Happy Birthday Andrew!!!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to Andrew,
Happy Birthday to you.

Andrew is now 7 year old. He had a big party planned but instead we ended up in the doctors office. Andrew (and everyone else in our house) has Strep Throat. This is the 2nd time we have been on an antibiotic since Christmas. Therefore, Andrew got to go to Blockbuster and choose a movie. We ordered pizza and had his party with just the family. Andrew said that this was the saddest birthday ever. However, he never lost his smile.



Andrew blowing out his candles and spreading his strep germs onto the cake.
(After thinking about this for awhile, I don't think I will eat birthday cake any more. If so, I am scraping off the top!! Have you ever thought about this? ugh nasty!)

Andrew received his first baseball, mitt, and bat for his birthday. He wants to take Tee-ball in the Spring.

The best Birthday present Andrew received was that we found out that we have an adoption date of May 2nd. We are all looking forward to the day that Andrew can officially take our last name.

The Race Is Over

The Iron Dog Snowmobile Race is over. I am sorry to say that Sierra and Andrew's team had mechanical problems and didn't finish the race. Therefore, Hannah's team was the winner in our home. Team 36 did not win the official race but in our house there was victory for Hannah and her team.
Yesterday, the Flat Children arrived home from Alaska with a postcard and picture of their teams. This was a neat project for us. We will let you know where the Flat Children are headed in the next several days.

Our Homeschooling Journey

We started home educating our first child when she was 3 years old. That was nine years ago. We started out by joining a local homeschooling support group. This is where I gained valuable information about laws for our state, how to homeschool, and made new friends. We participated in park days, storytelling, show-and tell, and many field trips. I went to my first curriculum fair when Sierra was about 5. Boy, was this overwhelming to me. I didn't know there was so many choices in curriculum. We have always been a family that reads. So, I just started adding books to our library. I have to say I went overboard!! My husband would say that I went crazy buying books. When we started homeschooling, the closest library was about 25 miles away. So having books on hand was a blessing.

I also started trying different curriculum's to teach the basics. I bought a high price phonics program which we never used. I sold it to another homeschooling mom for $10.00. I also bought other books that were either to hard for me to use or to time consuming for Sierra. I bought a popular Math program and made Sierra do every page even when she knew the concept. Today, she dislikes Math because of this program.

When Sierra was 6, I attend a homeschooling conference and learned about learning styles. In one hour the Lord showed me how He made Sierra. Sierra learns by hearing. This is completely opposite from me. I learn and was teaching by seeing. I am a visual learner. I changed curriculum once again. Sierra started loving to learn. We did unit studies, read lots of books, and did a lot of hands-on projects together. We talked and learned together.

When Sierra was 7, we moved to tourist city. The library was 5 min. from our house and we also had a college library close by. Therefore, I started getting rid of a lot of my books because I needed the space. Now, we live in a small town far away from our beloved city. Getting books is a challenge once again. However, this time when I am purchasing books, I am being very selective. Once again, I am changing curriculum. This time I am trying to develop a way to teach Sierra and Andrew some of the same subjects but on different levels. At the same time keeping in mind that I want Hannah-Faith to use the same curriculum when she is able. I found the Charlotte Mason approach to home educating. I am now researching it and learning. I will post more on this later.

Happy Valentine's Day

I don't know what you think but I in my opinion Valentine's Day is a day for the stores to make money. Don't get me wrong. I don' t have a problem celebrating the love we have for each other but I just don't see spending the extra money on this day. Maybe it is because I have a husband that I know loves me. He shows me all through the year and doesn't have to be reminded by a day on the calender. Also, we celebrate the love we have for Christ each day, and the Love He has for each of us. So today, in our house, it was just another day. A day filled with love, laughter, cries, and yes some disagreements. However, it was a day that each person was hugged, and told "I love you.".

Below, is a poem I wrote last year for Jeff. Sierra posted it to her blog www.themillersaregrowing.blogspot.com last year and I thought I would just post it here today.

