Unbelievable!

..."My kids are still sleeping!"... How nice it is to sit downstairs and hear the birds chirping. I actually can hear the computer's humming.

Today I will be working on getting Tom's portfolio ready. This shouldn't take long. Becca does her own. Next school year I add Katie into the mix. Ana's still free for a few years. ~smile~

Katie was working on her 'Handwriting Without Tears' cursive writing book yesterday. She had started it at the beginning of the year and got away from it. (She only did a few pages). She just zips along. She has no problem following the directions by herself. She is a little shaky but that will subside as she moves along. I'm thinking she will prefer cursive over printing. Tom never uses cursive he has always disliked it. Ana is shaky with her printing so I will be pulling out the other HWOT book I have.

**Today Becca will be taking her EMT paper test, again. She didn't do well with it the first time. She is excellent with hands-on; doing the actually contact with people. She did great working on the ambulance. ~Pray she passes~**

I think I hear someone getting out of bed...~LOL~ it's the dog~ hahaha This is too nice.

Enjoy your day.
~Margarete~

The Service

We are now home after attending the service for the little girl that was murdered. I have to say that it is so hard to sit through something like this. Never in my life did I think something like this would happen so close to home. It seemed there wasn't a dry eye and if there was it wasn't many. Many "letters" were read from the children that she was friends with and attended school with. The most noticeable thing written was that they always referred to her as having a beautiful smile. She was helpful, friendly, and loving. She was definitely a very loved little girl and her family is going to need a lot of support.

I thought that Ana and Katie were having trouble understanding. I don't think so. Ana was upset that I didn't take them to the burial. Katie is sitting here writing the little girl's name on balloons and making something out of them.

Our neighbors are more watchful now. They are keeping an eye on the kids as they play outside. I think this is even bringing us closer to some neighbors.

I have to go attend to some children right now.

Hug your children.
~Margarete~

Garden, Again

Last night, actually early evening, Tom and I worked on a garden in the backyard. We cleared out a strip of grass behind the garages (the whole length), and planted sunflower seeds. We are going to try and clear out some more to plant some zinnia, pansy, cosmos, and morning glory seeds. It would be so cool to look out our large back window and see the beautiful colors. Hopefully the dog won't get too playful and start digging them. I need to find a fence about 2 feet high that would keep him out.

Ed is going to get the rototiller fixed this weekend so we can get the garden ready. We seem to always be late with this. Oh! In the fall we had thrown pumpkins into the garden so the kids took a few, pulled them open, and were checking out the seeds. Katie decided to throw them all over the backyard and "plant" some. Either the lawn mower is going to get them when they start to grow or we are going to have many pumpkins to share. ~LOL~

Hope you all have a good day.
~Margarete~

Garden..

Yesterday the girls helped Ben mulch 2 of our neighbors gardens and some of ours. They worked so hard. Katie was pushing the wheelbarrow and mulching like she has done it forever. ~smile~ We also planted some bushes and today we are planting flowers. Ana wants to help but as soon as she starts digging, she finds a pill bug or worm and gets sidetracked examining them. ~LOL~ Next week I'll get some hanging plants for the front of the house. I do need to figure out what type of hanging plants for part sun/shade. The plants always die that hang on the back porch.

Our neighbor and I were talking about how great it is to homeschool. We were saying that girls were learning so much by digging, planting, (checking out the bugs) and doing hard work; instead of always sitting in the house doing paperwork. They are such "hands-on" kids.

I'm not sure what to do in this situation. As you know, we had the tragedy this week of the murder of a little girl in the neighborhood. We went to the vigil and the next day the 3 girls wanted to put something else down on the rememberance pile. We did. Well, Ana wanted to go there again, this morning. She said she wanted to see where the little girl was. I did try to explain to her that she's not there anymore, etc., etc.,... Do I take her around there once more or try to get her on another subject? She did have nightmares the night before last. It's so hard for little one's to understand. I know the girls' friend around the corner is also having nightmares and can't sleep. She goes to school and it was announced over the loudspeaker....she's only 7.

Well, Ben just came home from getting me more flowers. Off to the garden. ~smile~

~Margarete~

Death...

Sometimes it is so hard to comprehend. One moment a child can be playing and the next you hear that child has been brutally murdered. That is what happened in our town last night. A man,(a huge man) beat, strangled, and did unspeakable things to a little girl. Afterwards, like she was trash, dumped her. Sick, just sick.
We went to the vigil tonight. All types of people just standing there. Out of love, everyone was there.
Now, as we were walking towards everyone, a thought came to my mind. Oh my, That man is going to die. Just by looking at the motorcyles, cars, and people upon people I thought Lord he needs you. Yes, he did the unspeakable but remember, God created him. He has a mom and dad, family. Someone loves him or did love him. Only God can take care of him now.
The girls took 2 roses to put down on the rememberence (sp?) pile. I could not look up at the other little girls standing there. They must have been her friends and neighbors. One was crying. I did not want to look into their innocent eyes.
Ana and Katie know what happened. Katie does not seem to understand. as much as Ana. Ana on the other hand, has been asking all kinds of questions. She wanted to know if we would think of her if she would die. I hope she sleeps ok tonight. I honestly do not know if I will sleep well at all.
Honestly, it has been a weird day. Even the young lady at the deli we visited said the same thing. Police cars, news reporters, no one could seem to relax.

This day needs to be done.

~Margarete~