The post in which I may or may not be kidding

What's is like living in the Smoky Mountains?  Well, at the foothills anyway.

Kind of cool...kind of hectic...somewhat irritating at times...but other times pretty nice.

If anyone else has ever spent any time of their life in a tourist town, you probably know what I mean.  When people find out you live in a tourist town they have questions; what's it like, do you have to battle traffic, do you get to go places free, what's a good show, what's a good place to eat, where is this place or that place.  Most of these I can answer pretty easily enough, but some I just can't.  I don't spend my days going to all the shows and attractions (though we have been to a few), and I don't know where everything is...I just don't.  I do know the back roads (you kind of have to if you live here and want to stay sane).  And I do know a few places that's good to eat (and those to avoid).  And yes, residents get discounts at certain places, and for a week every summer get to go to Dollywood for only $5.

But other than that, it's pretty much like any other small town - especially during the off season.  You get to know your librarians (whom I love by the way), your post office workers, your bankers, and the guy at the check-out at the local grocery store.

Then during tourist season you have to deal with, well, for lack of a better word - tourons.  They don't know how to drive, they can be very rude and obnoxious, and if not for the fact that they bring in the main business to keep the town alive, we all wish they would just go away. lol  Seriously, I have never seen so many people that make me suspect the validity of their drivers' license.  Blocking intersections, cutting you off, driving in the right lane with two other lanes are empty (sheep, people, sheep).  It's enough to make a person want to move.  Oh wait, I want to move anyway and not for those reasons (although they help).

So anyway, if you ever visit Pigeon Forge know that someone somewhere is wishing you would spend your money and go home...quickly.  I'm not saying it's me...but I'm not saying it's not either.

 Yes, the photos were a Flat Stanley project from one of my cousins last year.  They are the only pictures I have of some of the attractions here, since I don't go around taking tourist-y photos.



Until next time...

JenT

graduation time

The time has come. 

Our first graduate.


Until next time...

JenT

Dear Christian...

 Dear Christian, what sin were you committing before you got saved?

With all the hoopla over Josh Duggar, I decided to write a post to voice how I felt about it.

I in NO WAY whatsoever condone what he did.  He was wrong.  But he was wrong 12 years ago.  He said that after that incident he REPENTED, got saved, and changed his behavior.  Whoa - what?  He became a Christian?  He doesn't commit that sin anymore?  Then why the uproar?  Because he comes from a conservative, in-the-limelight family that liberals hate.

How many people do you suppose were waiting in anticipation for something to come to light?  Regardless of when it happened, I'm sure they were jumping up and down for joy.  Who cares what it was or when it was.  A Duggar messed up!!  God forbid any of our sins should be put out for the general public to see.  Oh wait, they wouldn't care because we're not on TV.  If the Duggars were not a famous family that the whole world sees, no one would have know and no one would have cared.  The people involved could have lived their lives without having to relive the whole thing all over again.

What's the saddest part about this whole thing?  That Christians are the very ones leading the pack to burn Josh Duggar at the stake.  I've seen and read so many comments from professing Christians that crucify him with their words.  The very people who should understand and should have experienced the same redemptive work in their own lives, are turning their backs on a brother in Christ and throwing him to the wolves.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

I think that kind of speaks for itself.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, no idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."  1 Corinthians 6:9-11


And that's all I'm going to say on the matter.


Until next time...


JenT

snack time

With 12 children you have to be organized to survive.

With 12 growing children you have to have snacks.

With 12 children sometimes the snacks disappear before some children get a chance to have their share.

From those circumstances we came up with this concept.

They get their own box and enough snacks to last a couple of weeks.  They get one snack a day (ideally) but if they run out before the allotted time is up - oh well.  They just have to do without until snack refill time. 

So far it has worked out.  They even came up with a snack swap since they do have their own preferences and tastes.  So far, so good.


Until next time...

JenT

My oldest's dream

I've shared a few times about our oldest playing the Native American flute.  She has been told by her mentor that she should make a CD.  She is raising money to do that.  In order to get the money, she needs to do some fundraisers.  One way she chose to do that is through Teespring.

http://teespring.com/helping-a-teen-realize-a-dream

Go to this link above and check out the t-shirts and hoodies that are available to order to help her get her CD made.


Until next time...

 JenT

update

Our latest family picture from October 2014

 I figured it was about time for an update.

I started walking at the community center last fall.  I'm up to 1 and 1/10 of a mile.  On the track it takes 10 laps to equal a mile.  I did 11 laps this week.  Next week I'll do 12.  I'm adding one lap per week until I get to 2 miles.  Then I will start walking faster.  I get passed by EVERYONE that walks. lol  I don't mind.  There are two sweet little older ladies that pass me about 5 or 6 times every morning.  They are amazing!  I hope I'm like them when I'm older.

I also started using the elliptical and the weight room.  I guess you could say I'm pretty serious about getting into shape.

Oh and this is all in addition to my karate class - that YES I'M STILL TAKING!!! Yay, me!! lol

My wonderful husband is with me on all of this.  Of course he and our oldest son have been lifting weights for much longer; I just joined them.

Hubby is still working hard to provide for all of us...I don't know how he does it.  I would be floundering about now I think.  I guess that's why I'm in the role I'm in right now.

Our oldest is starting her own Native American Flute circle today.  We've reserved the room at the library and are expecting quite a few people.  She's excited.

Second oldest is also going with us to the community center.  She was my walking partner until my husband started walking with me.  Now she will sometimes walk with us, or play basketball downstairs with our oldest son/third born.

And I've already mentioned what he is doing - going with us to the community center.  He also is looking forward to his birthday next month.  He has some friends (twins) that are having a birthday a few days before, and they are planning a joint party.

All the rest of the kiddos are growing...and growing...and growing. lol

The baby is only 8 months and already is getting a tooth.  That may not be surprising for some people, but my babies usually get their first tooth at around a year.  Our earliest so far was our baby right before this one.  She got her first tooth at 9 months.  The current baby is also starting to pull up on things.  So I'm wondering if he won't be walking earlier than the others too.  Yep, they all starting walking at around one also.  In fact, I believe a couple of them actually took their first step on their 1st birthday.

Well, that's about all for now.  Hopefully, I can remember to update more often.  Between normal life in a large family, plus homeschooling, plus outside activities, it gets a little hectic.

Until next time...

JenT