Heaven's Sake

Technical Difficulties... Sorta.

2011-06-23T21:02:00.000-05:00

Sitting here with my laptop... earbuds plugged in so I can listen to The O'Neill Brothers instead of the annoying sounds of Mario Kart on the Wii. So many things on my mind and heart lately that I want to blog about. I've been physically writing about them in my journal, and that alone has worn my emotions very thin. I wanted to write them there first and sort through my thoughts, then decide what I wanted to add here, that might be beneficial to others. I will get to it, eventually, as time permits.

Another thing that has held me back lately has been these constant headaches. It seems that each day I am plagued with a headache by early afternoon that gets worse as the day progresses. Headaches are nothing new to me. I remember my mother taking me to the doctor when I was in the 3rd grade because I was constantly complaining of a headache, and in the past 10 years, especially, they have been ever present. But it's just been in the past few weeks that they have become so regular and difficult to get rid of. Makes it kinda hard to concentrate and think clearly.

So if you think of it during your prayer time, please say a simple prayer for me and my aching head. Thank you. :)

God bless you and yours,

Stuck In The Garage

2011-06-04T13:51:00.000-05:00

If you have read my blog before, you probably know that I have a cat named George. He is, for the most part, an indoor cat. But, we put him in the garage at night because, we don’t particularly enjoy being pounced on in our sleep.

And George is perfectly content to stay in the garage at night. He has his food and water and a little bed, and he has the whole garage to himself for all the exploring and mischief that a kitty can get into.

However, by the time morning rolls around, George is more than ready to be let back inside. As soon as he hears his humans up and about, he starts meowing at the door.

If we don’t come right away, he meows more loudly and more dramatically.

If that doesn’t work, he tries to dig his way in by scratching frantically at the bottom of the door.

And if we still don’t come, he climbs the door facing and peeks through the window!

Sooner or later, one of us will hear him (or see him!) and open the door. And whoever does so is then greeted by a very thankful kitty who wants nothing more than to purr and rub against your legs in complete adoration.

This morning, George was even more adamant than usual in his pleas to be invited back inside, probably because it has gotten so hot outside these past few days.

As I opened the door for him and received my good morning leg rubbing, it occurred to me that if George hadn’t stayed by the door asking to come in, I probably would have let him stay outside a lot longer.

In fact, I didn’t really want him to come inside when he did because the children were still asleep, and George enjoys waking them up (by pouncing on them and demanding to be petted).

Yet, because he was so persistent in his request to be let in and because, quite honestly, he was getting on my nerves with all the meowing and climbing up the door (and sliding back down with those sharp kitty claws on the metal door), I relented and let him inside.

I thought about how George had displayed the perfect example of how we, as Christians, really should be in our prayers and petitions to our Father.

Luke 11:5-10 says:

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

I wonder just how often I get "left in the garage" because I just neglect to ASK for God's help in opening the door?

Of course, I am speaking figuratively here because I am capable of turning a door knob. But in what areas of my life am I falling short, or what have I completely missed out on altogether due to my lack of persistence?

I truly believe that God answers prayers, but how can He answer the prayer that never gets prayed? Yes, He can read my mind and He knows what I want and what I need before I even ask, but if I never bother to ask and make my requests known, will He see fit to grant them? Just like I know that George wants to come inside every morning, but if he is not persistent in letting me know that he's ready to come in, I surely will not get in a hurry to open the door for him.

Just some food for thought....

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject, as well.

Blessings to you,

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter, and hear more ~~than you really want to know~~ about my kitty cat, George. ;)

Randomocity

2011-05-19T20:54:00.000-05:00

Because I know that enquiring minds want to know, here are some oh-so-random facts about yours truly.

I've never really liked my name. (No offense, Mom.)
I've lived in the same town my whole life, so far.
I now live just 2 streets away from the place I called home all my growing up years.
My mom still lives there. I can see her driveway from my front door.
My older sister lives on the one street that comes between my mom's house and mine.
I can see her front yard from my front door, too.
My kids get to walk over to see their aunt and their Grammy frequently. I love that.
I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. All are older than me, except one sister.
My siblings are each as different from each other as daylight and dark.
Out of the 5 kids, I am the only *normal* one.

Ah.... I am so boring. :op

Have any random fun-facts to share? If you blog about them, leave me a comment so I can come and see!

Blessings,

P.S. About that #10... I really just put that there to see if my sisters are paying attention. ;)

Teach 'Em to Fish

2011-05-11T07:33:00.000-05:00

There's an old saying that goes, "If you give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he'll never go hungry." Or something along those lines, anyway!

I like the alternate version of that saying: "If you give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, you can get rid of him all weekend." LOL.

Not that I want to "get rid of" my guys.

Ahem.

But in the past year, my husband and sons have become quite the fishermen. My husband has always loved to fish, but it's just been in the past several months that the two boys have really gotten into it, as well. I love how excited they get in anticipation of a fishing trip.

Yesterday, my husband called home from work and said for the boys to get ready and they would go fishing when he got home. The older boy couldn't go because he had already committed to doing yard work for an elderly friend that evening. But the younger was immediately set and ready to go. He took a big bucket out in the back yard and started digging for worms. And since he loves his mom so~o much, he brought them inside the house to show me. One of them was as long as his arm. Maybe that worm was the one responsible for the big catch of the evening, as you can see in the photo above.

I'm glad they have so much fun together fishing, but more than that, I'm so thankful for the Father/Son relationship that goes along with it. I am so blessed with a good husband and wonderful children.

Have a blessed day!

Mornings With Georgie

2011-05-10T09:02:00.001-05:00

Today is Tuesday, and I am determined to have a good day. Monday was not so great. Sunday was really not so great. So today - it's going to be a good day. It's just gotta be.

The sun is shining. It is warm outside, but not too warm. There's a cool breeze blowing through the trees. The flowers are starting to bloom and the birds are singing their songs. One little bird was sitting on the ledge outside my window this morning, chirping away. What a surprise he got when I opened the blinds! And again when the cat jumped up on the inside of the windowsill! Needless to say, our little friend didn't stick around.

Speaking of the cat, he is feeling his oats this morning. Since I was up early, tinkering around in the kitchen, he thought he needed to be up, too. He is an inside cat, but since he likes to romp and play during the night, we put him out in the garage when we go to bed. Otherwise we'd be waking up to a kitty jumping on our heads during the night, wanting us to play. So as soon as he hears one of us "hoo-mans" up and about, he starts mewing at the door to be let in. If we don't get to him quickly enough, he climbs up the door frame and peeks in the window to see what is taking us so long.

Once inside, his first order of business is demanding his breakfast. I can almost envision him as the cartoon cat "Garfield" when it comes to wanting his breakfast - the sooner the better, if-you-please. Whoever gets the kitty's breakfast is also the recipient of lots of lower-leg *kitty hugs* until the bowl hits the linoleum. He's such a funny cat.

But this morning, I was up earlier than usual, so Georgie was up, too. After he scarfed down his breakfast, he went to make his morning rounds through the house, checking on all of his kids. I had to close their bedroom doors to keep him from waking them up so early, and Georgie didn't like that one bit. He sat in front of the boys' bedroom door and fruitlessly tried to dig his way under the door. He really likes their room because of the bunk beds, and the top bunk is his favorite place to hang out. Unfortunately, the only one in the house who is a little bit allergic to him is also the one who sleeps on the top bunk, so we always have to shoo the cat down when we find him there.

Once he figured out he really couldn't get in the kids' rooms, he resorted to playing with his teddy bear. It is so funny to watch that cat sneak up on his unsuspecting, fluffy friend and then pounce on him like a leopard attacking its prey. He bites it and kicks it and gnaws on it's little stuffed head. It's a wonder that the little bear is still intact!

It wasn't long before two of the kids woke up on their own and Georgie was so happy to see them. He almost stepped in my coffee, on the end table beside me, while trying to get over to greet my daughter. That would not have ended well! And now, he is out of my sight, so I am assuming that he has found his way in to the boys' room, where he is likely trying to rouse the last sleeping body. Once the sleeping teenager arises, Georgie's job will be complete, and the catnaps will commence.

A cat's life is so demanding.

And now back to my day. It's gonna be a great one. Here's hoping yours is, too!

God bless,

Hello. My Name Is: Miss Not-Perfect

2011-05-06T22:57:00.000-05:00

So I've decided that I way over-think this blogging thing. I think that I am such a perfectionist that I don't want to just throw something out there without first going through my 5 point checklist and making sure everything is perfectly perfect.

Truth is - that's not me. I'm not perfect. *Shock* I KNOW! Can you believe it?

It reminds me of that Laurie Berkner song that they used to play on Nick Jr. when my kids were little that went like this:

"I'm not perfect, no I'm not.
I'm not perfect, but I've got what I've got.
I do my very best, I do my very best,
I do my very best each day.
But I'm not perfect,
And I hope you like me that way"

Yes, it's simple, but it runs through my head frequently.

So does the Scott Krippayne song called, "I'm Not Cool". Because I'm not perfect, and I am definitely NOT cool. But, as the song says, I'm not cool and that's okay!

So yeah, I'm not perfect and I'm not cool and I'm just accepting that and vowing to just go ahead and blog anyway. Besides, if I don't tell my story - who will?

If I leave it up to my kids to do sometime later, after I'm gone, then all you lovely folks would miss out on the fun!

So.... let's give it a go.... A-G-A-I-N.... Shall we?

Okie-dokie then.

Remember Me?

2011-03-15T18:10:00.000-05:00

Even though I've been awfully quiet here on the home/blog-front... I do have a post up today at The Homeschool Post. Would love for you to pop in and visit!

You can find me HERE.

Toodles,

Every Party Needs a Pooper...

2011-02-16T22:31:00.000-06:00

I am disappointed in my lack of content over the past week and a half. But, can I be honest with you? I just haven't been feeling well. And it hasn't been any particular physical ailment, but more of an emotional one. I just get this way sometimes. I think we all do, though some more than others.

It's hard to be on top of your game as a homeschool mom when you just feel "blah". The kids ask, "What's wrong, Mommy?" and I don't have an answer for them. And I feel bad for them because they are stuck with a party-pooper for a mom when I get this way. It's hard on them, not only because they want me to be fun and interact more with them, but I know that they worry sometimes, and probably even blame themselves a little.

So I try to put on a smile and do my best to be sweet. It helps that the sun has come out and the temperatures have been warmer the past few days. I think some extra Vitamin D and lots of fresh air may be just what the doctor ordered. I plan to take advantage of some of that tomorrow, as it is supposed to be 70* here and sunny. Plus, the kids are going to their grandparents for a few hours, so I can soak it up in peace and quiet.

Hope you can enjoy the sunshine, too!

Peace and love,

Scripture-ful Sunday

2011-02-06T08:00:00.001-06:00

The above image is from one of my absolute favorite websites: Heartlight.org. Heartlight is an online magazine full of devotionals, inspirational articles, and scripture/inspirational art of all sorts. If you've never been to their website, I would encourage you to take some time to go and browse. It's amazing how sometimes a scripture can really come to life when paired with a photograph or graphic of some sort! I hope that it will be uplifting to you as much as it always is for me.

May God bless you with a wonderful week!

Brought to you by the letter "S".

2011-02-04T16:18:00.000-06:00

This week we celebrated our daughter's 12th birthday. Traditionally, when it's one of the kids' birthdays, we get out the baby videos of the birthday boy or girl and watch (and laugh hysterically) together as a family. But this time, our little videotape-watcher-thingamajig was messed up, so we weren't able to watch any of Ruthie's baby movies. Instead, we dug out boxes of photographs that haven't seen daylight for the past 2 or 3 years and enjoyed them together..... laughing hysterically.

This particular photograph caught my attention. It is my Ruthie at about age 4, I think. I remember the Barbie raincoat and the pink flowery umbrella, and I remember she even had a pair of pink rain boots to wear with it. As for this picture, I have no idea what was happening at the time, but doesn't she look frightened? Maybe she heard a thunder clap? Or maybe it's not raining at all and she was just pretending? We may never know. I do know that it's a pretty cute picture, though. I can hardly believe that she's already 12 years old. Doesn't seem possible!

"S" is for "Scared" and "Sister"

~♥~*~♥~*~♥~

I'm on the letter "S" this week in the A B See Photo Meme. I don't always get to contribute each week, but I try to do so as often as I am able. It's fun for me to be on the lookout for things that go with each letter of the alphabet and then try to capture a good shot with my camera. Of course, I have a lot of fun photo editing, too. My favorite editing program to use is Picnik. I also like Picasa and Photobucket and use them sometimes, as well. Anyways, the whole idea of the A B See thing comes from the website called The Homeschool Post, where I also am a contributing author. The Homeschool Post hosts the A B See Photo Meme and once a week, they pick a few of the photos that have been sent in and feature them on The Homeschool Post website. Plus, every 5 weeks or so, one of the entries will be selected for a prize. I can't technically win a prize, since I write for The Homeschool Post, but I still enjoy participating in the meme. Like to take pictures? You should check it out!

