Mt Rushmore

So I forgot that I took real picutres with my real camera while we were at Mt Rushmore… so lets go back there just for a minute so I can share those images..

K, thanks!

Grands

We made it to Grams and Gramps!    First day here and the spoiling begins!

Fishing with Uncle Kelly, Grams and Gramps

and then swimming at Uncle Woody’s!

Its a rough life I tell ya…

This is what happens when you ask Caleb for a photo of the building. …. Photo bombed selfies. Is that a thing??

Uncle Kelly insisted that Caleb be armed with more explosives than most countries allow and then took him to the river to set them off.  Boys!  UGGG!

Crash really doesnt like thunder, just incase you were wondering….

Kentucky!

We finally made it to Kentucky!  I say finally, but really we made it about a week earlier than we expected.  So instead of  just spending one night here, we decided to spend 4!  It was a nice break from the road.. especially after surviving the traffic around Chicago and downtown Louisville .

Oh and hello allergies!

We spent our time being regular tourist and visited the Slugger Museum

Chris had a bat personalized for Caleb and then Caleb got to visit a batting cage for the very first time!  He used the bats provided… not his new one, just incase your were wondering 🙂

We also got to visit the Mega Caverns.  When we first arrived we only planned to take the tour.  But a certain little boy just had to have a go at the ropes course.  Im so glad he did, it was a perfect day… well for me.  I got to watch.  Chris not so much.  He had a hands on experience 🙂

During the tour Caleb volunteered to eat a worm…

The creepiest part of the entire thing is one section where they have hundreds of mannequins set up to show what it would have looked like had the caverns been used as a fall out shelter.

Spam!

You know Spam saved the world, right?  And that there is a museum in Minnesota dedicated just the this “meat” product….

        

It actually was a pretty neat experience.  Super nice people and free samples.  And according to the people in front of us… Spam is Kosher.  We didn’t have the heart to tell them differently….

Life on the road

A quick look into the everyday of life while traveling across the country 🙂

Road Food

He said his life was complete now that he had seen Mt Rushmore 🙂

Kid Heaven

The Corn Palace! Who knew….

North Carolina here we come!

Im spending the last day of 2014 trying to catch up….  We’ll see if I finish today or not.  But Im hoping to have all our adventures from this year cataloged before the new one starts!

So Im pretty sure I left off just before our move to North Carolina…

Caleb was a huge help this time!  Normally we send him off to play with friends while we have the movers come in and then while we clean, but this time he stayed with us and helped.   I love that hes growing up and willing to help, but its also kinda sad….

  

After a quick trip in Bend to visit with some friends we were on our way out of Oregon.  How very fitting that the last part of that state would be through the desert. We often described our time there as a desert.  But God is good,  and was even there. When we felt so very far from Him, He was always there!

General Caleb!

Presenting United States Calvary General Caleb!  🙂

 

We had such a great time making this uniform coat  and hat today I just had to share!  I’ve been trying to wait and share all of our Civil War unit study at once.. but I just couldn’t!

Today we also learned about the Battle of Antietam…  my sweetheart of a boy with tears in his eyes asked if we could thank God for the men who were willing to fight and die for what they believed in.  And of course I broke down when he added ” and so that we can be a family today.”  He then went on to pray for all the men and women currently serving.  I just love him and that great big heart of his!

After that it was perfect timing for a fun project.

We spent way to much time on it. Its not at all accurate.  But he loves it!

Using our Uniform project from the other day to decide how to make his

 

A quick look at the living room about half way through…

Ha! He chose to be in the Calvary because ” Mom! I have a horse. It just makes sense!”

Post Cards Please!

Caleb is trying to collect a post card from all 50 U.S. states … and one from the territories too!.. as part of his Road Trip USA Unit Study. If you would be willing to send him one please leave me a note here with your email address and I will get you the address!

 

Thank you so much!!

Caleb and his first post card!

Lantern…

As we learn about the states we are also learning about American History… We began with the Colonies and then the American Revolution.  As we venture into the Southeastern US we are learning all about the Underground Railroad and the beginnings of the Civil War.

