I am participating in Peggy" ( http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ ) Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today ~April 6, 2009~

. Outside my window...Spring flowers.. the left over daffodils, my beautiful pear tree blooming, and snowflakes!!!

• I am thinking....of the miniature horses we've been looking at. I'm thinking about letting Sarah and Sam join a mini's club. They go to contests and perform at parades. It looks fun, but I know the kids will want one!




• From the learning room....Apostrophes and World War I




• From the kitchen....the smell of yummy pancakes and coffee (we had a brunch-lunch :)




• I am wearing....a green skirt and a shirt with pink trim and pink and orange flowers




• I am reading....Brides of Lancaster County by Wanda E. Brunstetter




• I am hoping....that after tomorrow that the rest of the week will be warm and pretty and that we will have a lovely Easter




• I am creating...a pretty red knitted dishcloth and hopefully some yummy snickerdoodle cookies and tacos later!!




• I am hearing....the wind blowing outside and my daughter complaining about having to go to work...(unfortunately)




• Around the house....the puppy is dragging his toys everywhere, pages are turning in books, keys clicking on the computer and I am enjoying my yummy carrot cake candle burning on the computer desk :)




• One of my favorite things....ordering a pizza and cuddling up and watching a movie with my family (last night!!)




• A few plans for the rest of the week...to have a really good week with school work..to have a beautiful Easter weekend with my family...Hopefully a really nice Easter Dinner too!!

A beautiful picture of the lilac bush in my yard...I also have a white one blooming too!!

Spring Cleaning..

Well, as you can see...I've been doing a little (cleaning) on my page! I am hoping to make it a little more welcoming as well as pretty! I also changed it from Jerelene's Blog to Jerelene's Journal. I thought maybe that it sounded a little better. I am always in awe at how great other peoples pages are. I am trying to learn as much as I can. This blogging thing isn't as easy as it seems it would be. I sometimes get a little discouraged, but one of my reasons for doing this was that I thought it would be somewhat therapeutic for me. The last year has been a rough one for me and I am hoping it helps to be able to write things down. Friendship was also a big motivator. When I first started homeschooling I went to the computer for advice and encouragement. So many of the homeschooling Moms (and Christian Moms) who blog made a huge impact on me. Spiritually as well as motivationally. They are just awesome people. I hope that they know that they really do hold the opportunity of changing someone's life (literally) in their hands :) It really made a difference in my life and I'm very sure in others' lives as well. I appreciate so much, that they take the time to open up their lives , homes, and hearts to others. To all of my blogging Mommy friends...I appreciate you so much!!!

10 Wierd (Maybe) Things about me....

I thought I would do something a little different..One of my friends on facebook did something like this, but it was much more than 10. Too much for me!

1. I vacuum every day. Yeah, I know...(it's an OCD issue) I just can't help myself. :)

2. I love the color purple, (not the movie) the actual color!! It's also my birthstone (amethyst)

When I was a little girl..my carpet and walls were purple. I've never outgrown my love for

it; but I try to stick to clothes and jewelry :)

3. I love cows!! I collect them... no not real ones! I've collected them since my kids were small and it's something I still love. I am a little more selective now though.

4. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a missionary. (I'm not kidding) I guess I didn't realize

that it was probably hot and dangerous. So, instead I married and had my babies. I still

think about what it would have been like though.. Now I think I would love to be a librarian.

I just love the library...cool, quiet, peaceful and full of books!!

5. I am a sweets-a-holic. I love to bake them. I also love to eat them. I am not picky either!

Cookies, pies, cakes...I love them all....especially chocolate! Also, I would love to take a

cake decorating class. (This explains the more to love of me)...again.. I can't seem to help myself! :)

6. Also, I drink a lot of coffee. I love all the yummy flavored creamers. (this also contributes to

the more to love.) The exception would be that during extremely hot weather I switch to iced

coffee and peach iced tea!!

7. I play violin and piano. I toured Europe and played in Notre Dame when I was 16. I was ac-

cepted to play with and orchestra that played all over Europe. We also played in Carnegie

Hall. I played with other teenagers from all over the United States. It was the experience of

a lifetime. I would love to learn to play cello. My youngest has been showing some interest in

the cello as well. I still play some...but not as much. I stay so busy taking care of everyone

else that it has fallen to the wayside to some extent. But, music is still very, very important

to me and I have passed that love on to my children as well.

