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Vacation Day 2

Today was our “recover from the 15 hour car trip day.” We basically relaxed at my mom’s house and visited with family. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and I went out to lunch with my sister-in-law. Tonight we headed to my in-laws house since they live a few minutes from the Magic Kingdom gates. We will home base from here as we go to the parks this week.

We planned out the week and tomorrow we are heading to the Magic Kingdom. One trick for the Magic Kingdom is to work your way from the back of the park to the front of the park. Most people start at the beginning and work their way back, so the back of the park is always less crowded at the beginning of the day.

Tonight we are addicting my in-laws to the Wii Fit. We are currently having a cut throat bowling match.

Here are a few pictures from our first day in Florida.

The orange tree in my parent’s back yard.

Picking oranges for some fresh orange juice. It cannot compare to anything you have ever purchased at the store.

My parent’s living room. Doesn’t it look so Florida and relaxing?

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You can read Day 1 of my Florida Vacation here.

For more Talk about Tuesday visit Lara’s blog.

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Vacation Day 1

I decided to journal my vacation because I am really bad at writing down “memories.” Feel free to skip over these posts and get to the meat in my site, but if you want to read about taking 6 kids on a family vacation to Disney World read on.

Day 1

We planned to wake up at 4 am and get on the road about 4:30. The car had been packed the night before and everything was ready to go. Usually we go to bed early, but my husband and I ended up staying up pretty late. At 3am boy #2 came in our room and flipped on all the lights…

We tried to go back to sleep, but I was wide awake. I made a command decision at 3:30 am to get up, take my shower, and start our trip. We left of the house around 4:15 am. The trip was relatively uneventful in the early morning. Unlike most children who groggily sit in the car, mine are wide awake from the first second. They are talkative, excited, and have no intention of sleeping peacefully for the first several hours.

We stopped around 7:30 for breakfast in southern Virginia. Our waitress had an accent thicker than molasses and she called us names like sugar and honey. We should have stopped at a fast food joint, but we chose Shoney’s instead. I thought the kids would fill up and perhaps eat some fruit. I was wrong as donuts were on the buffet, and most of the kids chose those over pineapple and grapes.

We got back in the car and encountered heavy traffic and bad weather. We were able to make it another 4 hours before we stopped for a bathroom break and gas. We ate lunch in the car and the kids happily watched movies.

At some point in the afternoon our four year old asked,  “Are were there yet?” I wasn’t officially keeping track, but I think this was the 1,786,398 time this question was asked. I told her we weren’t and her reply was, “Well, that’s a problem for me because I really have to go to the bathroom!” We stopped again briefly for a potty break.

In Georgia we encountered heavy traffic and ended up sitting on I-95 for over an hour. We found a secondary road and finally got around whatever was causing the back up. We pulled into my parents driveway around 7:30 pm tired and ready to be out of the car. No one really slept on the trip, but seeing the grandparents gave the kids a small second wind. They all went to bed without a fight and are eagerly awaiting their cousin’s arrival this morning.

Today we plan our 5 Day Disney Adventure!

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by admin -

Disney’s Armed Forces Salute ~ Free Admission!

Disney ran this offer a few years ago. We were able to take advantage of it and unbelievably this offer comes the day before we are scheduled to leave for our Disney World vacation. I am so glad I waited to purchase tickets!

I just spoke with a representative Disney World and confirmed this information with guest services.

Free 5- Day Park Hopper Ticket for active duty service member. $99 5-Day base ticket for up to 5 guests.

Anyone on active duty- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
Retired military personnel
Federal/State National Guard and Reserves (with active papers dated 1/1/08-12/23/09)
Dept of Defense (CIA, FBI, Secret Service) and Coalition Forces are excluded

The military service member will receive one Complimentary 5-Day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute“ Ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More – this ticket is not upgradeable.
Up to 5 of their guests can purchase for $99 a “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Companion” (5 Day Base) ticket and can add on the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More option for $25 each (which is 50% off the normal price); however, these tickets may also be upgraded to Premium, Annual and Seasonal Passes. Seasonal Pass upgrade requires proof of Florida Residency. No other upgrades, such as adding on additional days or the NE option, are available.

This promotion will begin on 1/4/09 and end on 12/23/09. Tickets will expire on 12/23/09 and have no block-out dates
Tickets may be upgraded anytime between January 4th -December 23, 2009 as long as there is usage left on the ticket.

You may purchase tickets

  • At any Vacation Planner or Guest Relations Window
  • They can purchase an exchange voucher at Shades of Green (ticket is tax free)
  • They can also purchase an exchange voucher at their Base (ticket is tax free)

The entire party needs to be present for purchase (Spouse or military dependents can receive the companion discount without the military service member being present as long as they have their military ID).
The military service member will need to show ID; Cast Member will ask for their Base’s name, and the State where the base is listed.

