NaturalMamaX2

My blog has moved.....

2009-09-12T12:02:00.002-05:00

to www.naturalmamaX4.blogspot.com

We are no longer a family with 2 children, but now we have four! Come on over to my new site!
Thanks!!!

Whew..all in a day's work...

2009-07-08T00:13:00.003-05:00

Ever had one of those days where you look back, with your tongue hanging out, and think, "How on earth did I survive today?" If you're a SAHM, I'm sure you have. Today was such a day for me! Here is a brief recap, not in any particular order:
Awoke around 6:30
Washed, dried, folded, and put away (hung out 1 load) 3 loads of clothes
Fed pets various scraps of food throughout the day, filled their pail up with water
Picked up dirty clothes from the bathroom, briefly straightened it
Washed dishes TWICE which consisted of about 6 'loads' of dishes in all
Wiped counters & stove down twice
Swept kitchen floor twice
Cooked 3 meals (Breakfast, biscuits/jelly; Dinner, Chicken n' Noodles--leftovers/Crackers/Peaches; Supper, Tomato Gravy/Rice, Sausage, Biscuits, Corn, Sweet Potato Casserole)
Wiped off dining room table three times
Swept up under table twice (think Play doh and pieces of biscuit and corn everywhere)
Swept living room twice (think Pea hulls everywhere)
Oversaw kids putting away toys in living room twice
Oversaw the cleaning of kids' room and participated
Changed out at least 5 pairs of underwear on youngest son (I'm going 'cold turkey' with the potty training!! But, I was so happy that tonight he got out of the bathtub to tell me he had to go "tee tee'!)
Said "Good Job" at least 6 or more times
Oversaw at least 7 or 8 trips to the restroom
Broke up at least 4 sibling squabbles
Comforted at least 2 or 3 boo-boos
Heard at least a dozen whinings
Lost patience a couple of times
Got hugs and I'm sorries from kiddos
Fulfilled the scriptures regarding the discipling of your children at least 3 or 4 times
Read at least 5 books, one of them over and over ("My Potty Book" as requested by youngest son)
Shelled at least 6 bowls of peas
Put up at least 10 bags of peas
Picked up numerous peas off of floor
Rescued at least 100 peas from youngest son's grasp
Took at least 5 various objects out of youngest son's mouth (what is the deal???)
Read 4 chapters from the Bible (while shelling peas)
Got out of pajamas after 12 pm
Brushed teeth around 4pm (thankfully we didn't see anyone before then)
Answered about 5 phone calls]
Never put on shoes
Never brushed and styled hair
Took a 20 minute nap with youngest son
Bathed and dressed two kiddos, brushed teeth, said prayers, and turned out lights
Took 5 minute bath
Collapsed in chair at 12:30am
Peas still cooling.............

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-06-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

1999
Friday, my wonderful man and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary! We actually just went to Pizza Hut (with the kids) which was what I was craving (how selfish of me, huh?) and it didn't cross our minds until we got there that that very Pizza Hut was where we had our first date!
We are actually planning to go on a short trip tomorrow & Wednesday (just the two of us) to a nice hotel (wow, 2 in 2 weeks!) so we are looking forward to that. I know I will miss my kiddos, but it will be nice to have some adult conversation. :o)
Hope your summer isn't as hot as mine is!

Fun things to do this summer...

2009-06-25T07:41:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking of some fun things we can do this summer--just 30 minute or so of spontaneous fun. It always helps me to make a list, at least mentally, and I like to do this alphabetically (because I'm weird and because they need support groups for ppl like me). So I thought I'd share what I've come up with:

Art

Bubbles (or I'd rather say BEACH, but considering it's 100 miles away...)

Cupcakes

Watching a DVD together

Exercise together

Flea Market (browsing flea markets together..maybe with older children...)

Games

Hopscotch (drawing up a hopscotch on the sidewalk...)

Ice Cream (going for icecream or making your own)

Jungle Gym (making your own in the house with pillows and chairs and blankets)

Kite (flying a kite...don't know if there is enough wind, though, during the summer)

Laugh with each other (it's contagious with kids)

Music (turn on kid's music and dance together)

Nature Walk (my kids love this...just don't get burned out walking in the heat...)

Ocean (again, on my brain)

Play dough or Park (make some playdough...get a recipe on the internet that calls for Kool-Aid...)

Rest together (pile up somewhere and read books)

Swim

Trip (take a trip to an area closeby you have never been together)

Walmart (hey, sounds good?)

