In memory of Will

I've avoided posting anything on my blog the last couple of days. I knew that I would have to make this post before I could post any other's and I simply didn't want to have to do it.

We lost a friend of ours over the weekend, Will Spencer. He died when he rolled his truck coming home Friday night. I think that Aaron and I are still in shock from it. No one in our circle has died before and it just doesn't seem right that someone who was only 33 was taken. That's only a year older than me.

I wasn't close to him. I'm not gonna lie and say we were the best of friends because I didn't know him like that. But on more than one occasion Will sat with me letting me talk and cry about my brother Jason. Once he sat with me for 4 hours. I remember that specifically because I thought, why in the heck did he sit with me for so long when everyone else was inside having a good time? Because that is the kind of person he was. And you don't forget a person who does something like that for you.

I was so upset all day Saturday. I couldn't understand why when I didn't know him that well. I think part of it was the fact that he died in a car accident like Jason....part of it was that his daughter Katie is only 10 and that is how old I was when my dad died in a car accident....part of it because I am going to miss Will. No doubt about it, I will miss him. I can only imagine what those who knew him well are going through. I feel so bad for his family, the rest of his friends and most of all, his children.

I wish that I could find better words...make this a really great tribute. These are the only words I know, but they are true. I think that all of us fall into the habit of taking things for granted. Losing someone like this makes you really appreciate what you have and what God blesses you with everyday. I would much rather have Will here than to go through this lesson. But at least I can walk away with it in my heart and go from here. That's all I can do.

Me & Will 2006


You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

bento obento

When I checked my mail this morning, this is what I found! Three of them are all of the way from Japan! Can you guess what I would be getting from Japan? Okay, so the title of the post gave it away!

This is not from Japan. It's a bento cupcake holder...although I don't think it would actually hold a cupcake. Especially not a frosted one. It's more of a muffin holder. And we have two of them...one for each girl. I don't think Anthony wants a purple cupcake holder.

Anthony's long awaited Jack Skellington bento box! This is one of the three from Japan. He is very happy to not have to use his sisters Hello Kitty bento box stuff anymore!

They just don't sell cute boy bento's in the U.S. and the price for the Nightmare Before Christmas ones on ebay are crazy! I got this for only $5 and that included shipping!!! I'm bidding on another one for him, but it's a complete set.

The girl's new bento boxes (they each got one) from Japan. I actually got a great deal on these. The shipping from Hong Kong was $7.99 and the end of auction price was 99 cents!! So I got them each for about $9!! That is at least half of what you can usually get them for.

Sara holding her new bento box. These boxes are a lot larger than the regular boxes we have gotten in the past. I wasn't expecting that...but it's a good thing!

She just would not let me take a pic without her pretending to each the dang cupcake!

My loot of the day! I also got some cute Halloween ribbon in the mail....but I'm waiting on some other ribbon too so I will wait and post that together.

lil chef

Emma and Caleb

This video is hilarious (well to me anyways). Caleb is really good at playing fetch and when Aaron or I tell him to drop the ball, he will, so we can pick it up and throw it again. But he won't do it for the kid's. So Emma came up with a new way to get Caleb to give her the ball. She cries like a baby. No lie...she pretends to cry and he will lay down in front of her and drop the ball. How funny is that?!

a little more ribbon

I got a little more ribbon in the mail today. I am expecting a little more...I can't help myself.

At the top is school ribbon (2 1/4 inch wide!), then a super adorable zoo animal print (let's call it animal crackers), and then giraffe print!! I love giraffe's. They are my favorite animal. Pair it with some zebra and leopard and Sara is gonna have one heckuva cute zoo bow.

Homeschool Memoirs #1

I signed up for a Homeschool Blogger Class but they have changed it to Homeschool Memoirs. So, if you want to follow along with me every week for the assignments and getting to know me, my family and about our homeschool, then go right ahead. I just thought I would let you know what these post's were about and if you want to join in, click on the Homeschool Memoirs picture on the right sidebar of my blog.

"The first theme begins today, August 20th, 2008. This week, we want to hear
about YOU. The author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool. It doesn’t have to be anything lengthy at all, but we’d love to hear it! You might include a family photo too! "

Okay, the sidebars have our pictures, so you can see what we look like. I like arts and crafts, especially making hair bows. I like to paint to relax and I am working on making more time to read because I love to read.

This will be our 3rd year homeschooling. My kid's will be in 7th grade, 1st grade and Kindergarten. We started homeschooling because our son has ADHD and his teacher's wouldn't follow his IEP. They wanted him to be on more and more medication and we didn't want that for him. Now he takes less than half of what he did in regular school and he is just fine around other kids.

Another reason to homeschool was because our daughter, Emma, has learning disabilities. She spent two years in Pre-K and when she was done, her teacher let us know that she was more than likely dyslexic and would probably repeat Kindergarten as well. We figured that she would do better at home one on one. We actually did two years of Kindergarten at home too but she has come a long way and doesn't struggle as much as she has before.

