Happy New Year!!!

Friends I am having feelings of happiness that the holidays are over. You.Know.It's.Stressful. At least it is for me. Because I like to overdo things and push myself too much. You may live in balance. So you don't have such problems. Not me. I like to see how much I can get done. I know this has to do with busyness. Keeping busy. It's a disease.

I keep myself busy so:

I don't have to think too much.

I don't have to grieve.

I don't have to worry.

I don't have to feel.

I don't have to be engaged in parenting.

I don't have to contemplate.

I thrive on multi-tasking.

I don't have to be held accountable for my messy house! ;-) j/k it's not bad.

I have been thinking a lot lately of getting rid of a bunch of stuff and buying a home and living quietly in the country. Boy that'd be nice. But would I keep myself busy there? My dad's estate is almost up and I will get a tiny bit of $$ that I can use to invest and buy a home. If not I can keep it in savings or start a business. Travel. I am waiting on God. I am waiting to see what His plans are for me. What He wants me to do with it.

I didn't always used to be this way. I used to be able to ride down the road and enjoy the scenery and listen to classical music. Now I have to be listening to book or sermons on tape while driving super fast to get to where I'm going because I have SOOOOOOO much to do. I have to always be doing something productive.

I can't just sit down and read a book anymore. No way I have to be cleaning or doing something else while I read the book. Sassy always gets mad at me because I wanna do laundry or my nails or something else when we watch a movie together. I think being thrust into single motherhood trying to make it and trying to live right has put me into hyper overdrive. If for some reason I am not doing something super productive I will just start baking or cooking something. You know to eat another time. Or to give away. :|

My only new-year's resolution is to SLOW down. Of course I need to lose weight and a bunch of other crap. But if I can't enjoy life for what God has handsomely poured out blessing upon me what good is it?

What are your New year's resolutions if any?

I Cook!!!!!

I don't usually put a lot of recipes up because it takes a lot of time. And I am a busy woman. But here's a picture of some of my cooking, enjoy!

This Christmas

was great. Everything went well. No drama, no trauma, no real stress. It was lovely.

It was also one of those times where I didn't take one picture. Once in a while I will do that on a birthday or a Christmas or a special event. I want to feel 100% present. You can understand. Anyone with photographic genes understands that. We get so wrapped up in the photos, making sure we get all the photos and the lighting is right and having people smile and on and on and on....

Well I wanted to be free from all that. I took 0 pics. !!!

And it was relaxing. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Christmas eve I cooked dinner:

Lasagna

Sugar Snap Peas

Salad

Home-made Italian bread

Triple Chocolate Cake

Then on Christmas eve I spent the evening opening gifts and watching Christmas movies with my family.

Christmas morning I spent with just me and Sassy. It was great. She gave me this:

We played and watched movies and did our nails.

Christmas dinner was at Grandmom's. The master cook of Sassy's daddy's family. Food coma came afterwards.

Christmas was great this year I hope it was for you and your families as well. <3

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Friends I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas celebrating our King's birth. I also hope you enjoy this creepy photo I found online. Why?? Why is he semi-nude?

As I said before this season has been extremely busy for me and I have been reading your blogs but not commenting like I usually do.

May God pour blessings on you this season with your friends and family.

xoxoxoxo Love ya ladies.

Amber

SNOW IS HERE!

And it was good. Lemme tell you. We played, we froze, we melted, we ate, we watched, we played and repeat. Even the older chickens love it. How much fun it was!!! :D

It is still snowing and will continue to all night through tomorrow. I can't wait to find out what the total inches will be. :)

Getting ready

for the blizzard coming!! :D

I LOVE blizzards and storms. Thunderstorms are my favorite. I shoulda beena stormchasa.

