Year 7, February 28th-March 6th, 2022: In Like a Lion

 Monday - They Call Me Sleepy

- Oh wow. I went to bed late and still in a wreck. My body hurt, my emotions were all over the place, my legs were restless. I was plenty tired and fell asleep quickly. I woke up with less pain and a clearer mental ability. However, my ears were more clogged and the vertigo was bad. I had slept on the couch because I knew I would have been tossing and turning all night. Jared was in a hurry to leave and hadn't come over to say good bye. So I panicked and tried to get to the front door quickly. Well, I almost didn't make it because the vertigo was so bad. I nearly cried, and I would have cried if I had missed him. We've been really close as of late and when I'm an emotional wreck from things that aren't dealing with him, I need him. And today, I really needed him.

- I needed Jared today. I had vertigo so bad that I had to have him pick up Justin from work. And I had him and Justin postpone going to the movies tonight with Kya so Jared could take Abishai to Tang Soo Do. The vertigo part was so bad, I was getting really bad nausea and had to get a dramimine. And when I take that, I fall asleep easily, even standing up. And it was so bad, I was afraid I was going to fall asleep at the wheel. I needed rescued today. And my handsome prince was right there doing the rescuing, praise the Lord. There is definite advantages of living and working close by, and even having Justin working close by as well. I've always been aware of those advantages and thank God often for those advantages. God might have allowed us to have these health issues, but he's also provided the ways for us to take care of them, like working and living close so we can tag team like we did today.

- I was able to get through everyone's lessons, but it took a bit longer. After I hugged Jared good-bye, Abishai and I snuggled back into the couch. I started looking at email and I let him get on his tablet to play educational video games. Then, all of a sudden it was 10:30 and he had started watching other TV shows and I was watching TikTok videos on FB and the morning was running away from us. Whoops! But at least we had that snuggle time under the blanket, nice and quiet, with Justin at work and Keturah still sleeping. We managed to catch up a bit later. I ended up eating brunch instead of breakfast and lunch. Abishai was still munching on food like he had done all morning claiming he was hungry. I finally had to tell him enough is enough, no more grazing. Stop delay fishing by claiming you are hungry and do a big chunk of work before you stop for actual lunch. We got through a bunch more work and then when I was really ready for another solid meal, we ate lunch. Keturah then joined us for history lessons. 

- In between all of that, Abishai did sneak off a couple of times when he thought I was too involved in other things to go off chasing him down again. I had literally asked him a question about something for his timeline figure, and he put two and two together and did a disappearing act before history class. Sneaky little guy. So I made him sit across from me during the lesson in the chair and he could not get up until it was over.  He can wiggle all he wants in the chair, except slumping down and getting out of it. He's a smart one though.

- Socks was also in and out of the house a lot today because it was warmer out there. Which means I still had to do lean down and clean his paws a lot more, too. Sigh. So when Abishai went outside with the dog at lunch time instead of doing history, I was pretty annoyed. He got a big talking to after that. 

- Just like all day, I'm feeling like I'm falling asleep and it's only 7:50. I won't last long sitting here, but we'll see. Nothing is too crucial. I wanted to polish up the IAHE newsletter but it isn't due until Wednesday.

- Abishai had a blast sparring with his teacher this evening. Daddy took lots of great photos of him and Uriah practicing. I hope they are also teaching them when to fight and when not to fight. I haven't heard much about the ethics. One day at a time.

- Keturah did her regular routine today. I gave her the puzzle I was working on because I'm just too tired to finish out that sky area. But now the only thing left is the 1,000 piece puzzles. So, now it's here challenge. Otherwise, I was just going to put it away. The pieces weren't cut out very well so you don't have a perfect fit. And the blue seems to change depending on how you hold it under the light. I'm over it. She can finish it, or we'll get rid of it, or something else. I'll start a new one soon.

Justin mentioned that this was the new special "Ace" of this war of Ukraine vs Russia.

Prayer works!

Found some great pics in my throwback Thursday area on FB. Little Benaiah and his doggy.

Ketutah surrounded by pink!

A fun use of using Marble Works!

Pretty in pink!

Back when Justin broke his arm and had surgery to correct it. Yikes!

Just think how you would feel seeing this come down your street?

Praying for these people by name and many more with their ministries over there. Stay strong. Many people are praying for you.

I gave up on my other puzzle and passed it off to Keturah. I'm going to start this one. I thought it was interesting that they packed it this way.They just put the bag of puzzle pieces in the middle. I've never seen this!

Before I took these videos, I heard Justin making mean remarks to his "firends" in his game.

So this is exactly how you dress for Tan Soo Do, right? No, it's not. But he looks so cute regardless.

He gets to borrow the hate gloves and pants until he's ready for his own gear. But we do need to get him his own mouth guard and boy cup.

Totally adorable.

Practicing with Dojo Nathan.

Sparring with a fellow classmate.

Tuesday - Chaos

- I can still feel the dizziness right through the medication. Ugh. I did sleep an extra 2 hrs, so I felt more awake, but as soon as I sit or get close to a pillow, or to a prone position, I am ready to nod off again. It's already 9pm and I haven't started the blog yet because I was trying to keep Abishai entertained while Jared was gone this evening with Kya and Justin. I needed to finish up the IAHE newsletter and sat down to do that at 7:30, but then my email distracted me because it needed cleaning out. It needed cleaning out because the whole day had been distracting. It all started this morning...

- Or rather, it started last night when I went to bed at 10:15pm. That's right, I was in bed and asleep by 10:30pm. I was on my computer trying to watch something, anything, but I had not motivation. I didn't want to play my video games either because nothing was due and nothing was going to be ready again until midnight. I was falling asleep in my chair. So I actually went to bed. I had fought the medication all day. I wasn't going to fight it for another 2-3 hrs like I normally do in the evening. It wasn't worth it. So off to bed I went. Best decision ever. Well maybe, because when I started in with my email this morning, I woke up to find that a lengthy discussion/argument had happened on a post I had commented on and some of my comments had been deleted as a result. A friend had tried to defend the IAHE, although she is not part of the IAHE, and I wish she hadn't. It's a secular group, and therefore, they don't agree with our mission statement and all that. I was trying to stay on the down low. And now as a result, I can't post any links to the IAHE. And I had nothing to do with it! The original post was about blog and books about how to homeschool high schoolers! Ugh! So I had to immediately go into damage control and it wasn't even my fault! I don't know about the admin person, but the original poster and I talked and I shared the info again with some extra helps and it sounds like she got enough info to get started. Sigh. Super frustrating. 