Yelling (have a yelling match a see who can get the loudest)

Zoo (if you have one close by....we don't)

"E" names for girls

2009-06-24T10:08:00.003-05:00

Even though an elderly man at our church is determined that this baby is a BOY (He always predicts for ppl), I'm going to go ahead with the ultrasound and have a girl name ready. It was hard enough to come up with youngest son, Evan's, name, that I won't even think of boy names until the day I find out this girl is really a, um, boy. We do not announce our name until the baby is born, so you probably won't know what the baby's name is until then, but I will let you know some of the names we have been throwing around to each other. Feel free to share any that you think of that I have not included or tell us your favorite of these:
Emelia (pron. same as Amelia)
Elaina or Elena (same pronunciation)
Ella
Eden
Emily
Emaline (family name)
Elianna

That's about all that I can think of other than our names we tell ppl, Earnestine or Esmarelda. :o) I already have *my* name from the list halfway chosen, but I'm not telling! :o)

Diagnosis, Iron Deficiency Anemia

2009-06-22T20:18:00.003-05:00

Over the past 3 weeks I've noticed strange symptoms regarding my body, but I didn't know they were probably all linked to the same problem. I normally have allergies and asthma both of which are more problematic during my pregnancies, but these were weird things other than those (which were aggravating enough, mind you). I've noticed that I would sit at the table after our supper meals and eat everybody's leftover ice from their cups. Then it seemed I was pulling a whole tray from the freezer and eating it when it got to just the right consistency. After that, I would get another tray, etc. Ice just tastes.so.good. Several had mentioned to me, low iron, anemia, etc., and while I'm not a nurse or medically trained person, I'm not a dummy to a few things in the medical world and knew that the craving ice thing probably meant low iron. However, I thought with my eating half-way healthy and taking Juice Plus daily that surely I was getting enough iron. I was so sure of my health that I had even stopped my Prenatal Vitamins.

Well on to more weird, albeit, interesting symptoms--I have always loved to smell soap. But, here lately, I really, really love the smell of soap--to the point of stopping by the bathroom to smell the wonderful aroma from a bar of Ivory soap. I have been loving bathtime where I could just really lather up really good and honestly, the soap smells good enough to taste. But I haven't. Yet. I also love to smell my deoderant which is Tom's of Maine Honeysuckle Rose. It is so yummy. Today, I decided to google my symptoms after I was craving chalk--not to eat, mind you (yet), but I just wanted to write with a piece of chalk--do an art project or something that used chalk.

Other side symptoms of mine include: muscle twitching at night (my legs will jump with no warning), very itchy skin (sometimes I can't sleep b/c of itchy skin), constipation (we all know that happens during pregnancy anyway) for a few days, then diarrhea, and fatigue. I really didn't think I have been tired until I look back over the last couple of weeks and I've had to really push myself to 'get up and go'.

Well, Google names it Iron Deficiency Anemia and don't worry about me, worry about the person who eats dirt, feces, or even chews toilet paper. Yes, there are several things that people ingest when they have this severely. But, I was happy to see soap, chalk, and other cravings for smell and texture, on the list.

Back to my prenatal vitamins. And probably I'll be adding an additional 20 mg of Iron to my ingestion.

As for now, Ice is still the best thing I've ever tasted.

How does your garden grow? CORN

2009-06-22T08:21:00.002-05:00

We did corn last week--the whole shabang--pulling, shucking, silking, and cutting. The result? I have 19 bags of frozen corn in my freezer to feed my family over the year. I will probably get a couple more buckets full over the next week or two and then it will be time to move on to some other produce. We have butterbeans, pole beans, banana peppers, tomatoes, and cantelopes planted. Not a HUGE garden, but, speaking of HUGE, I'm sure it's plenty for this mama who will be HUGE in the upcoming weeks! :o)

Our other harvest that has past is potatoes. We finally dug those up and I tried something new this year. I peeled them, cut them into quaters, brought them to a boil for about 5 or 10 minutes (not enough for them to get mashed potato-consistency) and then froze them on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes to an hour. Then, I placed them, individually, into freezer bags. I think I have 6 or 7 gallon freezer bags full of yummy potatoes for me to just get out as needed.

How does your garden grow?

World's Greatest Father...

2009-06-21T07:48:00.004-05:00

Showing off their toothpicks...:o)

Very often I'm reminded of how wonderful my husband is and I'm so thankful that I prayed that I would marry the 'right one' for me. I remember it vividly, getting down on my knees and telling God I was through with 'going with' boys--I didn't want anyone else until the right one came along. Well my husband called the next evening! :o) I was pretty apprehensive at first because I was like, 'so soon, Lord?' I really didn't think it was him because I had just prayed. We dated for 3.5 years (and never broke up during that time) and got married as soon as he graduated from college and had a job lined up. I've watched God 'grow him up' into the man he is today and he is the most wonderful Father to our 3 (almost 4) children. He and I share the same desires for our children and for our marriage. God has put us on the 'same page', so to speak, and for that I'm so thankful. It saves arguments, I'm sure. His and my parenting styles are in sync and the children are aware of this. They respect their dad and know that his word stands. He always takes time to single each one out for a few moments of fun. My youngest is constantly asking about Dad during the day. He already idolizes his dad. I have seen some Dads my husband's age that I personally wanted to jerk around a few times but my husband has been the example of a father that fits the mold that I think Christ desires for each family. Here are a few adjectives to describe my husband, my children's father:
Hardworking
Consistent Disciplinarian
Dedicated to our Family and most of all to God
Humorous (definitely a plus as a father)
Spontaneous
Loving
Teacher of God's word and Spiritual Leader
Very Patience (he NEVER gets upset at the amt of work 3 kids incur--sometimes he will get all 3 kids out of the van for me, including opening my door.....he always helps out with the kids without complaining)
Faithful to our family
Very Intelligent (he has been called a 'brain')
Considerate
Even-tempered (I have NEVER seen him get really upset--he is very calm and cool) :)
Musically Talented and Talented Story Teller (the kids beg him to tell them stories)
and last, but not least....Handsome! :o)

Happy Father's Day to my husband! I Love You!

