Shine Like Finger Nails

My finger nails have been looking rough lately. Between my working with preschoolers at work, and my usual activities at home, the finger nails get neglected.  You know, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, and even taking care of flowers in the yard (Yes, even in November I still have flowers blooming), my nails start looking very used.  So I sat down to groom my very weathered nails.  I cut off the rough edges, cleaned the dirt from under the nails, and smoothed them into a nice curve by filing them.  Lastly I  put a few coats of clear polish on my nails to make them shine. My nails show how much I'm keeping busy and their dirtiness made me think how our Christian lives can take on that same rough look if we don't groom ourselves, or check ourselves regularly.  Clean that dirt out! Get rid of the rough edges! That little seemingly insignificant sin that we commit daily is like that broken nail that could cut and hurt.   That lie that keeps popping up and being told. It's just a little white lie. Or that person that just gets under our skin so we go to gossip about them, or wish them to get the flu under our breaths.  Why not quickly cut the sin away, clean the dirt out and shine for our father again.  Pray for God to strengthen yourself so that whatever is tempting us will go away. Pick up that Bible and read of the love that God has for us and then continue to keep busy being a light for our heavenly father. That's what He wants. Show, share, give His love.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt 5:16

Harvest 5K 2011

On October 1st 2011 this little family of four did an official 5k fun run. The money from this race to Meals On Wheels.   It took place in Georgetown Texas at 8:30 am.  I was loving every minute of it!


Here are the boys ready to go.  Brian was ready to see how well he could do. G was also ready to give it his all.

I had hoped for a fun picture with my daughter but the little one just wouldn't cooperate.  This event was the one place she did not want to be.

This was a small race, not crowded, but enough people around (90 some) to make it exciting and fun.  Many people walked, including M.  She walked with a few woman who stayed near the back. I had hoped to do what I could.  My training as I neared this race had not been so great. So finishing in less than an hour was on my mind.   I did my best to pass a speed walker who was always in front of me and I'm sorry to say he was just too fast for me. LOL!  But what an inspiration.  He was in his 70's and was a cancer survivor.  I was glad to have come in right behind him. 


Brian finished in 3rd place for the men in his age group.  25:58.45

Gabriel came in 2nd place for the boys in his age group.   41:04  Not really dressed as a runner and always with a goofy facial expression. Love this kid!

I didn't place for my age group but I was very happy with my time.  While I trained I never got this good a time.  43:24

Sweet Michaela, who did not want to be here. Placed 3rd place for the girls in her age group 49:19.  Didn't even try. Just had to show up. ;-)  I pray she grows close to God and gets rid of this rebelious tween attitude. SOON!  No picture for her finish as she came in with a group and was behind them all.

It was a fun day and I hope to talk them all into participating in this event again next year.

In a Nut Shell

I've had many blog thoughts running through my head in the past few weeks.  I've just been too lazy, busy, lazy to actually sit down and type in my thoughts and happenings.  I also just remembered that I really need to change my blog background.  It's not July anymore.

I have been keeping up with my jogging and walking..... Okay. You caught me.  I've kept up with jogging and took two weeks off from the walking part. ;-)  Three days a week of jogging just felt good enough for a while.  I really wanted to loose 10 lbs over the Summer but only lost 5.  And that's better than nothing.  The Couch to 5k has not been done in a few weeks.  My stubborn kids are well, stubborn.  Their PE is to jog/walk for two miles and time themselves.  G is awesome.  He can do the two miles in 30 minutes. M is only doing 1.5 miles and she's pretty slow.  But I get to do my 3.1 miles so I'm happy.  I'll be even more happy when we no longer have to run in 85 to 90 degree temps.  Oh, and I still need to sign up for that 5k in October. Procrastinator. ;-)

School has started. The first week has gone ok.  I can tell I will be doing lots of work with M.  I hate that I have to walk her through the studying and finding aswers to questions.  She's just not a hard worker. G has done well.  I went over a histroy test with him yesterday before he took it and he did great even when he hadn't studied yet.  I'm thinking of making M's 'fill in the blank' tests multiple choice. M is taking on Japanese this year. We'll see how that goes. So far so good.  G is really digging into his computer course and wants to do more.  And then there is Language arts.  I'm really trying to make them do reports this year.  I hate reports.  Especially research reports. 

And lastly, work starts next week.  It's only three days a week but I can tell with how much work I put in this week with homeschool next week will wear me out. And I won't even have the kids in class next week.  I'll need lots of prayers for strength to get through each busy day. And that's what's up in a nut shell.

