The Chronicles of Jeb

I love to see what transpires when an ardent non-animal lover gets smitten by an animal. It's so funny.

My friend, Melissa, is not an animal fan. I've never seen her flinch an inch on her resolve to never own an animal.

But her children love animals. Her son even got a German Shepherd recently- good ole Jeb. Since he's away at college that was no big deal- until he came home for a few weeks with Jeb in tow. Then he had to leave to do other things, leaving Jeb in Melissa's care.

Jeb is the sweetest dog you could ever imagine (except for my Rex that went to doggy heaven in February). His only flaw is that he'll lick you to death after he's licked unmentionable parts of his body. But we'll forgive him for that because he's just such a big lover boy.

He's smart too. Totally potty trained. Actually obeys commands. Shakes paws with you when he first meets you. Great guard dog.

The other day I went to Melissa's house and met Jeb for the first time. He and I were instant friends, but I totally expected Melissa to complain about him and shoo him away. What a surprise! Not only did she not shoo him away or complain, but Jebby boy got a prominent seat on the sofa right next to her with his nose nuzzled against her. Then he rolled over on his back and she obliged with a belly rub as if this was the normal routine. I noticed that she spoke sweetly to him as if he was a kid. Boy, was I shocked!

But that was nothing to what happened yesterday. John and I had just pulled in our driveway when I saw Melissa's van go down the street. She doesn't live on our street so I thought it odd and went to end of the driveway to meet her on her return trip up the road. Turns out she had been outside doing stuff with the van door open and Jeb had gotten in the van, "Because he wanted to go for a ride." Naturally, she couldn't let him down so she hopped in, rolled down the windows, and took him for a drive. I joined them and we went riding around the neighborhood wasting $4.00 a gallon gas just because Jeb wanted to go for a drive.

As I got out of the van and stood at the window with Jeb kissing all over me I said, "You have fun with your grandma, Jeb." (I've had great fun leaving phone messages for "Jeb's grandma"). Then I said, "Tell Granny to take you to the store and buy you some dog treats and bones." To which Melissa replied, "I already have some at home, thank you!"

So much for the non-animal lover! By tomorrow Jeb might have his own bedroom.

Six Random Things

Sue J has tagged me. I'm supposed to write six random things about myself. These are the official rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading).
Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I'm not going to actually tag six people, but if you would like to do this on your blog and link back to me as the tagger that's fine. I enjoy learning new things about people that I didn't know before.

My randomness:
1. I have very sensitive feet. I rarely go barefoot. In fact, it's only been in recent months that I could tolerate this at all. When I was very young and used to play outside I couldn't stand the feel of dirt, grass, or mud under my feet. Couple that with the fact that my cousins tended to hide me in briar patches during hide and seek and I stepped on the bottom of a soda bottle once and had to get a foot full of stitches and you see why I might have issues. I don't even like to go barefoot in the house because I can't stand to feel the slightest bump or dust under my feet (sounds like the princess and the pea doesn't it?). Even in the ocean I wear water shoes! And I love, love, love for my husband to give me foot rubs because it soothes my soul to the very core!

2. I drink about 48 ounces of water first thing every morning. Granted, I can't always do it on mornings when I'll be in the car a lot or when I won't be able to run to the bathroom every few minutes, but I do it most days when I'm home. I feel better all around when I start off with a whopping dose of cleansing water. Also, I tend to get dehydrated very easily so this gets me started on the right note first thing in the mornning.

3. When I was a little girl I used to sit for hours on end looking at catalogs from Sears and JCPenneys, or whatever store's catalog was available. My mother thought I'd grow up to be a fashion designer. What she didn't know is that I wasn't designing clothes in my head. The people in those catalogs were the characters in the stories I was making up in my imagination.

4. I cannot stand to talk about gross things at meals. For example, I don't want to talk about where meat comes from or what the cat brought to the door or anything like that. It literally makes me gag. Once during a fundraising dinner at my former church some folks wouldn't stop talking about nasty things like that even though I asked them not to do so. Finally, I got so sick feeling that I got up, dumped my entire plate of spaghetti in the trash and walked out. That was definitely a memorable church moment! And we won't even discuss what happened on lobster night in New England when my brother-in-laws were doing unspeakable things with lobsters. Eeeewwwww!

5. I'm not the least bit afraid of bees, wasps, or things with stingers. When I was a little girl I caught bees and yellow jackets in my hands so I could watch their behavior. Needless to say, I've been stung more than the average Joe, but I'm still not afraid of those little bougars. While everybody else scatters I stand swatting.

6. I love to play board games. I suppose this stems from my childhood days as an only child when I had no one to play board games with me. I especially like games that involve words, numbers not as much. My favorite game is/was Life because it's about people. I think I drive my kids nuts wanting to play games.

That's my randomness in all its glory. Of course once I hit "post" I'll think of a thousand other things I should have said, but these were truly the random thoughts that entered my head at this particular moment.

My First Window Mistreatment

I'm so happy. I actually completed a window mistreatment all by myself. My friend, Nester, will be so proud. I'm working on my bedroom and when it's completed I'll show pictures.

First, let me show you the window treatments that I had in place and explain why I wanted a change.

Before picture:

These were pale and blended in with the walls. The bedspread and everything was pale and I was ready to add some deeper, richer, more soothing colors in my master bedroom. Also, I have a huge bedroom and four big windows. The valences just weren't cutting it.

After picture:

It's doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. That's what Nester says and it's a good thing because these are far from perfect. But I like them! I really like them and the tranquil, calm effect they add to the room.

I truly did this mistreatment Nester style minus the glue gun. First, I purchased cheap $12 a pair panels from Garden Ridge. Then I bought a $2.99 dust ruffle at Goodwill that reminded me of toile, which I love. I cut it up to form the valences on my windows and used safety pins (behind the curtains) to hold them in place. Voila' A genuine window mistreatment completed start to finish by someone who is domestically challenged.


These pictures are not doing this justice at all, but I promise that it looks really pretty in the room. My friend, Melissa, came to see and she absolutely loved it and agreed that it softened and calmed the room so much.

For me, it was a growth moment when I did something I didn't think I could do.

