My Experience as As a Winter Camp Counselor

This past weekend, (Friday thru Sunday), I was a counselor at Speiro Academy Winter Camp. Our 4 boys was a part of the camp and our little girls went to babysitters. My husband ran the sound equipment the entire time for services and teaching sessions.

I had a lot of fun. We stayed in a hotel for 2 nights. I was suppose to have 4 girls in my room at night but ended up having only 1 at night and 2 during the day. I was in charge of them. We have Services and teaching sessons. There was Sr. Camp which was ages 12 thru 18. AND than there was Jr. Camp which was ages 6 thru age 12. My girls that I had for the day were ages 12 and 13. They were really good girls.

Saturday night, there was what they call a Snowflake Ball. Everyone gets dressed in long formal dresses like prom dresses. And the guys are decked up in suitcoat or tuxes AND the girls are dresses in all kinds of pretty very formal dresses. I got to dress up and have my hair done really pretty and I had a pretty dress on. They did alot of waltz dancing but also fun dancing like the Hokey Pokey, the chicken dance and the train are a few examples. It lasted real late like until 2 am for the seniors and the jrs were sent to bed by 12 am.

It was nice not having to a Mom for the weekend. I did not have to do dishes. I did not have to do laundry. My boys had their own counselors so they were busy. and I just had the 2 girls. It was nice.

We had 1 girls ask Jesus into her heart and many rededicate their lives back to Him. This retreat was also a time to just draw closer in your walk with the Lord.

But, now I am home. It is Sunday, 5:45 PM. I have talked to my daughter, Rachel who is 4. She stayed with her Uncle and Aunt and her cousin, Brooklyn. Well, Rachel does not want to come home. She is having sooooooooooooo much fun! But she should be dropped off around 7ish.

Our littlest one, I found out told her babysitter that she misses her Daddy and Mommy. Abby is 3 years old. And I am happy to report that she loves her Daddy and Mommy.

Well, now that I am home, it is back to laundry, back to picking up after 8 people! And back to being plain ole Mom.

One thing that I did learn from this retreat is this: First off, a person is never to old to learn something. I just hit 40 last July and you can learn something at age 40! I learned that being a child of God, that He loves me so much that I have favor with Him.

And, I also learned that being just a plain ole Mom and nothing else is not a bad thing. I am sowing seeds into my children. and the seeds that I sow into my children will manifest one day. My life may not seem like it has a purpose but to invest in my kids by loving them and teaching them and blessing them is a very good purpose. Being a stay at home Mom to some people in this world is a negative thing. and I think I was starting to wish I could have more to my life. But, what my husband and I invest in our children, will blossom one day.

Well, that is my weekend. I am very tired but at the same time; I am so glad that I went to camp!

My Blog for Thursday _ A Glorious Day!

Well, its been a busy day today. I had alot to do and was gone from 9:55 am until 5:00 pm. and now I have alot of laundry to do.

I got my haircut today!! Finally! We did not have the money for awhile but God blessed and I finally got my hair cut. I asked her to do something that would be alittle sexy. Turning 40, you want to spice up your life abit. And when I am done on this blog, I am gonna wash my hair and practice my new style. For those of you who do not know me very well, I have very thin fine hair so only certain styles will work with my hair. So, and my hairdresser felt this new style would work for my hair. So, I am excited!

I had to get my 3 little girl's picture taken. AND she was so perfect for the photographer. She did not cry and she smiled and laughed right on cue for him! He said he wished everyone was like her!

AND than, today, I got to shop for a dress for the Ball I am going to on Saturday night. I found a beautiful all black dress. It goes all the way down to the ground. AND you know what? It is absolutely gorgous! I have never, ever owned something like this! God blessed me this day with such a great price! It was marked down to $$$$10.00!! Unbeleivable! But great too!

So, my blog for today is a joyeous one! AND God blessed us with something else. WE qualified for our house! The appraisal was ordered today! ;-)) Looks like we will close somewhere Feb. 15th! Praise God!

