Stream of thought

Almost to print, thank GOODNESS.
It has been hard to gear the mag toward the largest readership, PUBLIC school, since I am a homeschooler. Hard in the sense that I don't really personally believe a lot of the stuff that is in there...

But then I remember just teaching the kids the difference between personal choice and biblical principle. And most of it in there is personal choice not biblical principle. (sending kids to camp, etc.)
So there I realize that I have an opportunity to make a soft influence with a different point of view here and there. You know, seed planting.
Can you see me coming in with skirts only, family integrated, discipline that bratty kid, don't you DARE ban children from anything, submit to your husband, everyone should homeschool perspective? Hmm, does magazine CRASH sound good? Lol
But it is hard not to feel like a sell-out sometimes!

Kate calls bugs BLUGS, how cute is that?

I am SO excited about skate Wed. But guess what? I ABHOR the skating rink. I mean, it falls second only to mini-golf, which I equally despise. BUT- this skating rink seems different. The people CARE about the kids, DISCIPLINE them (say what?) but mostly, I see that the scheduled events are going to be my connection with the group. Every other Wednesday I am going to see you all. Or whoever comes. That and the fellowship group and I should be good. I see everyone sewing skirts ahem, WITHOUT me, shame on ya'll. And I MISS it!!!!
What about a once a month skirt day at my house? Maybe just three others to keep it sane?...Tif, you HAVE to come since you are the one that knows how to do it. PLEASE? Email me privately guys if you want to do that.

Church: MAN do I miss church. A variety of things have happened but things really ARE evening out a bit and so it is good. We see that for us it is an impossible thing to be separated as a family for Sundays with me always staying home or Jeff or one of the kids. Let me encourage you to GO TO CHURCH every Sunday that you are able to breathe. (Don't take that as judgement, just a word of wisdom, TRUST me) If church is working for you and you are happy with where the kids are..just go! Not forsaking the assembly is really important.

So I am hoping that the new place works out for Calvary Lord willing! We are going to head up to RC Sproul's church on Sunday where they are reformed, family integrated AND have a crying room, lol, right behind the family section so we can all "be together". Let me tell you, I have not experienced the weirdness of not being in family unity on Sundays until we had no where to put Kate. To split the family up on a Sunday was too much for us! It just didn't feel right! What would one do with a new baby? Do they have to go to nursery? I mean, will the three new Mom's stay out or put them in nursery?
Anyway, I am going to HOPE that the new digs for Calvary end up with a spot to sit and listen with kids where we won't be a distraction. I was excited when we moved to the gym and thought I could sit outside the curtain. But when I did and Kate made a peep, it ECHOED like the Grand Canyon and after said usher came out to "see what all the ruckus was about" I skulked back out to where coffee and doughnuts worship. Lol I felt SOOO bad. Now that Kate is saying, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo at the top of her lungs, I can see that we have some time left before she can sit quietly. Can you hear Doug? "Grace and Peace be with you!" (Nooooooooooooooooooooo) "Mercy triumphs over judgement." ) (Noooooooooooooooooo)
"Listen my children, to your father's wisdom" (Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo) Lol

Anyway, hope to see you all soon. I enjoyed catching up on your blogs. Don't forget about me guys! I'm here!

Benefits of a sick kid

Well I COULD do a whole if you give a kid a cookie thing...but since it involves getting SICK let me suffice to say that Rach is fine. Thanks for your prayers. She was good the next day and even better today. I think it was just something she ate.

BUT- the BENEFIT of having a kid get sick all over the carpet...(and let me tell you...I have the GREATEST hubs, he does ALL this kind of thing and never lets me touch it...but he WASN'T HERE so I had to deal!!!) Anyway, he came home in no short order, having just left...and rented a carpet cleaner...so now I have a steam cleaned back office AND no throw up smell from MY own lame efforts..lol

But this oh-so-cute video of Kate to boot! She LOVED the fan....(drying the carpet off)

Sure do miss you guys......

Prayer Request Please

Well, I was back to our old schedule this morning, prioritizing properly, getting ready for church (HOORAY! I am not the average Joe...I LOVE church!)
Personal Bible time makes a comeback, lol etc. etc. Going to take the day off...it is SUNDAY after all...

So Rach walks in and says Mom, my stomach hurts and suddenly yep, blaaaaaaaargh...all over EVERYTHING.

Jeff left yesterday (but is currently on his way home, thank goodness)
and I have to be in Altamonte this afternoon...

I just desperately need to find some balance or clone myself...about ten times.

As we are rarely a sick family, which I attribute to our not being overly involved with outside activities, it is a rare and scary occurrence here when someone here does not feel well.

Please pray that this is just an upset tummy and not a real sickness...and all will be over soon.

S

Stream of Thought

Hello ya'll wild women!

I just could NOT go to "work" this morning but instead just want to chat!
So here I am.

I am glad to go to an outing today where I might actually meet other human beings.