The Mystery of the Peach Tree

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight- why the bush does not burn up." Exodus 3:2-3

If you do not yet think I'm looney, you will by the end of this post.

As most of you know, I just got back from a homeschool convention in Atlanta. Before I go to these conventions I always pray and ask the Lord to give me scriptures or a direction to pray for each particular convention. For this one, He just kept speaking to my heart to expect the miraculous.

I went. I came home. No miracles to note. The speaking went well. The sales went well. But I didn't feel 100% healthy while I was there which made things a little more difficult than usual. Otherwise, it was normal. Odd, especially when you compare it to the outstanding things God did at the other conventions I've attended this year.

This morning I reminded God about expecting the miraculous and how I hadn't seen anything noteworthy in that department.

A little while later I was on the phone when something in the back of my house caught my eye. We live on the edge of a forest that keeps encroaching closer year by year so we have lots of greenery back there. I saw something that looked orangish yellow, almost like a peach, at the end of our driveway. At first I passed it off as a discolored leaf, but it kept catching my eye so I went for a closer look. What I found astounded me. A full grown peach tree laden with over thirty peaches. Some of the branches were so full of peaches that they were lying on the ground.

I had never seen this tree before. Ever. I regularly pick wild blackberries in that area. When I'm upset I go right to the end of the driveway and stand looking into the forest talking to God. I'm in that vicinity A LOT and I have never ever seen a peach tree there before.

I picked a peach and took it to my son. He asked where I got it so I took him outside to show him our peach tree. He had never seen that tree before.

When my daughter woke up I asked her if she'd picked any peaches off our tree before. She said, "We don't have a peach tree, Mom." I took her and showed it to her and she had never seen it before.

I called my husband at work and asked if he had seen the peach tree at the end of the driveway. He had no idea what I was talking about. He'd never seen the peach tree. And yet here it is- a fruit laden peach tree that somehow all of us have missed for the last 12 years!

I don't know how that tree got there or how we all missed it until now. We've thrown enough peach pits that direction that I'm sure it could have sprung up from one of them. I'm not saying God just poofed a peach tree into my backyard, but I do have to wonder why none of us has seen it until now.
And isn't it odd that I just got back from Georgia where you hear about "The Georgia Peach" all the time.

I have no clue what all this means, but I just know that God is involved somehow. One thing that came to mind as soon as I saw the tree is that God can take the seeds (peach pits) that we cast to the side as worthless and make something beautiful and fruitful from them. So even though I didn't physically see miracles in Atlanta, something may well be springing up in a way that I never perceived or imagined.

I promise, folks, I'm a rooted and grounded Christian, not of the flaky sort, but today I just happen to have a mature peach tree loaded with peaches standing in my yard where no peach tree has ever stood before, or at least not one that was ever perceived by any member of my family. Make of it what you will. Make of me what you will. But I still have a real tree with real peaches in my real yard.

Here I Go Again!

I'm off to a new city tomorrow- Atlanta. I'll be at the Southeast Homeschool Expo so if any of you happen to be there stop by the Teach4Mastery booth for a visit.

I wish I could tell you that I'm incredibly excited about this trip, but in all honesty I'm just ready to have the conference season come to an end. I'm ready to do exciting things like homeschool my kids and start writing the next curriculum and maybe just be a wife and mom for a little while.

I can't really complain. Poor Gary will be there with me and he's been to a different conference in a different city every weekend for about a month now, and that's just this month! It's just that I never really envisioned that I'd spend my weekends standing at a vendor booth in a homeschool conference or speaking...to people...in public...as in public speaking. If I could write everyday for the rest of my life I'd be perfectly happy without all the public stuff. But having said that, I usually do enjoy myself once I'm there and I truly do like helping people. Plus, this is a shorter conference than some. I think I'm just tired.

This time I'm driving and my kids and Aunt Ellen are going with me. Granted, none of them will work at the conference, but at least I'll have the company on the way there and back. They'll be staying with my parents in Atlanta and doing fun stuff like watching the new Batman movie with Grandpa and Aunt Ellen will go antique shopping with my mom. I'll get to eat dinner with everyone on Thursday and Saturday, but that's about it.

I wish I could tell you that I've been really on the ball and have some of those pre-scheduled posts that will appear in my absence, but that just didn't happen this time. I may end up taking my laptop with me, though, and if I do I'll try to post some. Please don't forget about me in my absence, ya'll!

I'm off to wash clothes, iron, and pack. Have a great day!

A Thought for Your Pennies

Yesterday it was raining pennies. I found pennies everywhere I went. Pennies on my morning walk. Pennies at the gas station. Pennies in the Walmart parking lot.

When I find money on the ground it reminds me that God is thinking of me. Each time I bend down to pick up a coin I say, "Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that I'm on your mind and you're right here with me." It's like a little inside family joke that both of us understand. Whenever God especially wants me to know that His thoughts are on me, He sends a penny or some other coin my way.

After picking up all those pennies yesterday I felt especially loved. Then I came home and read something in my email box about- you guessed it- pennies! I usually don't even read the forwards that I get because I simply don't have time and I'm much more interested in personal email. But this time I decided to open one and read it and was surprised to see it was about pennies.

The email was a reminder that when we see pennies we should remember what is written on them- In God we trust. Every penny should cause us to stop and think, "Am I truly trusting the Lord?" It should serve as a little sticky note to remind us to cast all of our cares onto the Lord and trust Him to work things out.

It's ironic that God would use a penny to remind me to trust Him in these troubled economic times. I especially laughed when I found two at the gas station. It's about time they gave me back some of my hard earned money!

Recently, I've been discussing with my history buff friend, Melissa, how much our current times parallel what happened just prior to the great depression. This morning my husband returned home from getting the oil changed in my van and told me of two businesses owned by acquaintances of ours that are no more. Even the place where he got the oil changed had to increase their prices and they are barely struggling to make ends meet. The debt that our nation is under and the personal debt that people owe is staggering. Couple that with rising unemployment and price increases and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that we are headed for disaster without a major intervention SOON!

Yet in the midst of it all, God sends pennies to remind me to trust Him. I have no plans of receding, depressing, or going under. Yes, I live in this sour economic environment, but my citizenship is in the kingdom of God. Have you ever heard of a recession or depression in God's kingdom?

