Monday, January 26, 2009

Grilling Goodness With Tina And Friends~ 15

GoldenGoodness

It's that time again...Time for some more "Grilling Goodness." If you would like to join in all of the fun, just click here. Tina would love to have you all participate!

Now, on to the grilling.....

1. Have you ever ridden a horse?

Yes, I have ridden on a horse. When I was a little girl my granddaddy had a horse he let me ride on. The horse was named Sugar.



And then there was this one time (I shudder even recalling it) when I was a teenager that I got on a horse. Only, I didn't know that you were supposed to hold on to the reins the whole time that you were riding on the horse. I learned this though as the horse ran us up in between two trees.

Shudder.

2. Have you ever run out of gas?

No. I have not ever run out of gas. I am the type of girl that is always paranoid about running out of gas. I think I'm practically on empty when I am down to only half a tank of gas.

I have a HUGE fear of running out of gas. I have nightmares about it even.

Of course, in my nightmares when I am running out of gas, I look like Jessica Simpson, and there are plenty of paparazzi around that are willing to help me......



....but, it still freaks me out.

3. How many different schools did you attend growing up?

Several.

I went to one school for kindergarten, where all did was sit, sit, and sit. LOL!:) (That's a little family joke, right Mom?)

Then I went to a small private Christian school from the first through eighth grade.

It closed down, so my parents sent me to another private school, which I hated for a solid year and a half. After a year and a half of complete and utter misery, I woke up one morning and informed both of my parents that I was NO longer going to go that *&$! hole anymore!

So, I proceeded to get myself enrolled in an optional program in a public school in the area. In order to go to this school, I would have to be accepted into their art program. I got my art portfolio together, made an appointment for my mom, dad, and I to meet the principal and art teacher, and I even arranged a ride to and from school for myself. (This is a true story.) I finished the last two and half years of high school at that public school, and I loved every minute of it!

And Mom and Dad, I'm sorry that I put you both through all of that stress, but thank God, it worked out well. As Matthew says all the time, "Romans 8:28."

4. Do you have, and use, a library card?

Yes, I have library card. I have used it, but not so much in the last six or seven months. But now that I am done with all of my bed rest nonsense, I will probably be a regular at the Crazyville library.



5. Hand-wash or dishwasher?

I hand washed dishes for the first thirty-five years give or take of my life.



Then one day, I just decided that I had had enough, and I demanded that my sweet husband get me a dishwasher.

And God love him, he did.

It was love at first sight.

Just between you and me, as soon as I laid eyes on that beautiful piece of modern machinery, I started to hear Etta James singing in my ears....


"At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh, yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clovers
The night I looked at you
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to rest my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last"





It's a love affair that I hope will last forever.

Sigh.

6. Does your alarm clock beep or play music?

Neither.

My alarm clock shakes me and says in a very sexy voice, "It's time to get up honey!" ;)

7. Do you know how to roller skate?

I used to go roller skating all the time when I was in the fifth and sixth grade; I could roll with the best of them. And I was obsessed with the movie called Roller Boogie. Do you remember it?



It was like Saturday Night Fever on wheels. I loved it; it was SO romantic. You just gotta love the seventies, amen?

Anyway, the last time that I went roller skating was when my boys were little. It had been a looooong time since I had been on roller skates, and I don't know if it was just me, but the skating rink floor seemed really slippery. Like ice or something.

I put on my skates. Stood up. Fell down. Stood up again. Made my way to the ice rink and attempted to skate with my son Daniel.

Unfortunately, the whole experience did not play out like I had planned. After about 2 1/2 seconds on the ice rink, I started to go down. I panicked a bit. I grabbed for my son and took him down with me.

It was SO embarrassing. And dangerous for all involved. I have since retired from the sport.

8. What would you consider one of your biggest accomplishments?

I guess that I would have to say that my biggest accomplishment is homeschooling my boys for all of their school years so far. Matthew is in the eleventh grade, and Daniel is in the eighth.

Some years were so difficult for all of us, but we stuck with it. We didn't give up. And as a family, I feel like this a HUGE accomplishment.

The first years were the most difficult for me personally, because of all of the criticism that I faced from family, friends, and other home school families. I sometimes felt like a pioneer, of sorts.

Looking back on the comments that caused me so much confusion and doubts is very funny to me now, but at the time, it was very difficult. Sometimes home school moms can be quite the judgmental bunch, and I felt the judgment many times. I found this cartoon that I absolutely could have written myself many years ago.

If you are a home school mom (or even if you're not), I hope that this will make you laugh out loud like I did.



16 comments:

valerie said...

I'm really proud of you for home schooling your kids.
Mine were fortunate to be able to go to our church sponsored Christian school. I'm not smart enough to teach past first or second grade, so I'm thankful God worked that out. ;)

I always enjoy your Mon. post!

