I am off!!

I am off on my trip! I will see you all on Sept 6th!

Busy day!

As you can see i have had a busy day today! I started out by going and getting coupons for the Farmers Market this morning and paying the house payment, and a bank deposit. All stuff that needed to be done before I leave! I now am working on a pot of Borcht. Paul was very helpful by peeling potatoes, and Fred unloaded the dishwasher. We also packed Anthony's clothes, I washed a load of laundry, a sweater out by hand and am now ready to mix up cookies! I think I am going to make peanut butter and maybe some brownies or cake. Anyhow, I am nursing at this moment and sort of stuck on my chair.
Last night I could not sleep! I think I was thinking about leaving and so I ended up sitting and so did 4 scrapbook pages (81/2 x 11 ones) 2 pages were Fred and I engagement pictures and 2 were one of Paul and one of Hans as babies. I made it for my Grandpa and Grandma to put into her scrapbook we gave her last year. I am going to make 2 more pages, one of Lee and one of Anthony as babies. That way she has where they were born, birthdates, and pictures of them as small babies in one place as well as some of when I was first engaged. There is one very pretty picture Sergey took of me holding a carnation. My face has changed alot since then as it was rounder and chubby, I guess younger! Other people say, healthy, but I think it looks fat! I guess I am not 18 anymore!
Anyhow, I may not have time to write again until I return on Sept 6th. So, if not see you all then!

Making soup!

Borcht time! Fred needs his borcht for when I go away!

Sweeping up potato peelings!

Paul helped to peel potatoes and there were peelings everywhere! At least he was helping! The picture did not come out real clear for some reason.

Housekeeping at its best!

Washing toilets

“The end of a perfect day”

I knew today was going to be a bit busy as we had alot of things to do! It started out very pleasent as a friend came over and we had muffins I baked together and talked. She is going to college about 5 hours away, so I probably will not see her for a long time. She and I were best of friends since we were about 12 or 13 and sort of grew apart after I got married and have become friends again. She is just barely younger than me, but not married and going to school to become a English teacher.
Then I went to a homeschool women's house as she very kindly is letting me borrow Sonlight program for 1st grade. It looks like a ton of stuff to do, esspecially all the reading aloud. I hope I can keep up. I may have to cut out some things, but it will be worth it I think if I can spend all that time with the boys.
I am so worried about the boys. Paul has been really acting up and I pray I am doing the right things to handle it all. I am reading the Heart of Anger right now, and I see so much in it I need to work on with him. If I can keep him with me and working with me, he loves to work and have things to do!
Anyhow, the rest of the day I cleaned in the house some washing the toilets (which I actually got a picture of, it is not a whole diary, but at least you can see me washing toilets with a goofy smile on my face and my grubby sweatshirt on, I don't usually dress up too much) and vacuumed, but then had to run and take Moriah to the doctor.
I took care of Eric while she was in there and had Paul and Hans with me. I ran and got Regina's purse that she dropped at the fair, and then headed back. Moriah was sort of sleepy from the medicine and so I took her home. Joe and Michael were there by then, and so she didn't really need me there, but it was nice to visit a bit.
Dinner was supposed to be pasta so I put leftovers from tacos last night into pasta and it turned out pretty good! We had corn on the cob also as there was some I didn't freeze.
So,,,and now all I need to play a song on the piano “The end of the perfect day” (if I played piano!!! Have you ever read that poem? It was in the beginning of one of my favorite housekeeping books, but disapeared and I cannot remember the name of it! Oh, well, maybe I read it enough growing up!
Oh yes, Anthony's throat swab came back and it was a bacterial staph infection. She said it is not as contagious as strep, but still! Weird, I thought!
Well, I need to get to bed! Good night!

Working in a dress

I wish I had a way to take pictures of myself working! Now, I hate having my picture taken! But I noticed on Crystal's Blog she had links to another blog where the lady showed herself doing housework in a dress.
Anyhow, I thought I would post a bit of some schedule I have come up with. I have been planning my meals and I amde a notebook with the page of shopping list, things to do, menu for the week, a notebook in it and then a calender. I also put things in the pocket that I have to keep track of. I am working on organizing my files as well as my office. If I can I am going to have a whole wall of shelves built. It will be tons of room and woe is me if I fill them up with books. I have a 6 ft. high bookshelf double layered with books right now and tubs and boxes all over the floor still full of books! Why so many you say? Well, not all of them are worth keeping. Some of them are for sale, some are worth selling, some need to be organized into lots to sell, some are for homeschooling later, some are for reading, and on and on!
Fred's sister called tonight. She was driving back from New York and called to check up on us. She has been so nice to me! It is another sign of miracles God can do. Fred's mom is worried about Fred being alone here when I am gone. I am not exactly sure why she feels that way, but I worry a bit too. I am going to call Chris tomorrow and have her call him up a bit more often!
Bonita is coming over at 9:30 in the morning so I need to go and get things picked up a bit still, try to relax and go to sleep!

Grocery shopping

Albertsons has had some really good deals lately. They had this one week a 10 for $20 and then get $5 off if you buy 10. I had some coupons on some mayonaise so got it even cheaper. Then yesterday they had a sale on some things 10 for $15 and get $5 if you buy 10. They had some cereal for that and granola bars so I thought I would take a look as I am going to be traveling this week, and Fred will be home alone and so I need some easy food around. I picked out a few things including some bags of fancy frozen vegetables that were about 24 oz., granola bars, a couple boxes of cereal, a 6 pack of small yogurts,and then decided to get some brownie mix too. It was stuff I do not usually buy and I was wondering if I should do it. When I got to the checkout and she finished scanning she said “$8.50!” I asked to make sure that was the right total and still cannot figure it out, but she sais “Yes, $8.50” So, I got everything for .85 each. Anyhow, that is a pretty good price for the cenvenience foods I bought and maybe it will make getting ready for my trip a bit easier!

Traditions

Our church service was about traditions today. It was really interesting! Instead of singing before the service they sang after the sermon!
One thing really stuck out to me, he read a verse Matt. 15:3 about how the pharisees say that you do not have to honor your father and mother basically if you are “serving God”. That struck a nerve! Wow! I don't know why I have not seen that before! The law says if you curse your father or mother then you should be put to death. This is something that is really important to God. Why don't we discuss this more? It doesn't say “If a wife does not submit to her husband she will be put to death.” or “If you are not sober minded you will be put to death.” But it does say this! Then Jesus repeats it and says what hypocrites they are as they try to get away from honoring their father and mother by giving to God.
Anyhow, very interesting!