Introducing My Daughters to Entrepreneurship

One of our favorite shops in town has been planning to have a Vendors Day event. I was truly excited as I looked forward to it. My little hobby, Suzette's Sweets would get to participate. 

But then came a surprise. My oldest daughter decided to learn to crochet and follow new patterns. She even created her own patterns! Suddenly she was making as many things as she could and asking to share my vendor tent. Of course I said yes! I've been trying to encourage her to learn and practice more. To make beautiful things. And maybe make some money on the side. 

Then came the next surprise. My youngest wouldn't have had anything to do that Saturday. At first, she seemed fine with that. Then a lady at church asked her what she could, or would want to, make? What little things would she be able to sell? Hmm... tough question. Originally, the lady thought beaded projects. But my little one doesn't like making jewelry. So to Pinterest I went. I found a board I had made a long time ago of gift ideas. (Back when we were struggling for money.) I revisited this board for this year - that hasn't been our best. And that is where I found bath bombs and melted bead art.

My mother had sent me these glow-in-the-dark beads for just such a project. I went thrifting for some metal cookie molds. I bought some supplies. The lady from church donated some more supplies. And suddenly, this house became a house of creativity! I loved watching them design and show off what they came up with. I am so proud of them! 

So, after the vendor day ends, we will look back and see what worked well and what didn't. Because at the end of this, I want them to think hard on what it means to be an entrepreneur! I want them to be proud of their own accomplishments as well. To have a little more confidence in what they can do. 

The Mini Museum Must Continue!

Part 4 of the updates here, I think. I have finally gotten the gift shop cleaned up and in order. Maybe 2 more projects left until I call this one completed. Or as finished as I am until I find something else to add...

 I like where this is going. Let's see what's next! How about creating my own statue?? 

The final update comes next! Then follows the question... Do I keep or sell?

Creating Space for Treasures

My daughters are like me. Tiny things fascinate them. My youngest has quite the collection, as you can see in this picture I took of one of her shelves. 

She has an immense selection of little trinkets she has gathered over the years to display. When her older sister brought this empty package piece, I had a light bulb moment like that of Gru in Despicable Me. Suppose I could doll it up to create a shelf addition for some of her figures? So, I set out to do just that. So we take this...

And make this!  

I just used bits from my crafting supplies. Some little James Avery boxes my mom sent. Some left over decal pieces from my mother-in-law. Some added beads to give it textures. 

I had also printed a couple backgrounds for the lower sections, since those were particular to her axolotl collection. The little figures above the sleeping axolotl are in packaging from a Bitty Funko Pop box. The bed was a box from Rainbow High packaging.  

What do you think? Have you created anything similar? 

Give History a Taste, and You Will Never Be the Same Again!

My husband and I have been watching Tasting History on YouTube lately. We love food, and we love history. Put the two of these together, and you have us completely enthralled. This guy really gives you a fun lesson and the things he is working on in his kitchen. Be is Spam, or Tomato Soup Cake, he had us laughing and scratching our heads. After all, some of these things just never would have crossed our minds. 

The most recent video we watched was for Tomato Soup Cake. The name caught us. No way did someone think that could work, right? Right?! Well, wrong. Not only did someone create this recipe (as early as the late 1920's even), but I gave it a try for us. And let me tell you, I was absolutely impressed! I don't normally like carrot cake or spice cake, but this was fabulous! I'm not a fan, and could not eat a while slice myself. But I was able to have a couple bites of my husbands slice. It was moist. It was flavorful. He said the nuts and raisins were the perfect addition as they provided the finishing touch for texture that really did it for him. 

Oh, and I cheated by using a spice cake mix. I figured I would go as easy as possible for the first round. Especially since I don't usually keep cake flour on hand. Next time, I think I will go by the full recipe. 

What you will need:

1 spice cake mix

1/2 cup of water

2 eggs

1 can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (if other, make sure it is 10.75 ounces)

1/2 cup of raisins

1/2 nuts of your choice (I used chopped walnuts)

I like everything easy. So I threw everything except the last 2 ingredients into the bowl and gave it a good stirring. Then I tossed in those last 2 ingredients and gave it a final mix. Pour the batter into a greased (or buttered) pan. Pop it in the oven until cooked through and the wetness test is perfect. I cooked it at 350 degrees for... I believe 25 minutes?  

