A Week in Review

This week has flew by and I am ready for the three day weekend. Here’s a few things that has been going on around our house…..

• Last Saturday my Cricut died - I was heartbroken until I found out that luckily it was still under warranty. So, I am waiting for a replacement to arrive any day now. Okay for any non-scrapbookers, it is not a bug or a critter, it is the most cleaver die cutting tool around and mine kicked the bucket last weekend. :(

• Monday night was Jonah’s Court of Honor for Boy Scouts and he did it again, he advanced in rank to First Class Scout. Way to go!!! He totally surprised me on this one.

• I have fallen back into the routine of having weekly migraines this week I think a small piece of banana caused it. It lasted a little over two days.

• I turned 35 this week. It is soooo hard to believe that I am 35. I started the day out battling the remains of a migraine and ended the day with no migraine so HBTM. Over all it was a great day. I received a large number of calls, went out for dinner and tonight I am enjoying the house to myself. So guess what I am doing? SCRAPBOOKING!!!

• Phillip and Courtney is heading out for dinner and a movie tonight.

• Jonah is heading to Sonquest in Orlando, this weekend, with the youth group from our church. So, I pray that the youth group has a safe trip and a wonderful time.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!! Enjoy the three day weekend, I sure plan on it!!!
Blessings to all~
Carla

You Gotta Love Them!!

Saturday and Sunday was again rainy days for us even though Fay had departed from our area. On Staurday, the kids were outside playing with their friends in between the rain showers, which I was aware of. Just like I was aware of the fact that Fay had turned the lot next to our house into a large mud pit but I never expected this when Phillip called me to the door after the kids rang the doorbell. Needless to say I stayed calm, I hosed them off in the backyard and into the showers they went. What a muddy mess!!!!

Fay, Fay, Go Away

It has been a long week. Over a week now we have been dealing with Tropical Storm Fay. Wondering.... where and when she would hit, it has been crazy. The schools has been out all week except for Monday, church was cancelled Wednesday night, the stores has been busy. Tropical Storm Fay never made hurricane status but she sure left a wet mess and has hung around the state for a long time and is still here. Never did I imagine that she would drop so much ran and last sooooooo long and chose to mark its path through our county, days after she was initially suppose to hit the state. Luckily, all we have seen is just some down tree limbs and heavy rains, no major flooding, known in our area as of right now. Praise God! As of this post, the wind is still whipping around outside and the bands of rain are still very strong, but there has not been any power outages or lightening. With all that said the kids have enjoyed this afternoon outside playing in the rain.........

Singing and dancing in the rain

Heavy rains can come really quick, but that does not stop the kids.

Courtney shows how strong the wind is!

Courtney gave up on the umbrella and decided to tube down our street, not really, but she tried. The water was not quite deep enough.

Jonah and Courtney
My two wet kiddos

Back to School

It's official....yesterday was the Starling's first day of school for the 2008-2009 school year, which seems odd since most of my friend's children have already been in school for almost two weeks. But since Florida passed a "save our summer" bill a couple of years a ago, schools do not start now until around the 20th of August, so we chose to do the same.

Where does time go? It seems like just yesterday, Jonah was starting kindergarten and now he is starting the 7th grade. Four of his classes he is taking online this year through Florida Virtual, which has him sooooo excited that he is already working ahead in his classes, let's hope he keeps it up! The program is a really neat program and will help him in many ways, plus he thinks it cool that he gets to work on a laptop. I can not believe that this year marks the 5th year that we have been home schooling, WOW, which means that my little girl is now in the 5th grade. She is growing up so fast. We had an awesome first day. Everyone woke up on time, the four of us had a nice breakfast together and by 8 we had started school. Monday is usually Phillip's office day so he was home all day and since most kids do not get to wear pj's to school on the first day, I did not insist that the kids get dress at a certain time like I had in the past. There will be plenty of other days for that. Courtney, in her pj's, reading Anne of Green Gables
My favorite 5th grader
Teacher's pet!

Courtney's Trip to Tn

A little late but I thought that I would share a few of the pictures from Courtney's trip to Tn with her friend Ashley. Yes, my wonderful friend Minta gave me a CD full of pictures to document Courtney's first trip without mom and dad. She had a blast and I really think she would have stayed longer if that was an option. The week was full of exciting things including a trip to Dollywood, the Fun Factory, Flyaway (an indoor skydiving), the Applebarn, a day of horseback riding, and tubing down a river, not to mention the things that they did around Ashley's grandparent's house. Overall, she had an awesome time. Courtney and Ashely - Like "Two Peas in a Pod"
This creek runs beside Ashley's Grandparents place.

