It feels good to have this very busy week drawing to a close. How I hate rush, chaotic schedules and more than I can do on my weekly list.

Another swipe at my cleaning today. I promise to deep clean this house next week! 2, almost 3 completed dresses hanging in my sewing room, but I need to chase down some more fabric and get zippers......60 pounds of sausage waiting to be packaged, plus ribs and steaks.

Our yearly Christmas supper with friends from church was last night. The children stayed with SIL Shelly. Brooke cried off and on all evening and only Cousin Ally or Brother Logan could take care of her. I hate when that happens.

Now I need to tackle that ironing pile, then head to my Mom's to help with a group of 88 people , yes, you heard me! Leon plans to be home with the children and package my meat! Yeah! What an awesome man I have! All my recent feelings of being overwhelmed result in him helping out even more, and never getting a moment for himself, ever!He is the most self-less man......I could go on and on.

Tonight is the annual Christmas play at the Baptist church and my children wouldn't miss it for anything. Of course, there's Pizza Hut afterwards and then go buy a gift for Angel Tree.

If you stop in to visit, I could offer you some caramels or chocolate truffles. They are sooooo good, no calories, I promise. But you better stop in today, for tomorrow they may be gone.

Okay, everyone wants mom. Off I go.

Good bye!

Tonight has been our first evening all week with Daddy at home-and guess what! He's out butchering 2 pigs in the garage with the boys. I think he's too tired to move,  but tomorrow is deer season , and well, I'm hoping he gets to relax a little, although a deer in the first hour would be nice. So after the men went out, Annika and I cleaned the house in high gear! Whew! We swiped the top crust off and now we can relax. What a willing helper I have! 

Today was spent with school, frying 8 lb. sausage for the freezer, baking cheddar sausage muffins, making a big pizza casserole for SIL Amy's moving day next Saturday, laundry......after my hubby made me stay in bed until 7:45AM and he got the children up. It was chicken and broccoli alfredo for supper. This Italian loving Momma thought it was great. The rest of the family actually liked it, too.

Here's my Tupperware I got off of ebay for less than $20. I was so pleased! No more buggy rice and other stuff.

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We had a great Thanksgiving week. Leon's family was together almost the whole week. There were cousins to be with for the children and lots of good memories made. Family is such a treasure! Well, most of them, at least. It was really good to have Elaine and her family here from SC, Karlin from SMBI and Lowell, from college. The 7 brothers never lack for things to discuss or reminisce upon! Some of the stories get wilder as the years go by. How could that be? Annika sat by her Uncle Gene one night and very intently watched football with him.

Jamison and his 90 year old Great Grandma Miller

And Lowell thinks he has big muscles......

Okay, so I woke up this morning truly feeling like a truck had driven over me, or crashed into me, or some other unlikely catastrophe. In other words, I ached.all.over. And I was so cold. After popping some pain pills I headed for the couch in obedience to my husband.

Good kids. They got up on their own, except for Brooke, the boys helped the girls get breakfast, get dressed and start their day. Soon the pills took hold and I began to feel better. I decided to have school in the living room so I could stay on the couch. Everyone got set up and situated, Brooke went down for her nap, we were the picture of peace. We even took pictures of everyone in their places. Somewhere between practicing Psalm 139 and getting down to business, everything fell apart. The one student was reduced to tears over the tiniest frustration, the other student went into gales of laughter.over.everything. These 2 very different emotions were going on at the same time mind you. The headache started back in on Teacher Mom, pressure began to rise.....things were not looking pretty.

Fast forward 2 hours.  Teacher Momma was yelling and crying and thinking  things like "I hate homeschooling!" and "I'm the worst Mom in the whole wide world." Both students were crying. It was a mess. Teacher Mom went to the bathroom alone to cry, talk to God, return and apologize.

Do you ever get tired of people thinking or saying what a super woman you are? Well, I do. And just because I homeschool, does not automatically put me up there on that pedestal. I am not a very patient woman. Oh, you thought it said that in the How To Homeschool handbook, didn't you? I am selfish. I like 'me time', too.

If I wasn't so convinced that this is what God has asked of our family, today would have been the last day. Sometimes the things we are called to do are not the easiest choice we could have made.

And above all, it's great to apologize and have your sweet kids extend their forgiveness, but it's much better to not have to apologize at all.

And it's better to discipline than nag or yell.Always!

And I have a new admiration for all the sick mommas in the world, who keep on loving and giving, even from the couch.

P.S. School got cut short. No math today. Tomorrow's a new day, Thank You, Jesus!