One Hour

This is my challenge!! 1 Hour!!

I did it today.... One hour to read. I also want to start pulling in Lovebug to read her Bible on her own. I'm not having her reading to me but I want her to read to enjoy God's word on her own!!

Here's my reading list!

• Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheddy Kurcinka (I've been told I need to read it! Ha! Thanks Kathy!)
• Recovery from Cancer by Elaine Nussabum, I came across this in my health study. Hubbie's Aunt Shirley Hoyer is struggling w/ cancer.

I'm reading these with the CMSeries Yahoo list. I need the challenge and accountability to read the concepts that underguird our AO education. These books are both available online... Here's the Original Homeschool Series.

• A Philosophy of Education Charolette Mason vol 6
• Home Education Charolette Mason vol 1

Reading by Grace! ss

The Cost of Stitches

We have been waiting for the hospital bill and it has come...

The going rate is just under 2k! This was a simple ER visit... there were no tests or additional treatments. They used a topical to deaden for stitches and then a shot to make sure it she would not feel it. That's about $240 per stitch!!!

She did give a very hard time to the PA who gave her the stitches. I did not see an additional cost for that!!! Oh, I'll yet have to track down the detail. I only have one grand number!!

Thankfully we do have insurance. We have been under better insurance.. we've even been double insured... alas now we'll just be thankful for insurance!! I must say we have so used this insurance with all Hubbie's surgeries in '07!! So all in all we had lots to be thankful for!

Here's the low down!!!

Blue Cross adjusted the bill down 38%
Blue Cross paid only 23%
And the final 39% is up to us to cover

I do hope this is the only bill!!! There's both facility and physician charges and we saw no one else!! So!!

I'm so thankful Lovebug is healing!!! Grace ! ss

St. Patrick's Day! Holly Then... Maple 6 months

On this beautiful day we headed out to find our own clover. To think of Patrick explaining the Father, Son & Holy Spirit with the clover. As we walked in the sunshine I thought back two years.... to our last walk with Holly we were on a clover hunt then too... I gently mentioned it to the girls as we rounded that same corner with the fenced dogs barking a fit.

We've been teaching Maple to walk with with us, leash tight. We've watch many of the Ceasar Milan shows. She's is not allowed to bark at other dogs. We shush and quiet her and turn her attention away from them. We're trying to train her to really pay us her attention. Thereby the barkers get no attention. She's doing great!!!

Maple is so growing up! She's now 6 months old. She's lost her puppy appearance. She totally adores the girls. She barely notices me and Hubbie. She'll cry for the girls if they get too far ahead when we walk. She look back countless times if they follow. Maple always want to know where HER girls are!! Maple has been camping and oh, that was eventful!!

In contrast Holly was our dog. She did not have Maple's affection for the girls. Holly came when we called. Maple comes for the girls when they lay down! Here's a last photo of Holly in '07!

That was in 2007 and was first of a hard year. Hubbie wrote it all out in his Roller Coaster Ride.

This is also in sweet memory of Holly!!!

Barking in Heaven & Sweet Comfort Grace! ss

A Lovely Park Day

Spring is here!! Actually it is up to 82°!! That's on the toasty side for my spring.

We started our morning with math and headed out the door! I wish it happened that quick... actually we each grabbed a bite for breakfast and packed a lunch for the park, girls hair had to be done, I grabed my knitting (I forgot last time!!), the pod came with us... and we were on our way by 10:20..

We did a Spanish lesson heading to the park... counting to a million in Spanish! This lesson on the pod was another from the Learn Spanish Survival Guide. I've also tracked down a written lesson on counting. I really like these lessons!!!!

Ok! I have proof I'm learning!! This past weekend shopping for hubbie... I heard men discussing pants sizes in Spanish... and I understood the numbers!!! This week we've been playing numbers in the car for M&Ms!! If they can say the number & a color in Spanish... they get an M!!! Ladybug is hesitant... Lovebug is catching on!!

On to the park! I set my knitting aside for a crochet lesson!!! Molly & Kathy were my tutors... Look I've even started!! I made a mistake right in the green... but I'm hoping you cannot find it!! Maybe they have a pattern???? Right now I've just following what they've said!!

All in all we so enjoy our park days!!! This is a lovely time of year to be out an about. I'm thankful for friend along the path!!! God is good!!

Grace! ss

A visit to the doctor... for my pc

Our pc ailment: Tedious slow run time, crashing java, internet explorer often crashes on opening, slow harddrive access

Our treatment: Norton is up and current, defrag run, internet explorer reinstalled

A visit & report w/ the Dr. We hit Computer Time and David was our Dr. He's an old LT friend of Hubbie. (If you go his way... tell him we sent ya!)

#1 Norton is not enough!! Here's what we now have Malware bytes... he found like 25 things Norton missed... http://www.malwarebytes.org/

#2 Java was uninstalled & reinstalled... we'll see how that goes.

#3 We've added 1gig of ram... now we have 2gig... this was needed to surf and do anything else

#4 Recommended for kidos... K9 Web Protection is a free Internet filtering and control solution for the home. This also has tracking so you can see what's been sought for.... We are heading into this zone and evaluating options....

#5 Backups! Right now I'm shooting for 2 backups. One of my pics & videos that's in a safe place. Another is setting up to use an automatic backup system. SyncBack is what they recommended. It only updates the changes... Also to note, look for the free version.

That's about it. Not to run clean & stay out of the dr!! Grace! ss

Interview with my Girls 6 & 9

1. What is something mom always says to you?
L- Ladybug- Lose Sugar
M- Lovebug- Take your hair out of your mouth.

2. What makes mom happy?
L I don't know. When I do right things.
M Good attitudes.

3. What makes mom sad?
L When I disobey
M Disobedience

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
L When mommy does funny things.
M Tickling.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
L I don't know. Helpful.
M I don't remember.

6. How old is your mom?
L Can you tell me? Quit! Mama! 37.
M 62

7. How tall is your mom?
L I don't know. Taller than me.
M I don't know. 1 foot.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
L Be on the computer.
M School with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
L Do a baby sitter.
M She plays the computer.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
L I don't know. A child.. playing games.
M Piano, no, singing.

11. What is your mom really good at?
L Schooling.
M Helping

12. What is your mom not very good at?
L Training little puppy.
M Piano

13. What does your mom do for her job?
L Nothing. Homeschools.
M Take care of me.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
L Mushrooms
M Chocolate

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
L Playing the piano when I go to bed.
M My hugs.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
L Nothing.
M That I have no idea... Charlotte Mason.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
L Play games and have fun.
M Play games. Do silly stuff.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
L We're not the same.
M We're not the same.

19. How are you and your mom different?
L I don't know. She has shorter hair than me.
M Our hair color. Our eye color.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
L She kisses and hugs me when she goes somewhere.
M She cooks dinner for me. She wants to stay home with me and school me instead of sending me away. She disciplines me, that's a good one.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
L I don't know. That he loves Jesus.
M He works for her.. her family, her girls...

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
L I don't know. The mall.
M Home.

The girls answers are totally independent!!