Blogging Through The Alphabet

G is for the Good Things {Blogging through the Alphabet}

June 17, 2014 by Dana

So I have fallen off the Blogging through the Alphabet wagon for the past few weeks but I will be completing those posts later on. For now, we are on to the letter G.

G is for Good Things in Life

Lately, there is so much negativity in the world and not nearly enough appreciation for the Good things that we are blessed with in this life. In the news daily, there is constant death, stealing, bullying, and more. Concentrating on these are sure to drag us all down and creep into to destroy happiness in our lives. Many people come to dwell upon these negatives, losing thankfulness for the great things happening around them.

I, personally, share a lot of these things through my Facebook page and then see them shared forward by others. A few weeks ago, this negativity really hit me straight in the heart. I realized that this is not what I want to known as: The Negative Facebook Poster. I, instead, wish to bring light and love to others through our lives, shining like a bright star.

Over the past few days, I have actively chosen NOT to be on Facebook and to share mostly positive things (I’ve been doing that for a few weeks now). Sure the negative and local news still sneaks through (I often share for some of my local friends who would miss out on the news if not for those posts and have actually asked for me to share them) but I am making an active effort to be choosier about those posts.

A friend tagged me in a post the other day to share positive things, and I felt it was lead to me after realizing I needed to do these things already. I want to be more appreciative and I know that sharing these small things I’m thankful for will help me realize just how lucky I am to be blessed to live and love in this life.

So hear are 5 things I’m currently thankful for aka my Good Things in Life:

1. Always and forever, foremost I am thankful for my children: Winston, Mimi, Laycie and Jackson. They are such blessings for us.

2. I’m thankful for my Husband. For the love he gives to use and how hard he works to provide a home and life for these kids.

3. I’m thankful for my Momma. I couldn’t raise three kids with Epilepsy and Involuntary Breath Holding Spells without my Momma. She is there when I just can’t do anymore. She loves and cares and helps every single day and I’m so thankful to be blessed with a Momma that loves me and my children so much.

4. I’m thankful for Prayers. Without them, we’d be lost. So many times a simple prayer has gotten me through, even when my faith was small and frail, these prayers have carried me through. For that I’m thankful.

5. I’m thankful for Life, for everyday when I wake up and share the day with my children, family and friends. So many times, I just go through the process of the day but there is never a day when I don’t see the “Life” we are given as a blessing and there’s never a day that I’m not thankful for another day with my babies. I know that this can be taken at any moment and I try to live it fully and to enjoy every moment I have. I try to teach my children to do the same and never take a minute for granted.

These are only a few of the many things I am thankful for. What are you thankful for today? What are some things you can do to be more appreciative of your day to day life? Share with me in the comments below!

E is for Epilepsy {Blogging through the Alphabet}

June 2, 2014 by Dana

I totally spaced last week and missed my D is for… post but I will go back and do that one soon. We are now on letter E and for us it is and will always be

E is for Epilepsy!

If you are a follower of our blog, then you already know we have a multi-generational family who has Epilepsy. I have had it since I was an infant and now three of my four babies have it as well. It’s a huge part of our daily lives and I use every post I can to help others understand how we live with it.

You see, starting out as a parent, I never thought I would be raising three beautiful children with this disorder as well. My oldest child missed the Epilepsy boat and I am truly thankful as he is a huge help with his siblings. When my oldest daughter came along, I thought “okay, she’s got it and that’s that”. Then came my baby girl and it was truly a surprise to me that she also developed this disorder. It was something I never expected, thinking that only one child would have it.

Imagine my surprise when my last child began having seizures as well! I’m thankful that by this point, I was aware that it was a possibility though I had hoped he’d also miss the Epilepsy boat like his older brother. We just were not that lucky.

To be honest, I guess you can say our lives revolve around Epilepsy. We are constantly on the watch for seizures. We have to plan our days around my children’s triggers – the girls often have seizures in the morning right after waking and the baby usually has his episodes at night.

When we aren’t watching for seizures, we are sharing about them. I tell everyone I know about Epilepsy. I advocate the right way to help those who are having a seizure and share my knowledge as much as I can, both online and in real life. That is the only way the stigmas of this disorder will change.

I enjoy telling others our story and I enjoy blogging about Epilepsy so that others can understand what our life is like through this blog. To learn about us and about Epilepsy, all you have to do is look for our Epilepsy Awareness tab at the top of our page or simply search our blog using the side panel and the keyword: Epilepsy. You will find tons of posts about our day to day journey with Epilepsy and I can promise you there will be many more to come!

Thanks for joining us! Until next time…

C is for Charles Towne Landing {Blogging Through The Alphabet}

May 22, 2014 by Dana

C is for Charles Towne Landing

Last week we had another doctor appointment in Charleston. Since we were in the area, we decided to take a field trip as well. One of our favorite places to visit is Charles Towne Landing, a South Carolina State Park.

Viewing and listening to the first exhibit in the park museum.

