Managing the Home

Lady Lydia had a wonderful post on Managing the Home on Tuesday. I thought some of you might like to read it as well.

I love the idea of a written plan for the day. I get so overwhelmed at times with the amount of work to be done, a written list seems to make it more do-able. Even if I don't get it all finished, it helps me prioritize and then I am able to look back and see all I accomplished.

Off to the Dominican Republic

My friend, Gwyn, left again today. It's so bitter sweet. I'm happy for her and her family, but so sad for myself. (in that first link, you can see pictures of the house they will be living in) Gwyn is so excited to be living with all her own stuff again. They have shipped a big container with everything they haven't sold by boat down to meet them. Please pray they get it out from the dock without any problems - sometimes people have been known to hold the containers for more money and more money. They have a "friend" who is suppose to be helping them out with it.

They have embarked on their lifetime adventure. They have picked up their whole family (three children included) and moved (after a year at language school) to the Dominican Republic.

Here is where they will be. They will be working with Restoration Ranch (no connection to our old church - Restoration, even though they do support the work there) - which is going to be an orphanage to the countries neediest children.

Right now, Shay will help with the construction and Gwyn will continue to home school their children.

Here are a couple of pictures of the work in progress...

Thanksgiving

We had such a full Thanksgiving this year. The children all being in public school this year, have picked up every type of virus going around. It has been a mess!! I still haven't caught up on all the laundry yet.

We missed Thanksgiving with Artie's family but were blessed to all be well finally the day of Thanksgiving. We went and had dinner with all my granddaddy's brothers and sisters and all their children and grandchildren. It was so much fun. I love to be around my mimi and grandy all I can!! My daddy and Karen were there and all my first cousins who I hardly get to see. I wish we all lived closer and could visit more.

Mimi is getting ready to have surgery in a couple of weeks for a hernia in her chest. We are all praying for a quick recovery for her. She has been sick for quiet a while with reflux and they are hoping this is going to fix it all.

It was good to eat her dressing and gravy for lunch. We took turkey, gravy and green beans. There was so much food. I didn't hear a count of how many people were there, I'm guessing about 50? I hope this becomes a tradition. Brenda and Emily and I have cooked Thanksgiving for 2 years now at home; but, I so love being with the big family more.

At the end of the day, we all got together and Artie lead us in a prayer to God for what we were thankful for. The children make me smile so. Terry was thankful for Thanksgiving, Brenda for family and friends which prompted Terry to also be thankful for Mama and Daddy. Bobby was thankful for Squanto :-) (see, he is learning something in school) and Troy said he was thankful for second chances. There are such moments of brightness shining through the days here and there. Artie was most thankful for Mimi and Granddaddy and being able to share Thanksgiving with them - his grandparents have all passed away, so he's adopted mine as his own. He loves them so. And I was thankful that Artie is still my best friend in the whole world. The next day we celebrated being together for 26 years (we started dating when we were in junior high).


By the way, the children have all been well for a whole week now. They went back to school two days and I already have 2 home sick with a stomach ache and throwing up!!!! There are some things I'm never going to like about public school. Mrs. Coggins (the office lady) said they had so many sick now, I had been hoping while they had all been separated over the holiday they would come back to school all well. Maybe by the end of Christmas break???