The weird part of all this is that right smack in the middle of all the talk of economic doom and gloom and soaring gas prices, God keeps telling me to do more, branch out, write more, speak more, and try new things. He keeps the creative ideas flowing and me growing. And then He sends pennies to remind me that regardless of what happens in the world system His thoughts are on me, He will provide for me, He will even bless me richly in spite of the times, and most of all, that I can trust Him- with everything!

Decorating With the Domestically Challenged

I spent part of my weekend spending money that I don't have to buy things that I don't need in an attempt to decorate my house.

I learned these three things about myself.

a) I'm not a decorator.
b) I'm not a decorator.
c) I'm not a decorator.

I really want to fix up my office because right now it's blandsville with beige on beige on beige. I'm so NOT a beige person. I was hoping to breathe some life into it.

What better color to add some pop than red, right? So, I went with red. Only I'm not sure I'm really feeling it. It certainly stimulates thinking, but I'm not sure it's the kind of thinking that I want to stimulate. Horror thrillers aren't really my writing genre.

You see, I had in my mind that I needed a sophisticated office. I have no idea where I got that idea. I wrote an entire writing curriculum in an office with pastel green walls with sunflowers and butterflies stamped on them. I revised that same curriculum in a cramped corner of my bedroom. And look at what I write! Primarily writing curriculum for kids that involves a DVD with a goofy teacher (me) who does weird stuff just to teach kids to write. Sophisticated? Hardly!

So I'm back to square one, only with less money. I may keep the red. Doubtful. I love vibrant color and I love black and white. What to do?

Well, I'll share with you a few decorating trinkets of which I'm especially proud because they DO reflect me.

Take these magnets, for example, that are prominenty displayed on my refrigerator door.

And isn't this rock just the best? I think it could be talking about Martha Stewart or the frantic Martha in the Bible.

Before I end this lesson on how not to decorate I do have to say that I did find a few things that worked well. None of them were for my office, but we won't mention that. I did get some things to redecorate my bedroom and I think they will actually work. If they do and when I get it decorated I'll share pictures, providing it happens in this millenium.

I'm also very excited about a mirror with a shelf underneath it that I bought at an upscale department store. It has that distressed look and I just love it especially since I got it for a third of the original price. I'd post a picture here, but then you'd see me in the mirror with my grungy clothes, unruly hair, and sweat band on my forehead. I fear that would ruin the effect of the lovely mirror.

My conclusion: I should stick to writing and make enough money to hire someone to help me decorate.

Carpe Diem

I don't know what happened to me in California, but something did. Maybe I picked up on a little bit of that California free spirit. Before I left for California I was consumed with all the little details of life and my never ending "to do" list. It was suffocating me.

Since I've been home things are different. I didn't walk in the house and immediately see all that needed to be done. I saw it, but it didn't affect me. I'd already scheduled two days on my calendar to do nothing but rest and recover from my jet lag experience. That's what I did, even to the point of leaving my unpacked suitcases sitting for nearly three days! So unlike me!

Yesterday was my transition back into real life day. I had everything all planned and as usual had much to accomplish. All was going pretty much according to plan until I dropped my son off at work. Immediately, I had a thought, "Take your uncle to lunch." Naturally, my mind went to those unpacked suitcases, piles of dirty laundry, the groceries I needed to buy, and all the other tasks awaiting me. My mind said, "Stick to the plan", but my heart said, "Take your uncle to lunch." I followed my heart.

I took my Uncle Manuel to Chick-fil-A, his favorite restaurant, and my son was thrilled to have us there. When we finished eating I asked my uncle if he'd like to visit his sister, my Aunt Eleanor, since she recently got out of the hospital. He did.

I spent my early afternoon sitting on my Aunt Eleanor's front porch sipping iced tea, enjoying a welcome cool breeze that kept it from seeming like a July afternoon in the south. I forgot about the suitcases and the laundry and the groceries. I simply enjoyed the moment relaxing on a front porch that houses a thousand memories from my childhood.

I listened to my Uncle Manuel's antics. He's quite a character and so very funny. The neighbor joined us which delighted him to no end because it gave him another person to tease.

My Aunt Eleanor is like Cinderella in one of those animated Disney films. You know the ones where the animals are all around Cinderella, even helping her tie her apron strings. A chubby black cat sat in her doorway. Little gold finches flitted around the bird feeders she made especially for them. The neighbor's dog joined us on the front porch. A lone pigeon stopped by the bird bath, looked up to give Aunt Eleanor a wink, then dipped his beak for a cool drink. Even the mailman stopped his truck long enough to hand deliver her mail and chat for a minute.

As I sat there in peaceful revelry I realized something. I'll always have more suitcases to unpack, more laundry to wash (that will be dirty again soon), more groceries to buy, more things that need to be done and redone and done yet again. But I won't always have my aunt and uncle. She's 75 and he's 81. I won't always be the brunt of his teasing. I won't always see the tears well up in her eyes as she tells how the Lord cared for her in the hospital. And never again will I have that breezy July afternoon when the temperature was just right and the tea tasted extra good and the three of us just relaxed and enjoyed being together. I'm so thankful I took it while it was available.

The funny thing is that the suitcases got unpacked, the groceries got bought and put away, the kids made breakfast for supper, flowers got planted, and the laundry will be done today. The world didn't come to an end because I followed my heart and took time to be with people I loved, to leisurely look into their eyes, to really hear what they said, and to let them know how much I love and value them. In fact, the world got a whole lot better.

Words from a song that I love, but can't remember who to give credit to:
Seize the day,
Seize whatever you can
For life slips away just like hour glass sand.

Seize the day!

Study Your Loved Ones

I learned a lot of lessons in California, but one of the most important involves how to treat your loved ones.

I stayed with Gary and Anne after the convention and what a blessing it was to watch them live out their day to day lives.

I loved Anne from the moment I met her. I hadn't been in her presence two seconds when she enveloped me in a warm hug that made me want to melt right into her arms. It was a genuine hug that plastic people can never give. That hug immediately told me that she was real.

