Here I sit at 38 weeks and no baby yet.  I am still pregnant.  A few contractions here and there but nothing signifigant. I began taking black & blue cohosh and evening primrose oil a few days ago.  I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning, hopefully that will yield some good information for me!

Here at our house everyone is choosing a date.  We decided if someone guessed the correct birth date they would win something.  Not exactly sure what yet.  I thought that I would let you all in on our little game.  I have listed my stats below.  Take a guess.  What do you think the baby will weigh?  When do you think he will be born?  There is no “real” prize only the bragging rights for being correct!

child#1  Boy: 9 pounds 3 ounces 5 days late

child #2 Girl: 4 pounds 8 ounces 7 weeks early

child #3 Girl: 8 pounds 4 ounces 2 weeks early

Child #4 Boy: 8 pounds 7 ounces 2 weeks early

Child #5 Girl: 8 pounds 1 ounce 2-3 weeks early

child #6 Girl: 8 pounds 3 ounces 2 weeks early

child #7 Girl 8 pounds 1 ounce 1 weeks early

child # 8 Girl 7 pounds 6 ounces 2 weeks early

child # 9 Girl 8 pounds even 1 week early

child #10 Boy    WHAT IS YOUR GUESS????

It is easy to state what one believes but it is not always so easy when those things are put to the test, or must be put into practice, or when circumstances do not fall into the plans we have for our lives.  It is one thing to say that you believe God to be sovereign but when life doesn’t go the way you think it should it makes one come face to face with that belief.  Do I really believe that God is sovereign and even though I do not see the good can I trust that God knows what is best?

I am going through this once again.  We are preparing for an unwanted move.  If it were up to me, I would NEVER leave Alaska.  Our next assignment (which I am not sharing at this time) is not one that I am looking forward to.  Not only are we going to have to move from my beloved Alaska but we are moving to the one place I DIDN’T want to go!  Not only are we moving but we are moving earlier than anticipated because it is a special assignment.  This messes up all of my plans for late spring and early summer.  It is also a shorter than normal assignment so I have another back to back move to look forward to.  It interferes with graduating children too.  We may not even have time to get our house ready to put on the market and will need to be renting it out.  Long, LONG, distant landlords was not necessarily appealing to us.  Not to mention, we will have no snow!  To top it all off we will be leaving behind our eldest child.  We will be a long way away!

BUT,

I DO believe that God is sovereign!  I know that he has a plan for us and that I do not always see the big picture.  I know that God can tell that I am a little confused and in disagreement with his plans at the moment but I am still trusting.  I am trying to get my children to understand and to trust, all the while struggling with it myself.

This is where the rubber meets the road.  Will I trust even though it doesn’t seem best to me?  OR, Will I fight and fight the whole way?  I really do not have the energy to fight and I have learned along the way that God doesn’t change what is best for me just so I can have what I think might be best.  Not to mention, that if I were honest, I would never want him to anyway.  I simply wish that my ways were his ways.  Isn’t that horrible!!!!  This is where prayer comes in.  I do not even want that kind of thinking and desire in my heart.  I should want HIS ways to be my ways not the other way around!

This is part of the military life that many do not talk about.  Most military families love the moving and the adventure.  OR at least they say they do!  It is fun moving and going new places and seeing new things but I am one who grew up in the same small town and see the benefits of living that way.  It is becoming more and more of a struggle for me to pack up and move.  I am one of those rare or at least seemingly rare military wives that struggles with the “pack it up and move on” kind of lifestyle.  Is it a bad thing that I struggle?  I don’t think so.  Do I wish that I didn’t have this struggle almost every time we move?  Of course.  But God teaches me through each of these moves to trust him more and more for numerous things.  It tests my faith each and every time.  Some times it is easier than other times. Sometimes harder.  This is one of those harder times.