May God bless you and keep you,

A Little Reminder

2011-01-30T22:17:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself humming as you go about your daily tasks? It is a common occurrence for me. Sometimes it is intentional, but other times, I don't even realize I am doing it. Tonight, as I've been sitting here cruising Facebook, Twitter, and checking up on favorite blogs, I've been humming away quietly. When I realized I was doing it, I stopped to consider the song that was evidently stuck in my head. Strangely, it is a song that I don't even remember hearing or singing recently. It's an old church hymn that has always been a favorite of mine. See if you're familiar with it as well. (I have typed out the words from memory, so I hope thy are correct!)

Each Step I Take

Each step I take, my Savior goes before me.

And with His loving hand, He leads the way.

And with each breath, I whisper, "I adore thee."

Oh what joy to walk with Him each day.

Each step I take,

I know that He will guide me.

To higher ground,

He ever leads me on.

Until someday, the last step will be taken,

Each step I take,

Just leads me closer home.

At times I feel my faith begin to waiver,

when up ahead I see a chasm wide.

It's then I turn, and look up to my Savior,

I am strong when He is by my side.

Each step I take,

I know that He will guide me.

To higher ground,

He ever leads me on.

Until someday, the last step will be taken,

Each step I take,

Just leads me closer home.

I trust in God,

No matter, come what may.

For life eternal is in His hands.

He holds the key that opens up the way,

that will lead me to the promised land.

Each step I take,

I know that He will guide me.

To higher ground,

He ever leads me on.

Until someday, the last step will be taken,

Each step I take,

Just leads me closer home.

-------------------------------

I've been a little stressed for the past few days in anticipation of getting started back to school after my children have been sick for the past few weeks. I want to make some changes and really get off to a good start. So I found it interesting that this was the song that was running through my head this evening. It is an excellent reminder that God is in control of everything, even our little homeschool. It is my joy to walk with Him each day, because I do know that He is guiding each step that I take!

May God bless you in your walk this week,

The Beauty of an Open Window and a Blank Page

2011-01-29T16:12:00.000-06:00

Today I would like to share with you two of my most simple joys: drawing and windows. For me, these two things go hand-in-hand. As a child, I loved to sit by my bedroom window and create art of all kinds. There was just something about the scenery that could inspire me like nothing else. Even today, no matter how I arrange the furniture in our school room, I always make sure that my desk is somewhere near the window.

I will admit, however, that I don't always accomplish everything I need to when I am sitting here because I get distracted by what's going on outside. Whether it's nice enough weather that the kids can be outside playing, or if it's cold and dreary - there is always something beautiful to look at. Today, I see a neighbor's cat hunting for mice in the open field behind our backyard. Last week when we had snow covering the ground, we sat and watched the birds as they scurried around looking for food. We saw the most beautiful tiny green birds, like you would usually only see in a pet store. So pretty!

I also enjoy the view from my kitchen window. It makes washing dishes so much more enjoyable!

This morning, I retreated to my bedroom because the kids were being rambunctious and loud in the living room. My plan was to go in there and make lesson plans and write out a grocery list, but I ended up doodling on the paper instead. And the doodles turned to lines and shapes and shadows... and before I knew it, I had drawn my bedroom window. (Only I left out the house that sits next door to ours.)

My daughter came in and said, "Hey Mom, whatcha doin?"

"Just doodling," I replied.

"You call THAT doodling?" she said. "I wish I could 'doodle' like that."

But to me, it is nothing difficult. And I told her, as well, that when I was her age, I "doodled" like an 11 year old, too. And, though I am not a Picasso or anything now, a lot of these things just come with practice and age. And to me, it's just fun and relaxing.

What do you do just for fun? What kind of simple joys do you enjoy? I would love to hear about them! Unfortunately, Linky Tools is no longer available for free, so I won't be using it any longer. So until I find another free linking service, please share your links in the comment section below. :)

A New Spin on the 3 R's

2011-01-24T22:32:00.000-06:00

"R" is for "Rx, Rest, and Recuperate"

At the beginning of last week, I really started making an effort to get back into a good routine. And, to be honest, I was excited to get to that point! I had my menu plans made out and lesson plans ready to go. I even spent an afternoon making these super-cool chore charts for my kids. We were ready and raring to go.

However, by mid-week it was obvious that we were getting nowhere fast. My middle child started running a fever early Wednesday morning, and a trip to the doctor's office later that day confirmed a case of the flu. 48 hours later, her younger brother followed suit. And then, another 48 hours later, the oldest joined the club.

So... what do you get with three sick kiddos? Lots of "Rx" (medicine), lots of "rest", and lots of time to "recuperate". With beds made on every piece of living room furniture, tissue boxes and GermX within arm's reach, cool washcloths on every feverish forehead, and Mama there to comfort and assist every beck and call, it goes without saying that no schoolwork has been done.

And yet, that's another one of the beauties of homeschooling ~ we'll make it up in our own time. No one is getting left behind because we'll just pick back up where we left off, once everyone is well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm on the letter "R" this week in the A B See Photo Meme. I don't always get to contribute each week, but I try to do so as often as I am able. It's fun for me to be on the lookout for things that go with each letter of the alphabet and then try to capture a good shot with my camera. Of course, I have a lot of fun photo editing, too. My favorite editing program to use is Picnik. I also like Picasa and Photobucket and use them sometimes, as well. Anyways, the whole idea of the A B See thing comes from the website called The Homeschool Post, where I also am a contributing author. The Homeschool Post hosts the A B See Photo Meme and once a week, they pick a few of the photos that have been sent in and feature them on The Homeschool Post website. Plus, every 5 weeks or so, one of the entries will be selected for a prize. I can't technically win a prize, since I write for The Homeschool Post, but I still enjoy participating in the meme. Like to take pictures? You should check it out!

Saturday Simplicity - Menu Planning Simplified

2011-01-21T23:09:00.000-06:00

Today I want to share something with you that simplifies my life tremendously: menu planning. It's something that anyone can do, whether you're single and live alone, married without kids, married with kids... married with 19 kids... You get the picture. And before I get labeled as one of those uber-organized control freak women who can't get out of bed in the morning without a to-do list, let me clarify by saying that I am by no means an expert at this. At all. I try to keep to a menu plan most of the time, but there are sometimes weeks, and yes, even months that go by with nary an organized meal. Those tend to be the worst weeks/months, too, not only because they are chaotically busy, but also because the lack of planning leads to too much fast food and unhealthful meals, which makes everyone feel yucky in the end. (Pun intended. Ha.)

There have been a few times that I have posted on Facebook about my menu planning or my once-a-month grocery shopping trips and I have gotten lots of questions about how on Earth I manage to do that. Let me just say that, first of all, I have a moderate aversion to grocery shopping, so the less amount of time that I have to spend doing it, the better. And secondly, I tend to get really stressed about meal time when I don't know what to cook, or I'm just not hungry but everyone else is, or it's getting late and I don't have anything started yet... and I know anyone who has ever been responsible for feeding someone else understands this frustration. So for me, it only makes sense to plan a month long menu, make a grocery list of all items needed for the meals for that month, and get it all out of the way in a single day. And here is how to do it.

Make a master list. Sit and brainstorm and write down every meal you know how to cook. Have your kids and hubby help you. I have a binder that has my lists divided up into categories of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sides. It sounds a little crazy, but trust me - it helps tremendously to have these lists already made when it comes time to plan your menus. It's hard to think of what to make week after week, but having a list of things that you know your family enjoys makes it as simple as picking something off of a menu.
Consider your weekly schedule. Do you have certain days of the week that you are gone all day long? If so, consider planning crockpot meals or freezer meals for those days. Are there nights that other family members will be away, so you'll need to make less? Or nights that you will have guests and need to prepare more? Try to get an idea of these things ahead of time so you can be prepared and not be tempted to grab something from a drive-thru.
Write it down. Get a calendar, a plain piece of paper, or do what I do and print off a nifty planner from DonnaYoung.org. Fill out a tentative meal plan for each night for a month. (If you're feeling super ambitious - plan for breakfasts and lunches, too!) You may enjoy creating a theme for each night of the week, like - Mexican Monday, Italian Tuesday, Soup/Salad Wednesday, etc.. That helps break up the monotony of the "same ol' same ol'" rut that we can find ourselves in sometimes. It helps me to also plan what side dishes I will prepare with each meal, too. (Because lasagna just isn't as yummy without the garlic bread, y'know?)
Make a grocery list. Again, you can print a blank one off from DonnaYoung.org, make your own, or - something I discovered recently that is really cool - some stores now offer an online shopping list which allows you to compare prices and make selections ahead of time, then print off your list and take it to the store with you. Or, if you have a smartphone, you don't even have to print it off. (I do not have a smartphone, so I'm stuck with the old-fashioned way. LOL) Here is an example of one from Walmart.com. I like to write my list out on an index card, divided into sections for dairy, snacks & drinks, canned goods, produce, frozen, meat, and breads. I can mentally go through the stores that I frequent and put items in the categories in order of where I'll find them in that store. (Yes, I am a nerd. Thankyouverymuch.) Refer back to your menu and list the ingredients you will need for each meal, including any side dish items, salads, breads, and condiments. Some things you will get a better deal on if you buy them in bulk, so be sure to calculate how much you'll need of certain meats, cheeses, etc. If there are items that will be used later in the month that will not stay fresh and cannot be frozen, add them to a separate list. You will want to make a short trip later in the month for those type of things, and to replenish any other perishables or daily staples, like milk and eggs.
Gather coupons/Compare Ads. This is one area that I am NOT very good at, but I wanted to put it in here anyway. There are a ton of great websites available to help with couponing and such. (Some of my favorites are: Money Saving Mom, Wild for Wags, and Deal News.)
Go Shopping! Try to pick a time to go that will not be too busy, such as early morning. If I go too late in the day, several items end up being out of stock and I'll have to settle for a more expensive brand, or none at all, which obviously requires making another trip to the store later. If you have little ones, you might do better if you have a sitter while you shop. My kids, even when they are trying to help, often end up distracting me and I forget things. And don't forget (this should go without saying) to have something to eat before you go grocery shopping. Shopping on an empty stomach will guarantee more impulse buys!

You're not done, yet! After you get all your goodies home and unloaded, it's time to decide whether to store them the way they are, or go ahead and prepare some things to put in the freezer. Personally, I like to grocery shop on Friday morning, bring it all home and unload, and then spend Saturday cooking meat and putting it away. (I have found the Menus4Moms site to be so helpful in this area!)

Look at your menu (I hang mine on the refrigerator so that I can refer to it often) and sort out what you need to do with your grocery items. Do you need ground beef browned for chili, spaghetti, tacos, etc? Go ahead and prepare it, then store it in freezer bags for super-quick meal prep later. Do you have casseroles that require cooked, shredded chicken? Do the same as you did with the beef and get it ready now so you can save time later. After all - it's better to have the big mess in the kitchen all at once, and clean it up only once... right?

(You can also do this with veggies, like onions, celery, carrots, peppers, etc. Chop them up and freeze them and get a jump start on all those meals.)

So these are the basics of how I plan menus for my family. It sounds complicated, but once you do the initial things, like making out your list of possibilities, it is relatively simple. And again, it's one or two days of work for a month's worth of meals, which not only saves time, it will save you lots of money and be healthier for your family.

Maybe next time I will share some of the recipes we enjoy, including one super-easy time-saving recipe for on-the-go meals.

What would you like to share for Saturday Simplicity? Anything goes, as long as it is family friendly and goes along with the theme of "simplicity". A photograph of your favorite "simple joy". A simple recipe, craft, or project. Or anything at all that helps you simplify your life. Please, do share! Add your URL to the linky below.

Oxymorons Available Here

2011-01-21T21:00:00.003-06:00

This has been an eventfully uneventful week. How is that for being contradictory? It has been eventful in that, for the first time ever, the flu bug has invaded our household. Which means that our week has been uneventful, because we've been stuck at home, lying around doing nothing.

It all started on Tuesday evening when Ruth began complaining of achiness here and there, as well as a headache. This is unusual for her, so I gave her some medicine and put her to bed. The next morning she awoke with fever and chills and a sore throat. We made a trip to the doctor's office, which was eventful because Ruth hasn't been to the doctor in so long that we couldn't even remember her last visit. The doctor ran some tests and confirmed the diagnosis of "flu".

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

So, a $20 copay and $50 worth of prescriptions later (and yes, I realize what a blessing it is to have insurance because it would have been astronomical otherwise), we came home and Ruth crashed on the couch. She's pretty much lived there on the couch since then. Uneventful, right?

We were limping along, doing a little bit of schoolwork as we were able, keeping the meds going and pushing the liquids as often as possible. Her temperature was staying around 102* until Thursday evening, when it crept up to 103* and kept trying to go higher. After a few doses of the alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen, it seemed that the fever was only getting worse. I, of course, started to worry and called on my trusty facebook friends for advice and prayers.

I put Ruth in a tepid bath, which helped the temp to drop a little. Then, a friend suggested giving her a mustard powder foot bath. At that point, I was ready to try just about anything, so we gave it a shot. Eventful. After about 15 minutes, her temp had come down a full degree. So, I don't know if it was the mustard powder, the bath, the medicine finally started working, or all the prayers (or a combination of all those things!), but she was able to cool down and then sleep soundly through the night. Uneventful.

Today, she has still had a low grade fever, but it has been easily controlled with Tylenol & Motrin. And now we're back to being uneventful.

