SRKindredSpirits

Our oldest daughter moved out this month.... it really wasn't a surprise, I knew it was coming, and although I wanted her to wait for another few more months, I think deep down, I knew it was time. She is 19, has a full-time job at a busy Vet hospital, is enrolled in college, currently working towards a graphic design degree. She graduated school 2 years early, is a hard worker, a good employee, and managed to save a good sized nest egg. She has always paid for her own phone, insurance, and paid cash for her car, - and she did it all on her own.... she never got an allowance and we didn't spoil her with money or things. She worked hard to get where she is..... I'm proud of her.... And although I think I knew it was time she spread her own wings.... I had a tangled up mess of emotions. Somedays I would cry over everything. Somedays I was sad.... it was almost like all my dreams and plans that she and I had for years had died and were being buried. Sometimes I was angry..

My dad was diagnosed as having Glioblastoma in September 2020. It is the fastest growing brain tumor there is.  Its hard to watch the dad I knew get weaker and weaker, but at the same time it has given us time to be together, time to talk, time to laugh, time to cry together, and time just to be.  He has told me more about his childhood, his teen years, his work, his marriage, church issues, and life decisions than I never dreamed of knowing. We have talked about our past relationship (or lack of it), our reasoning at the time, and what we wish we'd have done different. We have talked about Heaven and God and the Bible. We have talked about my cancer, my kids, my marriage, my life, and about dying.  We have shared secrets, some may be told after he's gone, but most of them I'll keep to myself and hold close to my heart....  We have our own little jokes about mom or my siblings or just people in general! Dad has a great sense of humor through all this and he makes me laugh!

There is always one day that is simply emotionally confusing for me and that is:  The Ex-Anniversary Date Twenty years have passed since the day I stood with my first husband Jim, in the basement of a courthouse in Athens, Georgia and said my wedding vows. And even though we’re divorced… and Jan 8th will come and go WITHOUT a 20th wedding anniversary… I will still celebrate it. I do every year. Our Wedding Day - Jan 8, 2001 I will celebrate the good memories, and the life we created while we were happy together. Because… there were a lot of good times. I will reflect on the sad time, the dashed hope's and dreams, the words left unsaid. And I'll wonder about the what- ifs.... it's all part of our story. Circumstances can never change the past. The only thing we can do is grow ourselves to change our view of the past. For me, this date is a reminder of my/our story. I have accepted the fact that I have no clue how to feel on this day. You'd think

Happy 15th Anniversary to my ONE friend, my lover, and my hubby! I love you Stephen! "One Friend" I always thought you were the best I guess I always will I always felt that we were blessed And I feel that way still Sometimes we took the hard road But we always saw it through If I had only one friend left I'd want it to be you Sometimes the world was on our side Sometimes it wasn't fair Sometimes it gave a helping hand Sometimes we didn't care 'Cause when we were together It made the dream come true If I had only one friend left I'd want it to be you Someone who understands me And knows me inside out And helps keep me together And believes without a doubt That I could move a mountain Someone to tell it to If I had only one friend left I'd want it to be you Someone who understands me And knows me inside out And helps keep me together And believes without a doubt That I could move a mountain Someone to tell it to If I had only one friend left I'd wan

I've never had a close relationship with my dad, but I have great memories of being a kid ... going to auctions with dad or to the sale barn ( we often came home with a little calf, lamb or piglet ), him taking us to the zoo, getting ice cream cones, Sunday afternoon drives, family bike rides, and traveling - he always liked to drive at night and would let me come up to the front of the van to play the car game with him. Life was good as a kid... but as a tween, that all changed.... Dad and Mom took me away from the friends and family and church that was my whole life. I rebelled in a big way, I even ran away from home. They moved out of state.... and I made some questionable choices. I was no longer welcomed at family gatherings and was pretty much the black sheep of the family..... over the years we just drifted apart.  Since my kids have been born, my dad has been a wonderful Grandpa and I am once again a part of the family, but our relationship has been somewhat tense, and conv

This month, we are back to homeshooling our two youngest kids. Not only was I a homeschool kid, but I have homeschooled my own kids off and on for over 13 yrs. Our oldest daughter has graduated and is in her second semester of college. I firmly believe the number one rule for homeschooling should be this: - Keep It Simple! - This year we are using Gather Round Homeschool Unit Studies and Abeka Math. Our supplies consist of our Unit Study workbooks and Teachers guide, an individual notebook for each of us, my Bible, a planner/calender (I use it to keep track of our days as required by the State), a Chromebook (used for researchand watching videos), Math workbooks, and Reading books.  We keep all our school supplies in a carousel. When school is finished, we put the carousel and our books back on the school shelf in the closet and go on with our day! It is super simple and stress free! Keeping school simple has helped me be a better teacher. No more desks, chairs, white boards, posters

  I cried today.... it's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time.... Our 14 year old son is on the spectrum .  He has never been able to pass a 1st grade reading test. We have had him tested so many times and so many different places. He's been to multiple therapist's, tried four different schools, and many different curriculum, and learning resources, but nothing has helped.  This year, we are back to homeshooling , and we are doing a completely new unit study curriculum called ' Gather Round Homeschool '.  I am super excited about it and feel it will give our kids a boost of confidence and help them learn more about the world around them and help them use their individual skills more! I have been gathering resources to use along with our curriculum. I found these adorable timer bookmarks for the kids and we will be doing alot of reading, national geographic movies, feild trips, crafts and Library time. But, while I was researching, I  ca