Chilson Family

As summer is quickly coming to a close, it has brought a new season to my life.  I have been a full-time home educating mom for the last 16 years with three years of home education several years before that.  As of today, my home educating hat is put on the rack.  There may be a time in the future it is needed, but for now it is on the rack.  Today, our last six scholars went off to school with Hubby.  Today is the first day of school at the Christian school where Hubby is teaching full-time.  This is the first time they will be schooling where home is not the classroom for academics.  (it remains the classroom for many other things!) This day brings mixed emotions.  We knew there would be a day when Hubby stepped back into full-time Christian education.  I have prepared myself for this.  I already shed many silent tears before this day.  But I know that a door of opportunity of serving is just ahead.  God ha...

I am thankful for my children!  Our days are busy, noisy, and sometimes down right hectic and unpredictable--usually attitudes ;-)--but I am thankful for the fourteen living children, the in-loves, and grands!  So many people look at children as an inconvenience, expensive, in-the-way, and just plain bothersome.  I wonder what they think when they see me with my children?  No, I don't wonder, their face says it all.  (We saw it when we were in Ohio last week.  Come to think of it, when we stopped at a fast food resturant to eat, I don't remember seeing any other children or young people.) My children are a blessing from the Lord.  He saw it was a good thing for Hubby and I be parents to a mega-family.  It is not always easy, not only in trying to raise them and provide for them, but the comments and stares. I have been blessed beyond measure!  Children--youngers, middlers, teens, and adults--Momma and Daddy...

Just a few more days and Daughter #1 will be home for a visit with Grandson!  Fort Bragg, NC is too far away!  I am grateful for the time and energy she puts in to be able to come home for short visits. I am so very thankful for the Grands that I have close to home!  {I love all my babies...children, in-loves, and grands!}

Very busy day!  We started school this morning.  Not just my home educated scholars, but even my college scholar! Our my morning started at five.  I had the scholars up at six and watched Son #4 leave for work.  Everyone had personal devotions, breakfast and dressed by 6:40!  So they all started school!  This is not unusual for them.  Last year they were up by seven, but this year I moved it to six to give them some time to "lolly-gag" in getting ready.  I will see how this goes and adjust to what is needed. Daughter #2 started a new year at one of our local colleges.  I get to play taxi driver three days a week, meaning I get to take Hubby to and from work on those days.  This is the one disadvantage to having only one vehicle.  But for now it is all we have and I am very thankful for it! Daughters #6 and #3, Son #5 Son #5, Daughter #7, Son #7 Daughter #5 Daughter # 4, Son #6 (t...

Daughter #2 read something to me the other day.  I thought it was so true, so I just had to share.  Sometimes in raising our family we as parents tend to make mountains out of mole hills.  Now, that would be great if we had the faith of a mustard seed, but today I am not talking faith.  I am talking about keeping things in perspective.  (she found it while she was on her ipad touch, so i am not sure to whom the credit is due) Dear Mom, It's with regret that I am writing to you, but I had to run away with my girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Dad.  I am really passionate about her and she is also a very pretty girl with her dimple cheeks, sweet eyes and nice character.  Don't worry Mom, I am 21 years old now and know how to take care of myself.  Someday, we will come to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.  Just one last thing, none of the above is true!  I'm at our ...

I love to see my children smile.  With 10 out of the 14 at home it can be challenging to keep smiles on their faces.  Not to mention the eight scholars who rather find anything to do except school.  I  had to take Hubby to work today and needed to pick something up for lunch.  So I decided on veggie sandwiches.  Yep, it put a smile on their faces!  We all love, veggies but they can be so expensive.  Instead of using french bread I decided to use pita bread.  I use to buy pita bread all the time... so delicious with sloppy joes .  (I don't remember the reason why I quit buying it, except maybe the expense of it.) Anyway, when my "little elves" helped unload the groceries they wanted to know if it was lunch time! :-)  We demolished two orange peppers, one red and yellow pepper, one and a half cucumbers, 5 Roma tomatoes, which as not enough...what was I thinking?!?!  I sliced  eigh...

We met our newest grandbaby!  Oh so sweet!  He is so tiny, even if he is now 9 pounds and 2 ounces!  This is a picture of Hubby and Grandson #3.  He was not a happy camper, Grandson-not Pawpaw!  (I have a CD of pictures of the last 2 days but my computer won't open it!  ERRRRRR!) We babysat the two youngest grandbabies tonight while Sons #2 and 3 with their wives, Daugher #1 and her hubby, Daughter #2 and fiancee, and Daughter #3 went to "experience" hullabaloo of the NFL downtown tonight before the Super Bowl tomorrow.  Why in the world they would want to go was beyond me.  Everything is so expensive, it was cold and rainy, and massive crowds of people!  They were gone less than two hours--we live close enough that Hubby dropped them off and went back for them.  They said it was just a big party scene with a bunch of drunks.  "Maybe" if they went during the day, or a day or two ago it may have been different, ...

We found out yesterday evening that Daughter #1, Son-in-law #1 AND NEWEST GRANDSON are coming home for six days to visit!!!!! YAY!! We are all so excited!  They should be here early Thursday morning.  They plan to drive straight through from Fort Bragg, SC.  They will be tired but it will be so wonderful to hold my newest grand! Newest grand (Grandson #3) had an ultrasound on his kidney yesterday.  They saw before he was born one kidney was not functioning properly.  The ultrasound yesterday showed there were no changes and they would need to meet with a specialist.  I had Granddaughter #1 for a couple of hours today.  She was fussy, but such a joy to have.  I found out she like the play gym WITHOUT the boppi!  She was so much happier when the boppi was removed!  Ahhh!  Babies, LOVE THEM!!!  Big children, little children, adult children, LOVE THEM TOO! Life doesn't get much sweeter than th...

It is amazing that you are never too old to learn anything!  Yep!  Forty-seven years old and I have learned so much this week.  And to think, all I had to do was send children to church camp to learn!!!! So, here are a few things I have learned so far:: 1.  I can wash ALL the dishes by hand and not spend forever at the sink doing it!      (dish washer has not been used since Sunday night) 2.  A double roll of toilet paper can last ALMOST three days! 3.  We're really not very hungry!  (snacks are  almost non-existent) 4.  Who's fighting???? 5.  A gallon of tea is WAY too much! 6.  Mmmm...what is sugar? 7.  Coffee creamer last a LONG time! 8.  A gallon of milk can last for more than one day! (we are on day three!) 9.  We can eat at Denny's and not take out a loan! 10.  Laundry does not multiply like rabbits! 11.  I can STAMP, I can STAMP, I can STAMP! ...

Last week was a very busy week with our Vacation Bible School!  Five days of running hubby to and from work which meant  five more days of gas we usually do not use!  I worked in the kitchen this year for the first time instead of teaching.  Some thought my "talent" of teaching was wasted, and the kitchen was a "no brainer".  But the kitchen is a very busy place when trying to feed 150 plus people every evening.  Anyway, I had fun.  My feet, more so my right foot, hurt and it was hard to walk, but God gave grace to my back and it did not hurt once!!!  That was a real blessing! Sunday was all day at church.  Not only was it the closing program for our VBS, but we also celebrated our pastor's 20th anniversary at the church.  We had a HUGE pitch-in dinner on grounds and a special program.  My hubby and I helped in the kitchen ALL day.  There were a total of seven adults that made sure the food did not run out and kept everything...