I continue to remind myself of the great God that I serve, of his love not only for me but for my entire family.  I try to rest in who he is!  I remind myself that he is indeed sovereign and I am simply, me.  His wisdom far exceeds my own and I must trust him!  I will trust him!  I even need to trust him to help me to follow him with a cheerful heart even when he leads me where I do not want to go.

I will share more about our new assignment later.  For now, please just pray for me to have a cheerful heart concerning this move.  Momma tends to set the tone for the whole family and most of the children are struggling as well.

God is good.  This assignment will be what is best.  I desire to be open to God’s best for our lives.  I pray my own will, heart, and desires will fall in line and that my trust in my Savior will grow more and more through this journey.

Many will say, “Oh, come on, it is just a move!” …….. Well, for right now, I think it is much more……… It is an opportunity (though one I didn’t ask for) to grow, trust, and hopefully to cheerfully pass the test of the rubber meeting the road!

I bet some of you thought that I forgot.  I do remember that I have a blog though.  It has actually been a nice little break to not get up and fret about what to write.  My hubby is still off of work and so this blog has been neglected.  I thought that I would share a short update with you, just so you know I haven’t forgotten my blog and my readers entirely.

We are enjoying spending time together as a family.  We have taken a trip to the museum.  Hubby and I have had several dates.  We have taken many trips to Lowe’s and hubby has been working on all the housing/remodeling projects that are yet to be finished.

Hubby ended up catching this nasty bug that we have been fighting for over a month.  He has actually been in bed sick the last two days.  Everyone is a little under the weather right now but we are trying to mend.

Our oldest child moved out last week too.  In some ways it is strange and in other ways not so much.  I just pray that the Lord will direct his life, motivate him, provide for him, and protect him.

We had our first snow.  Though Anchorage has yet to see accumulation I have had about an inch of snow in the yard for the last couple of days.  This of course means that the sleds were pulled out and used!  We finally went through all of the winter gear to see who needed what this year.  YIKES!  Just about all of the children outgrew stuff!!  Thankfully, no new coats were needed but the list of boots, hats, gloves, and snowpants that needed to be replaced almost gave me a heart attack. I did really well though.  I went when all of my coupons were good.  We actually left the house at 8 am with the children to go shopping!!  I thought it was maybe a sign of insanity but it turned out well.  I ended up saving $60 in coupons!  Which brought my bill to ONLY $675!!   At least I will get good reward points for cash off and money off at the gas pump too!

Now for the baby update.  It is finally November!!!  The baby is due in three weeks.  I am so ready!!  You know it is time to deliver your baby when…. 1) you have outgrown almost every maternity item you own and 2) people begin to stare at your belly instead of actually looking at you!

Yesterday was an afternoon and evening of contractions.  Hopefully, they are actually making some progress.  Three weeks of contractions like I had yesterday will NOT be fun!  I have been there and done that!    We are anxious and excited for the arrival of our newest little one.

Soooo, there is the update!  What is going on in your life????

No, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth.  I have just been enjoying having my husband home and that means that I spend less time on the computer.  There has been a lot going on in the past week.  On top of hubby’s return we are also dealing with some life changing events right now.

One of those being the fact that we will have to be moving this coming spring/summer but I will share more of that when it happens.  Just pray for contentment in that area for me.

The big change that we are dealing with especially this week is that our oldest child is moving out of the house.  I always imagined how hard it would be and am finding that some of my imaginings are not true but also that there are other emotions that I did not anticipate.  He is moving in with a few of his guy friends in Anchorage.  It seems strange that my little boy is going to be basically out on his own.  On one hand it is a saddening occasion but not as sad as I thought it would be.  Maybe because he is “out” so much already, I don’t know.  I am proud of the fact that he will making his way but am also concerned about how he intends to do that.  He is not as much of a plan follower as his father and I are.

One emotion I did not anticipate is that of relief.  I never expected that!  I am indeed a little relieved that he is out on his own.  To be completely honest, I almost feel guilty about that one.  I am relieved though that it is now and not a few months from now.  This way he will have several months out on his own with us still here in Alaska if he were to need anything.  This way he isn’t moving out the same time we are.