This offer is only available once per service member.

This is a great deal for military members, especially if you live near Disney and don’t have to travel! Please pass this information on to any military family you know, active duty or retired. I hope many families are able to take advantage of this offer.

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by admin -

Carol of the Bells

I realize that most of us have taken down the tree and put all the decorations away. I have even posted my 2009 goals. But, I would regret not sharing this amazing arrangement of Carol of the Bells with you. I have always loved this song and this arrangement is awesome. Even more powerful was the poem that flashed across the screen as the song was being played. Unfortunately you cannot see all of the poem in the video so I have posted it below.

Poem by Clare Sera

It’s time.
Hushed, the frost of heaven.
Twinkling, the eyes of God
Roam. Search.
It’s time

Love
Love
Drops like snowflakes
Tenderly
…to touch our faces…
Restless to arrive
In fullness.

Gabriel, Go!

My beloved is ready
My perfect dove.
It’s time.

Without hesitation
Gabriel flies to earth
Furrowed holy brow–
For whom does he seek?
How will he know
This favored one?

A rush of wind as
In pursuit he flies
East
A sea of faces
West
A throng of bodies
Which one? Who? Where?

Until

One looks up
And
Gabriel is found

He falters at her gaze
Surely not this child

How can she, so frail, so human,
love enough to say–

Yes.

Yes to God.
Yes to Joy!
Yes!

Yes
to submission
Sacrifice
Pain
A path of tears
A sword that pierces
Choices
that rend the human heart

No
to the world
Yes
to God

Gabriel,
struck by one so weak
choosing grace to be strong
Departed

And all around her “yes”

Mankind moves on, oblivious
To the option
Of Grace
Of Yes
Choosing Comfort
Without Joy
Spending time buying time
Pressure hardened against
Time

All the while…
His eye still roams
The angel still calls
A holy wind rushes above us
Do we hear it,
Can we feel it
Does your heart not pound
Does it not burst
With the call…

Hail favored ones

Look up
Look up
It’s time
It’s time

But how does a mere mortal say yes to God?
How can one so weak be strong?
How?
How?

GOD. WITH. US.

“Carol of the Bells” from Northland Video on Vimeo.

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I must brag just a little as my brother did the audio mix for this song, you go Todd!

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Goals for 2009

Books to Read

Family Goals

  • Family Bible time 5 nights a week
  • Family game night once a week
  • Exercise more as a family
  • Family read alouds

Financial Goals

  • Purchase 15 passenger van (cash) by April 2009
  • Fund IRA
  • Braces for child #3 half-way funded by end of the year
  • Cut grocery budget by $50 a month
  • Live on half our income/ save or invest other half
  • Save for short term goals: vacations, homeschool materials, gifts
  • Start commission system for the kids
  • All extra money goes into house fund

Homeschool Goals

  • Restructure Bible time
  • More read alouds/ less silent reading
  • Research curriculum changes for 2009/2010 school year
  • Homeschool – Preschool with 4 yo three days a week
  • Once a month library trips w/ kids
  • Create system for organizing past and future books

Homemaking Goals

  • Follow Motivated Moms Planner
  • 30 meals in the freezer by April 15th
  • Create bi-monthly meal plans and shopping trips
  • Organize Clothing Bins
  • Paint/ refinish pantry cabinet
  • Involve the kids in meal planning/ prep
  • Incorporate more whole foods/ purchase less prepackaged foods in meals
  • Plant container garden
  • Enter all addresses into the computer
  • Try two new recipes a month
  • Room by room de-clutter and clean-out (one room a month should take me to 2010)

Personal Goals

  • Return to pre-baby weight by August 2009
  • Learn to knit
  • Make most of 4 yos summer clothing
  • Make cloth diapers
  • Make baby sling
  • Finish 3 aprons
  • Go to bed 1/2 hour earlier and get up 1/2 hour earlier
  • Take vitamins every day
  • Have all Christmas shopping finished before Thanksgiving

Places to Visit

  • Florida
  • Williamsburg
  • Blissdom
  • HEAV Convention
  • West Virginia
  • Outer Banks

Spiritual Goals

  • Read through One Year Bible
  • Increase time in prayer
  • Faithfully keep a journal
  • Make attendance a priority at church functions
  • Reach out to those who are different from me at church

These are my goals for 2009. They will probably change over the next several months, as life is always changing around here! Feel free to link up with your goals for 2009. We can all encourage each other in accomplishing our goals this year!

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The fine print. Make sure you link to your goal post, not your home page so everyone can find your goals easily. If you don’t have a blog leave your goals in the comment section.

