Garage Sales

I love to get up early on a Saturday morning and hit the road in search of treasures. Treasures I might find at a yard sale or garage sale that is. You just never know what you might find. I've found some pretty good bargains at yard sales in the past. Of course, its not always like that. Some days I come home with nothing. But even on those days, I can say that I had a good time shopping!

We have been accumulating "stuff" since we've moved to Texas 2-1/2 years ago. Some of the boxes that we brought from our house in Georgia have never been opened. So, I told the family that it is time that we had a garage sale. Our garage was being taken over by all of this "stuff" and it was time to reclaim the garage! LOL

Yesterday we had our garage sale. It was a beautiful day for it, with temps up to 75 and sun shining so nicely. We were able to meet some neighbors that we had not met. That was nice. There were others that came by that were interesting people to meet as well. Like this little Asian lady, who bought Caitlyn's old lady bug umbrella. She was so excited to find that lady bug umbrella! What a sweet and friendly lady.

Overall, we had a nice day. When the traffic stopped coming and we were to tired to stay out there any longer, we decided to pack it up. What was left over went to Goodwill, other than a few items that we wanted to keep. In the end, I think we all agreed that the money made was not worth the effort that was put into the day. I don't plan to ever have another garage sale. However, I sure hope others do, because I still love going to them!

Cooking with Caitlyn

We started Home Ec this week. Oh the memories flood my mind of when I was in high school taking Home Ec! I enjoyed the class, well, at least for the most part. There were things that I learned in class that I still remember and do today. But for the most part I learned how to cook from my mom.

Caitlyn had a microwave project to do. She had to make Microwave Applesauce Muffins. We had to improvise on a couple of things but it all worked out.

Well, I don't have time to finish this post now, but I promise to come back to it later. I have pictures to add as well.

ttfn.....

Rename Our Blog?

When we first started this blog, Caitlyn and I called it, "Our Daily Adventures" because we knew being new to homeschooling would take us down a different road every day.....and it does. It's just finding time to write about it that is the hard part.

Recently in our adventures we went to Louisiana for the wedding of my mother-in-law. Then a week later the happy couple came to our home for a visit. They stayed for a week. My husband took off that week and show them around our area. They flew home on a Wednesday. Our church had a Harvest Fest that weekend, so Thursday and Friday were spent preparing for it. I tried to keep our homeschooling going as usual during that very busy week, but inevitably, we fell behind schedule.

One day during my in laws' stay we went to the Dallas Arboretum. It was beautiful! We enjoyed walking around the property. The paths were lined with pumpkins and Fall flowers. Below are a few photos of the day.

I Dreamed of Changing the World

The following was sent to me by a friend in an email...

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But, it too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.
The best and most productive time we can spend is in growing and elevating ourselves. This process, in turn will start to elevate others – so let’s all start.
~ author unknown

Think about it. The story above is so true. If we set out to change ourselves, and only ourselves, we will in turn make the world a better place to live.

God give us this basic life principle in Mt 7:3-5,
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

When we find ourselves judging others we should stop and examine our own heart. What we dislike in others are often the same bad habits or behavior patterns that we possess. It's not a pleasant process, I know, but it is a needful one if we want to be a better person. Look to Jesus, our ultimate example, to learn how to be a better person.

Our Trip Home To Louisiana

This past week we made a trip home to Louisiana. My mother-in-law was getting remarried. It was nice to be able to go home without worrying about what she was missing in school. This was our first time to travel and do homeschooling at the same time. When Caitlyn packed her book sack she commented on how heavy it was. It had been months since she had to carry a book sack. One more reason to enjoy homeschooling.....No book sacks to carry!

It worked out well though. Caitlyn did her work speedily, finishing the day's assignments early enough to do the next day's assignments as well.

Since she finished Friday's work early she had more time to spend with family and friends. I gave her Monday off as well. Tuesday we traveled home and she studied for a test to be taken today (Wednesday).

The Wedding.

Kevin's mother got married to a sweet man this weekend. Joy lost her husband in 1998 and Mr. Leo lost his wife a few years ago. The two met at a Tea Dance through the AOA (Active Older Adults). They hit it off and were soon inseparable. Before you know it he proposed to her.

In this picture, her two sons prepare to walk her down the isle. My husband, Kevin, is standing on the left, and his brother, Wendell, on the right.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Scallan....













May you have many happy years together!

We love you both.

Mastering the Arts

Continuing in Fine Arts ~

When we made the decision to homeschool Caitlyn, we didn't want her musical talent to stagnate. Caitlyn has been a flautist in the band in public school since 6th grade. She enjoyed marching with the high school band during football season for the past two years.



(8th Grade Concert Band)

I inherited my Grannie's Kawai piano in 2003 when Caitlyn was in 6th grade. After tinkering on it for about a year Caitlyn showed an interest in learning to play the piano. She has played for the past 4 years or so. Mrs. Linda in Georgia was Caitlyn's first piano teacher. (We love/miss you, Mrs. Linda!) Caitlyn has currently begun her fifth year of lessons. Mrs. Shelley, who has been Caitlyn's piano teacher for two years here in Texas, is currently working with her on certain improvisation techniques for hymns.

(Caitlyn desires to one day own a Steinway.)

When Caitlyn started 9th grade she joined the choir at school. She loved her teacher and her class. Over the past two years they have sung songs such as, "A La Na Nita", "A Joyful Gloria", "Personet Hodie", "Peaceful Gloria", and "Stille Nacht". Caitlyn started taking private voice lessons during 10th grade with Mr. Brooks. She competed twice in the UIL at school. The first time she sang, Beethoven's "I Love Thee" and she scored a "1", which is the highest score possible. The second time she sang, "Loveliest of Trees" and she scored a "2", which is still good considering the music was harder.

Today Caitlyn continues taking piano lessons and private voice lessons. She also plays the flute in our church orchestra and sings in the choir. Caitlyn plans to go to Crown College to train to be an elementary music teacher.

We thank the Lord God for bestowing these talents on her. Our prayer is that He use these talents for His Glory and Honour.

Waiting For Ike

It's Saturday morning and Hurricane Ike has made landfall. It hit land at 2:10 am at Galveston, TX with sustained winds of 110 mph. We weren't sure what to expect here in Dallas, but it looks like we will not get severe weather from Ike. The wind started blowing around 8:30 am, and the rain started soon afterwards. The weather report said we will have wind up to 35 mph along with rain. I'm so thankful that it will not be worse.

I heard that this storm is almost the size of the state of Texas. Ike stretches for over 500 miles. I read somewhere that the eye was 60 miles wide. Even though Ike is only Category 2 hurricane, because of it's massive size it has the potential to do as much or more damage than a Category 4 hurricane.

We are praying for the people that have been hit hard by this massive storm.