I also chose not to use cream cheese frosting as my husband is not a fan. I had buttercream frosting on hand instead.  

I'm now looking forward to trying something else from history. What about you? Would you dare? 

Then Comes a Pink Slip

My last post of life was pretty heavy. So much has been going on in my world. So much has been weighing me down. And after that last post, it just piled on more. On the lighter side, I found out my youngest will most likely be getting glasses next time she is tested. Poor girl. I had hoped she would never need to. In the middle weight bracket, I have come to believe that my older daughter has scoliosis. Unfortunately, we haven't had medical insurance in at least a year, no maybe two, so we haven't been able to know for sure. However, the pain and lopsidedness she has been experiencing makes me believe this is it. I feel guilt. After all, she has my genes. And I can't do anything about it. I feel frustration. As my husband reminds me, even if we had insurance and knew for sure that is what she has, what could we do about it? I never want her to have the surgeries I had. Look at the mess I'm in...

1 Peter 1:6-7 is a hard reminder. Trials will come, many trials! But they are meant to try your faith. To push you to lean of God and His faithfulness through it all. 

 

But then there is the heavy weight. The champion of stress-inducing nightmares... my husband lost his job. I was dreading this possibility. Hoping it wouldn't come. But here we are. The company he was working for, pretty much dissolved in a matter of weeks. He was only given one weeks notice. The stress from that was enough to manifest in physical ways. But God has been gracious. He gave us a slight reprieve. My husband is temporarily working as a contractor for the company that took over the sites. While we were still waiting for that first paycheck to come in, we had been blessed to have been granted a severance package from the previous employer. Don't get me wrong, I'm still stressed, but not as badly as I was before. After all, this is still temporary. There is the possibility that this company might hire him on as a regular employee once the contract ends. But from the way the owner talks, he wants to do so at a downgraded pay and position. It really grinds my gears when I hear that. But such is the world of the rich who dabble with crypto currencies. When their digital money drops to a certain level, they freak out. Who would have guessed that Bitcoin would drop so drastically after booming so hard? But greed takes over every time. 

Romans 12:12 reminds me to keep praying and to be patient in trouble. 

We are changing how we do everyday life here. I have tightened the proverbial coin purse sash. Meals might be a little plainer and repeat a little more often, but everyone still gets fed. I'm thankful that changes have happened as they did. Blessed, even.  The boys have their jobs now. If there is something they want, that we can't get, they get it for themselves. The severance package has held us up for the past couple of weeks and will do so another couple weeks. I don't have to worry about the bills. 

James 1:2-4 tells us to remember that when trials come (not IF, but WHEN), that it will build in us an endurance.  

What I do worry over, is how much stress my husband is under. And the physical toll it has taken. I pray that God will show him to his next job, and soon. I pray that His will be done, and that I trust Him to know best. Even when I can't see it. This has been the song speaking volumes in my life right now. 

 I don't claim to be 100% carefree in the knowledge that God is in control of every aspect of my life. However, when the anxiety starts building, I know where to turn. Every time. This, too, shall pass. 

No biggie, Grab a mini!

Beat the heat, GRAB A MINI! That is the best thing to be able to say as this Texas heat gets ramped up around here. But grab a mini? Let's see what that means. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this party pack to share with others. And to share my review afterwards. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions shared are mine or my guests'.*

Dreyer's has so many types of ice creams under their brand name. Ever seen the Oreo Sandwich ones? Yep, that's from them. How about Outshine fruit bars? Yep! Theirs, too. So many great flavors. And now, you can get them in mini sizes! These are perfect for parties and get-togethers. More like bite-sized frozen treats. Quick and easy to chow down on. Kids at your house? These are perfect! Smaller hands can finish these off quicker, and save you from chasing them down to clean messes.

They sent me this great party pack. I grabbed up a variety of ice cream minis to share. And then we had some fun with friends. 

What was the consensus?

Oreo was a hit, of course. But adults were loving the Dulce de Leche Haagen Dazs bars. I think that one was my favorite. I loved the small size of the Drumstick Cones mini mini.