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New Year, New Look

For those of you hoping I was going to show off a new hair cut, I am sorry to disappoint. I try not to make many big decisions while pregnant (like cutting my hair) because I almost always regret them. I do however love to move furniture around.

December is Laura’s last monthly round up of the year and she is finishing up with “The Living Room.”  Since we had to move furniture to put up our Christmas tree I thought this would be the perfect time to try out a new look.

Before December our living room looked like this.

I really liked this set up, except for the fact that the bookcase was always a mess. Since this is the first room you see when you walk in my house I don’t like people to see a mess!

We moved things around for the tree and it looked like this.

Now the tree is gone and it looks like this.

I like this set up because it brings another chair into the room and we never have enough seats. What I don’t like about this arrangement is that my windows look bare!

If I am going to keep it this way I think I need the following:

  • Big picture or mirror over the piano.
  • Small table between the two khaki chairs.
  • A little something for the windows.
  • Some type of storage for a few games or toys for the kids.

We moved the tall bookcase to the stairwell and I really like it there so it is not coming back down. Plus it is a big pain to move all those books. The piano can be moved because it is getting fixed next month and they have to take it to the shop to fix it, but I like it on that wall.

I am not an interior decorator, my style is something like late yard sale/ hand-me-down. I would love any opinions you have to help me finish off this room!

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Gratituesday

Laura suggested the final Gratituesday of 2008 should be How God was Great in 2008. I love this idea, so much that I already blogged about it a few weeks ago.

As I reflect on 2008 I can clearly see a larger picture unfolding. I know that sometimes, when you are in the middle of a trial or difficult circumstance it is hard to see beyond your situation. Just one year ago I was sitting in a 3 bedroom house, with a husband who was so drugged he couldn’t work, kids that had just been uprooted for the third time in a year, my grandfather was living out his final days in the hospital, and all my close friends lived somewhere else.

Now I look across the street at my old house, and I am alone because my husband is at work and I didn’t drive him there. My kids are surrounded by good friends, it is a joy to see their faces light up when we walk into church on Sundays. My grandfather passed away in January of this year, but I am rejoicing that he is now with Jesus and no longer suffering. I have made many good friends here in Maryland and am thankful to be surrounded by such wise women!

Looking back on our struggles over the past two years I am tempted to wonder, why me? But I will not. These last few years have taught me more about myself and helped me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I am thankful for my trials not because they made me strong, but because they made me weak. I realize now that the Lord doesn’t need strong vessels, he uses the weak ones. It is only through Him that I can be strong. How thankful I am that I am weak on my own! It really takes the pressure off of me! If I had to do everything on my own I would be a miserable failure, unable to cope with the storms that come my way.

If my strength lies in Him, then all I need is faith. Faith to persevere through the hard times, be joyful in all things, and give thanks to Him for everything.

Looking upward in 2009…

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by admin -

Make Time in 2009

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. While I am sure some people have had great success with them, I personally have never met anyone who lost 50 pounds, stopped smoking, run a marathon, or learned a foreign language because of a resolution.

I do believe in setting goals for the upcoming year. So this week, since we are not back into a full school schedule yet I am spending time creating a list of goals for 2009. I think it is easiest to break your goals into categories. I also believe in writing out your goals in pencil, erasable pen or on the computer so they can be changed. No lists in Sharpie!  As time goes by, you might realize that some goals are not appropriate or doable, and there are others you want to add to your list.

Here are the categories for my 2009 Goals. I hope to have them written out by the end of the week.

  • Books to Read
  • Family Goals
  • Financial Goals
  • Homemaking Goals
  • Homeschool Goals
  • Personal Goals
  • Places to Visit
  • Spiritual Goals

On January 1, 2009 I will publish my goals. Just for fun I will put up a Mr. Linky and if you have a list of goals you can link up. It will be helpful to see what others our doing, not to compare ourselves, but to be able to encourage one another in our journey.

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For more Talk about Tuesday visit Lara’s blog and for more Tackles visit 5MFM.

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Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Salute to Heroes 2009

Hats off to Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks for continuing their Heroes Salute in 2009.
In 2009 Anheuser-Busch Parks are offering:

  • Complimentary admission for active duty military representing all five service branches, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependents.
  • Valid for one complimentary single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks:
  • SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg
  • Sesame Place
  • Adventure Island
  • Water Country USA

* Offer valid through 12/31/2009. Operating days and hours vary by park. Please check with specific park for current operating schedule.

To fill out the registration form visit the Salute to Heroes website.

We have taken advantage of this deal for several years. We always have a great time and we plan to go again this year.

Great news, Anheuser-Busch has continued its Hero’s Salute program for 2010!