- Then I was trying to manage Justin's day with this whole movie thing that happened tonight. He hadn't asked Jared officially for the ride yet until this morning. And I had to finalize those details with Kellie. And then ask her if she was going to stay or not later on. I was also trying to stay updated on Ukraine. And the American trucker convoy because they are coming through Indiana and Indianapolis tonight, tomorrow and Thursday. I needed to make decisions on my schedule based on that. I did get the exact info I needed thanks to a friend. They arrived tonight about an hour southwest away from my side of Indy. They will rest and rally tomorrow there and spend the night again. Then they will travel up to Indy, take the south part of I-465, go under our Emerson and I-465 bridge that we often use, go up our part of the highway, get on I-70 to Greenfield, which is what we ALWAYS travel on if we take the highway, woot! Woot! All on Thursday. So, the spots to wave to them are officially the Emerson bridge or the exit before Greenfield, so the Mt. Comfort Rd exit. And they can be passing by at any time between 12-6pm. I can only be there from 12-2pm though because Jared and I have an appointment and I need to pick up Justin at 2:30 or he has to walk home. Sigh. I was also trying to find a babysitter for Thursday night because there was a town hall mtg with our Senator to go over educational bills, but it got canceled because the main bill in question got canceled. Ugh. So, loads of logistics to handle before breakfast. 

- Started school late, ended on time as usual. Had the usual antics. Sigh. I sat at the kitchen table so I wouldn't fall asleep and it did help. Then I picked up Justin and realized just how warm it was! 65 degrees! So I made Keturah take her bow and arrows outside and play with them. I don't care if Jared hasn't built her an official target thing yet, it was time! So we carefully watched what we were doing and got started. Well, I tried to shoot an arrow, but I was all fumble fingers because I hadn't eaten properly and was too scared I would shoot it off too far and it fell at my feet. But Keturah got it going and did really, really well! (see the videos below). She'll have to really mark off her yardage and find out exactly how high the target should be for her height and all that. And what the other the piece in her bow kit is for, and find out when she can get together with Dan, etc. etc. BUT she got out there and started. That's all that matters. The target she got did work pretty well, too. I was pleased. We just have to make sure Socks is inside or not near the target when she fires. That would be a disaster.

- I finally got a bit of a break at 4pm, but then I had to make sure Justin was ready to go for Jared to pick him and Kya up at 4:15 for the movies. Justin wanted to go see a video game movie called "Uncharted" and wanted to bring Kya along as a friend. And Kellie said an adult, not Benaiah, had to go with them. So Jared went. They actually were able to use the free ticket passes that I have held onto since we saw Cinderella 6 1/2 yrs ago. At Cinderella, one of the projector bulbs broke and couldn't be fixed right away, so the movie was a bit darker than normal. They let us stay and watch it play, but also gave us complimentary tickets to see it again or another movie. Well, by golly, I've held onto those tickets. There was no expiration date or wording that said it had to be used at a certain movie theater other than AMC and the usual "do not use with any other discount." You had to purchase the tix in person at the theater and not online. And thankfully, they did honor them tonight! So, Justin, Jared, and Kya got to get in for free! They saved nearly $50! Imagine saving those for another 10 years and prices for movies going up even higher! But this is another reason I'm a hoarder. Or rather I don't just randomly throw a pile of papers away without checking through it first. Those could have easily been thrown in the trash a million times. But nope, they stayed with the giftcards and just happened to be nearby with another AMC giftcard, that Justin used for a drink. Pretty cool, eh? Definitely a win for me.

- Justin said the movie was better than he expected. Jared said it was decent. Although I didn't get what I wanted to get done at home, I'm glad I got to stay home and not waste my screen time on it. I sorted out the middle and edge pieces for a new 1,000 piece puzzle and played a matching game with Abishai. I also got to eat my dinner in peace. Then Abishai watched whatever he wanted on Minno, so he choose a Christmas Veggietales and laughed his head off! I got started on cleaning up the email and thus got behind on blog and such. I avoided being out in public. Justin finally got done what he wanted to do. I told Jared that there's almost no movie I ever want to see for $13.50 in the movie theater. I don't like American made movies anymore because it's all about the stunts and green screens. It's not really about the story line. And when it is, it's all about wokeness. I prefer my overseas BBC tv shows and writing. I don't need to sit in germ infested, too loud for my ears, too expensive theaters to enjoy a show. I'd rather be home and spent $3-5 for a movie and stay warm and comfy. I understand the movie and get enough of the effects and music to appreciate the work and art form. And I told the kids last night, I would much rather they reuse the same large estate in several British TV shows and just change the furniture than use all green screen and do it in a studio. I want the actors to act with real props and real flash bangs. Just like I prefer real instruments and not instruments done on a keyboard (sorry Jim Danaker). Real is always better, even if it's a bit less extravagant. And it costs the same. If you have to spend oodles of time and money on the set or on CGI to create the environment, then you are covering up what you are lacking in storyline, character development, and depth. Same goes with a church service. Or a co op. You don't need the fancy stuff to get your point across. 

- I'm glad they enjoyed the movie, we enjoyed out time at home. And now it's time to start winding down for bed. If I can just get the final person out of the kitchen so I can shut it down for the night. Jared's doing his late night chip crunching and driving me crazy! Do it somewhere else! You are distracting me! And I want to watch some clips without your judgment! Go away! Everybody, just go away! This was supposed to be the quiet week! Except now it's been the slow week because of my sickness. I hate that my weeks where I think I can go the same pace and get stuff done, become my weeks of sickness. It definitely sucks! I hate being sick. There's just enough time. 

They are coming! The American Trucker Convoy on it's way to Washington, D.C.! Eek! Time to be a part of history! I won't be going to the rally on Wednesday evening, but I hope to go to Greenfield and wave them through on Thursday. That's about all I can give them. I'm doing it for the sake of Canada's convoy and for those who still have to be masked, including myself while in a hospital or doctor's setting. I don't particularly mind at the doctor's office because germs do float around more there. But I still see a lot of masked employees in regular stores when it's not necessary. There are still mandates at some school and lots of places of employments. How sad! Plus the vaccine mandates to travel and work. The fight isn't over.

Well, this was 2/3 full when it arrived in our house 18 hrs ago. It was some pizza dip stuff Leah made. The kids polished it off for breakfast this morning.

My boys. One is ready for his shift at work. The other one wishes he could tag along with anybody, but is willing to help Daddy load up the van for work.

Signs of spring! Some grassy stuff poke up from our bushes.

And the daffodils are starting, just in time for Easter. Time to start pulling the dead ground cover stuff. Or not. I'll wait until the end of the month. Although the mulch is in stock at Wanamaker Feed and Seed. It just got dropped off today.

Really? I know it's Massachusetts with it's liberal views, but still. Leave the Christian colleges alone!

That's a huge deal for the Swiss to get involved. Yikes!

So I didn't know the state of the union address was tonight, March 1st. I guess the truck convoy gets in after that. I don't know if the two convoys will eventually convene or what.

He got a standing ovation for his compelling speech towards joining the UN. He needs helps guys, where's your hurt?

It's all in the details.

Dorky younger Justin.

Finally signed up for the blow by blow of the truckers every move!

I'm feeling it's about time for this since I'm getting older and I'm starting to look like an old maid. .

The board was looking a little sparse.

He couldn't wait to get to this story.

https://youtu.be/8edmh1L7mNk

https://youtu.be/Z1OoRFpPKCI

The three little pigs!

New growth from last year! Check it out!

So warm today! False hope today!

Oh no, not what I want to deal with! Ruined box from one of the pouches being sliced upon. I have to wipe down each ouch, take pics of the process and then find time to upload and send it in to HQ hoping for some credit. Grrrr.

