!
• The back deck is cleaned off and the furniture is arranged nicely.
• Pete dropped his C++ class…this class was taking up way too much time.
• I completed Week 2 of the Pharmacy Tech course

The Bad:

• My house has been in an extreme state of chaos.
• School was not consistent this week because of the chaos!!
• I forgot to do “Five Senses Friday”
• We had some ugly gray days that suck the life out of me…and make my home chaotic…

The Ugly:

• Milo, the dog, barfed on both bathroom mats. He had eaten Hyacinth’s hamster food….out of the box not the cage! lol!! The mats got tossed…I know, I know, very wasteful but I just couldn’t deal with cleaning it up. Sometimes, things just need to go…..

Visit more Weekend Reflections over at Mommy to Two’s blog!

I am really enjoying my Pharmacy Tech course through ETSU. I’m in the second week of the course and I think I’m doing ok. I can do the math…I can even set up the conversion problems!!

The professor suggested that we learn about two drugs a day so today I learned about Fentanyl and Ativan. These were two drugs that Gus took a lot. I remember one time, after surgery, Gus was waking up and he looked over at me with the oldest grandpa eyes I have ever seen. His “Fentanyl-eyes” were just too much…so sweet…he was one tough little guy and I miss him very much!

I have been thinking a lot about Psalm 21:2-6 lately. I have it marked in my bible because it makes me think of when Gus died.

You have granted him the desire of his heart

and have not withheld the request of his lips.

Chaplain Sandy once said to me that Gus had prayers too and that maybe his prayer was different than ours. She was right…I do truly think that Gus’ heart’s desire was to be with our Father and to be able to rest. I think about all the time that Gus was on the ventilator with tons of meds onboard…and I know that he was conversing with God! Oh, how I would love to have heard those conversations…hopefully one day I will have that privilege in Heaven.

You welcomed him with rich blessings

and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

I can’t help but think that upon Gus’ arrival into Heaven, that God was awaiting him with the words I long to hear “Well done good and faithful servant!” Gus was truly a good and faithful servant even though he only grew to be 16 months old. His life glorified God in so many ways and drew us all closer to our Father. I also can’t help but see a little golden crown resting upon his precious little head!

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—

length of days, for ever and ever.

I think that is exactly what Gus asked for…LIFE. So God gave him just that..Eternal Life!

Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;

you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

God brought Gus through many different battles and he made Gus victorious in all of them…even in death Gus was given the most perfect victory of all! Certainly my little sweet boy has been bestowed with splendor and majesty!

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings

and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

My heart is full of joy just thinking about the eternal blessings that Gus is enjoying now..even as I am writing this post. Of course, the most precious blessing is that of being in the presence of Jesus…I can imagine Gus and Jesus together in Heaven. This is one of my favorite things to think about…I’ve even written about it in an unfinished novel. My mind can’t even wrap itself around all the wonders that Gus is experiencing!

So, I may cry and certainly I will miss Gus as long as I’m on this side of Heaven…but I am so pleased that I got to meet him and love him!!

Every trial that we pass through is capable of being the seed of a noble character. Every temptation that we meet in the path of duty is another chance of filling our souls with the power of Heaven.

FREDERICK TEMPLE

Much, much better…thank you Bestest Blog of All-Time for a wonderful random blogging experience. I heart the Bestest Blog of All-Time!!

Here’s the new list with links and the blog’s tag line…

1. Beautiful British Columbia “Boating, fishing and prawning are recreational pursuits we enjoy in British Columbia!”

2. Sunflower “Share Thoughts, Experience & Fun”

3. Peggy As She Is “Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes…Peg returns to share more of herself, as she is”

4. Celebrate Life ~ Daily “Life’s wacky little observations from Roswell, New Mexico continues. (No! Not Area 51, that’s in Nevada! *heavy sigh*) So! You ‘think’ you’re ready? Really?! Then come with me…”

5. A Girl Worth Saving “New six letter word: Budget. Here’s to falling into the rabbit hole and learning the ins and outs of personal finance.”

6. Excerpts and Writings “This blog will house pieces of short stories, novelettes and poetry that I’m currently finagling to my lofty standards of perfection ;).”

