upon the first day of the week...

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
Romans 3:24-25

friday frivolity...

We just returned from our Fun-Filled Family Friday...

and when I looked at the clock I was shocked to see that I have almost ran out of Friday!!

Shew!! Glad I got this posted before the clock struck midnight.

Because I am not sure Billy C. could go one more week without my wit and insight :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have lived in Oldham County for only 2 weeks now...

and I have seen more people I know around town...

than I had the entire 10 years I lived in Northern Ky. ---COMBINED!

I think that must mean it is time to move somewhere where no one knows us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was offered a job today...

It is a 6 month contract job with Humana...

an Enrollment Verification Specialist...

sounds glamorous doesn't it?

translated= someone who sits in front of a computer all day looking for discrepancies in enrollment forms!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve is more excited that I got a job offer than I am I think...

because my gainful employment means his 2 week notice at the zone.

Ever since I told him I have seen joy and happiness in his eyes...

He almost skipped around the house :)

I think the anticipation of a good night's (day's)sleep has him giddy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We bought a tv last week...

and I signed up for Netflix again...

and the drama that is occurring in the Martin household is NOT just on the television!

Steve is in the other room laughing hysterically...

Emma is coming into my room every 2 minutes sighing and moaning...

the cause of these fits of emotions???

Why the British car show TOP GEAR of course.

I think I have concluded that "Is it over yet?" is just as annoying as "Are we there yet?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michaela has an orthodontia appointment on Wednesday...

so we will be making the drive back up north...

and probably not a moment too soon!

I am pretty sure that Skyline's profits have taken a nosedive since I have moved away!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emma has not taken the move very well...

she keeps asking if we can please move back...

she wrote a poem in school about the move...

and she tells me daily, if not hourly, that she misses her friends and old school so much!

She even told us tonight that she could move in with Madeline and we could come visit her.

And let me tell you...there have been a few moments today that the idea has been VERY tempting :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess I had better hit publish before Friday becomes yesterday!

But I want to leave you with this picture taken this evening at Target of Michaela's choice for her Halloween costume...
because it has been awhile since I have embarrassed her...

...well on the blog anyway!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

not quite wordless wednesday...

He came loaded with weed eater and pruning shears...

ready to conquer the jungle that had overtaken the front landscaping!
He cut...

He 'weed eated'...

He uncovered...

and what he found was enough holly bushes for a subdivision full of landscaping beds...

I think there was a buy 1, get 12 free sale!

a sweet wrought iron fence outlining a small courtyard area...

and hours and hours more weeding and planting to be done!!

...which will have to wait until the record 95* September weather passes!

slow and steady...

***I found my card reader in the strangest place....my camera bag!!! The thing about being organized is to remember that you are organized and look in the most logical place first!"***

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are in the new house. And by 'in' I mean our stuff is EVERYWHERE...waiting to be put in it's proper place. Slowly, very slowly, it is feeling more like home. Along with organizing the inside, we have had to attend to the jungle that has taken over the landscaping around the house.

Yesterday...the front yard! Today...Cali's world got a little smaller.
and she has no clue that her wandering days are over!

so much for that organized move...

I cannot find my photo card reader to upload the pictures I took today :(

And with as many cords and cables that I have in a basket (because I was told we may need them at some point) you would think there would be at least one that would work to hook up my camera to the laptop. grrrr!

I thought I was so organized with this move.

***sigh***

***sigh***

* we have moved

* as of 1:00pm this afternoon, we no longer own a home

* Emma began her first day at her new school this morning

* there is furniture and boxes and stuff EVERYWHERE in this house

* I am NEVER moving again

* I have just now successfully installed our wireless internet


****sigh***

mmmm...the smell of brownies fills the air....

What could be better?

open windows...

curtains blowing in the crisp autumn breeze...

the smell of brownies filling the air.

Wait! Brownies? I'm not baking brownies....

a. I dislike cooking...I despise baking

b. even if I did bake (see above), everything in the kitchen is packed.

Where or where could the smell of brownies be coming from?

Oh!!

Cali seems to have found a way to entertain herself.

And from the way she darted out to her water bowl, I do not think she enjoyed her adventure.

7 years old!!!!!

and sporting new wheels!!

Happy Birthday, Emma Shea!

not quite wordless...

Last Wednesday...
Emma bounded out of bed at the crack of dawn...
ready to begin her new school year.

The 'first day of school' outfit was put on...
teeth and hair were brushed...
lunch box was packed...
first day of school letter was hidden...
and the school bag was loaded with supplies.

The clock clicked 8:20 as the sound of a passing school bus filled the air.
Hugs and kisses were given...
pictures in front of the magnolia bush were taken (for the last time)...
and with a wave good bye and a swoosh of the bus doors closing...
my baby girl started down the road towards her first day...
in the 2nd grade!

any takers...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The inspection has been completed with no major fixes to be made.

The appraisal was conducted and exceeded the selling price.

The preliminary papers have been signed and the PENDING sign is in the yard.

The buyer's loan is in underwriting and signing on the dotted line is just around the corner!

mia...