At least we were... until the youngest one came down with a bit of a fever himself tonight. * sigh * Here we go again!

Keep us in your prayers!

Saturday Simplicity, or the lack thereof....

2011-01-15T18:52:00.002-06:00

(Today ended up being much more complicated than I would have liked for it to be. My 11 year old daughter's basketball coach scheduled one last game to be played this afternoon. Their season was supposed to have ended this past Tuesday, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, they ended up having another game today. And that was fine. It just put a cramp in my plans for "Saturday Simplicity". *sigh* Oh well. There's always next week, right?)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life is really simple,
but we insist on making it complicated.

~Confucius

A B See Photo Challenge - Q

2011-01-13T23:07:00.000-06:00

Q is for "Quiet".

Meet George, our sweet kitty cat. We've had him for a few months now, and he has definitely managed to purr his way into our hearts. After all, no other kitty we've had has been allowed the luxury of snuggling up in Mama's chair the way li'l Georgie is here. He is a very sweet cat and we love him. :)

I must admit that the letter "Q" was a little tricky to hook up to a photo. That is part of the fun of the A B See challenge, though. Would love for you to play along! You do not have to be a blogger. All you need is a Flickr account (which is FREE) and an alphabet-themed photo. Once you've joined Flickr, join The Homeschool Post's Flickr group, and upload your photos to the group. Every week, 5 photos are chosen to be featured on The Homeschool Post website. And, every 5 weeks, one photo will be chosen to win a prize!

Here are my previous entries:

A is for Arachnid

B is for Birthday Boy's Breakfast

C is for Crazy, Cool Cousins @ Chick-Fil-A

N is for National Flag

O is for Oasis

P is for Pony

So come on and join the fun! :)

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You: Saturday Simplicity

2011-01-08T22:42:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the very first installment of what I hope will become a weekly meme called "Saturday Simplicity". (Don't know what a "meme" is? Here's a great explanation: What is a Meme?) In other words, I hope to have something to say on the subject each Saturday, and I would really like to hear from any readers who happen by, as well.

What is Saturday Simplicity all about? The title pretty much speaks for itself, in that it can be about anything having to do with simplicity. For example:

Tips for simplifying your life; your home; your homeschool; etc.
Simple pleasures that you enjoy.
A photograph or "show-and-tell", if you will, about something or someone that illustrates the idea of simplicity.

It's actually ... quite... simple. :)

Now then... what is it that comes to mind when you think about simplicity? Be thinking about it, and if you'd like to share, come back next Saturday and I will have a LinkyTool ready to roll. Looking forward to it! See ya next Saturday! (Oh! And feel free to bring a friend! The more the merrier!)

P.S. The simplest thing I've done all day is about to happen! I'm going to bed and going to sleep! Nighty-night!

Of Mice, Men, and Homeschool Mamas

2011-01-07T23:18:00.000-06:00

One week ago tonight, we celebrated the birth of a new year. And already, one week into the year, I am behind schedule. You remember the saying about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, my plans have pretty much fizzled, at least for this week that is one day short of gone.

Two weeks past Christmas now, and there are still boxes full of decorations stacked in the corner of my living room. Oh, and there are still more decorations waiting to be removed from their resting places, which are high up enough to require the use of a ladder to retrieve them. And, like every other January before, I am asking myself why on Earth we put them up there in the first place.

We also made a half-hearted attempt to get back to school this week. It ended up being more of a challenge than I had initially anticipated. Last week, I made plans out for our lessons this week. However, I failed to take into consideration that we would have basketball games on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, church on Wednesday evening, the kids' PE day on Thursday, and two orthodontist appointments. Needless to say, we've been stretched a little thin this week. The kids have done math, but that's about it.

Being out late has left us all tired and run down, and has made sleeping too late in the mornings all too easy. And sleeping late leads to getting up and around late, which leads to starting school late... and it's a relentless cycle. And to top it all off, I've cut sodas out as of the 1st of the year and my mood has really suffered!

The worst of it may be that, even with all of this "to-do" looming over me, I am just sitting here like a knot on a log! Blame it on lack of sleep, lack of caffeine, or whatever, but I have the feeling that it is about to come back and bite me if I don't get on the ball!

Please tell me I'm not the only one whose get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went! Or, at least could you help me get outta this chair and go find it?

Thank ya kindly,

The Wake-Up Call and the Runaway Alarm Clock

2011-01-02T22:43:00.001-06:00

It has been a beautiful, wonderful day today. I woke up this morning, not ready to get out of bed (as usual), but was able to get up and around pretty easily. Sunday mornings are the hardest for me because it's the only day of the week that I HAVE to be up and out of the house by 8am. And it is always my prayer on Saturday night at bedtime that we will all get up and get to worship on time on Sunday.

Well, this morning I had a little bit of help getting out of bed. Because I use my cell phone as an alarm clock, I had it set to go off at 6:30am and had it on my bedside table. At 6:28am, my iPod alarm went off (which was weird because the battery was dead... or so I thought) and I fumbled around to shut it off. In doing so, I managed to knock my cell phone off the table and it landed under the bed, between the headboard and the wall. Not wanting to wake up the entire family with the alarm that would be going off at any moment, I got down to find the phone. But it was too dark in the room and I couldn't see it. So... I went to find a flashlight. By the time I reached the phone, the alarm was starting to sound and I quickly shut it off. And by that point - I was wide awake. So I guess it was a blessing in disguise that I knocked it off in the first place.

We had a guest speaker this morning, and a 2nd one this evening. And as much as I enjoyed them both, I can't talk about them right now. And it's pretty much because I am exhausted and my eyes are wanting to close on me as I am typing. So, as exciting as this all is, I must cut it short and say goodnight.

God Bless,

For Heaven's Sake

2011-01-01T22:59:00.000-06:00

A brand new year began today. Lots of talk about resolutions. And diets.

For me, today has been a day of rest and contemplation. We all need those every now and again, right?

No big, lofty resolutions here.

I have decided to stop purchasing soft drinks to keep in the house. And my husband, in turn, has decided to stop keeping a gallon of sweet tea prepared in the fridge. I went to the store yesterday to try to find some suitable alternatives, to make the transition a bit easier. A friend had suggested something called La Croix sparkling flavored water, because it has no sweetener, no calories, and no sodium. So I brought home a 12pack. Orange flavored. This morning, I took my first drink. And my last. Ew.

So, I suppose I will stick to regular water, maybe with lemon. And juice of any kind, although I know it can be just as bad when it comes to sugar content. The idea is to kick the soda habit first, then concentrate on the health aspect later. Baby steps. Because I've been a DrPepper addict for more years than I can remember. And seeing my kids picking up my bad habit scares me.

A good habit that I hope to create is to blog more often. My goal is to make it more of a daily journal about whatever happens to be going on instead of a strictly homeschool-topics blog. Maybe if I'm not so inhibited by topic matter, I will feel more free to write whatever, whenever. I dislike looking back on a year of blogging with so few entries of any substance. So, I want to change that. I've been cooking up some plans to make the blogging flow a little more easily, too, so be watching for some changes.

And, along that same line, I changed the name of my blog from "Home For Heaven's Sake" to simply "Heaven's Sake". The "home" part was in reference to homeschooling. I wanted to drop that part and put more emphasis on the fact that EVERYTHING we do is ultimately for "Heaven's Sake". I debated switching to an entirely different blog platform, but decided against it at this point. It would be a lot of work, and I'm being too lazy right now.

If you've been keeping up with me here, God bless you for your patience. Here's to making 2011 a fabulous year, and to marking each day as one day closer to our goal - for Heaven's Sake.

A B See Photo Challenge - P

2010-11-06T20:49:00.000-05:00

P is for Pony

The horses paw and prance and neigh,

Fillies and colts like kittens play,

And dance and toss their rippled manes

Shining and soft as silken skeins;...

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

A B See Photo Challenge - O

2010-10-28T16:42:00.000-05:00

"O" is for "oasis".

Back in early September, my family took a Saturday jaunt up to the Spring River in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. It was just warm enough to get in the water a bit, and we spent the day wading and fishing and playing together. I am so blessed to have a family that enjoys spending time together. It means so much to me that my husband sets aside time for days like this, and not just so that he can get away and enjoy "wetting a line". He does his fair share of fishing, true, but he spends just as much time helping the children with their rods and reels, teaching them how to bait their own hooks, cast their line, and (sometimes!) retrieve their catch. And the best part is, he doesn't get mad when they get their line caught (again!) in a tree, or when he has to untangle a rats nest of fishing line (again!). He is such a good daddy. I am so thankful for days like this, and I pray that we will have many, many more of these in the years to come.

Here are a few more pics from our day at the river....

I am blessed!

A B See Photo Challenge - N

2010-10-16T22:38:00.000-05:00

"N" is for "National Flag"

I don't know what it is about the American flag, but the mere sight of it gives me such a sense of pride. That's why I love this photo. I took it at the "family farm" in Ohio when we were visiting last Thanksgiving.

Now, I haven't been blogging much about homeschooling, or anything else, for that matter lately. However, I am thankful for this meme, because it at least gives me something to post! Would love to have my friends play along with me, so I don't feel like such a loser. :op

A B See Photo Challenge - M

2010-10-04T23:14:00.000-05:00

We found this handsome little bug on the back porch a few weeks ago.

He seemed to be as interested in us as we were in him!

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

2010-10-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

"Why do we have to read this stuff?"

"It's so boring!"

"I'm tired."

"I don't feel like reading."

"But it's boring!"

"And who cares about ecosystems in Africa!"

"It's not fair!"

"I don't want to!"

"Why do I have to do this?"

"I don't feel like reading!"

"I'd rather be playing Legos."

"I'm NOT going to read."

"I don't WANT to."

..............

............

..........

........

"Okay, okay..."

"If I have to."

..............................

"But don't expect me to LIKE it."

A B See Photo Challenge - L

2010-09-27T22:11:00.000-05:00

Man, have I ever been OUT OF IT these past few weeks. It's as if my life has taken on a life of its own and left me behind! LOL. But I'm still here.... somewhere.... ;)

Here's my contribution to the A B See Photo Challenge at the HSBA Post this week.

L is for Lake

I took this picture at Lake Norfork in north-central Arkansas last month when we visited the area with our church youth group. We enjoyed a beautiful lakeside devotional at sunset and the view was breathtaking.

Hope to be back to actual blogging very SOON!

A B See Photo Challenge - K

2010-09-12T23:35:00.000-05:00

Ready for another photo post, since I have nothing more to offer at the moment? LOL. Tomorrow is the first day of classes with our homeschool co-op this semester. I, being the generous and ever-knowledgeable parent that I am (hardy-har-har), volunteered to teach not one, but TWO classes. So, my weekend has been spent feverishly getting all the last minute preparations done for class tomorrow. And, of course, that means - no time for blogging. So here ya go - this week's photo challenge photo. One of my favorite places in my house - at least when it is clean....

K is for Kitchen

A B See Photo Challenge - J

2010-09-06T22:27:00.000-05:00

I admit, it's pretty sad when the blog posts are nothing but memes..... but, after being gone on vacation all last week without a computer, and everyone being sick when we got home, I just haven't had it in me to do much blogging. But, I do have a photo to post for the A B See Photo Challenge at The Homeschool Post. :)

I am on the letter "J" this week, which was a bit of a challenge for me. I ended up going back through some old photos to find my picture for the week. Here it is:

J is for Jump!

Yes, I had posted this photo about one year ago, just after I took it, in case it looks familiar to you. It's of my youngest splashing about in the puddles in our front yard. If you can't already tell, he is in mid-jump in this shot, which is pretty cool, I think. :)

Are you playing along in this photo challenge? If not, it's easy to do! You can find out how here at: The Homeschool Post A B See Photo Challenge. You do not have to be a blogger. All you need is a Flickr account and a photo to add. Join the A B See Photo Group on Flickr, and add your photo each week. It's that simple! Each week, 5 top photos will be chosen to be displayed on The Homeschool Post site. Then, once every month, a winner will be chosen to receive a PRIZE. Come on and play! It's lots of fun. And besides, if you are a blogger, at least you'll have something to blog about, even on the busy weeks like the ones I've had lately!

Toodles,

A B See Photo Challenge - I

2010-08-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

"I" is for "Ice"

In the last few days of January 2009, our area was hit with a massive ice storm that shut down the entire city for days. To sum it up in just one sentence: "It was bad." It not only knocked down power lines, leaving most everyone without electricity (some for weeks), it also destroyed many of our trees. The one in this photo is still standing today, but is short a few limbs that broke off under the weight of the ice.

As devastating as it was, it was also amazingly beautiful from a photographic point of view. As the streets began to thaw, I drove around town, or at least down the roads that weren't blocked by debris, and snapped pictures. This one is my favorite, which is why I chose it to represent my letter this week.

What letter are you on? You can jump in any time, just pick a letter, and pick a photo! For more details, check this section at The Homeschool Post, or just click on the A B See graphic below.

Sweet, sleepy, snuggly school-day

2010-08-26T23:24:00.001-05:00

We're drawing to the end of our first unit of the school year, which has been a 2-week unit about research and reference. Sounds thrilling, right? I know! We have all been pleasantly surprised at how interesting this study has been. We have covered all the basics on how to find the answers to our questions, like how to use the dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, and in general, how to find our way around a library. We have also learned about some interesting people who have made a difference in this field, such as John Dewey, for example, who came up with the organizational system used in the library today. We been enjoying a book about The Schaeffer family, also, and the children have begged to hear more of the story (called "L'Abri") every single night.

