Kid's Showcase

Earlier this month our home school group planned a special event. Most of the work, I'm sure, was done by Katie Updike who is another homeschooling mom in our area. It was called a "Kid's Showcase" that was presented at the local assisted living facility in Hot Springs. The idea was to give the kids a chance to do a special presentation of some kind in front of a group of people. This is often an opportunity missed by home schoolers so I was soooo thankful for the chance the kids had to do this....they were maybe not as thankful as I was, but I think after the fact they did appreciate it=) There weren't an over abundance of people there but, if you have to get up and stand in front a microphone and give a speech to them, it doesn't matter how many there are!! I was especially thankful for the fact that Jenna and Pastor Matt were able to come even if we only invited them last minute=)Logan had already been working on a poem throughout this semester so far, so we made it our goal to have it ready in time for the showcase. He did an EXCELLENT job reciting the entirety of Winken, Blinken, and Nod by Eugene Fields and this is the first time he's ever done public speaking like this and he had to go first!
Monica was the next one of our kids to have a turn...she was AMAZING!! She quoted an abridged version of Paul Revere's Ride that, just the same, was by far the longest piece any one recited at the showcase. One of the neatest things about it was to see some of the elderly people in the crowd saying some of the lines along with her, specifically a lady who was a retired teacher and had memorized hundreds of poems over the course of her lifetime.
Next it was Zachery's turn and he recited O Captain, My Captain - the thing that always gets me about Zach is what a SUPER job he does in putting expression and feeling into what he has to say. Both Monica and Zach had memorized their poems in school in years past so they had to work to relearn in in preparation for the big day.
After the kids were through they went around and greeted some of the residents that live there in Pine Hills, including veteran missionary, Edith LeBar Albers, who it is always a treat to see.
During that morning, while everyone at the house was getting ready, rehearsing their poems, and listening to my pep talks, Alana was deciding she really, really wanted to be a part of things. The night before we had a dress rehearsal in our living room and she and Jesse had participated with anything they could think of....Jesse invented a poem that seemed to have bits and pieces from the older three, Alana sang the alphabet, Jesse sang Jesus Loves Me, Alana sang the books of the New Testament. So when we arrived right before the programs was to start, and after Alana's assurance that she really would go through with it, we added her name to the list. We didn't practice hardly at all so we didn't exactly come ready....but here she is just the same=)

I was honestly so very, very proud of my kids. Others sang, read poems, quoted speeches...but, seriously, mine were the very best=) (Can I say that?)

"Good job guys, you did great!!!"

Up the hill again

Yesterday was 100% spring weather so we decided to go out and enjoy it and I'm soooo glad we could! I was chatting in the morning with Jenna and between my desire to go out on a hike and her need for some Vitamin D, we made the decision to head to Rankin Ridge in Wind Cave National Park. We've been there several times and I've even posted several pictures on here before of the kids on another one of our trips up the hillside. The last time we went was in February of last year when Helaine and Phil came down here and surprised me with a quick visit.

So we pulled on our sweatshirts and headed out=)The battery in my camera was dying but I managed to click some quick shots while it still had life. Here are the results - some are cute:
while others are just plain crazy:

Often it is just our family, but many times we have others that we go with and yesterday was one of those times. It made for an even more fun adventure to have these three along with us. Not to mention it was nice to have some extra hands to carry the little people=)

Strange thing was that they seemed just as crazy as the rest of my crew did!!!

Thanks Jenna, Rachel, and Jodie for a fun afternoon=)

Cabin Fever

Thank goodness spring is coming because cRaZy things can happen on those long, cold winter nights when you fill a house with seven people!! A while ago we decided to pass the time away by pulling out an old favorite - at least it's a favorite of the kids, but not so sure about their parents. We had few sore losers,

And lots of awkward moments,
But all in all we had a good time=)
I'm still thankful for the warmer weather that we've been enjoying, sending the kids outside to play, and I'm even excited about starting to use my clothes line again....just don't get me started on the MUD!!!