Over the next few days I watched how she treated her husband. I watched and I learned. Her every word, deed, and reaction was filled with kindness and love. That she esteems him highly is unmistakable. Every time an opportunity presented itself she took the time to speak little words of praise and encouragement to him, making him believe that he could do anything. I don't know if he even realizes how much affirmation he gets from her in a given day, but I sure noticed it and thought to myself that anyone in those circumstances couldn't help but feel like a king.

But it wasn't just her words, it was her overall tone. It's one thing to say all the right things, it's another to have the right tone and attitude behind those words. On a few occasions we needed to leave and Gary was right in the middle of writing something. She would gently, but firmly, remind him that it was time to go and then she would sit and wait patiently never saying another word about it. I thought of all the times I'd been in a simliar situation, but I couldn't leave my husband alone but nagged and prodded and wanted to grab him by the arm and say, "Get moving, Buster!" Even when Gary and Anne disagreed about things the conversation was respectful and often laced with humor.

I actually met Gary at the convention a few days before meeting Anne. I noticed that whenever he mentioned Anne, his face lit up and he beamed with pride. He told me that he often buys her clothes. He said he could look at an article of clothing and think, "That's Anne!" That he was a student of his wife was very evident because he knew her likes and dislikes in intricate detail and he took great delight in providing things she especially liked.

But Gary and Anne don't just study one another. They study others too. They studied me. They noticed little details about me. Gary knew what type of tea to bring to me when he offered "broom service". When we were on the way to the airport to send me home we had a mix up as to the time of my flight which left us flying down the highway in an effort to make it to the airport on time. Anne, perceiving my anxiety (I REALLY wanted to get home that day) quietly said things to soothe me. "Oh look, we're nearly at the Irvine exit. The airport is in Irvine, you know." "About twenty more minutes and we'll be there." She never pointed out my anxiety or nervousness, but just sweetly addressed it in an effort to comfort me.

I learned much from Gary and Anne. I learned the importance of studying my loved ones and treating them in ways that are best for them. And I learned how important it is in this big frantic world to slow down and notice all the wonderful qualities in other people. I learned that it's just not all about me. In fact, none of it is about me. But the greatest lesson of all is what comes as a result of studying our loved ones and implementing what we learn. Peace.

When I stayed in Gary and Anne's home I was struck by the peace I found there. I felt so relaxed and at home and acted as such. Anyone who knows me well knows that is a virtual impossibility when I'm staying with people I hardly know. I realized that when we make it our goal to truly love our families in the way they need to be loved, home becomes a haven. It becomes our protection from the onslaught of the world, a place of refuge. It's the place where our families feel safe and warm and loved.

So I make it my aim to study my loved ones and learn to love them with my words, my actions, and my attitude. Thank you, Gary and Anne, for the great life lesson and the wonderful hospitality!

California- The Homecoming

I've already shared much about my California trip, but I have to share the very best part- coming home! I love being with my family and they have been loving on me so much. Only the cat is indifferent. Usually, he is all over me when I return from trips, but apparently I stayed too long and he's quite miffed about it. No loves or rubs or anything for me until late this morning when he finally decided to forgive me just a little.

The crowning glory of my trip was something that my daughter told me today. She said, "Mom, I think Dad really missed you a lot. He just wasn't himself without you."

I can't tell you how much that warmed my heart. I know he loves me. I knew he would miss me some, but I didn't have any idea how much he missed me. The man stayed up to all hours of the night last night tracking my flights by Internet to see if I would make my connections okay since we were running behind schedule on everything. He knew I landed before I did for crying out loud! Do you think he was a little anxious for me to get home?

And this, friends, is the reason that sometimes leaving my family can be a very hard thing to do. We just kind of sort of really love each other to pieces.

Be it ever so humble, truly, there is no place like home!

California- Part Three

Warning: I'm about to show my lack of directional and geographical intelligence in this post.

When I left Charlotte for California it was very hard. I did not want to go. It seemed so far away and like such a long time- 5 days- to be away from my family. Okay, I cried when I kissed my husband goodbye. When I was sitting on the plane waiting for take-off feelings of loneliness and fear seemed to shroud me like a suffocating cloak and I felt the tears welling up again. It was just plain hard.

Those feelings stayed with me all the way to Colorado, but then something wonderful happened. I woke up from a brief nap and peered out the window beside my seat. What I saw was breath-taking. We were just starting over the Rocky Mountains. They were so regal and majestic, the peaks covered in soft blankets of snow. Suddenly, I realized how big my God really is and how capable He is of handling not only me and my small problems, but this whole big wide world. My fickle feelings changed. I realized what a privileged girl I am to "get" to go to California and meet new people and see some amazing places.

As we came near Salt Lake City for my connecting flight to Orange County, I was amazed. I don't know what I thought that area was like, but it looked nothing like I imagined. It was so beautiful! The oranges and browns and golds and so many colors. I could look into the Salt Lake and other little lakes and literally see the salt and what appeared to be underwater mountains and canyons. We passed the largest copper mine in the world and it was stunning. What a portrait God painted for me!

I was shocked by southern California when I arrived there. I expected lush greenery. I had no idea that it's actually a desert. They don't have grass, just an abundance of tropical plants and cacti. I was mesmerized by the plants and the scenery the whole time I was there. The mountains were rugged, unlike the green carpeted mountains of North Carolina. We were driving down the highway at one point and I saw the Pacific Ocean through one set of car windows and mountains through the other side. On Sunday afternoon Gary and Anne took Lori and me riding through the area and showed us the devastation left by the fires of last year. The fire had literally come within blocks of their house!

I couldn't believe the citrus trees and avocado trees, but the flowers were the best of all. So many beautiful blossoms everywhere and such vivid colors. Gary and Anne have a little oasis in their backyard that includes a lemon tree, lime tree, apricot tree, orange tree, cacti, and lots of other flourishing plants. That coupled with wind chimes and lots of garden eye candy made it so peaceful, like a minature Eden. See the fruit on their trees:

I had to laugh. Lori and I flew from Salt Lake City into Orange County together. When she called Dan to have him pick us up from the airport she said, "We're standing by the palm tree." Do you know how many palm trees line the John Wayne airport? Too funny!

