nothing exciting, just an update

It seems like we have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to blog. I think Facebook seems to take the place of the blog, I guess. This was supposed to be the weekend we went camping with our friends, but alas, they have swine flu. It looks like they like us enough to drive all the way up here next month. YIPPEE with lots and lots of exclamation points!!!!!

The boys have been having airsoft gun battles with their friends, attending birthday and Halloween parties, and just doing school. The weather has been beautiful the last week, especially since the rain has given us a break. Falls colors are still vibrant, but fading quickly as the leaves fall to the ground, almost looking like colored snow. You really have to get up here next fall and stay a while. Between the apple festivals and such, we could have a great time!

Chris now has his learners permit. These will be some scary and exciting times for us. He is doing pretty well in school and is not really ready to decide where he wants to go after school. I think the Air Force is a possibility, but the local colleges are a great option, too. He will be 16 next month!

Andrew is moving up the ranks in Civil Air Patrol - he is now a technical sergeant! He is still playing piano, but he won't play loud enough for us to hear him. I am hopeful he will overcome this soon, as I miss hearing him play.

Michael and James are best buddies and keep each other occupied. Sometimes they are having fun and sometimes they are annoying each other, you just never know what you will get each day.

The other day we went to town to help raise the American flags for Veteran's Day. Several hundred were raised and we played a small part of it. It felt very patriotic and I plan to make it something we do regularly, for each Holiday that they are raised. If you want your children to love their country, it involves action, not just preaching. Same goes with anything you want your children to take with them into their adulthood - you have to do it, not just say it.

We are unfortunately church shopping - again. I don't think I have ever been so frustrated in all of my life. For now, we are having church at home with Keith leading. The kids have said they are learning more from homechurch than they have from other church, but I am feeling the loss of fellowship that we once knew, but it seems will never happen again. I am sure it will happen again, but right now, I just feel like we are looking for a church that does not exist. Really, people, homeschoolers are no different from you, we just learn at home. We do not live in a cave, we do have lots of other homeschool friends and our blood is red. Really.

I was able to split 7 new bushes off of my black raspberry bushes! I am so thrilled so now I have nine bushes! Next year, I am certain I will be able to can some jam. I also have a plan to make another huge flower garden in the back. I have several plants I can transplant and then add some seeds for a bountiful butterfly and hummingbird garden. I have been collecting seeds all year so it won't cost me much at all and will have loads of color! The vision I have in my head is incredible, now if I can only make it happen......

I have been doing a new exercise routine and it has been so wonderful, I have to share it with you! It is called T-Tapp, and it is named after its creator, Theresa Tapp. I have had so many benefits from the last 6 weeks of doing it, I plan on making it a part of my life. I am being patient about having inches lost, but the other benefits I am having are enough to keep me tapping. Please check it out and give me a call if you want firsthand testimony of what it is doing for me!

Well, this was not the most exciting blog entry I have made, but at least it is something. Let me know if you get any of the T-Tapp videos and what kind of results you get.

Until the next exciting update....