pain in the rear

This is the time of year that my sciatica starts being a "pain in the rear," literally.:-P

I spend most of my waking hours sitting, either sitting at home (studying or reading or watching tv) or sitting at work (tutoring or working on e-mails or transcripts in the office). My back ain't what it used to be, darn Hurricane Ivan cleanup. I need Dr. Garry Hendricks to move back in the more local locale!!!! Whaaaa! Ft. Walton Beach is just too far to drive for one of his acupressure-miracle-working-adjustments! So relieving.

Trim Healthy Mama life and losing 42 pounds has made a HUGE difference in my energy and activity levels. I can garden for hours, up and down, crawling around on the ground, back-bending over weeds and hauling, digging, pulling and trimming. I am feeling so much better! And yet this sciatica threatens.

I am starting to use Young Living Essential Oils...this month is my first as a Member. I am excited about it! They have an oil blend called Pan-Away for pain. I also LOVE the Frankincense and Stress Away oils. Mmm.

Garden prep is coming along slowly. Very slowly. Every weekend it either rains or I am busy with an uni exam or the nieces are visiting. Oh, well. Can't do everything. And I gotta spend time with these lovies, all the time that I can! <3

My adorable nieces!

Spring has come

Spring came early for us this year. The weather warmed up, the daffodils and paperwhites bloomed in February, and we were swimming in the pool by the first of April. Cardinal parents set up nest outside our front door, and the wisteria’s fragrance was heady.

The beaches are beautiful and warm (and once again white, after last year’s disaster). I enjoy hearing my my 2-year-old niece squeal to see the wide open sand and water. “Yay! It’s pwetty, Aubee!” Corrie Lynn loves to “swim” in the sand, make sand-angels, and splash in the bubbly waves as they lap onshore.It is heart-warming to see her fresh delight! As we lather on our Burt's Bees sunscreen, we are thanking the Lord for letting us enjoy His creative world!

Aside from the fact that I am busier than ever at this time of year, I just LOVE spring!

As every graduating class grows in number as the years go by, so does my load of work in preparing their transcripts and processing Bright Future applications. This spring I have also attended an administrator's workshop by our accrediting board and taken our kids to the local Homeschool Prom (and hosted an after-party!). The first was informational. The second, downright a blast! It's strange that graduation for this class is only a month off now!

We also celebrate the 2nd birthday of the child that made us aunties...Corrie Lynn turns two, to the tune of a "Bob" party coming up this Friday. She is such a doll...and a devotee of Bob, Larry, and friends! She loves to read, draw, sing, dance, swim, and is quite on the go at all times. We just took the girls to Penny's for their portraits;they were just adorable! Juliana Mae is 5 months old now, it's hard to believe. And sooo different from CL, in everything from looks to temperament. I "put on the ritz" on Easter Sunday; all the family was here and a fun time was had by all. Being the Easter Bunny has its advantages! :-P

This week is Spring Break at CIAS...and lucky me, I am studying for college finals. :-) Oh, joy! At least I can sleep in and attempt to rid myself of the dark circles that threaten to take over my face! And I have a LIST of things I want to get done around the house. That I will do. So help me. And I get to COOK, which I LOVE (and miss during the school year!). And create my spring/summer budget.

This time of year will fly by quickly. I don't get to blog like I'm accustomed to anymore. Soon it will be summer, and school will be out, and I will be wrapping up a successful school year and planning a new one. And tutoring my bro through college algebra. And taking my nieces to the beach and to the seashell shop. :-) And going for sushi with Mom. And reading a few good books. God is good!

big little blessings

Cori had a doc visit yesterday, Juliana is 7 1/2 pounds and will gain another 1/2 pound every week until her birth, so that should put her around 9 pounds at birth in 3 weeks. She is healthy and doing well. Have mercy and bless them, Jesus. We depend on you, Lord, to keep both Cori and JM safe and sound.

A childhood song has been running in my head all day today, based on Isaiah 40:1. "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young." 

rain and baby showers

So yesterday was Cori's (and Juliana Mae's!!!) baby shower. The ladies at Warrington Worship Center prepared a delicious spread, I took goodies from the bakery, and Sarah made an adorable pink and purple giraffe cake and chocolate iced cupcakes. The punch was a ginger ale & lime sherbet concoction...yum!

There were quite a few ladies and children there (I forgot to get a head count). I know it blessed Cori to have everyone come. Not only were the church ladies there, but Cori's violin students and their mamas, and some of our family friends as well.

I got there a little before 1 pm and set up my bakery sweets. I saw that we needed some more decorations, so I had Tricia prep pink and purple balloons to attach to the chairs all around the room. Then back to the house to get dressed and to Walmart for flowers and cards. I was 10 minutes late so I missed the three games, but I arrived before everyone else in the fam. We are a mess! :-P

I had the responsibilities of cutting the cake and recording the gifts. JM got some really practical things (i.e. diapers, wipies, a wipie warmer, diaper pail, a giant frog bathtub toy scoop from Alice S, an essential oils compendium from Debra W, a safety gate from MaeMae, a bouncer from Nanny, sleepers, a stereo from Aunt Tricia, an "A-B-C Song" playing giraffe from me, onesies, socks, caps, bibs, sleeper sets), as well as cute and fun stuff too (crocheted baby blanket, receiving blankets, 1st Christmas bear, and Madame Alexander "My First Huggums" babydoll). And these are only the ones that I remember, so there were more. The WWC ladies helped us load the gifts into the van, and Sarah and I unpacked and sorted all the gifts, since Cori is so far along now that everything is difficult for her to do. Juliana now has a trunk full of natural diapers and wipies!!! :-D

On Friday afternoon, I hosted the CIAS Operation Christmas Child packing party. We had 12 or so kids to come, and we packed 9 boxes! I have always wanted to participate in OCC, but never had the chance to, so, I had a joyful time shopping at Walmart & $ Tree for boy and girl stuff for my boxes! :-)

And today I am working on organizing my team's research and inserting it all into the Autism power point that I have done for our presentation. I also have to grade students' papers from my writing classes. And it's raining (acorns and real rain!). :-)