The conference took place at the Long Beach Convention Center which is located in a harbor and a bustling area. A huge aquarium was next door and it had a beautiful mural of whales painted on it. I could look out of my hotel window and see it as well as a beautiful little man made lake with bridges over it. I got to watch a hula dancer show from my window the first night I was there. I would have preferred to be sleeping, but when the show is so loud that the dancers might as well be in your room you might as well watch it.

I also took a short trip to the 15th floor of the hotel to take this picture of the Queen Victoria or Mary or one of those fancy queen people, a big ship that now has hotel rooms on it. I'm sure it also has history attached to it, but since I can't even remember the queen you can probably guess that I don't know the history either. And, yes, I really do homeschool my children and they are doing quite well academically, thank you!

Even though California was beautiful, nothing compares to the humble little abode I call home. It was an especially welcome site after running breathlessly through the Atlanta airport way past my bedtime with sweat pouring off of me in an attempt to make my connecting flight to Charlotte. I almost needed resuscitation when I arrived at my gate just in time to head down the gangway to the plane. But we won't talk about all the little airline and airport issues that happened on my trip for they were many. I do have to say that the night before I flew out we had a bomb scare on an airplane at our airport and when I arrived there the next morning all the big news crews still had their lights and cameras set up everywhere. Not knowing what had happened at that point, my husband said, "Whatever you do, don't listen to the news today."

California- Part Two

Speaking of miracles, I just have to share what my God did for me in California.

It was Friday afternoon. It was a lull time and I was feeling a little lonely and homesick. I know it sounds odd that I'd feel lonely in a place with thousands of people, but when you're so far from home and everything is new and different and you're suffering from an immense case of jet lag, things can look a little askew. I breathed a silent prayer to the Lord asking Him to ease my loneliness and to comfort me. I felt in my heart that He answered, "What would you like for me to do to comfort you?"

I said, "It would be so nice to see a familiar face, maybe a child I taught to write or the parent of a child I taught to write." I was thinking of the North Carolina conference and how I never feel lonely there because at any moment I can run into the familiar face of someone who knows and loves me. Even as I thought about what would comfort me I also thought, "But I know that's ridiculous because I live on the east coast and I'm thousands of miles away on the west coast so don't worry about it God. Just comfort me in whatever way suits you."

A few hours later I heard someone say my name and I turned around and stood face to face with Kathy whose children I gave a crash course in writing before she moved to China four years ago!!! Get this, she still lives in China and is only home for a while to visit family in California! She just happened to be in the same city as me. She just happened to come to the CHEA homeschool conference. She just happened to be near my booth and see me. When I saw her I was in tears because I couldn't believe God would be so good to me!

This is me and Kathy, all smiles.

She wants me to come to China and teach a writing seminar for the American homeschooling families that live there. For real. No joke. She really wants me to come to China!

Don't you think God went out of His way to comfort me? You would think that would be enough wouldn't you? But our God never does just enough, He always does more than we can ask, think, or imagine.

A few hours later I'm standing at the booth minding my own business. Enter Tracy. Shrieks and screams of excitement fill the air. Tracy is a friend I met on the Five in a Row message boards many years ago. We kept in touch via the boards and email and I just love her. She used to help my friend, Leslie, man the Five in a Row vendor booth at the North Carolina homeschool conference because she used to live in North Carolina, but now she lives in California.

Think that's enough? Not quite. She turns around and sees my publisher's wife, Angie. More shrieks and screams. They are old friends! Angie used to live in North Carolina too and now she's in California with Tracy.

This is Angie, me, and Tracy hardly able to contain our excitement.

Once again, God reached into my little world and did what I could never do. He exceeded my wildest expectations and comforted me in a truly supernatural way. And through that comfort I heard His message loud and clear once again, "Yes, Bonita, you are in the center of my will and regardless of where you go or how new and unfamiliar things may seem I am always right there with you."

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20

California- Part 1

I just got back from California late last night and thought I better post a little something about the trip right away since certain persons with the initials G.A.R.Y can't wait to see their face plastered on my blog.

Well, lookie here. What do you know? It's Gary.

Gary is my publisher's father. How would I describe Gary? Let's see...uh...have you ever heard of Paul's thorn in the flesh? No really, on a serious note, Gary is an artist, a writer, and some other profession that has a title so long that it takes five minutes to say it so I won't try. But let's just say that he loves people a lot. And his latest hobby is tormenting me. Of course, I never taunt him back or anything. No, not sweet little innocent me.

This is Anne. She's Gary's wife. Bless her heart! I really bonded with Anne. I love her. She is a great wife, mother, and woman of God and I wouldn't mind spending a lot more time with her. Lucky me, I got to stay in her house for a few days after the homeschool convention.

Did I mention that while staying in their house Gary brought me "broom service"? My hot tea and a freshly cut lemon (as in cut from a tree in their yard) arrived to my room in the morning on the end of a broom. He wanted me to mention this on my blog being that he's so humble and all.

Then we have Dan, the fearless leader of the Teach4Mastery pack.

And Dan's lovely, funny, and very dramatic wife, Angie. Love her! She's the life of the party!

Their two sons. Yes, there is a son somewhere behind those protective arms. Poor guy! I guess he's tired of being hounded by papparazzi.

Mary, my roomie and therapist (just kidding, sort of). Mary is one capable lady and I'm convinced there is nothing in the world she can't do, except maybe choke down some of my healthy snacks.

Lori, who is so devoted to the Teach4Mastery products and she will do anything to sell them including dramatic presentations and singing to her customers. (I was watching you, Lori). I'm really not kidding, ya'll.

And this is Harold, the only sane one in the bunch. But then again, appearances can be deceiving.

I only have two beefs about these people. They make fun of my luggage and my snacks! First of all, I arrived with enough luggage for a six month stay. They all had these itty bitty carry on suitcases that weren't even big enough to hold enough underwear for three days. And they had the audacity to make fun of my mounds of baggage!

As if that wasn't enough they couldn't believe all the food I brought. This was my stash (though I don't think this was all of it).

I don't like to go hungry people! They made fun of my food all right until Harold got hungry one day right in the middle of the convention. Guess who was able to pull a buffet with a dozen choices right from her oversized purse? The gratitude was certainly flowing then!