They were all creamy goodness, though. I would love to find the mini Nestle Cookie Sandwiches next time. Walmart here only had the Drumstick Cones from the 3 we tried at the party. We had to find the others at our local HEB. 

So next time you are shopping for ice cream options, maybe consider your Mini options! *pun totally intended* There are other flavors for Drumstick minis and Haagen Dazs bars minis that we may one day give a chance to. What about you? What benefit do you see for these? 

The Birthday Cinnamon Roll Cake Creation

Every birthday in this house comes with the option of requesting your dessert and/or dinner. Well, almost all of them. Mom is the baker/chef, so hers are whatever everyone else wants to eat. But I digress! My husbands birthday request was a custom job. He wanted a new version of a cinnamon roll cake. So....

Into the kitchen!

I bought 4 cans of the jumbo sized cinnamon rolls. But you only need 3. I baked 6 per pan in 2 pans that I had. 

Once those were done, I spread strawberry filling over the tops of one set.

                    Looks like I killed something in the kitchen here....

Then I stacked the second set on that. The final step is to pour the icing over them. 

Ya'll.... talk about diabetes in a pan. But so worth it! These were amazing. And I can totally see me making this recipe again. Just not often. After all, I'm trying to lose another 45 pounds this year.  

The Battle is Daily

I am in quite the busy season of life here. It has tested my endurance. It has been testing my patience. Questioned what I am willing to sacrifice. But above all these things, it has tested my faith. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:". We do not always know what season we are in though, do we?  

My sons are settled into their respective jobs. I play chauffeur nearly daily now. Sometimes one of them will even work a double, having me bring him back and forth between the shifts! In some ways, I feel as tired as I did when they were babies. Especially when you toss in trips to the library, grocery stores, post office, book store, thrift store... whatever other places I need to stop by for any other needs that come up. It is freedom that I haven't had in a while, but some days I wish I could give it all back up again. I've been hoping (and maybe dreading) that the boys would ask to start their driving lessons. But that doesn't seem to rank too high on their to-do list right now... Only one of them finally asked to start learning! 

I've had my so-tired-I-can't-see-straight moments. But then I have boys who are excited that they had a great paycheck. Or someone was thrilled with their work. I have been able to take my daughters out more. Though, that often comes with wanting mom to buy them things...

Making a donated delivery to the local Sheriff's office! 

And how about helping those I couldn't before? Or hanging out with friends? That has been fun too! There are so many pros and cons that come with life in this new phase of mine. 

On the flip side, we had some hard times come along that had me feeling like we were hitting the bottom. Transmission needed to be replaced in my car. The AC in the house had to get fixed. The washing machine pipe wasn't draining properly, so I was having to wash everyone's clothes for them and then clean up water that spilled out.

Then I ran over the tip of someone's blade and barely got parked before the tire went flat! 

Or the latest, something so life-changing that I won't be posting about it just yet. But it definitely shook my world and makes me think twice about what I need to do. 

While I know God has a plan, and that His plans are above any I have for myself, I still found myself asking "WHY". (Jeremiah 29:11) Just why? I pray for the strength to get through another day. I push myself to do my best, regardless of how I feel. And I wonder if I'm failing to hit the mark. Maybe that is why I'm struggling and my family is going through the wringer? 

Then God makes a memory pull up. A time when I was going through the fire. But He stepped in next to me. A time when I felt absolutely hopeless, but He miraculously made everything work out. These memories are what pulls me through. Reminds me that my focus is horizontal. But it needs to shift to the vertical. 

"Will you trust Me?" 

That is the phrase that kept coming to mind. That my husband said he had going through his head as well. Will you trust Me? Lean on Me. Let Me work. Sounds so simple with so few words in these phrases, doesn't it? But then putting it into practice is where we trip up. At least I do. Someone once told me, "You don't have enough faith." Granted, that was their reason for why I was physically falling apart and God wasn't healing me. But why would God say in Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." 

Thank God for that! My faith feels so small sometimes. Life feels impossibly difficult. But that is where Luke 17:5-6 is encouraging. "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." It can be small, but through Jesus, do big things. This is the reminder I have needed. One day at a time. One task at a time. Just enough faith to get by each one. That is all I need. 

So what am I doing now?