Our snow starts @ 10 tonight and won't stop until Sunday morning. They are thinking a total of 2-4 FEET of snow. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111 :D

Woo! I love being trapped inside when storms hit. Of course I don't have to work or anything and of course Sassy is homeschooled so I don't have much to worry about. So it is fun for me. Maybe I'll be able to do some baking after all. ;-)

This may not be big news to any of you but we don't get too much snow in Maryland. So I am excited and happy. To build a snowlady and sled and have hot cocoa and be merry.

We went to the grocery store to get some stuff and every cart was taken the grocery store was a mad-house of people trying to get their goods. Marylander's tend to panic. Even in rain. Marylander's can't drive in anything other than wind.

Is it weird that I love catastrophe???

Christmas shopping

Sassy got to get away for a day to visit with Nana and Nana's bff in a nice big shopping suburb of Baltimore. I guess she'll be shopping for me. ;-) So I got the whole afternoon and evening to shop for Sassy. I thought it would be fun.

It was not.

I made the mistake of going to Toys R Us. I shouldn't have gone in there. The whole time it reminded me of how me and Sassy's daddy would shop for her when she was a toddler we would go with our coupons in hand and upgrade her stroller, or get her a new mini-trike bike. All the parents in there with their toddlers and babies. New parents. Just like we were. All the parents with their walkie-talkies talking back and forth trying to be sly with the kids in tow.

It reminded me of how much joy it felt for us to watch her get so excited to see new toys. It reminded me of how Sassy would hold on to a baby doll until it was time to leave. Once in a blue moon we'd leave with the baby.

Most of all I miss sharing parenting with Daddy. It is hard to be excited about parenting when you are the only one doing it. Christmas used to be such a time of joy and excitement for us. We were the kind of parents who rarely bought gifts for the kids during the year. But come Birthday or Christmas and we showered and I mean showered Sassy with gifts. Daddy took such pride in getting things he knew people would love. He liked to play mind games so that people would think they were getting one thing but he'd always get us what we really wanted.

It is hard to keep those traditions up without him. Financially alone I can't do it. He was a great breadwinner and I never had to worry about if we were going to make it through Christmas. Shopping for Christmas now feels like such a daunting task. It feels scary. Will I have enough to get everyone a little something? And that's the thing when Daddy and I were together I didn't have as many people to buy for. When you are a single mom you have lots of friends and extended family to fill your relational voids and without those people in your life you can't survive.

Will I have backed-up bills after Christmas because I used my savings? Actually purchasing the gifts I feel sweaty. Even if I have a plan and a budget.

There is no joy in buying anymore. It feels like something I have to do that will deplete my money. Maybe I'm trying to upkeep traditions that I cannot do. Maybe I'm being dramatic. IDK. What I do know is I am void of joy this Christmas season. Maybe it's not the finances I am nervous about. Maybe it's just the pure grief I am nervous about. I know what that bible says and I know how much God provides for me and how he has NEVER EVER left me hanging financially. He always takes care of me. I think my lack of joy is more about the grief.

So I humbly ask for your prayers friends because it is a hard time of year living without my dad and Sassy living without hers. We have been grieving pretty hard this season.

Lowered Expectations with Amber

Who was the last male you talked to?
JUAN

Who is someone that can always make you laugh?
MANS!1

What were you doing at 10am this morning?
I WAS EATING BREAKFAST WITH THE SASSY AT THE DOCK WATCHING THE BIRDS FLY AROUND MY CAR.

What were you doing an hour ago?
I WAS GOSSIPING WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER. WE REPENTED. DON'T WORRY.

Do you plan on moving within the next year?
I THINK I'M GONNA MOVE IN WITH ONE OF THE LOSERS WHO HITS ON ME AT THE GROCERY STORE. THEY ALWAYS SEEM REALLY COOL.

Are you wearing anything on your feet?
I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF BUTTER DOWN THERE. I LIKE TO SLIDE WHEN I WALK.

What are you looking forward to in the next 3 months?
WELL HOPEFULLY GETTING AS MANY LOVERS AS I CAN GATHER. IT IS MATING SEASON.