And we won't even discuss the fact that they want to send me to "Let's Make a Deal" because nobody, NOBODY, has the stuff in their purse that I do. I mean how many of you can produce an alarm clock right in the middle of a pizza restaurant?

This is me in front of my curriculum display. One nice conference goer pointed out that my outfit coordinated with my curriculum. Those types of things are really important to southern girls, you know. (Perhaps, that's why we carry so much luggage. You think?).

I'll continue my California escapades in another post, but I just had to post these pictures because as I said at the beginning certain people are probably glued to their computer waiting in agony for me to show their faces to my big wide reading audience of...three?

Mismatched Marriage

Have you ever thought you married the wrong person? Oh, come on now and stop being so hyper spiritual. I'm quite certain that every married person could say that at least once in their marriage that thought has crossed their mind.

Today I want to look at one of the most mismatched marriages in the Bible and encourage you that even if you wake up every day thinking you married the wrong person, God is still in control. He can take what appears to be doom and gloom and work the situation into something wonderful.

Let's look at Abigail and Nabal in I Samuel 25. I'm not going to recap the whole story, but I'd highly recommend that you read it for yourself. First, let's list the qualities Nabal brought to the union.

Nabal
-Extremely wealthy (vs.2)
-Surly and mean (vs.3)
-Greedy (vs.10-11)
-Rude (vs.10-11)
-Poor judgment (vs.10-11)
-No one could talk to him (vs.17)
-His name meant folly (vs.25)
-Foolish (vs.25)
-Wicked (vs.25)
-Oblivious to trouble (vs.36)
-Party animal (vs.36)
-A heavy drinker (vs.36)

Makes you just want to run out and scoop him up, huh? Why do I think this was an arranged marriage and not a situation where Abigail was swept off her feet by all his charms?

Then we have dear Abigail.

Abigail
-Beautiful and intelligent (vs.3)
-Trusted by her servants (vs.14-17)
-Generous (vs.18-19)
-Not a procrastinator (vs.18)
-Quick thinker (vs.14-31)
-Took action to save her husband's life (vs.14-31)
-Wise (vs. 14-31, 36)
-Humble (vs.23-25)
-Respectful (vs. 23-31)
-Abreast of current events (vs. 26-31)
-Knew when to speak and when to hold her tongue (vs.36)
-Didn't try to reason with drunks (vs.36)

As the story goes, Nabal ends up dying and Abigail becomes David's wife.

Sometimes I've heard Abigail portrayed as an unsubmissive wife because she took matters into her own hands when her husband's life was in danger. Yet, I find it interesting that the word of God explicitly points out in I Samuel 25:3 that she was both beautiful and intelligent. I Samuel 25 is merely a chronicle of how she used that brain of hers to change the situation for the better. Plus, if you read about King David's life you'll discover that out of all his wives, Abigail never gives him trouble. And we know that his sons were a wild and unruly bunch, but Abigail's son is never listed among those that created trouble. If she was lacking in submission or the domineering sort it would have showed up in her marriage with King David too.

Back to the ending of the story. If you're in an unhappy marriage you're probably wishing you could have a similar ending to Abigail right about now. That's not the right attitude to have about your marriage regardless of how hard it is to live with your Nabal or Paul or Billy Bob. What is the right attitude? Trust God. Do good. Love your spouse with I Corinthians 13 type of love. Allow God to use the situation to develop your character. If you feel you're in danger or just can't do this on your own, then get help. By simply shifting your focus away from the problems and onto God you open up the door for God to work in your marriage and in your life.

Does that mean everything will turn out rosy? Not necessarily. But it paves the way for God to work in whatever way He desires to work and He will always work for your good.

Hands-On Essays FAQs

For those who may be interested in my curriculum, Hands-On Essays, I'm posting answers to frequently asked questions.

What is Hands-On Essays? Hands-On Essays is a writing curriculum that uses a DVD and handbook to help students master the essay and prepare for the written portion of the SAT test. It uses the hand as an outline for a five paragraph standard essay.

Who is the intended audience? The curriculum is geared to middle and high school students.

How many lessons are included in the curriculum? It has sixteen lessons as well as additional information and materials included at the back of the handbook.

Can I see a sample lesson? Yes, you can click on the handbook cover in my sidebar or visit my publisher's website to view a portion of a lesson from the DVD and handbook.

How long are the DVD lessons? The lessons run about 5-10 minutes.

What do you do on the DVD lessons? Do you lecture? No, I don't lecture. I want this curriculum to appeal to middle and high school students so the DVD lessons have an element of fun. The DVD offers teaching and skits filmed in a variety of locations designed to make writing seem less intimidating and more a natural part of life.

How fast does the student move through the curriculum? Students move at their own pace. The idea is to master a concept before moving on to the next lesson. The student can also repeat the curriculum as many times as needed to feel confident writing essays.

How involved does the parent/teacher need to be in the teaching process? Since the curriculum is written to the student you can be as involved as you want to be in the process. If you want to walk through each lesson with your student that's fine. If you want me to come into your home via Hands-On Essays and teach your child to write essays then that works too. You decide what works best in your situation.

Do I need a copy for each student? No. Hands-On Essays is non-consumable. You can use one copy for all of your students.

How does Hands-On Essays address different learning styles?
Auditory- DVD, some lessons require the student to discuss or teach what is learned
Visual- DVD, diagrams in handbook, graphics in handbook
Tactile- Uses the hand as the outline for an essay and some of the assignments ask the student to do other hands-on activities.

Can it be used in co-ops or classrooms? Absolutely! Each lesson follows the same format. Certain portions are easy to adapt to group settings while the assignment for each lesson can be done as homework.

How does Hands-On Essays prepare my student for the written portion of the SAT test? Aside from giving ample practice writing essays, the curriculum also includes a lesson to teach students how to read and understand prompts similar to those found on the SAT test. Another lesson shows students how to manage the 25 minute time allotment on the SAT test in order to complete an essay.

How do I evaluate my student's writing? The handbook includes an evaluation section for parents/teachers that shows you exactly what you are looking for in the assignment for each lesson.

How much does it cost? The curriculum includes both a DVD and handbook which are sold as a set for $50.00.

