The Moteberg Homeschool (Etc.) Blog

http://moteberghomeschool.wordpress.com/

Come on over and change any links you may have b/c I think this one will be closing down soon. Well, as soon as I can figure out if there is an easy way to save all I've written *here* to my new one *over there*. *lol* We'll see if that ends up happening...

Thanks!

To blog or not to blog...

...or should the question be,

"WHERE to blog?" Or maybe,

"Why blog?" Or how about,

"How do I blog?" *lol* :)

Even though it's true that I'm definitely on a journey on the "Proverbs 31 Path", I suppose all women are in some way, I feel like I am not writing (and maybe *doing*) a whole lot about that part of my life right now. That being the case, what do I do with a blog called "My journey on the Proverbs 31 Path"? *lol*

Follow this link to my new site where I have started posting experiences from our first week of home schooling. I'm sure I'll fill it with "stuff" from daily life as well but well, whatever.

It's not like I blog a whole lot N-E-Ways!

Here it is again: http://moteberghomeschool.wordpress.com/

THANKS! :) :)

A prayer for Cari

Today is the big day, my friend. This nasty tumor that was found just a couple of weeks ago is now going to be history. I have been praying Psalm 91 for you lately and thought I'd share it with the teeny-tiny corner of the world that watches this blog. *lol* :)

Hugs and lots of love, girl!!!

Psalm 91
a personalized prayer for Cari as she undergoes surgery this morning

1. As Cari dwells in the shelter of You, the Most High, I pray she will rest in Your shadow, Almighty God.
2. May she say of You Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3. Surely you will save her from Satan's grasp and from this cancer.
4. Please cover her with your feathers, and under Your wings may she find refuge; may Your faithfulness be her shield and rampart.
5. Because You are at her side, she will not fear the terror of the unknown, nor the challenges that fly at her each day,
6. nor this cancer that stalks her body, nor the treatments her body must endure to be rid of it.
7. A thousand may fall at her side, ten thousand at her right hand, but it will not come near her.
8. May she only observe with her eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9. As she draws near to You, Lord, saying, "The Lord is my refuge," and as she makes the Most High her dwelling,
10. I pray no harm will overtake her, no disaster will come near her home.
11. Command Your angels concerning Cari, to guard her in all her ways;
12. May they lift her up in their hands so she will not strike her foot against a stone.
13. Because of Your, Lord, she will tread on this lion of cancer roaring its ugly head in her body and also on the snake that is Satan who wishes to tear her from Your grasp;
    SHE WILL TRAMPLE THE GREAT LION OF CANCER AND THE NASTY ATTEMPTS OF SATAN.
14. "Because they love me," you say Lord, "I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name." I claim that promise for Cari today.
15. "They will call on me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them." I claim that promise for Cari today.
16. "With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation." I claim that promise for Cari today.

In Jesus' Most Powerful Name I pray, Amen and AMEN!!

A quick word...and a request!

WOW! Josiah's birthday celebration?!?! THAT'S the last time I posted!??! OK...I didn't think it had been that long but, well, OK. So it has. :)

I don't know *why* I don't blog here any more...maybe it's because, here at home, our focus in the last few months has shifted so drastically that I am giving more thought and attention to these new events.

Namely, home schooling and baby-growing. :)

Anyhow, I *have* started a home school blog in which I have been enjoying writing about the kid's days, revelations, and attitudes as we walk this new road. Eric is helping me work out some bugs in personalizing it (making it pretty) so once I do, I'll be certain to post the new link here.

Either way, while you're waiting with baited breath for my next post (HA!) I'll ask a favor of those who do still drop in every once in a while.

My dear friend Cari, a very wonderful woman who I've known thru my Mom's Bible Study (Spiritual Spa) for the last several years, has recently been thrown a whopping curve ball. Last year she was diagnosed with (and is now a SURVIVOR of!) Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Unfortunately, this week her doctor found a spot on her brain that appears to be cancer. Tests and consultations are a plenty right now so if you feel lead, please take a moment to visit her blog and say a prayer over this precious Child of God.

Afterall, 5 *IS* a pretty big number!

Josiah turned 5 about a week and a half ago and, wow, what a round of celebrations we had! Josiah made a remark about 5 being a pretty big number and after all the fun we've had celebrating our little pistol, I believe he's right!