7. Book Reviews, Cat Reviews and Life Reviews

OK..so I came up with this really neat idea last night. So, I “googled” it to make sure no one else had thought of it first. Well, wouldn’t you know it…someone has! So, following what Shari is doing over here, I give you my first “Five Senses Friday”.
Sight:

• Lovely Brown-Transferware plates at Carter at Main
• Beautiful bird murals painted on panels
• Extremely fat Robins in the yard

Sound:

• Belle singing “The One Thing” buy Paul Coleman…while she is cleaning the tub
• Singing hits from the late “80’s and early 90’s” with Christy
• “Drifter” by DecembeRadio

Taste:

• Tiramisu
• Extreme Clean Aquafresh Toothpaste…it explodes in your mouth!
• Diet Coke with Vanilla from Sonic

Smell:

• O d’Oilily perfume that Pete bought me while in the Virgin Islands
• Suave Humectant shampoo

Touch:

• wavy, bumpy boucle yarns
• my beloved Mary Janes upon my feet!

The Good:

• Spent a lovely Valentines with my husband
• Homeschool Co-op started back up and Atlanta Bread Company is still donating breads and other goodies for the Mom’s Lounge!
• I made a 100 on my first Pharmacy Tech quiz!!

The Bad:

• I was in a funk…I guess a grief funk…for several days. I’m better now!!
• My house is turned upside down and will probably take me 5 years to clean it up
• I was not able to find the book I accidently turned in for trade…sigh….

The Ugly:

• OK…did you see “House” this past Tuesday? He pulled a ginormous tape worm out of a gals bowels. Now, I can usually handle gross stuff but this really gagged me…I just can’t get it out of my mind…Acckkkk!!! This is from Fox:

House cuts into Hannah’s stomach without any anesthesia,
and he pulls out a
floppy, wet, white worm.
He continues pulling and pulling, eventually
removingthe entire 25-foot parasite. A worm like this would have caused anyone
elsetremendous pain since it would have sunk its numerous claws into the
intestinalwall to lock into its host.

YOWSIE!!!

Reflect on your Week and then head over to Judi’s at Mommy of Two!!

Alive! Unveiled Heart Series
Gwen Meharg

Valentines…… To Heaven

This Valentine is not of the ordinary kind,
Its still filled with love…and blessings inside;
But mine has to be sent on the wings of love…
You see its destination is the Heavens above.

Its not being sent to my parents so dear,
For they are still with me each day of the year;
Its being sent to my child…who left earth so soon,
Who’s now in the Heavens with the stars and the moon.

The message is the same as your valentine,
“I love you…my sweet precious child of mine;
My love is still deeper than the ocean is blue,
And its sent with hugs and kisses…from me to you.”

“I know you are with me each and every day,
You listen as I talk to you…and hear what I say;
For that is one thing that disease cannot do……
you’ll always be apart of me…and me a part of you.”

“I know God did not give you the awful disease,
Thank Him for His comfort He gives me…would you please?
I dont know what I would do without His undying love…
Sent to bereaved parents from the Heavens above.”

“I know you are in the best of care,
But it’s so hard for us left on earth to bear;
Could you put in a request from us left behind…
For God to send the knowledge..so a cure we can find.”

“So that no other family has to go through this pain,
Our lives without you will never be the same;
When I get lonely I will look to the sky at night…
And see you shining down your big bright light.”

“Happy Valentines day sunshine…I miss you so much,
I know you know how many lives you have touched;
You’ll always be mine…I love you with all my heart,
I know we be together again…and then we’ll never part.”

So you see the meaning is still the same…
The method of delivery is the only change;
Mine must be sent by a little white dove…
On the wings of Love.

Author~ Laura/Heavenly Lights Childrens Memorial

Love~ Claire (Mommy to Laken in heaven)

Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, Pointing to her Children as Her Treasures
circa 1785
Angelica Kauffman (Swiss, 1741-1807; active England 1776-1781)

One day, while her children were still young, a lady came to visit Cornelia. She was a rich lady, and proud of her jewels and her wealth.

Cornelia listened quietly as her guest told her of the precious stones and ornaments she possessed. When at length she grew tired of talking of her own beautiful [259] things, she said she would like to see the treasures of her hostess.

