Operation: GIVE

I just want to take opportunity to share this information with everyone. This time of year many find it standard procedure to get together with family & friends, and shower one another with presents. But we should all remember that the greatest gift we can give anyone is love... especially to those less fortunate than ourselves. This is something that should be spread throughout the entire year, but since the holidays so heavily emphasize on giving by way of capitalizing on commercionalism, I feel the need to address the true spirit of the holiday season.

Most know the "reason for the season",... how about we reflect that by giving of our hearts,.. by sharing His love,.. by helping those of less fortune. I strongly encourage you to consider reaching out to those in need. You don't have to be a Believer, you don't have to be wealthy... all you need is love.

You can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at most any local fire or police department, church, and many retail stores & shopping malls.

Giving can be as simple as donating your time,.. volunteer to help with your local food drive, by helping in boxing up donated goods, or volunteering your car and helping to deliver those boxes to the designated families. I can tell you from experience in both building the care packages as well as delivering them,.. it is a WONDERFUL feeling!

Local missions & shelters can get overwhelmed by the abundance of people in need during the winter months, and especially at the holidays. Donations often go directly to those who need it most. Most are short-handed and can use extra volunteers to help serve meals... volunteering at your local "soup kitchen" is an excellent way to "give love". Meals on Wheels can get overwhelmed this time of year as well. For ourselves, we help out our local Battered Women & Children's Shelter whenever we can.

Contact your local Red Cross and give blood... give the gift of life! Visit http://www.givelife2.org/donor/default.asp for more information.

I would also like to encourage you to consider signing up for the "Any Soldier" support effort at anysoldier.com. The girls & I have adopted an entire Marine unit to send letters, cards, pictures, snacks, and other tidbits to. Soldiers who don't have the family support other's do, soldiers who would give almost anything for a small reminder of home, a reminder that they are appreciated,.. that they are loved, and that they are not alone. Whether for one soldier, or a dozen, every little bit helps!

Another great way of reaching out is another program near & dear to my heart... "World Vision International". You may have begun seeing ads for them on tv and even many social & business networks already. I urge you to consider them in your gift-giving... get involved. Make a donation, or better yet if you have the means, sponsor a child. There are thousands of sponsor children waiting for someone like you! In addition, there are children with even higher needs,.. Hope Children. These children are from specific villages in African countries and other countries around the world devastated by HIV/AIDS. Your help can supply these children & families with clean water, healthy food, education and healthcare. You can get more information at worldvision.org.

I have also come across an item, that for being a small & affordable trinket, it packs a lot of encouragement. It's called a 'Pocket Angel', and perhaps you've heard of them already, too, but it is amazing how something so simple can mean so much to someone. There are many sites out there where you can purchase these, but my site of choice is the Sattva Gallery at sattvagallery.com. These are of the same or similar quality that you will find at the other sites, although these are available for only $1.00 each. The soldiers in our sponsored Marine unit, as well as our HopeChild, will be recieving these in with their care packages... will you consider doing the same?

If you're short on time or money, and think, "I'd like to, but I just can't", I urge you to consider this,.. Gift giving doesn't have to be extravagant. Love is free... Try helping someone locate or reach an item at the store, helping with getting someone's groceries to the car... How about when going through the checkout, and the cashier says. "Hi, how are you?"... instead of most people's usual grumble about being tired, what if you say something like, "I'm good, thank you for asking, and how are you?".... you know, even a smile can do someone a world of good!

The greatest gift is love,... and should be shared throughout the year, not just at the holidays. But now is a perfect time to start. I encourage you to search inside yourselves, and if you have the means to reach out in any of these ways, or others,.. please do. XOXO

*Life is a Gift*

Something to think about. (Thank you, Melissa Stuhr!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.

He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I would marry you."

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,' Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the

unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

Before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin & we'll answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

Remember everything that happens happens for a reason!

Preparations...

The girls & I had to run up to the shop this evening (Scott needed me to sign some business papers) so we checked, and Mom was feeling up to a visit. She looked really good despite how she's feeling. She seemed a little perkier than she was yesterday, and a rosiness in her cheeks. Her hair was freshly washed so it was soft & feathery... reminds me of angel's wings. We didn't stay long as we still had an hour drive ahead of us back home, and with the weather changing we didn't want to push it. She was tired, too, and we didn't want to prevent her from getting some rest. And, her youngest sister, Linda, was going to be coming over about an hour later to help her with several things also. I am thankful that Linda has been of such great support for her.

