Finding Our Way

Greetings!

It seems so long since the last posting. So many changes have been taking place. Nearly all are good, so we are feeling blessed. The biggest change was Joe's returning to over-the-road truck driving. It was a tough decision to make. It had been 2 1/2 yrs. since Joe was truck driving and we had become used to having him home. The choice had to be made though and the Lord showed us that it was the right decision at the right time.

Abigail and Micah have adjusted to the job change. At first it was odd to them to not have Daddy coming home each night. They have done very well though. Daily talks on the phone with Daddy helps a great deal. Joe also sends post cards in the mail.

Abigail has been homeschooling at the Pre-K level. She is learning to read and seems excited to do more each day. Currently we are doing 2 lapbooks. the first is a lapbook for the book, "Little House in the Big Woods" and the second is a lapbook on the theme "Autumn". We do a few activities each day for each lapbook. The "Little House" lapbook is a month long project that I found on the Lapbook Lessons website. They, along with Homeschool Share have many free lapbooking projects available. The Autumn lapbook is one that I have been designing that focuses on the season and the changes it brings.

Micah has been getting therapy at home. He had a set back when the therapy became too difficult and frustrating, but he is back to himself again. They are returning the focus to more of a Floor Time approach, which is what I had great results with when I did his therapy myself. He is making eye contact and interacting more often than previously. Last Monday, he even waved goodbye for the first time to someone as they left the house.

We were give 3 roosters recently to keep our hen company. My in-laws had a surplus of roosters, so it was a blessing for them to be rid of a few. Unfortunately, not that we have chickens again, the cougar is back. Last night it caught one of the roosters. What an awful noise they make when they are vocalizing! It had taken the rooster into woods near the house.

My life is beginning to calm down now that autumn is upon us. Joe and I talked about the garden and I decided that with 2 young children, one being special needs, I cannot manage a large family garden alone. Next spring I will be planting a much smaller garden with mainly the vegetables we eat fresh and an herb garden. We have access to very good Farmer's Markets where I can buy vegetables in bulk amounts to home can. We will utilize those more next year. I would love to have the large garden, but I have to be realistic about my time and ability to do so. The garden that I do plant next spring will have the weed barrier plastic to help cut down on the weeding. This will give me the ability to grow many things, but still limit the amount of work involved.

My laptop computer is in need of repair, so I am back to having only the library computer access on Wednesdays. I will try to post as often as I am able. We are looking into either repairing the laptop or buying a netbook or other low price laptop. Once we do, I will be able to post more.

Blessings,
Paula