It is where the kids waded, fished and just were able to be kids.

Ashley's grandfather took the girls riding through the mountains in his Jeep
Tubing down deep creek
Courtney and Ashley posing in front of a bear

in downtown Cherokee on the way to Dollywood.
Courtney and her horse Savannah

Praise God!

Let me just say THANK YOU to everyone out there that has said a prayer for me over the last several months. I just realized that it has been 17 days since I have had a MAJOR migraine,one that has put me in bed for three days. I am still on a very strict diet, exercising daily, taking several preventative medicines and trying to get an adequate amount of sleep. I have learned to live without an ice cold Pepsi (it has been 4 months) and even though I still crave that Hawaiian Pizza, I am dealing with it, however it was hard a couple weeks ago when at the youth lock-in, Phillip and I was asked to stay for supper they were ordering pizza and I heard several of the kids and adults say order plenty of Hawaiian Pizza, needless to say we did not stay for supper. Phillip did take me to Carrabba's Italian Grill instead, what a great husband! Eating out has become a challenge for me, I am pretty safe to stick with a salad or pasta with a white sauce nothing with aged cheese (of course the good stuff) or MSG. It does have me eating healthier, though. I am eating more organic, which means yes, I have lost weight and Courtney and I are spending some time shopping in the same section together, which is kinda fun for now. Thanks again for all the prayers. I see the neurologist again September 18, but for now I am on the right track, I think! Happy Friday!

Blessings to all~
Carla

MAMMA MIA!

I have to say that when my friend Minta called and asked if I wanted to go and see it with her I was a little hesitant. She wanted to see it, I wanted the girls night out! But once I started watching it I loved it! The only slightly painful part was listening to Pierce Brosnan sing!!! He is adorably cute but his singing is horrible. However, the movie ROCKS and if you go to see it make sure you sit through the credits at the end........ We laughed so hard!!! Let me know if you've seen it.

An Uplifting Weekend

This past weekend was the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando, Phillip, Jonah, Courtney and myself as well as about 20 other families from our church attended this uplifting event. Courtney attended the Teen classes with Jonah and several of the teens from our church and absorbed just as much as they did, if not more. The schedule was jam pack from 8a.m. until 10 p.m. both Friday and Saturday but the speakers were AWESOME!! Since it was a workshop you were able to choose the classes that you wanted to attend, Phillip and I ended up in several of Dr. Randy Lowry's classes, who is the president Lipscomp University and let me just say he is a wonderful, speaker/teacher. Another very interesting class that we took in a room that ended up being standing room only, was taught by John Clayton, The new Atheism: Intelligent Design & Evolution, needless to say, my head was spinning after that class, this man was an atheist until in his early 20's, at which he learned about Christ and when he was baptized. I wish everyone could have attended this weekend, there was a class for everyone, classes on how we got the Bible to teaching faith to our children and the great thing was if you could not attend a classes b/c of another class then you could request a CD of the class. Like I said it was a very uplifting weekend, Keith Lancaster was there to lead the Praise & Worship. Oh, and I ran into a guy that I had not seen since Bible camp 18 years ago, he taught one of the teen classes that Jonah and Courtney attended. I would have never recognized who he was, sad to say, but he knew me. Have I not change like I thought I have................

.....................I guess I haven't change like I thought I have. Sunday night was Super Sunday for the Teens at church, meaning Jonah (I know it is still hard to believe). Anyway, since Jonah was at Super Sunday, Phillip, Courtney and I decided to attend the Central C of C, before church an Elder introduced himself to me and I immediately recognized his last name as some one that went to camp with, not him but his daughter. Long story short, Terri and I meet at Bible camp when we were about Courtney's age and every year we would meet back at camp. Then throughout the year we would write (yes that was the days of pen and paper) back and forth to each other. But what was so funny, I don't think I would have recognized her, but as soon as I said her name and gave her a little hint, she knew who I was. Maybe its my memory? Anyway What an amazing weekend, to be uplifted to the Lord and to run across to old friends from camp all in the same weekend.

