Well, we were served our foreclosure papers yesterday to our home in Orlando that we have been unable to sell for the last 2 years.  This brought a wave of emotions:  scared, frustrated, and humbled.  Derrick and I have been married for 14 years now.  I know the statement is supposed to be, "from rags to riches," but in our case it seems a little backwards.  Until the last couple of years, it seems we've always been on top.  Great jobs that took care of us financially with all the bells and whistles, built two beautiful homes, never had a late payment, great insurance, great credit...and here we are foreclosing on a home.  I know we are like many other Americans in this day and age with the economy the way it is, but the thought of not being alone doesn't seem to make it any better.
Through it all, I realize that going from riches to rags in the worlds eyes means nothing at all!  I am so truly rich with a husband that loves me no matter what; 5 beautiful children that are my pride and joy; loving and close extended family; great friends...I could go on and on listing the jewels on my rags! 
So I focus on the jewels.  I love them, appreciate them, treasure them, and thank God every day that, regardless of the financial riches, I have the most beautiful jeweled rags which were all His gifts to me!

O.K., I show these honor awards not to brag by any means, but for two reasons.  First, I'm praying about something I never thought I would...home schooling.  It scares me to death to think I'd be responsible to teach my children all the math and science facts that they need to get by.  I reminded myself this morning that I did graduate with honors, so maybe I could (Even though I have no idea what those honors really mean!).   Second, I just wanted to show all my highschool buds that airheads can make it!  :)
On a more serious note, I would love any advice that you experienced home school moms have to offer. 
By the way, if you read my earlier post about all that I endured to get the bright blue gum out of my kids mouth, while they were asleep, in order to prevent cutting curls....

Carmen had a little time-out time on her bed after school yesterday, she fell asleep and that's the result.  Oh well!

Ciera, my 11 week old, had a "blow out" today and Jesse, 3, immediately said, "I want a new little sister!"  Thank goodness we have a loving Savior that puts up with all of our....well, thank goodness He doesn't want to trade us in!  He loves us unconditionally and there is nothing that can change that!  I am so unworthy, yet grateful beyond measure for His merciful love!

Have you ever wanted something so bad, but it probably wasn't the best thing for you?  Carmen and Jesse were begging me for a piece of gum tonight and it was very close to bedtime.  I was very tired and didn't want to fight it so I let them have one.  Of course about thirty minutes later I look and Jesse is sacked out.  Carmen and I tried to wake him up to spit out his gum but he was OUT!  So I try to pry open his mouth to get it out and his teeth seem as though they are wired shut.  Carmen tried for me and she couldn't get it either.  So I carried him to his bed, try again and then just sigh and visualize cutting off all his beautiful curls in the morning because I could just see the bright blue gum intertwined with his ringlets.  As soon as I get him down, I walk in my room and Carmen is asleep...here we go again!  (so much for not fighting!)  Now I'm "fighting" with her jaw to get it open and trying to wake her up.  Both attempts were unsuccessful.  I was determined, with her, to get that gum because I am not about to cut her hair off yet!  I have never seen anyone sacked out asleep and able to keep their jaw shut no matter what the resistance!  Very weird!  Anyway, I finally shove my finger in through her teeth and snatch the gum.  Feeling the victory, I went back into Jesse and eventually got his mouth open to discover he had already swallowed his. 
They wanted that gum so bad, and even though it was not the best thing for them, they got it.  They held on to it and did not want to let it go.  How many times do we do that?  Enjoy something even knowing the end result will only end up messy. We hold on to it know matter how hard God or loved ones try to pry it out of our lives.  Let it go!  Messes are hard to clean up and affect more than just your life!
Just for the record, Derrick and I do have good bedtime habits with the kidos!  8 p.m. and it's night, night...Mommy & Daddy time, but Derrick was at band practice and I was a little slack!

It's amazing how quiet my house gets at 7:30 each morning.  I can't believe I have 3 in school now!  I have all these goals I would like to accomplish having only two at home during the day, but I am now starting the 2nd week of this, and have not started one.  Getting Jesse potty trained is first because I just spent $80 at Sams on 2 boxes of diapers.  Of course there is the "exercise every day" goal that many new moms start with because they want to get the baby weight off.  After spending forever in my closet yesterday to find something that fits, while the baby screamed and kids ran wild...this goal is also a must.  I definitely want to spend time writing now that it's not so crazy.  I need to add to my book and I'm trying to get started on this blogging thing.  Organized meals, hanging out with other moms, writing more songs, preparing speaking agendas, vocalizing and practicing the keys...these are just a few more of the goals I have for the few hours a day where I have somewhat managable time.  However, I'm finding that there are so many "want to's" that I'm just not starting any of them.  So now it comes down to prioritizing and discipline.  We'll see where this gets me and I'll keep ya posted!

So I leave four little ones at home, crawl into my friends mini-van with my 9 week old, and set out on the adventure of bringing my book proposal to NC to meet with two publishing company representatives.  The 9 1/2 hour drive went well except for Derrick calling me to tell me that my 5 year old daughter, Carmen, sat at the table, said that she missed her mommy, her eyes welled up with tears and then the volcano errupted!  He puts her on the phone and all I hear between the wails is, "I love you Mommy."  So I had been gone for maybe a few hours and was already crying over the kidos I left at home.
Once I arrived at the conference, the first class I went to let me know that my 15 minute proposal meeting was going to be a 15 minute sells pitch, given by me, that was to be planned out and rehearsed, and that they would not even take the proposal that I had worked so hard on to give them.  I thought they would have the proposal, ask me a few questions and that would be it.  Naive I know, but I am new to this world of book writing.  So the rest of the day I was a nervous wreck, not being able to enjoy any of the conference or meet any of the 600 women that were there because I'm trying to memorize the intro to my book so I could give my sales pitch at 7 p.m. to the publisher.  I was also told in that first class to be sure to eat before I went to my meeting...well the conference dinner did not come out quick enough, so I didn't get to eat.  They also said to wear a suit jacket and if I didn't have one, to borrow one off of someone there.  Being 9 1/2 hours away from my closet, this would have been nice info to have before I got there, but what made matters even worse is the dress I bought for that meeting I didn't even get to wear.  I frantically ran to my hotel room to change, but because I had not nursed little miss Ciera all day, the girls were screamin' out and walking about 2 miles before me and I did not feel comfy in my very form fitting dress.  So now the lump that had been in my throat all day finally developed into tears streaming down my face and I approached my meeting quite humbly! (I had dried my tears before I went in...we were also told not to cry!!!) 
The meeting went well.  Her concerns were that my book was not long enough yet and also as a mom of 5 young children, she didn't think I could aggressively promote myself.  I thought, if "Cheaper by the Dozen" mom could do it, so can I!  She did, for some reason, take my proposal with her so....who knows!  This world of book writing, publishing and juggling children is definitley a new page in my journey, but I intend to "run the race and not be weary!"  I thank God for the opportunity and know it's in His hands.  He asked me to write...I wrote.  He asked me to go...I went.  Whatever He asks of me I am willing!