I had a really bad headache yesterday. Within 24 hours I had 4 ibuprofen, 2 Tylenol sinus, and 2 Benedryl. That may not sound like a lot, but for me, it was. This morning I woke up feeling better, but I had that lingering "medicine-head" feeling. It's hard to have a successful school day when the teacher is just not quite with it.

Today, our main goal was simply to learn something about the man responsible for the first American dictionary: Noah Webster. So, having checked out a book from the library a few days ago, called "What Do You Mean?: a story about Noah Webster", I decided the afternoon would best be spent in some more comfortable surroundings than the hard dining table where we usually have school. So, the three children and I piled on my bed with blankets and pillows, and they rested while I read aloud.

It wasn't rocket science. It wasn't a field trip to a museum or the zoo. But, for a day that could have gone to waste and amounted to a whole lot of nothing, I know that they will remember this day; if not for the lesson, then for the time spent together. I will remember it, too. Fondly.

A B See Photo Challenge - H

2010-08-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

This week, I'm working on the letter "H" for the A B See Photo Challenge at The Homeschool Post. What better word for the letter "H" than "Home"? So yes, this is my home sweet home.

How 'bout you play along? It's very simple and lots of fun, and let's not forget the PRIZES!

♥ A Sweet Start to Our Year ♥

2010-08-21T19:57:00.008-05:00

August 16, 2010 marked our first day of our fifth homeschool year. We kicked things off with a SWEET back-to-school breakfast at our favorite donut shop. The two younger ones actually ordered pastries, but the big one had to be a rebel and order a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit. He's thirteen. He thrives on being different.

After our breakfast of champions... we headed to the local ~~torture chamber~~ Walmart, just for kicks and grins. Grammy had given each of the children some money with which they were to purchase any needed items for school. I told them this could include basically anything they might want or need (clothing, shoes, paper, crayons, notebooks, etc.) except for toys. NO TOYS. I did not have any major requirements for them. I only wanted them to pick out a notebook that would serve as a journal. The rest was up to them.

The two olders picked out watches, for which I am so thankful because they won't be constantly bugging me by asking, "What time is it?" The younger got one of those clipboards that also opens up to hold a notebook and pencil on the inside, plus it serves as a lap desk. And, of course, we brought home an assortment of pens, pencils, crayons (although I know we didn't NEED crayons, for Pete's sake!), Post-it notes, notebooks, and folders.

The rest of the week has been spent just basically "warming up" to do school. We got everyone's Teaching Textbooks rolling on the computers and began those lessons. And, we have had a lot of discussions on the topic of "Inquisitiveness", our unit study for the semester, - what it means; is it good or bad; who should be inquisitive; how to go about it; etc. And since we are defining the term "inquisitiveness" as "searching for truth", we have spent a lot of time learning to search the scriptures and how to pray and ask questions directly of God.

Again, I have been amazed at how my kids absorb things and continue to dwell on them, even after the lessons are done for the day. If you haven't already, you should pop over to The Homeschool Post where my daughter was a guest contributor this week. She wrote about one of our discussions about the Bible and it blew me away. Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to be the mom of these awesome kids.

Anyways, I'm still waiting on a few things to come in that I had to order, such as the boys' language books. Hopefully they will be in early this week so that we can get started on them, as well. (Although I am sure my boys are hoping they get lost in the mail!) Other than that, we are just easing into it a little at a time, and so far we're enjoying school.

Oh, and the questions have already started, when we're out and about on a school day. On Friday I was asked by at least three different people if my kids had not started school yet, or if they were just out early. It's okay, though. I don't mind the questions. It gives me a chance to talk about homeschooling and show people that we are surprisingly normal human beings after all. At least we try to behave as such in public. ;)

Until the next free moment...

PS - speaking of acting "normal" in public... here's a shot of my "normal" daughter that same morning at the donut shop. Yeah... um... Thankfully, we were the only ones in there at the time. She can be a nut, I tell ya.

PPS - Don't tell my daughter that I posted this funny picture of her on my blog. K?

A B See Photo Challenge - G

2010-08-14T12:49:00.000-05:00

I am working my way through the alphabet, one letter per week, for the A B See Photo Challenge at The Homeschool Post. This week, I'm on letter "G". What letter are you on?

"G" is for "Goat"

There is a piece of land that has been in my family for several generations. It's a big, wooded hill, and it's covered with some very large rocks. It's the perfect place for hiding and hunting eggs, and therefore it has been our tradition for many years to gather there on Easter Sunday. This past Easter, we gathered at "Big Rocks" (original name, huh?) with family and friends. Much to our delight, one family brought along their pet baby goat. It was a lot of fun to watch this little fella climbing about on the rocks! He got a lot of lovin' from all the kiddos that afternoon. And, he was the subject of many photos, as well.

Home is where our school is (and the back porch, and the library, and the park, etc.).

2010-08-09T13:26:00.001-05:00

It's School-Room Week! I have posted pics of our "school room" before, but for week #2 of the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop at Heart of the Matter, I will revisit the subject. Here is are some pics of our school room that I took over a year ago:

And today, it looks exactly the same, except without all the fun posters, the framed photos, and the exercise bike. See, in the past year that we've had our house on the market, we've had to minimize clutter and de-personalize every room in the house. And let me tell ya, it really kinda stinks to have totally bare walls. But the space still works well for us.

Besides being a school room, you can see that this is also a dining room, piano room, and tv room. Inside that big cabinet is a television and about 500 videos and dvd's that are never watched. And really, it's not the only place we do school. A lot of schooling is done cuddled up on the couch in the living room (notice in the background, the school room w/o the posters, etc.):

And some at the kitchen table:

And sometimes, we take it outside:

And who says we can only do school at home? Sometimes we take it to McDonald's or Burger King, the library, or our favorite - the park:

Where do you do school? Pop on over to The Heart of the Matter's Not Back-to-School Blog Hop and check out everyone's entries, and then share your own!

A B See Photo Challenge - F

2010-08-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

This week's letter is the letter F.

And, as you can see here, F is for Fishing!

Which letter are you on?

Works-for-Me Wednesday: Rigging the Dustmop

2010-08-03T23:08:00.001-05:00

It's been a pretty long while since I've done a Works-for-Me Wednesday. After seeing a lot of tweets about it tonight, I thought I may as well contribute something and share my knowledge with the world. Or at least the blogosphere.

I'm not a real intellectual type person, nor am I a beauty queen, nor an athlete. And it's really kinda funny because, in my own mind I see myself as a pretty plain-Jane, borderline-boring person. However, one positive thing I can say about myself is that I'm a "rigger". Basically what that means is, if something isn't working for me, I try to find ways to "rig it" to make it work. Sometimes, it ends in disaster. But there have been a lot of times that a friend has said, "Wow. Now why didn't I think of that?" And I'm not even trying to brag, because I don't think this is anything entirely unique to me alone. I think that all of us have a little bit of a "rigger" somewhere inside.

Sometimes it just takes the right motivation to bring it out!

One thing I am really motivated about is making difficult household chores as bearable as possible. My absolute least favorite household chore is cleaning the floors. I hate it, and I will avoid cleaning them for as long as possible. I have tried a lot of different "gadgets", but never found any one thing to be any better than another. Then, last fall I was in Lowe's, looking for a cleaning product to use on my gutters outside, and I found, instead, the solution to my floor cleaning woes.

All it is is a little terry cloth "bootie" that fits over the end of a dust mop frame. It fits nicely over the end of my Swiffer mop (that I never used to use because it didn't do a good enough job to justify buying all those refills all the time!). I can use it as a dry dust mop, or, I can soak it in a floor cleaner solution first and use it as a damp mop. The Swiffer frame is light and easy enough for my youngest child to handle, and he gets quite a kick out of cleaning the hard floors for me. And I don't have to worry about him getting too much water everywhere, like I would with a mop and bucket.

The best part is, when the cleaning is done - I just toss the "bootie" in the washing machine and get it ready for next time. At a very reasonable $6, the thing has already paid for itself many times.

So now you know. Don't you feel better? ;)

Whaddya Wanna Do? (aka - Our Curriculum Choice for 2010-11)

2010-08-02T23:57:00.000-05:00

So it's Curriculum Week over at The Heart of the Matter's "Not Back-to-School Blog Hop". Would you like to hear about my plans for the upcoming school year?

I have gone back and forth and changed my mind a few times about our curriculum. Originally, I had planned to use My Father's World again this year, and move up to the Creation to the Greeks segment. We did Exploring Countries and Cultures last year and really enjoyed it, so the Creation to the Greeks would be the next level. However, after analyzing our finances and really doing some serious thinking and praying about it, we resolved that we just could not justify the expense of the MFW curriculum. I am not in any way saying that it is not worth every penny, because as I said before, we absolutely enjoyed our experience with it last year. Unfortunately, it would simply be irresponsible for us to go that route at this point.

Realizing that MFW was not going to be a possibility this year, I began to think about other alternatives. I asked the kids for their input as well. They said things like, "I wish we could study the explorers again, and build a ship on the back porch." And, "Oh, yeah! That was so fun! Remember how we had to eat those hard biscuits and dried fruit and jerky? Just like the real explorers?"

Okay. What else? "What about the Vikings? Can we study Leif Ericksson again?"

"How about the baking one? Can we do that, again?" "That was one of my favorites!" It was one of my favorites, too, and by far the YUMMIEST.

Okay, okay... I get the picture. :)

Obviously, my children enjoyed our Konos days. (We did Konos for our first few years of homeschooling.)

And then it hit me. I still had my Konos books, maybe there was something in there we could do that we hadn't already done. So I dragged them out, blew the dust off, and started making a list of units that we had not already done. I easily came up with several weeks, even months worth of unit study material that we had not yet covered. A-ha!

And then, I remembered the reason why the Konos books were buried in the closet and covered with dust..... so... much... work... for... Mom... So much planning and hunting and gathering books and supplies... So much activity and mess and chaos... So much work!

However, desperate times call for desperate measures. And, after all, the last time we did Konos, I had two elementary kids and a preschooler who was potty training, so really, my life is a lot easier now than it was then. So maybe, just maybe, we can make this thing work.

One thing I learned from our previous Konos experience is that being prepared is the KEY to success. It just does not work for Mom to be up until midnight on Sunday night, trying to get all her ducks in a row for classes on Monday morning, because come Monday morning, Mom is already dragging from not getting enough rest! So, I've already chosen a semester's worth of topics to study. I have studied the suggested reading lists and ordered the appropriate books (that were not already available at the local library). (Side note: I found a GREAT resource for used books! It's http://www.abebooks.com/, and I managed to find all the books I needed for only $50! Wow! I have been very pleased with the books, as well!)

I then went through all of the suggested activities given in the Konos lesson plans and selected the ones that were best suited for my kids. I made individual index cards for each activity, because staring at a full page of numbered activities is mind boggling to me for some reason. It is much easier for me to focus on one thing at a time! And no, I did not write it all out by hand! I typed it up in Microsoft Word, but set the page size to an index card, so that when I print it off, I can cut them apart and be all neat and tidy! It ended up being over 6,000 words by the time I was finished, so I am very glad I did not attempt to write it all out myself. Whew!

By the way, we will be doing the Konos unit called "Inquisitiveness", which focuses on research and organization for the first two weeks, then moves on to an in depth study of science and the scientific method. I am already excited about studying all the great scientists of the past, and I think my kids will love it, as well.

Konos covers most subjects quite well, but we will still need extra math and language. We have used Teaching Textbooks for the past year with great success, so we are continuing with that. My youngest will be doing Math 3 in the Teaching Textbooks program. I'll also have one doing Math 7, and one in Pre-Algebra (and boy, am I ever glad that I am not the one teaching that subject!). I love Teaching Textbooks because it's like having a teacher right inside your computer to work one-on-one with your child. It has been no trouble at all, unlike some other computer-based curriculum we have used in the past, as far as the system itself goes. The kids like it because it is fun (well, as fun as math can be, anyway), and it doesn't stress them out (like I can do sometimes, LOL).

Not sure yet what we will use for language. I know my 6th grader will continue with the Intermediate Language Lessons that she used last year, because it is a 3-year book. I will have to decide quickly what to order for my boys!

So, that's our plans in a nutshell! I am getting excited, and although I will miss the lazy days of summer, it will be good to get back into our routine. Now I'm going to head over to the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop and check out all the great links that have already been added! Care to join me?

A B See Photo Challenge - E

2010-07-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

This week I am on the letter "e". I took this photo from my back porch last fall when the sky was this brilliant reddish-orange at sunset. It was breathtaking. So, my selection for the letter "e" is this photo of the "evening sky". What letter are you on this week?

[Not] Back-to-School Blog Hop - Coming Soon!

2010-07-29T23:21:00.000-05:00

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know full well that it is "back-to-school" time. For my traditional school friends, this means you're looking for notes from your child's teacher for the upcoming year with a list of supplies needed for school. For us homeschoolers, it means something entirely different. That's why The Heart of the Matter crew is gearing up for the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop, FOUR WEEKS worth of shared ideas from dozens of other homeschoolers, and YOU'RE invited!