We are still praying about his job situation which is not optimal yet.  He is looking into a promotion later this week and working towards joining the Alaska Air Guard.  We are simply praying that the Lord would be pleased to provide those for him.  He finishes his move out of our home today.

So as I mentioned above, emotions are mixed.  There is a little sadness, there is pride in my son, there is some excitement for him, there is a little nervousness, there is some relief. There is also some disbelief at the fact that we have finally come to this portion of life where our children are old enough to be out on their own.  Where has the time gone?

Even though it is true all of the time, there does come that time when you have to rest more and more fully on the Lord.  When your children transition to the place where all of their decisions are on their own (apart from their parents).  Trusting the Lord to take the efforts you have placed into that child and to let those things be held fast can be a difficult thing.  This is something we must always do but honestly when they are under your roof it is easier to end up relying on yourself.  This is a daily struggle.  It seems to all come to a head though when that false sense of control is taken away.  I am thankful that the Lord has been and will continue to be my guide in raising my children.  I am glad that I am following his revealed plan.  There is still that constant struggle.  But I am trusting in the Lord and praying.  I know he loves my son more than I and that he is safe in his hands.

Trust, trust, trust.  Through the joyful task of raising our children we are taught to trust.  To trust in our Heavenly Father above all else.  For that I am thankful!

SURPRISE!!!  Hubby will be home earlier than anticipated.  Picking him up at the airport TOMORROW AFTERNOON!!

Can it really be?

I believe it can…..

Today my hubby and I are celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary thousands of miles away from each other.

When we married we eloped.  It was a sweet little ceremony in a park  in Iowa.  We each brought along a friend.  Back then we had decided that we would have a regular wedding ceremony on one of our future anniversaries.  We thought our 5th anniversary would be good.  Well, we had three children by then and had no money at all.  So we decided that our tenth anniversary would be better anyway.  Well, hubby was away for military training on our tenth.  We spent it alone.  Our fifteenth came and went.  So we had decided that our 20th would be the year.  We found out we were moving to Alaska a couple of years ago and I began to picture this beautiful renewal ceremony and dream about an exotic honeymoon we never had.

Well……….I didn’t count on my hubby being in Afghanistan when our 20th anniversary rolled around!  But here we are.  Maybe when our 25th comes around we can hold that renewal ceremony.  I may just have to plan that honeymoon though. 

As I sit here alone and hubby sits on the other side of the world alone it does give us time to contemplate.

Even though we are separated on this special day I am so very blessed to have him as my husband.  He is more than I ever dreamed.  He is godly, kind, caring, thoughtful, loving, a hard worker, has a great smile, and can still make me laugh.  He is a great father.  He is my knight in shining armor.  Even though we have had our ups and downs he is still my best friend!  I am proud to be his wife!

I love you, my darling!  I miss you!  I cannot wait until you are home!

Happy anniversary my love!

-THEN -

The night we were engaged.

-Now-

Well, almost a year ago.  It will be time for family photos when he gets back and after the new baby arrives.

A new school year is underway.  Everyone has different schedules but most have begun their lessons.  There seems to always be some tweaking if not major changes at the beginning of each new year.  I am one who is pretty set in the curriculum I use but on occasion we do try something new.  It can be exciting to try something new but it can also be overwhelming.  The question that I most often ask myself when trying a new curriculum is am I really willing to pay for something that I know very little about.  I like to get my hands on the curriculum first.  I like to hear from those who have used it.  This however is not always feasible.

I thought that maybe it would nice to do a blog hop where we share one of our curriculum items that we just love!  That way other homeschoolers will have the opinions of those who have personally used them.  We can share a little about the curriculum, what we love about it, what we don’t like so much, how we tweak it if applicable, and anything else you may want to mention.  Write you blog post and be sure to sign the linky below.  You can even add the linky to your blog post as well.

My pick for this curriculum share is Teaching Textbooks.