Blessings to all~
Carla

Easy Recipe Thursday

Pasta with Chicken and Basil

6 ounces dried linguine, fettuccine or plain penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup fresh snipped basil
finely shredded Parmesan Cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return pasta to pan; keep warm

Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 15 seconds. Add chicken and salt; cook 3 miutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently.

Add chicken mixture to the hot pasta along with the tomato and basil. Add remaining oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle each serving with cheese (if using) and fresh pepper. Makes 4 servings

You can switch out the chicken for shrimp or you can leave out the meat all together and go for a vegetarian dish.

I 've been tagged

I was tagged actually via email but I thought it was time for a new tag, so here goes...

A- Available or Single: Well, I am very and happily TAKEN, married that is for almost 15 years!
B- Beach or Lake: Beach
C- Cake or Pie? Pie--coconut & key lime!
D- Drink of Choice: H20
E- Essential Item you use every day- since H2O is my drink of choice I guess it should be that, but I say my toothbrush and toothpaste
F- Favorite Color: Pink and black
G- gummy bears or Worms: either especially the sour ones
H- Hometown: Starke, Florida
I- Indulgence: a day of scrapbooking with friends!
J- January or February: February - Winterfest with friends
K- Kids & Names: Jonah and Courtney
L- Life is Incomplete without: My children, My family, My faith, & My Friends!
M- Marriage Date: Sept. 4th
N- Number of Siblings- I am the youngest of 3
O- Oranges or apples: Oranges
P- Phobias: snakes
Q- Fave Quote: I really hate this quote but "whatever"
R- Reason to Smile: Watching my children and the silly things that they do
S- Season: Fall- sweaters, jeans, pumpkins, hayrides and falling leaves!
T- Tag 3 or 4 people... Terri, Elaina, Valerie & Tiffany
U- Unknown fact about me: I was in the National Spanish Honor Society in HS. (What a NERD!)
V- Vegetable you don't like: cauliflower
W- Worst Habit: Worrying
X- Xrays: WAY too many to count... plus I went to xray school and don't tell anyone but we practiced on each other a couple of times during clinicals... I could possibly glow in the dark one day
Y- Your favorite food: I love pasta and fruit, not together though!
Z- Zodiac Sign: Virgo- scary enough my sister, mom and I were all virgos

Camp Photos

A little late, but here are a few of my favorite photos from church camp.

The Staff

The Campers

I really took more action photos then anything else and I surprised myself with how little photos I did take, which kinda makes me feel good! Less to stress about developing and scrapbooking!!! Lisa, Diane and I were the Craft Chicks - Monday was FlipFlop day for the girls

We even made a pair of flip flops for Kerry that he sported around Monday night at mail call when he showed off his new "do"
I love this picture, just as much as I love these girls! On Tuesday, I was awaken from an afternoon nap and told to grab my camera the Johnson girls were being baptized at the creek. Tears immediately came!
Courntey can be pretty laid back but when it comes to Family Feud watch out Trajan.
Emily and Jonah in Sweetheart Kickball
Courtney picks her brother the next time they play and I am not sure that Jonah was too happy, I think he was hoping Emily would pick him again, which probably would have happen.

Jonah and Emily in Family Feud
I never thought that I would see Courtney use her teeth to pull a sock off someone else foot.

Her cabin played truth or dare for their skit.
A few of staff members, including myself, put together a skit, can you tell who I was.
Let me just say, I had the BEST time at camp. It was great. The weather was awesome, the staff, the campers, you could have not asked for a better week. Diane, Lisa, and myself, did the crafts, cook grilled cheese for the senior high at midnight almost every night, did cabin inspections in the mornings and helped out wherever we were needed any other time. Kathy was the nurse and hung out with us when she wasn't pulled in every other direction.
Megan and Courtney - Clowning Around on Friday!

Which Way Do We Go?

Confusion……What do we do?……Is this our answer?…..PRAYERS PLEASE!!!!!

