Positive is good

I called today to complain because we get up to 5 calls a day from this 866 toll-free number and I call back and get a busy signal. I called the phone company to see if they could help me. She said she got thru and it was some kind of life insurance place and they have this phone system that answers the first call and then dumps the rest. So---that really makes me want to buy insurance from such a place. She was suppose to get them to REMOVE our number from their computer. It's bugging me and that's not good.

Funny, a place that sells life insurance is wasting my life answering their calls. I wish I could sue!

Talking about something else, our accountant gave us bad/wrong advice and now we get to pay IRS fines because the information was WRONG! Good luck trying to do something about it. So they get to continue doing their thing, and we get fined $600! UGH! What's fair about that?

Do you notice no matter how hard you try to be a good and honest person, someone is always there with a knife to stab you in the back? It's hard to stay positive when the word is filled with negatives. Yup!

I'm home this week alone--without hubby, so I am BOSS over the kids. I wish I had the full-time job and could be away for 4 days :) instead of my hubby. Oh well! I am going to college again in the fall and will have some more time away. Although college classes isn't the best way to escape kids. Both are hard work!

:) Life is good! Just have to breathe and stay positive. Maybe with 2 kids underfoot I can get some work done. Pray for warm weather so I can send them outside to play.

**s**

HOMESCHOOLING SUPPLIES

So --didja know we are going to homeschool our kids? No I am not a weirdo or wacked in any way...I just want to make sure that my kids can read. It seems the schools have different agendas and teaching is a low priority on most of their minds.

Imagine this --I am running a poppy poster contest w/prizes. I called one local school and explained that we wanted to come to the school and talk to the 4th graders about the contest. If you don't talk to them, they don't really understand it and then no one enters. I was told...even though this is a Veteran sponsored event, that the school is just too busy to allow ANYONE access to the kids or classrooms. Wow! I was blown away by the comments. If the teacher felt it was important she could read it to the class and then they could work on this outside of class. If someone would win a prize, we could leave it in the school office and they would distribute it. No pictures with the winners for the paper. Go figure. Then the principal says "so when will you be bringing by the info?" I won't be. Don't bother! or should I say "why bother?" Why waste my gas driving to the school and not have anyone enter?

So another reason why we are going to homeschool. To teach our children to respect America, and learn to be patriotic. Imagine that most kids don't know the words to the Star Spangled Banner or even the pledge of Alligance. WOW!

We are going to use ACE School of Tomorrow as our main program and add things when we need some extras. Plus I bought a preschool program to get us started and then we will work on our kidergarden program from ACE. I think Rachel and Alex can learn together despite the age differences. Her English is still not at the 5 yr old level and Alex is now 2. So I think they are pretty close to the same level and can learn together.

It's very exciting. I love a challenge and teaching the kids is something that John and I have talked about even before we had kids. I look forward to learning too. :)

**s**

Easter pics

okay, I backdated this post. It wasn't here when you looked before....it's allowed :) as this is MY BLOG. My blog =my rules. Rule #2 --backdating is allowed. :)

So since I haven't posted this yet.
Here are 2 Easter photos of us sitting on our front porch.

Easter weekend

We went to visit John's Mother and family for Easter. We went to see his Ma and Pa on Saturday, went to church with them on Sunday, and then went to see the whole family after church.

I think Easter is over-rated. It's become too commericialized just like Christmas. Actually I think Easter is worse. Each kid was sent home with 2 dozen hard boiled painted eggs and 2 bag fulls of candy. My kids are 2 and 5. Do they need that much candy? I would think not.

I think next year we are going to boycott Easter. I say this and everyone freaks. "Boycott the Savior's resurrection? "faints" How can you think of such a thing" Please? Is that what I said?

I'd love to have a nice meal, and then maybe reflect as a family on Easter. I guess we could do some of the egg hunting and candy on a small, small scale but nothing like 2006's Easter.

The funny thing is, beyonf the prayer at mealtime--it was a day of greediness. Everyone had to count their eggs and candy to make sure they weren't shorted any. Give me a break!

Shouldn't we act like Jesus is alive and with us EVERYDAY?
I understand the purpose of the Easter Story --but I think just like Christmas, after the day is done...we put our easter decor away until next year.

Maybe next year we can make a "He is Risen" sign for our yard.
I want to stay more focused on HIM and less on candy!

**s**

washing feet -Good Friday

I thought I would write a Good Friday article:
I found a great writing of believing we are all to be servants to each other from a mennonite website. I added the link and info below.

Jesus washed feet, why can't you?

In America, we live in a more cut-throat type of world and don't see service/servantood as important. Getting a waitress to bring your food promptly and correctly to the table might be considered service.

Well, you need to go to Xi'an, China. they do team building every morning and they have a city motto "to serve each other." We were served. The customer service was awesome. I can't explain how wonderful it was. Everyone was happy to have a job, and they were really friendly. I didn't see one person with a bad attitude. Everyone was thankful that they were working and were glad to serve us.

We have so much to learn! I've heard the Golden Rule has been rewritten to say "do it to others before they do it to you," If only we could try harder to serve one and one. To really care about those that are poor and hungry. I don't mean those that refuse to work, or would rather live off of assistance than work....I mean those that try and still fall short.

What if we had to get off our high horse and wash feet? Have you ever seen the show on cable called "Dirty Jobs?" There is this guy that goes to people's jobs that write in and show you what kind of dirty jobs some people have. He says that some people have the dirtiest jobs and come home spelling to high heaven, but are glad that they are working and helping out. WOW!

--enuff said!
sandra

http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/art.13.html
We believe that Jesus Christ calls us to serve one another in love as he did. Rather than seeking to lord it over others, we are called to follow the example of our Lord, who chose the role of a servant by washing his disciples' feet.
Just before his death, Jesus stooped to wash the disciples' feet and told them, "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." (1) In this act, Jesus showed humility and servanthood, even laying down his life for those he loved. In washing the disciples' feet, Jesus acted out a parable of his life unto death for them, and of the way his disciples are called to live in the world.
Believers who wash each other's feet show that they share in the body of Christ. (2 They thus acknowledge their frequent need of cleansing, renew their willingness to let go of pride and worldly power, and offer their lives in humble service and sacrificial love. (3)
See: John 13:14-15, Matt. 20:20-28, Mark 9:30-37, Luke 22:25-27

Sunday -1st day to Church

I thought I would share a wonderful story and a few pictures. Rachel never wore a dress before, or atleast not tights and a pretty dress. Can you tell we went shopping at Walmart? Every girl should have a pair of maryjanes! I dressed her up and then showed her the full length mirror. She twirled around in front of the mirror and was so happy. Imagine a pretty dress can make a girl smile.

:) Here are pictures of Alex and Rachel getting ready to go to church.

**s**