Computer Programming course

We searched for a computer course for our son to go through last school year.  All I could find were books that were written for adults who already knew about computer programming. This year we are going to try TeenCoder.  I think my 13 year old will really enjoy this. He may even fly through the first semester that is about Windows Programming just so he can get to the semester about Game Programming.  Once we have been through this course I'll do a second blog on how this program went for him.  I am so glad that he doesn't need prior programming experience and I don't have to know much about computers to help him. His computer knowledge has already surpassed my knowledge anyway. =)

I am copying and pasting this description from their web site:

The TeenCoder Series of C# courses is aimed at older students looking for a more in-depth study of computer programming. These courses can be used for high school computer elective credit, enhancing transcripts, and preparing a college-bound student for a technical degree.

Topics covered in Windows Programming:

• Introduction to the C# programming language
• Creating Windows Forms
• Using dialog controls
• C# data types and variables
• User input and flow control
• Math functions and string operations
• C# debugging and exception handling
• Object-oriented programming concepts
• Classes, inheritance, and polymorphism
• Collections, sorting, and recursion
• File Input/Output

Topics covered in Game Programming:

• Introduction to the XNA Game Studio
• Game design, game engines, and timer loops
• Screen coordinates and color concepts
• Drawing, scaling, and rotating images
• Handling keyboard, mouse, and XBox 360 Gamepad controller inputs
• Creating Sprite objects
• Collision detection
• 2D animation techniques
• Playing music and sound effects
• Game physics
• Maze generation and solution algorithms
• Menus, overlays, and deployment models
• Multi-player scrolling games
• Game artificial intelligence (AI)

Looks like a TeenCoder Year Pack will cost about 155. + shipping and handling.  I'm hoping to win it though!!

There is also a pack for elementary age kids called KidCoder.

Piece of Cake

   I think it's possible that I am getting slower with my jogs, not faster.  This heat is wearing me down and honestly it's really not that bad.  When we got home from the jog this morning it was 86 and the heat index was 90.  I guess the heat is just very draining.  Not to mention that fact that it's just depressing since it's day after day of 100+ degree weather.  I'm really looking forward to Winter.  Yes, I skipped Fall, South Texas skips Fall weather.  Winter is Fall. =)  But I digress.  See?  This weather is soooo distracting!
   I will be moving on to week two of C25k on Wednesday.  Alexander is doing very well and Celeste, um. Not sure what to say about her.  I'd say she has given up but she never really gave her best to begin with.  I'm thinking grounding her from the phone might help to get her rear in gear.
   What got me through today's jog?  A phrase.  This is a piece of cake. I do have not cake to eat but I just kept telling myself, "Piece of cake, you can do this."

Distance 1.8

Pace 16:52

Time 30:21

Still on Week One

Alexander is doing well with the jog.  I really thing he is ready to move to week two.  I'll do that Friday.  Celeste.  I don't know what to say? Push her? Make her jog?  It is good for her.  She needs this kind of activity.  But, she is just soooooo STUBBORN!  Wonder where she gets that from?  (Don't tell anyone but, it's true, she got it from me.)  I'll keep at it.  As for myself and today's jog. I did okay.  This heat is a killer and I'm pretty sure it's slowin' me down.  My shin did not hurt today and I didn't wrap it up so that is a good thing!  Just need this heat to go away.  Think I'll move to the North Pole. :-/

10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. In 5th grade I put a tack in a substitute teachers chair. 
2.  I like the movie "Dogma ".  My favorite part was "God" hanging upside down from the tree branch. Least favorite was the cursing. I hate that one word in particular was used over and over.
3.   I enjoy watching ghost shows like Ghost Hunters. I would love to go to a haunted location some day. Brian hates that I enjoy these shows. 
4.   I really REALLY want to go storm chasing some day.  I like thunder storms and it would be cool to see a tornado. But only one that's in an empty field.
5. I like Pop Tarts! Sometimes I eat them for breakfast and sometimes for a snack. Favorites are cherry, wild grape, and cookies n cream.
6.  Sr. Year in high school I took a bunch of unknown pills to kill myself. I remember not fitting in with any group, and feeling majorly stressed out about a research paper that was due. To this day I feel stress when either child has some kind of research paper to do. 
7.  At the age of  6 or 7 I hit my older (by 2 years) cousin in the back with a brick. 
8.  At the age of 11 I put a second piercing in both my ears. I also pierced my younger cousins ears. Without permission. 
9.   I do my best to constantly show that I am a disciple for God. I do fail sometimes. 
10.   My favorite childhood memories are of picnicking, hiking, and camping in Colorado.