Where do I buy/order it? You can click on the curriculum cover in my sidebar or click here to visit the Teach4Mastery website for ordering information.

Is Hands-On Essays a Christian curriculum? The goal of Hands-On Essays is to teach students to master essay writing. The curriculum is written by a Christian, but is not designed to be an evangelistic tool. However, the content is very family friendly.

What made you decide to create Hands-On Essays? I started teaching writing classes years ago and when I couldn't find the types of materials I needed I decided to make my own curriculums. Over the years the classes became more popular and I received many requests to teach, tutor, and consult. I couldn't do all of those things so I began considering ways to reproduce what I did with my writing students so that others could benefit without me being physically present. Thus, the idea for a handbook/DVD curriculum was born.

Do you have plans to create other writing curriculums? Yes, I hope to eventually create an entire line of writing products.

Will Hands-On Essays work for a student with special needs? I am not an expert on special needs. However, Hands-On Essays uses many of the techniques that work well for special needs students such as breaking the components of an essay into simple lessons, using hands-on teaching methods, and appealing to all three types of learners.

What makes Hands-On Essays unique in comparison to other writing curriculums? First of all, I am a freelance writer who is absolutely passionate about writing and teaching others to write. I know and love my subject. Passion is a great teacher!

The techniques used in Hands-On Essays aren't just theory. They've been used successfully with middle and high school students. They work!

Hands-On Essays is fun. It's designed to help reduce the stigma so many kids have about writing. Students can laugh while they learn.

Middle and high school students were involved in every aspect of the development of Hands-On Essays. Since the curriculum is written to the student I wanted to make sure that it appeals to students. They helped with every single aspect, everything from content to font and graphics. Nothing was done without student approval.

Thank you for your interest in Hands-On Essays!

Cow Appreciation Day

I know you've all been waiting for this glorious day and can hardly contain your excitement! It's Cow Appreciation Day people!

Gather up the herd and head on over to your closest Chick-fil-A dressed as cows and get free food.

Or you could be like my husband. When he knows my son is on headset at the drive thru he pulls up and when asked his order he says, "Moooooo!" To which my son replies, "Dad, knock it off!" But I don't think you get free food no matter how cow-like you appear if you go through the drive thru. You have to go in so everyone can see how ridiculous you look in your cow attire if you want free stuff. (I'm assuming this holiday is celebrated at all Chick-fil-A restaurants).

My son works for Chick-fil-A and he's had to wear cow ears this week in honor of this great holiday. I really wanted to post a cute picture of him in his cow ears, but being16 he said there are some things that just don't belong on blogs for all the world to see. Too bad for ya'll because he's a cute little calf even if several customers did tell him they felt sorry for him cuz of the ears and all.

No bull, this is a real, bonafide, legitimate holiday in the US of A so milk it for all it's worth. Have an udderly good time. Don't let it slip past-yer-eyes. Get mooooving ya'll!

Carolina Hillbilly Meets Orange County Housewives

California here I come! I'm off to Long Beach tomorrow for the CHEA homeschool convention. This will be the very first time I've ever set foot in the state of California.

I have mixed emotions. On the one hand I like traveling and meeting new people and promoting my curriculum. However, this trip is longer than usual and involves a big time zone difference and jet lag.

And then there is the issue of leaving my family. Granted, they are all parcelled out between work, church, parties, and friends so they won't exactly be bored. The fridge and pantry are stocked with easy meals like hot dogs and pizza. Everyone is on the mend from being sick this week. Still, I will miss them TERRIBLY! Saying goodbye to them is one of the hardest things I have to do!

So, I've decided to start a tradition. We're a huggy, touchy family and one of the hardest parts of being apart is missing all those hugs and kisses. Well, I have a surprise in store for them. Yesterday I bought




The kids each have a little gift bag with one hug and one kiss for every day I'm gone plus an extra of each in case I have delayed flights or anything on the way home.

Hubby gets this special bag.

I'm sure some chocolates might find their way into my suitcase too, completely by accident of course.

And everybody gets an individual love note from Mom.

This is our new family tradition for when I go on trips. Shhh! Don't tell! They won't find out until tomorrow after I'm gone.

As for you, my bloggy friends, please continue to stop by my blog. When I go to conferences I leave my laptop behind because I like to have a little unplugged time. Plus, I have very little free time at conferences and when I do I like to do really cool stuff like eat and sleep. But I have pre-scheduled some posts that should appear in my absence so stop by and comment. Did I mention that I really like comments?

And when I get back I've marked two full days on my calendar to do absolutely nothing! I'm not cooking, cleaning, running errands, or lifting a finger. Trust me, I'll need the rest. During those two days I'm eating, sleeping, lounging, spending time with family, and catching up on blog reading. So you can bet I'll be visiting your blog and catching up!

I'll be thinking of you. Please be praying for me. And if you happen to attend the CHEA conference stop by the Teach4Mastery booth and chat a while. As Arnold says, "I'll be back!"

Is It Goal Time Again Already?

Time to check in on my goals for the year. This time I'm going to give myself a number rating with 10 being the best and 0 being the worst. That is what people do who really didn't do so well on their goals for the month and don't really want to go into long explanations and excuses.

1. Lose 15 pounds and develop a regular exercise routine.
Healthy eating- negative 2. Yes, that means below 0 and that translates to not good.
Exercise- 7

2. Feed my spirit (more than just a daily quiet time).
Score: 4

3. I want to build family relationships.
Score: 4

4. I'd like to try some new venues of writing.
Score: 1

5. I'd like to create a pretty, comfortable home.
Score: 6

6. We will get out of debt this year.
Score: 10 Getting out wasn't easy. Staying out has proven harder than expected.

7. I will set aside regular writing time, preferrably 15 hours per week.
Score: 5

8. I want to learn to relax.
Score: 2 (and that might be stretching it)

I'd like to say this next month will be better, but I have so much in front of me for the next few weeks that my current goal in life is to make it through July without becoming a babbling idiot.

Jonah Trivia

I enjoy reading familiar passages in scripture and learning new things I didn't know or didn't see before. This week I hung out for a while with Jonah and uncovered new tidbits of trivia.

