For My Long-Legged Boy

My oldest joy has been asking me, numerous times, why I haven't posted the pictures of his 'cards'.These cards...So because I love him (and because I can't find the charger for my camera and am unable to download any photos of the happenings in our household) I'm posting his picture!

But I really don't like trading cards!

At all!

But I've indulged him in this stage:
And this stage:
Not to mention this stage: And this stage, too:
So here's to keeping my promise to post a picture of his 'cards' on the blog- and to hoping that this stage will pass quickly!

*I'll post more once I can charge my camera!

Three Weeks

So we have finished our first three weeks of school, and I'm so excited! I truly feel like this is going to be our best year of homeschooling yet!

The joys are INTO school this year! And I'm so proud of them!

I think the biggest difference this year is a few changes I decided upon at the end of school last year. We were in an unorganized, hectic mess- and I didn't like it! Life felt like it was spiraling out of control! My Nana had just passed away, and I found myself reassessing what was truly important in life. I felt that we were way too busy!And I was ready to SLOW down! So I set myself to the task of cutting back on our running here and there! This year we are only participating in the classes, activities, and appointments that we deem IMPORTANT and NECESSARY!Oh what a difference that has made! I feel less stressed! Superman is receiving more home-cooked meals! And the boys seem much more content! We still are having to leave home for OT, PT, and speech appointments. But, we are well on our way to becoming Happy Homebodies!Have I mentioned that I love homeschooling?

Or our NEW schedule?

Or my wonderful family?

Life is good!

100 Things ~ 100th Post

1.I am a complete and total introvert
2. forced to live in the body of an extrovert.
3. I love Jesus
4. my sweet Superman
5. and my children
6. more than life itself.
7. I cry at the drop of a hat.
8. I laugh too loud
9. a lot!
10. I have strange food issues.
11. I won't eat meat on a bone.
12. I only like vanilla
13. or cookies-n-cream ice cream.
14. I only like chocolate if it is in chip
15. or candy bar form.
16. My favorite food on the planet is turnip greens
17. with vinegar
18. preferably from Cracker Barrel.
19. I love to bake.
20. I don't like to cook.
21. I couldn't go an entire day without sweet tea
22. or contact with Superman
23. our the joys.
24. I don't like talking on the phone,
25. folding towels,
26. or taking out the trash.
27. I love to do laundry,
28. but it never seems to be finished.
29. I love to give kisses,
30. and receive them,
31. and hold my children on my lap
32. but they're almost too big for me to hold.
33. I'm a lover
34. not a fighter!
35. Unless I'm really mad!
36. Which isn't too often.
37. I struggle
38. like most moms
39. with letting go
40. of my joys,
41. because time truly flies
42. when you're having fun.
43. And now I want to cry
44. just thinking about it.
45. So, I'll change the subject.
46. I'm good at that!
47. I love the snow
48. but don't like to be cold.
49. I sleep with a wool blanket every night
50. even in the summer
51. and sometimes have an electric blanket on top of it!
52. I don't like sweat!
53. I don't like to sweat!
54. But, I do like to be warm.
55. I love the ocean,
56. the sand,
57. the sound of the waves and wind crashing against the shoreline,
58. and deep sea fishing.
59. I love the mountains,
60. the smell of fall in the air,
61. apple pies,
62. fresh honey,
63. and porch swings.
64. Breakfast
65. with my family
66. or alone.
67. Holding hands
68. especially with Superman
69. or my children,
70. but my favorite person to hold hands with is Nannie!
71. It reminds me to cherish each moment with those that I love!
72. Speaking of love, I'm in love with Kenny Rogers.
73. Shhh! Don't tell Superman.
74. It might hurt his feelings!
75. I don't like to hurt people's feelings.
76. (Because I'm a lover not a fighter.)
77. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day,
78. with or without flowers.
79. It's the best day of the year.
80. I really miss playing the piano.
81. I love music
82. of all types
83. especially songs with acoustic guitars,
84. the off-beat,
85. and sweet harmonies.
86. Nothing beats old gospel hymns,
87. sung like The Fairfield Four.
88. They make me smile
89. when I think about them
90. or listen to them.
91. The sound of a train whistle makes me homesick.
92. So does the smell of gasoline,
93. the taste of a Nutty Buddy,
94. or seeing Molly Ringwald on television.
95. Which now makes me think of Colours by Benetton.
96. It was my favorite perfume in junior high
97. and high school
98. but I can't find it for sale anymore.
99. I have a tendency to be long-winded.
100. That's just me!

Thanks for sticking with me for all 100 things! Now you know a lot more about me, and just how strangely this ADHD mind of mine functions!

Love to all,
Dana D

Nie Nie

I stumbled upon the sad story of what has happened in the life of the fellow blogger pictured above, and I felt that I should share the information. Nie Nie (or Stephanie) has inspired many with her blog. She's a wife. She's a sister. She's a mother to four little ones. In August of this year, she and her husband, Christian, were critically injured in a private plane crash. The pilot succumbed to his injuries. Nie Nie and her husband are still in serious condition at the Burn Center in Phoenix.

In an attempt to raise money for the months of hospital care that the couple will require in order to recover, Design Mom has set up auctions- with all proceeds going to a recovery fund for them. If you feel inclined, go check them out! There are lots of neat goodies to be bought! Trust me! I'll share some of my goodies soon! Remember, the money is for a really good cause!

**EDITED TO ADD** Several of the auctions are still LIVE. Just look for the LIVE beside the auction. If you participate in any auction for $20 or more, make sure you check out Laundry Tree Soap Nuts. They are offering two free sample packs to anyone that donates at least $20 to the NieNie Recovery Fund (whether it's an out-right donation, or by biding on an auction) through Monday, September 8th! I've been really interested in trying out soap nuts in lieu of laundry detergent, and now I'll get to try them out for free! Their moto is "Clean Laundry Naturally". Thank you Laundry Tree!