Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Moving ON...

I've move this post to: Journey of a Heart Set Free

Thank you for reading & I hope to meet you over there. :)


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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Reminder...

Just a reminder that I'm in the process of moving my blog here: Journey of a Heart Set Free. I've posted an update on my littlest Prince. Please come check it out!

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Saturday, December 11, 2010

Merry Christmas Break!

I am finishing up school for the semester, both mine and the kids' and getting ready for Christmas, which is sandwiched by two birthdays. Also on the agenda, after Christmas break from school (so... after next week!), I am moving all my blog posts and everything to  Journey of a Heart Set Free . I am Learning so much in this process! Anyway, while I may be tempted to avoid my responsibilities at home, I won't be able to post again until after Christmas. SO, Merry Christmas to all! Free Retro Clipart Picture of a Smiley Face. Click Here to Get Free Images at Clipart Guide.com

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Thursday, November 04, 2010

Safe Eyes



For years our family has had an internet filtering program on our home computers- for obvious reasons. We had a subscrtption with NetNanny for quite a few years.  This year when it came time to renew our subscription, I had some questions about using the program for mobile devices: smart phones, iPads, PSPs, etc (not that we have any of those things, but Hero is hoping to purchase an iPad in the not too distant future and Prince Valiant is saving his money for a PSP). Netnanny offers text filtering, but no website blocking on mobile devices.

So, I went hunting a comparable program which offers more mobile protection. I found exactly what I was looking for in Safe Eyes. It offers the same amount of protection as NetNanny did as well as the mobile protection we might need in the future AND the price was better, by about $10. I made the switch and we have been very happy so far.

Hero and I have talked about just dropping this expense from our yearly budget; I do trust that he can say no and turn his eyes away should he come across anything unacceptable online. We chose to keep this expense for two reasons: 1) to protect the kids, you just never know sometimes what might pop-up with a seemingly bengin webpage; 2) there is no reason to dangle temptation in front of anyone- this program offers our family another layer of protection and accountability.


I have been so impressed with Safe Eyes that I joined their affiliate program; just click on any of the links above and I will earn a small percentage of  your purchase. 

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Bonding

I cannot believe that this little cutie-pie is 10 months old already! He took about 5 steps in a row this morning in his new adventure of walking. His favorite past time is to tear apart the house. Obviously, it has been far too long since we've had a little one in the house, as we have way too many "things" on low shelves, just waiting for little fingers (and his mouth) to explore!

I've been getting questions a lot recently about bonding with him, since its pretty noticeable that he is momma's boy. I can honestly say that while we were going through the paperwork for the adoption, and then waiting, waiting, waiting,  I didn't spend much time worrying about if we would bond with our baby or not.  I expected the bonding process to take time and ...well, be a process.

I've seen the bonding process at work before. Hero left for his first year- long deployment when Princess Francis was not even one month old. Needless to say, when he came back a year later, she was less than thrilled with this "man" in the house that she had to share her mommy with.

I watched as Hero tried so hard to get our princess to accept him, and love him, but she would have none of it. It took just about a full year for the two of them to bond. Though the process was a little painful for the two of them, the bond they now share has withstood a recent year- long deployment and many battles of the "will".  She is now "Daddy's little girl" and knows that he absolutely adores her.

So, having seen the process at work,  I was ready to begin the process of bonding with our son when we flew to Atlanta to pick him up.  Imagine my surprise when, as early as the second night that we had him, he had bonded with me. I'm not sure if my voice resembles his birthmommy's, or what, but from that night on, only the sound of my voice could soothe him when he was crying out for comfort. Not even an inability to breastfeed him has hampered the bond between us. More often than not, I am the only person he will accept a bottle from, but that's okay I LOVE the snuggle time with him.

Now, I'm not saying that if you're contemplating adoption that bonding will be a piece of cake for you. In fact, I've heard of several stories where bonding with the adopted child was a very long process; honestly, that was what I was expecting to take place. Instead, God chose to bless me with a close bond with Prince Naveen right from the start and he is most definitely a wonderful addition to our family unit!

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Monday, October 18, 2010

Faith over Fear

It may sound odd, but homechooling is one of those areas of my life filled with fear. This may be why I'm Always on the lookout for “the best curriculum”. I research until I go crazy and then drool over expensive curricula we simply cannot aforrd- fearing that our lack of funding will ruin our children's future. I love reading other people's blogs about what they use, how, and when.

After much reflection and soul searching, I've realized that I do all of this from fear (or maybe even terror). ;-) Hero is the proncipal of our little homeschool, but the day-to-day teaching and training falls squarely on my shoulders. I truly enjoy teaching our children and having them home with me, but the weight of responsibility can sometimes be overwheling, to say the least.

The fear strikes hardest when I turn my focus from what I should be doing. It begins with looking to “just see” if there's a way I can improve what I'm doing to teach the kids. Before long, I'm not just “seeing” what others are doing differently, I'm comparing what my children know and can do with their children. This comparison mentality is what leads me into the trap of fear.

Oh, I know that each family is different and that what works for one child doesn't necessarily work for another- with a completely different personality. It's just that my heart doesn't always know what my brain does. This is where my faith must conquer my fear.

I can feel overwhelmed, and lacking in wisdom, finances, patience, resources, etc, but I know that God has called me to homeschool our children. I am fully confident that He knows how I feel; He also knows what circumstances really are, and He can see the bigger picture. Knowing all this, He still blessed our family with the four children we have and called us to homeschool.

Trusting God, His love, and His plan isn't always easy, but it helps me to get out of that trap of fear; sometimes it helps me to avoid the trap altogether. “Faith is the victory!”

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Friday, October 15, 2010

I'm back...

Yeah!! I am able to get into my blog and write! I am now also able to visit the blogs of my friends and ALL of my favorite places again.

I had to switch from Mozilla Firefox to Google Chrome. After much researching, I found out that the problem I was having was just a Firefox malfunction. After a few (several, actually) emails to Firefox about this particular problem- and NO response- I made the decision to try something new. ...and it works beautifully.

There is always change in life; some changes are welcomed and even anticipated with much joy, while others are dreaded and feared- greatly! This change in internet service providers was neither... I really don't care either way, I'm just glad to have my “virtual” world back to “normal”. ;)

Before I was so rudely kicked out of my blogging world, our family was headed in the direction of selling the house and getting things ready for Hero to be able to physically attend Seminary. After talking with a Realtor and praying about it, our plans have changed.

Yes, the prayer should have come before the taking down of pictures and packing of boxes. But if we always did the right thing first, we would not be humans in need of Grace and Mercy.

Actually, our biggest reason for wanting to move and attend Seminary has vanished. Hero was terribly unhappy with his job. Since we've been directed to “bloom where we are planted” for now, Hero has jumped into church ministry- with both feet- with our home church and other churches in the area. No, not as a pastor or any paid position, just heading up ministries all over the place.

Hero says he has never felt so fulfilled in his life. He loves being able to work at his job to earn a living and then spend much of his time furthering God's Kingdom. I am excited for him! Though to be completely honest, this new phase in our lives has been a little hard for me to take at times... but that is another post altogether. :)

For now, this is where we are staying- continuing education online, and praising the Lord for working in our lives by slamming doors shut when we shouldn't be going through them.


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