return of the dementia

(For the first dementia story, read "Chili Bean Dementia".)
Still having allergy problems, JohnDavid and I stayed home from the campmeeting again.
A few minutes after Travis and the girls left, the phone rang. It was my niece Abigail. She wanted to see if we'd left yet, but she hadn't been able to get us on the cell phone. Oh, no! I bet Travis forgot the phone. We only have one cell phone. I checked, and yep, it was still in my pocketbook in the bedroom.
"They should be at the campmeeting in about 10 minutes or so," I told Abigail. "Are you going?"
She said yes, she was. So I told her she should see them in a few minutes.
After I hung up, I saw on my cell that I had 2 missed calls. I checked my messages, and one was from Travis. I hadn't paid attention to what time it said the call came in before I hit delete, so I thought, "Maybe he called me on the way to church. I'll call him and see if he did."
I walked back in the living room, dialing on the home phone. A few seconds later, the cell phone in my other hand started ringing. "I bet that's him calling me back," I thought.
I looked at the cell phone.
It said, "Home is calling."
I just sat down in the living room chair, and laughed. All by myself in the living room, laughing and laughing!
(I am really, really crazy)
Oh, can I blame it on allergies? Hmmm... I thot not.

on chat too much

Ha ha, about six months ago, Rebekah was reading a book, and she said, "I'm mixed up; I don't know who is talking." There were two people in the book talking back and forth for a long conversation, and she'd lost track of which person was talking.
Well, instead of telling her to look back at the top of the page, I unintentionally told her to scroll back up! LOL, I've been chatting online way too much.

surprise perks at summer camp

JohnDavid is a cut up. Two summers ago (2007, age 10), he went to Gospel Light Youth Camp along with sisters, friends, and cousins. One evening, before the service started, he was talking to some other boys about GIRLS! He looked over and saw two very pretty girls. He told the boys, "I bet I can get those girls to kiss me just like that!" and snapped his fingers. The boys said no, they didn't believe he would be able to do that!
"Hey, you, girl," called JohnDavid, "come over here a minute!"
One of the girls came over right away and asked, "What do you want?"
"Give me a kiss on the cheek." The girl did so without hesitation.
The boys were amazed. "No WAY! How did you do that?"
"Watch," continued JohnDavid, and called to the other girl to come over and said again, "Here, give me a kiss on the cheek." This girl, too, kissed him immediately, and with a smile!
"Wow! No WAY! How can you get girls to kiss you like that?" They were just astonished!
With a smile, JohnDavid replied, "It's a gift!"
He never did let on that his sisters love a good joke too! :o)

by Mamaw Norman (my Mom)
The Norman Grandkidz Gazette (that she wrote monthly for the grandkids while she was still able)
October, 2007

all about Durham!

The pics are up at TeenCraft about our trip to Durham.

they did it!

Sahm has not been doing her usual sahm duties. Not been studying.... kids not doing much school.... BUT...

the girls have raised enough money for the trip to Durham next week! Two girls, ages 11 and 14 raised $400 in 6 weeks. Well, I know their dad paid for about half the materials... but still, that's pretty good! They actually sewed all those pocketbooks - over 50. They used some of the money for supplies, and a few pocketbooks were given away to people who helped.

And we could not have done it without help. So I should say the girls and people helping them raised that much money in 4 weeks! ...their Grandma Shelby, Aunt Geraldine, Amy B (Mom of a child Geraldine babysits), Josie (Grandma's friend), Robin (my friend and Josie's daughter-in-law) Mabel (goes to my Mom's and Josie's church), Hannah (Shelby's sister's daughter-in-law), and of course, me -- doing the blog, posting on facebook, emailing friends, making business cards, etc. I'm the advertising manager, ha.

To learn more, read What we do.

Later I want to get pics of the people who helped and tell a bit more about how they helped, and will post that on TeenCraft.

So, now... catch up on school!

try them and you may, i say, part 2

Well, we tried them. Eggplant that is. That's Bethany on the left grilling it. Rebekah is frying squash! :o) We've never had eggplant, so I'm not even sure we cooked it the right way! I looked it up online, and will definitely look up more ways to cook it! It wasn't terrible, just not tasty. Hmmm... maybe a little terrible, lol.

We'll have to try again... Any suggestions?

try them and you may, i say

How many times have we had to make our kids eat their vegetables? What is it about vegetables that are so different than chicken or pasta? Would you believe my kids love broccoli??? But not so much canned corn. Now, corn on the cob, yeah, they love that. Peas, green beans.... somewhat. They like squash casserole. So what kid likes squash and broccoli? Mine, I guess. But you should see the tiny spoonfuls of corn or peas they dish onto their plate!
So, we as parents make sure they eat what's good for them.
Sometimes God has to do the same for us. We don't always like what is dished up for us. God may want you to do something you're not comfortable with. Life is always changing -- we can't always stay in our comfort zone. We just need to try not fighting whatever God's plan is for our life, and we will probably like it. Try it and you may, I say.
My kids didn't always like squash and broccoli.
So when we have changes in our lives, we can learn to get used to them.  God knows exactly what we need.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11 "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

busy, busy

Sahm has been busy the last couple of days helping her daughters get a blog started to promote the pocketbooks they make and sell. It's called TeenCraft. Right now, we don't have it set up to take orders, because these are school-age kids with limited time to make these pocketbooks, so it would be difficult to keep up with orders. For now, it's mainly for people we personally know to have a way to view the pocketbooks.
They have been working extra hard in the last several weeks to earn money for an upcoming trip. They're also earning $$$ for their Grandma and a cousin. We are all excited about going to the ladies meeting in Durham, NC.
I'm so proud of my girls!