Hope all is well with all my blogging buddies!

My hectic day

Getting ready for my day. Go, Go, Go, that is usually my day. Today, I have to take my youngest daughter (age 3) to her speech appointment. And it takes around 20 minutes to get their. Than, I will come back home and clean and do laundry.

Tonight, I have to pick up our 4 boys (age 13, 11, 11, and 8) at 6:15 PM from the Elm Grove McDonalds. They are being taken their after their school and ministry team. That is a 40 minute drive from here.

From their I will take them to church for their "Whosoever" Band practice. and than I will come home and their Dad will take them home after their practice.

Everyday, it seems it is typical that we are constantly running. and there are no days just to sit back and relax. What ever happened to the days where there are no more running around? Even Sundays here are running back and forth to church.

I get tired just thinking of my hectic days.

Well, my girls are fighting (age 3 and age 4) hitting each other with their coats. So, I guess I need to intervene and leave to get Abby to her speech.

This blogging is neat cuz I get to write down my feelings. I get to write down my vents.

Oh, and we should find out today or tomorrow if we qualify for the house we want to buy. Makes me nervous. I really want us to move. I am tired of all the driving.

Until later, Bye to all my blogging buddies.

More Information on the house we are trying to buy

We have been trying to buy this house where we want to live. We have hit alot of curves in the road that have been slowing this process down. My hearts desire to move closer to where we do all of our business. We are trying to move 25 minutes from where we live now. We attend church there. All the places we shop are there. and our kids school Van stop is that town.

I was so frustrated last night as our lastest ball thrown at us looked impossible. But now, maybe, just maybe, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will find out by Wednesday, possibly, if we can get this house for sure or not.

Everyone be in prayer for us. We really need to get closer. The drive is getting tiring on me and the kids. Back and forth, back and forth.

I will blog on Wednesday or Thursday whether we got approved for the house or not.

Keeping my fingers crossed and my trust in the Lord,

Snow, Ice and Extreme Cold Weather

I guess, today, my blog is about the weather. That is my biggest beef right now. In the back of my head I dream of srping. I kind of wish we were at the end of March and not the end of January.

Here, all the schools go on a 2 hour delay anytime there is tempertures in the single digit. So, my kids have a 2 hour delay as I seen on the weather report our low was suppose to get to 4. and probably the windchill below 0.

I do not like to drive in snow nor ice. And all this having to bundle up the kids is getting old real quickly.

But, I guess I do not have a choice in the matter. I will just have to put up with it all and than, I will keep dreaming of green grass, pretty flowers and trees just beginning to bud.

My blog complaint for today.

Blogging

This blogging stuff is all new to me. I have no idea what I am doing. If you read my blog and think this woman has no clue to blogging, you are probably right.

But if you want to leave me helpful advice, I would not mind. I keep adding links and urls to my blog to make it look better. I hope I am doing all this right.

I really like the idea of writing my feelings down. Many, many times, I have no one to say how I am feeling. I can't tell my kids as they are in a world of kiddom and teendom. I can't tell my husband as usually we do not think alike. So, blogging for me is getting my feelings out. and I am beginning to think this blogging stuff is kind of neat.

So, for now, I will trail and error on blogging. AND if you see misspelled words, know I have been out of high school for over 20 years and each year, my brain gets further and further from what I learned in school. I am not sure if that is from having 6 kids that at times drive me totally insane (although, I totally love my kids) or just from a lack of brain activity.

Well, I have little pitter patter feet near me wanting my attention and that really causes me to misspell. So, I must end this for now.

My Inner Feelings about us moving closer to everything

Well, we have been trying to buy this house 25 minutes from where we live now. It has been such a struggle to do. The price is perfect! and the distance from our activities are perfect too. But getting the loan approved is a complete hassle! We have had one obstacle after another! We here we are approved but than they say BUT you must pay off this debt first. Than they say No you must pay off 2 debts first. Would be nice if they would get their story straight for us so we can know exactly what we are suppose to do.