It took me until the bottom of the box to find the culprit, but there it is!

Can't stop that!

"Thwap!" There goes an arrow!

And another one! Nice upper body form! She and I both remember a little bit from our lessons on PEI. It's a start!

I'm too tired to get up to take photos, but I know we have gorgeous sunsets some days.

Wednesday - The Old Self

- God says to take off your old self, but what if that old self is actually the self you need in order to function and do His work? Lol. That's me today! No vertigo and that means no medication and no sleepiness and that means I can actually function! Yeah! So, let's GOOOO!!!!!! So, I did a whole load of laundry and dishes start to finish, matched up a yoga instructor to a person looking for a yoga instructor (much to the chagrin of certain people's personal opinions), diffused another online situation, finished up the IAHE Region 9 newsletter of the month after listening to what I thought was going to be another huge debacle but wasn't (thank goodness), drove the kids to ASL and back, figured out why Abishai woke up with a dry mouth (seasonal allergies, probably grass), put a pot of stew in to cook in the crockpot before going to ASL, read and played Uno with Abishai, had extra time to serve dinner, got up before 8 am and put my pjs on before 6pm because I was ahead of the game for the day, and finally rewarded myself by putting the frame for my newest 1000 piece puzzle together. That puzzle is huge! It's 19x by almost 29 inches and barely fits on the table. One false move by any stray toes and it's on the floor. It's only on the gray mat, too. As soon as I get a row or two in from the sides, I'll place the side on top of each other so it's not so easily dumped. It's going to be hard to keep Abishai from knocking it over. And it will be a fun one with white birch trees and lots of red and oranges. It will take awhile and then the last puzzle is the PEI one. The pieces are pretty sturdy though, so hopefully I will enjoy it more.

- The only non mom boss moment I had today was when Keturah declared that Abishai should go to daycare so he could be with other people to socialize. We were talking about how he was wanting to be in the room with Justin just to be in near his big brother. Abishai wasn't talking to Justin or poking him. He was just rearranging things on his bed. And it was distracting Justin so Justin was blaming Abishai for not getting getting enough work done before leaving for ASL. Justin likes to make up excuses instead of owning up to his own behavior these days. But where Keturah would ever come up with such an idea sent me over the edge! I was already highly volatile from lots of other stresses, but still, what on this green earth is she listening to? Have I not said it enough that socializing within the family structure is plenty of socialization for someone? Just because we are introverts doesn't mean we can push away the extrovert. And have I ever said daycare is ok? Ever? No, not at all. I hate daycares with every fiber of my being. Same with preschools. There's absolutely no point to them. Even before I knew that I would be having children I saw no point. Just because it's normalized in the TV shows she watches or her friends' siblings go to these places doesn't mean it's actually a normal thing to do. Absolutely not. Do not separate mother and child. Only in a society that wants to indoctrinate children from birth do they advocate this kind of crap. Wow, where does she come with these things? I swear she is sneaking some kind of something on her YouTube searching. DisneyPlus is still banned on her phone, so it's got to be YouTube. Insane.

- I wouldn't have exploded at her if it weren't for some other way out there other things she's come up with that are the total opposite of what I've talked about for years and years. Has she not picked up on what I say? Has she really tuned out on MY indoctrination? Or has the hours upon hours she has spent on that phone really done that much harm? All of the above I'm afraid. And it scares the living heck out of me. Don't go there, sis. Just don't go there. Think before you speak.

 - But, we all moved on. They worked on school. Abishai moped around. I nearly fell asleep on the couch to clear my head, and then I worked on the computer. Abishai still felt too sick to go to Tang Soo Do  so he skipped out on it. He's not used to post nasal drip causing his mouth to get dry with all the heavy breathing and then also having the need to sometimes spit it out. I wonder if we should get him a neti pot so we can start him on a nose rinse so he doesn't wake up to a yucky nose and be miserable every morning/day. We certainly can't put him on allergy medication this early on in his life. That would add an entirely new level of crazy I'm not willing to try. Allergy medication plus possible ADHD? Not worth it. But try to get a neti pot up a child's nose. Also a difficult proposition, so, that's also something Jared's going to have to work with Abishai on. Because I never could get it to work for me.

- Oh fun, we are going to have a house guest two days from now. Thanks for letting me know, husband. Sigh. Really?! It was bad enough you were transporting him on Sunday but now he's sleeping in? On the couch bed? Really? Let's think this one through. Women are from Venus and men are from Mars and they don't think things through enough. And I don't really have time to prepare for a house guest. Thanks for the heads up, dear. It's a good thing it's just your brother. And why isn't he staying at your parents' house? There's a better couch bed over there. Sigh. Whatever. And you guys made the initial arrangements a month ago and you're just now getting around to telling me about it, nevermind the details? Again, men don't think. Communicate! And you wonder why couples often need counseling at this stage in their lives. They just can't stand the miscommunication anymore. Ugh.

- I was about to end the day on a pretty decent note. Thanks for popping that balloon. I'll go see what Russia is doing Ukraine. I heard that it's been officially declared that Russia has taken over Kherson. Long story short, that's where Gary, Leah, and many others from church planted two churches in the last 1990's and early 2000's. Kherson. The ONE place we know the most about. I am crushed. This is so personal now. Why can't we Americans just go in there and crush the Russians? What the heck?! Too much politics! Just charge and get the deed done. An eye for an eye for once! Enough talking, more doing, everybody! Just please! Everybody, please, just go and do! Stop being so freakin' idle all the time! Keep writing about it and get of your lazy fat butts and do something! And let the political chips fall as they may. Communism is evil. Just squash it. Restart Eastern Europe all over again. Russians want it. Ukranians want it. Enough of the Cold War. The old is gone, the new has come. Move on! Same with organizations that are so stuck in the past that they refuse to listen to new ideas. Or tell you to share something and then knock down new ideas because others can't keep up. Stop saying you want to be better and just get up and go do it. Just like LCU or decided enough is enough, we are going to revamp the whole entire post-secondary educational model and put in a totally new model and keep the old mission. It's just the vehicle has changed. Instead of getting left behind, get ahead of the game. Actually, they are a little behind the game already. Just get up and do something. Straight A students take intiatives. Straight C students know that C's get degrees and life sucks after that. Be a straight A student. Excel for God. That's my opinion.

We just studied this in our history lessons!

Intresting news today. 90% drop in Covid cases. Of course there is. It's because everybody is back to normal routines after the holidays and it's gotten warmer so we are outside instead of locked up in schools and cubicles. And then the mask and vaccines mandates are dropped just DAYS before the truck convoys hit Washington, D.C. making them obsolete, at least in that field. There's still plenty of places where they are mandated. And, it doesn't mean that they won't be mandated again. The fight isn't over. Plus, I'm still interested in showing solidarity for what happened in Canada, so I plan to join the convoy tomorrow, yes, drive in it, as it passes through our side of Indianapolis. And wow, in times of trouble, people are actually relying on God! Who would have thought that?! Imagine!

Finally! One of our last local hold outs! Most librarians are olders, so I completely understand. But still, about time!

