Eye Appointment

Carl has his first eye appointment. It should be interesting to see how this goes. He is having a lot of issues in his education, and we want to be sure it's not linked to his vision.  If he gets glasses we will let you know and also include a photo when he gets them, if he gets them. ;)

35 Years Without

When I was 12, my parents divorced. My life was shattered and little did I know, it would be 35 years before I would see my father again. He left me and my brothers behind when he left Mom and started his new life. I remember being so angry at him. I hated him, I hated what I learned about him, yet I loved him. Though it would be years before I could admit it. When I married and had my first child, I tried to contact him. Only to face rejection yet again. Every time I would contact, he would reject. I finally decided I would simply keep him updated with phone numbers addresses and births. If he refused me, it would be on him, not me.

In May 2014, My mother passed away. I immediately needed my dad. I cannot help it, but, it is just how it hit me. I called my step mother and spoke with her. She informed me that my dad had severe alzheimer's. I simply asked he if I could come when she felt it best. I needed closure as I had with Mama's death. I was with her when she died.

A couple of months ago she called me and told me to come. I was so shocked. I was so overwhelmed and so terrified. I went the following Monday. I took my oldest son JJ with me. He helped me stay calm and read directions. He lives 133 miles away.
When I got there, I admit I was disappointed that he didn't recognize who I was. But it didn't matter, because for the first time in 35 years I was sitting within feet of my DAD!! I have been twice and will go as often as I can. I know his days are numbered.

Though some do not understand my need, I am so thankful for what time I have with my dad. Though I understand others feeling toward him, I have my own feelings and will not allow anyone to rob me of my time with him.

I do not know how long I have with him, but you better believe, I am one happy girl, as I again have my DAD!!

So much has changed

SO much has changed since I left using blogger. Facebook seems to keep my hooked in its clutches. My mom passed away in May 2014 2 days after her birthday. It has been life changing. Then there is the children changing, adult children changing, hurts, some happiness along the way. I have realized I have only now, I am not promised my next breath, and I need to focus on my children at home and do all I can to help them to become responsible adults. Nothing else matters anymore. Things that seemed important are not. SO with that, I move on....

Our current family at home consists of DH and I, 3 children, and 3 cats. No dogs for now. Life is fast paced lately. We have a used appliance store, that sells reconditioned appliances. it takes so much of our time.  When not working we try to spend quality time with the children. Rebecca is now 12, Carl 7, and Cassia turns 4 in just a few days. Time is moving at such a fast rate.

Since we have such huge expenses with having a store we have decided to cut expenses and either sell or rent our home. This will enable us to move to the loft above the store. We have so much we need to do, but I am so ready to do it. I need that change of scenery. A fresh start.

With that I will end this note and do another post on Cassia. Ugh she is my one!!!

Redo of the old

So, I have started on my projects, Finally! Yesterday I did Carl's dresser. He is into Thomas The Train, so yep, that is what we did.

It came out reall nice, and he loves it. I went and got green and yellow to do his shelves! I can't wait! His room will look so cute!

Yesterday Here and Now

The last time I posted here I had announced we were opening an Appliance store. We did and struggled to get through December. It's been stressful at times but overall fun. We have met so many people and made a friend as well. It's been quite an experience. It's hard work for me. I work, Homeschool, and run a home. But God has blessed us.

Our house expansion has come to a halt. I wish we could do some more on it but right now we have to focus on the store. We are hoping to be able to eventually hire someone to help us with renovations. I will be so glad to have that happen. We need that living room!

We have a new granddaughter. Amelia Ruth! She is a doll. Bella Grace is suffering the usual new sibling blues. Belli turned 4 in January! Where does the time go!

The rest of the Kiddo's are doing good. In May, Rebecca will be 11. Now that just seems crazy. Carl 6, and Cassia 2. But the one that gets me is Samuel. He is 17 now. How did that happen? Not fair I tell ya!

Over all everyone is fine. The enemy fights us, but God! If you think of us, please take a moment to say a prayer for us. Thank you! God bless!

Update yet again

I always think I will begin posting regularly again here. Yet I never do. I stay busy and having facebook, well that kinda just makes it easier I suppose. I am thinking of deleting the account yet again. I don't know yet for sure what I want to do. Some days I absolutely hate technology, then other days can't get enough of it. I think it is time consuming and keeps me from doing things I need to do.

May 12, 2014 I lost my Mama. It just don't seem real even a month later. I am mad at myself because toward the ending of her life I pulled back when I should have done more. She needed me more than ever, and I failed her. It eats at me daily. I only hope I can do more as a parent for my children and not make the same mistakes. I see her face and hear her voice, all just from memories now. I cherish each one, good or bad. I just cannot believe she is gone.

