One Down, Two to Go, Plus a Birthday

One holiday down and two more to go plus hubby's 40th birthday is this month. I think I need my batteries changed if I'm going to make it til January and could someone please turn the heat back on!

Stupid Parents

Some may be offended by the post title, but it's actually a book title. A book that we are reading right now with our 13 year old son. Jacob's been having a little difficulty with peer pressure -- okay a lot of difficulty. I found this book at Lifeway the other day and while it's made for teens to read alone to help give them insight into parents -- it's really been helpful to us as well.

Each night we've read a chapter together and then openly discussed how it might apply to us as parents, as individuals and as a family. I think it's helping us a great deal.

We're still actively seeking and praying about Jacob's educational needs and what the Lord has in store for us as a family and as individuals. This season in our lives has been extremely painful at times, but I know my God is faithful, I know my God is capable and he will see us through. I am thankful this Thanksgiving that God is working in our lives. As a former pastor once told us, "If the devil is not stirring up trouble at your house, then you need to take a close look at what you are NOT doing." That's not to say that you should always be living in constant chaos and never happy. It means that when you feel God refining you it isn't always comfortable.

Lord Jesus, help me seek shelter in your abiding love.

Prayer Changes Things

I know prayer changes things. I've seen it in my own life and in the lives of others. I'm in a season now where I need prayer. I need for God to clear the path in front of me and lay the plans out for me. I know I can trust him to guide me, but can I trust him with my child? Ahh, not always so easy.

God, I don't know what lays in store for my precious child, but I know you do. I know you have the power and authority over him and that you and you alone can change the course of a life. I love this child with all my heart and I beg of you to show mercy and guidance to him. Direct his path and keep his heart truly yours.

Living in the Teenage Years

What's the phrase -- the best laid plans . . .

Last time my hubby was out tripping, things were not as good at home as I had planned. Jacob was and still is a typical teenager and well this time I vowed that it would be better. That I would be better. NOT!

At least last night we cleared the air a little, I think.

Teenagers are probably the most exasperating people on earth. Don't get me wrong I love mine to death even on the iffy days. You would think since I've done this once before that it would be easier and that I would see some of this stuff coming. NOT!

Jacob is truly uniquely different than his brother. Zachary was the typical moody teenager, but without much prodding would talk and you'd know what (okay a little of what) was going on inside his head and heart. Jacob is too much like his father -- very independent, very stubborn and does not open up his head or heart very well at all. On the other hand he's also very compassionate and loving to those he cherishes. Zachary is a little less forthcoming with his hugs.

Living with a teenager hasn't changed though -- it's still like living on the edge. You never know who or what you're going to get and when and why they'll change.

Father God, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to raise these two wonderful people. Thank you for the joy they bring me and thank you for the sadness and frustration that comes along with it. I pray especially for Zachary that you would continue to mold his life and that he will become a man of Christlike character. I pray too for Jacob that as he walks through these tangled teenage years that you would guide him to make godly choices.

Funny Thing . . .

Since hubby is out of town I am now in charge of . . . stuff! I admit I'm pretty much a kept woman. I never have to fix stuff or do stuff. You know most days I lie around on the sofa and eat Milano cookies and watch TV and occassionally take the dog out. Okay, okay I'm dreaming, but seriously I am having to take care of a few things that usually aren't my domain.

Among his many talents, my hubby is building a garage for a church member. How is he building a garage while out of town so much? He doesn't actually build the garage himself he contracts it out -- well with the exception of the footings which he and I did last week. That's right, I got dirty for money!

Anyways, he left an envelope for me to deliver to the brickmason when he completed the foundation. Pablo (the brick mason) called me today and wanted to meet to get his money. I was in Walmart and he said, "How convenient I live near Walmart, I'll be there in 10 minutes. Meet me in the parking lot by the Goodwill truck." So, a few minutes later Jacob and I are sitting by the Goodwill truck munching on potato wedges when a Latino man drives up in a truck. ME: You Pablo? HIM: Yes, very much thank you. You have money? ME: Uhh, yeah (handing him the envelope). You want to count it? HIM: (Looking very suspicious) No, no ma'am, I trust you. ME: Okay, I gotta go, have a good day. JACOB: It's a good thing he didn't want to count that money, cause I jacked $20 out of that envelope this morning. ME: (spitting Pepsi all over the windshield through my nose no less) Please tell me you're kidding. JACOB: (cracking up) I can't believe you fell for that. We laughed all the way home.

We Are Family . . .

I am so blessed. Even with things up in the air, even with the economy in the tank, even with stress and decisions to make -- I am so blessed.

Zachary and Candace with Jr. , Me and Jacob

on their wedding day

(No one would ever believe the change in these two since they got married. They're like totally different people. So much more calmer and satisfied. It's great to see them growing and maturing.)

Since Jr. is gone out of town so much now, we instituted a family night the night before he leaves. We all get together to eat, laugh and play a game and basically spend an evening enjoying each others' company. Let me say first and foremost we love a good board game, trivia game, you name it and we have always been competitive with each other. It's a good thing that Candi is of the same personality or she wouldn't stand a chance in this bunch.

Great game, loads of fun and hilarious for all.

Home School, Christian School, Online School, Public School

Well, that's the big question at our house right now. Jacob is an 8th grader in our public school system and always has been in public school. To say that this year is a challenge for him would be putting it mildly.

Jacob struggles with LD in reading and writing which has an effect on every subject. Lately, he's struggling to keep his head above water. He's always been an A B student and now this year his grades have fallen quite a bit. The material is harder, he has all men teachers (a first for him). Not that men teachers are not good, but some of them tend to not be as attentive to student needs. He is on a team that doesn't have as many of his old friends and some of the new friends are not who he needs to be friends with. His dad is away now and I know that makes a difference in all of our lives. He got in trouble this past week for aggressive behavior. According to the asst. principal he had a right to be angry and he was defending himself, but he still knows the rules and they are to remove himself from the situation and tell someone in authority what is going on. Okay, it's the first time he has ever been in trouble -- and we may very well be overreacting.

We've been talking about changing his eduation for over a year now, so now it's time to actually do it or not. Next year he'll be in a totally different high school than most of his friends thanks to the school district reassignment unless we sell our home which we were already thinking of doing because it would allows us to build a smaller home and be almost completely debt free. Retirement is a good ways away yet -- but we could save alot of money between now and then without a house payment.

Back on subject -- Our oldest son attended Christian school until high school age and we moved into this area and put him in public school. The first year was tough for him because he wasn't used to the freedom, but he did well. However, Jacob and Zachary are totally different. The Homeschool option and the Online school option gives us greater flexibility with our family and we could travel with hubby at least once a month. That would give Jacob many opportunities and he could still maintain friendships with his friends through youth group. The Christian school option keeps him in a school setting, but he would have to make new friends, we would have to drive him 20 miles both ways every day. It's an additional expense of tuition and gas to our budget. Or we leave him where he is. Of course, Jacob would like to stay where he is because he knows it, it's familiar to him, but is it the place for him?

So, that's where we are -- praying, looking at options, praying, checking out materials, praying, interviewing schools, praying, talking with other parents we know who homeschool, praying, and talking with parents who send their kids to Christian schools, praying and praying and praying.

Father God, you know the plans you have for Jacob. I pray that you will reveal those plans to us and show us what your perfect will is for his life.