Jonah was a prophet. You're probably thinking, "Duh!" Most guys that received words from the Lord in the Old Testament were prophets. However, I never saw anything in the book of Jonah that actually said he was a prophet and his behavior certainly wasn't very prophet-like. II Kings 14:25 clears up the matter: ...in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

A real fish swallowed a real man. Scholarly types have often tried to dismiss Jonah's story as just that- a fictional story meant to teach a lesson. I never held to that belief, but now I have a scripture to prove that everything about Jonah was real, not fiction. This is what Jesus had to say in Matthew 12:39-40: He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and nights in the heart of the earth." First of all, Jesus refers to Jonah as a prophet again. Notice how he says that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights. He doesn't refer to the "story" of Jonah or try to make it seem like anything other than absolute fact. He's very matter of fact, never casting doubt that the incident actually occurred.

Jonah was prejudiced. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh and that didn't change even after he obeyed God and preached to them. They repented, but Jonah's hatred for them didn't budge an inch. I don't know much about Nineveh except that it was an Assyrian city and the Assyrians had a serious reputation for coming in and wiping out entire nations. They were a bad brood. Perhaps, Jonah had an axe to grind with them. I also read long ago that Nineveh wasn't exactly welcoming to the prophets of God and the perimeter of the city was even decorated with the heads of prophets who had tried to preach to them. If I was in Jonah's shoes, I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to be sent to them either!

Jonah had issues. Another "Duh!" He was riddled with flaws. To name a few: selfishness, self will, mood swings, disobedience, anger, hatred, rebellious nature. Doesn't it make you wonder why God chose to use him in the first place? Is this the best prophet he could find? I guess we all have hope!

If Jonah hadn't cried out to God when he was thrown in the ocean he would have died there. Jonah 2: 7 says this: When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, O Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Jonah was walking in direct disobedience to God and he found himself sinking to the bottom of the ocean- dying. If he hadn't remembered God and cried out to Him he would have died right there, no plan B.

Did Jonah know he was in a fish and did he know he would get out alive? These are questions that came to mind. The ocean isn't light like it appears on old Jacque Costeau footage. It's dark down there. Even in the fish's belly it was dark. Surely the stench was horrid, the feel was slimy, and the digestive juices were probably doing a number on Jonah's skin, but did he actually know where he was? And if he figured it out, did he know he would be delivered or did he think he'd just be digested? Three days and nights is a long time to be in that predicament and a sure test of faith!

Jonah knew his God. This is probably the reason you and I read about Jonah in the Bible today. He could easily have been destroyed in his headstrong disobedience. Yet he lived, obeyed, and made his mark in God's word. When it came right down to it, Jonah knew God's character. Read what he says in Jonah 4:2: He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

This revelation of God, my friends, is probably what saved Jonah's life. For all of his misgivings, he knew that God was merciful and loving. He believed this about God and when it came time for Him to call out to God He had 100% faith that his Father would act in love and rescue him. If Jonah didn't have a close relationship with the Lord he would never have known God as compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, relenting from sending calamity. No, Jonah knew these things well likely because he'd experienced every one of them in his own life. He knew His God. That knowledge not only saved his life, but is probably the reason he was selected as God's prophet in the first place. At some point, Jonah had walked closely with God, close enough to hear His voice.

I think God will overlook a lot of flaws when He finds a man or woman who will build a relationship with Him and truly get to know Him as He really is.

The Timing of God

I never cease to be amazed at God's goodness and tender loving care. Six months ago today my friend and neighbor passed away from brain cancer. Even though the grief is subsiding, sometimes I still look out the window and expect to see her sweeping the porch or mowing the lawn. With each passing day, though, I become more accustomed to life without her. I know she's with the Lord and knows no sorrow and I'm comforted by that thought.

However, my grief is nothing compared to that of her husband of over 45 years. He still lives with it each and every day. Thankfully, he still gets up and lives, but it's far from easy.

If V. was still alive she would be celebrating her birthday tomorrow. I knew this weekend would be very difficult for her husband since it's both a holiday without her and a time he would ordinarily be celebrating another year of her life. I wanted to do something special for him to help him through this time, but what?

Today, in God's perfect timing, the answer came. I write a column for TEACH magazine and a few months ago I submitted an article about the life lessons I'd learned from V. Today the current issue of TEACH arrived in my mailbox and guess what article was published this time! I was able to share the article about V. with her husband at just the right moment when he needed a little boost.

Lord, only you could care so much that you would carefully orchestrate the arrival of this article when it was needed most. Once again, you've shown that you care about every little detail of our lives. Thank you for helping a grieving friend in his hour of need.

Happy 5th of July!

Lest you think I'm not the least bit patriotic, let me just say that I've been too busy celebrating Independence Day to blog about it. July 4 is actually one of my favorite holidays, ranking second only to Thanksgiving. You gotta love a holiday that falls right smack in the middle of summer! Plus, I have lots of fond memories of July 4 which endears it to my heart.

I like all the patriotic songs, the flag waving, remembering our soldiers both past and present, and the reminders that freedom is never free. Just like Thanksgiving, it's a time to give thanks for the freedoms we have in this great nation, to reflect on the heroes who bought that freedom, and to look to the ways we can contribute both now and for future generations.

Last night we went to a Charlotte Knights baseball game and watched Skyshow afterwards. This is our third year with this tradition and we love it. The boys watch the ball game, I read and people watch and occasionally catch something going on in the game, my daughter and I walk around signing us up for all sorts of cool prizes (and mailing lists that we'll regret later!), and last night she spent a great deal of time texting friends. We also got some free t-shirts and hand held fans in the mix. Oh, and we got a big surprise when my husband's former friend and co-worker, Bob Zupcic, threw out one of the opening pitches. Bob played briefly for the Red Sox and White Sox years ago.

The fireworks display is awesome and we know just where to sit in the stadium so we get the best vantage point. This year we also knew just where to park so we wouldn't sit in traffic for two hours after the show!

The rest of the weekend is catch up, relaxing, and attending a 75th birthday party. I need this slower paced weekend because next weekend will look quite different, but more on that later.

Hope you are enjoying your July 4 weekend too!

A Time to Say "No"

At midnight the cry rang out: "Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish on