In my life this week...

A respite retreat for parents who have had a child die. Thanks to www.nancyguthrie.com for hosting this amazing, rejuvenating retreat! Awesome time spent with my BFF in Nashville prior to the retreat.

In our homeschool this week...

Lots of carschooling and homeschooling on the go. My BFF's 17 year old daughter who wants to be a teacher also pitched in to help with some schooling. Hmmmm.....strange! ....My daughter was able to get all of her work done in a short amount of time when it was someone else teaching her. Wow! I'm shocked!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Nashville, Nashville, Nashville oh how I love thee!

My favorite thing this week was...

Sitting at my BFF's big kitchen table and talking for hours and meeting so many awesome, amazing people at the retreat! A truly blessed weekend!

What's working/not working for us...

Everything seems to be moving along at a pretty good pace for us right now. Praying it keeps up!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
What a blessing to be able to take off whenever I want and head west to Nashville. A homeschool schedule allows for freedom and flexibility. How blessed I am to be able to "do" school anywhere, anytime!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

"Is it only when our lives are emptied that we're suprised by how truly full our lives were." Ann Voskamp .... I've been reading 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and my friend Melissa posted this quote on FB today from the book. Have you read it yet? And if not, what are you waiting on???? It's an amazing, life-changing book!

Respite Retreat with the Guthries

Looking forward to this weekend when Robert & I will attend a respite retreat put on by David and Nancy Guthrie in Nashville. The retreat is for parents who have lost a child. It's been 5 years since we lost our sweet Mary Margaret, but in many ways it seems like only yesterday. It will be very healing to be with other people who have experienced similar losses. There will only be 12 couples, including us and the Guthries. I highly respect the Guthries. Nancy, an author, wrote the book "Holding on to Hope" which I read after MM died. She also wrote the devotional called "Hope" which a sweet friend gave me while we were living in the Ronald McDonald House. Her words had an amazing impact on me, as she and David lost two children about a year and half apart. Both children were around 6 months old when they died. Their story is amazing, and you can read it here: http://www.nancyguthrie.com/about/ .

In addition to spending the weekend at the retreat, we will spend Wed and Thu with my sweet BFF, Angel, who will be watching Lillie for us while we're away.

We would love your prayers as we go through the weekend, as I know that while it will be healing, it may also be painful at times to revisit the hardest time of our lives. Robert's parents gave us a beautiful antique trunk which I've wanted for years to put all of MM's things in. I always thought that I had "grieved well", if there is such a thing. But for whatever reason, I cannot bring myself to go through her things to put them in the trunk. I'm praying that this weekend will help bring some needed closure for me. Please also pray for the other 11 couples, as this is sure to be a difficult weekend for all of us.

Walk in love ....

Outside my window... it's dark out so I can't really see anything.

I am thinking... that I need to be working on Lesson Plans instead of blogging!

I am thankful for... getting to spend time with my sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews this weekend!

From the learning rooms... We are studying Egypt this week. We are members of Little Passports ... http://littlepassports.com/ and this is the country we received treats from this month. (Ironic considering the political upheaval in this country currently, isn't it?) While learning about mummification, we'll be "mummifying" some apples!

From the kitchen... Oh I need to be better about making and following a meal plan! One thing on the menu for sure this week will be ViSalus protein shakes for breakfast and lunch. Yummy!

I am wearing... flowery scrubs (I'm at work!)

I am creating... a scrapbook for a friend from his birthday party last October!

I am going... to Nashville to see my BFF on Wednesday! Then Friday Robert and I are attending a respite retreat facilitated by David & Nancy Guthrie for parents who have lost children.

I am reading... One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp ... an amazing book.

I am hoping... that none of us get sick this week.

I am hearing... the sound of my little patient's ventilator.

Around the house... We're planning to start cleaning out the "old playroom" and turn it into our antiques room. It is currently a DISASTER beyond your imagination. I could show you a picture, but I'm not going to. lol

One of my favorite things... my house flag that says "Welcome Y'all". I've wanted a "welcome" flag forever, but couldn't find one I loved. Well, I LOVE this one! Now I just need some company so I can hang it out!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Visiting my little friend Maddie on Monday, taking my dear friend Dawn and her precious son to the doctor on Tuesday, art class on Wednesday afternoon and THEN.... NASHVILLE here we come! Yippeee!



I'm Linking Up at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

In my life this week...the stomach bug. Ugh! The fun part though was having a 3 night sleep over at my friend Dawn's while my husband was out of town. And of course celebrating the 6th birthday of my precious girl!

In our homeschool this week... we actually got caught up finally on Friday! Lou Lou continues to struggle with phonics, but seems to be a whiz at math. Praying phonics gets easier as the year goes on.

Places we're going and people we're seeing... Sunday we went to the aquarium for L's birthday party. It was AWESOME! Especially the new penguin exhibit. It was perfect timing as we had just finished reading Mr. Popper's Penguins last week!

My favorite thing this week was... my husband coming back from his business trip!

What's working/not working for us... Working: Using a timer and giving "Lou Lou Bucks" for getting her work done before the timer goes off. She's much more motivated, focuses better. It's just awesome. She's saving her "bucks" to go get a manicure and pedicure with me! I hope (for both of our sakes ... lol) that she doesn't cash them in beforehand!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
Winter Promise Advanced K program just seems so, well, um advanced for Lou! I wish I knew if it's the program, or if perhaps she's going to need some special help. Sigh. Michael learned to read after like 6 phonics lessons, and suddenly he was reading at a 3rd grade level. I know that's NOT normal, but therefore I don't know what IS normal. Someone please tell me what normal is!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Shoot. Can't get photo to upload :( trying to post a pic of L in the penguin tunnel at the aquarium. Bummer. Maybe I can get it figured out next week. :)

Have a blessed week friends!

25 Random Things About Me

1. I get a big mug of coffee before I do ANYTHING else in the morning!
2. I've homeschooled since 2003.
3. I'm a better planner than I am an implementer.
4. I married the nicest man on the planet. Period.
5. I gave birth to two baby girls in 2005, 11 months apart.
6. I gave birth to my son as a single parent in 1998.
7. I'm the youngest of 5 kids.
8. I have so many nieces, nephews, and greats that I've lost track how many there are. (40 something at least)
9. I'm still a daddy's girl even though he's been gone for over 6 years.
10. I'm a pediatric private duty nurse and I LOVE my kiddos!
11. When I work nights, I drink a Venti Carmel Machiatto, iced with no ice, and an extra shot and the guys at the Alcoa Highway Starbucks start making my drink when I walk in the door. (Is that bad?)
12. I'm a Disney fanatic.
13. I used to work at the TN Prison for Women and have given meds to death row inmates.
14. In a psychotic state, one inmate threatened to bite my nose off.
15. If I could live anywhere I'd live in Nashville, TN.
16. In my personal version of hell: there is screechy guitar music, a bunch of animals, and it smells like vinegar.
17. I actually LOVE my in-laws.
18. I know all the words to the iCarly theme song.
19. I can be horribly moody.
20. Though I'm nowhere close, my greatest desire is to be a Proverbs 31 woman.