So Cornelia led the lady to another room. There, in bed, fast asleep, lay her children. Pointing to the little ones, she said to the bewildered visitor, “These are my jewels; the only ones of which I am proud.”

From The Story of Rome by Mary Macgregor

Ahhhhh…I so agree with Cornelia! My children, all five of them, are my most precious jewels. Each different and unique. Each worth more than any precious stone or ornament that can be found or purchased here on earth. I am a rich woman….

Malapropism: Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

13 of my favorite malaprops and mispronunciations!

1. Nymphoma…My mom ran into a friend of the family at the grocery store. She talked with him for awhile and then called me with some bad news…she said, “Jenny, Mr. So&So has nymphoma! He’s got cancer…isn’t that awful?!” All I could do was laugh hysterically…Uh…I think you might have meant “lymphoma” Mom!

2. Peed-o-meter…This is the word that started the whole collection! My mom calls my husband who works at Radio Shack and asks him if he has a “peed-o-meter” for sale. He tells her that yes, he does…he keeps it by the “speed-o-meter”….Pedometer is what my mom was looking for…you know, one of those things that counts your steps!!

3. Tare-un-toola…this one is my mess up! I saw a brochure for a really neat train that you could ride on…it was called the “Tarantula”…I announced to our group that we were traveling with that I wanted to check out that “tare-un-toola”! Of course, my husband thought this was hilarious!

4. Mammiogram instead of mammogram

5. A-loom-knee…you know, when you graduate from college you are an “a-loom-knee” of that particular college. Uh…I prefer to call myself an Alumni…

6. Symmetry…a place where dead people are…also know as a cemetery

7. Eyed-jew-pro-fin…what you take when you have a headache…aka ibuprofin. My husband says this all the time just to be goofy! ok…here’s another thing my husband says just to be goofy….when he’s ordering roast beef he orders “roast beast” just to see what the server will say!

8. Sha-lay-lee….this is a really nice little dwelling that you may find in the mountains. Chalet!

9. African…My mom used to work with a lady who loved to knit herself a little african to drape over her legs in the winter…this one kills me every.single.time! I can just see a “Little African” draped over this gals knees!! We like to knit these too but we prefer to call them “afghans”!! (unless we are making fun of this lady!)

10. African Malibu…also known as an Alaskan Malamute. Beautiful dogs…

11. Velco..I love this stuff! Velco rocks!! I love those Velco shoes that you don’t have to tie…awesome! (velcro)

12. Doberman Pincherman…kin to the African Malibu…also known as a Doberman Pinscher.

13. Muslim…I was at the counter in a fabric store and another customer came up and asked the clerk where she kept her muslim! It took all I had within me not to just cackle! Uh..I believe what you are looking for is called “muslin”!!

Sheesh….I have so much more to share! If I have offended anyone, please accept my apologies. Heck, quite a few of the words I have collected were said by me!!

The Good:

• I found my camera!
• I’ve tackled the areas I planned on tackling and now I have photos for Tackle It Tuesday!
• I was able to get signed into my Pharmacy Tech course…finally!
• I tried out my new form and everyone loves it!
• It has been very sunny lately…so much so that I can’t get this song out of my mind!

The Bad:

• Belle has had the hacking cough this week.
• I had to cancel the Gus’ Gang Sew-In.
• I can’t figure out how to knit a sock on my Knifty Knitter.

And the Ugly:

• Milo got peed on…twice…by his friend “Big Dog”.

Be sure to do your own “Weekend Reflection” and then zip on over to Mommy of Two’s blog to read other reflections!

This flower is not really attached…I need to figure out how to make it detachable so that it can remain on the hat or be taken off. I’m not going to use a pin back since it will be for a preemie and the pin could be pokey. I may use a felt back with a yarn tie-on….any ideas would be appreciated!!

I think I’m going to use this very bright pink fabric in my hall bathroom….as a shower curtain.

Belle Coriander by Amy Butler from Repro Depot

Malapropism: Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

13 of my favorite malaprops and mispronunciations!

1. Nymphoma…My mom ran into a friend of the family at the grocery store. She talked with him for awhile and then called me with some bad news…she said, “Jenny, Mr. So&So has nymphoma! He’s got cancer…isn’t that awful?!” All I could do was laugh hysterically…Uh…I think you might have meant “lymphoma” Mom!

