Warmth

No, I'm not packing for the weekend.  I'm getting clothes out to wear to the game tonight--many, many layers of clothes. 

Tonight we head to Massaponax for a football game.  It's cold.  It's going to get colder.  I'm thankful for warm clothes and many layers. Do you detect the theme here?   I'm also thankful for my big blanket that I'm planning on wrapping around me.  Virginia has definitely taken it's toll on my ability to handle the cold, as I'm sure it's a LOT colder in Ohio.  I guess that also makes me thankful that I'm not there :).

Heat

Poor Ginger wishes he could come in and enjoy the heat.  He's tried persistently.  But Bree is allergic, and we like Bree better.

Today it is 47 degrees and rainy.  I'm very thankful for heat.  We live in a house that was retro-fitted for heat about 50 years after it was built.  It has no space under the house--none--no crawl space, no room to fit unless you are a cat.  That means that the heating ducts are in the ceiling, or near it.  Heat rises.  The upstairs is toasty; the downstairs not so much.  Last week Chris suggested we get a portable heater for the kitchen, which tends to be the coldest room in the house, as well as the room where I spend most of my time.  I told him no--it would be fine.  Monday however, I wanted to rethink that decision.  It was COLD!  I couldn't stop shivering, so I resorted to jumping jacks while making breakfast and washing dishes.  Chris also noticed the cold.  He was even more bundled than usual.  About 10:30 he came out to the kitchen with an "ah ha" look on his face.  We hadn't changed our ducts from summer to winter.  In the summer we close all the downstairs ducts to get the air conditioning upstairs.  I had closed all of the upstairs registers when we turned the heat on, but I hadn't thought to do the downstairs.  That made a huge difference, and I could stop doing calisthenics.  It's still never really "warm" but at least it's not cold either.  I'm so thankful for indoor heating! 

Voting

I'm so thankful for our country and for the freedoms we enjoy.  We may or may not like what is going on in our government, nevertheless, we have opportunities that are afforded to very few in this world.  "We the people," get to decide who will lead us. We choose the direction our country will take.  We are the government.  I'm also thankful that more people are getting involved in the process.  It is our responsibility and our duty. 

That being said, I'm so thankful that God is NEVER up for reelection. He wasn't ringing His hands over this or any election.  I am first and foremost a citizen of His eternal kingdom.  It's so important that we remember, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God."  Romans 13:1  And one day soon His government will be established, and it will never end.  Now that's something to be thankful for!

Teenagers

I am thankful for the teenagers in my life--mine and other people's.  Some of my best days are when there are teens here playing volleyball, roasting hotdogs and sharing their lives with us.  We had a bonfire on Saturday for the youth at our church and their friends.  They played volleyball until it was dark and then moved on to Man Hunt and Ghost in the Graveyard.  It's so much fun to hear them talk and watch them play, but the best part for me is the conversation.  After many had left, a few stayed and we talked for the next hour or so.  What a privilege to get a peak into their lives and be able to just love them.   

It's November

Two years ago I joined with some friends in posting things for which I was thankful each day.  I'm hoping to do that again this year (but no promises:).  It really helped me to spend some time each day focusing on God and on the good in my life.  That's not my natural bent, but it is something which I want to cultivate.  So here goes.....

I'm thankful for my friend Dr. Schulz.  She is an acupuncturist, chiropractor, alternative doctor and every other thing.  When I see her she pries me from the ceiling and reassures me that things are fine.  We've been seeing her for probably 4 or 5 years, and she really has become a friend.  I didn't have to go for quite a while, and I truly missed seeing her and Lynn, the receptionist.  I went today and got to catch up on their lives some and feel better too. 

The New Normal

About a month ago, when Sam was again complaining of an ache, pain, or other sickness, we decided it was time to home school.  He has been wanting us to homeschool since half way through 6th grade, but since most of his problems with school involved deadlines and organization, we figured being home wouldn't help that.  God has a way of making Himself very clear, however, and so three weeks ago we pulled Sam out of school and started the journey of homeschooling.

 I've done it before when Fred was in 4th, 5th and 6th grades.  It was good and hard.  I had 4 children at home, three of whom I was trying to teach, and one who just wanted his mama.  It's very different to have just Sam here.  He's in 7th grade and a very good reader--perfectly capable of reading for understanding and following instructions.  He has actually done very well, but this week the honeymoon is over.  There were more times of having to go back and do it again, more complaining, and less work done to the best of his ability.  I expected that, but it's still not fun.

We start each day with God's Word, which we were doing before, but for some reason it's different.  Maybe it's the time spent talking about it.  I can see the difference in Sam in just 3 short weeks.  He's happier, he's getting along with his brothers better, he's making better choices.  For that, it's worth it.  On  the down side, I may never see my husband alone again.  My day of school starts at 8:30 and finishes about 6 or 7.  After Sam is done, the others get home, and I am doing homework with them.  So those pictures represent the bulk of every day.  But they also represent the eternal souls that God has put in our care. 

Homecoming

 He remembered to be a gentleman, and Dad let him take the car.

                                                                            Bree and Fred

 I love this picture.  Bree posted it on face book in black and white and for the caption wrote, Fred Fulton, Holy Spirit, Bree Jordan.

                                                               Great group of kids

 When we arrived at Bree's to take pictures, some of the gentlemen were having trouble with their ties.  Bree's dad was out of town, so her brother googled "how to tie a tie."  It was so funny!  Chris rescued them.  He tied 3 of the ties for the evening.  Fred missed a step, so he had some help.

                                                   Sam and Peter at the tailgate party

                                                                 After the game

                                                          Ben ready for the monster slide

                                                                         Fred is #34

Let me first just say that so far I DO NOT like the new system for Blogger--I can't seem to figure out how to put the pictures on, so imagine these in reverse order!!! 

Life is, um, stressful right now.  There are things, things, things going on.  We started homeschooling Sam this week, which is the culmination of a bunch of other stuff.  So instead of going down that road, I wanted to share what has been bringing me joy.  I have always enjoyed high school football (seriously Chris!), but it's so much more fun now that I have a vested interest.  I love to watch Fred play.  He is in almost the entire game.  He runs the defense and does it very well.  Since it's inception 6 years ago, Mountain View has not had a winning football team, but this year they are 5 and 1 so far.  It's been an exciting ride.  Last week was homecoming, and the team won again--a hard fought battle.  We went to the tailgate party and parade before the game, and then enjoyed the evening with many friends.  The next evening was the dance, which Fred attended with Bree, his girlfriend.  This is all new territory for us, but it's been so much fun.  I'm thankful for these moments of joy.