My kids are growing daily. Rebecca is now 10, Carl is 5, Cassia will be 2 in August! So hard to believe! Samuel is 16, and that just don't seem real to me at all. But, he is. So much going on in a day keeps us all super busy. Though summer is on our heels we are still in school and pretty much will be for a while longer.

Jasper began working on the house again. He replaced a picture window and put a quad vinyl window in. These windows will open up. It made a big change. Now if I can just get someone to come get the old one.
Soon we will be adding the new living room. That I am looking so forward to. If we can just decide where we want it at. Always got to be hard.

That about updates it for now. We will see how it goes from here. I need to come back to blogger. Getting to it is just another story.

New Lights!

We have all new lights in the house! Jasper replaced 10 lights and it really makes a difference. It is really nice having your own fix it man around. ;)

I am BACK!

I am happy to say that I am back again! I have been away for a while now. I am hoping that I can return to a nice normal now. What we are doing: We are using ACE for Rebecca this year and she really likes it. We have enrolled into the Christian School Part. I always forget the name of it. But, they do the record keeping for us. So nice. Carl is doing work books and different websites. I am also working on his speech with him. He has trouble with the letter S. Most websites say not to worry most fix by age 7. I am hoping that be the case with my lil Man. Cassia is really starting to talk and can say a complete sentence. She is 17 months old. That is just how Samuel did too. I guess they may be similar in their ways. She looks like a pale version of him lol. Samuel is studying for his GED and working. He chose this path and we agreed he could go this route. He is doing well, playing many instruments now. Jasper and I are well, and probably doing better than we have in a long time. I am thankful for my family. God has been very good to me. I am very blessed. Though this past 6 months has been rough, God proved He is faithful. He is a friend above all. He sticketh closer than a brother! Definitely! I have learned a lot about myself. I have realized what's really important. My kids, My Husband. They are my family. I thank My God for them. I have 4 at home, they are my focus. So, that about tel's all I am going to tell for now. I am excited to be back and hope to post again tomorrow!

Talk about bedhead!

Cassia woke up with such bed head today lol!

Frosty October Morning

Today was our first real frost. My entire yard was white. Temps are low and the wood stove is going. We are cozy warm in the Little House In The Valley. Hey I kinda like that, its catchy...lol.

Anyway, Carl came down with a bug and ran a slight fever. It was 99.7 at its highest and he was complaining of tummy pain. He seems better right now. I hope so. I so hate it when my babies are sick.

I recently reconnected with an old friend. It was great getting to talk to her yesterday. We have been thru similar storms recently and could really understand one another. She is a precious person. God is good!

Yesterday was our sweetest friends birthday! Aliviah turned 10 yesterday and balloons were released in honor of her birthday. Her mommy tied two balloons together and had Rebecca's name on one and Aliviah's on the other and both had bff on them. Rebecca still holds on to her memories of Aliviah, as we all do. We miss her so much and I know her family does. It won't be long until we see her again!

Well, I better close this out. I have wood to gather, dishes and laundry to wash, school, clean the house, make bed, and the list goes on and on and on......

It's Official, Summer is over!

Though I hated to see the beauty of Summer end, I am glad to be moving onto the fall. So many things going on, some bad, but most good. Many changes are taking place and ALL are for the better. School has begun and though I am finding it hard to get my schedule changes going we are making some progress. Samuel is adjusting to private school. I am adjusting to not seeing him that much. Sad. He leaves with Jasper at 6 am every day and sometimes it is 5:30 before he gets home. We eat and then he has homework and then off to bed to do it again. Tomorrow is Friday! So I am learning to love my weekends again because I get to see him. The end of the Summer brought joy for us. Jasper finally began working on the new addition of the house. He has a long way to go, But I am hoping the framing will go quickly so that we can get in our new rooms by Christmas! That would be wonderful! When all is said and done, I will have a nice sized home and then the outside covering will begin. We have most of the siding already! He has rock for the bottom then shake and hardy board. Can't wait to see the finished product! Maybe in a year??? One of my close friends moved to South Georgia, from North Georgia. It will make seeing them harder than ever, but I thank the Lord for the good ole Cell Phone! It will be nice to see them if we can swing it for Camps and such. Life brings changes. Some are hard to take, but, it opens new beginnings. Thanks Angela & Betty for being there for me when I needed you most. Love you both!

Fall Table Centerpiece

I have never attempted before. I only have $10 in this.

New School Year!

We officially started our new homeschool class year! Rebecca is in 4th grade this year! Whoa! Where did that time go? Wasn't she just a baby? Sigh! This year Carl also begins some small educational tid bits. Mostly to occupy him. I know he is eager to learn so we will see how he does! Cassia and Bella Grace will not be left out. Wonder color markers and paper and other things to help motor skills.

There have been some changes yet again for us, but it's just the way it goes sometimes. I am going through things setting things up a lil better for our school year. I hope I can be completely set up by next week!

