Happy Independence Day America!

We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be eternally grateful. I am personally thankful to God for this country and to the soldiers who have paved the way for America! As Martina McBride sings.... "Let Freedom Ring!"

I watched the flag pass by one day,

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

When everything was still,

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom and God Bless Our Troops

Please stop for a moment and Say a prayer for our servicemen. Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Prayer is the very best one.

I did not write this poem, I received it via email and thought it was worth sharing!!

It's Independence Day

I love Martina McBride and here is her singing Independence Day!! I love her!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYENO6r5vVo

I do not know how to do the you tube thing. :) I will try and figure it out though for next time!
If anyone can tell me how to use YouTube better - I'm listening!! How can I add the actual video box to my post???

Happy 4th to you all and "Let freedom ring"!

Wordless Wednesday

Enjoying the outdoors before the heat of summer! Find more Wordless Wednesday here and here.

Wednesday Hero

On this Fourth Of July, a day in which we celebrate the birth of this great nation, we must also remember the brave men and women who made this day possible. To everyone who has and are currently serving in the United States Military I say Thank You. What you do, day in and day out, are what make this country great and me proud to live here. The sacrifices you've made for people whom you will never meet face to face will never be forgotten.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

I will teach them!

I have been attending a small group at our church that discusses Homeschooling. I have always had this in the back of my mind but I've had NO idea how to get started. Well, lately it is a topic I could not get away from. Even friends of mine, friends I know AND bloggers, began mentioning they home school. I was thrilled to attend this small group and find out more. I walked in knowing I had this coming year scheduled. I was looking at this for 'in the future'. Boy was I wrong. They had several moms come and share their homeschooling story, sharing victories and defeats. I was crying the WHOLE TIME!! I then couldn't stop thinking on this and I think this is where God is leading our family. I have gone from the 'No, I am just not able' phase to utter excitement and anticipation of trying this out. It has really changed my perspective on many things in our life. I realized I had a false imagination of how homeschooling would or should be.

This weekend I went to a curriculum fair for Homeschoolers. I met the leader of our small group and she took me on a tour of the place. She definitely is called to assist the new mom in this endeavor! I know, if I had been alone, I would have seen ALL the tables, ALL the vendors and turned to walk out while feeling overwhelmed. It is a lot to take in and it is very intimidating - this is the future of my kids! I don't want to mess this up!! I don't want to choose the wrong thing or leave anything out! So she really helped me. Thanks to her assistance I feel thrilled, excited and I feel I am informed and ready to make decisions.

Well, while we were at the curriculum fair I found these little Scholastic books. They discuss fighting, tantrums, being lazy or bossy, etc. We do not have the lazy issue - I just wanted to do a little prevent defense. haha When I walked in the door my kids were glad I was home. I then began reading the tantrum and fighting books to them. They LOVED them. My son could see the anger in the pictures and asked questions about why the kids were mean and my daughter could understand the concepts. She is trying to count to 10 when she is angry and not shout at her brother. I am amazed.

After the home school fair and the few classes I've attended I feel empowered. Yesterday my husband was working on his recliner and the kids were under feet with 100's of questions. He began to get frustrated with their 'help'. I told him, this is what homeschooling is. Teaching them in all the little things that pop up. I was afraid he would say 'I'm not homeschooling today' but he actually went with it and the kids learned a few things in the process. So far the demands are small but we are enjoying the change in our mindset towards educating our kids. I am excited and scared about actually going through with this endeavor!! But I know I am not alone and I have a great team to lean on as I step through this unexpected door!!

One last thing - my friend kept telling me about this book The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. She and many other moms claim that it is the Homeschooling Bible. I am really enjoying this book!! It has a lot of helpful information on choosing curriculum from birth to graduating high school. I found, through seeing the curriculum at the fair, that we will use the Classical Method to teach our kids. I cannot wait to get started!! I love approaching this new endeavor with information and a team to lean on. I feel like I am truly equipped thanks to them!

This is NOT my favorite!

I HATE this dress!! It is not a nice dress!! It looks innocent enough, I know. But do NOT be fooled!! This dress is VERY VERY VERY mean! I finished this part over 1 or 2 months ago.


Then came the ruffle. I know how to make a ruffle. Very simple. Except I have had TO RIP apart this ruffle 4 times before understanding what they intended for me to do! It is now ready to become a ruffle, but now I am mad at this ruffle and this dress. So it remains in this state!

The dress will look like the little green plaid dress on the pattern below. But not today! Today it will stay in the incomplete phase. I am holding a grudge against this dress and I am NOT ashamed to say so!! If my daughter wasn't aware of it, I would burn it! But she keeps asking me if the square dress (due to the plaid squares) is finished yet. So she may be traumatized if I burn it.



I was so frustrated with this pattern that I've made two items since I began sewing this one. I had to make something I liked so that I knew I could still sew! haha I made the white halter dress my daughter is wearing, in my blog-header, and this, but I cannot finish this "Easy" plaid dress. I just haven't blogged about this dress because it is EVIL! EVIL I tell you!! :) I will finish this dress eventually, once I am over my grudge, and I will not write a word. Well, maybe I will write "THERE". And that will be that! Thanks for letting me vent. Have a good day! :)

Droopy Knickers Giveaway

I suppose all these contests are in honor of the 4th of July? I don't know, but I like it!!Katja is hosting a contest for a great t-shirt!! She is a Mom and she owns this boutique!! Enter fast, this ends tonight!! Go, check it out!! Don't miss a chance at these cool t's!

More Babywearing Fun

Elizabeth at The Whole Family is giving away a Solarveil Ring Sling made by AP Stitches. Solarveil is a Sun Protection Fabric. It is lightweight and very breathable. This is great for wearing at the pool or the beach, it dries quickly while protecting you and baby from harmful rays!
If you are interested in this contest, go visit Elizabeth for the contest rules!! (The picture above is of someone using the sling being offered. It isn't a picture of me nor my kids!)

Jenny I have a question!

To all my blogging friends, please excuse this public question. I haven't seen Jenny in a few years and must ask her this question!

Hi Jenny! Did you have a daughter?? Did I miss an entire pregnancy?? I wish you would blog!! I love that we can keep in touch via the blog-world! Let me know what I've missed. If you do have a daughter, how old is she!! Tell me everything!! haha

Leave your email address on your comment and I will send you an email if you would rather give the details there! (I won't post your comment if you leave your email) I saw your comment on Aimee's blog mentioning Emma. I love that name, is that her name???

** Cancel this - I found out it was another Jenny. Imagine that! ** haha