The Cabbage Patch

Signing Time

Matilda alerted me about the new Series 2 Signing Time DVDs.  Of course, I quickly ordered them since we LOVE Signing Time.

We received them last Friday, but were unable to watch them until Monday.  Here are the kids excitedly signing along.  Can you tell what they're signing?

What time do you think it is?

Shopping on Sundays

The ladies at 4Real were discussing whether they shopped on Sundays.  Then, Father Richard mentioned it today in the homily.  Unfortunately, that's all I remember of it.  I think  God's trying to tell me something.

High School Musical

We are in the midst of repeated showings of this movie.  It's a fun movie and the girls love the songs.  Even Brother will sing along and dance to a few things.  He loves to break dance and so the little bit of break dancing gets him going.  I've wondered a few things though.

• In real life, if the lights go out during a basketball game, the home team must get it fixed in a timely manner.  If not, the game would be forfeit.  They would never have been allowed as much time as the Wildcats were.
• Did the basketball players audition as basketball players who could dance or dancer who could play ball?
• How many schools whose mascots are Wildcats are using these songs this year at football games?

Okay, some silly musings.  My son would like to go to New Mexico and visit all these people.  It's been a good lesson in trying to learn about what movies are really all about.  He usually doesn't watch movies with real live people in them just cartoons. 

THANK YOU!

Mary Ellen has another great post up about autism and home education.  She talks about communication and how difficult it can be for a child with autism.  Then she goes on to give a few things you could do with a child with autism to help him develop his language skills.

Her son called her "Mama" for the first time when he was 4.  She described feeling weak kneed when he did.  Oh, I can understand that sentiment quite well.

We can get some pretty strong thunderstorms here.  Once there was quite a storm going through here.  Brother was in the tub but I yanked him out of there to show him the beautiful rainbow you could see from our back windows.  He was so amazed by the site, he said with such feeling and awe, "THANK YOU, Mommy for showing this to me."  It so spontaneous and so unexpected, I cried.  Writing about it brings tears to my eyes still. 

It's hard work, but the rewards, oh, the rewards.

As Cozy as Spring!

Rejoice with Jennifer as she celebrates the safe return of her brother from Iraq.

I know how she feels.  When Ben landed in Maine on a stopover to Texas, I felt such immense relief.  I couldn't let the tears flow as we were right in the middle of moving--as in I was driving the U-Haul (and freaking out as it was a standard) when he called.

Welcome Home, John Paul!

Washing Machines

On Saturday, it seemed that my washing machine had died.  I let it rest and ran it again today.  It seems to be fine if a bit shaky.  I think the belts need to be replaced or it needs to be rebalanced.  I know for sure that I can run really small loads so I finished the load that was in there by running it in 3 loads.

I've been wanting a front loading high efficiency washing machine for a while.  I've just been waiting on my old ones to go kaput.  Well, I thought I had the chance to do this.  Then I find out that it's 10% off at Sears.com and that if I purchase it tonight between 9pm and 6am, I could get it for 18 months no interest no payments.  I could do that! 

Sometimes, God has to hit me with a 2x4 to get my attention.  First, I felt not confident that I should do this--I'm usually very decisive.  Then, they wouldn't accept my delivery address since we're in a really new area.  Finally, when I tried to get through to the customer service people, we were disconnected for no apparent reason. 

Okay, God, I get it.  Now is not the time. 

Finally, as a side note to this whole saga.  I need to remind myself that my son with autism is very literal.  Here's a very funny exchange between us.

Brother:  Did you cry?

Me:  No, why?

Brother:  Well, the washing machine died.

I laughed (and felt a bit of sorrow) because the only time he has ever seen me cry is when Dave died.  I also felt a bit of triumph for him because he's learning to use his experiences to connect with what's going on now.  This is an important step for him and one I'll elaborate more on later (I hope--I tend to say that and then never get back to it).

Update on Soldiers

My friend Jennifer sends this update on her husband:

Steven called at 1:10 pm today.  He is doing as well as he can.  He has significant hearing loss.  He will be starting some Combat Stress classes as he is not doing well mentally with what has happened.  There were some that lost limbs and then there was a guy Steven thought he was either Korean or Phillipeno that died in his arms.  Steven can't get his face out his mind and they are trying to put him on pills.  I told him to talk to the priest they have there or chaplain or somebody. 

He was grateful for all the prayers.  Everyone doesn't know how he made it out alive since he was sent flying into the wall of the bus without any helmet.  But we know and we are thankful to God for his blessings.

Ben thinks this is what happened.  This is a bit frightening because Camp Victory is supposed to be so safe.  Ben spent a lot of time on this compound when he was in Iraq and I always felt at ease (as much as you can with a loved one in Iraq).  This is where Dave started out his deployment before changing jobs.

Please continue to pray.

Injured Soldiers

Often we don't hear of the injured soldiers in the news.  Actually, we don't even hear of the soldiers who have the ultimate sacrifice anymore.  Anyway, one of the ladies in our homeschool group received a phone call that her husband, Steve, along with many other soldiers, was injured.  I don't have the details.

I can't begin to tell you, as a wife of a soldier, what this does to me.  I can only ask for prayers for this family and the families of all the wounded.  When I have more details as to the extent of injuries, I will update this post.  In the meantime, please pray.

Great Map!

I wanted to say great, big thank you to my friend for giving Brother this wonderful birthday gift.  He loves it!!  Can you tell? 

Here are the 3 older ones doing a good ole "U-S-A" cheer.

They're ready to cheer at the Olympics!  LOL!

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I'm still learning to incorporate the liturgical year into our daily lives.  I finally remembered to do something simple but meaningful for the children on Saturday.  We celebrated Mary's birthday by having a birthday cake for her. 

After singing "Happy Birthday" in English and Spanish (don't ask), we sang some of our favorite Marian hymns as I cut the cake for them.  We had tea and hot chocolate as our beverage.