Back Home...

2009-06-20T07:32:00.007-05:00

Wow, it has been a really long time since I've posted, but we've been so busy with Summer--full speed ahead that I haven't taken the time to blog. I will try to do better. On vacation, I had a chance to blog read a bit and was really inspired by the wonderful inspiring blogs out there. I came home motivated and encouraged to be a better wife and mother! Can't beat that, can you?
Well, we took a little trip about 3 hours from here. Actually, we accompanied my husband on his trip to a 3 day conference and stayed in the Hotel where the conference was being hosted. Now, don't laugh, but I have never stayed in a fancy Hotel before! Really. I was slightly nervous. I mean, who do you tip and who do you not tip? Etc. Well, things I've learned on this trip: 1. Tip everyone. 2. EVERYTHING costs at a hotel...even internet service...a movie is $13.95 to rent, as opposed to $3.95 off PPV--not that we rented anything, that's for sure! 3. The pool is awesome and very kid friendly. 4. Most ppl there look 'down-home' like we looked. There are more things, but my littlest one just awakened, so I'll go ahead and post some pictures from our trip. Nice to be home, but we did have a nice family time! Oh, 3 things about my kids on this trip: Babies CAN get there hands stuck in the elevator doors...oh my..it was tramatizing..thank goodness for my husband's calmness to just gently remove the hand before the doors pulled open any harder; Another thing is that 4 yr olds and 6 yr olds can still have accidents in their undies when they are playing hard at the park. AND it always happens when you have been there 5 or 10 minutes, AND there is no bathroom in site, AND you have valet parking when your van doesn't smell fresh upon arriving back ("Again, so soon?"); Also, my kids are loud, esp in a hotel lobby! :o)

Enjoying an ice cream cone after a really hot spell at the park.

The hotel--we were on the 10th floor.

At an outside BBQ restaurant
My handsome husband in a solemn expression
"I'm so tired"

He still has time from his busy schedule of watching PBS Kids to draw.

The waterfall outside the hotel. I was quite scared the kids would fall in before the picture was taken!
The nice room--sorry the picture quality isn't good.

Vegging out--watching cartoons after a hard day of swimming.

He loved the swimming pool!! He would say, "Look, Mom, I'm svimming!"

Wonderful article...

2009-05-17T15:42:00.003-05:00

If you have time, go over to this link and read this wonderful article. It is very inspiring and encouraging. If you do not get the Above Rubies magazine, it would be beneficial to you to subscribe. I'm so thankful for the godly encouragement that IS out there, via the internet or the press!

Hope you're having a pleasant Sunday. All's quiet here as little ones are napping. I cooked for my parents today, so our tummies are full and our bodies need to rest. I imagine I'll be closing my eyes for a spell here in a little bit.

We have a cold snap upon us too. How weird is that? Brr...

Fun Friday Finds

2009-05-16T15:03:00.003-05:00

I thought you might like to see my bargains from yesterday's shopping excursion. My mom volunteered to keep my kiddos until 6pm, so I went grocery shopping and bargain hunting. I knew how much I had to spend and didn't go over my budget. That is the good part. Check out these finds:

Top Left and Right: 1 dress and 1 pink skirt both Wal-Mart brand, $2 each
Middle: Two canvas prints for my recently redone laundry room, $1.50 each (from Target)
Bottom: Pack of Sweet tart chewies $3.50 (to be resold at Youth Camp)
Bottom back: Stegosaurus print for bathroom: $1.50 (from Target)
Bottom front: Baby announcements ($1.00..regular 9.99)
Bottom right: 2 pkg of Burt's Bees 3 combo chapstick and lip balm, $1.00 ea
Way Bottom right: 1 butterfly pin $.99

Fun Finds, eh??