Do you remember your dreams?
ONLY THE BAD ONES.

Where did your last hug take place?
IT WAS IN THE CAR. NO TEARS WERE SHED THOUGH.

Have you been to a baby shower?
WELL I GAVE BRAYLON A BATH ONCE. HE DIDN'T LIKE THE SHOWER.

What cell phone company do you use?
I USE A COMPANY THAT THINKS IT'S O.K. TO CHARGE ME FOR EVERYTHING I DO.

What color is your hair brush?
WELL I DON'T BRUSH MY HAIR SINCE IT'S A CORPORATE HAIR STYLE.

Do you watch the Super Bowl?
YOU MEAN BREAK AWAY FROM MY COOKING AND CHORES AND WORK AND BUSY LIFE TO SIT FOR 5 MINUTES? WHO DOES THAT?

What about World Cup?
WELL I DON'T THINK IT IS SAFE TO SHARE A CUP WITH THE WORLD. HAVEN'T YOU SEEN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE?

Do you sleep with a teddy bear?
WELL TEDDY IS MOVING ON. HE IS BORED WITH ME. I GUESS I'VE LET MYSELF GO.

What is the last movie you watched?
FUNNY PEOPLE. XCEPT THEY WERE'T REALLY FUNNY.

What movie do you think everyone should watch?
I BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD. AND POSSIBLY IF THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO IT, APRIL FOOLS DAY

What is your middle name?
HEAVEN

Do you have your future children's names picked out?
YES I DO. MYSPACE AND TWITTER.

What color is your mailbox?
BLACK LIKE MY SOUL.

Do you have to drive over a bridge to get home?
I AIN'T CROSSIN' THAT HILLBILLY BRIDGE UNLESS I HAVE TO!!!11 SORRY FRIENDS.

What brand is your computer printer?
IT'S THE BROKEN-UP BRAND.

How many cars can fit in your driveway?
THAT DEPENDS. ON SATURDAYS IT'S USUALLY 17 BUT AFTER SATURDAYS IT GOES BACK TO 2.

Who was your Kindergarden teacher?
YOUR MOM.

Are you taller than your mom?
YES AND I LIKE TO YELL AT HER IN AN ANGRY VOICE TO ASSURE HER OF MY DISPOSITION AGAINST HER POWER.

Do you have any bruises right now?
WELL WHEN I DO CARTWHEELS I USUALLY MISS BECAUSE I'M WEARING MY HEEL BOOTS AND THAT CREATES BIG BRUISES.

Are you cold right now?
BIG FUZZY BOOTS MAKE MY FEET SMELL LIKE ROSES.

Do any of your close friends have kids?
YES AND SOMETIMES I LIKE TO BEAT THEM WITH THE WHACKER.

Do you know anyone who is pregnant right now?
ANYBODY BUT LOLA.

How many years older and younger than you are you willing to date?
I'M NOT REALLY WILLING TO DATE UNLESS IT'S DONE IN SECRET.

What brand are your favorite jeans you own?
I DON'T WEAR PANTS.

What is the closest red object to you?
IT'S CHRISTMAS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What is your favorite video game?
ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS.

Do you play games on your cell phone?
WELL I CAN'T GET PETVILLE ON THERE SO NO.

Do you look more like your mom or dad?
MY DAD.

Have you ever broken an pinata?
I'M ALWAYS THE ONE WHO GETS TO BREAK IT. CAUSE I HAVE AN UNDERLYING ANGER PROBLEM AND I LIKE TO BEAT PEOPLE AND THINGS SO WHEN I GET THE CHANCE I LOVE TO BEAT PINATAS TILL THEY BLEED.

Do you have an iPod or Mp3 player?
I HAVE A STAPLER. IT'S A SWINGLINE.

If someone doesnt like you its probably because:
I'M TOO AWESOME AND THEY ARE JEALOUS. PLUS THEY WANT MY CHUBBY FIGURE.