We'll be going back up, perhaps Monday morning, depending on how this snow storm effects things, and whether she's up to it, but she wants us to help go through personal belongings... a tought thing to face, but it will hold more meaning for all if we do it together with her. She also has asked me to help her figure out thoughts on how to rearrange their living room so that there is more room for people to come & visit since she won't be able to leave the house much longer. Hard stuff to face...

So, I just ask again for prayers for her, and for our family, as we prepare for what lies ahead.

Carol's Birthday TODAY... Please read/Call

I have a HUGE favor to ask. For those who personally know Scott's mom,.. OUR mom,.. could you please give her a quick telephone call to wish her a "Happy Birthday"?

If you need her home phone number, let me know... I will check this periodically throughout the day, just in case. If you don't have her number, but you have mine, you can also feel free to call me for it.

She is 59 years old today, and today also marks SIX (6) YEARS to the very day that she recieved that devestating phonecall from the doctor's office (whom did not realize it was her birthday), and told her she had ovarian cancer. None of us thought she would make it to this birthday so this is truly an awesome one to celebrate & acknowledge... she has beaten the odds, and the crappy statistics that tell us all that an average of 80% of women with OVC only make it somewhere between the 3rd-4th year after diagnosis... and that only a meager fraction actually make it to 5 years. Well, she surpassed it all, and even after having her initial oncologist tell her she may want to consider stopping chemo and letting herself go,.. after only her first year of chemo!

We have been so very blessed to have been gifted these last 6 years with her... we have continually prayed day after day for more time..... because our selfish, human hearts do not want to let go..... and God has granted us these favors. But the time has come for God to say "Enough, my children... I need her home. Let her have peace with me." I have to tell you, my heart is so torn... I want that peace for her so badly, and I rejoice knowing that she will be whole again very soon. But at the same time, my heart aches & weeps anticipating the emptiness that will follow her departure from this world..... I know it is not 'goodbye',.. only a 'see you later', but the sorrow remains. I just cannot imagine life without her in it. She has been such a constant inspiration for me. She has not been my 'mother-in-law', but my MOM, and I love her immensley.

We have had a couple of different birthday celebrations with her the past couple weekends,.. one with my family & one with Albert's family, but today is her actual birthday..... I had planned to take the girls up to spend the afternoon with her, even if just to sit with her, but she is not up for it, and that really says a lot. I can honestly say that this is probably the first time in the 16+ years I have known her, that she has turned down any kind of visit from anyone,.... especially from me & the girls.

She's not doing well. She's been going downhill all this past week. This weekend's get together was almost too much for her, but she appreciated so much that our families wanted to spend that special time with her. It meant a lot to her that these things were planned.... even if she wasn't really up to being there.

Her lungs are filling up quickly now,... the tumors have really been taking over, and the descent is now clearly taking place. The time is near. She is now on oxygen as of yesterday... it's helping her breathe a lot more comfortably, but she's very tired, and has little energy.

I have something I would like to share here, and this in no way is meant to be taken poorly by anyone, especially those who are family. This is sincere & heartfelt, and I just want to share what's happening..... because I love her so intensley, and it kills me to know how much she is hurting both physically & emotionally.

Mom's parents have left for Arizona. They had not planned on going this year when suddenly her mom changed her mind. I guess she decided she did not want to be here when Carol goes. I know that this is hard for her,.. I don't care how old you are, it can never be easy to lose a child. I think all parents hope to go before their children. Carol is also her first born. Those who know her mom, know that Grandma has never been outwardly warm & fuzzy,... she loves us all dearly, you just don't often 'see' it the way you can in most other people, and she deals with emotion & grief differently from most of the rest of us, too, and that's just her way.

But, Scott & I are having a difficult time with what feels like an abandonment of Mom. She is extremely hurt, and I am the only one whom she has allowed see this pain. She does not typically like other's to know she is hurting whether it's physical or emotional, she always tries to hide it,.. for your sake. And if you ask her straight-up, she will flat out try to deny it. She doesn't want others to worry, she doesn't want to be a burden, she wants to protect us all as much as possible,.. she is ALWAYS thinking of everyone else first. That's the amazing woman she is. But I saw this hurt in her,... she did try to pretend it wasn't there, but I embraced her, and the moment I did,... she sobbed.