I have been going crazy with all this. Trying to keep my Faith up that this house we live in now will sell so we can buy the house 25 minutes away. Its hard to keep your FAith up when no one is coming to look at our house and the realator tells us its cuz no one looks at houses when there is snow on the ground. So, I think to myself, SNOW go away! But its January and what can I expect in January??? But snow on the ground. I guess Mike and I just need to keep trusting God for this house deal to go thru. It appears That God is leading us in the direction to buy this house. Sure does alot of trusting in God! Someone help me by encouraging my with scripture!

Well, I just had to share my feelings. Everyday I struggle with having to drive 25 minutes back and forth 2 to 3 times a day! I am getting tired of the drive. I am getting tired of always being on the road. My insides say, please, please, I want to move closer. But I need to keep trusting God and not myself on this.

Hoop and Hollar of a Winter Storm for Nothing!

Well, now, we are thinking we may get stormed in for the weekend. They say we are suppose to get 4 to 7 inches. Well, we may have gotten up to 2 inches. Nothing much. AND now, they cancel the winter storm warning. I seen alot of drizzle. But not much snow. Why dont weather men get their facts straight! I guess that is why they are not God!

Just alittle humor in our winter storm warning we got!

SNOW and Winter

HI there. Well, we are living in the middle of January in the year of 2005 and we are suppose to get 3 to 5 inches of snow this weekend. Well, I am not sure how much snowwe have gotten already but not much. We are getting some sleeting that you can hear on the windows. But they say that by 4 Am tomorrow,we will get that much snow. It has not come yet.

My feelings on winter is that I am ready for spring. I am no longer like a child that wants to play outside and build a snowman. Rather, I am a grown woman who has to drive in this stuff and that affects how I feel about snow.

Also, my body just does not like any sort of weather that is 'cold'! AND so, each day, I dream of when spring where be here. I will be rejoicing when I see my first bluebird. I will rejoice when I begin to see the tree first blossoming. That is when I will rejoice. Until than, I guess I will just have to survive all the white and extreme cold.

I will just have to dream about spring for now cuz in reality, we only in the midst of winter!

This is my blog feelings for today

How do you survive Teendom?

Well, we just had our oldest son hit 13 this past December. For the last couple of years, his attitude has been horrible. and lately his attitude and behaviour has esculated. So, tell me, how do we parents of teen get them to their 20's?? That is a question I probably will not know until my kids are in their 20's.

Just my blog for the moment.

Very Sad - Walmart Clerk Abducted and Murdered in Texas

Hi there. Well, I guess a 19 year old Wal-mart Clerk was abducted after her shift was over. She was leaving after working and some man kidnapped her and murdered her. This happened in Texas. Check out CNN. How sad in this day and age that a young woman who was in her first year of College and who was working was so tragically struck down by a selfish man who probably just wanted to satisfy his own lusts! What is this world coming to? Good thing that Texas has the death penalty.

Well, things like this make me upset. and I feel for her mother who must be totally out of her mind about now! We must keep this Mother and family in our prayers even though we do not know them personally.

Feeling alittle sad but happy at the same time. Weird, huh?

Well, we qualified for our new house. and we having so many people praying that this house will sell. I just get alittle sad. Mike is feeling the pressure as we prepare to move. As it is we cannot afford our bills. We need to move cuz by moving to this new house, it will save us lots of money. Mike figured out, we save around $500 a month and that does not include the gas we will save by living closer to everything! That is the great news. and I want to rejoice inside of me, but the big thing is this: we still have not sold this house. I need to have more faith in God, I guess. But it does worry me a bit deep inside of me.

I just need some sort of reassurance that God wants us to move. Well, let me say this: He put this new house into our hands. He opened up the doors for the sellers to want to sell it to us at such a cheap rate. So, If He wants us to have this new house so badly, I guess, I should trust Him to sell this house. So, why do I allow my human nature to get in the way?? I do not know. I guess I am like Paul in the Bible. I want to do what is right but why do not always do what I should?