Who was the last person in your bedroom?
JESUS

What are your plans for this weekend?
I'M GONNA BECOME THE NEW MARTHA STEWART. CAUSE I GOT THE CORPORATE HAIR DOWN.

Have you ever crawled through a window?
OH YES. MY HIP HASN'T BEEN THE SAME.

Do you lose your keys often?
ONLY WHEN I THROW THEM AT THE MAILMAN.

How many keys are on your keychain?
1 PLUS YOUR MOM'S HOUSE KEY

When was your last encounter with the police?
WE HAD A LOVE FEST. TRUE STORY.

Do you sing in the shower?
ONLY WHEN THE SLUGS ARE THERE.

Do you always wear your seatbelt in the car?
YEAH SO I CAN CHEW IT WHEN I AM NERVOUS.

THANKS COME AGAIN.

My Nativity Set

Keeps being destroyed by the destroyers. :| Look at them. Giant beasts. Sitting on sweet baby Jesus. Knocking Mary down.

Two of the heads of sheep are missing. o_O It's a good thing mamma cat made them cute. Otherwise I might have to do some animal violence. I couldn't possibly hurt the cow-cat. The moo-cow. How could you even yell at a cat that looks like a moo cow? YOU CAN'T. You just have to sit there and take it. Take the abuse on your nativity set.

Not that anyone cares

but I changed my blog around a little bit.

It is a little bit prettier.

Yeah. You didn't notice. Cause you read from Google Reader don't you!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111

I know you do.

I also re-named the blog title. At the time that I started blogging I was in a very dark place shall we say. A lot of things were going badly and at the time disgruntled really did describe my life. Well I believe it should be changed to blessed. Not only because I am blessed but because I am changed in that even through hard times I can recognize the blessings instead of the disgruntled's.

Anyway I spent pointless wasted time making the blog pretty so I suggest some praise for it.

Thanks.

p.s. all my older pics are cut in 1/2. :| dang it.

Saving $$$$$

I am extremely frugal when I can be but not cheap at all. I love to go out to dinner and go to the movies and buy nice things. I like to be able to travel and experience a lot of things. I enjoy being able to do those things. I like to cut corners wherever I can so I can do those things. Here is aL.I.S.T. of some ways I save money to be able to have a fun life. ;-)

1. Couponing. It is really fun once you get into it. Now the way that I coupon is I get the Sunday paper and clip, I also buy the monthly all you magazine at Wal-Mart because it has a lot of coupons. I also buy the entertainment book every year. And I always use a coupon on buying that. This year I saved $10.00 with a coupon for the entertainment book.

Ways I use my coupons:

I only use coupons on items that are either on sale or buy one get one free. I also use more than one coupon if I can. Most stores will let you use 1 manufacturer's coupon and 1 store coupon. Example: if you are shopping at Weis you can go to a blinkie and print out the store coupons for instance, $2.00 off Scott tissue, then you use your $1.00 off Scott tissue manufacturer's coupon, plus buy it on sale. Example, this week I bought a 12 pack of Scott toilet tissue which is normally $9.69 for $6.39 which was the store SALE then I used the $2.00 off store coupon with the $1.00 off manufacturer's coupon so I ended up getting 12 rolls of 1,000 sheet toilet paper for $3.39. Saving over $6.00

This might be hard at first if you don't have a good stock of groceries to start. But once you build that up you can buy only what's on sale and cook and plan your meals based on that.

SassyMcSassplaster sits in my binder. ;-)

If you don't have one of these^ in your area, I feel bad for you. I love them!!!!

Can you imagine it? I write out my GAME PLAN for groceries in LIST form!!! With my own algebraic figuration!!!

Did you know that you can use more than one coupon at BB&B? And not only that but they never expire. ;-) And they can be sale items.

A view of my chaotic desk!!!!