We have tried several math programs over the years.  We have used Bob Jones, Rod & Staff, Mastering Mathematics, Horizon, and Calculadder until finally settling on Saxon Math.  We used Saxon for many years.  We were okay with it but had some frustrations.  Two years ago I came across Teaching Textbooks.  I was excited to try it but it is a little expensive.  I struggled with whether to pay the price to try it out.  I finally gave in and I am so glad that I did!  It is a program that is well worth the price.

Teaching Textbooks currently has ten levels of Math instruction starting with 3rd grade.  It is a computerized program.  The child watches the lesson on the computer and is also able to follow along in their workbook.  Once the lesson is complete the child will do the work.  In the younger grades the child can actually input their answer into the computer and their work will be corrected for you and their grades recorded.  There is a section with each program where the solutions to each problem is contained.  When the child has completed their work they can go back and watch the step by step solutions to the problems they missed.

The program is a bit pricey but to help keep cost down I simply have my children write their work on notebook paper rather than in the student book.  I can use the curriculum over and over again for other children.  So in the long run it is a great investment!

I have had no disappointments with this curriculum so far.  We have used six different levels.  It is definitely a benefit in those upper grades where my math skills have something to be desired!  The children get good explanation and detailed solutions when they are stuck.  Something that I have been unable to offer in the past.

The website offers placement tests and sample lessons.  This way you get more of a hands on look at the curriculum before investing.

There is my pick for this curriculum share!  Please leave me a comment and let me know if you have used this curriculum and your thoughts. I love comments and will return the gesture.

Make sure to write your own blog post highlighting one of your favorite curriculum items and sign the linky!  I would love to stop by and see your picks! Remember you can add the linky to your blog post too.

Let’s encourage one another by sharing what we have learned.  I know others would love to hear from you on your curriculum choices.

If you think I have been a bit quiet on the internet lately you would be correct.  Over the past weekend we ended up with a virus on our computer.  So, our computer has been sitting here in the office turned off for three whole days!  In some ways it was refreshing and in other ways it was torturous!  But the Geek Squad guy came today and now my computer is squeaky clean!  It better be for a $300 bill!

So, I am back!

That is all!

Continuing on from yesterday’s post, referencing the booklet Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children: In Dependency on the Spirit by Joel R. Beeke.

Fourth:

Teach them they must be born again.

Children must be taught that their bad hearts and bad records make them unfit for communion with God.  Do not dismiss your children’s sins as mere naughtiness or childish behavior.  Don’t excuse their sins by repeating cliches such as, “Boys will be boys.”   And never encourage them to feel that being outwardly good is sufficient in God’s eyes.

More than good behavior is needed to meet the demands of God; inward regeneration of heart through a triune God is essential for salvation.

Our children are not merely sick and in need of reformation; they are born in trespasses and sins and need regeneration.

As teenagers, explain the biblical appeal regarding the need for “circumcision of the heart”.

Pray for wisdom to teach clearly and for grace to feel deeply your children’s inability to do anything toward their salvation while refusing, at the same time, to shirk your responsibility because of their inability.

Fifth:

Teach them about the moral law and its uses–

Show your older children from the Psalms, the Sermon on the Mount, and the ethical portions of Paul’s epistles that believers relish the law as a rule of life (see especially Psalm 119).  Explain to teenagers how walking in accord with God’s law keeps believers from antinomianism (anti=against; nomos=law; i.e., being against law) on one hand, and legalism on the other.  Show them how obedience to God’s law promotes brotherly love (1 John 5:3) and authentic Christian freedom (Ps. 116).

Sixth:

Teach them that the atoning blood of Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.  Again and again, explain to your children the basics of the gospel: how Jesus saves sinners through His suffering, death, resurrection, and life.

It has been three months since my hubby left.  It has been hard.  We still have about 4 to 4 1/2 months to go.  Even though he is gone it doesn’t exactly mean that I have my queen sized bed all to myself.  In fact, some days I wonder where I will sleep!  Here is a shot of my supposedly empty bed.