I'm looking forward to participating this year! Would ♥ for you to come along! Pop over to The Heart of the Matter to get more details and to grab a button. It's gonna be tons of fun! :)

A B See Photo Challenge - D

2010-07-24T22:43:00.001-05:00

I have neglected the A B See Photo Challenge the past two weeks. Whoops! Thankfully, others have been participating, and yesterday somebody won a really cool prize! And although I am not eligible to win, since I am an author at The Post, it's still fun to play along. Wanna join? You don't have to be a homeschooler. You don't even have to be a blogger! Just click over to this post to find out how!

And now, without further ado... Here is the latest installment in my stack of A B See photos. This is actually a quite scrumptious dessert that I have made a few times lately. It is one of those desserts that makes you gain weight just looking at it. But yummmm..... it is so worth it.

And I won't even pretend to think that I came up with this gorgeous creation all on my own. But I will share the recipe with you. You can find it at The Pioneer Woman Cooks. You can thank me later. ;)

Soundtracks

2010-07-22T22:51:00.000-05:00

"The music played in the background of your homes today will become the soundtrack from their childhood." MRS. JUNE FUENTES @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, in the article "The Exquisite Home Culture"

~I came across a link to the article quoted above on Facebook the other day. I LOVED the entire article, and highly recommend clicking over there to read it for yourself. I look forward to reading the rest of the articles in "The Christian Mother Series".

The quote above really struck a chord with me (haha..pun intended), because music really is a big part of life in my family. I sang to each of my babies, even before they were born. Each one had their own favorites that they would request over and over as they got old enough to do so. Some songs were ones I knew from the church hymnal. Others I had learned in school or from teaching Bible class. Some were even songs that my mother sang to me many moons ago!

Some of our family favorites include:

Mansions Over the Hilltop
Victory in Jesus
Higher Ground
This World is Not My Home
Jesus Loves Me
Angels Watchin' Over Me
My Grandfather's Clock
Kum Ba Yah
Hushabye, and Goodnight
Baby, Mine
Hush, Little Baby
I Love You, a Bushel and a Peck
Jesus Is All the World to Me
In the Hush of Early Morning
Be Not Dismayed, What'ere Betide (God will take care of you)
Anywhere With Jesus

And that's just to name a few!

Needless to say, my children are old enough now that they no long require rocking at bedtime, nor do they require Mommy singing them to sleep. (Not that they would argue with being rocked and sung to, I just don't have a chair big enough to hold us. *wink* ) Still, at bedtime they like to have a little music playing softly.

I have put together a variety of bedtime CD's for them in the past. We love The O'Neill Brothers' music, especially their "Lullabies by Request" album. It is so relaxing! Around the holidays, our favorite is "Mary's Lullaby - Christmas Songs for Bedtime".

Lately, though, their favorite is one that I put together as a special gift from me to my kids. Each song on it was selected by me for a specific reason. Here is the playlist:

A Bushel and a Peck -Doris Day
You Are My Sunshine-Riders In the Sky
Always Be My Baby-Mariah Carey
Come to Me-Céline Dion
You'll Be In My Heart-Phil Collins
Father to Son-Phil Collins
Beautiful Boy-Céline Dion
Love of My Life-Carly Simon
Beautiful Life-Fisher
Fireflies-Owl City
Ballerina Girl-Lionel Richie
Miracle-Céline Dion
Dreamland-Mary Chapin Carpenter
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)-Billy Joel

Some of them are syrupy-sweet, mommy-loves-you type of songs, and it's obvious why I chose them. Like "Come to Me" and "Miracle" by Céline Dion. (So sweeeeeet!) The first one, "A Bushel and a Peck", is one that I remember my dad and his sisters singing when I was little, and although I never knew all the words, or even the correct tune, I sang it to my kids. Who knew that iTunes would have the original version available?

"You Are My Sunshine" is another one of those that I remember from my childhood. It's kind of a thing with my family, I guess. I sang it to my Dad just before he passed away. And, my mom had the words "You Are My Sunshine" put at the top of Dad's headstone. I like the Riders In The Sky version. It's so upbeat and happy sounding. :)

"Always Be My Baby" is a song that was popular when I was expecting my daughter, so it always reminds me of that pregnancy. "You'll Be In My Heart", aside from being a super-sweet song, was in the Disney movie "Tarzan". That was the first movie we ever took Ruthie to, even though she was just a tiny baby. So again, it reminds me of those days.

"Father to Son" and "Beautiful Boy" are pretty self-explanatory. They are obviously for my boys! My littlest boy is a bit more emotional than his brother, and the "Beautiful Boy" song gets him all misty-eyed. It's sweet.

"Ballerina Girl" is obviously for my daughter, even though it's not really written as a parent/child type of song. It's really a love song, but, I like it anyway. And so does she!

"Love of My Life" and "Dreamland" were songs that I just stumbled across in my search. I had never heard them before, but I have grown to love them. The first one says, "from the moment I first saw you...the second that you were born... I knew that you were the love of my life, quite simply - the love of my life." Can't hit the nail on the head any better than that! That's exactly how I feel about my kids!

Songs #9 & 10 were put in just for fun... and for a little comic relief, I suppose. If you have never heard them - I highly recommend giving them a listen! They are so catchy!

And last, but not least, the "Lullabye" by Billy Joel is an absolutely beautiful song. The instrumental version is on one of our other bedtime cd's, so I wanted to put this one on so the kids could hear the words. The lyrics are very touching. My favorite is the last line that says, "Some day your child may cry, and if you sing this lullabye...then in your heart there will always be a part of me." And that same line could be said for any song that I've shared with my "babies".

I am so thankful for God's gift of music.

(P.S. - I really DO have three children. For some reason, my eldest does not like to have his picture taken much. I am going to CHANGE that, though!)

Carnival of Homeschooling: Texas Wildflower Edition

2010-07-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

I did not get an entry in this time, but there are TONS of great links to follow in this edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. Go take a look!

Confession Time

2010-07-17T22:57:00.002-05:00

So... I haven't updated the blog this week...

But I can explain.

This past week has been one of those not-so-great weeks, in that, I just haven't felt well. Physically, I've been extremely tired, tender tummy, headache. I haven't wanted to go anywhere, do anything, or really even get out of bed. At first I thought I had a bug of some sort that was bringing me down, but as the week wore on, I began to recognize the symptoms. And no, I am not pregnant, so don't even go there. Instead, I think I have been experiencing a visit from an old nemesis, whom I not-so-affectionately refer to as "My Shadow". (And if you so choose to visit the link and read the entry from January 2008, consider yourself warned that it is from an old blog of mine that was somewhat... well... maybe "cranky" is a good word for it? I mean, I had titled it "Pufferfish Diaries" for a reason. So, yeah. There's my disclaimer.)

What I am referring to is my battle with depression. I don't really understand it, other than that it has something to do with chemical imbalances. I do know that it's no fun! Some people think we shouldn't talk about it, or we should be ashamed of it. I mean, I'm not exactly proud of my depression, but I think that keeping quiet about it can do more harm than good.

I find it somewhat therapeutic to blog about my depression because it helps me get my thoughts out where I can see them. And, in doing so, I hope that someone else may stumble across some of my ramblings and find them helpful in some way. And yes, I still take my medication.

I like what Christian comedian Chonda Pierce had to say about it, when someone questioned her about the need for medication for depression. Here's a quote:

"Medicine is biblical, too, And if that offends some Christians who want faith alone to heal, tell them to take your glasses off and drive home. Where's your faith?"

(I should add that that last part is more of an exclamatory phrase, like, "Where's your FAITH?!!!" 'Cause Chonda would never say something like that with a straight face.)

Along with the prescription medication, I also rely heavily on God's word. For starters, I like to recite parts of Psalm 139. My favorite is the part that says:

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14

Another good one to remember in times like these is I Corinthians 6:19, which says:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

And a few more:

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Isaiah 49:13b

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29-29

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

And finally ~

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:7

I hope to be feeling back to normal soon. In the meantime, I'll be hanging in there. Prayers are always appreciated.

Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

2010-07-10T12:37:00.007-05:00

(I am reposting this article that I wrote two years ago on my old blog. Thought it might be a good time to think about organizing, or re-organizing, while everyone is on summer break! I will add that I have rearranged things in my medicine cabinet since the time that I wrote this. It's the same basic plan, but the adult stuff is on the TOP shelf now.)

It's bad enough being sick... having sick kids... or heaven forbid - both at the same time! I used to have the hardest time keeping medications organized and orderly enough to be able to find what I needed WHEN I needed it. And, if hubby was the unfortunate one who had to go scavenging through the cabinet during the night for some Tylenol or a thermometer, well, let's just say that I may as well have gotten up and done it myself.

What I ended up doing was cleaning out a cabinet in the kitchen to be used only for medical supplies. Some people prefer a bathroom cabinet, but it worked better for us to have it in the kitchen. I got 4 small plastic bins from the dollar store and labeled them as:

Adult medications,
Children's medications,
Misc. meds and tummy meds,
First aid

Since there are some prescription meds that dh and I take regularly, I got 2 smaller bins (long, skinny ones) to hold those, as well as daily vitamins.

As you can see in the picture, the bottom shelf holds the basket with "adult meds" and the two small bins on either side are for our personal daily prescriptions and vitamins. Terry's is on the left, mine is on the right. It occured to me the other day that maybe I should put these on the top shelf, but I haven't gotten around to that yet. (Update - now I have moved them to the top shelf.)

The 2nd shelf has the bin with "children's meds" in it.

I try to keep a supply of Children's Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, since we all know that children are most likely to come down with some fever causing illness in the wee hours of the night. Also, off to the side is a place for their vitamins and a small bowl that holds medicine droppers and dispensing cups.

The top shelf holds 2 bins side-by-side - the "first aid" bin, and the "misc" bin. These probably need to go on the bottom shelf, since I am having to get to the band aids pretty often these days! (Update - it IS on the bottom shelf now, so the kids can get to it easily.) The "misc" bin holds things that we need occasionally, but not all the time, such as ACE bandages, an inhaler mask, vapor rub, mineral oil, diaper rash cream... that kind of stuff. That way I'm not having to rummage through all that bulky stuff every time I need a bandage or a Tylenol or something.

This has worked really well for us, so I wanted to pass the tip along! Happy organizing!

Brought to you by the letter "C".

2010-07-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

I snapped this shot the other day when we all got together at Chick-Fil-A. My brother-in-law and his family were visiting from Ohio, and my kids had a great time reconnecting with their cousins.

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Wanna play?
Find out more here: A B See Photo Challenge at The Homeschool Post.

Weekly Wrap Up - Mama's Fried Chicken was definitely the highlight of the week.

2010-07-02T23:55:00.008-05:00

As is typical for me, I have been scratching my head all day in disbelief that it is really Friday. Again! Already! And in wondering where the week ran off to, I took a quick glance over the calendar of events for the past week. And I remembered, "Oh yeah, that's where the week has gone!" It's been a busy one, that's for sure. I mean, it didn't start off that way...

Sunday was a typical Sunday. Got up, went to church, came home, went to Grammy's for lunch... WAIT! Hold up! Stop the presses! That "went to Grammy's for lunch" part, let me just say, was anything but typical. Although we do usually go to Grammy's (my mom's) house for Sunday lunch... and it is always, always, always delicious... This past Sunday was different. My mother is a fabulous cook and one of my favorite mama-made meals has always been her fried chicken. She knows how to make it just right, with the breading and the seasoning... MmmMmm! And there are always mashed potatoes with white gravy and hot biscuits... MmmMmmMmm! But this past Sunday, Grammy made some fried chicken that was completely over the top. I'm talkin' slap-your-mama good! (Not that I would ever advocate the slapping of one's mother, especially if your mother makes you fried chicken.) I don't know what she did differently, but I LIKED it. It was so~o~o good! And the best part - my brother and his family were out of town, so there were leftovers for me to take home for lunch on Monday! (Disclaimer: I do enjoy seeing my brother and his family. I also enjoy leftovers.)

Okay, now where was I? I got a little distracted by the memory of my Mama's fried chicken..... *sigh*.... Oh yes, Sunday! Sunday evening we had church services again, and a nice potluck afterwards. Love those potlucks. They mean "no cooking" for me!

Monday morning rolled in a little too early, with all three children being due at the dentist office at 9am. Two hours later, we all rolled outta there with new toothbrushes, individual mini-tubes of toothpaste and dental floss, stickers, and balloons. No cavities in anyone's mouth made me a happy camper, and all was well.... until we got home and someone's balloon popped. It was all pretty much downhill after that. And, I never made it to the grocery store that afternoon, as I had planned. Which meant I didn't have anything to fix for dinner. And then the realtor called at 4:30 and said, "Can we show your house, like, now?" And dummy me replied, "Sure! Come on over!" So, since we had to leave anyways, and it was almost dinnertime, we went to Quiznos (where kids eat FREE!). The people that came to look at our house didn't even like it... but at least I didn't have to cook.