She had to go through the pain of saying goodbye to them, knowing it was the last time she would ever see them. She has shed a lot of tears since then over it, too. They left only 2 days before her birthday,.... her mom did call her today, but also told her that she had forgotten her birthday was today, and that she thought it had been on the 21st. I know Grandma did not intend to hurt Mom, but she did. She was already hurting enough without knowing that. I honestly do not know what to do with the feelings I am having right now,... I feel so helpless to not be able to protect her from the pain & the grief she is experiencing right now. I feel so much pain for her, and truth be told, I am feeling a bit of resentment about all of this. And I just don't know what to do with that except to just give it all over to the Lord, and continue to pray for a peaceful spirit,... along with strength to endure the pain of these days.

Please, if you are a Believer, of whatever faith,... please reach out in prayer for Carol, for our family, and for anyone who has ever had the great pleasure of knowing this amazing woman we love so much.

My relationship with her wasn't always so rosey. When I first entered this family, I was still dealing with a lot of ghosts from my past. I was going through a great deal of bitterness from all the abuse I went through that started clear back as a toddler and carried on through my teens, until I met my husband. Unfortunately, I channeled a lot of my resentments... right at her. But you know, that never stopped her from loving me & accepting me, and she continued to blanket me with that love regardless of how I tried to shut her out. Then there finally came a day where God lifted the darkness from my life, and I was able to let go..... and I finally saw her for who she is. And I was forever changed. I have been blessed to have had a closeness with her like no other..... she has been my support, my counselor, my friend......... and has taken up a very large piece of my heart. She took a troubled girl who didn't know how to love or forgive, and she helped mold me into who I am today. She helped me find myself,... she picked up where my grandparents left off, God rest them, and reminded me of what they had instilled in me when I was young. Where I would be without her I cannot tell you. Who I am, and who I will continue to be,.. is because of her.

I have learned so much from her,... she has taught me so much about life. She's taught me by example, and I can only hope to carry on the things I have learned from her........ Her life has been filled with unconditional love & selfless giving of herself to others,... both known & unknown.

She has touched countless lives,... and we are forever changed by the impact she has made on us.

So, again I ask of you,...if you have had the great pleasure of knowing her, please celebrate her today. And if you are able, please give her a quick phonecall to wish her a happy birthday. You will need to try to keep it short, but I know it would mean SO much to her. If you need the number, please let me know.

God Bless!!

Knappa Bomb Threat

Oddly enough I came across this article only about 20 minutes after my last post!
And some people wonder why I homeschool...

---
By KARA HANSEN
The Daily Astorian

KNAPPA - The Knappa student responsible for the bomb threat that sparked a districtwide evacuation could face a civil lawsuit, Superintendent Rick Pass said as authorities scoured Knappa schools for evidence Monday afternoon.

An 18-year-old, Josh Hansen, was arrested in connection with the incident Monday night.

It was late morning when another student found the note warning a bomb was left in either the high school or Hilda Lahti Elementary, which shares the same grounds. Discovered in a high school restroom, the half-page letter said the schools "had better evacuate by 11:21, because that's when it was going off," the superintendent said.

Administrators emptied the buildings and loaded students onto buses with help from six drivers, who arrived within 10 minutes, Pass said. They drove to Big Creek Park, designated as a "staging area" for students to transfer to the appropriate buses for their rides home.

Parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Monday night were postponed until Nov. 26. The regular monthly school board meeting was also rescheduled, to Dec. 3. Other conferences continued as planned today, although students had already been granted the day off from school.

The bomb threat was Knappa's third in the past year, but the first of this school year. While no one was proven guilty in last year's hoaxes, Pass believed this case would be different.

"I think there are some good leads," he said Monday. "Then, I think we'll look at doing a civil lawsuit. We have approximately 80 staff members that are now off half a day, so there are quite a bit of wages involved there. ... Three times now this has happened, and it costs services."

After determining the threat of explosives was fake, authorities searched Knappa High School lockers and located a notebook with writing and torn-out pages they matched to the threatening note.

Clatsop County sheriff's deputies then interviewed Hansen, of Westport, and arrested him in connection with the hoax. Sheriff Tom Bergin said Hansen admitted writing the note. He was charged with disorderly conduct and initiating a false report and lodged overnight at the Clatsop County Jail.