2. My Coke Rewards I save bottle caps from my cokes, and the ends to canned soda boxes to add up points in this website. My mom and my best friend both drink cokes and save the caps for me. Which is really just them giving me money because it ends up in my pocket later. I just received a new photo printer from my coke caps. I paid nothing for it just by saving caps of something I always drink. When I don't have a lot of points like now after I've used it on the printer I will get free magazine subscriptions, free movies, free movie tickets, etc.

3. The Library. Any homeschool mom knows this is vital to homeschooling. I make a weekly trip to the library (usually when my movies are due back). Sassy will spend hours there picking out books and movies and educational tools she wants to use. All that is great and dandy but I use it for movie rentals. I NEVER pay money to rent a movie. Especially at $4-$5 a pop nowadays. I know about the Redbox, I know they are only $1.00 but I can never seem to get back to get the movie in time so that really doesn't work for me because I end up spending more. By renting from the library I am able to see almost all new releases for free and when the time is coming closer to return and I haven't watched my movies yet I always extend the rental time by 4 days to finish. You can do that once for each. :) At my library there is a huge movie selection and I hardly ever need to rent from Blockbuster but if so, I always have the points from #2 to use.

4. Amish Grocery. I also shop at the Amish grocery stores whenever I can get up there. I usually spend between $100-$150 for two carts full of groceries. That usually lasts me 2 months. (with only Sassy and I). It's also better food for us whereas all of their produce, meats and dairy are 100% organic. As I stated before I also use whatever is in my pantry, fridge and freezer to come up with and create meals. I hate having recipes that I have to run out for one thing. I usually come up with concoctions on my own but if I am lacking in ideas I visit Allrecipes. Here you can type in the ingredients you have and they come up with the meals for you.

5. Eating out with Coupons. I know it's tacky and I probably wouldn't use it if I were dating or anything but I won't eat out unless I have a coupon which coincides with the Entertainment book I get each year. It really saves.

6. Use store-cards. I always use the cards given by grocery stores, drug stores, best buy, movies, etc. I just have a little card holder in my purse that holds all of them and anytime I am in a store I use it. It's so easy. I recently got a free movie ticket ($10 value) for using my card when I go to the movies.

7. Buy your own! (Snacks that is) When I go to the movies I either pack snacks from home or stop by the local Wawa and get a snack and a soda. There is no way I'm spending $19.95 for some stinkin' snacks. :| Now that doesn't mean if I have a free popcorn or free soda from my points rewards you know from using #6 that I won't get it. But that's the only time these chickens see movie popcorn.

I have more I just can't think of any. How do you cut corners to save money??? Give me some ideas!!!! Have a blessed weekend friends.

<3

Lovely of the lovelist of the lovenistic of loves of music. :D

My mom and I have their cd and we both rock-out all the time. I am planning a trip. *gasp!* no way. To Cleveland, Ohio in May for Mother's day to see them. :D

christmas decor

Just a few pics of some of the Christmas decorations. :o)

Some Christians

......go through much of their lives without much trauma or drama.

I know this.

I have many friends who have this kind of life. Now my life has been a lot of trauma and drama and horrific happenings since I was little. I would like to know why the Lord allows some people to have such easy lives and others have it very hard. I know some of the things that I've gone through are consequences of sin but many of them are not. It seems like the enemy has full reign on destroying a lot in my life. Just doesn't seem fair.

You see I am a planner, an organizer, and a list maker. I like to know what the main plan is. I like to know why things happen. I may never know. Which is o.k. I guess. ;-) What I do know is that before Jesus Christ changed my life I was very rebellious, stubborn, prideful and mean. It seems to me that I may have never loved Christ so deeply without such trials. Still. I wonder why the Lord allows some Christians to have mediocre lukewarm walks with Him and it seems to me that He won't allow me to live that way. Everytime I seem to slip into those puddles He makes sure I get right back up there in HOT JESUS FIRE LOVE. hehee. That's my new saying. HOT JESUS FIRE LOVE. Maybe it isn't that he allows or doesn't allow but it's my own love for Him that keeps me above the mediocre lukewarm waters. IDK, all I know is I am lucky. Even though my life has been mostly pain and heartache I am happier than most people who haven't been through 1 ounce of what I have. That in and of itself is pretty amazing.