Michaela has a summer project to complete by this evening (her mean mom's deadline), so I am sitting at the library listening to the sounds of noisy children as I use the free wi~fi. After becoming frustrated with the internet connection continually cutting on and off and the laptop opening 50 new tabs and then shutting down, I decided to just shut off the internet. We went ahead and ordered our new cell phones with 502 area codes, so canceling our CB account just seemed like the sensible thing to do.

And in theory, it was a practical decision. In reality...not so much!!!!!

It is amazing how much I rely on the internet throughout the day. No googling of information, no checking of bank statements or bills, no movies at 2 in the morning, and no access to my blog:( I realize I have lived more of my life without the internet than I have with it; that I found phone numbers and information by using phone books and reference books for several decades, but the internet has made trips to the library for reference materials obsolete and has spoiled me with the convenience and ease of typing in a few words and having pages and pages of information to scan through.

Ahhh...the simple life! Boy do I miss the convenience!

So, until our house sells, I will be enjoying a nice ice cold Dr. Pepper every day as I sit at McDonalds... and take advantage of the free wi~fi they provide!

Cuz' the eye twitching and nervous tics from internet withdrawals are becoming unbearable:)

that's a big number...

Today is Stephen's birthday!

Of course we spent it apart...him in OC, us 'up north'...

but as soon as he was awake, we called to wish him a happy day.

Emma was appalled that he was working on his car "ON HIS BIRTHDAY"...

and then informed him, "Wow!!!! 29 IS A VERY BIG NUMBER!!"

Yes Emma, 29 is a very big number...

and 44, his true age, is an even BIGGER one!!!!They say the memory is the first thing to go!!!

upon the first day of the week...

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation."
Isaiah 12:2

problem...

Internet...or computer...is having issues.

It keeps shutting down or booting me off.

Which is slightly frustrating. Not to mention time consuming.

I am going to go to the library tomorrow and check to see which is the problem!


Good thing my computer geek, i mean husband, is coming home tomorrow night!

why didn't anyone warn us??!! ...pt.1

Over the last several months, I have had various conversations with friends about parenting. We have talked about the joys our children have brought us and also about what our lives would be like if we had not taken on the role of parent (more time, more money, less stress, less love). These conversations, along with comments recently made to Michaela, have had me thinking about myself as a parent~~~ a lot. And after much self evaluation, I have come to a conclusion.

Sometimes....I hate being a parent!

And while I do not enjoy the bickering and arguing or the attitude and disdain, the dislike does not stem from these behaviors. My feelings of disdain comes from the magnitude of responsibility that raising children entails! We, as parents, have been entrusted with the nurturing, educating, disciplining, and spiritual and emotional well~being of these little souls. We, as mommy and daddy, are responsible for forming their knowledge base and value system from infancy! We, as mom and dad, create the foundation for what they will make of themselves as the grow and mature!

And...the responsibility is frightening!

Doubt, second guessing, and regret often follow decisions. Discipline often ends with "What ifs." and "I shouldn't haves." We continually question "Am I being too strict?", "Am I pushing too hard?", or "Do I expect too much?" as we make choices or give encouragement. Our task as parents is daunting. The ramifications of are choices, whether good or bad, will shape and mold the character of our children for the rest of their lives.

And that...is overwhelming!

Recently, Michaela was told that I......

not quite wordless wednesday...

I just realized I never posted pictures of Emma Shea in her dance recital.

Sadly, I got no good ones this year.

But we still have the memories of the CAROUSAL RIDERS and FEED THE BIRDS dance!

have patience with me...

It is amazing how much more I can get accomplished when I have a lot to do? I have always been more productive when I am working/taking classes full-time. I know that I only have a set amount of time to finish a task, so I get it done. When I am 'not doing anything' or working just a few hours a week, I tend to put jobs off. I think, " I have plenty of time to do that later!" and later turns into tomorrow...or next week. Time seems endless and responsibilities suffer.

I have been working on a post (actually several because my thoughts went on...and on) but I have procrastinated. Because I am only tutoring 16 hours this week, I felt like I had plenty of time. But somehow time rushes by and the day disappears. And after the girls go to bed, I am left with one thought...bed.

So as my Tuesday comes to a close, my posts are once again not completed.

Which means if I want to finish my writings, I either need to get focused and disciplined about my responsibilities... or go back to school full time:)

happy 4th of july,,,

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE

SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY

OF THEE I SING...

LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED

LAND OF THE PILGRIM'S PRIDE

FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE

LET FREEDOM RING!!!!!

Our fathers' God, to thee,

author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!

upon the first day of the week....

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

—Psalm 127:3-5

michaela's first blog post...

I have pretended that the airplanes in the night sky are shooting stars...

which is a lot since we live in a flight path!

and I have wished and wished...

that for my birthday...

I get lots of money...

because my Mom is being mean and will not buy me the new cell phone with the data plan that I WANT...no NEED!!!!
I even told her I would pay her in the future...as soon as I have a job.

She still says "No!"