Well, I just had to share my feelings. We are to close on this house by February 15 and move into it by March 15. I guess Mike and I are just going to have to trust the Lord on this one.

:-))

Another 4 Good Years

Yes! I am very happy that we will have a Christian President for another 4 years. I was really worried that Kerry might get in and our Country would go down hill quickly. But Thank God, the Christians in the Country had their way!

Praise God for a Christian President!

Pittsburgh Steelers

Well, I have a family full of Pittsburgh Steeler fans. The game is on TV currently. My husband and my boy's eyes are glued to the TV. There is no talking to them except on commercials and breaks. LOL!

The girls on the other hand, had a fit, they wanted to watch something different. They wanted Barney instead of a football game. So, they are upstairs on our TV watching their show.

I am watching the game as I am now a Pittsburgh Steeler fan but as a Mom, I just cannot just sit down. I have laundry to do and other things to get ready for church tomorrow, like getting my clothes and the girls clothes ready. Plus, the boys need a few things cleaned to wear to church. Moms never seem to get a break.

Mike is working hard on our house to get it ready to sell. Mike says the loan officer thinks we are approved for the house we are trying to buy. I am trying to not get too excited as Mike told me not to cuz we are trying to be approved without having to sell this house and that is not as easy to get approved for. But things are looking good. We do want to sell this, its just we are spending so much money in gas for our van and car taking the kids to their school stop and church that we need to move close as soon as possible.

One day last week, I went to St.Clairville 3 time and came home. That put me on the road almost 3 hours. With the gas prices, it is just costing way to much money for us to live so far away. Plus, living in St. Clairsville will be nice cuz everything we need is there. Walmart and the mall is right there. NICE.

Well, off to do more laundry AND to put away mor laundry. Bye for now,

Patty

Friday - Abby's 3rd Birthday!

Hi there. Well, even though today is Friday, that does not mean anything in our life slows down. Our weekends seem to be as busy as our weekdays.

Last night, I went to Praise team practice. Mike is the sound man for this praise team so we had all the kids there. It went on for a long time. Than, after that, My kids and a few of their friends are doing a song this coming Sunday. So, we had to practice for that. We got home after 10 pm. than, I had this horrible sinus headache that would not go away. It hurt so bad that I could not see straight! I took some of Mike's migrane pills and it helped enough to let me sleep.

Tonight, my boys are staying after school for their ministry team (for their school) practice. Mike will pick them up after his appointment this evening. than, they have to be at school tomorrow morning for more ministry team practice. Basically, they are doing drama, skits, singing and more for ministry team. Mike will take them to school and than pick them up.

Sunday, we have church. Than after that we are having Abby's Birthday party. She is 3 years old today. Our baby is 3! After that, we have to be back at church for cell group meeting at 6 pm. So, we are still busy this weekend.

And than, our week starts all over again on Monday.

Today, we should hear whether our offer on the house was accepted or not. We put in an offer and the price is just great! Much more affordable than our payments now. AND 3 minutes from church and the kids school van pickup! Wow!

Gotta run and see what the girls are getting into. Patty

Rain, Rain Go Away!

We are getting so much rain here in West Virginia and Ohio that there is problems with flooding and mud slides. It is getting alittle bit old......... all this rain. Today, it is pouring and pouring and you know what?? I am kind of confused at what season I am in. I thought I was in winter. But, the weather is acting like spring. But, I do not think January is anywhere close to spring. GO AWAY RAIN!! Lets see some SNOW!! After all, that is what usually happens in winter............ A nice ole Winter Storm!

Well, I am off to bed. My kids have a 2 hour delay and we get to sleep in abit. Hey, I just looked outside and seen lightening. We are getting a thunder storm. Again, I say, I am confused on the season we are in. OH, well, when in Febuary, you hear me complaining of all the snow we get, you can remind me of complaining of spring weather in January! lol!