Abishai really wanted to play his new Uno game and because he woke up with a really dry mouth from breathing through it instead of his nose (he has post nasal drip), I let him. We'll do paperwork tomorrow. We also were allowed into a "secret" room because the cleaning lady was mopping the big room. It's the youth group room!

Hm,...we wondered how long it would take the kids to find us. It took nearly 10 minutes! Finally the other lady told them where we were! Guys, have a clue! And ask around!

I guess winter has come and gone again.  I feel like it never was fully here. We had what, one wind chill day? One snow storm worthy of the snowblower, but not really? So pitiful. I didn't even get seasonal depression. And here comes spring again. I think I'm going to get depressed by NOT having winter. I never get enough time to wear all my pretty sweaters! I want to move NORTH.

Someone didn't feel good and skipped out on Tang Soo Do tonight. And you know he never misses that! Poor guy. We think it's just post nasal drip though. He's cursed with the Johnson nose!

No! It's official. The one city where people from the Creek have the most ties to is the first to officially be taken over by the Russians. I'm livid. Enough peace talks. Somebody just do something already! The Russian elites are bullies to their own people, never mind the rest of the world! They didn't even tell their soldiers what they were doing! I just watched some clips of young soldiers being allowed by Ukranians to call their parents to say they were safe and being taken care of and they want to come home. These poor conscripted soldiers. Putin is all kinds of naughty words I shouldn't think or type out. And our politicians aren't much better. We need to conquer communism once and for all. So frustrating to watch the men play at war with each other while innocent lives are being ruined.

Daddy! I'm trying to teach the kids about safety and you have to go there for 2.5 minutes and shoot an arrow directly into the air and dismantle everything I'm teaching them. Stop it!

Handsome boy gets to see another spring and his 12th birthday in another month!

Sick my rear end. Actually, he really has been sick. He just didn't know how to handle the extra yuckies in his throat. And I hope that he doesn't come up coughing again in the morning from being outside this evening. The pollen germs are already starting to get thick in the air.

Thursday - High Anxiety Alert

- Thursday turned out to be a high anxiety day, but not necessarily in a bad way. I had to come to some quick decisions on what to do with the Freedom Convoy coming through. Do I go with them from essentially my house out to to Greenfield? Do I take a kid with me? Will I get back in time to get Justin? What if I just sneak back behind one of the hotels on Emerson? Will their fence be low enough for me to see the highway? I didn't want to be "caught" be police. aka I didn't want to disrupt traffic and be in the way. And our exit is a pretty busy one. And it ended up being that I had misread the rally point for the residents or they had announced to the truckers in a different way or something because most o them turned north instead of east and we ended up missing most of them. But that's ok. Here's what happened.

- I watched the truckers leave Monrovia, IN, the spot of their night rally of 3,000 people, at the allotted time and start coming towards Indy. I used my regular map app and they showed up as a "slow traffic" line which was actually really nice! And it continued like  that throughout the day so I was able to follow them all the way into Ohio to their next stop. I was also able to tell when there was a crash that had a few of them stuck between 465 and the Mt. Comfort overpass where people were waiting to wave at them. I'm so glad I decided not to travel with them. I ended taking Abishai with me so I wasn't alone. He wanted to see the big trucks. He got bored easily because it was much colder than I thought it would be. I did my best to explain why we were still doing this although in most states and especially around us, we don't have mandates except in healthcare facilities. 

- I still wanted to go out today because I wanted to put my physical body where my typing fingers and mouth is. I didn't want to "virtue" signal and tell people to get out there and do something if I wasn't willing to do something even for a few minutes. So, yes, I chickened out and didn't go to the rally, or joined in the actual convoy like my friends did, or go to the bridges (a friend later remarked about the height and to be honest, that would have been a HUGE problem for me). But I waved my little American flag just enough and my Canadian handkerchief and felt better about myself. I felt like I could close out that "hot topic" for the moment and move on to to the Ukranian crisis. 

- I was also trying to be lower key than before about it in order to show respect to Jared because he has been so against my views about it, spoke negatively about either convoy, and gave me frowny faces when I talked about this particular day. I wasn't going to waste a bunch of time or gas and pulling kids out of their things or make special arrangements for our appt today, etc. Either it was going to work out or it wouldn't. And I'm happy to say it did work out just enough for me to check it off my list and call it good. I got to see more videos and pics from my friends who did more and I loved that. 

- After the morning nervousness calmed down and Abishai and I were home, it was time for a bit of school and lunch. Then time to pick up Justin, wait on Jared, then our now weekly or so appointment. Back home as quick as we can and Jared took Abishai to Tang Soo Do because he didn't have Bible study. But oh my, the traffic in Greenwood was atrocious both directions today. I don't know how else to describe it. Suburbia at the max. Actually more like downtown or the northside. The urban sprawl and then everybody needs everything, but it was only 3pm because now everybody works from home and no one can ride the bus because there's a bus shortage and kids are riding 4 kids to a seat in a pandemic. Get off the roads! I'm glad Jared is the driver, but at the same time, I don't like it. He gets super angry at the other drivers, too. 

- Abishai had a good time at Tang Soo Do and learned more of the first few moves of Form 1. I knew he would pick it up in no time!

I scrolled slowly down my phone screen because this was on FB and I thought I was going to see horses. I laughed so hard when I saw goats and immediately thought of my friend Julie and others that love their goats! Julie said that yes, there are people that sit in carts or whatever and goats pull them. But, this is obviously a mash up from a TV show I believe. In talking with Jared and Aaron who talk to Mike, Jared's new co worker, who knows a lot more of what's going on in this realm at the moment, gas prices are already at $4 a gallon in some places. I filled up last week for $3.37 I think. But on Saturday (since I'm behind as I'm writing this), Aaron filled my tank back up after using it, so I don't know what it was and I won't be getting gas for a couple more weeks so I probably won't pay much attention.

Yup

Yup!

I told you I'd have her try this! MASH is a game I played as a kid in public school. Basically, you write down a person's answers in each category. and then you start slowly making spiralslike the one in the corner there until they saw stop. You count the lines in the spiral from the middle outwards. That number is how you count through the choices. Each time you end your count, you cross of that item on the list. You play through all the categories at once and you skip over the crossed out ones. Once you only have one choice left per category, that tells your future! Obviously this one is popular for the girls. The MASH stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shed, House. I filled in a lot of this for Keturah. She was only somewhat pleased with the results.

It's American Freedom Convoy day! Or whatever it's called. There's several groups out there, but this the main one. Come to find out, when they met in Monrovia last night for a rally, it was the converging point for several convoys. The one from California, the one from Washington St., the one from Arizona, and I think the last one mentioned might have been from Wisconsin. So this is how it grew pretty large this week. I ended up using my regular maps app to follow them because traffic patterns show up. Because they were going in several groups of vehicles or would occasionally bunch up, the roads were being marked as slow. This made in incredibly easy for me to follow them.