My first visit to Charles Towne Landing was in 4th grade with my public school class. That one visit stuck with me for my entire life, so when my children were born, I knew Charles Towne Landing would be one place that I wanted my children to see with me. Charles Towne is also a childhood favorite of Josh’s, so it’s a place he enjoys visiting as well.

Charles Towne Landing is located in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina right on a marsh off the Ashley River. This park represents the establishment of the birthplace of the first Carolina Colony at Charleston, where a group of English Settlers first landed in 1670. The park is filled with historical representations of the original Carolina Colony.

This was Jackson’s very first field trip!

You begin your visit to Charles Towne Landing with a stop at the Visitor’s Center, where you can pay for entrance to the park. The fees are low at $10 per adult, $6.50 per Senior Citizen, $6 for Youth ages 6-15 and children under 5 get in free. If you purchase a South Carolina State Park Passport Plus, then who ever is in your vehicle while you visit gets in free of charge. The park is open daily from 9am-5pm, closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Audio tours are also available for $5 a person.

Reading the map, that is free with entrance, to decide where we will head first.

At the Visitor’s Center, you can pick up a paper map of the park. The map shows every wonderful place to visit in the park and is free to visitors. It helps you to not get lost and not miss a single fun part of the park. To view a map of the park click here!

While you are at the visitor’s center, you can take a look around at the wonderful trinkets, stuffed animals, books and more related to the early days of South Carolina’s settlement. There are tons of replica pieces of the past available for purchase that help support South Carolina’s State Parks. We recently picked up some beautiful natural stone bracelets, Indian drum toys, and a set of stones to sort and learn more about.

Colonial man trading with a local American Indian.

In the back of the Visitor’s Center, is a small museum filled with so much interesting information about the early English settlers and the first Carolina Colony. There are examples of the ships’ storage, the early Indians found here in SC, portraits of early founders and specific people who were important to early SC history. This entire section of the building is filled with beautiful examples of our state’s history.

Exploration and examples of what the ships carried.

There are two paths into the park: one leads to the gardens through the back of the Visitor’s center and the other leads to the Animal park and main center of Charles Towne Landing. We usually go through the park gardens first.

These gardens are absolutely gorgeous, especially in the spring when they are in bloom. In the gardens, you will find a picnic area, as well as a picnic area outside the main entrance to the park. You will also find Christopher’s Garden which states Christopher’s age as 10. It is a small area intended for prayer.

The paths of the garden cross over the many beautiful ponds throughout the property where you can view turtles, Egret, Blue Herring, large fish and even alligator. There are many other beautiful, wild animals found within the park as well. Benches are appropriately placed throughout to stop and view the wildlife and flowers.

A white Egret and a Blue Herring in one of the many ponds at Charles Towne Landing.

Also in the gardens, you will find the Wedding Garden. This beautiful space is perfectly designed to celebrate your wonderful day, if you choose. It also makes a great backdrop for photographs. There are small benches and a large white arbor in the garden in front of the beautiful ponds.

The gorgeous Wedding Garden behind the Legare-Waring House.

The gardens lead to the Legare-Waring House. The home was built in the 1840’s for the Waring family. The house is in the same pristine style and condition as when built and is a wonderful representation of life and style in the 1800’s. The home can also be rented for weddings.

The beautifully designed, wrought iron gates that lead to the Legare-Waring House.

Cobblestones in front of the Legare-Waring House. So beautiful to see!

Facing the Legare – Waring House is the beautiful Avenue of Oaks. The beauty of this particular sector of the park is indescribable. It is set exactly as you see on those old southern plantation style movies. The trees themselves are steeped in Spanish Moss. Walking across this beautifully designed path, beneath the gorgeous oak trees is liking taking a step back into the past. This is one of my favorites in the park.

Three photos of the beautiful Avenue of Oaks in front of the Legare-Waring House.

Past the Avenue of Oaks, you will find a replication of the original excavation of the Charles Towne Landing site, as well as a small cabin, complete with a small garden that shows how the Colonists lived upon first settling the area. The building’s roof is thatched and the timbers are tarred to keep them long lasting. The garden is just enough to support a family coming to America for the first time.

Example of an early settlement at Charles Towne Landing.

Thatched roof and siding on building.

Inside the small cabin at the settlement.

Further down the path is a bridge to view the beautiful natural marsh that surrounds Charles Towne Landing. There we see small crabs, the footprints of deer, raccoon, and many other wild animals. It’s truly a gorgeous thing to see and a great way to compare various natural habits for animals.

As you continue on this path, you come to my children’s favorite part of the park: The Adventure. The Adventure is a 17th Century replica trading vessel from Colonial times. It is water-worthy and has been out to Sea to test it’s accuracy.

We always spend time exploring the Adventure. My children love to climb down the steps into the ships hull and view the captains quarters, as well as into the beds to see what it was like to sleep in such a tiny space. They help pump water from the ship and to lower the anchor using the old-fashioned mechanisms found on the Adventure. It’s truly a lot of fun to see.

Outside the ship during low tide, you can see minnow, oyster beds laying against the sides of the dock and shore, turtles, and so much more. There is also a replica of a ship being built to view and a rope tying area to practice your roping skills.