sahm i am

I am Sahm; Sahm I am. Do I like that Sahm I am?
I love it!
I am a stay-at-home-mom. :o)
Is that all I am? NO. I am a Christian, first and foremost. Everything else is just an adjective, that describes what kind of Christian I am.
What kind of Christian am I??? My kids know.
People see me, and if they know I am a Christian, everything I do/say reflects on that. (If they don't know, shame on me!)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
...what I write on my blogs, how I treat employees in Walmart, the waitress, my husband. What do you think of a woman who always corrects her husband in front of others? When someone corrects others, they are trying to show them up. Is it vital? (then be discreet) No? Then let it go.
Do I have a disregard for laws I don't think should be implemented? (seatbelts, for example) I tell my kids, you don't get to decide you can ignore rules if you think they aren't fair, no matter how small. So I should do the same.
I have to say, as I write this, I am seeing myself. I am very far from perfect, and maybe writing this blog for all to see will give me the nudge I need to not skip my Bible reading... make sure I go to God in prayer throughout the day... love my kids and husband more.
If we tell God, "I love you." Would he say, "I know?"
I will tell myself, "I am a Christian. Act like one."

would you like them here or there?

Sometimes I feel like saying to my kids, "At your service," and, "Would there be anything else, sir/ma'am?" "I'm sorry you don't care for the food. May I have the cook prepare something else for you?"
Would you like them here or there?
I want to tell them to be thankful for what they have, and to pick up after themselves and not be so lazy! Sadly, I do tell them this, but not always with the right attitude.
Why is it when we see our kids being picky or lazy, we don't see ourselves in them? Me? I act like that???
Yes! It is our reflection! We all get lazy, and it's easier to let something slide rather than do it 'right the first time' as we heard our parents say.
So, should we not discipline them? Of course not! But if we are guilty of the things we don't want them to do, we are hypocrites. I once heard Curtis Hudson's daughter, Sherry Camperson, say, "We will either serve as a good example or a horrible warning."
This is where we need to pick up our Bible and ask for God to shine through our lives. Actions speak louder than words; more is caught than taught.
Do my kids see Christ in me?

Sadie

Sadie was a great dog. She was such a fun dog, too.
Yesterday morning, when JohnDavid and Travis went out to feed and water the dogs, they found Sadie had died. We're not totally sure what happened, but she hadn't eaten in several days. I think she swallowed a rock or something. She liked to bring us rocks.
She was just over 5 years old. We had her for a little over 3 years after my Mom and Dad moved to an apartment where they couldn't have a big dog.
When we first moved here, there were some places with high grass. She'd jump as she went through the grass, trying to see over it with each "step." I called it "boinging" through the grass... boing, boing, boing....
She always came excitedly when we came home, bringing us a leaf, twig, or rock "offering" for us, just wagging her little short tail. She hardly ever jumped up on anyone, though.
We had taught her to run around the house to the other door. She'd be sitting at the back door looking in, and someone in the house could motion with their arm and say, "Go around!" and she'd take off. She knew that meant we were probably going to give her food. I didn't like to give her food out the back door where the walkway was, and people came in and out that door. When it was wet out, she'd sit there on the step and make it muddy. So I tried to encourage her to sit on the front porch. It didn't work, though; she still would sit back there. It was warmer in the back where the sun shone all day... but she did learn to run around when we told her to!
Once, there was another dog that came while Rebekah and JohnDavid were playing at the creek. They climbed a tree, and Sadie kept the dog away for about 30 minutes until Travis came home. He'd come home early that day, and the kids were thankful for that.  It wasn't fun being stuck in the tree, but Sadie was doing her job well, keeping that dog away.
She chased anything you threw, even if it wasn't meant for her to chase. Once, Bruce and Travis were clearing rocks out of the yard so they could plant grass seed. She chased every rock they threw! She got a lot of exercise that day.
We really miss her. She was a great dog. A really great dog.
Click here for a fun make-believe story about Sadie.

chili bean dementia

Today, we were making chili beans from a can for lunch. I opened the cans, and looked for a particular glass dish that I knew had a glass lid, so I could heat it in the microwave. (plastic stains, you know) These kids -- when they empty the dishwasher, don't put things back where they go! So, I looked in several cabinet doors under the bar, then I went over and looked in the shelves under the counter in the corner. Of course, it was as expected. I didn't see the dish anywhere. I started back to the first set of shelves and stopped. There was the dish sitting on the bar!!! What???