A Feeling of Melancholy

2009-05-15T17:36:00.003-05:00

This pregnancy has proved by far the most emotional one for me. My hormones have caused my feelings to be really tender even if I've hidden it to the outside world and those I love dear. There have been many times I've blinked back tears when noone noticed and I really had little reason to be expressing such a downcast emotion. Things that are really sad are really, really sad to me these days. One such sad account is the recent death of a former coworker of mine. I worked alongside a young man for 3 or 4 years, which is time enough to tuck away many memories of that person and of experiences shared together. Working closely with someone for 3 or 4 years is long enough to recognize the days that it's okay to walk on eggshells with that person, when to be relaxed around that person, and when to joke around that person. My best memories of Scott is of our getting into a pretty deep discussion (usually on medicine or health related issues) and he, being in thought, would pause to take a drink of his coffee, all the while wrinkling up his face in deep concentration. I remember that before he would speak he would clear his throat and you would know that a deeply, thought-out answer was about to spill from his lips. Then there were those days were he would pick up the phone to answer and noone would be on the other line, so he would take advantage of a little time to act silly. He would say, "Hello? Hello? Hello?" And with every "Hello" his voice would get higher and higher. We needed a good laugh like this, especially at the first of the month. Several times he would bring over a prescription for a second opinion, just to see if I read it like he did. This meant a lot to me. Every morning he would come in late and we would all look at the clock, as would he, and he would appear all innocent as if he was 10 minutes early. He would come in the same every day, coffee in hand and sometimes a paper or a medical journal. Several times, during lunch, things would get really busy and he would have it by himself. I would 'fly in' and he would just casually step away from the computer in mid-type. He never, ever acted like he was snowed-in, even if there were 10 prescriptions in line. He would be as calm as ever--that was his nature.
That was 8 to 10 years ago and I've only seen him one or two times that I remember. Funny how we lose touch with people we had friendships with as a result of school or a job. Makes me want to see if I can find out the address of the old man I worked with on Saturdays at that same job..........
Anyway, my heart is saddened and shocked. Life is so fragile and long life is not granted to the young, vibrant, and healthy. My friend was 38.

Goings on....

2009-05-12T15:50:00.003-05:00

Time is mostly too short to get in a good, intelligent blog, so I will just do a quick update of what is going on around me. These will be in a random order as they come to me...
*Oldest son has knocked off two subjects in our countdown for summer vacation. This means less time homeschooling. We are down from about 2 hours to about 1 & 1/2 hours. I can say that truthfully I will be sad to see it come to an end. He will still be doing Math for a ways into the Summer and of course, we will be reading all summer long. I also am nervous about keeping my kids occupied for the summer. I know that is crazy, but I am nuts without some sort of 'game plan' or what they need to do to keep from getting 'idle' minds.
*We have started The Boxcar Children book this week and the kids LOVE it. They begged me to keep reading the first time, so we've read six chapters in 2 days! I highly recommend it!
*Swimming season has officially started as of Saturday. My kids are now transformers--they can change into fish at the first call for a 'swim day'. :) I still haven't gone--I don't want the baby to get hypothermia.
*Speaking of the baby, I still don't have a very active one, but the 2 oldest did get to feel her move yesterday. They were quite excited. I am constantly reminded of the tons of things I need to get done before she arrives in a few months.
*I am doing about 15 minutes of spring cleaning every day. I do this because spending hours per day spring cleaning just isn't doable for me. Today I cleaned behind and under the couch and right now the throw pillow covers and 2 of the actual pillows are in the wash. Too bad I can't throw my whole couch in the wash. Ugh. I desperately need a couch cover! After I get off of the computer I plan to roll up my rug and sweep under it. I also need to check under the couch cushions for missing toys, etc. I also probably will turn the couch pillows on the other side to disguise the stains in the side we currently sit on. My living room isn't too bad, but the other rooms are in desperate need of decluttering/deep cleaning. I have got to keep this up.
*We have planted a pretty big garden this year. Our potatoes are ready for digging and the pole beans and butterbeans have come up. Our tomato plants sort of drowned last week, so I don't know what we'll be doing there. We have cantelope plants that have come up and I also have some sunflowers that are coming up. I went out and hoed some today, but I could only make it for 1 row. Bending over made me feel like I was so full that I was going to throw up. Weird, I know. I hate a weedy garden, though.
*We have a blessed routine that we have been adhering to for about 2 months. It really works for us and I know my kids thrive on a schedule. After school is out, I will be changing it up, some, such as adding more chores for the kids. I'm sure they will love that. Right now my schedule is as follows:
5:00: Get up and have quiet time (sometimes it is wayyy too quiet time...as in I fall asleep..ha)
Sometimes I will go back to bed after my prayers, which I have been doing a lot here lately. Also I pretty much sleep in on Sat and Sun or at least get up later than 5.
After I get up: clean kitchen and cook breakfast (sometimes I do these in reverse, it's according to how hungry my kids are)
Start laundry, including putting away yesterday's laundry or ironing if needed (I only iron husband's in advance)
Make bed and pick up in room
Pick up in kids' room
Kids make bed and pick up (believe me there is plenty for them to pick up even after I finish)
Kids and I pick up in Living room
I pick up in Dining room
Start supper preps (thaw out meat or put something in Crock Pot)
Homeschool
After this we are really flexible, if it is a church night, the kids take naps, if not they will go outside and play for awhile. We are really flexible until supper and then after that it is pretty much the same until bathtime.
Of course, I have certain days where I do certain things regarding cleaning, etc.

Well, that's a wrap for now! What is going on with you? God is so good to us and 'daily loadeth us with benefits'.