Today we got to make our very own Signal Lantern… Alerting everyone that our house is a safe house for passengers.

More of our recent and current projects coming soon, but Caleb wanted  this one up now since its ” soooo cool… and handy!”

 

 

And this is what it looks like in the dark 🙂  Can you see the big dipper??

Selfie

.. And why I will continue to take them.

 

A month or so ago I posted this image on Instagram and Facebook

 

With a caption somewhat complaining/joking that no one ever told me I could style my hair like this and save so much time by not drying it for half an hour and then spending another half hour or more with the flat iron.

One hour later I received a note from a very concerned friend.  Their concern.. that I am completely full of myself and a person should never post a selfie.  Ever.

Now to be honest a couple of people left comments on the post saying I was pretty or cute.. My dad even called me beautiful.   However Ive never thought any of those words described me.  Oh they are nice to hear, but I automatically question the motives and truthfulness of the compliment giver.

Its a flaw.  Ill continue to work on it

 

Moving on.

I would like to introduce you to a couple of my friends who have graciously allowed me to share a bit of their stories

*Names have been changed to protect their privacy. Even if you know them please respect that.  Just smile or nod next time you see them at the grocery store, they will understand.

 

Let me introduce JJ

JJ is 4 years old.  Every night he snuggles to sleep with a camera phone selfie of his mother that his dad printed for him.  You see JJ’s mom is currently in Afghanistan.  She has been there for 10months.  (Don’t tell him, but dad says this is the fourth one he’s printed because it keeps getting tattered) While there are countless other photos of his mother, JJ loves this one.  When I asked why he said her smile was true.  Hmmm..

When I asked to see the photo, it was not at all what I expected.  “Her smile is true”,  so I expected a 20th retake to get just the right angle, the perfect smile and on the best side.. You know, you’ve done it!

Nope.  What I saw was my friend with hair all a mess, tongue sticking out and crazy eyes.  Its her to a T!  And I completely understood JJ attachment to it.

 

Meet Mrs D.

D is 56, the child of a photographer.. back in the days when film was king.  D’s mother passed away 22 years ago.   Five years ago D’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  His most valued possession, a snap shot of their family from when D was just a toddler.  As he walks by its frame he says “Look at my family. Aren’t they something! ”

When I questioned D about her favorite image of her mother she presented a similar photo, but in this one she is a bit older and her sister is the toddler.  She told me how she vividly remembered her mother setting up the camera and tripod.  How her mom arranged everyone, got the timer all set and ran back to the group and smiled just in time!

D had countless pictures of her, her sister.. even a few of her father.  But only a handful of her mother.  She has thousands of images, beautiful images, her mother took.  Sadly there are all too few with her mother in them.

 

Heres my friend M

M is 32, happily married to the man of her dreams, mother to 2 fantastic kiddos here and one in Heaven.  T passed 3 days after his 9th birthday.  Just eight months ago.

M has 784 images on her phone.  700 of those are selfies with one or more of her children, friends and family.  The majority of them include T.

She has no guilt.  Could careless what others say when she posts a new selfie every day.  Every Single Day M!

Sometimes she’s in pjs, others she’s all dolled up.  9 times out of 10 her children or husband or even the family dog join her.

” I have hundreds of pictures of the kids doing their school work, playing sports, hanging out at home, at youth activities.. you know all the normal stuff.  But my favorite are our selfies. The ones where all our faces are squished together and we can’t help but laugh.  Some one is always blinking or not looking.  I look back on those and can’t help but smile.  In the ones with T, our faces completely block out the IV poles and lines.  You wouldn’t even know we were in a hospital.  He’s smiling because we are being silly, its perfect. Just the way I want to remember our last days together”

 

 

All to often we as moms and women are reluctant to hop in front of the camera for what ever reason, but I am documenting our life.

My life.

And guess what my life has my face all over it!

Expect to see me!

 

 

If the unthinkable were to happen and I left this world tomorrow I want Caleb surrounded with pictures of me.  Images that help jog memories of the fun and happy times.

