I'm so glad I'm a part of a community (www.homeschoolblogger.com) that dares to be different.  It's wonderful to read other homeschool mom's blogs and hear their struggles with following God's call for their lives, their children and their marriages when the world shouts at us to be just like everyone else.

I was inspired by Janne's post and Amber's post
when I read them today, identifying with Janne's decisions and struggles and knowing I've been in Amber's place defending homeschooling.

So here is my version of I'm different!!!
(and proud of it, at least most times)

“Yes, I homeschool, thank you very much.
(and I'll only tell you guys…yes I struggle sometimes too)
No, I didn't immunize my kids, didn't you?  Why are you worried about your kids, then?
Yes, I try vitamins and chiropractic before running to the pediatrician.  And all those pills I'm swallowing are helping…they are not medication, they are vitamins.
Yes, I love naps (taking them as often as possible to build my adrenals back up) and am learning I don't have to be supermom even if you think I do.
Yes, my husband works from our home and we're changing our children's lives by the blessing of two parents at home.
Yes, I'd like to get rid of all the televisions in our house.
Yes, I love chocolate and don't feel bad about eating it.
And if I weigh a little more than I did 15 years ago, who cares!  As long as I'm healthy and my husband wants to crawl in bed with me at night, I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

(How about you?)

I do, I love my kids……
BUT….
Sometimes, agh!!!
I was at Stuffmart at 6pm on Christmas Eve shutting the place down because my oldest son was desperate for a pet.  He'd decided on a fish (because his mom wouldn't allow anything else).  The poor staff at Stuffmart are shuffling people out of the store as fast as they can to get home for Christmas Eve and I'm literally fishing in the pet section trying to find the perfect pet for my son.  I figured I'd just write the price down and tell the person up front.  I hated to bother anyone and I couldn't find a sole to help with the fish.  The assistant manager walked by and was about as clueless as I was.  But together we fish out “Goldie” to bring home and proudly display in a fish bowl.
So what do I find my son doing today?  He's up on the counter scooping out the fish and putting it back into the bowl.  So like any level headed mom I promptly lose my mind.  “What are you doing?” 
Kerplunk!!
Innocent eyes look up.  “What?”
Come to find out he's been taking the fish for a “walk” several times a day.  And I wonder why the things go belly up just a few days after we bring them home. 
I thought I was the worse fish keeper in the world!
Seems I've had a little help!
AGH!!!

Christmas is over and we anxiously await the new year.  My husband’s birthday is New Year’s Day.  My second born’s is in February so the birthdays are just cranking up.  As I reflect on this past year God has been so good to us.  He’s protected us and sheltered us from Satan’s attacks.  For this I am so thankful.  I remember a pastor once saying that all that matters is Jesus.  Jesus + Nothing = Salvation.  Just Jesus…..I like that equation.

Just recently my husband and I got to experience the Lord’s protection over our lives.  Satan was sneaking in to deceive when the Lord, in his infinite love, revealed to us the Truth.  The Truth.  Jesus.  Think on that.  My soul seems to rest inside as I think upon the Truth, the person of Jesus.

Why do we try to add to that?  He is so simple in his love for us.  So devoted.  Thank you Lord for seeking me even when I don’t seek you.  Forgive me when I put the things of this world before you.  Draw me near.  Keep me close.  Protect our little family in this big old world.

I look forward to another year in Christ.
Julie

   
We had one service today at church.  It  was awesome .  We had to bring in more chairs and open both doors to the sanctuary to get everyone in.  The pastor said something profound that really stuck with me.

“Jesus left the safety and security of his heavenly home because he was needed elsewhere.”

How often do I crave the safety and security I've gotten accustomed to instead of going where I'm needed?

Merry Christmas to all
Julie

Well last night we threw away the Christmas tree.  Three days before Christmas and I'm undecorating the tree and shoving it out the front door.  You see when the power went out because of the ice storm and we left for Alabama no one watered the tree for about 5 days.  Then the heat came back on and there was a vent right beside the tree so I'm sure all that forced air didn't help keep the ole tree hydrated.

I was willing to leave it up until Christmas and then take it down but my husband had visions of my boys with a lighter setting the thing ablaze.  He was worried that it would take down the whole house.  So we went from this…..

To this:

I guess it's not the size that counts but the sentiment, huh???

   
Can I just say out loud….”It so good to be home!!”
After days away, no power and even coming home to stinky cat litter it's my house, my stuff. 

Now I'm going to have shrimp fried rice with my hubbie.  It's not gourmet but it's takeout.

Merry Christmas
Julie

Well, after 5 days away from home we're headed in that direction tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to my own house.  I feel blessed that we've had this time with my husband's family.  It was so nice to have somewhere to go when we had no heat.

I found out yesterday that friends at church had significant damage from the storm.  Branches and trees down everywhere and one tree even fell on their dog pen killing one of their two dogs.  Then the other got hit by a car and may not be alive today.  I haven't heard.  My heart aches for this family.  They homeschool six kids and have a wonderful family.  When another friend called to tell us what had happened I wanted to be there to help. 