Stinky Shoe...

2009-05-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

Not me!

Butting in from a busy laundry day to post a funny.....
Yesterday afternoon, we had 'breakfast' for supper and as I was preparing the biscuits, I, of course, preheated the oven. A few minutes into the preheating I noticed a peculiar smell coming from the oven. I knew I didn't have anything else on the burner (the eggs and grits were already done), so I just sort of ignored it--for a while. The smell got worse and I noticed it had a burnt rubber smell about it. After seeing smoke start to come from the bottom of the oven (the broiler part), I had a flashback of Evan putting a shoe in the oven that morning. YK, it's one of those things you sort of see, but don't, or quickly forget about it. My reflexes went into action and we retrieved the black, melted, smokey shoe from the oven. Yuck. Evan looked very guilty! :o)
The bad thing is it was a shoe from a pair we had borrowed from a friend. Oops.
Have a good day.

An announcement..

2009-04-30T06:19:00.003-05:00

I am excited to announce that our new growing little one appears to be....a GIRL! Yes, for frivolous reasons, I suppose, we had our ultrasound and the gender of the baby was revealed. The kids were very excited!! She appears to be healthy, complete with all her parts, so thank the Lord for that! Now, I'm wanting September to hurry up, but I have so much to do from now until then. Lots. to. do.
I'm planning on starting some Spring Cleaning today. I thought if I just spent 15 minutes a day on it, it would be better than nothing. So, today, as soon as I finish my internet time, I will start at my front door, cleaning it and then moving to the right of the room. I'm looking forward to it. My kitchen is in desperate need of a spring cleaning. Oh my, I glimpsed under the stove top the other day and was disgusted out of my wits! :o) I'm working on a special project in my laundry room that I hope to post some before and after pictures before long. :o)
Busy, busy, busy...that's us!!

Don't you love a bargain?

2009-04-17T07:09:00.003-05:00

I teach a few students piano and I really enjoy spending the extra money I get from that on things like clothing for the kids or home decor. Occasionally I will spend it on going out to eat with my kids or something that we don't allow much for in our budget. Anyway, I'm thankful for my side 'job' and for the extra income it provides (I enjoy it as well). We have a couple of stores *sort of* nearby that get burn-out type things or overstocks, etc. I love, love to shop there. One really needs a couple of hours or more to really have a good time. I think my idea of a good Mother's Day gift or Birthday would be to be given a few hours to go and dig around (that's what you have to do sometimes...:o) for some bargains (sans the kids..:o). Last night, I rushed in for a few minutes (30...wow, did time fly) while my sweetheart sat out with the kids (I had my daughter) and I snatched up some great clothing buys for her. I used to borrow my sister's girls' clothes, but now my little girl is the same size or past the youngest of hers, so I can no longer do that. She is in desperate need of some modest skirts, so that's what I was mainly looking for. I didn't really find skirts, well, one, but I'm not sure it will *really* be as long as I would like it to be. I did find some really cute tops and a jumper. Just the denim jumper alone (Guess? brand) had an original tag of $34.50. The tops, both Carters (the short-sleeved didn't have an original price on it) had an original tag of $15.00 each. I paid just a little bit over $20 for everything (and I had a few kids song CDs in the bag too). The tea pitcher is from Walmart and it was $3. It has SIX cups with it as well!! I also decided to try the Purex powdered laundy detergent because I can get a huge box for $2.58. I think it may even be cheaper than my homemade recipe (maybe not as healthy...hmmm)! So, here is a peek at my bargains. I love to see bargains, so if you ever come across some, post a pic and let me look! :o) Happy Friday!

Castle Tours....

2009-04-15T06:08:00.026-05:00

If you have a nosy, er..curious, tendency like I do, then you will enjoy viewing the homes that are posted by other homemakers on Candy's website, www.keepingthehome.com. It was great fun to tour these homes and see how others decorate or organize their castles. I've decided to join in and participate, posting pictures of my castle. I love my home with its many imperfections. We have our work cut out for us for awhile, but it will be great fun fixing it up to be the castle we desire. As for now, the Lord has blessed us both with contentment and we truly love it here. We inherited our house and some land and are so thankful for that. We have partly remodeled our home and I do so wish I had some 'before' and 'after' pictures to post (of the inside...the outside looks mostly the same).
Okay, before we go inside, I will take you on a tour of the land around which our house sits. We absolutely love the vegetation and the fields of green we have around here. The kids get to romp and play and it is great.

This is what you see as you are leaving my house, so just imagine coming up the drive instead of leaving. :o)

When you park and get out of your vehicle, if you look to the right, you will see this flower bed that's in need of some color. :o)

This is the view across the road from our house.This is the front of our home. We need some landscaping done (the cedar tree you can't see prevents much from growing on the right side of the front), but we will do it as we go along.

We love our front screened-in porch. We hope to paint the floor and repaint the furniture, but anyway, my son says, "Come on in!"What you see when you walk in the front door.