My Job

So my job is completed! After three days of extensive, strenuous training I put in a total of 10 hours of work that are now behind me. It actually went pretty well, except for a few awkward moments this morning when I made a phone call to Matthew just to have an excuse to get out of breakfast with my very insistent co-worker. I'd already had breakfast at home and remained firm in my decision to let him go eat alone despite the convincing argument that "pretty girls drink coffee too, don't they?" I also drive down enough streets in Edgemont to know that I don't have to weigh the pro's and con's for too long to know that I'd rather just stay here where I am in Buffalo Gap=) And while my great service to these United States has come to a close, the oath that I swore in that restaurant bathroom of the now distant Kadoka, SD, lives on. So despite my desire to share with you more detailed stories of my various encounters, I cannot....

On a more serious note, I am SOOO glad to have it behind me for one reason alone. I didn't mind the training too much, the actual work itself wasn't bad, the creepy coworker ratio was relatively low...but I missed being here, at home, where I belong. I felt so guilty being gone when Matthew was offered work, guilty when Alana would cry on the phone saying she was sad she couldn't hug me good night, even more guilty when our friend James died and I knew all the things that Matthew was having to deal with as a result of that, guilty when I came home to a huge grocery list, an empty fridge, and a menu that had consisted of lots of macaroni and cheese. I belong here, in my home, filling my role as wife, homemaker, and mother and all the things that those titles mean. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than that! Now, don't get me wrong, the Lord provided this temporary job at the time that we needed it and I am grateful. I am just even more grateful that His role for me is not driving around interviewing and counting people, but being here at home=) I LOVE YOU, FAMILY!

James

Almost exactly nine months ago today I wrote a post about our neighbor James Montgomery. He had experienced a car wreck that, while in itself was bad, only occurred as a result of a pre-existing heart condition. Over the next few weeks we rejoiced as we watched James recuperate and miraculously improve. We did notice, over time, that he never returned to be quite the same as he was before but we were just thankful the Lord had spared him.

Well, today He took him home.

Months of struggling with a balance between medication, therapy, medical trials, heart transplant lists, clinical trial possibilities, and endless other things that the family went through are over. James went to be with his Savior early this morning. We were glad to call him not only our neighbor, but also our friend. Our kids loved him, Matthew enjoyed working with him in his garage, James would often knock on our door and come in for a quick visit. He will be missed, but we know we will see him again someday.

Day #2

Dear Readers,
So today was interesting....but not really as 'bizarre' as I was expecting. I spent 8 hours sitting in a room with nine other people with names like Lorraine and Ernest and birth dates like 1942. I learned about PII's and filled out a D-308 form while looking over hundreds of other carbon copied sheets of paper. I signed my name dozens of times and swore an oath with my right hand raised. I promised, as a citizen of these United States, never to divulge any information that I may collect in my job as an ETL (enumerator of transient locations). I must take all of it to my grave and keep it under lock and key if at any time it is out of my sight....don't ask me for any more details, because, like, I'd have to kill you. I was fingerprinted by a Mrs. Shoot An Arrow (not even kidding!) and got strange looks when I mentioned that this was the second time in my life that had happened to me. I just about went crazy every time the word 'statistics' came up and was changed to 'stastistics' by our teacher, along with the interchangeable 'personal' for 'personnel'. I was congratulated on finding a typo in the government handbook we were issued to explain the importance of our role in the 2010 Census, carrying on the tradition our forefathers established in 1790. My guess, though, is that they didn't have 3 days of training with misspelled words in their handbook. And now I am holed up in my room, hoping that Mrs. Room #27 doesn't snore as much tonight. The TV is on and I just finished eating the individual size pizza from the gas station across the highway. And that is my update for you all....the story of my day. Meanwhile, my kids are home, being tucked into bed by their Daddy who will watch a few episodes of '24' before we get on the phone and say good night to each other....
Sincerely,
Alisha

Don't look for me in Buffalo Gap

For the next three days I will be in Kadoka, SD at the stellar looking Dakota Inn pictured below. In training me for a new job as an enumerator for the 2010 Census, Uncle Sam has spared no expense for lodging for myself and the other trainees. We are currently residing in the #4, out of four, rated hotel in this town. =) I am looking forward to the stories and experiences that I will have to share as a result of this unique experience!