I'm still playing taxi for 2 teenagers. I'm still managing the household needs. I'm sometimes fulfilling the role of caretaker. Baking on the side, for events and custom orders. 

I'm editing for a couple writers. And even gardening! Yes, I have learned how to keep plants alive.

My husband tells me I'm an over-achiever on the daily. Reminds me of a moment in the Pride & Prejudice story of the accomplished woman discussion... 

But above all these little successes, I'm constantly seeking to follow the will of my Lord. What does He want of me? Am I surrendering and walking the path He has laid out for me? Trusting in His plans? Yes, it is a daily, sometimes more often, set of questions I have to ask myself. Because I'm nowhere near perfect. 

1/6 Scale Dollhouse Museum Renovations - Part 3!

The work continues. Slowly, but steadily. I have added quite a bit. I think I will just give you the video to follow along with this time. 

But why stop there? Let me show you the next steps too. Give you a little more before I have to get busy again, right? 

I promise to show you more really soon! I am working on more unique pieces to finish it off. But I like where it's going overall. What do you think the museum might need?

Mother's Day Wishes

It is Mother's Day, for those of us in the United States who celebrate. I do wonder... do other nations have Mother's Day celebrations? Something to look into. But today, I want to wish Moms a great day! I also want to encourage those moms who might be having a hard time.

Mothers have it rough. I know not everyone understands this. And I'm not discounting the fathers. You guys have your day too! At least here. But let's dive in for a moment and just really think about what it means to be a good mom. And yes, there are bad moms. There are those we don't celebrate because they haven't earned that privilege. So again, just focus on the good ones with me, yeah? 

What do I think a good Mom is?

 

A good Mom pours so much energy into her kids. She makes sacrifices for them. Sleep. Time. Money. Energy. Their needs trumps her own. As a good mom, she will hide that yawn. Smile at their jokes or artwork (even when she didn't get it). She will seek to teach them all the knowledge she can in the 18 years they are hers to do so with. She often repeats herself, believing that one day it will sink in. And will provide for every need (not the wants) as best she can.

Do I think I cover all these in my own walk? Not all the time. My kids see me tired and hurting. My kids hear my grumbling about what I lack because I need to get them something instead. These come from weak moments I have. I try not to let them overflow my proverbial internal bottle, but I'm human. It happens. Especially with my teenagers....

That is a whole other beast. Raising teenagers. It is so freaking hard! 'Scuse the language outburst there. But seriously, teenagers can drain the life from you on the daily, smiling the whole time. And I think boys are worse than girls in this. But that is just my own experience. 

So here is some encouragement.

As a Christian mom, I take encouragement from the Bible. I laugh at some of the verses when they are quoted to me by older women in my life. After all, they see my kids behaving their best every time. They don't see the nitty-gritty in the background at home. According to some of these women, these verses should be coming true for me. But they forget I have teenagers. Who might not follow my own faith. "Well, that doesn't seem very encouraging," you say. And you would be right. 

However, these verses are true. No matter what my experiences may be right now. In Proverbs 31:25-29, you get the picture of what many of us call the Proverbs 31 Woman. So many of us strive to be her in our lives. We put ourselves down when we fall short. But let me tell you something. In our own ways, we all reach these standards. No matter how we falter in the walk. We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. Personally speaking, I hold my head up and walk in such a way that I hope to not fall when evil comes around. With dignity and grace. I do the best I can in imparting wisdom to my kids. Sometimes it comes off as just mom bashing us for failing in some activity. But I do try to make it known in love. How many of you moms out there are juggling schedules? Preparing all the meals? Are your kids clothed? Are they clean? Guess what?! You are fulfilling verse 27. That is a feat of superhuman strength! So be proud of that. The part I struggle with are in verses 28 and 29. In my house, my husband sings my praises daily. My children? Not so often. But I don't let their lack of care get me down like I used to. After all, we are only human. We have phases of life that fluctuate as we go through. Glued to mom when we are tiny. Trying to find our own way through those raging hormones of our teens. Maybe even thinking we know it all. Then later, sometimes much later, we love and respect all our mother did for us.

Another verse that is quoted to me too often is in Luke 7:35. It says simply - Wisdom is justified of all her children. The hope is that we will find our children understanding the wisdom we sought to give them all their lives. That they will grow stronger through it and live better lives. And that they will see, as they look back, that we did it in love for them. We will be justified. 