Further down this path is another replica building that is much larger than the previous tiny cabin. This represents the servants quarters and includes a wooden broom, a large working fire pit, examples of furniture and other things used in Colonial times. There is even a bowling pit outside of this building to play, just like children would have who lived in the 1700’s.

Across from this building is the Gun platform. Here you can find large mounds with various Cannon in place, ready to protect the fort of Charles Towne Landing. You can also see a replica tent that early soldiers would have used to sleep and stay in.

A bit further down the path are the Stocks, where thieves and prisoners were kept. This is another favorite of our family. We love to lock each other up (there aren’t locks, just replicas). The kids always get a good laugh out of this part of the park.

Lock used on the small cabin mentioned above.

Through the Palisades, you come to the Horry-Lucas site. This is a excavation of a home that once stood on this site in the park. There you will find a brick chimney remnant, a stone bathtub that was built into the home and other interesting tidbits.

Further up the paths, you will find large, beautifully erected statues representing the American Indians that once lived in this area. The ceremonial center showcases the history of these tribes and helps to bring America’s heritage to life. This area also contains a true African-American cemetery where generations of slaves were laid to rest.

Our final favorite place in the park is the Animal Zoo. This 22 acre natural habitat is home to black bear, bison, raccoon, local birds, otter, and many other beautiful creatures who were natural to the area at the time of settlement. It always amazes us to see these beautiful animals and think they once roamed freely throughout our home.

Charles Towne Landing is a true sight to see and a wonderful field trip for anyone in the Charleston area. If you are visiting or planing a visit to South Carolina, add this state park to your must visit list! If you’re a local, invest in a state park pass and start visiting today. With South Carolina’s State Park Passport Plus, you can visit this park as many times a year as you wish.

We hope you have enjoyed this tour of one of our favorite places to visit. Where is your favorite place to go for local field trips?

B is for Blogging {Blogging Through The Alphabet}

May 6, 2014 by Dana

B is for Blogging

I’m a blogger. That’s just what I do. I love blogging. I enjoy sharing with others and using this creative outlet to speak my mind.

I began blogging in 2009 simply as a way to express myself. I wanted to share with others about our life. I wanted to find a way to write again, which I hadn’t been doing a lot of simply because I had very little time. Blogging gave me a reason to write.

I began reviewing not long after I started blogging. I started with book reviews. It was a great way to get free books and share with others about what I was reading. Those are two things I greatly enjoy.

I began working as a reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse about 4 years ago. Being a homeschooler, TOS was a huge part of my life. The materials gifted through the amazing online parties thrown occasionally by Gena Suarez were impressive and Gena herself is an amazing woman to look up to. The things Gena does for the homeschooling community and the genuine love of others that she has was a huge inspiration to me. Gena is the main reason I wanted to become a TOS reviewer.

The first year I applied, I did not finish my trial. I gave up and I honestly regretted not joining up. Every time I saw a TOS review for that next year, I mentally kicked myself for not following through with my tryout and joining the review team.

When the next TOS try-out came along, I applied again and I made it all the way through. I am so glad I did. The crew has been a great blessing to me and our family. I have enjoyed reviewing and blogging while working on the Schoolhouse Review Team.

Writing is a huge part of my life. Blogging allows me to write and get out how I feel. I use blogging to express myself, to share my feelings, to share great products with others and to learn more about myself in unexpected ways. There is just so much to it.

Over the last 5 years, I have greatly enjoyed this blog. I plan to continue to blog for as long as possible and I look forward to sharing with each of you our ups and downs, our happiness and tears and all the things along the way. I hope you enjoy our blog as well.

So tell me, if you blog, why do you do it? Share your stories! I look forward to reading them.

A is for Apples {Blogging Through The Alphabet}

April 28, 2014 by Dana

I’ve heard lots about Blogging Through The Alphabet from Marcy @ BenandMe.com and others who have joined in the past. It sounded like a lot of fun and since I am often struggling to come up with my own ideas for blogging weekly, it sounded exactly like something I need to join in with. Win, win, win! So here goes…

A is for Apples

Apples are pretty important in our house. They are one of Laycie’s absolute favorite things. She loves to eat them but even more, she loves to collect different collectible apples.

We have glass apples, apple signs, apple drawings and more. At one point the kitchen curtains were even red to match her beautiful apples which I have managed to contain mostly in our kitchen. She sure loves those apples!

When Laycie was first learning to talk, she struggled with saying the word “apple”. She would say “Bapple” instead. Completely adorable! I found it so adorable that I actually called my first iPhone Bapple for my Laycie-Lou. She loved that!

Sadly, I admit that her love of Apples has also encouraged me to buy iPhones and iPads, silly as that is. I love to see the smile on her face from each apple she finds, even the little silver one on the back of my phone. I’d do anything to see her precious smile.

Are their things in your home that you find yourself collecting because of your children? Do your rooms reflect their loves as well as their own? Share with me if you wish.

Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”
— Martin Luther