So, as I sit here and listen to the 27th truck go by on the highway outside my wall, I will explain why I am here. A few weeks ago I came across a flyer describing the job openings for the upcoming census and decided to look into it a bit further. Long story short, my application was flagged for my bilingual abilities as well as my test scores. You see, according to the kind lady who administered the test to me, I am one of her golden ones. I was the only one there to take this examination that was to determine if I would be deemed worthy of being a census enumerator. As I began the test she assured me not to worry, I could retake it as many times as I needed to. After 30 minutes of strenuous brain activity in which I had to not only put things in numerical order, but alphabetical as well, I turned in my test. (I finished well before the 30 minute time limit but she HAD to give me the entire time....so we sat there, each staring at our own private section of white wall, waiting for the time to tick away.) She laid the answer key over the top of my answer sheet and, almost immediately, gasped!!! "AH! You're one of my golden ones," she exclaimed. You see, I'd gotten a 100%. I'm told I was one of the few....and really, I don't even know what to say to that. I'm not so much proud of myself as I am embarrassed for the rest of my countrymen....

And that folks is why I am here, at the #4 of four hotels in Kadoka, sitting in one of the rooms that received a 5.1 / 10 on the cleanliness rating, preparing to eat my meals in their 3.5 / 10 dining room.....and now do you understand why I'm excited about what adventures I may have to share with you in the near future??????

Men in training

I love watching my sweet, little boys following their Daddy's footsteps and becoming good men!

"Thank you Lord, for a godly Daddy that teaches them how!"

Girlie Stuff

*While I'm here in Kadoka I had a few other posts prepared and here is one from the most recent visit from our Wyoming friends, the Bergs.

Sometimes a girl just needs something sweet, and nothing's is sweeter than sharing cookies with one of your best friends! Unless, of course, you top it off with frosting=)

Later tonight I hope to update you all on my training so far....=)

Matthew's Birthday

So I just realized today that I had never posted about Matthew' s birthday party that took place almost 2 months ago....so skipping the usual introductory paragraph of excuses, I will jump right to it!!

My husband is 40.....if you know how to read between the lines, then those 4 words do a lot of explaining, that - for the sake of time and for the sake of kindness - I am going to just skip=) I will be gracious and loving hoping that the favor is returned when my turn rolls around. Of course, just so you all know, that isn't for many, many, MANY more years. (*Any comments stating other wise will be deleted)

I began plotting this conspiracy about 6 months before it took place. Early in the fall of last year I contacted his family in hopes that someone would be able to come out and celebrate with us all on this big day! Thankfully, although some of the secrets were leaked out, that one remained intact and was the best part of the entire day! Matthew's oldest brother, Randy, came out for a week long visit, arriving there just minutes before Matthew walked through the door. As Matthew came in he laughed and started to greet everyone then came over and gave me a hug. I told him that there was someone else who wanted to give him a hug, too. He turned around and looked and at first had NO idea who he was looking at.....then it finally registered....he stood there for a while just looking shocked before it sunk it!!!Of course Uncle Randy had some presents up his sleeve for not just the birthday boy, but for his nieces and nephews as well=)

I was worried from the beginning of the planning what to do as a theme, I would lay there awake at night sometimes and my mind would just NOT settle down....I wanted to make it extra special and not just any typical get together. I kept thinking of ideas and how to pull off the surprise and what I was going to do, etc. I was talked out of going with the "Over the Hill" theme and the usual cruel decorations that accompany that (guess I can save it for the next BIG one=), and went with the 70's theme instead. Matthew was born at the dawn of that decade and it seemed like we could have fun with it=) I think we did!!!!

It was fun to sit around and see some of these people come to life as they answered trivia questions about 70's TV shows, music, etc. Some of us were clueless but it was fun just the same! We had a good time visiting, opening cards, and sharing some fun memories we had of Matthew. And lets face it, you can't know Matthew for very long and not have a crazy memory of some kind or other!

The cake was another whole deal that made the day even better!!! It was beautiful, it perfectly fit the tye died theme, it was very yummy, AND I didn't have to make it! Thanks so much to Tarin for, once again, making a perfect cake!


The kids hung around for a little while, long enough to eat, before heading downstairs for a movie so that the grown ups could be a bit more relaxed. OK, so that I could be more relaxed=) I think Uncle Randy ended up skipping out on most of our party games and also headed down to the basement, but can you blame him? Who doesn't like "Kung-Fu Panda"?
Thanks Matthew for humoring me and enjoying yourself at the party=) I love you and hope I can be with you for 40 more years!!!