Do I think I will see these things from all my children, maybe not. There are days when I think at least 1, maybe 2, will fly the coop and not think twice about never looking back. Maybe I'm speaking from the dark corner of my mind that is struggling with Motherhood right now. I hope so. Because one day I can hope that they will return the love I have shared all their lives.  

Maybe you are not a mother. But maybe you fill a motherly role in someone's life. I have, and have had, many mother-like women in my life. You are included in this encouragement. You have a role. And we thank you too! 

So happy mothers day to you all! Hold yourself up and hear the applause I'm sending your way. No matter what your day is like right now.  

Let's Chill with Kinder Bueno Ice Cream!

First off, I love ice cream. But more so, trying new flavors! And this time, I was able to not only try a new flavor, but to have a party with friends and share with them. Let's check it out!

 *Disclaimer: I was sent the party pack for free in exchange for hosting a party and sharing with others. I was not otherwise endorsed. All opinions are mine or my party pals.*

So first off, we have the party pack. This was full of fun things we could share with others. I took an unboxing video. Here you go! 

Now, let's talk ice cream, shall we? I have seen these at my local HEB stores. They come in the personal size (shareable, if you are in the mood). You can find them and the other new flavor, Nutella (AMAZING!), next to them. They sell for $4.37 each here. A little pricey for something so small, but not bad if you are in the mood and treating yourself, ya know?   

We were happy to have caught this sale when we got the ice creams for the party. $1 off each one! And yes, I totally had to grab some Nutella ones. They are soooo good! I got 6 of the Kinder flavors to share at the party. 

Time to party!

Next up, we have party time. We talked to our buddy that has a game store here in town and asked if he and his crew would want to be our party pals.

It was so hard getting everyone together at once, but we managed to break it up and share in the fun. The ice cream was well received by all those who tried it, even those with lactose intolerance wanted to try it. Smooth, rich in flavor and the crunch you recognize from the Kinder Bars! 

What else can you find? 

How about the Kinder Cones? (And Nutella Cones.) I found these while looking for ice cream recently. They went all out with options here! What are your thoughts on these? Are they a buy or a pass for you? Let me know in the comments down below! 

Play Dyce Games with Us!

I was given the amazing chance to try out some new games for Dyce Games. Thanks to them for sending these games to us for free! 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these games for free in exchange for hosting a party and sharing them with others. All opinions are mine or my guests. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed.*

Dyce Games are all about easy-to-play games that are fun for all ages. You can check out their website for more information HERE. The 3 games we are focusing on today are: Birdy Call, This or That, and Miraculous. 

A deeper look at the games 

Let's start with This or That. This game isn't all about winning. It is about seeing how well you know the people you play it with. I played with 3 of my kids. Mom sure knows her kids well, right? But even then, there were things I got wrong on the "what if" decisions my kids answered. There are 300 questions cards where you pick an option and follow the arrows. Cards are stacked pyramid-style. Follow the arrows to find the next This or That question. At the bottom, players have to guess what number the one player would end at. There are points you can count up to find the winner. We just did it in rounds until each player had gone twice. It was not just eye-opening, but fun to see where people go based on what they liked (or disliked) most.

 Next up, let's see the other one that had us girls giggling like crazy. Birdy Call is about calling out and seeing who has the same bird as you. You collect the eggs and even try to steal eggs from other players! This one is truly a riot to play. 

And, finally! We arrive at my youngest daughters favorite, Miraculous. She absolutely loves the show and the movies. So she couldn't wait to try this one! You pick your hero character, and then each player tries to reach the top of the tower first. 

Takeaway:

These games were so easy to play. They cover all ages. I think the only one we had some trouble with was Birdy Call. We weren't sure about when to draw cards when we didn't find matches... Which is why I suggest you watch their videos on how to play before you start. 

Discount! 

Want to get some games of your own? Don't forget the 20% off code at checkout:  TRYAZON20

What game are you most interested in?? Leave me a comment below!  

