Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas 2014


 
Merry Christmas!
Here's a photo recap our our last month.

4-H Jr. Leader Tacky Christmas sweater--WINNER!


The girls at Aunt Susie's

4-H Jr. Leader Christmas caroling at Emeritus

Eating at Pizza Village after caroling

Shaoey and dad--how cute!

Taking pics for dad's Christmas gift

And we have a winner!

Dad's Christmas gift

My poor tree may have seen it's last Christmas…This was my view this morning….

Actually this was!  

Grace was so excited to get a wrap it up addition game like Shaoey's multiplication one.

A 1POUND candy bar!  He has to share with Jacob and Jacob has to share his two 1/2 pound reese's peanut butter cups.

Charlotte LOVES doing puzzles.

Charlotte found Jacob some nail/logic puzzles.  

Grace opening her present from Shaoey----

And it is….

A monster loom...

Making for one VERY happy little girl!

Hmmm….

What could they be?



Plasma cars to replace the ones they have plum worn the wheels off!
And the girls big present of the year?  Kinect with Dance 4 and 2015!


From this...


to this!  We're so excited we were able to completely raise our own turkey this year, from chick to plate.  Well, almost all of us were excited.  Shaoey actually didn't handle it well.  It was sort of her pet.  It followed her and hung out at the playset when they were out there.  She refused to eat any.  Poor girl...



Friday, February 21, 2014

...at night his song is with me

"By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm42:8).  

For years now I have heard songs in the night, always appropriate, always a relevant message.  Just a snippet, a few lines, heard over and over until I awaken and rush to write it down so I'll remember it in the morning. Sadly, the past year my heart has been distracted and wayward, left reeling, feeling alone both spiritually (God) and physically (friends)… Left wondering where God was and asking the age old question of "why, God?"  

A few friends and I are doing the Gideon bible study by Priscilla Shirer.  Last week at our study I specifically asked the women to pray for me because it had been so long since I heard Him in the night.    That I missed it so, that I NEEDED it.  I am blown away to state that over the past week, I am hearing Him again!!  I have received three songs in the night and they spot on!  


(‘Cause) All You've ever wanted, all You've ever wanted
All You've ever wanted was my heart

(All You've Ever Wanted--Casting Crown)


Oh - we bring the Kingdom come
Oh - with every act of love
Jesus help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the Kingdom come
(With Ever Act of Love--Jason Gray)


Hallelujah what a Savior

Jesus You are higher
My soul's deepest desire
Hallelujah You are Savior

(What a Savior--Laura Story)

I know I have a long way to go to regain the territory I gave up, but at least I'm moving forward again, I'm in the battle.

Do any of you experience these…visits?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Time4Learning review

 I've been wanting to try Time4Learning for quite a while now, but I kept putting it off.  A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to try Time4Learning free in exchange for a review.  That was an offer I couldn't pass up!

I initially signed all the kids up.  After exploring it a bit and letting Shaoey do a few lessons, I realized that for Connor (10th), Jacob (8th), Shaoey (2nd/3rd), and Grace (1st) it probably wasn't the best avenue for them.  We have used a literature based style for years and it works well for us  

Eliana (age 8, adopted last year) is a different story.  Eliana came home with a couple of known special needs--hydrocephalus and scoliosis.  After meeting her, we realized there were other significant special needs.  We have spent the past year doing testing and evaluations.  We have learned that she has cerebral atrophy, corpus callosum issues, auditory processing disorder, some sensory issues, and a few other suspected issues.  With these issues, a literature based style doesn't seem to be working.  Her listening/retaining/responding skills seem low even on good days when her bridge (callosum) is working well.  We've both been frustrated and seemed to be at a standstill.  

Enter Time4Learning.  When we traveled to SFCV and adopted Eliana, she took us to the computer room, turned on the computer, went to the internet--straight to her game site, and started playing.  That should have told me something.   I have Eliana working on kindergarden level skills.  She has been doing some abc lessons and math/pattern skills.   When we work with her face to face, she has to take in our language, transfer it to where it needs to go. With callosal issues and auditory processing disorder, the message gets bounced around many times before it gets to it's destination.  By the time it gets there, it is often distorted.  She then has to process it and form a response which gets bounced around on the way out…. She often freezes up when we ask questions and try to get responses from us.  Think fight or flight, blank…  She seems to be doing really well with Time4Learning and is less frustrated and more likely to complete the task--meaning forward progress!!