You see my view on Valentine's Day has not always been so bleak. Before children and 17 years of marriage, I had unrealistic expectations for this day. If I didn't have a romantic evening, and I wasn't showered with gifts, then I felt left out and disappointed. Boy, did have have the wrong idea of geniune LOVE. I am so thankful that my perspective has changed.
Hopefully, my children will learn that true love doesn't look like it does on TV. True love is patient, gentle, and over looks offenses. I know that true love does last when you know the one and only TRUE LOVE.

Valentine's Day Past

Valentine's Day Past

On Valentine’s Day in the past,
I would have met you after work
For a quiet dinner for two.
Today, it is dinner for 5
And it is everything but quiet!

On Valentine’s Day in the past,
You would have given me the smell of roses.
Today, I have the sweet smell of girls,
The sweat of a boy,
And oh, the smell of diapers!

On Valentine’s Day in the past,
We would have come home,
And I would have slipped into some sexy lingerie.
Today, you come home
And I am in my PJ’s with a baby on my hip.(or attached to my breast)

On Valentine’s Day in the past,
We would have taken a nice bubble bath,
And given each other a back rub.
Today, we discuss who is going to give the children a bath
And oh, I NEED a back rub!!

On Valentine’s Day in the past,
We would have ended the day making love,
And then fell asleep in each others arms.
Today, we make love everyday in the lives of our children,
And if you ask me, our love is greater and better today,
Than in the past because we have given it away so that it will last.

Thanks for all the great memories but most of all thanks for loving me.
I love you more today than all of our yesterdays.
You are the love of my life.

Missy

Celebrating Andrew

Andrew will be 7 years old this month. I thought I would post some pictures remembering the past year.

This was taken in March of 2007. We were visiting a local park.

I missed holding and rocking Andrew to sleep when he was a baby. So, some nights after Andrew falls a sleep, I go in and pick him up and hold him. While I hold him, I pray for him. Andrew might not remember these times because he is a sleep but I WILL.

This picture was taken in May 2007. We all love to sit outside when the weather is nice.

This Summer we found Andrew a battery operated 4-wheeler at a yard sale. He decided to ride it up our driveway. About halfway up, he let go of the gas pedal. All of a sudden, we saw Andrew riding the 4-wheeler backwards down the driveway.

This is where he landed!! At least, he was still on the 4-wheeler. The next time he thought about riding it up the driveway....

...He decided he would push it up the hill. It only took Andrew one time landing in the bushes to learn this lesson!! Now, you see one of the reasons I must pray for him.

Most of the time, Andrew is smiling. He is my handsome boy!!

This was taken in Oct. 2007. Andrew is a great big brother. The first thing Hannah-Faith says in the morning, is Bubbie. She loves Andrew.

In Nov. 2007, Andrew wanted his training wheels off his bike. This is a picture of the first time he rode alone. Then it turned cold and he has not been able to practice again.

This was taken last month when we had snow. He played outside until he was soaked. Andrew loves the outdoors.

Happy Birthday Andrew. We love you very much. You are growing up so fast. Slow down, I don't want to miss a moment.

The Race Is On!!!

Today, was the start of the Iron Dog race in Alaska. All three of our Flat Children are in the race and teamed up with snowmobile drivers. Flat Hannah is team #36. Her team maded it to Puntilla Lake and they are headed to Roan, Alaska. Flat Sierra is team #38 and her team also made it to Puntilla Lake and they are headed to Roan, Alaska. Flat Andrew's team, #37, is doing better than his sister's. He is also headed to Roan, Alaska. However, he made it to Puntilla Lake first. So far, team #8 is in the lead and there are 19 teams ahead of team #37. Please pray for all the teams as they participate in this race. To find out more go to www.irondog.org .

GO FLAT ANDREW AND TEAM #37!!!

Flat Hannah-Faith Is Home

Yesterday, Flat Hannah returned home from visiting Papa Jimmy and Granny Lou. While she was visiting them, she also went to Uncle Tommy's and Aunt Deborah's house. Below is her journal from Aunt Deborah's.

Flat Hannah-Faith's Journal

On January 20th, Flat Hannah-Faith visited her Aunt and Uncle.

The people she visited were Deborah and Tommy.

These wonderful people live in SC.