Pass, the superintendent, said he was surprised. Hansen, who participated in track, attended Knappa schools on a courtesy enrollment from Clatskanie, outside the district, along with his younger brother and sister.

"He seems like really a nice young a man," Pass said. "It's not the stereotype I would think of. Of course, now the kids are safe, the next thing is to get him help. We're not going to drop that ball. We're going to make sure he gets that help."

In these circumstances, Pass said, he would normally recommend expelling a student, but the school board may also decide to revoke the courtesy enrollment that has allowed Hansen to attend Knappa schools. Under Oregon law, either Clatskanie or Knappa High must provide him with educational services, said Pass, because the accusations don't involve an actual weapon.

Home Sweet Homeschool

Reading, & then reposting in my own blog, the last writing from Dana reminded me of a poem I wrote five years ago (11/11/2002), and why I'm so thankful that we still have the freedoms we do whereas others have been stripped of us. Why I'm thankful for the right to homeschool. Thought I'd share.....

Home Sweet Homeschool

Rise & shine, the sun's up, time to start a new day,
Stretching & yawning the sleep sand away,
Hot oatmeal for breakfast, buttered toast & jam,
We're ready for learning, we're God's little lambs,
No need to run 'round and make a big fuss,
Don't have to get dressed yet, or run for a bus...

Before starting our lessons we take time to pray,
Thanking our Lord we can stay home this way,
We say the Pledge of Allegiance, every line,
Reaffirming the words, "under God" each time,
We focus on reading, writing & math,
We study the Bible and follow it's path...

No fear about coaches who cross the line,
News of teachers & students that shiver the spine,
We don't have to worry about kids being cruel,
Or a bewildered child bringing a gun to school,
No bus drivers drinking before starting their route,
We're thankful we're home, beyond any doubt...

No, we're not sheltered, mom & dad strive,
To ensure and to nurture our social lives,
But outside activities are decided with care,
Making certain, for safety, our parents are there,
We enjoy music & dance, drama & art,
Play sports, go on field trips, and boy, are we smart...

We have all of the opportunities other kids do,
But we have one advantage, God's in our school,
We work one on one with our father's & mother's,
Sit side by side with our sisters & brothers,
For knowledge & wisdom others may roam,
But if you ask us, there's no place like home.

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." 2 Peter 3:11-12

"..... be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:17-18

New School Prayer... Thx, Dana

Since the Pledge of Allegiance
and The Lord's Prayer
are not allowed in most
public schools anymore
Because the word "God" is mentioned....
A kid in Arizona wrote the attached

NEW School prayer :
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

Jesus said,
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven" Mt 10:32

Not ashamed. Pass this on.

Tea Time & Birthday Celebration!

Carol had requested a small get together with my immediate family whom she had not seen since January, and asked that it include a dress-up tea party for my girls & my neice. I think this was to help them remember the occasion... another "memory-maker". Thank you also to the family for coming, and for making this a special day with her. It really meant a lot. To everyone else, please enjoy the slideshow! Also, below,... a favorite photo from the surprise early-birthday party we held for her following the tea party.

Happy Birthday, Mom,... We love you!!!

Insert *big cheesey grin* HERE

The last day of our trip was October 13th, and Scott's birthday. We spent the day at Six Flags-Discovery Kingdom theme park in Vallejo. With lots of Warner Brothers characters, animals, and freaky-fun rides it is a stop not to miss... This is a great place for anyone wanting all the rides of a major theme park, sea mammal shows you'd find similar to SeaWorld complete with dolphins, killer whale, and silly sealions, as well as charateristics of the San Diego Zoo which includes zebras, lions, tigers, sharks, alligators, penguins... you get the idea.
And, for a lot cheaper than the other hot spots.



The other places are awesome, and we will still visit them again, but as for a great place that provides a similar taste of the others combined, with an affordable price, it's a great option.

And where else can you play tug-of-war with an elephant?
Aaaand,.. only being a 9 hour drive from home, we'll be able to get season passes and make a few 3-4 day "weekender" trips through the year. Insert *big cheesey grin* HERE, LOL.



This is definitely a worthwhile place to go for a vacation with all the bells & whistles without the pricetag to go along with it. Definitely a lot more bang for your buck, and absolutely fun for the whole family... we HIGHLY reccommend it.