Have a great week!

sa061545@bellsouth.net said...

That was great!
Your decision about the private school obviously turned out much for the best but during the time, I was so scared! I just wanted you to be safe more than anything! I'm so glad that you loved that new school so much - I remember, your second day, it snowed and your were UPSET that you couldn't go to school that day!

As for the home schooling decision, you know I was uneasy only because I didn't know anything about it! But thankfully, I didn't express that to you! And boy, what a wonderful decision that one was! Matthew and Daniel are the evidence of how home schooling can be so successful! I am so defensive now when I hear ANYTHING negative about home schooling! I couldn't have done it but I am so thankful that you have stuck it out for all of these years and the boys are just so smart!!!!
I love you and am so very proud of you! :)
Mom

Tracey said...

Washing dishes? Riding a pony? Roller skating? What a wild and crazy life! ;-)

Unknown said...

once again, your list is hilarious! i love all your answers and pictures :) i, too, wash our dishes by hand, and hope that in the near future i can be the proud owner of a dishwasher!

Jamie said...

That little cartoon...hilarious! I was a home schooling mom for several years, and oh the stress of having 'average' kids, it was a lot for this mom to take.

I too was a regular at the roller rink when I was in 5th and 6th grade.

janjanmom said...

Oh my goodness!!! The cartoon, it made me laugh. I am still chuckling. I could add 55 other things I may have said or just thought, and sometimes just prayed. Too funny.

KUDOS to you for your homeschooling perseverence. I can make it through another day!!

Mia said...

That alarm clock sounds lovely! *wink*
Homeschooling (sigh)My favorite memory is once when Mookie was asked by a total stranger in the store "Shouldn't you be in school young lady?"
Mookie "I'm not suppose to talk to strange people I learned that in homeschool"
Of course she meant strangers but oh well.....

Gina said...

I love the homeschool cartoon! Thankfully I have a lot of support from family and friends when it comes to homeschooling. Even if I didn't, I would do it anyway. :) The roller skating story is too funny. I haven't put a pair on in years and would be afraid to at this point. :) I hope you have a great day!

God bless,
Gina

Anonymous said...

LOVE the cartoon & I'm so there!!!

Also, can you get me one of those alarm clocks?!?!?!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I need to get myself one of those alarm clocks....I just hear an annoying beep every morning...LOL!!

That cartoon is so funny....I have much respect for anyone that can homeschool one child, let alone two....that is a major accomplishment...my hat is off to you!!!

Lisa

Smiling Shelly said...

1. Awe! A horse named Sugar...How sweet ;)(sorry, couldn't resist)

2. Better not to take a chance with that one. I somehow don't think it will turn out the same for you as it did for her...I'm just sayin' ;)

3. So is the short answer to this question 4?? LOL! Kidding!!

4. We got our Library cards TODAY!! :D Watch out books...Here I come!!

5. LOL! Thanks for sharing ;)
Kidding - of course! It's okay to completely ignore me...

6. Wow! How nice of him to wake you in the mornings so you can fix him some bacon and cheese toast before he heads off for a long days work. ;)

Oh wait, is that fiction??

7. Let me help bring you back into this century ;o If you liked Roller Boogie, you'll LOVE Roll Bounce - It's one you can watch with the boys and of course, I have it if you would like to borrow it. :D

8. That is a HUGE accomplishment - Once I couldn't do. Not in a million years. For the safety of all involved, my kiddo's go to public schools ;)

LynnSC said...

Hi Amy... I loved your comments here on this post.

And... as a ex-homeschooling mom, the cartoon was so funny. I miss having my children home with me all day. BUT... I know that we are doing what God led us to do. I never thought the day would come... but it did. God is growing me during this time. For that... I am thankful.

Blessings,
Lynn

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

too fun. I enjoy reading this about you!!

In His Graces~Pamela

Unknown said...

Funny that I was supposed to go to the @$# hole private school you where in, but like you I decide to go the optional art program at the same public school as well. The rest is history for us. It was meant to be I guess. But looking back I think we where boring people.

Laura said...

Amy,

You absolutely de-light me. I love your sweet honesty. I really do hope that one day we will get to meet and hug on each other!

BTW--YOu are so much more beautiful than Jessica Simpson.

:)Laura

Tina said...

What a sweet picture of you on the horse!! :)

Please, LORD, don't let Amy ever run out of gas!! LOL

Now, that's some LOVE for a dishwasher...and it's name wasn't even Shannon!!

6. How wonderful...I suppose I'd wake up in a great mood everyday!

7. I've never heard of that movie...but I watched part of some goofy skating movie with hubby the other day...Solar Babies...kooky.

8. You are one great momma!! :)

Sorry it took me so long to get here!! Thanks for playing!!