I took Abishai with me for moral support and to keep him out of Keturah's hair. But we sat behind the La Quinta on I-465 and Emerson Ave. because I thought the original plan of the convoy was to pass under this underpass. I could have been easily mistaken because I think Emerson does go fully north and south through the city. Which means, there's an overpass on the north side that the convoy went under. I didn't see anyone on this overpass I was near. Oh well. It was too late. And if someone was really interested, I had shared the website and such on social media. According to my maps app though, I did see most of them travel north on 465 past the airport and not east, so they wouldn't have passed here. I did see a few though. And now that I'm typing this a few days later and after having talked with my friends and seen their pics and vids I bet that the vehicle in this photo and a couple of the others might have been trying to get ahead of the main part of the convoy so they could lead them once they got to I-70 and then out east to Ohio. Hm, it's a possibility. I'm talking about the red vehicle. I've seen it in other people's footage.

Freedom Convoy Part 1

Freedom Convoy 2022 Part 2

Freedom Convoy 2022 Part 3 

There were some RV's and cars and trucks with flashing hazard lights. Flashing lights was the universal signal that they were part of the convoy. This was public knowledge. I would hope that this was communicated via CB radio to the rest of the truck drivers as the convoy was going the regular speed limit to keep traffic going. The convoy was very clear about not blocking regular traffic, exits, how to get on and off the highway, joining the convoy, etc. Lots of local people have joined the convoy for different stretches, too. Several of my friends did that and some stood on the overpass in Greenfield. I choose to stick closer to home because of my time schedule and my social anxiety.

I did explain as clearly as I could to little man what we were doing. I'm sure he didn't really have a clue more than truckers means freedom and they were in Canada or something like that. And that he doesn't like masks so wahoo no more masks! It was pretty cold so he only waved the flags for a little bit. I doubt anyone really saw us, but I wanted to be a part of things in my own way to put my physical feet where my mouth has been. I know Jared isn't very happy that I am interested in, involved in, or support this convoy, so I also didn't want to go overboard in my support. I got to scratch my itch without interrupting imposing on the rest of my family.

Ok, I've always wondered this. What happens when there's only a small fence like this dividing a high way from the property next to the highway? Like, couldn't anybody just park on the side of the highway and jump the fence, steal something from someone's backyard, hop back over, and be long gone before the police are called? I'm sure it doesn't happen as often as I think. And, in this parking lot, this little space has just enough room for a few truckers to pull into and park and sleep in their cabs. There's a very high fence protecting the La Quinta hotel's parking lot from the truckers. I think this little area actually was an extension from the gas station now that I think about it. I didn't realize that until I drove up that way to exit. Really very sketchy because of it's location. Not the best part of our area with the Walmart that was on national TV because the knock out drag out fight between two ladies over shampoo in the shampoo aisle a few years ago. I'm glad it was the middle of the day and we were only there for a little bit hidden from the gas station. There was a couple of truck drivers parked there, and maybe they hadn't slept there. Maybe that's just where they can park so they can go in the gas station. I didn't feel unsafe in the moment, but now that I look back on it, well, other people wouldn't have done it. But life is all about risk. Yes, I know women are mugged during daylight. I didn't think about that. I was more worried that a police man would tell me to leave because I wasn't supposed to be there. Whoops. Well, now I know. God protected us. We waved our flags, and we went home safe and sound.

American and Canadian for both convoys. The Canadian convoy put so much pressure on the provinces that most of them opened up right away. I haven't seen much about the convoy since they basically drove back west or home. Thankfully, they made a wise choice not to create an event of violence. The police did that. But, even then, casualities were minimum. And although we don't have mandates in our state, other states aren't free, and in certain industries, mandates are still being observed. Jared says that's now up to the company and it might be, but who put that pressure on them? The government. This convoy is also about a grassroots effort to get Washington to listen to their constituents. The rally had people from all backgrounds in it. This is not a Trump rally. This is an American people rally. This is a We the People vs. Them the political elite. So we stood in solidarity today for both convoys and for freedom in general to make our own health decisions.

Wait, where did everybody go?! Why did they go north?

Most of the convoy had gotten through to Greenfield to the second announced meeting spot at the Mt. Comfort exit and overpass, which is one exit west of the exit we take to go to Greenfield. But some stragglers got caught in the traffic behind a horrible accident that took a few hours to clean up. I think I saw a van in the write up about the crash, and maybe two other vehicles. And I think there was at least one fatality. I'm bummed for those stragglers, but this is why the convoy didn't travel too far in one day. They did so incredible well with their pacing.

Bon Voyage, Convoy!

Oh, after a quick lunch I went to sit down to do school with Abishai after I told him to sit down and, poof, he was gone! How he snuck outside without me noticing him, I don't know, because I was still right there in the kitchen. He's been doing more of these disappearing stunts, whether it be to into the living room to play with Legos or outside or to his room to bug Justin. I know he needs to move, but just because I'm distracted for one second, doesn't mean he has to be like Dash in the Incredibles movie and move so fast from his seat to the teacher's seat, placing a thumbtack on it and racing back to his chair before the teacher could see him. They had met the neighbors behind us yesterday so the boy and his dog were scoping out the yard together to see if any friends wanted to come out and play.

From 75 on Tuesday to a wintry mix on Thursday, no wonder our flowers and trees get confused about the season we are in. The wild swings of temperature is not good for fibromyalgia, migraines, and my overall mood.

The first part of the convoy got through through Dayton, Ohio.

And here is there resting place for tonight, Thursday. It's just like 4 hours away. But as you could see, anything can happen on the highway. And they need to try to get eveybody settled before it gets dark. it looks like they had a nightmare on their hands fitting everyone in.

Wow! So many vehicles! I think the convoy underestimated how many wanted to go with them all the way to Washington, D.C. with them. This is my America though. Free to drive and peacefully protest just as long as the rest of life isn't interrupted for others. And as I type this, it's Sunday night, and they have reached their destination outside of Washington, D.C. They didn't actually plan to drive through the streets of D.C. They are outside the city so they don't obstruct traffic. I think that was originally agreed upon by the organizers and they might have worked with the law enforcement to ensure work flow and the ability to stay safe themselves. I can't wait to see what the next week looks like for them!

Friday - Triggered!

- Woah, why is it that triggers are always pushed at the wrong time! And seemingly out of nowhere!

- I spent a good portion already yesterday and today explaining the ins and outs of this one, so long story short, I miss my PEI home and friends.

- Because of the what I did with the convoy and other things I shared, I've got a weekend of silent treatment on my hands.

- But, Uncle Aaron had some business in Missouri and he decided to drive up with a mutual friend and spend the weekend with US, as in he's spending the weekend at OUR house! How cool is that?! It is until you realize you don't have milk and you had some other things on your agenda. And you have to think through about what twin sheets you have and if you even have an adult pillow fit for human use. Whoops. We suck at hosting. But Abishai is super excited and helped us get it all set up. He even brought out his Lego twin sized comforter he doesn't use. He's so excited to be the first one to make him up, too. Anyway, I had to do some heart checking in my own heart, but we'll make it a good weekend even if there's grumpy attitudes along the way. I heard a truck needs a new tire and a new Tang Soo Do student needs to take a trip to the sporting goods store, and both are right up Uncle Aaron's alley. There's a few moving pieces like Keturah is going to work/clean for Renea and I was going to work on taxes. But hey, we can work through those things. We'll see what else we get up, too. 

