Joshua's Leap Frog Tag Jr.

I got this adorable Tag Jr. from Leap Frog for my 2 year old.   It is the cutest thing I have ever seen.  It is big enough for little hands to hold and looks like a fat caterpillar to me.  It is a book reading system.  You put Tag Jr. over words and pictures in the book and TagJjr. tells you what the words say or what the pictures are or even ask you to "find" other things on the page.  You need to purchase the right Tag books.  There is Tag and Tag Jr., so make sure you are buying the right ones.

You will need to hook up your Tag Jr. to your computer to download information to it, and upload information from it.  You can have Tag Jr. say your child's name!  "Hello Joshua!" says ours when he turns it on.  You can only download 5 books at a time, put the Leap Frog site makes it very easy to set everything up.Another great addition to the Leap Frog website, is that it will let you know your child's progress. Which book they "read" the most.

As soon as all that is done, show your child how it works.  When they see that all they have to do is touch Tag Jr. to any place on the page and it talks, they will be so excited.  You don't need to hold it over the words or picture, just touch it...and move Tag Jr. and it will "tell" you about what you "tagged".

I really like it and so does my son.  There are many different book from Dr. Seuss's "Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You", one of my favorites, to Ni Hao, Kailan.

You can even purchase a great carrying case for up to 5 books and Tag Jr.  It makes it great for traveling in the car! 

I only see a few downsides to this product:

1. You can only download 5 books into the Tag Jr.

2. How long till they no longer make the books for this product?

3. How durable is the Tag Jr.  My 2 year old does not have a gentle touch.  So far, his "touching" has not caused any damage to the unit. 

This products get a 4 out of 5 Mom's Thumbs Up

And  3 1/2  out of 5 Happy Kids

The Ending of the Peru Dilema aka "Door Closes, Door Opens"

Well, last time I posted we were trying to decide.  We prayed about it and decided she should not go.  No matter what the MRI said, it wasn't going to
"magically" make her knee have no pain.  It was an agonizing decision.  We both encouraged her to go, and now we had to take it away.  

At first, she was angry, and I reminded her through my own tears, that it was not a decision we took lightly, nor one done out of punishment.  She finally understood that and wrote this in her blog (and yes, I have permission to share it!) :

  Hey there. So, today I may not be going to Peru *sigh* I'm not mad, more like sad. I'm crushed, but hey, it happens. I'm not mad at my mom and dad, I know that it's not their fault, and it's not Gods fault either. God has been telling my parents not to let me go, cuz he knows best, and now, they get it and are saying no. But it's alright. I wanted to go really bad, but...I dunno. This is just gonna happen all my life, and I have to accept it. I'm more fragile than most, and God is keeping me from harm (or should we say in this case, MAJOR harm). I really don't know how feel now. I guess it's like a longing, deep feeling that I have no idea what it is. Maybe sadness, depression, hurt. It's not anger. I just don't know what it is. I...I think I'm gonna go. 

My response was:

 sweetheart..I think you have a good handle on this. You know God only wants the best for you as do your parents. I think you get to feel disappointed and remember that Paul wanted to go somewhere to PREACH THE GOSPEL and God said no...and I am sure that Paul was thinking..ummm God..but I am going to do good things for you..why wouldn't you let me go??? Seemed the LOGICAL thing to do..but our God never promised to be LOGICAL...as always..His ways are not our ways..and His thoughts are not our thoughts. I hope this helps in any small way. I love you.

She went to church the next day and was met with a "wave" of adults who "could not believe her parents were not going to let her go."  She was very confused and we were, needless to say, a bit irritated.  Of course, none of those  people were here when we made the decision or knew ALL the details involved in the making of the decision.  So, we made a few calls to explain and understanding was spreading out to the "masses".  Here is her next blog post:

Ok, so I go to church today, and the message was applying yourself to God's work. Instantly I had a pain in the pit of my stomach. In the message, pastor said there are 3 things that might be preventing God from using you. So I look at them and I feel guilty. They were sin, doubt and laziness. So I'm thinking, ' Have I done any of these? Is that why God prevented me? Am I doubting? Am I being lazy? Do I have unconfessed sins? After the message, about 10 people came up to me and asked why I wasn't going, and did I start to feel bad. Now, yesterday, mom said that Megan told her Christian said That I would be one to get it. That started making me guilty, and a bit happy, cuz it was so cool Christian thought of me like that. Anyway, for Sunday School, Mrs.Morgan gave a lesson, and it was centered around the same thing. So I have that pain in my stomach again, and I was wishing I could leave, but I knew I couldn't. She said they would be praying, and afterwards, she and Jessie Jensen said I could do office work and Mrs.Hand could stay with me, so I got a small spark of hope, but on the way home, I was so confused. I told John everything that had happened, and I feel so confused. God, are you trying to tell me something? Didn't you just tell my parents you didn't want me to go? Why are you doing this to me? Why are you tormenting me? I just don't understand....... 

 

I commented on this and so did a friend of ours:

 

Mine:

First of all...the three things that could hinder you from serving..you have none of them. You wanted to go..you may have unconfessed sin...but you will take care of that and you do not doubt God. The torment lies in the fact that you made a decision...and now everyone, who doesn't even know the decision, are pointing you another way. In my life, I have always practiced...if there is a will there is a way. I would spend hours trying to come up with scheme after scheme to get what I wanted or do what I wanted. 9 times out of 10, I was never suppose to have or do what I wanted because of it not being what God wanted me to do. So, I see all these people as coming up wi "schemes" to get you to go. Not that they are being evil..just they know your heart. If there was a "scheme" I think God would have revealed it. Megan would say..oh take the time you need to decide...and she isn't saying that...not that she is too blame. There are always deadlines on trips.
Take heart, sweetie, God will open another door for you since this one is closed.

Our Friend:

Shelby, I would have to count myself among the people who were guilty of trying to problem solve for you. Like your mother said, it isn't because we're being evil, we all just think...maybe I can fix this!
NONE of us lives with the aches and pains and discomfort that you put up with every day, and we don't even know what it is we're trying to push you to do. We look at you, and see a heart for God in you, and push you to do things that we think sound right, or seem right. It doesn't make them right for you.
God's timing is perfect, not mine. Acutally, my timing stinks a bit. Know that I love YOU with all my heart, and God is using you right now to work in us, and maybe THAT was the whole point of this. I'm sorry if you have been tortured on my behalf. God can use you here, in Northville, just as well as he can use you on the other side of the world.
I will pray that God will give you peace, and that your stomach will stop hurting!

 

 

Within an hour, there was an OPEN door!  Something in the states, a few states south, doing stuff that IF her knee is still bothering her, she can still do!  God is so faithful and I pray that she will see the tremendous amount of love He has for her.  Here is her post:

Ok, so I can't go Peru....but Mrs.Morgan did say that they were planning a trip to Virginia and said I could go! YES! Thank you God! I am SO hoping God will allow me to go to this one. Mrs.Morgan said it's gonna be crafts, sewing, painting and all that stuff that I'm good at! Mom said it was as if God closed a door on one thing, and opened another. :D :D I am so happy. When the time come for the teens to go, I'm not gonna be sad, I'm gonna wish 'em off and pray one of them will reach someone. I hope this new trip means that THAT one is the one he wanted me to go to all along.

 

 

I am truly blessed and I know God is grooming her and is going to use her in a mighty way.

Lack Of Faith Or Common Sense?

Recently we are in a dilemma with my daughter and her knee. She is planning on going to Peru for a missions trip in April. She is 15 and so excited about it! Problem is she hurt her knee. She had an X-ray and a MRI done. We are waiting for results as the mission trip for her hinges on them.

So my struggle is always the same. Are the hurdles a sign that she should not go... or Satan just attacking? Am I to look at them as a growing opportunity for my faith or an opportunity to use my common sense?

On and on my mind goes. I could analyze forever, but that is not biblical. One of my many weaknesses is NOT being able to take that step of faith unless I can see the light shining on it! Anyone else like that? Can I get an "Amen"? It is not the way God intended for us to walk with Him. I know that He did not tell Abram exactly how he would travel to where He intended him to go. And did Abram say, Um...can ya let me know the route so I feel better inside about this trip. If I know where I am going, I will be able to be more obedient. " NO! He just went.