Looking to the left, you will see our main living area. Our two recliners were given to us and the red table I painted in our computer table. It was my husband's grandmother's table she 'started out' using.
To the right of the door, you will see our seating area by the fireplace. We do not have central heat/air, so this is our main source of heat during the winter. This house can get pretty drafty at times, but it is manageable. We enjoy the fireplace.
This is our dining area, straight ahead to the right. I hope to get a bigger table one day, maybe with a bench on one side, but it works and it was given to us when we first got married. The children have their own state/capitals placemats, so that is why there is only 3 of them. :) The highchair was one we used to sit in when we were babies and I confiscated it from my mom's house before she could send it to the Goodwill (it was at my grandmother's house).

We both play the piano, but rarely this one (too busy..ha). This is the area before you go into the kitchen. I see it looks pretty cluttered from here. I didn't do any special cleaning or decluttering before this photo session. :o) Now let's go through the door on the left and see what we find...

This is the room where Son, age 6 and Daughter, age 4 sleep. I loved their rooms. We work together to clean it up, but rarely are the floors this neat. :o) They love to play in here. If this new baby is a girl, I will most likely make this into the girls' room and repaint it...hot pink? I love bright colors. This current wall color is soo serene and refreshing. We worked hard on this room...on the ceiling are white boards just like around the sides. It makes for a cozy cottage feel. Come back out into the hall and let's go down to the master bedroom...

Our bedroom, which I really love. We recently 'inherited' this King Size bed from my husband's grandparents and we love it. We had dreamed about having a king sized bed and the Lord helped fulfill our desires. I just picked out this colorful, pink, floral (very feminine) comforter and I love it. I realize my wall color doesn't match, but I already have the paint for the walls--it will be a summer project. My son, age 1.5 sleeps on the toddler bed in the corner (most of the time, he sleeps with us).
Purposefully took a picture of the ceiling in our bedroom. I love it. My husband (and FIL) worked hard in this room...really hard. We have a beautiful ceiling in here and in the dining room. I would love to have it in our entire house...:o)

As you walk out of the bedroom, immediately to the left there is a master bathroom. It is currently in the throes of the remodeling process, so I didn't take a picture of it. There is also a linen closet directly in front of our bedroom door. Come back down the hall (this hall was very dank and dark before we moved in), let's go back into the dining room and into the kitchen....

The room I use the most. It has not been extensively remodeled by no means (notice the missing knobs on the cabinets)..just a paint job and a cheap, temporary rug put down, but I do love my kitchen. I could use more counter space, with my water distiller and my bread machine taking up lots of room. My stove is wonderful, too. It heats things so fast, you have to stand right there and not leave anything!
The view from my kitchen window....pear trees, fig trees, more vegetation and woods...
Come into the foyer...this part of the house was added on later (way before we got it of course) but has not been remodeled at all....

The foyer..the door really needs painting, doesn't it? The door on the left is another bedroom, but it is currently storage right now. I hope to convert it to a workable bedroom this summer. The curtain you see is hiding a book shelf and also my towels and extra toiletries are on the bottom shelf. The bathroom is on the right...come on in....My old-fashioned bathroom we currently use. It is a long walk to the bathroom from my bedroom (and those night trips are getting more frequent), but I do love this bathroom. My inlaws repainted it for me during my last pregnancy and I love the green. They also put in a new linoleum floor. I do look forward to a shower.... :o) Now, come through that door that needs painting....

I should've turned on the light for this picture. This is my large laundry area, or back porch. It is in a bad need of cleaning up and fixing up. I do have my deep freeze in this area and an extra refrigerator. This room is one of those rooms that everytime I walk in (which is wayy frequent because of the amt of laundry I do), I say, "I've got to get in here and do something besides stand over the washer"! Now to the right of this room, there is another very small bedroom that we use as a media room, I guess you could say. It has an old moniter in it where a VCR and a Nintendo can be hooked up. We rarely go into it, tho, maybe once a week, the kids will watch Barney. We have no TV in the house and hope to keep it that way! Now, you see that screen door on the far right? Let's go out it and I will show you where the kids play....
The kids' play area. Way back there is our garden that my FIL shares with us. We currently have corn coming up and potatoes. Garlic (beside the tree there) is everywhere in this yard! :)
Immediately to the right side of this view is....

The scuppernong (?) arbor and more play areas....Now to one of my favorite places....

My clothesline...yesterday was the childrens' laundry day, so it was full all day long!

Well, I had one more picture to share of the old barn on the left side of the house, but my little one is awake. I'm afraid he will mash something on the computer to erase my hard work! :) I hope you enjoyed my lowly castle. It's home to us!

Going for 5 at 5....

