Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am so thankful that for the last 6 days I have gotten to spend time with my sister, her husband and their 4 kids! They live in Central Oregon and we haven't been together with them in years! We had a wonderful time!!!! We ate lots of food, went to a movie, went roller skating, played lots of board games, went to the zoo and had a terrific time visiting. They flew back home today and I will miss them all so much!!!

Decisions...

Colton will be graduating this Spring and is starting to make decisions regarding his future. He is only 17 and I am sure it will be some time before he actually settles on a permanent career. He is going to get a year of technical training as an electrician's apprentice (at a community college), first of all. He really wants to be a writer but it will be so nice to have a job (where you can earn pretty good money) to fall back on. He will take some writing classes on the side. It is so strange to think that this phase (high school) of his life is almost over. He was in public school for 8 years (not including one year of part-time preschool) and began homeschooling in the 8th grade. He is a really smart guy, although he does struggle a bit in math. He loves to argue! Start talking time travel, old earth/new earth, etc with him and he gets riled up. His ACT results should be coming back soon and they will help determine what classes he is required to take. I have always said that I don't care what path my kids take *career-wise*, if they try to follow God's leading in their life. I want them to serve God in whatever they do; not an easy thing in this dark world.

Gorgeous days...

We have been having amazing November days. Today is incredible again....I know it won't last.

Colton had 3 wisdom teeth out last week and is recovering. So far noone else has been sick. Mondays are always crazy, today was no exception. Katie was getting baking soda down from a cabinet (standing on a chair) and knocked the cooking oil out, lid broke and spilled everywhere. She fell off the chair but wasn't injured.

Jesse is home trying to sleep...I stress "trying". He works 3 more nights and then will be off for 8 days.

More about decluttering....

Here is another helpful article about the subject:

DECLUTTER

Decluttering toys..

This is a good article about getting rid of excess toys. She says the secret is to be ruthless! I have been working on this for a few days. Trying to narrow down the clutter and it is a wonderful, freeing feeling!

Happy November!

2009 is flying by...soon it will be 2010. I am flabbergasted that I will be turning 40 this month, celebrate 20 years of marriage in July 2010 and also have one graduating in the Spring. The girls and I love to look at old photo albums and reminisce about years past. When I had 4, ages 5 and under, I thought some days lasted forever...now those 4 are all in their teens (almost). I have been blessed beyond measure and I just want to savor each day that God has given me.