I need faith and obedience like that.

Finally Talking!

I have been a bit worried about my 2 year old, he was not really talking. Well, has that changed. Everyday there is a new word he is saying to us all! I even can get him to count! He will do almost every other number. Couldn't believe that one. My favorite is:

Walks up to me and says, "Mama, Mama, Mama?"

"What, baby?"

"What you doin'?"

Melts my heart! I know that in a few months I will be telling him to "hush!" But for now..as it is blooming, I am enjoying every word.

Why Do People Mock?

I get upset when people have to be so mocking. I see it quite often on Facebook. I am not sure the rhyme or reason for it, and I usually keep my mouth/fingers shut. Sometimes it is just too much for me, and I have to "zing" back. There is always some status going around that says something to effect of "If you love your mom and think she is the best in the whole world, copy and paste this to your status." Ok, is there any harm in this? If you don't want to, guess what??? YOU DON'T HAVE TO! There are many different kinds from..."If you know an idiot..." to "If you have lost a baby..." People are not FORCED to copy and paste anything they don't want to. If you don't like reading the things that the people YOU "friended" on Facebook write, than de-friend them! Don't mock them. I think some people just need to make other people feel smaller so they can feel bigger. It is sad.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Everyone in my household is enduring some level of sickness. I am going on two weeks with mine. I was the last to the doctor's for antibiotics...can't hear..sinus infection. The 9 year old, and 2 year old have been medicated and on the way out of this. My 15 year old and hubs are in the beginning. And as a side note, the hubs is OFFICIALLY sick now..and surprise, surprise...the "magical cough syrup" did not HEAL him.

EVERYONE is SICK of:
Hearing me saying: What did you say?
Listening to my 2 year old scream constantly from his first prednisone "high"
Listening to the blow-by-blow report of every step of my 9 year old's video game character
Listening to the "SNUFFING" of my 15 year old's nose
Listening to the "disbelief" of my hubs that he is sick AND the 2 year old is still screaming!



So....are we having fun yet???

YES WE ARE!!!

eHow Again

I have not written an article on eHowfor a few months now...maybe even since spring. I don't know why I neglect THAT but make sure my farm is taken care of on Facebook. My farm isn't making me any money, not even a penny. eHow, on the other hand, has consistently earned me between $25 to $30 a month since mid year. One of my articles has earned almost $50 on its own.

It works, eHow really works and I would be foolish to keep neglecting it. Depending on the article, it only takes a few minutes to put an article up. ..not including the hunt for pictures.

I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a way to make some residual income. I think the most consumption of my time is the networking you should do. Reading articles by your "friends" on eHow, commenting, rating the article, and then recommending the member. I am going to start doing about 10 a night. When they see you have looked at and commented on their articles, they will return the favor. There is a definite relationship between how many people are looking at your articles and the and my monthly amount. The more articles I am reading, rating and recommending, the more times MY articles get the same treatment and the greater the increase in my monthly check! I have 38 articles right now. Imagine if I had 100 or more and let's say I continue to average $25 for every 38 articles ( it sooo doesn't work that way..but let's just pretend for minute). I could be making close to $100 a month! I like that. Income rolling in and I am not doing much work or the work I am doing is something I like anyways...telling people what to do! What could be better?

My Husband Found A Cure For Sickness!

If you have not realized this by now, I am very sarcastic. My pastor always is saying to me, "Tonya, it isn't WHAT you say, it is HOW you say it!"

We are all being hit with a nasty virus that I started out with. Sore throat, stuffy nose, then runny nose and coughing..coughing..coughing! Unfortunately, my 2 year old got this and has had extremely high fevers along with an unending cough that always puts a chill through a mother's heart. My 9 year old has Asthma, ( I think my 2 year old does as well, but not as bad, yet) and of course it went right to his chest. My daughter and hubby have been able to fend this off. I am on my second week of it due to a sinus infection that I JUST today got some antibiotics for...woo hoo!..I will be able to hear again and have balance!

So on to the CURE!