Jeff drug me out of work last night to give me a break and get me out to Thai but the restaurant was closed, boohoo! Imagine our relief when we got home and an hour later the tire was flat on the van. God is good!
I mean, who wants to change a tire in the pouring rain and dark outside a Thai restaurant?
He made me delish curry stir fry at home where I could finish up some work, watch Rach do her fashion show computer program and have a Bass ale!!!!!! (sorry legalists)

American Idol...ok, I am SO GLAD freaky gay guy is gone, politically correct or not, he needs a whippin'. Yuck.
BUT more to the point, how about that unbelievable show To Tell The Truth????
Who will confess to watching that? Lol
I turned it off immediately after spouting to the kids about the horrors of it, sent them up to bed and snuck up to my room to watch it. (careful with that measure people, lol)
Well I had to see if the girl answered yes or no to the question: "Do you have any secrets that could end your marriage?" (She said YES. I couldn't believe it!)
I couldn't put my finger on exactly why this show was so evil. I mean, everyone has secrets, skeletons, etc...and I don't believe there should be anything less than pure honesty in relationships even though we all have our dishonest moments...then I got it. Right. They are SELLING the secrets...for MONEY. (Shiver)
Can you imagine if your spouse answered YES to that question what it would be like in the HOME after that???? Ugh. I can't imagine the trouble it may cause in OTHER homes either, putting thoughts into the heads of married couples, questions, suspicions...so not glorifying!!!
During the commercial break a little logo of a sponsor came on that said "Lighthearted Entertainment" and Jeff was like...WHAT?????
Then Jeff said (hear his best, deep announcer voice) "Fox network in cooperation with SATAN brings you...To tell the truth!" ....CRACKED me up!
I totally confess it is hard not to watch....but it really disturbs my spirit so I am afraid it was a little bad toe-dip that I made but have to move on from.

Kate was doing her typical monkey hang off the back of a chair on the porch and yep, you guessed it, toppled backward...never letting go so she didn't bend and land on her bottom but instead flat on her back. Hit her head, chair landed on top of her and busted her lip and banged her DIRECTLY on the spot where she had been scraped.
We were all just sitting around the table having a nice chat and it happened so fast. Poor thing. She really could have been hurt and I am so thankful that the little monkey head just got a bump and a bruise. Man, I love that kid.

Loving my new computer and desk...though I cannot figure out the new Windows 07 Word program or Vista. Anyone an expert and want to come over and help?
Can't afford my computer guy as much anymore. Lol

Loving the trade options I have with the mag....I am being prudent and not going overboard. I actually don't have any at the moment but am considering someone to come in and do the deep cleaning once a week... I actually need to free up some more time to be with the kids.
So they can keep their regular chores but mine need taking over so that my extra time spent "working" can be restored to them. I never could do a cleaning lady though...when I was out of the house working I tried to have one but was always cleaning before she came...I think I may have to try it again though...

Anyway, lots of ways to get services...and I am grateful for that as we all know the multiple child thing combined with the entrepreneurial thing equals the I'm consistently broke thing. Lol

C-ya after we go to print!

Who dunnit?

Sorry guys,

The caricature is of course, done by the wonderful Heather Renaux! You can buy these wonderful sketches of your family or friends for only $50.00!

She sends them to you with a handful of Headers you choose (Happy Birthday, Thinking of you, etc.)
and they are yours to keep and print over and over.

What a deal!

Contact her at heatherrenaux@hotmail.com and tell her Steph sent you!

Clunn Family Caricature

And I THANK you!

Coming around to deadline again so I am going to be busy but I am happy to say things are going great and are really calming down already...I wanted to give a shout out to everyone who has had a kind word or thought and have stuck with me through this! You have made it an easier transition and left me feeling not so alone! Everyone who has commented, you have no idea what it has meant to me! I know that everyone is busy with their own life, trust me, I KNOW, especially after I got a new one of my own, Lol- but I thank you for taking the time to just say Go Get 'em or good job or I love you!
Special thanks to my wonderful SIL Crystal, (who has edited, commented, constructively criticized, been excited for, been the best encourager IN THE WORLD, rooted for me and who all together is everything a best friend should be) Tiffany (my greatest advisor), AnnMarie (yes...YOU. who doesn't even know whose words and excitement have made it feel like it was all well worth it) and Chewhi (Cheryl) whose help and friendship long in the coming, (wink, wink) has been a great blessing and a cherished thing to me! Not everyone stuck with me through this but my blogging buddies DID!
Your consistent encouragement, friendship and help in every form has made this a LOT easier.
Love you guys!

And: I have heard through the grapevine...that the mag has made some of you laugh (hooray!), many of you cry (love it!) and a few of you MAD! (intended!) Lol So that is the whole intent of the mag...to not be too fluffy, nor to heavy- but in the words of our favorite little baby bear...
"juuuuuuuust right". We are working toward that every month...so keep expecting great improvements! And for goodness sake, WRITE IN with your comments! OR tell me what you liked or didn't like privately. Your opinion COUNTS!

Love you guys! Happy Weekend!