Tuesday was a blur. I had a headache and a crick in my neck, and I was just ready for it to be over so I could go back to bed! However, one thing we had to do on Tuesday was to take all three kids over to my mother and father-in-law's house to spend the night so they could babysit while we were gone on Wednesday. It ended up being almost 9pm before we were able to take the kids over, and that turned out to be not-so-great. Sometimes my children get a little weepy at bedtime, and that night, little E decided he did not want mommy and daddy to leave. He cried. And, all the way home, I cried, too. It had been a long time since I'd had to leave a child crying.

Wednesday, Terry and I made another trek to Little Rock for a follow-up visit with his orthopaedic surgeon. Who, I might add, looks remarkably like Jim Carrey. Funny, yes, but also disconcerting when he's the one holding the scalpel. Anyways, it was all good. Terry is officially better and out of the surgeon's care. *Woohoo!* And no more monthly trips to Little Rock! (Although the one-on-one time with hubs, just driving and talking, was really kinda nice.)

Thursday....Thursday.... Ah, yes, Thursday was spent mostly recovering from Wednesday! (Oh, and I forgot to mention we had our house shown again Wednesday, and this time, the person really liked it. She just has to sell her house first. Figures.) But Thursday, the highlight of the day was that I made Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti for dinner. Ta-dah! Yep. That was it.

Friday - today - has been great. Went to the library to return the 172 books that we had checked out. Or maybe it was only 12? Anywho, the library is always a fun place for the kids. Little E particularly enjoys it because it's the one place where he can pretty much pick out anything he wants to take home! What's not to love about that, huh? He brought home a Junie B. Jones book, a book about some sort of cheese mystery, and a book of jokes and riddles. Should be an interesting couple of weeks. My older two had a few, too. Ruthie picked books about Haiku and karate. And A got a Google SketchUp for Dummies book. (By the way, have you ever looked at the Google SketchUp program? It makes me nauseous, in a sea-sick kind of way, but my son can make the coolest stuff with it.) The kids also brought back a Harry Potter book for their father. Yes, you read that correctly. He is reading it right now.

Now, it is a few minutes until the clock strikes 12... so if I'm going to post this as a "Friday" post, I'd better do it! This may be one of the longest, most rambly posts I have ever written in my entire blogging history. And if you have tagged along this far, God bless you. You deserve a t-shirt. Or at least a bozo button.

Good night.

June Recap and A B See Photo Challenge - "B"

2010-06-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

(I am doing the A B See Photo Challenge at The Homeschool Post. Come join the fun!)

On this last day of June, I must say that it has been a really great month. We kicked it off with big E's birthday on June 2nd. He was thrilled to wake up to his very own donut "cake" for breakfast that morning. (Even though someone mistakenly purchased a #6 candle to go on top. He came in that morning and saw the #6 candle and said, "But Mom, I'm SEVEN!" Whoops. I blame it on the mommy brain. And yes, I realize that was self-incriminating. Thankfully I had other candles.) We spent the day at the water park with friends and cousins, and basically had a completely wonderful day!

A few days later, I celebrated a birthday, too. The big 3-5. Mine was on a Sunday, which meant it was a busy day anyway. My sweet kids woke me up early that morning with singing and presents. They (and their Daddy) got me two things that I have been wanting for a long time: a wireless mouse for my laptop, and a cooling pad for my laptop. Awesome! We went to my mom's house for Sunday lunch, as usual, and she made the coolest birthday cake for us. E wanted a "How to Train Your Dragon" cake, and Grammy did not disappoint! Since it was my cake, too, she added a cute little princess figure on one side. My mother is so creative! Ha.

In mid-June, four of us were stricken with a bad cold. That part was not so great. Nyquil and the Neti pot were our friends for that 7-10 day stretch. So glad that is over.

Thankfully we were all well when some of Terry's family came from Kansas to visit for a few days. It's always fun to see cousins, especially the ones that we rarely get to see. The kids were basically meeting these cousins for the first time, since they hadn't seen each other for a very long time. But, you wouldn't have known it by watching them play together. They were a little sad when it was time to say good-bye.

Towards the end of the month, the weather became unbearably HOT. With temperatures in the upper 90's and even 100's, any outdoor activity was nearly unbearable. In our house, we have one main central air conditioning unit, which in moderate weather is sufficient in keeping the house cool. We also have a secondary unit (like a hotel a/c unit) in our addition on the back of our house, which we use in extreme hot or cold temperatures. So, for a little more than a week, we were having to run both units full blast, plus box fans to keep things circulating throughout the house. I even kept the shades drawn in the family room to try to keep it cooler. For the past few days, the temperatures have gone back to what is considered average for this time of year. I am relieved, because the electric bill would be astronomical if we had to run the a/c like that for very long.

We did pick back up with a little school work during the extreme heat. But now, we'll probably be putting it on hold again, as we have more family coming in for the 4th of July holiday and staying for a week. Terry's brother, his wife, and their three kids will be here, and I know better than to think that my kids will want to stop playing with their beloved cousins long enough to do any school! But that's okay, time with family trumps summer school in my book.

So here we are at the end of June, halfway through 2010. This year has FLOWN by so far, and I know it will be like the blink of an eye and the Christmas season will be upon us again. It's sure strange to think about that right now, during the lazy, hazy days of summer. And I'm not in any hurry for these days to pass.

Renovations In Progress

2010-06-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

Please pardon the dust as I rearrange and tidy up the blogstead here. I'm trying to put some organization to this chaos and sort things into neat little categories. So until I get it all finished, just try to avoid falling off in a hole or getting wet paint on you anywhere. :)

♫♪~Like a Heat Wave~♫♪

2010-06-24T16:30:00.001-05:00

Summer, so far, has been grand. Not that we have DONE anything grand... just the rest and relaxation have been, well -- restful and relaxing. We took most of the month of May off from school, even though we weren't completely finished yet. It was just too nice outside to make the kids sit indoors and do work!

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Spring passed away quickly as summer moved in and unpacked her oppressive heat. For the past week, our temperatures here in Northern Arkansas have been in the upper 90's, with heat indices in the 100's. We've been forced indoors, except for necessary outings or water play. The other day, I found all three kids playing Legos together in A's room. (The heat must've really gotten to them! Playing together, voluntarily, without fighting? Unheard of!)

This week, we decided it was time to go ahead and get the books back out again. We picked up right where we left off, and began studying about China (My Father's World curriculum). During the hot part of the day, this is where you'll find us:

And so far, I haven't heard any complaining!

A B See Photo Meme - "A is for Arachnid"

2010-06-22T23:42:00.000-05:00

The A B See Photo Meme is back at The Homeschool Post! Yay!!! And this time - there are PRIZES involved! Now, as an author at The Post, I am not eligible to win, but I can still do the meme. YOU, on the other hand, CAN ENTER TO WIN!!! It's really simple, too. Click on the A B See image over there to see for yourself!

In the meantime, here is my image for the week. I decided to start fresh at the beginning of the alphabet. However, after going through all of my photos numerous times, I could not come up with ANYTHING for the letter "A". Tonight, I was out in the yard watering the flowerbed and clipping some plants that had gotten out of hand, when I spotted a beautiful spider. I almost missed it and put my hand right through its meticulously crafted web, but thankfully I saw it just in time. And then I sent my daughter inside to bring me my camera, because I knew I had found the perfect shot for my letter "A". Here it is:

It's not the perfect shot, I know, but it was the best I could do considering I was shaky from working in the 102* heat and dripping with sweat. And this little fella was at the back of the bush up next to the house. And let's just hope he stays out there and not IN the house!

Meanwhile, over at The Homeschool Post....

2010-06-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

... Check out my article today on a little incident that took place at our house yesterday.

"Stranger Danger"

Little "E" (who's not so little anymore)

2010-05-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

This child....

I tell you, he is the one that can drive me absolutely crazy one minute, and melt my heart the next.

He is 6 years old (7, in a few weeks), and 100% boy. He loves to hunt and fish, shoot his grandpa's bb gun at tin cans, ride his bicycle (and see how many skid marks he can leave on the driveway), play video games, and climb trees. He's tough as nails when it comes to hard work with his daddy or grandpa. But, when confronted by the neighbor's dog, he's in my lap and shaking like a leaf.

From even before he learned to walk, he has been able to throw a football. He loves to play sports and he has a very competitive spirit. Sometimes that spirit gets him into trouble, like when he loses in a video game. He can go from zero to an all out meltdown in 10 seconds flat.

It's hard to get a reign on that spirit sometimes. Most of the time.

And there are days when I feel like throwing in the towel because I just can't handle one more outburst. And I realize this may come as a shock to some, because we "super-moms" pride ourselves in appearing cool, calm, and collected in the presence of others, thus further propegating the idea that homeschool moms must have inherited the patience of Job. But, there you have it - I. Am. Not. Perfect.

But, we just keep praying, and talking, and praying... and asking for friends to pray, and for family to pray...

And the Lord is always faithful to answer those prayers. And He is always faithful to send little reminders of why I wanted this parenting job in the first place, like tonight, when I tucked E into bed. He had all but fallen asleep before I got in there to say prayers with him. I kneeled down beside his bed and nudged him gently to see if he was still conscious. He looked at me through one sleepy eye, and so I began our joint prayer. After he took his turn and finished the prayer, he reached up and brushed my cheek with his little fingers. He said, "Thank you, Mama.... for giving me birth."

And I melted into a gloopy puddle right then and there.

No, he's not perfect. Neither am I.

But we're working on it, and with God's help, we're going to get through it, together.

Spring Fever

2010-05-11T23:38:00.000-05:00

If there's one thing that homeschools and traditional schools have in common, it's that about this time of year, EVERYONE gets tired of school. I mean, how could we not want to just be done with it so we can get out and play?

And to be quite honest, it's not just the kids who are longing for a break. I've been faithfully writing out schedules each week for months. I've taught my first grader about the Bible, math, reading, writing, art, and science, and I've tutored my 5th and 7th graders in Bible, language, spelling, math, geography, science, art, and reading for the past 9 months. I've made countless trips to the library, scoured hundreds of websites for the perfect activities and worksheets, and answered at least 72 bazillion questions about who did what, why, when, where, and how. I've been "Susie Sweet" (as I like to call myself) when my kids have had good behavior days. And, on the flip side, I've been their "Worst Nightmare" on days when the behavior was not so great. I've soothed the frustrations of, "I just don't get it!" math lessons. And, I've given high-fives and pats on the back for all of the, "I finally got it!" moments. I've both allowed and enjoyed making messes with my kids, and then, of course, cleaned up those messes. And, perhaps the coolest thing of all that I've done this year - I've watched a 1st grader turn into a 2nd grader; a 5th grader turn into a 6th grader; and a 7th grader turn into an 8th grader. Right before my eyes!

So yes, a break is definitely called for, as well as deserved, for all of us. I think it will be just a short break, and then we'll dive back into it, "So our brains don't turn to mush," as my daughter has so wisely put it. Besides, here in Arkansas, it gets too hot in the summertime to do much outside anyways. May as well be learning!

All the Children of the World

2010-05-08T22:56:00.000-05:00

If God had taken me aside years ago,

and lined up all the kids who were to be born, side by side,

and then allowed me to pick which ones I wanted...

Guess who I would have picked?

God sure knew what He was doing by putting us together.

And I thank Him for it every single day.

Happy Mother's Day.

A Tale of Two Seasons

2010-04-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

Was looking through some photos this evening and noticed these two. Both photos feature the front door area of our house. One was made in February, the other in April. Take a look:

Have I mentioned how thankful I am for spring?

We have done quite a bit of landscaping around the front, trying to increase the "curb appeal" in hopes of finally getting our house sold. I think that the absence of snow, alone, makes it much more appealing!

We planted a few dwarf spruce trees in containers to place on either side of the front door, and planted another one in the flower bed. We also planted lots of red, white, and blue Wave Petunias, which will be so pretty when they start growing well. And since we have a brick mailbox with a flat top, our realtor suggested adding a container of flowers there, as well. We found a shallow container and filled it full of red, white, and blue Wave Petunias, as well. They are already blooming, but soon they will be overflowing and cascading over the sides of the mailbox. I'm excitedly waiting for that because it is sure to be gorgeous!

Here's my husband, Terry, our daughter, M, and our freshly landscaped mailbox. Now who wouldn't wanna buy this lovely home? ;)

Distractions

2010-03-21T23:05:00.000-05:00

I've started several blog entries in the past few weeks, only to have them abandoned in the drafts pile. And, if I'm not quick about this one, it will likely end up there as well.

Why???

DISTRACTIONS.

In this "sitting" alone, I have been distracted by the television (hubby's watching a Sci-fi flick), several e-mails, Facebook notices, and... sadly... a distraught daughter up way past her bedtime. And all this at 10:30 at night - daytime is much crazier.

Day-to-day life holds many distractions in my house... considering that we homeschool, which pretty much means All Family + All Together + All the Time. Also, we have our house on the market, which means trying to keep the place somewhat presentable. And, believe it or not, the people that live here actually like to eat occasionally... and have clean clothing, and well, meals and laundry don't just prepare themselves, now do they?

Maybe in a perfect world...

And I'm not even complaining. I love my life, crazy as it can be sometimes, and I wouldn't want it any other way. It just bugs me that I have all these great thoughts and ideas, and I think, "Oh! That would be great to blog about!" but when I sit down to actually do it, I can't keep a cohesive thought going long enough to write something intelligible.