And last, but certainly not least... I just have to say about this last photo to the right, that this ride was one of THE highlights of the trip,.. one of many, but the fact that we got to do something this wild & crazy with mom was really, really COOL. She played it safe & took it easy through most of the trip,.. stuck to rides that were easier on the body (I wasn't nearly as smart, LOL), and then for one last big hoo-rah, she chose the MEDUSA of all things to go for a whirl on,... AWESOME!! While I was both screaming, laughing, and praying to my sweet Jesus (seriously, I was), I can clearly remember her laughing, shouting out "Yes, oh, yes!!", and whooping it up, thoroughly enjoying herself! It really was a blast, and something that will never be forgotten.

Because of you, Mom,.. that was the BEST RIDE EVER!!

And, if any of you want a good laugh, take a closer look at my face in this particular snapshot that Courtney captured of us as we raced by on an upswing, and you will see me with my tongue sticking out. Why, you might ask? Because I just so happened to be one of those unfortunate souls that while speeding along at 70-some-odd-miles-per-hour with my mouth wide open screaming,...... I hit a bug. I know,.. haha. Okay, you can stop now. *cough-gasp* LOL

It's a Small World

Our jont to Disneyland was just for the afternoon on October 12th,... just Scott & I & the girls while the folks went on ahead, and we met up with that evening at our next stop just north of San Fransisco. One of our main reasons for wanting to take the kids over to Disneyland this time was because when we were there a year ago, although there for most of a week, the one ride that Grandma had wanted to take the girls on had been closed, much to our disappointment. Going to Disney this time was going to make for a long day since it still meant a 6-7 hour drive on up to San Raphael which is why Grandma & Papa went on ahead. We wanted to be able to share that with the kids,.. for Grandma. We did enjoy a few other aspects of the park that afternoon, but this was our main reason for going.

So, without further adew (did I even spell that right? LOL)...
I give you....... "It's a Small World".

Silly, Goofy, WONDERFUL Days Together...

We spent October 10th & 11th at Universal Studios where we had more fun & memorable experiences.....

We enjoyed Shrek 4-D, an AMAZING WaterWorld show, a thrilling ride through Jurassic Park, and met many favorite characters like Spongebob, Shrek,..

...and one of my favs, Scooby Doo!


Here are some more favorites:

And one of my FAVORITE shots from this stop...




Scary how much he fits the part, LOL!

Love ya, baby!

An Experience of a Lifetime...

Some favorite pics from our days at SeaWorld-San Diego, October 8th & 9th. Please enjoy.

THANK YOU, MOM,... for a wonderful trip, and for the chance to share some AMAZING experiences with you. Especially this one... This picture has to be one of my very favorites. We will treasure these moments,.. these MEMORIES with you forever. I LOVE YOU.

*ENJOY LIFE*

I know it's been a little while again since I've posted anything... once school got started, things got busier than ever, and then shortly after that, Mom (Carol) had been been doing so surprisingly well that she decided she wanted us all to try to take one more big vacation together. So we did! We spent 10 days together,.. only two on the road back & forth from home, and eight at various attractions/theme parks. I will post on the stops individually with favorite snapshots from each to share with you. Our first stop, was Knott's Berry Farm.



Before I post more photos, I would just like to note what an incredible blessing this trip was, and how fortunate we are that we got to go do this together, and experience the amazing things that we did... and all the unforgettable moments we got to share with her.

When she got out of the hospital the end of June, after being in there for a month & having surgery,.. she was taken off of chemo, put on medication & hospice, and basically told she'd be lucky to make it to August. The first two weeks home, looked pretty grim, but then suddenly her body perked back up. All that poison finally got out of her system from the chemo, and she actually got to feel pretty good for awhile,... and once again, longer than the doctors prognosis by a long shot.

She has begun going back downhill over the weeks since our return, and only the Lord knows how much time is left. But I am just so humbled by His grace, and so very, very grateful for all of the extra time he has given us these past 6 years, and especially this year. He has given us gifts beyond measure in the time we have had with her.

And, I just want to remind those out there who may also face a terminal illness that truly,.. People, God is the only one who knows how much time is left. Statistics are just numbers, and time & time again we have seen loved ones beat those odds. Surely, we have also watched as loved ones left us even faster than the time those statistics told us they might have, but I tell you this... We live on God's watch. Not the doctor's, not our own,.. We go when He says it's time. So don't give up. Give your dispair over to Him, and you fight! You never know what extra time He has planned for you,...