Mixed Blessing

My son is an only child. At three years old he would much rather play with an adult than a child. With him starting kindergarten in a year and a half I was getting a little worried about the new social aspect it would bring. He hasn’t been around a lot of kids. He has a few cousins, but I usually find him playing by himself. It’s easier that way; less sharing. I wanted to be sure that he would be able to make some friends at school, but I wasn’t sure how to approach the situation. With our busy … Continue reading

When Inconvenience Turns Into Blessing

I am always saying how important it is that we are ready to talk to our teens…at any moment, any time. Sometimes that can really get tested and while I have had my moments where I let it slip, yesterday was one of those where I really rose above. I rose above my feelings, my fatigue and my weariness…and it became one of those moments in time where you look back and feel so good about it. Yesterday was an incredibly long day. I spent several hours at Children’s Hospital with my 12-year-old who had to undergo an endoscopy, which … Continue reading

Home School Blogger Intro

I started as a home schooling blogger on Families.com about a month ago. My introduction post is a little overdue, but I wanted to share with others a bit about myself and my background as a home schooling single mother. My two oldest daughters went to public school all the way through high school. A move to a rough area of Baltimore had me quickly pulling my three youngest out of school and home schooling them myself. It was a decision I wish I had made with my older girls. Live and learn though, right? For the most part I … Continue reading

My Mini Zoo – New Pet Blogger Intro

As a new pet blogger here at Families.com I felt I should write an introduction post and share the story of my mini-zoo with everyone. I’ve had pets ever since I could remember. In fact, none of my homes have felt complete unless there was at least one four-legged furry critter running around. About ten years ago this love for all things feathered, furry or finned hit a high point. My second daughter worked at Petsmart at the time so she always had some tale of woe about a guinea pig, hamster, snake, fish, or other animal that had been … Continue reading

Baby Blog Month in Review: August 2008

Isn’t it crazy the way babies grow so quickly? It seems that you just get used to one stage and boom they are already into another. Tonight, were busy getting the household all set for my eldest child’s first day of second grade. My two younger ones are excited and want to start school, too. It will be a busy month. Don’t worry about the missing last week of blogs. I’ve gotten quite a few questions about where I have been. The Baby Blog tends to go on hiatus the last week of the month. That may change in the … Continue reading

The Blessing of Examples

As a member of the church, I often think about the choices that I make each day. I wonder if my choices make a difference to anyone besides myself, but I know that I have a peace that goes with me as I strive to live the gospel fully. Additionally I know that others notice this peace and often comment on it. The way I live my life is one way that I bear my testimony each day. No one sees that I read my scriptures at home or that I say my personal prayers. But people do see the … Continue reading

Tithing Blessings

Paying your tithing is always a choice that you make. Each month you can choose not to pay it, though some months may seem more difficult than others. When you are truly struggling to make ends meet, it can be difficult to choose to send in the tithing check each month. However paying tithing is a commandment, and we should follow it. Additionally paying tithing is a commandment with a promise. In Malachi 3:10 it reads: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse . . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will … Continue reading

Month in Review: June 2008 Adoption Blogs

I kicked off the month by attending a Cultural Fair with exchange students and au pairs. In my blog Celebrating ALL Cultures, I assert that celebrating all cultures makes our kids believe we truly accept diversity and aren’t just accepting them because they are our kids. I talk about some of the history of adoption with Proxy Adoptions. This means adoptions where the prospective parents didn’t meet their children first. In the past this sometimes meant there was little in the way of a homestudy or any education for the adopting family. Today a homestudy is always done, and while … Continue reading

Older Child Adoption – Blessing or Nightmare?

When talking to people who have adopted older children, it seems that you almost always hear stories from two opposite ends of the spectrum. There are the families who say that their adoption of an older child is nothing but a nightmare, that it ruined their family and that their child will never function normally in a family setting. Then you talk to the those on the other side who say that their adoption of an older child has been a breeze. Everything went smoothly, they’ve had no problems, the child is a joy. Is it possible that both experiences … Continue reading

Notebook of blessings

A comment on my last blog and a visit to Courtney’s blog inspired me to think about a notebook of blessings. I hope as you read you will be inspired to create your own list of blessings. I praise God for: The gift of love – that of my husband, family and friends and especially God’s love as revealed to is through Jesus and his death on the cross for my sins. The beauty of creation. We have not long returned from a walk down by what people here refer to as a lake but it is actually St Georges … Continue reading