So, I keep telling myself, "One of these days!" And sure enough, one of these days I'll have more time than I know what to do with. Hopefully I will still have a few lonely brain cells left at that point that I can tinker around with and accomplish some of these .....

Well, hubs just came in and asked if I could help him get his shirt off so he can go to bed. (He just had shoulder surgery, so no, he really can't do it by himself! Haha.) So... off I go, again!

Where did February go?

2010-03-05T23:45:00.001-06:00

These past several weeks have been somewhat of a blur with all the activities and such that have kept us moving. We've been back and forth to Little Rock three times now, taking my husband to see the shoulder surgeon down there. He is scheduled for surgery on the 15th of March, so please remember him in prayer. We also had a weekend long youth rally at our church, which was fantastic. It was the first time since I was a teen (which wasn't that long ago, thank-you-very-much) that I have participated in an event like that. I guess now that I'm the parent of a teen (wow, that sounds weird!) I may as well get used to it.

Besides all that, our homeschool co-op started back up for the spring semester. We get together every Monday afternoon for three hours of classes and "socialization" (lol). I usually like to volunteer to teach a class or two, but with my husband's impending surgery and knowing I'd be in and out a bunch, I opted to just assist wherever needed this semester. So, this is probably the most relaxed semester I've had in awhile, as far as co-op goes, since I'm not constantly preparing to teach a class. It's kind've nice! And the kids are LOVING their classes. My oldest is taking a journalism class that he is really enjoying. As a class, they put together a "newspaper" every month of the semester, then sell copies for a quarter. He is also taking a class about the infrastructure within a city (it's called "Let's Build a City") which is right up his alley! (Pun intended...lol.) And, his last class is Greek and Roman history. (I'm so thankful that there are other homeschool moms and dads who are gifted in these other areas which I know nothing about, and are willing to share their knowledge with my kids!)

"M" is taking some great classes as well. She's learning to knit in one class, learning about homesteading basics in another, and her third class is about Japanese culture. We were sitting in the orthodontist office waiting room the other day, waiting for "A" to get done with his visit. "M" was sitting there, knitting away, when another mom in the waiting room noticed her. She said, "That is so amazing that you know how to do that." She asked where she learned, and if I had taught her. (ha! I have no clue how to knit!) When "M" said that she learned it in a class, the lady said, "You mean they teach knitting in school now!?" Now wouldn't that be great if they did?

"E" has been the most fun to watch this semester, as he had chosen some unusual (for him) classes to take. One is called "Exploring Creativity", and it's all about making things with your hands. Not that "E" doesn't enjoy being creative, it's just that this class was offered in the same time slot as P.E., which he would normally pick hands-down. He's also doing a class called "Growing Up Wild", and it's all about wild animals, bugs, snakes - boy stuff, basically. He loves it. He has shared more information with me this week about spiders than I ever really cared to know! And his last class is a music class, in which they are learning a fun little folk dance. He has evidently met his soul mate in this particular class and talks about her nonstop. He has even been praying for her ("Nicole") every night, that she will have a good week and be safe. I have not met this "Nicole".... but I am making a point to do so this coming Monday. After all, I'd better get to know her mother if we're going to be in-laws someday.

And, I can't forget to add that also during this month we've received what seemed like a ton of snow. Here in Northeast Arkansas, we just don't get much snow, usually. But, this winter we've had almost a foot of snow altogether. It was fun... but I'm totally over it and ready for spring! Besides, as much as I enjoy being the meanest Mommy on the block and making my kids do school when all the other kids are out for a snow day... I cave in all too often and let them slack off, too, which has put us behind!

And, February also held a very important birthday in our family, when "M" turned eleven years old on the 3rd. Then, the following Sunday, she made the decision to be born AGAIN, and we enthusiastically celebrated her new birth with her as she committed her life to Christ.

So yeah... February has been a blur!

"Did school let out early today?" (And other common questions for homeschoolers...)

2010-01-23T18:41:00.002-06:00

(A typical scene at our house. A, M, and E, all working on their assignments. And yes, A is wearing a lab coat... for no real reason. He just wanted to wear it!)

Since this is supposed to be a homeschool blog... I thought that today I would post something that is actually about homeschooling; ya know, just to spice things up. And, just for the fun of it, I thought I would address some of the questions and/or comments that I (or others I've talked to) receive regularly about homeschooling.

As any homeschooling parent will tell you, we get a lot of questions and even more comments, from family, friends, and even complete strangers. This is especially true if one makes a habit of venturing out in public during the typical school hours. Here are some questions that I, or my children, have been asked:

"Is school out today?"

"Did you get out early from school?"

"Are your children sick today?"

"Why aren't they in school?"

"Shouldn't they be in school today?"

In our first year of homeschooling, I was always so cautious when we went out during the day. I would tell the kids, "Be on your very best behavior!" I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves to make people ask questions. Honestly, in that first year, I didn't know what to expect, and was somewhat afraid that someone might call and report me for having my kids out of school and at Walmart in the middle of the day.

Now, in our fourth year of homeschooling, I've learned to relax a ~~little~~ lot more. As a matter of fact, last fall when the news was all about the "swine flu", we played it up a little. I (jokingly) told the kids that, if someone asked why they weren't in school that day, they should tell them they had the swine flu and couldn't go to school. Then, they should start coughing, and see how long it took the other person to run the other direction. We never got a chance to use that one, though.

No, seriously - I've never actually answered sarcastically. Out loud.

I'm always very polite. Usually, I simply reply, "We homeschool." Or, in reply to "Did they get out early today?" I can simply say, "Yes." And, I have come to realize that, just because someone asks a question, it doesn't mean that they want to debate homeschooling versus private or public schooling, and there's no need to be defensive. Most of the time, a simple answer is enough, and they say, "Oh," and move on. (Granted, it may be with raised eyebrows and a "better-you-than-me" look...)

Stay tuned, because in my next post, I'll share some of the other things people say when they find out we homeschool.

In the meantime - I'd love to hear any questions or (kind) comments that you have to share about homeschooling. :)

Lightening Up

2010-01-22T23:38:00.000-06:00

Sorry for such frequent background changes, but I really felt the need to lighten things up around here. Every time I would click over to post something, I'd see the picture of our sweet Yvline, and just find myself stunned and silent. We still have not heard news of her wellbeing, but we are in prayer for her several times a day, as we have been since we first became her sponsors. Please join me in praying, not only for Yvline, but for all of Haiti. Thank you!

Now then.... lightening up a little. :)

Let's see...what's been going on here? We've been trying to get back into some semblance of a routine with our schooling, which has proven to be quite difficult after the laziness of the holidays. See, our family got a huge surprise for Christmas in the form of a Wii, and it's been so much fun that the kids don't want to quit playing it long enough to accomplish anything. On the bright side, at least they're getting plenty of physical activity, right? Yeah... just smile and nod.... *wink*

Hmmm...what else? Oh yeah. I took M for her first orthodontic evaluation last week. Dude wants to pull 5 teeth (at about $50/each, plus a little for anesthesia). Dh told M that he'd pay her $10 per tooth if she'd just get them out herself. She has managed to pull ONE so far. We'll see what else she is capable of, and how much money she can save her mom and dad. A (age 13) has had his braces since October and is doing really great with them. However, I'm not sure how we'll be able to afford that second set of braces for his sister!

E has been doing really well with his school work, and I've discovered that I can use Wii time as bribery with him. Granted, he doesn't like it when I do... but, hey - it works. He's almost finished with his 1st grade math book, which I think is really cool. His brother and sister both dislike math (notice I avoided the "h" word), so for him to breeze right through it is a huge relief for me. He's also skipped way ahead in his "My Father's World" first grade curriculum. Since he was already reading quite well, the material was moving a bit too slowly for him. I'm wondering when we'll hit the big speed bump that will slow him down. I hope we won't hit one at all, but..... we'll see.

A has been stretching his wings a bit, doing more on his own than he's done before. I like how independent he's become and how much of a help he is to Terry and me. Terry has been working on some construction projects at our church, and A has been right there beside him, helping him out. He's always been interested in architecture and house designs, and the other day he had the opportunity to learn a little more about those as a career. A gentleman at our church is a contractor and is constantly building and selling houses. He invited A to ride along with him one day this week and "shadow" him on the job. Let me just say that A absolutely loved it. We may have a budding architect on our hands.

Last but not least, poor Terry has really been suffering with his shoulder. We'll be making a trip to Little Rock to see an orthopaedic surgeon in the next few weeks. As much as he's dreading the likely surgery, he's ready to get it fixed and get it over with. He's been through this before, about 10 years ago, and we know it's a long, hard road to recovery. So... should be an interesting next couple of months if he ends up having surgery. It will redefine the term "home-schooling" in our house!

Guess that about sums it up, and I'm not even going to go back and proofread.. just gonna "publish post" and let it go. My soft bed is calling!

My Heart is in Haiti...

2010-01-14T12:56:00.000-06:00

Today I am doing laundry. Cleaning bathrooms. Sweeping floors. Cooking meals. Washing dishes. Teaching children. Going through the motions of our every day life. But my heart isn't in it. Not today.

Today, my heart is in Haiti. With this little girl.....

Her name is Yvline. She is a child that we have been sponsoring for the past 4 years, and she lives in Cite Soleil, Haiti. Cite Soleil is just a short distance from Port au Prince, where the effects of the earthquake were the greatest. Of course, we have not heard any word yet about her welfare, and probably will not for a long while.

This picture (above) was taken in January 2007, when my husband, Terry, went with a group of workers from Hope For Haiti's Children. It was a medical mission, and all the sponsored children in the HFHC program, were able to come to a health clinic for medical exams. Terry was able to spend a few minutes visiting with our sponsored child, Yvline, and give her a backpack full of gifts that we had sent for her and her family.

Again, in December 2008, Terry was able to make a quick trip to Haiti in an effort to help HFHC make plans for a water treatment facility. He was not able to see Yvline during that trip, but he did take a box filled with food and treats to be delivered to her family.

In the photo above, Yvline looks so thin. But, in the most recent photo that we received, a few months ago, she looked so healthy and radiant. It was wonderful to see the positive changes that had taken place with the help of HFHC.

Today, though, I am wondering how this little one has fared through the traumatic events of the week. Is she hurt? Is she safe? Is she alive? Has she been orphaned?

My motherly instinct tells me to go down there and scoop her up (along with as many other children as I could) and bring them back home with me. But, I can't do that. I can't do much of anything. And, I really hate this feeling.

But, as much as I want to be there and to be doing something, anything, to help... and as much as I know that I can't do that... I also know that there is Someone who can. Those sweet children are not alone. And the same Father that tends to the lilies of the field and to the sparrow, He has His eye on the people of Haiti. I am putting my faith in Him to take care of our Yvline, and all the others who are hurting and distraught in Haiti today.

And, as opportunities present themselves, I will do what I can here to be the "hands and feet".

Well..... it's a pretty deep subject.

2010-01-09T22:49:00.000-06:00

If I had a nickel for every time I sat down and started a blog post (and didn't finish it)..... well, I'd have about fifty cents, I suppose. But, if I had a nickel for every time I thought about something to blog about... ah, then I'd have really heavy pockets because of all the nickels. I'd have to lug it all in to Walmart to the CoinStar machine.

Starting, and never finishing; or even worse - not starting at all: it seems to be the story of my life these days. And I really don't like that. It's not the legacy I want to leave. And I'm not just talking about the blogging.

Good intentions come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Like, intending to get up earlier each day, or intending to exercise three times a week. Intending to get out of debt. Intending to pay more attention to the spouse and the kids. Intending to make regular calls or visits to elderly friends. Or, the biggie for me, intending to be a better Bible student and spend more time in study and prayer each day.

Inattentiveness to a blog is no big deal.

The habit of starting things and not following through, however, is a big deal. And intending to start some things, and never actually doing it, can have dire consequences.

Consider the story in Matthew 25, of the three servants whose master entrusts them with his talents while he is away. Two of the servants took what they were given and doubled it. When the master returned, they were rewarded. The master told them that because they had been faithful with a few things, they would be given charge of many things. The third servant, however, did not invest what he'd been given. He didn't do anything with it at all. He just buried it, for safekeeping, until the master's return. He didn't want to mess it up, or risk losing it. For this, the master took away the one talent he had given the servant and gave it to one of the others. He then threw the servant into the "outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Whoa.

But all he did was keep it safe! What's the harm in that? The harm is that that was ALL he did. He didn't TRY to do anything with what he was given.

What "talents" have I been given that I am hiding in the sand? What have I been entrusted with that the Lord will demand a reckoning for on the day of Judgement?

A common phrase heard around our house is, "But, I didn't mean to!" Typically, when this phrase is uttered by one of our children, my husband or I will reply, "But you didn't mean NOT to, either."

I'm picturing myself, ~~standing~~ kneeling before Jesus, as he asks me to give an account of everything I've done with my life. I hate to think that the words, "But... I didn't mean to!" would come out of my mouth. What would He say? "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."? It makes me shudder to even think such a thought.

Wow.

This has turned out to be a much deeper post than I had originally thought. It just kind've "came out" through my fingers on the keyboard. Needless to say, I've had a lot of deep stuff on the brain lately. Which, is also a big reason for the lack of blogging. I hate to "bog down the blog" with deep and serious posts.