Good night, Patty

More of the Flu going around AND Potential Buyers

Well, now my husband is queasy and not feeling well. He is dizzy to stand up. and when my husband gets sick........ well, the world stops! LOL! But, hopefully by tomorrow he will be on the mend.

We actually had people come and look at our house today! A realator from out of town came and led people thru out of our house. I have no idea that what they thought but at least already we have people walking thru.

I hope it is not long that we have the house on the market cuz we have a house we are interested in the area we want to live in.

I am getting antsy but I know I have to lay it in God's hands. My husband is painting and getting it all looking nice. Too bad we didnt do this when we were living here. The house is looking sharp.

Well, its time for me to put 2 little girls to bed. They have whined and cried all day. I need a breather from them.

Good night, Patty

Not a Fun Time

Well, today, I was on the Praise Team. That went well. But when I got down, my MIL informed me (quite dramatically) that our son, Joshua was in the van throwing up. Not fun. We are home now. He is now being quarentened from the rest of the family down stairs on the couch.

Than, we get home and our oldest son spills like a half of gallon of paint all over the floor in the kitchen and all over the cement outside. It was to be trashed and he drug it to the trash container not picking it up but dragging it spilling it. Needless to say, we had quite a mess.

Well, its afternoon now. I have been putting laundry away. AND now, we are getting ready to go to a meeting at our church for cell groups. Something new our church is starting. Go, Go, Go is what we do alot! That is why we need to move closer to our church. We go there alot and live 25 minutes away.

Why does the laundry never seem to stop??? I am soooooooooooo backed up plus there is sooooooooooo much laundry upstairs to put away. I am drowning in Laundry. Why couldnt we just all go naked??!!

well, guess I better close this down. Gotta leave in 20 minutes and I am no where near ready to leave.

Bye for now, me.

Saturday Night

Hi there. Well, its Saturday evening. Actually, its close to Sunday Morning. But, nevertheless, I am still up. Tired but awake.

Mike and I went to an adult fellowship time with your adult group from our church. We watched Napeopolian Dynamite (what a show! How dumb!) and played this trivia pursuit game that I did not know a thing in it! It was not the regular trivia pursuit. I guess I do not know alot about movies and tv shows dated back in time. But, Mike and I still had fun.

Our boys are now able to watch our girls when we leave so that part is great. But, we do get around 2 to 4 phone calls, tattle tales mostly. They just have to tell. But at least we are able to get out and have built in babysitters.

We are painting our house to sell it. Mike has got one room completely painted. Right now, he is painting the hallway. He has alot to paint to make the house look nice. Tomorrow, we have to clean and declutter this house so when people walk thru, it will look nice.

The realator put the For Sale sign in front of our house and was taking pictures. So, now it the paper work is all done and we could get calls anyday for people to go thru our house. We are excited and hope someone will like this house!

Well, we have to get up early tomorrow for church. I am singing on the praise team. We have to be there by 9:30 and so morning will come quickly. I am just tired thinking of it. Good thing I started drinking coffee again! Now that I found Splenda, I can drink my coffee with my splenda and low carb milk! ;-))

Good night! Patty

Sick Child Overnight

Well, I am very tired today. Abigail woke up having to throw up. She was asking for a bowl to throw up in. And I put her on the floor in our room so we could keep an eye on her and she threw up over her self and in her hair. So, needless to say, at 4 am, I was giving her a bath.

She is doing ok today. Still has only had 7 up. She is wanting something to eat but I want her to be able to hold down her liquids first. In alittle while, I will try some dry toast with her.

Abigail got this flu from her sister, Rachel. 2 days ago, Rachel was throwing up all over. I guess it starts and does not want to stop in this house. Hopefully, it stops with Abigail!

Kids are home from school. No school due to flooding. Rain has stopped but river is still cresting. Rumors of more rain coming tonight. Will be bad if it does come. If this were snow, we would be snowed in for a long time!

Well, gotta keep after the kids to help me get this house ready to sell.