Aaron and I talked about homeschooling for about 3 years before we actually did it and I am so glad we did. It is the best decision we have ever made. And I am really looking forward to starting school this year, it is going to be the best yet! I feel sorry for kid's who have to go to regular school, but anyone who homeschool's knows that homeschooling isn't for everyone.

I guess that's about it. I'm not feeling well today so I probably could have done better writing this, but I want to get off this computer and to go lay down. I hope everyone has an awesome evening!!

pics of the girl's

For whatever reason I decided to straighten the girl's hair with my hair straightener. Shhh don't tell Aaron, he'd kill me. We generally don't do anything to the girl's hair that could damage it. But I figured doing it just once wouldn't hurt anything.

Really they just wanted me to move out of the way because they were trying to watch cartoons.

Ashley, Luke and Lexi stopped by. Lexi slept pretty much the whole time.

library books

I went to the library today to get the book's we need for next week. Anthony will start the year studying China and the girl's will by studying Ancient Egypt. A few of the books you will see again in the next couple of weeks because we will be using them to make lapbooks and I will blog them when the kid's are done.

I wanted to read the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer but it's checked out. All 115 copies of it. I'm 91st in line for it. Nice huh?

The books have been added to the sidebar. I had the pics in this post but everytime I change anything on Library Thing, it changes it here.

So, here is the book list of what we got today.

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

Ten Little Mummies: An Egyptian Counting Book

Feathers For Lunch byLois Ehlert

Beyond the Great Mountains by Ed Young

1, 2, 3, To The Zoo by Eric Carle

No Matter What by Debi Gliori

Tunnels by Rodrick Gordon

Nick of Time by Ted Bell

The Master Swordsmen & The Magic Doorway: Two Legends from Ancient China

Eyewitness Books: Ancient China

The Great Wall of China by Leslie Dutemple

Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army of Stone by Arlan Dean

Clothes and Crafts of Ancient Egypt

coloring buddy

Aaron is the girl's coloring buddy. He was not pleased that I took a picture of him coloring a pretty little horsey in the girl's coloring book. hehehe He certainly did not want me to blog it. But I had to, I just can't resist. Not every daddy is a coloring buddy.

Here's a closer look at his picture. I had to snap it quick because I was being pushed out of the room for bringing my camera in there.

I think it's sweet that Aaron is like that. He is such a huge sucker when it comes to the girl's. Especially Emma. That girl has him wrapped around her little finger....and she knows it!

Sara was so excited to learn that Aaron has the day off today. The first thing she said when her told her was "goody, you can color with me!" lol

ribbon!!

I love ribbon. love it. love it. I got new ribbon in the mail today! I buy ribbon like some people buy shoes. I own like three pairs of shoes but I have a closet full of ribbon. Literally. It's an addiction.

For the most part, I know exactly what kind of hair bows I am making with it. I had bought some cute cupcake ribbon a few weeks ago and the pink and turqouise ribbon will go with that. I have my black chalkboard/back to school ribbon that was waiting on the blue and red and I needed some khaki and navy to match school uniforms.

Oh, but look what it is.....Texas Longhorn burnt orange ribbon with polka dots!!! I heart polka dots.

It's been awhile since I've done Disney bows so I ordered this ribbon to do that. Doesn't it look Disney to you?

Ah, and the pink and black with a skull and cross bones. Punk rocker-ish. These are special, I'm making hair bows for two different friends that recently had baby girls. One I know has matching outfits to go with this, the other just like's to shake things up so I know she will love it.

Cafe Chat~Step of Faith

Here is the assignment: Tell about one time in the past 5 years where you took a HUGE Step of Faith in your journey with the Lord. What was the outcome?

I would have to say that it wasn't so much a leap of faith as it was a test of faith. Almost two years ago we had a rough patch in our lives and we relied on our faith to get us through. Being a Christian was something new to us, less than a year old really. For those of you who know us, this story isn't so new. But you may not know what my take on it is. How I felt about God during that time and how it changed our family.

Basically, the day after Christmas 2005 our house burned down. We lived on an acre of land in East Texas and our neighbor (who was an empty acre away from us), decided to burn some trash in his yard. The wind picked it up and caught the empty lot next to us on fire. And being overgrown as it was, it took off pretty quick.

I really don't want to go into details right now, or ever really. I don't ever plan on revisiting that again. It's obviously not a happy time and it is really upsetting to me thinking of that day and knowing that it's forever in my children's memory.

But we were extremely blessed and we all made it out safe. I think that Aaron's faith was more tested at that point. The generosity of strangers and family was overwhelming to us. We were going to be okay and we definitely thanked God for that.

Six days after the fire, my grandpa passed away. We were given a couple of day's notice that he was in bad shape and we needed to get out to California to see him. I couldn't go. We didn't have the money and we were still dealing with going through our burned out house to salvage what we could. My mom tried to get out there quickly but she didn't get a flight out in time.