:D

Christmas Vacation

Have you ever seen the movie Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase? I know you have. Well it's a classic around our house and we watch it all year round not only at Christmas time. Well we pretty much lived out a scene from Christmas Vacation getting our Christmas tree. We get a real tree every year. :o)

One evening this past week I got all the chickens together and my mom and I took them to get our Christmas trees. Well. We were gonna go to the big and fancy Christmas tree farms were you get to ride a hay-truck while sipping hot cocoa wearing ugly sweaters and singing cheesy Christmas carols. But we decided against that.

We decided to "rough it" just like in the movie. We decided to do it yourself kinda Christmas tree at this guy's farm. Your price is better. Only it had been raining a lot so the mud was pretty much up to our knees. The guy who owned the farm was really weird and when we got to the farm there were nothing but tiny little baby trees. Except wayyyy in the back, where the swamp was. That's where we found the GIANT trees. Now I wasn't prepared for this at all. The chickens were loving it, stomping around in the swamp screaming and laughing while I try to figure out what kind of tree I could get that would either be a mini tree or a GIANT tree.

The guy on the farm seemed like a character from the movie. He would say things like yep, goin' out of business so-as most people took the average size trees. o_O

Well I found one finally and we drug it through and got it up on the top of the van.

Then we got it home. Now this is where the movie really comes in. Remember the part when he opened the tree up and it knocked everything over and broke out the windows? Yeah. I didn't break the windows but it sure did knock things around. Funny how that tree looked so small next to those giant ones. Hmmm. I had to cut it's head off. It was way big for the nice little corner I had planned for it.

Ok so no biggie, I spend about an hour trying to figure out where I'm gonna put ol' Bertha. She's a big'en. I finally figure it out when WE see a G.I.A.N.T. praying mantis flying out of the tree. :| :| :| Just like in the movie with the squirrel. But even worse. I would have loved for a squirrel to come out. I ran around the house dry-heaving almost puking on myself screaming. I hate those things. I mean it turned it's head around and starred at me.

IT LOOKED RIGHT AT ME!

I ran around screaming for help. Luckily I had the chickens with me. And of those chickens was my nephew who is 10. Sassy's aunt and I were pregnant at the same time and Sassy and nephew are only 2 months apart. :) Anywhoo he gets a glove on and goes in and picks the thing up and takes it across the courtyard to the trees.

*puke* *pass-out*

I really almost did those^ things. But we survived the Griswoldesque tree-getting events. And my sweet nephew reveled in the fact that I called him my hero all night. I mean he really REVELED in it. ;-)

Just for kicks:

why yes i am a jesus freak. thank you.

He is Jesus.

The One and Only.

Transcendent over all else.

To know Him is to love Him.

To love Him is to long for Him.

To long for Him is to finally reach soul hands into the One true thing we need never get enough of.

JESUS.

Take all you want.

Take all you need.

Till soul is fed.

And spirit freed.

Till dust is dust.

And Face you see.

Jesus Christ.

He's all you need.

Facebook

Well now.

You know technology has gotten out of hand. At any particular time of the day I can get a friend request from ANYONE from my past. And I've had a wild past. Back in the day your past stayed in your past. You didn't ever hear from people from high school or previous jobs or what have you. Now with facebook not only do you hear from them but they want to like uh be a part of your life and such. It's weird.

