This week is going to be busy. I'm still teaching Bible class so officially we don't Spring Break until Thursday. We're going up to Smyrna to visit my hubby's folks. Until then, we're going to clean the house. Our oldest has invited a friend over to spend the night and has been cleaning the bathroom!!!!! This is thrilling to me, as she needs to learn how to do this! Then our second daughter saw that going on and wanted to join in, so she gets to do my bathroom!! What fun!!! I've been keeping up with the laundry and sweeping and going through papers here and there. I am tired of having soooooo much junk. When we buy a new house, I intend to move less stuff than we did when we moved from FL. I have boxes of papers that I don't need and it must go!!! It is going to take some time though. I am also determined to work with my 5 y/o every day until school is out with reading, math, coloring, Bible work and memory verses. I found some books I had bought long ago for the older ones and never used them. It's now or never. The older ones are going to stop watching TV. It's full of junk. Even the mostly harmless shows (like Disney) teach that kids know better than their parents. They do things without asking and without consideration of others and with out regard of the consequences. I don't want my kids acting like that. The buck stops here. I don't know if I'll accomplish all of this, but after going to 2 gospel meetings this month, I have decided that we are not doing all we can to live for the Lord and we can do something about it now. I hope all of you will consider stepping up to your call as Christians and study more and work on your children, too.
Sheila

Well the sun came out again! It is very nice here. This week is crazy though. Friday night is bunco! Saturday we're going to hear Mr Payne talk about FC. I can't wait to see him again, he's like a father to me. Saturday Night our oldest is going to the NAFCBC Banquet. They do it for all High School. In Louisville, they used to do it for Juniors and Seniors. She is so excited. She's going with a boy. Oh, boy! She's known him for a little while. Mr Payne is going to speak there too. Then of course Sunday Morning I teach. Plus there is a guillotine I have to help one of my girls build and another has a math project where she has to find shapes in everyday life, like buildings and such and make a power point presentation. WHEW! Well off to buy some supplies for that guillotine! Hope all are having a great week!

Well, this week has been an interesting one for the Mullen family. All 4 girls went to the dentist. 3 of them just have cavities, which I guess is good, sort of. The fourth is suboptimal (as my hubby would say). She is going to have to have minor oral surgery. They do it in the office and all, but they'll have to cut her teeth out because they are fused to her bone. I never had a cavity until I was 25 so I'm kinda freaking out. I had a tooth pulled once and that was tramatic for me, but the kids have just had cavities and not much else. I know it'll be okay, but I can't help thinking of the story Jason Moore told us about the boy with the broken arm. If you don't know it, I'll summarize. Boy plays baseball, breaks arm has to have it set, takes anastesia(sp?) dies because he had reaction to anastesia. I cry every time I think about it. Valerie has never had anything like this before so I'm worried. Ariel had to be knocked out when she was 18 months BEFORE I knew how dangerous it could be and Kimberly has had so many things going on, broken hand and shoulder, that she's never had a problem. I don't know why I'm so upset by this. I guess it's just concern, not worry. I think I need more sleep. Maybe this is peri-menapause! I feel emotional most of the time now. Anyway, praying about it always helps, so I ask will you pray for Valerie to come through this without problems. It occurred to me last night as I was praying that I seem to ask God to help heal others and that there be no problems for them and that they may live their lives as before. I know that it is His will that will prevail, but I feel like I'm asking for Him to give good things to those I know, because I want the best for them. It made me realize that I was praying for selfish reasons. Does anyone else ever feel this way? It just seems like there is too much pain and suffering and I guess I just want those I know to not have to endure it. Anyway, I hope all of you are well.
Love,
Sheila

First of all I'd like to say, my favorite holiday is Valentine's Day. Now some of you might be surprised by this since my b-day is X-mas, but I love hearts and cupids and all sorts of lovey stuff. Since we've moved to AL, there is a couple here that has a Valentine's dinner for all of the couples at church. They rent a building, buy food and decorate it. Their only request is that each couple donate $18 per couple. The food is absolutely fabulous and the company is even better. The decorations include tablecloths and candy. The butter for the bread was even in the shape of a heart! We had great conversation and then after we played games. Games like "The Newlywed GAme". An example of the questions, how many cars have you and your husband owned since you've been married? That one wasn't too hard for us, 10! Which I thought was a lot, but one couple said 38! We didn't do as good this year on the questions as we did last year, but we had fun all the same. What made it even more neat was they gave away prizes. The first ones were giving each couple a ticket and calling your number. Our number got called and we got some items for having tea. I have never seen a ceramic tea pot nite light before! It is very pretty. The girls thought it was so neat when we plugged it in and turned off the lights! I don't know if any of you are blessed with Christians like this in your lives, but we are glad we are. It is great to have people who know how to have good clean fun. If you don't have anyone who does this, I hope this inspires you to start something like this in your area. Getting together with Christians is fun and wonderful. May you be blessed with loving and happy experiences together.
Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!
Sheila

First of all, I have learned I should not get on the computer when I am distraught. I am extrememly careless in what I say when under duress. I want to apologize to all of you who homeschool for the comment I made, and pray that you'll forgive me. IThe news of what happened was coming out so fast, I had phone calls and emails before I even knew if my kids were ok. For those who don't know, it has been a bad weekend for us. Oh, I've had some worse, I think, but not many. My children are okay, and I am grateful. I hope that none of you ever have to go through that kind of a day either. If you hadn't heard on the news, the boy died. Tomorrow, the court decides if the boy will be tried as an adult is what they said in the paper. My kids are a little nervous about school tomorrow, but I think they'll be fine in a few days. Please continue to pray for the family of the boy who died. We don't know them, but know it will be difficult for them in the coming years. I hope all of you give your husbands, wives, children and parents or any of your other family a hug soon. Let them know how much you love them, now while there is time.
God bless and have a good week.
Sheila