I didn't get mad at God like I had before when both my dad, and more so, my brother died. I actually felt grateful that he had released my grandpa from any pain he had. For the first time I realized that God wasn't punishing me by taking someone I loved, he was saving them. And how wonderful it must be to be in Heaven, bathed in God's love 24/7.

Nineteen days later, my great grandmother passed away. I was mad at myself this time. Every Christmas Eve I call my Aunt Ruth's house to talk to my family and wish them a merry Christmas. I totally forgot that year. But there was nothing I could do to change it. My heart broke for my Aunt Ruth (who happens to be my most favorite relative in the whole world). She wasn't ready for her mom to go.

A couple of months later my mom's best friend passed away suddenly and at that point I told God that it was enough! I had made it through the last few months and kept my faith but my patience was starting to wear thin. Looking back, it was an extremely hard time in our life. But I think that the outcome was that we trusted in God to carry us through. And he did. And we are okay, and life goes on, and the sun still shines and bird's still sing. That's just the way it goes.

So there is my answer to the question. I may not always be a good Christian, but in my heart I am trying and hopefully one day it will show on the outside too. God's still working on me.

my new purse

I have wanted this purse for months. My mom gave me an IOU for my birthday to buy it for me and today we went and got it. Don't you love it? I LOVE IT. The scroll work on it is so pretty! Of course if you know me, you know I love red , white and blue. I also have my eye on a brown leather star purse and I will go back for it next month.


Too bad I don't have a matching wallet...but my wallet has the Texas Longhorn symbol on it and I just can't give it up.

horsey clip

Sara wanted to show off the horsey clip in her hair.

meet Alex

Meet Alex. Isn't he cute with that red hair? I am going to be babysitting Alex so you will see him a lot from now on. He is almost 2 in case you are wondering. And don't worry, I got permission from his mama before blogging his pic.

This is Alex in a baby doll stroller. He is so quiet and just does whatever the girl's want him to do.

sandwiches and lotto

Well this is my blog and I can put whatever I want on it. No matter how boring or stupid it is. And this is that.

Aaron bought me a lottery ticket. Actually he bought himself a lottery ticket and pretended it was for me. He thought that I would find it amusing since it says King Tut's Treasures on it. I didn't.

Tomato's and pickles. You just can't have a good sandwich without them.

The absolute best mustard in the entire world, hands down, without a doubt. I put an obscene amount of this mustard on a sandwich. Obscene. It is spicy and tangy and I love it, love it, love it.

I prefer lettuce shreds thank you very much. Unfortunately I don't like any other kind of lettuce except iceberg. I really really wish I enjoyed others, but I just don't.

Notice in the background the ham is laid out all perfect. Yeah, that's a Cortni sandwich. I am such a perfectionist and I wish I wasn't but I am. Nicole, oh Nicole, don't I make a good sandwich? You know I do....you know you want another one of Cortni's Awesome Sandwich's. These pictures are not of that sandwich, but Nicole know's it's awesomeness because she has experienced it firsthand...tell the people Nicole.

The end.

Training their Hearts

We are a Christian family desiring to raise our children with the primary focus of Training their Hearts!

I have no greater joy, than to hear my children walk in truth..” III John 1:4

“Train up the child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

“Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!” Deuteronomy 5:29

Will you join with us? Visit Training Hearts for more information and encouragement!

my Sesame Street parents

Apparently when I was 4 I watched Sesame Street. That is the only explanation I can think of as to why I would draw my parents to look like Bert and Ernie. My mom is Fran, I mean Bert....with curly hair. I know you are so jealous of those eyebrows.

And here is my dad Ernie. Really my dad's name is Gay..yeah yeah haha For whatever reason, his head is apparently bigger than his hair.

In case you were wondering, I decided to try out the scan feature on my printer. And Sara lost my camera. She was taking pictures and she can't remember where she set it down. I haven't looked that hard for it, but I hate to blog without pictures...so scans it is! Below is the actual Bert & Ernie, for reference ya know.

music

As you can hear I've added music to my blog. These are my favorite songs in the whole world...well my favorite slow songs. With the exception of KT Tunstall in there! Anyways, I hope you enjoy the music and if you don't like it, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and you can turn it off.

Let me know what you think!

Blogger Class Mates

Even though I don't blog on HomeschoolBlogger.com anymore, someone left me a comment on that blog inviting me to join the new blogger "writing assignments" school at the Homeschool Blog Awards site, called Blogger Class Mates.

I think that is pretty cool so I signed up. I have the link on the right sidebar, so check there for upcoming assignments they will be giving me. Maybe I can win a blog award! (oh shoot, that means I have to be more interesting lol).

almost a year!

Ok, it's after midnight so it's technically the 13th. And that means I have gone without a soda for 11 months!!! Almost a whole year!! I am so proud of myself.

I can't say I went the whole time without even a sip because it's not true. I had one sip, one time. And I spit it out and thought I was gonna throw up!! Seriously it made me sick.

Don't get me wrong, I do miss soda. I would love some Pepsi right now...or root beer...or Squirt...okok shutup

Almost a year! yay!