We have much to keep us busy:




Language Arts Music Arts & Crafts Bible Health Arithmetic 4 Fourth Grade Science History and Geography Reading and Literature Oral reading Reading comprehension Speed reading Vocabulary building Penmanship Review of cursive writing formation through skill practice, word games, original composition, and sentence dictation Spelling, Vocabulary, and Poetry Weekly word lists with challenging words and vocabulary Reinforcement activities Six poems committed to memory Language Writing Process Letters— friendly, post cards, thank-you notes Gathering information Writing with details Writing an encyclopedia report Writing book reports Creative writing Dictionary skills Map study State history for six weeks Eight documents memorized The Years of Discovery The Years of Exploration The First Americans The English Come to America The New England Colonies Plants Plants: Provision for Man and Beast Animals Insects: Miniature Marvels of Creation Birds: Winged Wonders The Middle and Southern Colonies A Picture of Colonial Life The Great Awakening The French and Indian War The American War for Independence Building a New Nation Our Nation Grows Matter Matter: Water, Air, and Weather Energy Energy: Sound and Hearing Physical Fitness Your Body Framework The Muscle Builder Your Breathing Machine Personal Hygiene A Winning Smile Your Body’s Cover Keys to Good Grooming Place value of whole numbers and decimals Mastery of fundamental operations Story problems Estimating answers English and metric measures Converting measures within the same system and solving measurement equations Roman numerals Addition, subtraction, and multiplication involving fractions Estimation Averaging Factoring Divisibility rules Introduction to decimals Making change Reading a thermometer Lessons such as Salvation Series, Genesis, Life of Christ, Paul (includes memory verses, hymns/choruses, and Bible doctrine) Music Theory/Flutophone Traditional, patriotic, fun songs Grammar Sentence structure,Kinds of sentences, Punctuation, Capitalization facts, Abbreviations, Possessive words Recognizing and using all eight parts of speech Diagraming verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs Correctly using troublesome words The Civil War New Frontiers An Age of Progress Beyond Our Boundaries The World Wars Time for Freedom and Responsibility Interpersonal Relationships A Healthier You Earth and Space Geology: Planet Earth Oceanography: Wonders of the Sea Astronomy: Consider the Heavens Solving equations using addition and subtraction axioms Graphs and scale drawing Basic geometric shapes Perimeter and area Using an English and metric ruler Time lapse Basic drawing and painting techniques, color concepts Well it didn't copy correctly, but, you get the idea! With that said I need to get busy! Have a great day!

First Day!

For the first time in 20 years I helped one of my children get ready for their first day of school. Tomorrow Samuel and Cortney start Private Christian School. I am excited to hear all about it tomorrow

This Old House

It seems so hard these days to find the time to post like I once did. I stay so busy between the kids and the house. All of that is about to pick up even more. We moved in this house a little over a year ago and I have been waiting for Jasper to begin the transformation of turning this from an ugly old eye sore in the neighborhood, to a cute farmhouse. It's coming soon! I was so happy the other day to find out it was all about to begin!
He is going to put on the OSB and the shake siding on all but the side we will be adding on the new room to.   This will include shutters and all. I cannot tell you how excited it makes me! I try to picture this in my mind, but it just won't come together. I will be sure to post pictures as the work begins!

Updates are harder these days

I seem to stay so busy now. I wonder when It will slow down. Cassia is 10 months old now and so precious! I cannot believe she has grown so fast! The children are well. Everyone finally seems to be adjusting. It's not been the easiest of things.

Our weather finally seems to be realizing it is technically near summer and has warmed up a bit. I can't help but wonder if summer will be very hot this year. I am sure before long we will miss these cool days we have had.

We took a trip to NC and GA. For the most part it went okay. Had some bumps along the way, but they have since smoothed out. Jasper's Dad wound up in the hospital for the last few days of our trip. He has something going on with a valve that they are going to treat with medications. Hopefully that will work.
Renee, the babies and I left Sunday, because she needed to be home for work on Monday. Jasper and the older kids stayed until they knew Benjamin was out of the woods. Not long after our journey began a belt broke in her tire and we had to stop to get new tires on the back. That took 3 hours! So it was like 1:30 a.m. or so before we got home.
Just a few days after Jasper returned home, my transmission went out on my van. I am so thankful it got them home safely. We decided to go with something other than a Chrysler next time.

Well I better go, kids are getting up and breakfast must be made.

9 years ago...

It was 9 years ago that I woke up and wasn't feeling real great. I got in the shower and realized I was leaned up against shower wall letting water hit my back. DUH, your in labor! I began to get ready, Jasper was working 3rd shift and would soon be home. I woke the kids we were all getting ready. Jesse was there, he was doing okay until, you guessed it, my water broke. Then he runs out the door like a lightning bolt headed for the neighbors screaming her name lol. It was funny. What wasn't was the fact we had to drive an hour away, and Jasper was late. I called and they said he had left. I waited until I was getting worried. My neighbor went and tried to track him down. He met him at the end of our road. This was nearly 2 hours after Jasper should have been home! He had been asked to work overtime that day! Of all days!

