HE DID IT!!!!

My oldest passed his State Testing today.

On the very 1st try.

I guess he took all or part of what we told him to heart.

He took twice as long as usual, which was a good sign.

On the way home he kept repeating, "I was focused" because of this, because of that.

It made me think about how I need to be "focused" on serving the Lord. Do I try my best to pass each test that comes up in life? Do I stay focused on the Lord every day of my life?

I'm so thankful that testing is over for the year. The past few years he has done the testing 3 times and still failed the tests. It is such a relief to have it behind us now.

He still has work "samples" to turn in over and above his regular work. For now he will be concentrating on bringing his grades up.

Then the 1st part of December we will get into the new schedule and start on those work samples.

Waking Up to Shiny Floors

Oh the beauty of my floors, floors that I thought would never look good again. It didn't seem to matter how much I cleaned them, they never lost their dirty pock-mark spots. So my dear hubby found a way to do our floors, for free.

Doing floors is one of the many things he does at work and I have to admit that he is very, very good at it.

A lady at work admired his work so much she wanted her floors done. Do between the 2 of them they concocted a brilliant plan. She would pay for the scrubber and chemicals. He would do her floors and then he could use them to do ours.

So yesterday was the day. Now our floors look so lovely, I can't get over how wonderful they look.

Many thanks to my dear husband.

Sorry that I don't have any pictures. We couldn't find the camera.

AVON OPEN HOUSE

I'm having an AVON open house this Saturday from 4-7pm.

I will be serving some tasty soups and sweetbreads along with hot drinks.

There will be a drawing every hour.

I'm also doing a nice non-profit fundraiser thing.

Everyone is welcome.

If you have any questions you can give me a call.

Also on the 15th I will be at a bazaar at the school were Sis L works

I'm not sure of all the details yet

Also I may be at the Teen Challenge Bazaar in Shedd on the 6th of December.

Again if you have any questions give me a call.

Family Pet Laid to Rest

Last night when my oldest daughter went upstairs she noticed that her gunea pig was dead.

She comes down stairs, holding the gunea pig in her usual loving way, tears streaming down her face, wailing.

What a sad day when you lose your first pet.

Needless to say it was a while before we went to bed.

Our oldest was concerned that he had helped in its demise. I guess that my oldest daughter had a little to much help with it's bathing earlier in the day.

Our little 4 year-old's biggest concern was that her basket of candy was to close to the dead gunea pig.

Right before she went to bed we had to assure her that her candy would not be placed next to the gunea pig. Truthfully she really never showed affection for the gunea pig, and was known to torture it a time or two.

Needless to say the 4 year-old was the only dry eyed one in the house.

All Alone

Isn't amazing how much a song can mean?

Usually in church, I just sing along, not thinking much about the words.

Last night Bro M. started "All Alone" out of the blue book or #1 book as our dear Bishop likes to say. I listened to every word, and took it to heart.

There's been many things on my heart and mind lately. I went to church with a burden to pray and leave things once again with God. I just didn't feel the lead of the Spirit. After that song was sang dear Sis. T. got down and prayed, I heard her refer to the song in her prayer, than I felt the liberty to pray myself.

Last night was a night of prayers only, however I felt such a peace after I prayed. I was reminded of the many times I've been "All Alone" with God, how he's listened, heard, and answered my prayers. Not always giving me the answers I sought, and more often than not getting a reprimand myself, but always he's there.

When my dear hubby and I went to bed last night he told me how that song spoke to his heart. Then I was reminded of how it says, "fasting for the pilgrims in the way" and how that fasting and prayer had been requested and announced for my dear Dad after church.

One simply song started in the spirit spoke to so many. One that I know I've listened to time and time again with no thought.

Thanks to God who knows our hearts and exactly what we need, maybe a little reminder to find that quiet place and be "All Alone with Christ our Lord".

Christine, Christina

Today is the day I put in my AVON order. Unless I get another order, all but one of my customers have some form of the name Christina. One goes by her middle name, thankfully. And believe it or not I have another future customer named Christina. Maybe I should broaden my horizons, LOL.

My oldest daughter and I were reading a story yesterday morning, we came across the name Cristina. I told my daughter that I'd never seen it spelt that way before. Well my very next customer spelt her name that way.

Just a quick update. We've been very busy with my dad, his family came in for a few days, one of my aunts is staying for another week and a half. My dear sister and her husband came for a short visit. Their baby is as cute as every, she doesn't seem to have grown much since we last saw her. Which is fine with me, she is walking though and it is so cute to see her toddling along. I haven't seen my dad in a few days but my mom seems to think he is slowly on the mend.

How do you address a situation in which someone dear to your heart is partaking of things they should not? They know they are doing wrong, have no remorse, and believe that God will give them time to make things right, maybe by sending another trial their way. When I first found out I was so Mad!!! I gave it to the Lord and am trying to leave it there. They've been through so many hard trials in life already. I'm not sure what they think they are asking for.

Sitting Still in Meeting

Our 4 year old has not being doing a good job of sitting still or behaving in church, so.....

One Wednesday night, I said to myself, "Enough is enough!"

So I took the child out, administered a little swat to the bottom, and a talking to, then I laid down the new law, which is that if your bottom gets off the bench, it gets a swat

Needless to say we made many trips out that night

Now on the way to church we rehearse what will happen if #1 you fight Mommy and Dadddy and do not sit on the bench, #2 your bottom gets off the bench

The child remembers the rules very well, as a matter of fact, I was informed that I had left part of it out on the way to church this morning

This morning was a very important morning for remembering the rules, Mama had just enough time to drop the 2 youngest off before going to pick up Dad and brother.

By the time I got back to church, meeting was pretty much over. However I had a very good report of the children. Seemingly they walked up to our bench, sat down, and behaved.

Now isn't that a blessing!