On the Train to Mississippi

Chad here, reporting live from Amtrak. Our train left on time at 10:34PM from Champaign, IL. I took 3 excited boys with me.

The boys slept much better than I did. Multiple sources warned me it's difficult to get good sleep on a train. I concur.

We are now in Mephis, TN, about 1 hour behind schedule. Finally moving again after sitting for 45 minutes.

An Adventure

For those of you interested in how we are bringing our bus home (I was informed the Title terms it a bus so I am not out of line using the term); Chad is taking Jesse, Javan and Jared by train from Champaign, Illinois to Jackson, Mississippi on Friday the 27th and will drive back on Saturday.

We are not planning to put the bus to full time service till the Lord blesses us with another reward Ps. 127. If that doesn't happen we will probably make use of it when the minivan dies. We intend to use the bus for trips and make it available to others that could benefit from using it. (Taking a group trip that would normally require additional vehicles, World Relief type trips, etc.)

Since Chad is going to be gone I decided to go to a ladies Tea in Peoria geared to encouraging Christian homemakers.

Potty training break-through :)

I'm sure you are all interested in knowing that Jubilee went stinky in the potty today!!! O.K. so maybe not that interested, but I am telling you anyway. ;)

I've always just used training pants before, but I don't like to deal with the mess so I have been putting off this time consuming task. I finally broke down and bought pull-ups so I could train Jubilee. We started yesterday and had two messes till just now.

I have Jesse and Javan take turns with me reading to her while she sits for 5 minutes every half hour or so. She pee's just fine, but I make her sit so she gives her body opportunity to move! O.K. enough with the details.

I don't expect to necessarily have smooth sailing from now on, but the first time is a BIG step!!!

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our new bus!!!

We just bought a bus!!! Well, almost a bus. It's a 15 passenger, Diesel!!! Chad has been watching e-bay for quite awhile and this one looks to be in good condition, I won't bore you with the details. The diesel part is important though (for Chad anyway)! The space is important too, we will have the extra room now for a port a pot in the back to help out the girlies during travel :)

Now to bring it home, it currently resides in Missippi!!!

If you want more details feel free to go to e-bay ended auctions.

Ramblings

Chad is in Oakville, IA today. We have a church there and they called for help to put bags by the river because of high water. I don't know all the details, it isn't uncommon though because I've heard of men going to help before. Chad's boss allowed anyone interested to go help without taking a vacation day.

Jonas and Jubilee are going down for a nap as soon as I'm done here and when they wake up we are going to Pekin to run errands and if they cooperate they will be treated with McDonalds Playland.

Tomorrow I need to run errands in Peoria; Jolene wants to go and get her 5 year old picture taken.

We will be going to Dad and Mom P's for supper and Mom's birthday (60). Kirk and Keri are home and Cam and Samantha will also be there. Clint and Bethany won't make it this time. We'll spend the night and have Father's Day with them too!

Happy Father's Day!

Cornbelt picnic

Last night was the Cornbelt Energy Co-op (our power company) annual meeting and picnic. I forgot my camera but thought I had blogged it before, since I hadn't I thought I would include some pictures from 2006. The location was different and perhaps some of the children's activities, but you'lle get the gist!

They only had this one year but it was a hoot! You put on a suit that has velcro and you jump up against a velcro wall and try to stick. It looked like a bunch of fun!
They give rides in their bucket truck lifts. That is always a hit with the children. This picture is of Jesse and Javan peeking over the bucket.

Here is Chad and Jared loading up.
The view from the top!The activity second from the left - you put on a vest that attaches to a bungy cord. There is velcro down the center piece, you hold a velcro bean bag and run as fast as you can and see how far you can take your bean bag. You can race against someone in the other side or just do it against yourself to see if you can do better the second time. It's pretty funny to see adults do it because once they start going backwards the bungy cord takes them for a bit of a ride. The children don't have the power to stretch the bungy cord very far so it doesn't really give them a ride. :)

My new secretary! I plan to teach Jesse and Javan how to take the pictures from the camera to the computer and then to blogger so we can decide on the pictures to upload and they can do it for me! :)
The children have their "Best" train set up ever.
I'm learning photography!!!


Friday night some of the homeschoolers in our area got together for a potluck.
Chad's boss is in the back on the far right.

Some of the men in deep discussion.

Javan enjoying some soccer.

Sunday we had Bruce and Elizabeth and their family for the day.

Here the children are lined up for kick ball.

The outfield!


Chad and Javan left this evening for a road trip for work. They hope to be back tomorrow evening. Chad said that it is unlikely that it would turn into two nights so I am planning on it being two nights!!!

Wanna be's

"They call this a WHAT?"

And so this makes me really COOL?

Jared is hangin' with Nathan, he doesn't think that Mohawk thing is cool at all!!!

Yes, Jolene got to cut Chad's hair for the first time! She was mighty proud :)

I finished up and trimmed the edges, she did a pretty good job. I may lose my job before too long!

$77 tick

We purchased a $77 tick today and then destroyed it!

More details, please, you ask!!!

O.K. I found a tick on Jared this morning and it appeared to have burrowed into his skin without much left remaining to be seen. I looked on the internet and you have to have a doctor remove one that is under the skin, so Chad took him in for me.

The nurse practitioner didn't know much about ticks so she brought in the doctor who asked for tweezers and commenced to pull the tick off of Jared (the job we usually do!). It happened to be a teeny tiny tick that was not under the skin, only a portion of the size we usually find, which is why I thought it was under his skin. The doctor and nurse practitioner actually commended me on finding it because it was so small.

It seems like a waste of money, but I would rather lose a little money on the precautionary side than lose my son from the alternative. (Ticks can be very dangerous!!!)

I thank the Lord for His protection on my Jared! :)

Lessons from Mom/Grandma

Mom, Cori, and Mark ~
Do you remember when we lived in the trailer and someone, probably me, told someone else they wish they would die (or something similar). Mom made someone lay down on a cot with arms folded and eyes closed like they were dead. I don't remember what mom said but it sure had an impact on me.
We had the same situation today. I used Javan as my dead son since he had that close call while we were hiking. I talked to the children as if he had actually hit his head badly and died and we were having the visitation.
We had a pretty good talk about apreciating what we have while we have it. And how we should treat each other. Hopefully I won't hear "I wish you were dead" again!