So I have found the WONDERFUL resource of customizing certain aspects of my information. I have created lists. :O :O :O Can you imagine that? Anyway I have a friend list that can see my contact information and my photos. And I have a friend list that can see my status. Most of the people in said lists are on both. But not always. Everyone else sees hardly anything. I realize I don't have to accept friend requests and so on but I do know these people. I just don't want half of them to see pics of my life and know my every little status. Plus men who I am not interested in would use my status' to flirt. And it down-right annoyed me. Leave me alone!!! Also some people who aren't very positive (I call Debbie-Downers) tend to leave sarcastic and pessimistic status comments. I don't need it. I need constant uplifting and encouraging from friends. I'm in no state to take on extra grief and negativity. And some people I don't know very well but I know their status' and comments are always uplifting. So they're in the bunch. :o)

Which also brings me to the place of other people's status. The lovely task of seeing acquaintances' sometimes horrendous status. The one and only Hide button!!!!!!! Thank goodness for that. And let's be honest. Some people just have nothing good to say. It's always dreary. It's always sad and morbid. It's always self deprecating. Blah. Hide.

SO customize!!! IN LIST FORM!!! Thank goodness. :o)

Now this has done a great thing, this customization of lists. It has allowed my friend's status' to be that of mostly uplifting, encouraging people. So everytime I spend time on facebook it is an uplifting experience. And that's nice. Same with the blogs. I will only read blogs that are positive, encouraging, and down-right happy. I used to read blogs that although funny were sarcastic in nature with underlying anger tones. I always felt worse after reading. So I don't. I read GOOD blogs, and GOOD status updates.

Cause like I said I gotta have positive info. I got enough dreariness in my life. ;-)

Oh p.s. I don't watch the news either. It's depressing. And I won't do it. If it's on, I'll go in the other room. I don't need to know about it. Thanks. Now that I think about it this blog post is dreary and sarcastic. Rats!

Military Bible Stick Outreach

I saw this ministry on another website and thought it was wonderful.

Deployments are tough…

Before leaving, there’s months of training, anxious moments, and long hours. While gone, it’s even tougher...dangerous missions, cramped living quarters, and constant thoughts of loved ones far away.

During these difficult times, Faith Comes By Hearing is reaching out to American troops with God’s Word.

The Military BibleStick is bringing comfort and hope to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. This specially-designed Audio Bible is being deployed all over the world.

Support Our Troops!

Here's what they are saying about the Military BibleStick:

Thanks for sending the Audio Bibles. I’ve been searching for an easy-to-understand Bible to share with my 'brothers.' Listening to the New Testament made a monumental difference in my life.
-- U.S. Marine, Iraq

It is very refreshing to listen to Scripture, and I appreciate the different voices for different people in the New Testament. I have been able to grow in my walk with the Lord and knowledge of the New Testament.
-- Army Officer, Iraq

These Military BibleSticks put the Bible in their hands. And, they're helping our sailors get through their deployments.
-- Navy Chaplain

DeSchooling

I am having a really really hard time deschooling. Now my Sassy hasn't had a hard time with it. She has always disliked school and had a hard time. She deschooled on the last day of school last year!!! ;-) She loves loves loves being homeschooled. She is not your average bear. :) I can't get the rigidity out of my head and the planning and organizing and grading and all that jazz. I am currently using the Abeka line of curriculum but I'm not very pleased. I feel so bored with it and I know Sassy is too. I am thinking of creating my own curriculum or changing over. It feels just like regular school rather than the interactive, creative, free-flowing homeschool we'd like it to be. I realized I haven't blogged about homeschooling once. That's because I can't deschool myself enough to do stuff out of the Abeka organized curriculum. I believe what I'm going to do is be a 1/2 unschooler 1/2 homeschooler. I think next year I'm designing my own curriculum with things we want to learn about, with recommended books and possibly using curriculum only for math and english studies. IDK, who knows. All I know is that it's gotta get more exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps it's field trip time. Perhaps I could start lapbooking and notebooking with her. She'd love that. Ok. Plan time. ;)