2. Peed-o-meter…This is the word that started the whole collection! My mom calls my husband who works at Radio Shack and asks him if he has a “peed-o-meter” for sale. He tells her that yes, he does…he keeps it by the “speed-o-meter”….Pedometer is what my mom was looking for…you know, one of those things that counts your steps!!

3. Tare-un-toola…this one is my mess up! I saw a brochure for a really neat train that you could ride on…it was called the “Tarantula”…I announced to our group that we were traveling with that I wanted to check out that “tare-un-toola”! Of course, my husband thought this was hilarious!

4. Mammiogram instead of mammogram

5. A-loom-knee…you know, when you graduate from college you are an “a-loom-knee” of that particular college. Uh…I prefer to call myself an Alumni…

6. Symmetry…a place where dead people are…also know as a cemetery

7. Eyed-jew-pro-fin…what you take when you have a headache…aka ibuprofin. My husband says this all the time just to be goofy! ok…here’s another thing my husband says just to be goofy….when he’s ordering roast beef he orders “roast beast” just to see what the server will say!

8. Sha-lay-lee….this is a really nice little dwelling that you may find in the mountains. Chalet!

9. African…My mom used to work with a lady who loved to knit herself a little african to drape over her legs in the winter…this one kills me every.single.time! I can just see a “Little African” draped over this gals knees!! We like to knit these too but we prefer to call them “afghans”!! (unless we are making fun of this lady!)

10. African Malibu…also known as an Alaskan Malamute. Beautiful dogs…

11. Velco..I love this stuff! Velco rocks!! I love those Velco shoes that you don’t have to tie…awesome! (velcro)

12. Doberman Pincherman…kin to the African Malibu…also known as a Doberman Pinscher.

13. Muslim…I was at the counter in a fabric store and another customer came up and asked the clerk where she kept her muslim! It took all I had within me not to just cackle! Uh..I believe what you are looking for is called “muslin”!!

Sheesh….I have so much more to share! If I have offended anyone, please accept my apologies. Heck, quite a few of the words I have collected were said by me!!

Visit other WW over at 5 Minutes For Mom!

Malapropism: Ludicrous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

13 of my favorite malaprops and mispronunciations!

1. Nymphoma…My mom ran into a friend of the family at the grocery store. She talked with him for awhile and then called me with some bad news…she said, “Jenny, Mr. So&So has nymphoma! He’s got cancer…isn’t that awful?!” All I could do was laugh hysterically…Uh…I think you might have meant “lymphoma” Mom!

2. Peed-o-meter…This is the word that started the whole collection! My mom calls my husband who works at Radio Shack and asks him if he has a “peed-o-meter” for sale. He tells her that yes, he does…he keeps it by the “speed-o-meter”….Pedometer is what my mom was looking for…you know, one of those things that counts your steps!!

3. Tare-un-toola…this one is my mess up! I saw a brochure for a really neat train that you could ride on…it was called the “Tarantula”…I announced to our group that we were traveling with that I wanted to check out that “tare-un-toola”! Of course, my husband thought this was hilarious!

4. Mammiogram instead of mammogram

5. A-loom-knee…you know, when you graduate from college you are an “a-loom-knee” of that particular college. Uh…I prefer to call myself an Alumni…

6. Symmetry…a place where dead people are…also know as a cemetery

7. Eyed-jew-pro-fin…what you take when you have a headache…aka ibuprofin. My husband says this all the time just to be goofy! ok…here’s another thing my husband says just to be goofy….when he’s ordering roast beef he orders “roast beast” just to see what the server will say!

8. Sha-lay-lee….this is a really nice little dwelling that you may find in the mountains. Chalet!

9. African…My mom used to work with a lady who loved to knit herself a little african to drape over her legs in the winter…this one kills me every.single.time! I can just see a “Little African” draped over this gals knees!! We like to knit these too but we prefer to call them “afghans”!! (unless we are making fun of this lady!)

