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Tag: family

an early birthday party…

July 21, 2012Written by Joy

Our youngest son will be turning 8 in a few weeks. When he found out we would be moving, he was sad that we wouldn’t be here to celebrate his birthday with his friends. So what is a mom to do? We had an early birthday party!

Singing happy birthday to him! He was so shy and was trying to hide his face.

Thrown together in less than a week, we had cake, ice cream, chips and drink at a local park. Our son had been sick the week before and still wasn’t feeling all that great. He didn’t even eat any of his cake or even go to the playground to play, but that didn’t stop his wonderful friends from hanging around the pavilion and talking with him.

He will miss this group of friends. He has grown and been homeschooled with this kids for the past 7 years. However, we will always have these precious memories of days like this.

Sammy and friends.

2012, family, Uncategorized 2012, birthday, children, family

a few tips to help you, when you move…(things I am learning)

July 20, 2012Written by Joy

Since we found out a few weeks ago that we would be moving across country, I have learned a few things since I began packing. I thought I would share a few of those things with you. You know, for when God tells you that you need to move. 😉

The first tip I have for all of you is to start purging now. You know, get rid of those things that you really don’t need. Like that pile of Christmas wrapping paper sitting in the corner of your bedroom. {ahem} Or those clothes that you keep thinking you will be fitting back into, one of these days. If you don’t need it to live, then it isn’t necessary to keep. Yes, I am figuring this out.

My next tip I have for you, especially if you are homeschoolers, go ahead and box of your curriculum and books. Be sure to label exactly what is in the box so you will know which ones to grab first when you get to your new home.

The next tip I want to share with you (which I am finally learning to do), is ask for help. You know when your friends ask if there is anything they can do to help you? Yes, take them up on it. If they ask if they can watch your kids for you, do it! If they ask you if they can bring a meal to you, take it! It has always been hard for me to ask for help, but I am finally getting the hang of it now.

My last tip for all of you mom’s is to get plenty of rest. Yes, I said rest. I know that you have a lot on your plate right now. You are trying to get estimations on moving companies, locate a rental for you and your family to move in, keep up the basic housework every day. There is a lot to do and it will still be there tomorrow. However, if you over do it, you can hurt yourself or even get sick by not getting the proper rest. So please take a break every now and then, drink plenty of water and most of all get plenty of sleep at night. Don’t be up writing posts at midnight, giving tips to help others out. 😉

2012, family, Uncategorized 2012, children, family, moving, tips, traveling

so thankful and blessed… #926-941

July 16, 2012Written by Joy

Since I shared a couple of weeks ago about our upcoming move, we have been busy going through our belongings, seeing what needs to be packed and what needs to be purged. We have been busy tying up loose ends and spending as much time as we can with friends. In two short weeks, we will be pulling out and heading to Golden, CO. Even with all of the emotions that go along with a big move and all of the excitement that comes with a new adventure, I still do get a little scared and nervous about this open door that God has set before us.

Isaiah 41 talks about fear and how God is always with you. The one verse in that chapter that sticks out the most is verse 10.

¹⁰fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So as the next 2 weeks pass us by and we say our goodbyes for now, I will be praying for God to take this fear of unknown away and to prepare me for the door He is opening for us. I will continue to pray and to thank Him for all the many blessings that he continues to give us.

926. supportive friends and family of our upcoming move.

927. an amazing homeschool support group I had the pleasure of being the leader of for the past 5 years.

928. a special mom’s night out with the homeschool moms to say goodbye to.

929. the beautiful watercolor painting of the mountains, from the group, so I would have something to remember them by.

930. the sweet and kind words that they spoke of me, that I do not feel were deserving.

931. the precious pool party that the homeschool support group planned for our families, so our children could say goodbye.

932. the thoughtful notebooks that a mom blessed my children with, with words of encouragement and sweet goodbyes written.

933. the many hugs that were shared among everyone.

934. an awesome evening celebrating the 4th of July at our church.

935. grandparents coming to visit and to help us pack.

936. friends offering their time to watch my children so that I can get some packing finished.

937. an amazing week of VBS at our church.

938. all of the workers who helped at VBS for the week.

939. the 5 decisions made for Jesus by children at VBS this past week.