But, we got to the hospital in plenty of time. It was tough but we had a beautiful baby girl! Rebecca Joyce Merrell, she was 8 lbs 9 oz, same as her big brother. It would be years later before I would find out she had broken my pelvis on her way out. But, she was oh so worth it! I love my baby girl!

Country and Critters!

When we moved here a year ago, I knew being at the foot of the mountain, we would possibly see critters. I just didn't realize that this house was a highway to so many of their paths. I have already heard something this morning trying to get back in under the house. We have stuff blocking the entire foundation, yet it still manages to get back in! I think it's another opossum, but not quite sure. It could be another skunk! I don't think it has gotten under yet. If I weren't such a chicken I would go see. But The thought of a skunk being able to spray you from 25 feet is not exactly inviting.
I need to do some research on something that small critters hate. Find it and go all around the foundation with it. Samuel saw a huge opossum the other night. Perhaps that is what it is. He said it was Opossum-zilla! I just want the critter to leave and go find him another home!

The weather just can't decide

One day it's hot, the next its cold....Ahhh spring! Soon it will be hot weather and we will wish we had these cool days of spring. The grass is already growing quite a bit. Samuel is attempting to cut it down. We have 2 fields that were very high last season and so they are much thicker than the rest of the yard.

I have begun my container gardening. I have several plants now. I have Hosta, several types of Day Lillies, Hen and Chicks, Irises, Butterfly bush, and more. I am glad to have something this summer to see bloom. After construction is completed on our new rooms, I plan to get a few trees. I would love a weeping willow.

We have several things coming up to keep us busy:

Convention (Begining Thursday)
A Surprise (Can't tell ya yet)
A visit from Auntie Linda and Uncle Richard (May 13)
Rebecca's 9th birthday! (May 17)
A possible trip to NC/GA (End of May)
Blue Ridge Youth Camp * (July 4th week)
Landmark Youth Camp (End of July)
Cassia's First Birthday! (August 9th)
Carl's 5th Birthday! (November 13)
Georgia trip (Thanksgiving)

My we will be busy! Once I began typing it became real just how much we had going on over the summer! I hope we can fit it framing up for our expansion to the house! We really need it!

Spring has sprung!

Well, it's spring time here in the valley. Robins are everywhere and the jonquils are in full bloom. I am so glad to see the temps coming up and the days getting longer! All this has me motivated to get the house in order. I mentioned to Cortney, it's time to spring clean the house, she says why do people say that? What is it about spring that makes you ant to clean. I told her houses have been shut up all winter long, it's time to open windows and clean out all the stale dusty air. Kids, gotta love the innocence. So, with that said you can know I have begun the process.

Cassia is growing so very fast. She is almost 8 months old! Yes, can you believe it? Me either! She is so sweet and rotten. I love her so much and she is my buddy. We do almost everything together. lol Mainly because she won't let me put her down! Spoiled? Just a tad bit...lol She loves the outdoors so when the kids take her out, when warm enough, I enjoy some much needed me time. Even if that involves cleaning and such...lol

Carl has really grown a lot lately. He is very much a boy! Into everything, asking 100's of questions. Oh how I love that lil handsome guy! He is My buddy too! He told me he was outside shooting coyotes, but, got scared when he saw a huge snake in the field....lol no coyotes, no snakes, just a huge imagination! THAT is my Carl. :)

Rebecca is counting down her days to her 9th birthday! She too has grown a lot this year. I am amazed how fast the time goes. She still loves her Hello Kitty stuff! I think she always will. She has become such a great helper with Cassia. I am glad for the help. She is a little mama. Cassia goes to her better than anyone other than me. Rebecca loves that!

Samuel has become quite the young man. Doing school, working 1-2 days a week with Dad, he too is growing up. At 15, I think he has a good head on his shoulders. He is saving his money, that is a smart man. I am proud of his accomplishments and who he has become. He is an excellent musician. Playing the guitar, bass and piano. This Mama could not be prouder!

Our new addition: Cortney.... She has been with us since the end of November. It's been quite an adjustment for everyone. Little by little we see everything settling down. It's an learning experience for us all.
She has drawing talent that I have tried to encourage her to enhance. I see such potential there.  Hopefully soon she will develop a desire toward it and go with it. Who knows what she can do, I know it will be great to watch once she starts! Drawing could lead to painting....time will tell.

Well that about wraps it up. My me time is almost gone, so I will close this and surf a bit. Hope everyone is doing well.

Until next time.......