Bye for now, Patty

Goodnight and Savannah

Well, its late here. Its after Midnight. Good night everyone. My only thing that is making me sad is I just read about Savannah. She is not doing so well. It is very scary to see what she is going thru and only 4 years old. We all need to pray for her!

Well, its off to bed I go.

Thursday Evening

Hi there. Well, Thursday evening. We are now watching CSI. Its one of our favorite shows. Than after that, we watch Without a Trace.
Our family likes both of these shows.

The flooding is really bad in this area. My kids school was closed today and again, tomorrow, there is no school. Today, we got to sleep in until 8 AM! Usually, we have to get up at 5:15 Am. It was really nice sleeping in. Of course, it was only me and the girls that got up that early. The boys slept until after 10 AM! Mike had to get up early for work so he was up at 7:30 am. Much better than 5:15 AM.

We have been getting our house ready to sell. I have to declutter while Mike has to paint and fix things. We are really anxious to sell and reduce our house payments. Plus, we are anxious to get closer to school and church. Plus, where we live there is very little for entertainment or shopping.

Well, I guess I better get off here and concentrate on CSI. It is comercial so bye for now, Patty

Thursday Morning

Well, today my kids have no school due to flooding. We all got to sleep which was really nice. In fact, if is almost 10 AM here and my boys are still sleeping!

I have to clean, clean and get this house ready to be looked at so we can sell it. Everyone needs to pray that the house will sell fast cuz our payments are so high that we have gotten to the point where we cannot afford this house. We are looking at a house in the area where we want to live that the payments are in our range level.

Well, laundry and cleaning is calling my name. So, goodbye for now,

Patty

P.S. the for sale sign should go up in our yard by tomorrow and our house will be in the paper by next week!

Very Excited!

Hi there. Well, I am very excited! The realator came over today and walked thru our house. She is listing our house! The sign will go up in our yard around 2 days. The only thing is cuz we owe so much, well, we have to sell it for quite a bit. We need some prayers for someone to really like this house!
Even more exciting is that we have already looked at a house to buy! It is alot smaller than the house we are living in but we will be able to afford the new house much better than where we are living. With paying for our kids Christian education, well, we need to lower our mortgage payment. I think we will end up paying like $400 less than we are here!
Now, I have to somehow keep this house uncluttered and clean as people want to come look thru the house. That will not be easy with 6 kids!

Well, I just wanted to share my exciting news!

Late Tuesday Evening

Well, its almost 11 pm here. and almost everyone in my family is in bed. We have had a very busy evening. My husband and I had a meeting to go too. My kids were invited to a going away party at someone's house. AND guess what?? Something exciting happened today???? Mike (my husband) called a realator and is putting our house up for sale. She is coming to our house in the AM tomorrow!! I have been wanting to move closer to our church and school for a long time now. I am sooooooooooo happy. Now, we just have to pray that the house sells!!

Well, I am off to bed. I am tired and 5:15 am comes early here.

For now, good bye,

Patty

Tuesday Morning

Well, its Tuesday Morning. I got all my kids's lunches made and got them out the door for school. This morning, I did not want to get up. I was tired. But that is because I stayed up last night enjoying my show, CSI Miami. I uusally tape it and watch it the next day.

I have so much laundry to do and my house is a disaster, So I guess I will be busy cleaning and doing laundry.

Well, just thought I would check in and say "hello".

My First Day at Blogging

Hi there. I have no idea what blogging is all about but this is my first time at posting on my blog. What is a blog, I ask?? I have no idea. Maybe someone can tell me what a blog is?

Today, I took my 2 girls to a Dr.s appt. for their yearly checkup. They are very healthy and the Dr. thinks they are very energetic!

I took all our Christmas decorations down. I still have to put my regular stuff up after I dust the living room really well.

Well, still have to wash our sheets and red up this house before I can go to bed. My highlight of my day will be watching CS Miami.

I guess I will sign off,

Bye for now, Patty