I'll try to lighten up.

And post more regularly.

Among other things, that I intend to do.

Pray for me, will you?

January 1, 2010

2010-01-01T22:53:00.000-06:00

**Warning** I have already taken a couple of Tylenol PMs, which may alter the readability of this message.

It's January 1st, and in keeping with tradition, I have been thinking of things that I'd like to accomplish this year. One of my goals is to blog more regularly. We'll see how long it takes to fall off the blog-wagon again. *smirk*

It's been a fairly uneventful New Year's Day. We all slept in this morning after being up late last night, ushering in the New Year. The rest of the morning was spent playing video games, as I am letting the kids get their fill of them now, before school starts back next week. For lunch, we headed over to the in-laws for some yummy bbq. Then we spent most of the afternoon hanging out over there, watching football and visiting.

After a few hours, hubs and I had to head in to set up the sound booth at church for a funeral that was taking place there. Then, back to the inlaws to finish watching Ohio State play in the bowl game. (Don't ask me which one... just be proud of me for remembering which team we're rooting for!)

Then, back home just in time to get everyone ready for bed and IN the bed (a little early!). Now, there's more football on the television... so I'm zoned out on the computer. And on the Tylenol PM, which is really starting to kick in.

So... not much to say, at least nothing of importance. But at least I can say that I blogged something!

Nitey-nite!

Sharing My Blankie

2009-12-26T23:35:00.001-06:00

Now that the warmth of the Christmas holiday has passed, I thought we could all use a nice warm quilt to keep cozy through the coming weeks. It has, indeed, been cold here in Arkansas, and we even saw a few flakes of snow on Christmas morning. Nothing more than a few flakes, though, which was thrilling in itself. As most residents here, I am praying that this winter will be mild and will not involve any ICE like we had last winter!!!

Just looking at this picture make me shiver! Brrrr! I do NOT want to go through that again. No, thank you!

Chasing Rainbows

2009-12-11T00:22:00.000-06:00

Bad days. Everybody has them. Money does not prevent them. Good health does not make one immune to them. Neither youth, nor age, keep them from coming. Bad days are just a part of life.

Bad days are burdensome, and the negativity hard to escape. It is heavy, like a thick, dark cloud that follows me everywhere I go. I can see its darkness, and I can feel its weight on my shoulders. Then comes the rain, beating me down with worry and troubled thoughts. Thunder booms when tempers flare, and angry words bolt out like bursts of lightning. By the end of the day, the dreary drizzle of disappointment and frustration causes me to retreat within myself.

Where is my rainbow? Where is my promise of a brighter tomorrow?

And then, at last my house falls quiet as the last little one drifts off to sleep. Quiet, and still. And in the stillness, I reflect on the events of the day. I can see the path, a new path, forged by the deluge of rain. A painful path, somewhat, but a necessary one, nonetheless. And in that path, and the puddles still standing in it, I can see a reflection. Hovering just past the dark clouds, with the sun shining through the remnants of rain, is a beautiful, shining portrait of a promise - my rainbow. And I know, without a doubt, that tomorrow will be brighter.

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

2009-12-09T22:36:00.000-06:00

We're back at school after a (too long) break. And now, my house shows it. Dishes went undone today as we dove back into the books. The carpet in the living room, our main area for school right now, is littered with bits and pieces of paper, a pencil or two, and some dirty socks. From where I sit, I see a half-empty, forgotten cup; a well-loved sketch book and pencil; a science textbook (that should have seen more action today); a few notebooks, folders, and binders, tossed in a pile; and a plastic bag nuzzled in between all the books, with leftover candy from a Christmas party. (I'm surprised I don't see more empty candy wrappers lying on the floor!)

Lest anyone think that we just live like a bunch of slobs, this evening has been one of those that has taken us away from home and prevented the usual clean-up from happening. Tomorrow will be different... and cleaner. (Yes, I keep telling myself that.... hoping that one day, it will come true....)

Oh, and... here's some really sad news. My camera... is.... dead. **sniffle** So, I am unable to share with my readers an actual photo of my messy home. You will have to use your imagination. ;)

Goings on and such...

2009-12-05T00:54:00.000-06:00

It's not that I don't have anything to say. Really. It's just that... something happens between my brain and my fingers when I sit down to blog sometimes. Typically when I blog, I am in the recliner in the living room with my laptop on my lap. And, amidst the general noise of television, video games, and chatter of the husband and kids, my thoughts end up out in the wild blue yonder instead of on my blog.

Occasionally, I will have an assignment to blog over at The Homeschool Post and I will make myself sit down and concentrate to get a post written. But for my own blog, I think I tend to be plain lazy.

Now. That being said - let's move on and I'll update you on what's been going on here at chaos central.

Just after my last entry, we had a big birthday celebration in our family. My firstborn child reached the milestone of age 13. Here he is, opening his new iPod, which he never dreamed he would actually get. You can see the surprise on his face, and the "gotcha" look on his sister's face as he realizes what he's holding. (It was hidden in a Yahtzee game box, by the way, so it was really pretty funny to watch his reaction!)

A few days later, we headed off to see family in Ohio for Thanksgiving. With our house being for sale, this meant that we had to have it in spotless condition before we left on vacation. That was an experience - trying to get a family of five packed and out the door and leave behind a clean house! However, we managed to pull it off and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation with family and friends. We were pretty tired and ready to get home after a week away. Here's M on the long (11 hour) drive home...

Since we've been home, we've been mostly unpacking, doing laundry, cleaning, and trying to catch up on some rest. We haven't done school this week because, well, it just works better if we start back up on a Monday and not in the middle of a week. Soooo.... next week we'll be back up and at 'em with our school work. (Can you hear the groans from the children? Haha.)

The Homeschool Post

2009-11-18T23:03:00.000-06:00

I posted over at The Homeschool Post today, if you want to go check it out! :)

Out My Window - November 2009

2009-11-15T23:34:00.000-06:00

I love looking out my kitchen window and seeing this:

We have had such beautiful weather so far this month, and I have urged my children to take advantage of it every day while they can. We are so blessed to have a great back yard and a sturdy porch that is perfect for sunny afternoon picnics. But, before long, Jack Frost will be knocking on our door and back porch picnics will have to wait until spring.

What's the view like from your window today?

"Z" is for "Zzzzzz"

2009-11-13T00:36:00.001-06:00

What is it about sleeping children that makes mamas want to take their picture?

I think it has something to do with how serene and angelic they look. It's like, however terribly they have behaved all day, to view them sleeping peacefully just erases all the wrongs.

I wonder if God ever watches His children while they are sleeping?

Come join the fun in the A B See photo meme at The Homeschool Post!

"Y" is for "Yum"!

2009-10-29T23:47:00.001-05:00

"Y" is for "Yum"!

One afternoon, several weeks ago now, my two sweet boys decided they needed something sweet to eat. The older is almost 13, and knows his way around the kitchen quite well, so I am pretty comfortable with letting him loose in there. So, the two brothers decided to whip up some cake mix cookies.

Now, if you have never made cake mix cookies, let me tell you - they are so easy! Just take any boxed cake mix, mix in 2 eggs and a 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, plop 'em on a cookie sheet like you would any other kind of cookie dough, and bake at 350* for about 10 minutes. So easy, which makes these perfect for last minute, super quick desserts and snacks.

This particular afternoon, either my boys were craving chocolate, or they knew that their Mama was. They not only picked a chocolate cake mix to make cookies from, but then they topped the cookies with chocolate icing, and again with chocolate chips! That is some serious chocolate!

And they were so~~~~o YUMMY!

Puddle Jumper

2009-10-27T22:20:00.001-05:00

After my last entry, showcasing a sunny autumn afternoon, the rain returned to our area forcing us back indoors. Rainy days have become all too common around here this fall, and little ones quickly tire of being confined to the house.

Today, E. was able to fly through his lessons, finishing much more quickly than his big brother and big sister. He was tired of being "shushed", so as not to disturb them in their studies, and I finally told him to go grab his boots. He was surprised because, I do not typically allow the children to play outside in the rain. But, the temperatures were warm enough and the rain was just light enough with no threat of lightning bolting out of the blue, that I was okay with letting him get out and just splash a little bit. So, with a tattered umbrella in hand and rubber boots on his feet, off he went to explore.

I sat on my lawn chair in the shelter of the garage, just to where I could see him romp through the rain. I randomly snapped pictures with my half-broken camera, and really doubted that I would get any shots worth saving. I was pleased, however, when I uploaded the photos, to find that there were quite a few keepers to be found. The ones that particularly caught my eye were the ones taken mid-jump, making it look as if he's walking on air, or perhaps, being carried away by the umbrella on the wind, like Mary Poppins.

I think I learned a valuable lesson today: Sometimes it's okay to play in the rain. And next time, maybe I'll just join him.

Enjoying the Autumn Sunshine

2009-10-24T14:43:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week we had some gorgeous weather. School work took a backseat for a few hours while we went outdoors to soak up some sunshine. Here are my two youngest children, along with my fur-child, "Samson". Hopefully we will have many more of these sunny afternoons before the cold, winter weather hits!

Over at The Homeschool Post...

2009-10-21T22:04:00.000-05:00

Check out my article "When Chaos Invades Your Homeschool Days" over at The Homeschool Post today!

W is for Whiskers

2009-10-18T22:19:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to participate in this for weeks now, and I'm finally getting around to it. I know it's supposed to be a "Friday" thing, but Friday (and the rest of the weekend) was just really crazy for me. So here is my photo for last week's A B See photo meme at the HSBA Post.

"W is for Whiskers"

This photo was taken a little while back, and its focus is my daughter's Teddy Bear Hamster, Chloe. She was a sweet little hamster, but has since gone on to the big hamster wheel in the sky. Glad I took the time to take some photos so we have something to remember her by.

Come On In!

2009-10-17T18:15:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the new place! Come on in, kick your shoes off, and get cozy!

I decided that I needed a fresh blogging start to light a fire under me again, so here I am! I like how easy it is to incorporate different functions here at Blogger, like adding photos and links and fun stuff on the sidebar. Homeschool Blogger was fun, and I definitely learned how to do a lot of things myself (the hard way). But, I'm ready to shake things up a little bit. So here we go!

Math-U-Eat

2009-08-31T16:42:00.000-05:00

Tonight my little man and I made a batch of brownies.

First, he read the recipe. He helped measure and add each ingredient. Then he counted to 50 as he stirred the batter. He was understandably let down when I told him they would take 30 minutes to bake. But, he waited patiently... watching the timer very closely.

I just wish I had taken a picture of him enjoying eating them!

Heaven's Sake

Technical Difficulties... Sorta.

Stuck In The Garage

Randomocity

Teach 'Em to Fish

Mornings With Georgie

Hello. My Name Is: Miss Not-Perfect

Remember Me?

Every Party Needs a Pooper...

Scripture-ful Sunday

Brought to you by the letter "S".

A Little Reminder

The Beauty of an Open Window and a Blank Page

A New Spin on the 3 R's

Saturday Simplicity - Menu Planning *Simplified*

Oxymorons Available Here

Saturday Simplicity, or the lack thereof....

A B See Photo Challenge - Q

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You: Saturday Simplicity

Of Mice, Men, and Homeschool Mamas

The Wake-Up Call and the Runaway Alarm Clock

For Heaven's Sake

A B See Photo Challenge - P

A B See Photo Challenge - O

A B See Photo Challenge - N

A B See Photo Challenge - M

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

A B See Photo Challenge - L

A B See Photo Challenge - K

A B See Photo Challenge - J

A B See Photo Challenge - I

Sweet, sleepy, snuggly school-day

A B See Photo Challenge - H

♥ A Sweet Start to Our Year ♥

A B See Photo Challenge - G

Home is where our school is (and the back porch, and the library, and the park, etc.).

A B See Photo Challenge - F

Works-for-Me Wednesday: Rigging the Dustmop

Whaddya Wanna Do? (aka - Our Curriculum Choice for 2010-11)

A B See Photo Challenge - E

[Not] Back-to-School Blog Hop - Coming Soon!

A B See Photo Challenge - D

Soundtracks

Carnival of Homeschooling: Texas Wildflower Edition

Confession Time

Organize Your Medicine Cabinet

Brought to you by the letter "C".

Weekly Wrap Up - Mama's Fried Chicken was definitely the highlight of the week.

June Recap and A B See Photo Challenge - "B"

Renovations In Progress

♫♪~Like a Heat Wave~♫♪

A B See Photo Meme - "A is for Arachnid"

Meanwhile, over at The Homeschool Post....

Little "E" (who's not so little anymore)

Spring Fever

All the Children of the World

A Tale of Two Seasons

Distractions

Where did February go?

"Did school let out early today?" (And other common questions for homeschoolers...)

Lightening Up

My Heart is in Haiti...

Well..... it's a pretty deep subject.

January 1, 2010

Sharing My Blankie

Chasing Rainbows

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

Goings on and such...

The Homeschool Post

Out My Window - November 2009

"Z" is for "Zzzzzz"

"Y" is for "Yum"!

Puddle Jumper

Enjoying the Autumn Sunshine

Over at The Homeschool Post...

W is for Whiskers

Come On In!

Math-U-Eat

Saturday Simplicity - Menu Planning Simplified