940. the help of friends in Colorado to help us find a place to live.

941. seeing friends accept the call to a church of their own.

So many blessings this past two weeks. I am looking forward to see what more blessings God has in the future for me and my family.

I would love for you to join me and the others linking up at A Holy Experience. We would love to see how God has blessed you and your family.

2012, blessings, multitude Mondays 2012, blessings, family, multitude Mondays

trips to National or State parks…

July 12, 2012Written by Joy

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I am truly enjoying sharing fun ideas from our Summer Bucket List. I have also been enjoying seeing what others have been doing as well. I hope that we have been able to give you some ideas and inspiration to start a bucket list or even add on to your bucket list you already have made!

Something else our family loves doing together is going to state or national parks. We are blessed to live in a state that has several in our area. Our family is just minutes from The Great Smoky National Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway.

One of our favorite places to go is the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee, at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center. A couple of times a year, they have this wonderful Mountain Farm Life festival. They have volunteers dress in period clothing and they give examples of how folks lived in the late 1800’s. You will see women standing over open flames with a huge kettle on top making lye soap. You will also see women making apple butter, too!

There are always men and women showing the the guests how to make brooms from corn talks and tassels.

They have the house open so you can see the simple life that people had. The kitchen is usually warm with women baking cornbread and beans in the fireplace. They also bake cookies as treats for everyone who comes by.

One of my kids’ favorite areas to visit is the games area. A gentleman brings his toys that he has collected and made over the years for every to give a try. It is so hard to get the kids to look at other things when they see this area!

I love seeing the area set up at the Apple barn. They have a tent set up where they are making molasses the old way. The mule is walking around in circles at the grinder, pressing the juice from the cane. They then take it to an area that has a huge shallow pan where they pour the juice from the cane. Under it is a fire that keeps the juice boiling to burn the water off. What is left is the syrup from the sugar cane.

Next to the molasses tent is the apple press. They take the apples and slice them up in a big bucket. They then have this press that they use to mash all of the juice out. What you get is fresh apple cider! It is so delicious!

We were able to attend the Mountain Life festival this past September, but missed it this past Spring. I am hoping to at least get one more trip to this beautiful area before we move in a few weeks.

Do you have any National or State parks in your area? There is usually a small entrance fee to the parks, but it is well worth the money. I know I always enjoy a trip back in time to these beautiful places!

Be sure to stop by the others who are participating in the Summer Bucket List series to see what fun they have been up to!

Honey @ Sunflower Schoolhouse

Tonya @ The Traveling Praters

Jeniffer & Melissa @ Sisters ‘N Cloth

Lisa @ Creativlei

Nancy @ Proverbs 31 Jewels

Jennifer @ Teaching Boys

Kelli @ Adventurez In Child’rearing

2012, family, homeschooling 2012, Blue Ridge Parkway, family, Great Smoky Mountains, homeschooling, Mountain Farm Museum, National Parks, State Parks

Birds of Prey program at our library

July 11, 2012Written by Joy

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As we continue on with our activities from our Summer Bucket List, I have to mention about our awesome library that we have. When we move, our library will be one thing that we will miss a lot. Our library, just celebrated its first anniversary at its new building. Along with the new building has come more books and also more programs being offered for the kids by the library. We missed the programs on the Wolves and Snakes, and it was by chance that we happened to stop by and noticed the Birds of Prey program about to begin. The kids were so excited when they found out that they didn’t miss this show! Even better that their grandparents could be there with them!

The local Nature Center had my kids’ attention from the start. They had several different owls, a Red Tail Hawk, a Harris Hawk and a Bald Eagle named Freedom. I love how they explained to the kids why these animals were called birds of prey and how they ended up in captivity and why they can never be out back out into the wild.

The bald eagle’s name is Freedom. He talked about how the bald eagles used to be considered endangered species many years ago. There are now over 10,000 pairs of bald eagles in the U.S. Freedom is a bald eagle that is visiting the Nature Center from Dollywood.

My oldest daughter has been to this Nature Center several times and has fallen in love with the birds that they take care of. I am very thankful that we were able to be at the program, so that I could get a picture of her holding the Harris Hawk.

We are blessed to have a library that is able to have programs that are so fun and educational. Does your library have any programs during the summertime?