But you know what, even if I live until Im 100 and see him grown, welcome children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren I want the same thing.  I want to look back on my crazy hair styles and laugh.  I want that memory captured on paper or even hidden away on a computer so its there to remind me of a time, a place a moment… even better shared on social media for all to see so others can remind me and share in the joy as well.

 

So heres my challenge.  Its so easy to snap a picture of our kids enjoying a favorite restaurant, playing at the park or even at the doctors office.. but next time you do hug  them close, stretch your hand out in that awkward position and snap a selfie.  Make silly faces or give us your best smile.  Tuck it away for a day when you need it.  Or be brave and share it with the world.

There is no judgement.  You are not conceited, self centered, fishing for complements.. just enjoying your life with your face written all over it!

 

 

 

 

Robots!

Caleb: ” Mom do people ever build robots and make them fight?”

Oh my son, do they ever!

And that is how it happened that we spent the past 2 hours on YouTube watching videos of robots fighting, and why Caleb is now sprawled out on the kitchen floor with a roll of paper and his colored pencils designing every type of robot imaginable to an eight year old boy!   

 

A special thank you to Robots-Dreams.com and ComBots.net for making today awesome!

Yep, that kinda day..

You know that kind of day when you have forty bazillion things to do and actually have the motivation to do them… but along comes a cute little man who wants to play with fireworks on the back porch or some other randomness that wasn’t planned.

You know exactly what Im talking about.  

 

Those things I had planned.. they didn’t get done.  But a certain cute boy thinks Im the best mom in world.  Id call that a good day 🙂

Influenster Review

 

 “Influenster is a free-to-join community of trendsetters, social media masterminds, and educated consumers who live to give opinions of products and experiences.”

…….Yep I took that right from their website, but now you know what it is 🙂  

 

Last week I received the J’adore VoxBox.  Several fun products were included, below is my review of each.

 

Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask   $9.39

What they say:

Treat your skin to deep cleansing with this mineral-rich clay mask. Designed for use on normal skin, the unscented, hypo-allergenic formula absorbs excess oil and deeply cleanses skin.  the oceanic clay exhibits a negative electrical charge which helps draw out impurities without over drying, leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother.

What I say:

My skin tends to be a little dry, so I did feel really dry after using.  Other than that, all was as it stated.  After a little moisturizer my skin feels smooth and soft and is glowing.   The price seems ok,  I would purchase it.  And I would recommend it to others.

 

 

Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolates 18.5oz bag $5.29

What they say:

The right words don’t always come easily. And sometimes its impossible to say what you really mean. But give someone Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates and you’ll instantly say it all.

What I say:

Yumm!  Yep that about sums it up!  Caleb says yumm too!

 

Frizz ease 3-day Straight Flat Iron Spray  $9.99

What they say:

Revolutionary heat-activated formula wraps each strand in long-lasting straightness for up to 3 days* with our weighing hair down. Formula, infused with Keratin, protects against heat damage and blocks frizz making hair glossy, smooth, and swinging with body.                                                *or until your net shampoo if less than 3 days. 

What I say:

The directions instruct you to spray 7-15 sprays on damp hair then blow dry and style with flat iron as normal. Because I have such thick hair I went with 10.    I certainly noticed a lack of frizziness day one.  But by the end of day 2 it just seemed really oily and limp.  Could have been the amount I used.. Not sure.  I will most definitely try again!  Still I am pleased with this product and would purchase it.

 

KISS Looks So Natural Lashes $3.99

What they say:

KISS Looks So Natural Lashes are made with Tapered End Technology so lash strips blend seamlessly with your won lashes, inconspicuously highlighting your eyes- they’re so luxuriously light and comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing them!

What I say:

I don’t wear lashes.. only the ones God gave me.  In all honesty, they scare me a little.  So I asked a friend to try them for me!