Round #1: Mamma's house over Mother's Day weekend. Eric's sister and her family were in town for the holiday so we decided to sneak in a couple of gifts and some cupcakes for Josiah while we were at it.

(Classic reaction upon receiving his very first gift card!)

Round #2: May 24th, his actual birthday. Birthdays for the younger crowd in this house always being with a TON of balloons! He carried that bunch of balloons around the house with him all morning. Then it was time for a few gifts and a yummy birthday breakfast of banana pancakes, courtesy of Daddy.


"Hmmm...I wonder what these batteries could be for?"


"Oh yeah, baby! A remote controlled Jeep!"


Eric makes the best banana pancakes around! And some nicely shaped numbers, too!

Round #3: The day wasn't over on May 24th...we headed up to Mamma's again with a friend of Josiah and Faith's (Hi, Ty!) and had a BBQ complete with chocolate cherry cake, a few more presents and plenty of playing outside.

"YES! A(nother) Bionicle! Thanks, Ty!"


Tyson excels in putting these things together...


...and was kind enough to work with Josiah to put his together.


Round #4: After discovering that one of the ladies in my bible study group has a son who's turning 5 within a week of Josiah, we decided a little more celebrating was in order. This time, thanks to the rainy forecast, we moved our park date into Chuck E Cheeses and had a grand time playing games until the coins ran out. *lol* Josiah and Jake had a great time playing together! Happy 5th Bday to you too, Jake!





And finally...Round #5: This year, because of lots of things on our plate, we decided to set aside the big party and instead do an intimate celebration for which Josiah could bring one friend along. We decided to take our very first train trip on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway. It was a blast! Josiah brought along a friend of he and Faith's, Brandon, and together the three of them explored everything from the engine to the caboose.

Now, after 5 celebrations of one kind or another, ALMOST all of them including cake in one form or another, I think we can officially say, "A Happy 5th Birthday to Joe-man!" *whew*

'Tis the season...for storms!

This was the scene yesterday afternoon as we had a BBQ with friend's from my Mom's Bible Study group. We were south of where the Hugo tornado touched down by about 25 miles but while we are safe, many others in Hugo, MN have lost their homes and at least one toddler, his life.

We are in prayer for those who have lost so much as the sun rises on the destruction caused by last night's storms.

What a difference a blade makes!!!

After years, err...months, of growing his beard,
Eric has declared, "It's gotta go!"


Shaving off mountains of hair (5 inches long, he's proud to say!) doesn't have to be boring! "Let's play with it a little! How's that?"


WHOA, momma!


Fun, yes but quite challenging at times!


"Have I shaved enough off yet?"


"NO? I haven't? OK, well...here we go..."


Wait a sec, honey...that's not *quite* what I had in mind...


"It's not? Well, be patient, I wasn't finished just yet..."


"There! How's that?"


"Just kidding!"


"Although, this new look would drive the ladies on the bus crazy..."


"Nah, better finish the job."


"There! Nothing like a little tail to keep that youthful look about me."


Equal parts heavy metal...


...and gentle giant. *smiles*

Lord, help me!

So here I sit, just after 9pm, at the computer.

Sitting. Surfing. Generally wasting time.

Normally not a huge deal at 9pm at night...except for the fact that tomorrow at 10am we have our first showing since we've put the condo back on the market 2 months ago.

WHAT AM I DOING ONLINE!?

There are floors to be swept, mopped and vacuumed.

There are surfaces to be dusted and windows to shine.

There is a bathroom to be cleaned. (Nah...I'll let Eric have that one)

And yet here I sit, quite uninspired and generally having one of those "down" sort of nights.

Maybe it's because this is our FIRST showing in 2 months.

Maybe because this showing tomorrow is what's called a "agent preview", which means no actual buyers will be coming thru, just an agent.

Now, of course this agent could be representing someone out there actually looking for a condo in our area and he/she is truly doing a preview to save their buyer some time. But all I can think of is, "what if it's just some newbie realtor come to cruise the building, getting a feel for the place, effectively wasting his time and mine?" The world may never know.

But, nevertheless, the house has to be in "showing order" so as to put our best foot forward in the hopes that this preview actually turns into a repeat showing with actual buyers stepping foot into the place.

And yet here I sit.

Lord, HELP ME!