These are the things Flat Hannah-Faith did while she visited.
Flat Hannah-Faith helped Aunt Deborah with her chores. She fed the chicken and got 2 eggs.
She fed ,P.J, a big dog. He likes to knock you down and lick you all over. She also fed ,Opie, a Boxer. He likes to play . We had fun with Opie.
After chores, Flat Hannah-Faith went to the denist with Aunt Deborah. Aunt Deborah said that this hurt because she had to have a wisdom tooth pulled. But the dentist had some really cool tools.
The next day, Flat Hannah-Faith went to work with Aunt Deborah. She works at a local restaurant. Flat Hannah -Faith got to help Jenny, Aunt Deborah's friend. Flat Hannah-Faith didn't like washing the pots and pans but she had fun cooking. When Aunt Deborah took a break, she and Flat Hannah-Faith got to eat. The food was wonderful. Flat Hannah-Faith had Baked Salmon with Broccoli and a salad. At the end of the evening, Flat Hannah-Faith watched Aunt Deborah do her paperwork. Flat Hannah-Faith thought that we had a lot of paperwork to fill out.
Finally after an exhausting day, we got to go to bed.
Before Flat Hannah-Faith had to go home, Aunt Deborah told her to stay in school and not to grow up to be a waitress. It is hard work.

We Love You.

Flat Hannah sleeping at Aunt Deborah's.

New Discovery

Well, I have found one thing that entertains Hannah-Faith for longer than 10 minutes. It is a mirror. We have a freestanding floor mirror in our bedroom. This past weekend, I moved it to the wall opposite our bed. I didn't realize until naptime that you could lie in bed and see yourself. Hannah-Faith looked in the mirror and said, "Me". Then she preceded to look at herself, make faces, lift her foot in all directions, and examine parts of her body that she didn't realize she had until today. She was very funny to watch. Because this mirror kept her attention for quite awhile, I have decided to put up mirrors all around our house at Hannah-Faith's level. However, now that I have given this more thought, I decided that this would be dangerous as well as engaging. Hannah-Faith would probably be the first one to run into the mirrors. So for now, I will move the mirror in our room to a different wall. Then, when I need Hannah-Faith quiet for a few long minutes, I will let her play in front of the mirror. Who knows, I might just sit down and play with her.

This Made Me Laugh

Those of you who know me well, know that I do not have a sense of humor. It takes me awhile to get a joke and most of the time when I get it, I still do not find it funny. However when something does make me laugh, I usually laugh or smile for quite sometime. Today, was one of those days that I really needed to laugh. Today, I am not feeling well. I know from experience that when I have days like this, I must Praise God in my weakness. My strength and joy come from Him.
Anyway, to get to the point of this post. Today, I received this in my email.

This is taken from the Dr. James Dobson Bulletin for June1998.

Have you noticed that children sometimes try to be helpful,but it makes your life more complicated?

I heard a story about a mother who was sick with the flu.Her darling daughter wanted to be a good nurse. She fluffedthe pillows and brought a magazine for her mother to read.

And then she showed up with a cup of tea."You're such a sweetheart," the mother said as she drank the tea. "I didn't know you could make tea."

"Oh, yes," the little girl replied. "I put the tea leaves in the water like you do, and I boiled it, and then I strained it into a cup.

But I couldn't find a strainer, so I used the flyswatter."

"You what?"

And the little girl said, "Oh, don't worry, Mom. I didn't use the new flyswatter. I used the old one."

--A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)

I could see my children doing this for me. Especially, Andrew using the old flyswatter.

Hope this made you smile.

Flat Children Are In A Snowmobile Race

All of our Flat Children are in Alaska. Tomorrow, they will meet their team drivers. Below, I have listed the each child and what team they are on. You can go to www.irondog.org . Then click on Flat Stanley. Scroll to the bottom. We are listed as Truth, Love, and Training Academy. (second from bottom) Then click on "Click here to see our Stanley's".
You can click "Web Cam" and watch the race.
Flat Sierra is on Team # 38 Terry Hawkins.
Flat Andrew is on Team #37 Tom Kriska.
Flat Hannah-Faith is on Team #36 Howard Farley

The race will start Feb. 10th and end Feb. 16th.