A Visit to the Midland Army Air Field Museum

My husband took me and one of our children to see the Midland Army Air Field Museum today. We had been wanting to check it out ever since we took the family to the air show. But time has been passing us by too quickly with all the tasks that keep piling up. Here we are in March and we finally took a moment to slow down as we walked around the hanger that makes up this magnificent history-filled place! It isn't the easiest to find if you follow Google maps though. You turn into an unpaved lot. So be warned to watch for the open gates to it. And if you see the outdoor chapel, you know you are in the right spot! 

They are opened on Saturdays, 10-3. Entry is free, and they happily take donations to help keep the place maintained. The people there are volunteers as well. 

We checked out the modern military vehicles that are parked outside first. There are planes, engines, photos, medals, equipment, weapons... An entire display on George bush Sr. getting shot down and rescued!

So many great things to see and learn about. You just wander around at your own pace and see the sights in whatever order you choose. If it is your first time, you will get some introduction to your visit from one of the volunteers who is incredibly knowledgeable about the planes. 

My husband really loved the F-14 Tomcat, 102 aircraft. We had recently heard about that one on a Yarnhub video. When this plane was originally donated, they had no idea it was such a special aircraft. Watch the video if you want to know how. My favorite part? The American pilots waving at the enemy as they flew by each other! 

I loved the German plane from the Luftwaffe. And how well they recreated a living room from the time. Well, except for some of the music that played on the old fashioned radio... 

There are interactive displays that will played sound bites and videos that explain more about the things you are looking at. The plane models you have to feel without seeing to try and identify them as the soldiers would have. 

You can check out the little gift shop they have. We picked up a challenge coin of theirs to add to our collection. Ask about the design on it, it was done by Walt Disney! And while supplies last, you can pick up a free poster too. I want to add that where I have my signed Blue Angels poster... I hope to check out other museums one day. They are so much fun! Besides, if we don't learn from history as a society, we will just be doomed to repeat it. So learn well, my friends! 

Changing Life Seasons - Or a New Chapter in My Life's Story

Whichever analogy you choose to go with, my life is changing. The daily grind I've been in for years is shifting into a new pattern. Such a crazy thought. But why, do you ask, is this happening to me? Well... My two older children have graduated high school already. Early, I know. But we homeschool! That is one of the beautiful aspects of homeschool life. We move at our own pace. 

So why do I feel so frazzled? 

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled. It is a dream come true to have my children successfully complete school. My second child was supposed to graduate a week after his brother, but once he saw it happen for the older boy... well, he buckled down and worked ahead. But with this comes a host of other things. Now that they have passed their exams - we need to get that second vehicle so they can start the job hunt. Then comes all the driving I will have to do. To and from jobs for them. The girls will want mom to start taking them to other parks. Running errands won't be restricted to weekends or after the husband gets home from work anymore. That partly scares me. The other part thrills me. Smells like freedom in its own way! 

But then there were good things too. My husband recently said something, as I was stressing over what to do to celebrate their graduations. After all, we don't have prom. We don't have a stage to walk across as they are handed that rolled diploma. No caps and gowns. (Or do we...) We aren't a part of a group to benefit in those ways. So I had to come up with our own things to show them how proud I am, but also that they should take pride in this. But I'm getting away with myself here. My husband made a comment that caused my mind to completely lose focus on the kids' celebration. He said, "This party should be for you. After all, it is your excellence in teaching that has brought them to this moment." Talk about something I didn't have anywhere on my radar! But it made me proud for a single moment. I actually have achieved something notable in this life. Getting my boys, 17 and 16 years old, graduated through their basic education. Sounds so simple when I write it here, but this has been a wild ride for how many years now?? Wow... Looking back over the years has reminded me just how far we have come. And I can 100% say that it is only by God's grace that I have gotten here. If I had been left to my own devices... well, this would be a different picture altogether. Philippians 4:13 is my go-to. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Only in Him can I keep pressing forward. 

So where am I now? 

I told myself I would put other things on hold. I have a million things on my to-do list. But for now, I am focusing my efforts in getting things ready to celebrate the graduating this weekend. It hasn't gone as I hoped so far. But I won't be discouraged. I will make this a time they can remember and enjoy. A milestone in life's path, that has been surpassed. 

For other homeschool parents who are worried, just remember that the daily grind will be worth it. Once they graduate. One day they will move forward as competent adults. And that time comes before you realize it.