Scarves

So, every year for the past decade my mother-in-law has been buying me scarves for Christmas. What does this mean? I have a lot of scarves and am now, apparently, a scarf lady.

I've never been a scarf lady, so it baffles me, but they're functional and sometimes pretty, so it's all good.

I will say that the scarves have gotten better over the years. I kid you not, that first Christmas I got a tan felt scarf with various cat heads on it. Creepiest thing ever. Ever ever. Still not sure what I did or said that made her connect those dots.

This year she got her sisters in on it so I got multiple scarves. To my astonishment, one was very Tom Baker-y! Not an exact replica. But one of similar pattern and colors. They didn't get the significance, but even B said "Hey, Fourth Doctor!" When I opened it.

I now believe I am all set for a winter in the Arctic. At least they serve for fashion since its not that cold here. And the really odd ones ( like one with multicolored hearts or purple paw prints) make great dress up accessories for the kids. ;)

Christmas at the Zoo

Our annual tradition since Auds was born has been to go to the zoo for the light display. This year was slightly disappointing because they didn't do the nativity (Auds and Tony were so upset) and the train was not working. Those are the primary reasons we go every year. But, regardless, we had a nice time. It was our first year as a family of five with three outside babies.

Auds insisted on taking pictures by nearly every light display we passed - which is another yearly tradition. It's crazy to see how big our kids have gotten year after year next to the same displays. They grow so fast!

Blessed

So we're the kind of people who use it up. Everything. Wear it out until it can't be used any more. That's how we roll.

Our couch was gifted to us almost a decade ago right before we got married by my husband's best friend's grandmother (say that five times fast) before she moved to a retirement center. At that point it was 40 years old, but we were just starting out and appeciated every bit of the brown tweed. It is STILL our couch, but I've made a nice slipcover from some canvas drop cloth to make it look nicer. Everyone always comments on how comfortable our couch is - perfect for napping- with no idea how old it is.

I love a good thrift store find. If it's still got life in it, we'll use it to the fullest.

So I was all too happy when my husband's accountant asked him "need a bed for one of your kids?" It was her daughter's, but now that she's 30 and out of the house with a family of her own it was just taking up space.

Now Auds has a big girl bed. She was previously sleeping on a mattress on the floor because the antique iron beds I bought the kids hadn't been refinished since I bought them a year ago. *ahem, husband of my youth and love of my life*

Needless to say, she was thrilled! And it's got a trundle for sleepovers.

We are just so blessed by the generosity of others!

What? And Hmm...

I've had other posts that I thought I published ( Auds' first love letters to and from a boy!) but are now gone. Sad. I'll have to retype them if I can remember all I tried to convey. I hope this one posts!

So, I'm still not feeling complete peace with Auds' school. I wish it were just financial -although it ain't cheap.

It's run by a little nondenom church. Okay, first off, I don't get just up and starting a church with no spiritual headship. The early church was very organized and there was accountability. How can you just up and run a church without accountability of a pastor (most pastors have their own pastors) or governing board to make sure you're not making stuff up.

Beau and I have to read doctrinal books, thoroughly study the Bible, take classes, tests, interview with our state licensing board, and keep working under our pastor to be licensed ministry - the whole "Rev." Before his name and whatnot.

I'm not saying that's required to be a Christian. But if you're called to lead a church, there's gotta be some authority to protect the saints of God from any misdoings (we are all human after all).

Off of soap box.

The more I deal with these people, the more I feel and fear they are really confused. Example, a youth from their school - not their church - wanted to come to our church and reached out to my husband and I. We made arrangements with his host family (he's an exchange student) and would pick him up and drop him off and take great care of him. One of the church administrators chewed me out for this. And then changed the terms of his exchange student contract to state that he must be a member of their church. When he would still contact us for prayer and to talk he was then told he can't have contact with us or anyone at our church.

They've scheduled things during our church services that are mandatory for parents knowing that a lot of the kids from our church that go there are preacher's kids and forcing us to miss church when these appointments could easily be done at another time. I'm not saying that they should change everything for us. But when the school only has 80 kids, and 10 of them are from our church they know what they're doing, if that makes sense.

Their pastor had also reached out to our pastor wanting some help studying the Bible. The two were even thinking of a joint service. The administration flipped out. Needless to say their friendship has been forced to an end.

A couple I know just pulled their kid out of the school because the teacher had been mentioning non-Biblical doctrine in class and refusing to help their kid with class work.

I deal with them as the school photographer and the more I deal with them the more I just think that something is off. They're...weird.

We'll keep her there this year to finish it out, and next year because we know the teacher personally and know she's sane (lol). Also to give me more time to figure out what to do.

Do I send her to another private school? Do I homeschool her? For a girl who thrives on structure at school, how do I homeschool without having a designated space? How do I stay disciplined enough to make sure I don't let them fall behind?

Jess, I'm gonna need some help here.

So, I'm praying about it. A lot. And thanking God for intuition and trusting him to help me make the right decision.