I am excited to continue with Time4Learning, excited to see what progress we can make.  The lessons are short and entertaining, with good prompts to help her know what to do next (ex. the arrow lights up when she needs to press it to continue).  There is also a quiz at the end of the lesson to help us evaluate if she's understanding the information.  I also read today that people have been able to use it on tablets and Kindle Fires.  I'm anxious to try that to allow her to work while we're working and possibly take it with us to some doctor appointments, etc.  

(The opinions in this review are mine and do not from Time4Learning.)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

CHRISTMAS SALE--One Day at Shepherds Field Children's Village coffee table book!!

I'm excited to share this book again
AND
it's on SALE!
One Day at Shephards Field Children's Village coffee table book!
This book is beyond fantastic. It is hardback, 11.5" x 9", and has high quality glossy pages with photos and narrative about the lives of the children and staff at SFCV.

Take a look inside and you'll see:

the children and the wide variety of special needs represented there

and an incredible photo journal of a day in the life of SFCV
Breakfast time

School time

There are many more amazing pages of life at SFCV---the buildings, playtime, mealtime, school time, napping, therapy, the medical clinic, bathing, etc. There's the arrival of new children and the adoption of others. And of course the precious CHILDREN--pages and pages of beautiful children. (The photos were mainly taken in the summer of 2009.)


As many of you know, sadly, there are children who will not be adopted, who will never know the love and care of their own family. When a child turns 14, they are no longer eligible to be adopted. What happens to them? Many older children/young adults are either turned out of an orphanage to fend for themselves or are put in an adult social welfare institution. This a more certain fate for the older orphan with special needs. SFCV is working to change that for the children they care for.




They are building a Vocational Center-- a place for these young people to learn a trade, to learn to care for themselves, to support themselves...to live a full life. There will be training rooms, small apartments, and even long term care for those that need it. It will truly be a life saver for many orphans. It will be 4 stories high. 

So how do you get one of these phenomenal books and bring hope to the orphan? This book is a limited edition. There are only 150 of them. For a donation of $50, you will receive one of these books and also have your name engraved on the sponsor plaque on the Vocational Center!

ALL proceeds from this book go directly to SFCV.

Just email me at troyandcharlene93@yahoo.com and I'll give you the payment information.
(Shipping & handling is $5, shipped media mail. You may choose another method if you prefer.)



In closing, this book is truly a treasure. Grace (known as Vira or ShuangShuang at SFCV) LOVES to look through it and see "her" China. It is beautifully done and a touching testimony to the love and care that the children get at SFCV.

Location:Broussard, LA

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Ultimate Healthy Living bundle!

I cannot wait to dig into this!
It's full of so much wonderful information and encouragement. 





86 ebooks--everything from natural living, real food cooking, natural beauty care, children's health--it's got it all!
+
1 interactive 12 week conference
+
9 free bonuses (worth over $150)
=
one AMAZING bundle!

All for $29.97



I'm so excited to try Time4Learning!

This came at the perfect time!  TingTing has many areas of difficulty--hydrocephalus, cerebral brain atrophy, thinning corpus callosum, and auditory processing disorder to name a few.   Homeschooling her has been very hit or miss as we try to figure out how to help her learn and remember things.  I've been looking at Time4Learning the past few weeks and was tickled to receive an email from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Check back in December!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Happy birthday, Gracie girl!

Our Grace is 7!  That sounds so much older than 6...  She is growing into such an amazing young lady--sweet, loving, cuddly, kind, and FULL of personality!  Grace and I did a photo shoot of sorts today.  I tried, but I just couldn't narrow it down anymore (trust me this isn't all of them!).  I hope you enjoy getting to know our Grace through these pictures.  They truly show what a precious girl she is to us.

We love you, Grace FuShuang!
The girls have a birthday tradition--a gigantic balloon of their choice.  







This one just makes my heart smile!


Love the personality in this one--Miss Confident!

The best sisters in the world.  They love each other so much; they can't bear to be apart.

Crazy girls!

Life is fun!





Birthday girl got to choose a new bike today.  We loved this one with longer handles, it helps her to not have to reach so far.  It works GREAT with pokey arm!








We had a WONDERFUL birthday party with our friends.  We celebrated Caroline and Grace's birthdays together.--2 very special young ladies!

What great friends!