I could really use a wish right now!!!

not quite wordless wednesday...

Could it be???

Is this proof that Michaela actually does know what a phone is for??

Is this truly a picture of her participating in the lost art of TALKING on a phone???

Did she finally learn that the buttons on the phone, when pressed in a sequence, will allow her to HEAR another human beings voice???

"Phones~~~they're not just for texting anymore!!!!

the end...

Dances were danced...

awards were won...

and tears were shed as good byes to friends were said.

With the completion of Nationals in Tennessee, Michaela's place on the Spirit Dancers came to an end.

The experience allowed Michaela the opportunity to improve greatly as a dancer... and was definitely interesting at times.

But the costumes are in the dress up box and the ribbons are tucked away..because life brings change.

Yet with change comes growth... and new adventure and experiences!!!!

friday frivolity...

Another week has come and gone...

Only 8 more weeks until school starts...

The summer is going by too quickly!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve and I just finished spreading mulch in the front yard...

22 bags of smelly black shredded mess.

I dislike the process...

but I like the results....

for the day or two that the color is still there and there is no grass all in it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have a showing this weekend...

and an Open House on Sunday.

So tomorrow morning we will be making sure everything is in its place...

that the beds are made...

and that there are no loose pieces of clothing lying about!

Because even though I do not know these people...

I would really rather them NOT see our unmentionables!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Along with getting ready for the Open House tomorrow...

I will be loading Michaela, Emma, and a friend into the van...

and heading to Sevierville, Tennessee.

There will be an abundance of fun in the waterpark...

great memories made with friends...

oh, and some ballet, tap and jazz will be taking place in between splashing in the pools and soaking in the sun.

Because after all, we are actually going down there for a dance competition!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve still has not looked at the car to see the extent of the engine damage...

He priced out parts for the worst case.

Let's just say...I am hoping for the 'best case'!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We went down and registered Michaela at OCHS on Wednesday...

She will be taking AP World Geography, Advanced English, Algebra 1, French 1, Practical Science, a mandatory Study skills and ILP class for half the year and an elective the second half, and PE/Health.

I think that should keep her busy enough!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am very proud of Mac this week...

she took a situation where she was not being treated right...

and chose to move on.

Luckily she was only slightly upset!

Because I am not ready for the broken heart yet!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emma's friend invited her to attend VBS with her...

So she has been busy all week with Madeline.

She had a great time...

but was VERY tired this morning.

There was no jumping out of bed and getting ready in a few minutes like there was Monday morning!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am staying busy with tutoring...

I have 4 students now...

and just had info for 3 more sent to me.

Emma told me to quit tutoring...

She says I am always gone for AN HOUR!!!

What will she do when I am gone for 40 hours!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday, I began working with a 16 year old that is autistic...

as he was reading to me about CPR out of his favorite book, a school Health textbook, he suddenly looks over at me and asks, "Do you think that victim is seeing a bright light right now or is he already in heaven?"

Yeah, never quite know where the discussions will take us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is almost midnight...

so I should try to get some sleep.

Because I have a 4 hour drive tomorrow...

and it is not a good idea to fall asleep while driving!

Which I reaffirmed on my trip to Alabama last week!!

GOOD NIGHT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

one step forward...two steps back...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!???!!!

SERIOUSLY!!!???!!!

REALLY!!!!!!????!!!!!!!!!
Steve's car blew up as he was driving into work this afternoon!

Maybe a head gasket...Maybe the transmission!

ARE WE EVER SUPPOSE TO GET AHEAD????????

drama queenking

When I was pregnant I desperately wanted a girl. When people would ask what we were hoping for, I would give the expected "We don't care. We just want a healthy baby." response. But deep down I was terrified that I would have a boy. I had no idea what I would do with a son that liked bugs and trucks and sports. I did not know how I would relate to wrestling and fighting and 'boys being boys."

Don't get me wrong, I would have loved my sons if that is what I had been blessed with. Scared out of my mind, but filled with love.

Thankfully God blessed us with two girls.

Some friends said that their boys were so much easier to raise than their girls. And others said that the opposite was true. There was no consistency in the experiences. Yet in all the conversations with parents of daughters, there was one word that was used incessantly~~DRAMA! "Girls were always mixed up in some drama." "Girls were drama queens!" "Drama. Drama. Drama." And while I am raising Mac and Emma, I certainly agree. Drama is a part of our daily life~~~ Drama about friends. Drama about clothes. Drama about boys. Drama about their mere existence. It is never clear when the drama will unfold, but there is surety that it WILL reveal itself. And often!

Many Academy Awards and Oscars could be awarded for performances in the Martin Household!

And Emma may actually have won more in her short 6 years than her 13 year old sister!

While the word drama was always used when discussing girls, I have recently learned that teenage boys are just as moody, just as temperamental, and can create just as much drama as any girl. I learned first hand that drama IS NOT limited to the female gender!

And can I just say, macho egos along with pouting is so not attractive!!

So watch out girls, you are in danger of losing your DQ crowns to the up and coming Drama Kings!