10. African Malibu…also known as an Alaskan Malamute. Beautiful dogs…

11. Velco..I love this stuff! Velco rocks!! I love those Velco shoes that you don’t have to tie…awesome! (velcro)

12. Doberman Pincherman…kin to the African Malibu…also known as a Doberman Pinscher.

13. Muslim…I was at the counter in a fabric store and another customer came up and asked the clerk where she kept her muslim! It took all I had within me not to just cackle! Uh..I believe what you are looking for is called “muslin”!!

Sheesh….I have so much more to share! If I have offended anyone, please accept my apologies. Heck, quite a few of the words I have collected were said by me!!

“Birth of a Fern”

Photo by Jenny Romney

Jake and I started studying about ferns today. I had no idea that these plants were so amazing! I’ve always thought they looked nice…especially on people’s front porches. I’ve loved the lacy look of the fronds but I have never known that they unfurl themselves from a little ball…I’ve never known that the spores are in casings on the underside of the leaf. I have heard of “fiddleheads” but I never knew they were young ferns unfurling…and that they are really called crosiers! Maybe you all do know these things about ferns but I am just thrilled to be learning these things….hmmm…wonder what else I’m missing out on??!!

This is one of several posts about ferns…so you’ll have to stick with me! I’ll have to forewarn you too that we will be studying mushrooms next and well, I really like those red-capped mushrooms with dots on them!! So, don’t be surprised if I get excited about mushrooms too!!

Recipe for Fiddlehead Salad

Before I go, I would like to thank Jenny Romney for giving me permission to use her photo “Birth of a Fern”. I came across her photo while browsing. Be sure to check out her other beautiful photos at her Flickr stream and her blog Jen’s Raves and Rants.

Here are some highlights from our week:

1. Jake is now 11 years old!! We had a sleep-over last night. There was a lot of “gaming” going on with our new Wii…and lots of pop, chips and hot dogs…and of course a cookie cake.

2. Pete and I have started reading Shepherding A Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp. We are reading a chapter then discussing it…cool!

3. I made some progress on the quilts going to Sudan.

4. We haven’t heard from our friends in Central Florida. We left a message on their cell phone but haven’t heard back from them…so, Lorrie, if you are reading this please call us!!

5. I was able to make contact with several people concerning our ministry to families with chronically ill children and families who are grieving the loss of a child. You can read more about our ministry over at Gus’ Gang.

You can read more Weekend Reflections over at Mommy of Two’s blog.

Here I am…waiting on our overnight guests to go to sleep! Jake has invited 6 guys over to spend the night and I think I might just have them starting to settle down….so I thought I would share some craft blogs with you…until they all go to sleep…

We’ll start our tour over at Allsorts. I love her blog…so bright and inspiring. Check out this neat “Crazy Nine Patch“.

Next we’ll head over to Anna Marie Horner’s to check out her Valentine Pillows and the Love-Chain she has placed on the headboard. I love this idea of a Love-Chain!! This gal is super-creative…I just love all the bright colors. Be sure to check out the tutorials in the side bar!!

This one is for you Judi! Here’s a tutorial from Echoes of a Dream…how to make a crocheted flower. Still looking for a good sock pattern for us! lol!!

I am in total shock!! All the boys are asleep…that didn’t take as long as I thought it would! lol!! Now….I’m off to bed!! Maybe next time the tour will be longer….

Here are some highlights from our week:

1. Jake is now 11 years old!! We had a sleep-over last night. There was a lot of “gaming” going on with our new Wii…and lots of pop, chips and hot dogs…and of course a cookie cake.

2. Pete and I have started reading Shepherding A Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp. We are reading a chapter then discussing it…cool!

3. I made some progress on the quilts going to Sudan.

4. We haven’t heard from our friends in Central Florida. We left a message on their cell phone but haven’t heard back from them…so, Lorrie, if you are reading this please call us!!

5. I was able to make contact with several people concerning our ministry to families with chronically ill children and families who are grieving the loss of a child. You can read more about our ministry over at Gus’ Gang.

You can read more Weekend Reflections over at Mommy of Two’s blog.

Here I am…waiting on our overnight guests to go to sleep! Jake has invited 6 guys over to spend the night and I think I might just have them starting to settle down….so I thought I would share some craft blogs with you…until they all go to sleep…

We’ll start our tour over at Allsorts. I love her blog…so bright and ins