So heres her review:

I never did read the instructions because I have used lashes before. I did enjoy them for 2 days then I had to throw them away as big chunks of the lashes fell out. I was very disappointed in them. I will not buy this brand and will not recommend them to anyone. Bummer  Other brands have by far lasted much longer.  Oh and they were fairly easy to use.

 

Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas  $4.49 for a carton of 20 tea bags

What they say:

Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas deliver rich decadent flavors in a premium black tea blend  Enjoy this indulgence in a cup, with none of the calories and none of the guilt.

What I say:

I received two bags of Creme Caramel  and one Lemon Chiffon.  I loved the caramel, it wasn’t fake caramel flavory like you sometimes get.  It was mild and smooth.. but the lemon just wasn’t my cup of tea 🙂  I don’t normally buy flavored tea but I might be willing to purchase this.

 

Vaseline Men Spray Lotion  $7.99

What they say:

New Vaseline Men Spray Lotion is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds to tackle dryness fast and leave skin feeling great. After application, skin feels instantly moisturized – not sticky or greasy.

What I say:

I had Chris and Caleb test this product.  Caleb loved the spray function 🙂 For me it was easy to use on him.  Both liked that they were not greasy after use.  I loved the mild scent, not overwhelming like so many other products for men.   I think the price is decent, and would purchase this product.

 

** I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influesnter.

 

Forgiveness – Foibles, Follies and Fallacies

This is a big kid subject.  A call to grow up, wise up and dive deep into Scripture is being issued.

Do not read further if you are not ready to accept the challenge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgiveness… its a big word, with huge implications.  Unfortunately it is something we take all together too lightly today.

Over the past few years its something I have become more and more acquainted with. And Ive discovered Ive been doing it all wrong. .. and so have you.

Its time that changes.

Rather than expound on each of the ways Ive discovered that we fail to forgive properly, I decided a list of the top five would better suit our time.

So here goes..

1. Forgiveness is not a public affair.  Ever. Period.  It is not meant for social media or the grocery store or in front of an audience of Sunday School graduates.  Just you, the person you offended and God. Thats it, thats all it takes.

2. There is no “but” after Im sorry or I apologize.

3. It is never ok to at random walk up to someone, send a letter, make a phone call to say ” I forgive you” unless you are completely ready to apologize for your part in the discord.  And trust me, there is always something you need to apologize for!  Once you have that figured out, see #1

4.  When you say it, mean it!  And end it.  Don’t drag it back up three weeks or three years later.  Sometimes the relationship can’t be put back like it was.. thats ok.  Forgiveness and peace can still exist.

5. Pride has no place in an apology! Get over yourself.  Step off your pedestal and run to your brother or sister and humble yourself before them.

Who do you need to forgive?  How have you been doing it wrong?

 Would your top five look any different?  Are you willing to share?  I would love to hear how you deal with this subject.

 I have purposely left at the scripture references that have been burned into my memory over the past few years of struggling with this subject.. go find them!  Read them yourself.  I promise they will mean so much more than if I had typed them out for you here.  If you need some help I would love to point you in a direction, just ask!

Sweet Home Alabama

Have you been following along on our Road Trip USA adventure?  I sure hope so because we’ve been having a blast!

We finally finished up with the Northeast and have ventured into the Southeast!  Our first stop, Alabama!  Makes me homesick and happy all at the same time.

We took a little longer on this particular state.. because well, we could!

We learned all about Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, tired our hands at reading braille, giggled over Caleb’s pronunciation of Chattahoochee, read a story about a talking bus from Montgomery that told  the heroic story of Mrs Rosa Parks, wondered if we could still find an authentic arrow head at Moundsville,  ate peanuts until we were sick, ohh-ed and ahh-ed over the beautiful flowers at Bellingrath Gardens, pretended to sail on the USS Alabama,  began a savings account for space camp in Huntsville, tried to determine just how flat Cumberland plateau is or isn’t..

.. and then today we finished our time in Alabama by building our very own Mobile Bay Light.  And because we just watched the Lego movie yesterday, Emmet joined us for the fun and has been named honorary light keeper… Im not so sure he thought that was awesome! 🙂