- Abishai was going to stay up until Uncle Aaron arrived, but Jared convinved him midnight would not be a good bedtime.

- Justin got to go over to Kya's house for the afternoon to keep her company while her mom was still trying to figure out where her new dishes went. It has been a week long project.

- Keturah spent a solid 5 hrs on screen just today. I finally got around to checking her homework and once again was disappointed in her lack of full effort. So her phone is in a time out until she fixes her effort level. She needed to ask for help multiple times and maybe I wasn't available right then, but she didn't circle back to ask me later. And then she moved ahead without getting help. Nope, I don't pass kids if they don't know it to a certain at a certain mastery level, especially in math. Her vocab she has had very 2 weeks, 11 words and their definitions, which are very short, she could not tell me at all. Nope, too much screen time. Busted and no more screen time for awhile. I'll probably find the same scenario with Justin, too.

- And once again, the light in the kitchen was left on and I can't concentrate and I'm loosing steam. And I need to cut myself off from the screen as soon as Aaron gets here. So, off I go. Pics and vids tomorow.

BRRRR, back to the cold weather again! See!

Throwback time! Jared WITH hair, and the balding spot, and Keturah wearing PINK! And the Hello Kitty playset. She has kept a few Hello Kitty things, but I think we gave away this one. Same rug, same red chair, same piano, same basket with blankets, but first winter in PEI, so 2013.

The Iowa dairy farmer I've been following on Facebook said that the "not treated with rBST" tag is a marketing gimmick. It's very rare for any cows to have synthetic hormones used on them. And I think I remember another dairy farmer telling us that in person as well. That BST is naturally occurring in cows anyway or something. But they don't add any extra like they used to because it doesn't make a big difference in milk production as they once thought. So they stopped. So, nothing to worry about anymore.

And that's probably a low estimate given many states don't require you to report enrollment. Ours doesn't. And, depending on who did the study, and what the actual definition of homeschooling is, that number can also change. Do they include kid that are doing online public school at home? It's not so cut and dry in the last couple of years.

Abishai being Abishai

We are going to have a special guest with us for two nights: Uncle Aaron! Abishai was so excited and couldn't wait to share his bedding with him! I can see him playing the part of a great host someday. He better marry a great hostess like Grandma! He will certainly keep his guests entertained, especially if he ends up being an adventurer like Grandpa and travel all over the place preaching and teaching.

Uncle Aaron, could you knock out this front tooth for us like you knocked out Benaiah's two front teeth? Lol! Actually, seriously, if this doesn't fall out soon, I'm going to force it out. It's so crooked and I bet he's not using it at all to bite with. And now the one to the left of it is loose.

Can tall Uncle Aaron fit on this?

Fix those corners! Normally we don't put a sheet on the bed but we thought since Uncle Aaron is a grown up, he deserves a sheet.

We thought Uncle Aaron might like to get use out of Abishai's Lego comforter he got for Christmas. Abishai doesn't use it because he likes his small blankies like the Grogu one he can carry around the house. And that's fine. I'm sure he can use this one as he gets older like the boys did with their Transformers and Nemo ones.

All ready for the late night traveler!

Some of the comments were right in saying this is a little on the rude side, but it's hard to not laugh at this one. The bottom photo is from Spaceballs I believe, which is a spoof on Star Trek. I think I've even heard of Mr. Federman before. And we all know how much seriously in danger all the reporters are over there and why they are all wearing helmets. It's a war zone. And we have war zone reporters in tactical gear 24/7/365 since America began. This isn't my first go around seeing reporters like this. I just don't watch the mainstream media broadcasts. But I have been watching their clips on YouTube nearly every evening. This photo obviously was from social media though as a meme, and was intended to bring some lightheartedness to a very dark time.

Saturday - We are getting out of here!

- Quote from "Finding Nemo:" "Good morning! The sun is up! It's a new day! The tank is clean! And we are getting out of here......" (in unison) "The tank is clean!" The tank was supposed to be dirty so they fish would be but in baggies so they could roll out the window. But anyway, I just remember the starfish, "Peach," saying that and I'll say that when we are having a day out on the town. And we sure did today.

- First, Uncle Aaron snuck in around 11:15 pm and I didn't even know it until he peeked his head around the corner into the sunroom. Oh hi! He had some fun tales to tell of his adventure with the airports and car rides and his board meeting. We hung out a bit and went to bed.

- And as expected, and encouraged, Abishai checked in with us and then went to check in with Uncle Aaron first thing this morning. He didn't jump into the bed or try to get under the covers. I think he's a bit intimadated because Aaron is tall or just unsure. However, Abishai started chatting and wouldn't stop talking for hours. He pulled Aaron around like a puppy dog. A nice relief for the rest of us. Kind of annoying when Jared and Aaron wanted to talk, but oh well the rest of us got a break. They had breakfast together and played Battleship. Aaron won but only by a slim margin. 

- Once everybody got going, the boys, including Justin, were supposed to go get a tire for the truck. Well, the men and Abishai went, Justin hid in his room and got left behind. He's supposed to be learning along side the men like his brother did because this is HIS truck. Well, they couldn't find the right tire at one store, but it was at another store. So they came home to our house. Aaron took my car and went to the store with the tire taking Jared's credit card or whatever because it was on his way to do his other errand of a the day, I think something to do with Shauna's brother.

- Meanwhile, we ate an early lunch and ran our trip to the mall for various things. Abishai needed a mouth guard and boy protective cup for Tang Soo Do. So the most logical place that would have all the sizes and types in stock would be a place like Dick's Sporting Goods so that's where we went. It was a bit embarrassing for all of us to be there to look at boy cups, you know the thing that protects boys' private parts, so Keturah and I started with the mouth guards. It took about 5 minutes to decide on one of each. The cup still looks really big. The mouth guard will probably will be ok. I'm just glad it was easy to find and not crazy expensive. Ok, $20 for a piece of plastic to protect oneself is a smidge expensive (I was hoping for $15) but it can be used for other sports. And $14 I think is ok for a mouth guard. 

- And if we are in the sporting goods store, we might as well look at the really nice winter coats that are probably on sale because it's the end of winter. Justin needs one that fits his skinnier body. well, we found one.  In order for Justin to even TRY ON the coat, it had to be unlocked from a wiring system. It's because it was a $250 branded jacket with gortex in it. I didn't recognize the brand, but $75 brought it down to my price range. It's not for the deepest of winter for long ski trips, but for Justin for Indiana and maybe even Michigan winters, he'll be good to go with a hoodie. Jared's jacket fits him length wise, but it's a size XL. It's much too big around and his skinny little arms and stomach swim in it. And now, all three big kids have official adult winter coats that won't go out of style that will hopefully take them at least 10 if not 20 years down the road. Benaiah had gotten that nice one from CFA, so I didn't buy him one, but I think he then has purchased another one. So technically we didn't buy him one, or have the chance to. But it got covered. He's not wearing Dad's hand me downs. If they want to be stylish and have leather jackets or pea coats or light weight coats or whatever, they can figure it out. With tax, we paid $60.19 for a $250 winter coat. Score!