My hubs has some cough medicine his doctor gave him a while ago. Now this cough medicine has codeine in it! I KNOW it was given to him because he was coughing a lot and the codeine is meant to knock you out so you can get some rest from the annoying coughing. The "cough syrup" part is either an expectorant or suppressant..or both. Well, he thinks he is getting this, so he informs me he is going to take his medicine. I tell him, in probably NOT the nicest tone, that he needs to take it when he is coughing like his 2 year old and is turning purple trying to stop.

But men are like teenagers sometimes...they think they know everything.

He came home from work. I heard him cough softly once. The next thing I know, my 9 year old is in the bedroom tattling on daddy! "Dad took a big swig from the BOTTLE, mom, the BOTTLE!"

"Oh Dear, can I talk to you? Did you take that medicine?"

"Yeah, it will knock this right out of me"

"Knock what out of you..you coughed once! You need to take it when you are repeatedly having coughing fits! You have coughed once."

"Honey, I coughed so hard on the way home, I gagged!"

"Well, dear, that could have been from the cold air outside or the warm air you had blowing on you in the car. You have only coughed once here."

"Well, I know my body and this will knock it out of me."


"But the cough syrup is NOT a cure..it doesn't cure the sickness! It is only for coughing and sleeping! How much did you take?"

"A teaspoon."

"You did not! You drank out of the bottle!"

"Well I know how much needs to go in my mouth...."

Ok, hand went up as I interrupted and said "OH GIVE ME A BREAK!" and went to bed!

Men....I know God gave them to us...now how to live with them!

Homeschooling Parents Arrested For Endangering The Welfare Of Their Children

Yes, you read that correctly. This is a horrible, true event that is not at the end yet.

This family, who I know very well, are good Christian parents who homeschool 4 boys. They were arrested this past Monday for not registering their children with the school district. The charges were: endangering the welfare of a child. Come on!!!!! I want someone on the face of this planet to explain to me how not filing a piece of paper endangers the welfare of a child!!
For more detailed information please go to this link: Home Schooling Couple Arrested

As I said, I know this family and KNOW that she has been homeschooling them and MORE (they have a farm) for the whole 7 years in question. I would even understand the endangerment charged if they DIDN'T homeschool their children for the past 7 years because of the need for some education for anyone to succeed. But that is NOT the case here. Matter of fact, we use the same curriculum!

My husband was in his car listening to the Rush Limbaugh show when it was announced! The Rush Limbaugh show! We are talking about a tiny community here and it was on a national radio show. Next he heard it on Fox News. I was horrified for them.

HSDLA -The Home School Legal Defense Association heard...HEARD about this and contacted the family. Check this article out on what they are saying: Attorney For Home School Couple Says Arrest Was Unnecessary and Highly Unusual

How did this all start? Some nosey person saw the kids outside during school hours and called Child Protective Services. These parent's pictures...were splattered all over the T.V. and through every paper were article after article of half truths. The sheriff who arrested them made the statement "The boys were very polite and seemed somewhat educated." Who made him judge over who is educated and who isn't? Now ready for the clincher? They were approached prior to the arrest with the problem of non-regisgtration. The investigator came in and made statements to the newspapers that there was hardly any sign of homeschooling. But according to the family, they tried to show him and he said he didn't need to see it. HUH? Child Protective Services helped them and got the kids registered and the curriculum sent in to the school. So the problem solved! Nope..they arrested them later and the investigator even said that they were going to make examples out of them. The father was told of a radio show talking about all of this and he called in. Here are more details with a link to the radio interview at the end: Home School Dad Speaks Out About Arrest

So the county wanted to make an example out of them. I feel, that God will be glorified in this, this family will be lifted up. The outpouring of support is overwhelming and it is just getting bigger and bigger. This story is spreading and spreading, and it needs to. Who is going to be next? The government, despite what they think, do not own our children. God gave them to us. the parents. Please do not take my words as I don't care about the REALLY abused children. I am thankful that there is an agency to step in and protect, but this is NOT the case. And as with all things, it seems, the government goes too overboard and too far in every situation.

Please pray for this family and I will keep you all updated as to how this is progressing.