Visiting my grown daughters is such a terrific way for me to be inspired. Yes, they inspire me...with their devotion to their husbands, their tender care for their children, their self-discipline, their attention to frugality and stewardship, their homemaking skills. These are all things that I had hoped to teach them while they were still in my home, and now I come to their homes to be taught. It doesn't get any better than that.

Tomorrow night I will have the privilege of meeting with a group of women who are beginning a homeschooling support group rather on the order of my beloved HOPE group in San Antonio. Yes, folks, we're franchising a good thing! Kristen had a dream to develop something here in the Virginia/Maryland area to meet the kind of needs that we address in Texas, and I'm here to support that dream. Annie is on board, too, despite her pregnancy nausea and the fact that little Erin isn't quite ready for "schooling" per se. We all know that true homeschooling starts long before phonics, right?

Oh, and Virginia is beautiful. I have to pray down the envy every time I come.

Tonight I will have a slumber party with Molly (age 8). She and I will sleep together on the foldout couch at her house, eat popcorn and watch a movie together. Memory maker for both of us.



Last night was Shelley's Grand Recital. I couldn't be there, but all reports are that she looked gorgeous and sounded even better. She received a medal for the most improved piano student of the year...something I have attested to many times but it's different coming from the mother. Congratulations, Shelley, on your hard work and this year's musical accomplishments. I'm SO proud of you.

Phase One of our home projects is complete. Since I've been gone, our trusty air conditioner expert (call me if you need a recommendation for this GREAT guy; he's been helping us out for years now), assisted by The Papa, have installed two new air conditioning systems in our house. I think I've mentioned before how bad our old ones were (call me if you want to know which builder to stay away from LOL) and how they were bleeding us dry on repairs every summer. Well hopefully that is all over now! I will return home to a house with the new systems, and with much of the ductwork and vent placement redone for maximum efficiency. YEA!

Next up in Phase Two: rebuilding two exterior doors to repair yet more poor building techniques and materials. (Call me.) Phase Three will be the painting of the first floor, which will start the same week as my surgery. Not sure how that's going to work out, but I'll keep you posted!

Every couple of weeks I hear from an old friend or acquaintance who has found this blog through either a purposeful search or a complete accident and then emails me to say hello. Such a treasure, this medium! I love it! If you have found me after a long while and are reading this, please email me using the link on my right sidebar so we can be in touch. If you're new around here or you've been lurking a while and haven't said hello in the comments, please leave me a note or email me so I'll know you've been here!

I'll be back home on Tuesday, finishing up the last of the medical appointments and other tasks before my hospitalization on Friday. I'd appreciate your prayers for a successful procedure and a smooth recovery!

Labels: Blogstuff, Friendship, Fun, Grandkids, Health, Homeschooling, Kids