2009-04-14T06:57:00.003-05:00

Getting up early and getting my day started with prayer and Bible reading is soo important to me as you probably know. However, it is SO easy to fall off of the wagon, so to speak, and I have done that more times than I care to confess. Every day, though, (some days more than others) I'm reminded how much I need the Lord, need His wisdom to raise these children in the right way, need His guidance on what to say to them and how to discipline, train, and disciple them. Sometimes, I just lean on the kitchen counter and tell the Lord just how much I need Him to help me. I can't do it alone. I know the Lord has convicted me to get up early and I know it works. I know it is what I must do.
I love a challenge and I love numbers. Everything I do, I do in numbers, it seems. I'm sure they have support groups for me. :o) So, my challenge to myself has been to go for 5 days in a row, getting up at 5am. Last night was a pretty restless one. I started out going to bed before 10 and someone had a wreck out on the highway in front of our house (we live on a dirt road, but you can see the highway) which caused the power to go off (guess they hit a pole or something?) so I finally drifted off to sleep (after constantly looking out the window checking on things, etc.). Got up at 3 something for the bathroom, got up before that because little son had soaked through his clothes, then it seemed I didn't get back to sleep before the alarm went off. But, here I am.
So, do you feel up to a challenge? Maybe you want to go for 6 at 6am? :o)
Well, I'm off to catch a few more minutes of computer time before I get busy with the children's laundry...the biggest laundry day of the week!
PS I haven't abandoned my homeschooling part 2 post...hope to finish this week....

Homeschooling Part 1

2009-04-07T06:59:00.004-05:00

It seems as if Tuesday has become my blog day and although I'd prefer it to be more frequent, I'm doing what I can, I guess. It's been a little while since I've written a blog on homeschooling and since I'm as passionate about it as ever, I thought it was time.
Homeschooling has become a conviction for me. This means if I didn't do it, I would be disobeying God and missing out on that part of His will for me and my children. I feel all the benefits that one feels when they are being obedient to God in their convictions--benefits that cause one to wish everyone had the same conviction as you do, yk? I believe a lot of the time, God may have in mind the same convictions for most of His people, He's just waiting for a willing and obedient heart to listen and hear what He wants them to do. Some people may say, "Well I'm going to send my children to school and that's that", and never stop to listen for what God wants to happen in the education of that child. Others may think, "Well, I never could be adequate enough to teach my child", and never stop to think that GOD could empower them with wisdom and confidence to do this great job. Another feeling may be, "Well, I'm sending my children to school because I KNOW God would have them be a witness to other children," without stopping to think that God may indeed have other plans, or may see a child becoming ensnared by the world instead of the child being a witness. The last thing people may say is, "Well, if my child was going to so and so school, then I would, but our school is a really good one", without stopping to ask God--"what is really going on there?" The key here is to be prayerful about the education of your child just like you are prayerful about anything (if not moreso) and then LISTEN to what God has to say...be WILLING to be obedient if He has other options.
I did not decide to homeschool because I am a teacher by occupation. I felt God urging me (not nudging, but urging) to do so even before I took my first class as a 'certified' teacher. I do think that my being a teacher really helped me be obedient to God a little more than I might have been had I not been 'out there' as a teacher. If we are saved and are following Christ, then I believe His hand rests upon us. If we allow Him, he will turn His hand and lead us where He wants us to go (if we LET him). I have felt His hand direct us to homeschooling and make it clear to us why we are doing so.
The ultimate reason that was impressed strongly upon me was this statement. Why would I let my little lamb get out of my car every day and send him into a den of wolves? Sure, there are other little lambs there, but there are some wolves there too. A wolf waiting to tell your lamb that mom's and dad's ideas don't matter. A wolf waiting to tell your lamb about sex, but not in the way you would explain it to him. A wolf waiting to make fun of your child and to lower his self confidence (which many kids have ZERO by the time they graduate). A wolf wanting to grab your child in an unappropriate way (your child may never tell you....I didn't...and I went to one of those 'good' schools), a wolf wanting to slip your child a prescription pain pill that he got from his mom's purse or out of the medicine cabinet. These are just a few things that happen daily in schools. Why would I take a chance?!?!? This is MY lamb that God gave me. I am the shepherd over my lamb with God being my ultimate shepherd. I will not let a pack of wolves bite and tear on my child all in the name of a decent education. An education where He may be distracted constantly or may be pushed 'under the rug' because He can't achieve as fast as others and 'hey we are on a time schedule'.
Part 2 later.......

More Homemades.....

