I'm Back!

Lots of busyness this past weekend, but beautiful weather! Hurray!

Because we were going to be at our state homeschool convention on Friday and Saturday, I did my big shopping day on Thursday.  I take out grocery money every two weeks and that week I do a big shop - everything on the menu for two weeks, all personal hygiene products, tp, laundry products, dish soap, dog food, vitamins - all come out of my grocery budget.  My budget is $300 for two weeks for our family of 8 people plus two dogs.  I don't know if that is good or not....I sometimes go over budget especially the last year or so when everything has gone sky high! What do you spend for your food budgets?

Anyway, on Thursday my sister in law had come into town from Senegal, West Africa where she and Tim's brother Dan serve as missionaries....her daughter Shelly was graduating from College of the Ozarks.  So we had her and our niece Carrie over for dinner so we could switch cars...Shelly was going to have alot of stuff to bring home from college.

My parents came to stay  two nights to be with the little ones while Tim, Lindsay, Emily and I were away during the day on Friday and Saturday.  The little ones have so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa, who surprised them with a fun trip to the Toy Train Museum!  My dad also was the feeder of the horses!  We are so thankful to be close with them and to have them in our lives.  We are all blessed.

 

Our convention was wonderful, as usual.  It is such a blessing to attend and volunteer our time to help others.  This year our volunteer time was a little longer than normal, but was good.  The state board does an amazing job keeping us up to date on the law, and other bills that would affect families or homeschooling and in putting on the largest homeschool convention in the country!  We are happy to be able to help out.  I usually make all my purchases for the coming year at the convention, but with Tim being on disability, we decided to just mainly look around at materials and to plan to order on line at a later date.  Also with Tim still recovering from his hip surgery, we needed to do more sitting than normal this year, so we took in alot more seminar speakers.  We were so blessed to be able to hear Little Bear Wheeler again.  He does the most fantastic historical devotional presentations...George Washington, William Wallace, Sgt. York....we found out that he is retiring from speaking to concentrate on pastoring full time!  I don't know how long his ministry supplies will be available, so if you are a fan of his materials, you may want to consider making a purchase now!

We also heard Maggie Hogan she is always good and so encouraging on whatever topic she speaks on...My favorite speaker this year was Doug Phillips. He is very encouraging and engaging...I so appreciate the heart of his messages about the family.  Lindsay bought me a copy of his new book "The Little Boy Down The Lane" and had him autograph it...in it he tells stories of home life and family culture.  I am enjoying it.  He had his whole family with him this year.  It was nice to see them interact with each other and with others...they are a real family...open, friendly, cheerful.  

Yesterday, we went to church and then out to eat with my parents.  We went to Cracker Barrel, and didn't have the longggggg wait that we usually do, IF we eat out on Mother's Day.  It was a nice treat.  Then we came home and the girls worked with the horses and rode, Tim flew kites and rode bikes with the kids, I made our favorite cake for spring time (yellow cake, strawberries and whipped cream frosting!).  We played games and talked and laughed...it was a lovely day.

I have been poking around looking at your blogs...I am thankful for you all.  I so appreciate the lack of gossip, strife and talebearing on your little homes on the web!  It makes them a delightful place to visit.

We are officially done with our required days for school this year, but are finishing up some math and reports....what are you all up to this week?