- But it gets better. God was definitely looking out for our purchases today. I don't always score this big but when I do, I feel like I've done my bit to stretch the family's resources. Jared is right that we aren't saving money if in the end we are still spending some of it. We are just not spending as much as we could have if we paid full price. 

- We went to Old Navy to take back one item from our other trip to the outlet store and to use the coupon from that trip (which is always a silly cycle because they just give you a very similar coupon to use in the next two months making you spend even more, so you have to be careful and eventually just let it expire.) Well, my current pair of Old Navy jeans had just ripped in the crotch, so yes, I was going to check clearance racks for that and my emails said there were some shorts on sale or something, so I was aiming for a smaller load of stuff within the range of the coupon. Well, I didn't find the shorts, but there was a great deal of winter clearance. And in the pic below we scored 4 pairs of women's pants, a bundle of socks (Keturah had just told me she didn't have a week's worth of summer socks), and a headband (for 73 cents!) for $60! The original retail value was $195. I had "stacked" one of the $30 off $75 cash bucks coupons plus a storewide kind of weekend sale, plus only bought pants on clearance. And that's how I do it. I don't always get the triple threat like that, but if I'm somewhere north of saving 60%, I'm very happy. 

- After Old Navy, we went over to half priced books so Jared could get an audiobook for an upcoming long drive to a conference with Mike K. for e2. The kiddos went in, but I didn't dare because I would start spending. But my little thrifters found 3 books that normally retail for $7 to 10 a piece that are a spin off to the series of Thoroughbred books Keturah loves for $6 and Justin fond a Funko Pop figure that's been out for quite a few years, but is now rare enough to gain a good price on ebay ($28) for $10. So they both scored very, very well! I've taught them well how to look up and know the price points of what they want. And then when they are out, they will be able to know if something is a good price or not. If it is, how good of the discount is it and what's the status of your bank account right now. Could it wait again? Or is it just too deep of a discount that you do need to purchase it now. And if you come home and you think you've really made a mistake, you can usually return it. I felt that way about two of the pairs of pants that were $22. I'm not sure I would have bought them unless we were trying to get to the threshold of the coupon. Or if I had to make some choices, they would be the first to go. And, I could take them back. But that would really, really mess up my points and things this time. The other return did not mess up my previous points because we had gone way over the price point for the highest discount of the day. 

Again, I say ALL of this because this is how God and I stretch the dollars that Jared makes. I don't bring in money. But God tells us to be good stewards of all our resources. Whether that's turning off running water and lights when we aren't using them or reusing clothing until they are threadbare or passing them off to a friend. It's about spending less money, so you can do more with money and you can be more generous with money when needs arise like the Ukraine. 

- And now with the money we didn't spend, we can go buy the snacks for the church's kids' current fundraiser thing. And I can send more money to Ukraine. And my physical butt is covered, my kids' teeth are protected, my son is warm, and my daughter has something to read. I even went to the mall wearing a beautiful shirt that I just got as a hand me down. I won't pass up a bag of hand me downs ever. I grew up on them from my cousins. They are 6 and 8 years older than me I think, and when they were in high school,, one of them was a cheerleader, I would watch the TV shows like Saved by the Bell and imagine her being in high school like that. So anything that came from her was exciting! And I was thrilled to be wearing what was "in fashion." Only it wasn't until later that I realized that fashion was several years old or older. But when you are homeschooled, any fashion goes. We didn't look homeschooled with those pinafore dresses. But no one talked about it or cared and no one cares in our homeschool community now. We've got modest clothes on. We are happy. The 13 yr old girls love their sweatpants and tshirts and hoodies. We've got no fashion police in our midst. Have you ever tried getting a homeschooled kid of their "uniform?" aka pajamas or sweatpants and tshirt? Nearly impossible. And sometimes, ok, most of the time, they get away with it because they do double as "clothes to wear away from home" clothes. Like basketball shorts. It's only the obvious pjs like Abishai's that have to be changed. 

- I'm grateful that my kids don't have the social pressure of consumerism. Everyone in our house drools over Legos. But that gives us the opportunity for great money discussions. Other than that, it's part of our DNA and in generations before us to just not do the comparison game. I'm totally grateful that they have learned how to tithe, save, and spend from a very young age. I love watching how they research and figure out just how much they need to have and sometime how many hours or times at Grandpa's house mowing the lawn they need in order to have this amount of money. And then, when they get to go and spend that money, oh what a joy! Not in that I don't have to spend on them. But that I don't even have to go with them into the store to make sure they spend wisely! They have demonstrated that today. Not that Jared couldn't have helped them, but he doesn't always see how I work through those kinds of decisions with them, asking them leading questions. So, mission accomplished! And they are only 13 and 16 yrs old! And yes, a pat on the back to ALL the adults that we may fail in some areas, but we aced this big one with flying colors! 

- After an amazing retail therapy trip, I think Jared waited for Aaron to come back with the tire and they did that. Keturah went and earned money by cleaning Renae's house for 3 hrs. Abishai had tablet time. I was supposed to type this out (but didn't until the next day). I got distracted with email, my video games, videos and I forget what else. It wasn't my puzzle, that's for sure. I miss my puzzle. I need puzzle time.  But I was also supposed to work on those taxes! Ugh! Anyway, Justin went with Grandpa for Bible class and driving time.

- We all reconvened at the Grandparent's house at around 6pm for dinner. Benaiah had been busy with homework, but then went out with Ethan for the evening, so he wasn't there. But we had simple supper and some great catching up with Aaron. We took him out to see the motorbike and he go to ride it a bit. Justin also took the motorbike over to Andrew's house to show him that it was done. Andrew is going to let Justin borrow a helmet for now until he or we or both of us pitch in to get him a helmet. Then Aaron and I went back inside and looked over photos that Leah was working on for her dividing up for her family. There were lots of ones from when Leah was little that I hadn't seen before, so it was so cool to pull Keturah over and tell her, see, these are not just any random people from the 60's, these are so and so, and there's Grandma! This stuff really happened! And Grandma looked like this when the Civil Rights movement was going on! And there was a couple of photos of baby Jared and even baby Benaiah in there. That was fun of course. Aaron stayed at his parents to visit and then I think Benaiah came home after that. Aaron didn't stay too long because he had a super duper early flight to catch the next morning.

- We had left at around 8:15pm to get Abishai's bath done and off to bed. Jared had a pounding migraine, too. He did stay up until Aaron got home. But he was the one taking Aaron to the airport at 4:30 or 5am, so I didn't blame him for being asleep by 10pm. I continued on with my normal computer routines but with headphones and the least amount of squeaking and movement as I could. I think Aaron slept ok. I think he showered first anyway, so he was up for a bit. I told Justin to vacate the garage way early so Aaron could sleep. Plus Keturah needed to get to church early in the morning for worship team. I think he did. And then it was my usual late bedtime.

Poor Uncle Aaron didn't know what him when he woke up. Abishai made it his mission to keep Uncle Aaron company until Uncle Aaron left for his errand. Abishai wouldn't stop talking! It gave the rest of us a break from his chatter though, lol. Aaron was trying to read a different version of the OT that Jared had out, but Abishai was quite the distraction.