A big group of people went to help them after church yesterday and got the yard clean, the breaker box back on the house and one guy who is a contractor talked the electrical company (who was across the street working) into pulling another line so they would have heat.  This was a miracle apparently because it's quite unheard of.  I'm so thankful God takes care of each of us in exactly the way we need it. 

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with everyone when we get home.  I am looking forward to my own bed, my own stuff, and my own house.  We have friends coming for Christmas and I'm looking forward to having them.  Isn't it nice to have wonderful Christian friends who help to care for us when we need it?  I am so thankful to God for His family and how he blesses us through them.

Julie

So we hear from the home front that
power was restored to our neighborhood this evening.  It's
comforting to know when we return home there will at least be a
termostat who's little red line has come alive once again.  For
those of you who haven't read last night's blog that little red line
had disappeared as a result of an ice storm. 

Tonight
we went to the local Stuffmart to get diapers and a few things. 
Both my husband and I forgot our wallets/pocketbooks. 
Lovely!  My mother in law was kind enough to drive down the
mountain to bring us money at 9pm.  Have you ever tried to hang
out in the front part of Stuffmart and just wait?  Seeing how I'm
in the major throws of PMS I was just about to sell my second born for
diaper money.  If he has a quarter it must be spent.  I have
officially banned any purchases FOREVER until he can make it through
ANY store without begging me for everything he sees. 

As my easiest child my second born has this one area that needs lots of
work.  It must be a stage he's going through because he was so
good at saving money for a while.  Now it burns a hole in his
pocket.  If anyone has any suggestions for redirecting this
annoying behavior I'm all ears!

Well once again tonight I'm
lying in bed typing as my husband unwinds from our day
downstairs.  The heat is hopefully back on at home.  I'm
supposed to be out on a super romantic date with my husband (see last nights blog entry)
and instead I'm PMSing and recovering from our Suffmart trip (after a
cup of decaf and a chocolate bar).  As my kids say, “Not fair!”

Good night……
Julie

We woke up yesterday morning to a
winter wonderland of ice.  It was so pretty.  I went outside
to take pictures of all the beautiful frozen landscape.  It really
was gorgeous….until our power went out.  It took about half the
day for the temperature in the house to reach an uncomfortable 60
degrees. 

Thankfully I had followed my husband's lead
and called to make reservations at a local hotel in the event the power
didn't come back on.  It didn't.  So at 4:30pm we find
ourselves with enough stuff in the van for an overnight trip to the
local Ramada Inn.  Hey, their YP ad said they had an indoor pool.

Well, the pool's heater was broken so the kids shivered to death while
swimming as I stewed over the 130+ dollars I was having to spend for
two adjoining rooms in a hotel with all four of my children. 
Usually when we spend money on a hotel it's for a night out with an
overnight sitter at home.  Now this doesn't happen very often but
at least once a year we get away.

After the teeth chattering
dip in the pool we then return to the room only to hear on the local
news that it may be Tuesday when we get power again.  It's
Thursday night!!!  YIKES. 

This morning we
regretfully check out of our warm yet expensive hotel to return home to
a thermostat who's little red line has disappeared into the never land
at the bottom of the thing!!  I'm guessing it was about 45 degrees
in the house.  So we make the decision to leave for Alabama 2 days
earlier than we'd originally planned because, hey, mother in law has
heat!!!

Many miles later, many bathroom stops later, many “be
quiet before I stop this car” 's later and we're here.  And it's
warm.  But I had to throw out every bit of the food in my
refrigerator before we left.  All I could hear was CHING, CHING as
I  watched dollars being flushed down the toilet.  I silently
quote “God is in control.”  “He has a reason for
everything.”  etc. etc.  And trying to figure out His
reasoning behind me emptying my refrigerator into 4 garbage bags.

On top of it all I find out my husband had 100 dollar NON REFUNDABLE
tickets to see The Nutcracker tomorrow night, plans for a wonderful
dinner AND an overnight babysitter so we could spend the night away
from home.  All which had been planned for over 2 months. 
CAN ANYBODY SAY “AAGGHH!!””????

So here I sit, alone in my bed
as my husband unwinds downstairs knowing he'll have to sleep with the
two that aren't on the floor beside me tonight.  And I MAKE myself
remember “and to everything in ALL circumstances give thanks”.

So here goes…
I am extremely thankful for heat tonight.
…..for a warm bed
…..for 4 healthy kids
…..for a place to go that's warm
…..for a husband that cared enough to plan an awesome evening even if we had to give those tickets away.
….for a God that knows I fret over money and feel like we just dug ourselves even further into THE HOLE.
….for a blog to express it all.

(But I really wish I was spending tomorrow night with my hubbie wining
and dining only to return to my own warm house where my wee little ones
have been well cared for by a loving friend.)

I do believe I've had enough of today.
Nighty night….
Julie