He Does Not Change

 To tell you the truth I have been down for while......part depressed, part illness and the rest, just life. We made a big move at the end of 2015 for a job for my husband. It sounded great, it looked great on paper, but sometimes things don't always work exactly like you think they will.

Struggles.....we had a few. About the time it felt like we were getting settled in, I was diagnosed with COPD and CHF. it was blow to say the least. I walked around a little bit dazed for a while. I just couldn't figure out how this happened. You know how it goes, you start reasoning. I tried to do everything right,so that I would not get any type of illness like these. I was angry, sad, scared....you name it. Finances got a little rocky. I had a daughter getting married. I have a son graduating high school. It was a lot going on.

Depression crept in. Thats how depression will do you though, it's a creeper. It certainly doesn't announce itself at the door, right? Throw a bout of pneumonia and strep throat on top of that and it is the perfect storm. There are times I want to quit. Sit down and stay down. The illness alone is difficult some days. If it was just the illness, I think I could manage better.

Today my oldest daughter shared a post on facebook from her church about the dreams that God has given you and which of those are you going to go after in 2017. That post gave me a nudge....and I remembered.....

I remembered that I am the Daughter of the Most High God, I am an Overcomer, I am Resilient, I can make it. He calls me Worthy, He calls me Friend, He is the Lifter of my Head, He is my Source, He is the Grace Giver.

I remembered the dream He gave to me. How that He gave me the ability to tell a story, to write, to speak. I always dreamed of touching people's lives, inspiring them, watching people be set free from any and all bondages.

I remembered that He is a big God and just because my address changed, just because my health changed, just because the job situation changed.....He did not change. The situations I face may be beyond my control, but they are not out of His reach.

I'm going to go after the dreams He gave me...I'm hoping you will do the same.


Still walking this journey with you, my friends,

Regina

Our Latest Adventures on the Journey

I cannot believe this is the last day of October! This month has gone by so fast! Many of you know that I was involved in a blog challenge to write on my blog everyday for October....I think I wrote everyday but about 3 or 4...it was tough, but I really enjoyed it.

The past week seems to have been especially hectic....here is a re-cap of our journey.....

Heads up! I have included a lot of pictures on this post....

HOMESCHOOL
I don't feel like I am getting everything accomplished that I would like to. But nevertheless, we have persevered  Savannah is learning more and more. She is just like a sponge it seems....which is great. This last week she worked on number recognition. We had a fun game, that had a Christmas theme, but she really enjoyed it. I drew a fireplace on the whiteboard, showed her numbers on the flashcards and if she got it right, she could hang a "stocking" on the mantel....

(my drawing of the fireplace)

(Savannah with two stockings)

She also began working on simple addition. We did this by using picture problems of course. Here she is drawing the problem...

 and answering it...

Hank has been listening to "Mr. President" which are past recordings of radio plays about the President talking about life inside the White House. He found out that one of the past Presidents' sons put ponies in the elevator.....He has really enjoyed listening to them. We found these at Homeschool Freebie of the Day dot com. You have to be a member of the site to get the freebie, but signing up is free.

FIELD TRIP

This past Friday we went to the Historic Arkansas Museum....it was a very cold and rainy day, but we had a great time. The kids got to see a play about "Digging Up Arkansas" that talked about the history of Arkansas from the 1700's through 1936. There were songs, skits, and humor....it was very good! We then got to experience some hands on things....like different furs that were traded back then, how to make corn meal, and Indian pottery.

 examining the furs

 making corn meal

 (sorry for the sideways picture)

looking at pottery and trying to piece it back together

We then went outside where we found a "servant" doing laundry. Savannah decided to help her out....

We also visited the blacksmith shop, where they got to see them make a nail right there on the spot, and the schoolhouse where we got to play with toys from long ago. It was an awesome day! 

There was also a Barbie display and Savannah and I went to see it. She was enthralled with it. 

 FAMILY LIFE
We had a soccer tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Our team played hard, but unfortunately didn't make it to the championship round. 

We finished out Sunday at home relaxing and watching movies. "Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" was a favorite. We also watched the new Madea movie but didn't find it as funny as some of the previous movies Tyler Perry has done. 

Monday my dryer died. I knew it was on it's last legs, but had hoped it would make it through this laundry cycle. So we spent yesterday at the laundromat, then home putting away clothes. 

WHAT I'M COOKING
I found an awesome recipe for fried potatoes with bacon and green beans. All you do is cook the bacon really crispy and set aside, then saute onions in the bacon grease, set aside, fry the potatoes in that same grease ( you have to add more oil at this point) until fork tender, discard all but a tablespoon of the oil, return all ingreients to the pan including a can of drained green beans, heat through and serve....my family thought it was phenomenal. I served this with a side of mac m cheese, and brown beans....voila! Awesome meal!

HALLOWEEN
Today my little one is very excited! She is going to be a ballerina for Halloween, so you know I will pictures to post tomorrow (or next week). We are taking her to a business community this afternoon where all the business owners sit outside and give out candy to the kids. She is then going to a Trunk or Treat, then here in the neighborhood. It's going to be so much fun! 

How about you? What are your plans for Halloween with your kids? And feel free to upload pics of your little ones or yourself in your costumes to the comments below...

Safe Trick or Treating!
Regina

A Milestone Birthday and 2 Movie Reviews

So yesterday my daughter turned 18!  How wild is that? She looked at me that morning and said, "Yes you are old enough to have a child this age!" I know, she is a laugh a minute...but she does know how to make my heart happy. When asked where she wanted to eat for her birthday, she told me that she would rather  have my homemade chicken and dressing with creamed potatoes on the side instead of go to a restaurant....that earned her some points! 

Here she is reading the card from her younger brother and little sister

We have also watched the "Hunger  Games." My daughter and I both read the whole trilogy in 3 days....it was awesome! We had heard mixed feelings about the actual movie though. We all know that most of the time the movie just is not as good as the book. But all in all I thought the movie was great! It kept my attention even though I already knew what was going to happen and left me wanting to see "the rest of the story"

Now of course they didn't include as much detail as the book, if they did the movie would have been too long...but they gave you enough that if you had read the books, you knew what was happening.  Even my husband, who did not read the books by the way, was still very much interested and now wants to know what happens in the following books.

This is a movie my whole family enjoyed, and if you haven't seen it, you need to....from my youngest (Savannah, age 5)  to my oldest (Frank, age 53), we all loved every minute of it!

Another great movie that is family friendly is "Big Miracle" This story about the whale family, trapped in the ice in Alaska, is one the most moving and touching stories I have seen in a long time. Again my entire family watched it, and all loved it!

I have to admit there was not a dry eye in our living room during some of the parts of the movie.....

So if you are looking for some good, family movies this weekend, I recommend these two, Check them out and let me know what you think.......

Favorite Thing Friday

I think my favorite thing this week was when my daughter received her car from her Dad....and she has been driving everywhere! It doesnt matter how small or inigificant the item....she will volunteer to go get it! It's all good though....she has waited a long time for this day!


Today is another blog hop, and you guessed it......it "Favorite Thing Friday" hop...




Blog Hop Rules:

• Link Up A Favorite Post from the week or a Post about a favorite thing
• Follow Host and Co Host but be sure to let us know so we can follow you back!
• Follow one other blog in the hop and let them know so they can follow back.
• Have fun meeting some other blogs :)
This is a Blog Hop!