Then, they were talking about something, and it prompted me to bring out the Battleship games with Aaron's name on it. Abishai loved that. It was a close game, but Aaron ultimately won!

Pretty hot day for early March.

Today's hair loss, again.

Thinning hair. Not due to hormones. Due to Covid. Still going on over here.

Patches of hair gone from my scalp, so when it's up, my hair doesn't cover my skin.

Not so bad right at the top though, and at the hair line either, thank goodness.

My Covid Hair Loss Crisis

This was a bit of a debate on a friend's page. It took me a few minutes to realize that they were referring to the Loch Ness monster. My friend is from Nova Scotia, and specifically, Cape Brenton Island, or the northern part, which is the more Irish part of the island. At first I thought "nessie" was some Celtic term or something. But then I realized this thing had eyes on it and when turned around like this, it looked like a brontosaur. So I called it a dinosaur at first since we just studied dinosaurs. But the Loch Ness monster makes more sense given the culture's background. Bwahahaha.

Saturday's business involved finding a little boys' underwear cup and a mouth guard. The cup we bought ended up being too big so I bought a better one on Amazon, but I think the mouth guard will be fine.

Uh, the 90's is calling. They want their dresses back! Or rather, my mom's quilting stash is calling and it wants it's fabric back. Yes, these are brand new dresses on the racks at Old Navy. No wonder people were making fun of them on social media! My mom literally sewed dresses for herself with these prints in the 1990's and wore them into the 2000's. I shared the pics with my sister and she about panicked on me. I told oh no, don't worry, I definitely did NOT buy them. I'm not that dumb! Take a look!

This one is nearly Colonial looking! What?!

Like seriously, this is 30 years old, right?

Gingham? Gingham is supposed to be on your tablecloth back in the 80's and 90's. Oh boy!

Ok, I did buy these pants. But should I tuck a shirt in or not? I think tucked shirts make me look even shorter! But the waist is cute. And it's bulky with that bow, so if I wear a form fitting shirt, I get a bulge. Eek!

Ah, the mall! It was busy like it WAS the 1990's! Feels great! No masks! Most stores were full of merchandise! Most kiosks, too! Lots of people! And we got some incredible deals! And my kids are nearly grown up, eh?

Ooooo, mini Bulk Barn?! In a panademic?! Or are we not in a panademic anymore but a global war? I can't tell. One day the enemy is a virus that's going to kill us all and the next, gas prices will kill us.

Uh, time to buy that pool that I almost forgot to buy in the "winter" months!

Our haul! After I ran the numbers, we saved 75% off retail! I haven't done that in years!

Time to start the spring clean up! Little man was NOT happy at all! But Keturah can't mow with all those sticks in the way!

See, little blades of grass are popping up!

And weeds!

Here comes spring! Although, I feel like we didn't have winter hardly at all.

Check me out with my $0.73 headband! That's right! $0.73!!!! It still slides off my head though when I put it behind where my glasses are! Ugh! but it goes great with my hand me down FREE periwinkle shirt and $15 brand new Old Navy jeans!

Jared changed the color on the front light to orange for New Orleans for Uncle Aaron.

We just HAD to show Uncle Aaron that the motor bike he gave Justin 3 years ago was finally finished. He nearly wrecked it too because of all the zip it has!

Oh no, not him again!

We were going through some photos that Leah was working through to make albums for different family members after Grandma Cook's passing, and out came this one. Let's see, this one was circa 2022/3! So 19/20 years ago! I base it on Benaiah's age! He's the little guy in Jared's LAP! I look about the same. And that guy with the curly hair, well, that's Aaron! He was still in college, and I think that was still in the growing phase of when he grew it out for the whole year to save money on haircuts. The photo of the finished product is in Gary's office and Aaron is holding Benaiah in Cracker Barrel. His curls are super tight in that pick. And I have always held my breathe hoping our kids would get that super curly hair. But nope. Not in the cards for us. But Benaiah did get the wave. That gorgeous wave he has. So that's where it comes from and that's why I push back every single time the in laws tell my boys to cut their hair. Benaiah's especially is so full and thick like Jared's was. Justin and Abisha's are more like my dad and I's. Keturah got the thick hair like my mom, but it's straight, not wavy. And you see why the more hair I lose, the more upset I become. I just want to fit in! Oh, and the other youngest there is Zion, the older second cousin I've talked about before. Can't believe these two babies are off and independent now. Time flies! But that sweater I'm wearing, will live on for decades if not centuries because I can only wear it on the coldest of days, which is once a year at best. Handmade by my mother so it's super thick and bulky. Basically, you sweat in it unless you are in Canada or the house is 50 degrees. But it's my favorite colors.

Sunday - Back to normal (do I say that alot?)

- Normal Sunday routine with worship team for Keturah, Crave and small groups, lunch with Benaiah and Gary, quiet time in the afternoon, etc.

- The weather cooled off because of the winds and a bit of rain. There had been a threat of hail. I think the storms were mostly north of us. The high of the day was at like 3am and it will get back to more normal temperatures this week of 40's and maybe 50's. But it's been a sunny day. Socks found a great sleeping spot near the front fence that is shaded and he can point his nose towards the street and watch. He was resting parallel to the sidewalk when I found him. I had called out but he didn't get up. I wasn't worried about his health, but I'm sure he wants to make sure it's really worth it before he moves. As soon as I walked over there and petted him, he got up and walked back with me into the house. My old buddy. He has helped raise my kids with me for 12 out of 20 years.

- Normal afternoon and evening. Normal week ahead with some appointments sprinkled in like chiropractor and ahhhhh my massage. We might even find out what our next steps with a small group are going to be. Fun times ahead!

Still pretty warm, put the cold front is coming!

Grandpa, slow down! We'll wait for you! It's fun to watch someone "live" on the "my phone" app, lol.

We know those loops! We take them all the time coming home from both ASL and gym day!

Looks like Shauna and the girls are on their to the airport to pick up Uncle Aaron who flew out super duper early this morning!

Zoom, zoom, zoom! How fast can you go around Grandma's figure eight layout of a house? Crazy kid!

I spy with my little eye, one girl sitting up front like a good girl, listening intently to her youth leader.

I LOVE Dad jokes! I grew up with dry humor from my dad and his side of the family and Jared's uncles have very dry humor, too.

One of the best purchase hauls I've ever done! 75% off! On big ticket items!

Incredible! And I had no idea what the sales were going to be when we went to the mall. We needed stuff for Abishai, and we had coupons expiring, plus a return to make. The mall was busy, but not too bad. Some days, you really do hit the jackpot. I'm grateful I spent a few years really learning how to find the best deals and when to say no, that's not enough of a deal. Patience is key. And knowing when to shop, like buying seasonal items at the end of the season, or always starting off at the clearance racks. And knowing when and how to "stack" coupons with sales. And not going too much over the minimum purchase amounts on the coupons. I don't earn an income, but my job is make the income stretch as far as I can.

Well, I knew the storms sounded horrible last night, but I didn't realize a tornado touched down. Crazy! Noblesville is close to where to do our ASL class and where my brother lives. Eek!

The End