8. I absolutely LOVE and adore babies!! I definately, would probably have had more if I could

have. It's not something that has went away for me. I guess at this point..I look forward to

grandbabies...Man are they going to be spoiled!!!

9. My Mom is my best friend!! She really is...I would have to say it would be embarrasing to

admit how many times a day I talk to her. I shudder to think what it would be like for her

not to be there for me! LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

10. I love Jesus with all my heart!! I am so thankful that he died on the cross for ME!!!! I

constantly am reminded of his love for me by all the beautiful things that I see...the clouds,

the sky, animals, trees, flowers...and especially my family and friends!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!

Oh, I almost forgot! I showed you a picture of the woodpecker we had at our feeder. Well, turns out that we have 2 kinds. We also have a pileated woodpecker. He is bigger and just awesome to see! We had yellow finches or goldfinches (whichever you go by) at our other home. I have the feeder out but haven't seen any yet. I do so hope that they come here too! I just love them. I think they are my favorite. I had someone come and look at some of my bushes here at the new house. I found out that I have 2 lilac bushes. A white one and purple! I also have a purple-pink rhododendron bush. The neighbors say it is gorgeous. All the way down the north side of the house is blue-purple hydrangeas. I also have a old time clematis vine on the clothes line. They said it has been here a very long time. It supposedly has little white flowers that smell heavenly..I can't wait!

Ducklings!

Today was a crazy day! We had tornado warnings for the second time in 5 days. Thank goodness that it didn't touch down and there was no damage or injuries. My daughter was at work and clocking out as the sirens started. So...we hid out in the Tractor Supply building! After the storm passed we had a few minutes to see some of the new babies at the store..Ducklings!! Sarah let Sam hold one. Of course, he then wanted to bring it home. I had to turn him down on this one. As cute as he was, I really don't need a duck. He was very, very cute though..Him, and all of his little buddies...:)

Spring Break!

We are officially taking a break this week...SPRING BREAK!! With the exception of doing some Math with Sam..we aren't going to be doing school work. I am so ready for a break. I am so grateful for some time to just do some things that I want to do. I've been knitting a dish cloth and I started reading a new book. I've been outside quite a bit too. It has been so nice!! There are a lot of really big and old trees in our neighborhood. We live fairly close to the park so I think we get a lot of really neat birds here. We have a woodpecker too! I put some food out to entice him to come closer to the house. Sam has gotten such a kick out of watching him run around and peck on the trees. He is really cute and such fun to watch!!

School....

It was a very slow week for us here as far as schoolwork. It's been wierd with my husband working a 2nd job. I'm not use to him being gone all night long so, I've not been sleeping well. Needless to say the lack of sleep is starting to take a toll on me as well. All the caffeine in the world just hasn't been helping either. I've had several with belly-aches this week too. I think that next week we may go to the library some. We haven't been there in a while. I LOVE our local library. They are so nice!! It's one of my favorite places to go. This picture is of Sarah with what I think might be Franklin? A change of scenery may be good for us all.

I've seriously been thinking about going back to doing some ACE curriculum next yr. It was very user friendly and also very convenient. If we wanted to go somewhere..they just picked up the workbooks and we went. Now I feel like I'm having to carry a library with me :) I feel like I've been spending so much time on putting things together and grading too. Especially with the oldest. She will be a senior next year and so I am doing a lot of pretty difficult lessons with her. I have to say I really like the switched on schoolhouse that they are using for Math. It grades and keeps all the scores for me. It does everything!! I find it to be very convenient.

It's been so nice and warm here..The first official day of spring is March 20th....I want it to be tomorrow!! Here'e a poem I found...it is written by Esther Kem Thomas. I just love her work..

~SPRING FANCY~
Oh, give me some ground when Spring comes round, A spot where I may dig-- A two by four, or maybe more, The plot need not be big! The urge may come most any time, Possess me without warning, At busy noon, the evening lull, Or even early morning; The smell of earth, the sound of birds, The sun warm on my back, Or just the very feel of things Brings on this "soil attack;" Please let me kneel, when Spring comes round, And with bare hands work in the ground For in this touch with humble things I find release, my cares take wings, And, deep inside, I bless the ground When Spring comes round!