I looked at Rebekah. "You put that there, didn't you?"

She kinda laughed, "No, I didn't put it there." (mama, you've lost your mind)

I looked at Bethany. "Did you put it there?"

Bethany laughed, too. "No, Mama. I guess you did."

Now, I know my girls. I know they love tricks, and they got it from me. So I was sure one of them did it to be silly. But they both insisted they didn't, still laughing at me. Well, of course I was skeptical, just knowing they had to have done it. But they still said they didn't. So I went ahead and poured in the cans of chili and heated it in the microwave. (homeschool + busy = quick lunch)

A few minutes later, I heard the beep from where I sat at the computer, helping JohnDavid with history. He finished the problem we were on, and I went back to the kitchen. I opened the microwave, and there were no chili beans inside!!! I looked, and there they sat on the bar!

I looked at the girls. "What!?!" (did I really forget to put them in?)

They burst out laughing. Rebekah had taken them out of the microwave while I was still at the computer.
Whew! I didn't want to lose my mind twice in 15 minutes!

happy 5th birthday, Sadie!

Sadie in Space, by JohnDavid, Nov. 11, 2008 (age 11)

NASA wanted to bring moon rocks down to earth, so scientists could study further about the moon and the substance on it.

The astronauts took Sadie in space to carry space rocks back and forth to the ship. They could not get their rocks from her because she would not release her jaws! When she was going back to one of the men gathering space rocks, she lost her way on the moon.

Space aliens captured Sadie and put her in a space prison. Sadie escaped from the space prison by digging a hole and escaping from underneath the cage. She needed to get back to the spaceship before her oxygen supply ran down.

The giant aliens were going to test out a new golf course. There was one hole at every planet. The aliens mistook Sadie for a golf ball and they hit her towards earth. When she entered the atmosphere, she was going 900 mph. She had magnetic boots to stick to the inside of the spaceship so she would not float around. She flew by an airplane and stuck to the tail. Then when the plane landed, the pilot recognized her and shipped her to NASA and NASA shipped her to us.

After we got her back, she was never the same again. Every time she chased a car, she stuck to the side because the boots had magnetized her feet! It took the whole family to pull her off.

Love this story!
More about Sadie

Colonial Life in North Carolina, est. 1653

Rebekah's assignment was to imagine she lived in the 1750's and was employed to write a brochure for a colony...

One of the four southern states, North Carolina is one of the beautiful original 13 colonies.

Geography
Beautiful waterfalls are located in southern North Carolina. Along with many rivers, the Roanoke River in North Eastern Carolina, the Albemarle Sound, The Neuse, and Tar Rivers drain in central North Carolina. In the Mountains the Appalachians are blanketed with snow in the winter. The climate is never too cold or hot. (World Book N-O)

Economy
The economy was similar to that of the Chesapeake Colonies. (World Book N-O) The production of tobacco and slave labor was on what the economy’s growth and prosperity was based. (Wikipedia) Also North Carolinians farmed on small, individual farms. They grew tobacco as well as cotton and wheat. (World Book N-O)

Politics
North Carolina was under the direct Royal Rule from 1729-1776. (SOS) They had a Bicameral Legislature, a legislature with two chambers. The French and Indian War was one of the wars to which North Carolina contributed money to help the troops in 1754-1763. (World Book N-O)

Society
In 1775, the population of this colony grew from 36,000 in the early 1700s, to 350,000. Settlements had spread from the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the Piedmont and the Mountain Regions. (World Book N-O) The Cherokee Indians were part of the people living in North Carolina in the 1700s. Of the 300,000 Cherokees at that time, there were over 12,000 in North Carolina. (Wikipedia) Farming was one of the main sources of income of people in North Carolina. (World Book N-O)

“Colonization in America.” World Book. 2001 ed.

“North Carolina.” World Book. 2001 ed.

Alexander, Dianne K. ”Middle and Southern Colonies.” Switched-On Schoolhouse. Chandler, AZ: Alpha Omega Publications, 2001.

Alexander, Dianne K. ”Colonial Governments.” Switched-On Schoolhouse. Chandler, AZ: Alpha Omega Publications, 2001.

“North Carolina History.” Wikipedia. 26 Dec. 2002. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 10 Oct. 2008. 

by Rebekah, age 13 

celery experiment, written by JohnDavid, age 11

We filled a glass ¼ full of water, and put in 10 drops of blue food coloring. Then we stuck in a stalk of celery. After 15 minutes, we looked at the bottom of the stem and saw blue dots on the bottom. After 30 minutes, it was still the same.
The next day, the leaves were bluish. When we broke the celery in half, it was blue on the strings. The xylem was transporting the water that had the food coloring up to the leaves. And when the leaves made food, it would transport it down the phloem where it be stored in the cortex so when the plant needs it, it would have food. The leaves were stained around all the edges.
This proves that xylem, phloem, and the leaves play a very important part in helping the plant grow.

by: JohnDavid, typed by Mom