As so many of you may know we figured out very quickly after moving to Florida that we loved living in Kentucky and have the hopes of one day being closer to our “old Kentucky home” and friends. A couple of weeks ago we shared the conversation with many of our friends that maybe around the first 2009 there could be the possibility of us moving back towards the bluegrass state. Well we never knew that within a week of that conversation a transfer would be offered to Phillip, one of two positions; SW Virginia or Northern Ky (Cincinnati area) neither of which we are 100% sure of especially the SW Virginia, however we feel like there is a reason for this offer since his contract time is not officially up until November 14, meaning that Phillip could not transfer within his company until after this date. We need prayers!!! We need your prayers!!! We love being close to our family and have enjoyed our year vacation in Florida but we are ready to be back closer to our church family and our wonderful friends in BG. The other little twist is that there is a slim possibility of a position closer to BG but at this time it does not exist. Phillip does not have to transfer, we can stay in Ocala until that perfect spot in BG comes available but that may not come until who knows when. Phillip and I have realized that we need to focus on our children and there lives as they are coming into their teen years soon and we do not want to keep moving them around neither do they want to be 656 miles away from their friends in BG. So again, I ask that you please remember us in your prayers that what is in our best interest will be placed in front of us.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

This weekend was the state tournament for All Stars Baseball and part of the tournament was played here in Ocala only about 2 miles from our house which was nice for an Aunt who was very proud to see her nephew out on that ball field. Which leads me to one of my favorite things BASEBALL, of course my nephew, Spencer played AWESOME. He mainly played first base and did not fail his team at all, he definitely has the height to play first base.
Spencer heads to third
Catches a pop fly!

My BROTHER would be another favorite thing of mine. He is a wonderful brother and a great father to his boys. I guess I need to say that his boys, Brandon and Spencer are two of my favorite things as well. They are such good kids! Another one of my favorite things is SCRAPBOOKING!! Last night I enjoyed a little scrapbooking time, something I had not done in a very long time. It took me a little while to get motivated and I flipped back and forth through pictures for a while with no ideas. Finally I spotted these two pictures, the only two that I have and they are from a few years back, in fact I am not sure where I am going to put this layout/page since I have already completed the album from that year. But I ended up completing the page and was very pleased with it. I still need to add a little journaling, I think the girls where pretending to ice skate, but I better verify before I write. Hopefully this page will spark some creativity with me and maybe I can spend a few hours scrapbooking this week. Our Ky guests have made their way back home, we hated to see them leave. Courtney is on her way to Bryson City, Tennessee for the week with her friend Ashley. This will be the first time that Courtney has ever went away without family. I know that she will have a blast, Ashley and her have been friends since infants and they have a week of plans in the mountains.

America's #1 Beach

Yesterday, Phillip and I took Jonah, Courtney, Emily, and Andrea to the beach at Caladesi Island State Park which has been named the number one beach in the US for the last two years. (Let me clarify for the readers who did not know we brought home two of Jonah and Courtney's friends from Ky to spend the week with them, so yes it has been another busy week for the Starling's.) However, we enjoyed the afternoon at Caladesi Island which is only accessible by way of ferry or private boat and since it was the girls first time at a beach I thought this one would be enjoyable for them since the surf is low and water is clear.
The kids had a blast and as with most beaches along the lower Gulf waters they also found some neat seashells.

I am not Dr. Beach (www.drbeach.org) so I have no clue how he rates his beaches, the island was very peaceful and there is nothing commerical on the island. The island/beach is not well known and maybe that is one of its big draw. It was worth the trip and if you are ever north of Tampa it is a must see. By the way, runners-up on Leatherman's list (Dr. Beach), were Hanalei Beach in Hawaii, Siesta Beach in Sarasota, and Cooper's Beach in Southampton, N.Y.

I am still here (I think!)

Seems like forever since I have updated my blog, in fact I don't think that I have ever went this long without an update, but the Starling's have been busy enjoying the summer just like most of my fellow bloggers. Here's a little of what's been happening since my last post......

• A couple of weeks ago we meet the Frasier's in Orlando for the day and spent the afternoon together at Downtown Disney and then relaxed and visited with them at their rental house.


• Took the kids to their first dinner theatre, where we saw The Sound Of Music


• Spent a couple afternoons with my dad at Salt Springs


• Enjoyed some relaxing time at the pool


• Wednesday night Pathfinders (Summer VBS program at church)


• Spent several afternoons at the lake with our neighbors


• Then there was the trip to BG and the week at church camp, which was a BLAST for the three of us. Phillip was not able to attend camp this year maybe next year. He did surprise the kids on the Fourth by showing up at camp and the spending the rest of the weekend in BG with us and then driving us home on Monday. This was Courtney first year at camp. She was sooooooo excited to be there and had an awesome time. The weather was great and I look forward to posting some pictures soon of the week.
  

Judith and I (taken in Orlando)