2009-03-31T07:59:00.003-05:00

Okay....I may add to this post as I think of things to add or as I have time (my babies are due up anytime)...
Another Homemade that I do is I don't buy cough syrup. THE BEST cough syrup ever is.....Honey. You will be amazed at just how quick 1 TABLESPOON of honey will cure a cough. Of course, do not give it to an infant under age 1. I use the kind of honey that hasn't had a lot of processing--the kind from a honey farmer is the best (straight from the bee farm). You can check your health foods store or see if you have a honey farm in your area. My dad is my honey farmer, but he doesn't always have honey. :)
Learn to make your own mixes. I never buy boxed Pancake mix. It is a waste of money. You can't go wrong with this recipe.
HOMEMADE PANCAKE MIX
1 cup of AP flour
2 tps of baking power
1 tp of salt (I usually don't measure, but you don't want to add too much salt, pancakes are not to be salty)
MIx and add...
1 cup of Milk
1 egg
I find the consistency is better if I use a mixer for just a few seconds, but most of the time, I don't make the effort and I just whisk really fast with my whisk.If it is too thick, add a little more milk (you can use buttermilk too for yummier pancakes). DO NOT overmix--your pancakes will be tough. Also, if your batter is too thick, your pancakes will be tough.
DON'T buy Pancake Syrup from the store. It is artificially flavored and is just HIGH FRUCTOSE syrup. The best is Pure Maple Syrup, but it is expensive. A good natural alternative is Pure Cane syrup. It is cheaper and is really good.
Okay....next is MAKE YOUR OWN BREAD.
This is the cheapest thing you can do for your grocery budget. Now I have a bread machine (bought by my MIL for $10, I think...check your thrift store or yard sales) that does ALL the work for me and makes really good bread. But the BEST bread is made by hand and it can be really therapeutic to make bread! It takes time, so you will have to do it when the kids are involved in an intensive activity or napping, because you will be in the kitchen for awhile. Making bread can be the most rewarding homemaking thing you can do for your family. Here is my favorite recipe. Although it uses a lot of "White" things (verses wheat, etc), it is still WAY healthier than store bought brands.
For ONE loaf:
3 cups Bread Flour
1 pkg yeast (I use about 3/4 tp..not the whole pkg)
1 & 1/2 tps salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup WARM water
1/2 of 1/4th cup of oil (understand this? )
I think that's it....like I said it's coming from my memory.
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water and let it 'proof'--this means let it get foamy...takes about 10 minutes. Do this is a large bowl, because you will add the other stuff to this bowl. After it proofs, add the oil and the salt and stir lightly. Last you add the flour one cup at a time, stirring after each cup. You want the texture at the end of 3 cups to be really soft, not too sticky, more flour-y than sticky. You may have to add just a little more flour. If so, just throw a little in from your flour bag, until you get the right texture. Knead this mixture for a few minutes--5 or so minutes. To Knead, grab the mixture with your hands and turn it over in the bowl, pressing it down a few times before the next turn. You will get the 'feel' and hang of it. Meanwhile, turn your oven on the lowest setting to get warm. When you are through kneading and the dough has sort of formed a large ball, cover the bowl with a loose towel (can make it damp, in case the dough rises high, it won't stick to the towel) and put into the warm over to rise for about an hour. Don't forget to turn off the oven, you don't want the bread to cook. After an hour, take out the bowl (dough should have risen a pretty good bit), punch down the dough and knead it a few more times. Then in a greased loaf pan (don't forget to grease the sides), put the dough in and sort of shape it to fit the loaf pan. I smooth down the sides and let the middle be higher because I like the look of professional bread, lol. Okay, stick back into the oven , put the cloth back on, and let rise for about 45 more minutes or an hour (until the dough has doubled or risen 1 inch or so over the top of the loaf pan). Last, take out the pan, preheat your oven to 350 and then you're ready to bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy the aroma and watch your bread the last few minutes. Some stoves are different so check it. You don't want it to burn and you don't want it to undercook. Browning on top doesn't always mean it is done in the middle. You will 'get it right' with time. Don't give up if it doesn't turn out as well the first few times.
Let me know if you try this recipe! I hope I didn't leave out anything crucial. Like I said, it's coming from a pretty foggy, prego brain! :o)
Well, I'm off to start a load of the childrens' laundry and to get started on my chores. The children are still sleeping, so I'm going to see what I can get done! :o) I'll try to add more to this blog later on. Hope this helps!

Homemade Things...

2009-03-31T07:30:00.004-05:00

Before I get on to my topic, I thought I'd do a quick update. I would love to be blogging everyday, but it seems I can't get into the swing of things, so every post I do, I have to update, it seems. We had the sickies move in last week starting with youngest son. I did take him to the doctor, which I usually don't do, but I followed my instincts and did. He had an ear infection, swollen glands, and just a yucky upper respiratory infection. He is cutting 3 teeth that have been boogers, let me tell you. He has never displayed such an ill temperament since he has been born as he has this past week/weekend. It was trying, but thank goodness, God gives us strength, He causes time to heal, and things do get better. He was a little better it seemed yesterday, so I hope we are on the mend. Middle child, dear daughter, has a bad cold and she has been feeling really poorly. The good part is that I don't think her ears are hurting and she is not teething, so she is taking things better. She seemed to be some better yesterday as well. Oh, I pray, I pray, we are getting better! Every time my kids get sick, however, it causes me to evaluate how I"ve been feeding them and if I've been taking precautions (for ex. seeing that their hands get washed as frequently as they should) that are necessary to prevent germs (as much as possible). I'm by no means a germ freak. In fact, it would do me good to be a little more germ conscious. I can always improve on the healthy eating aspect. One thing I'm planning on doing is planning out my meals for lunch and breakfast instead of just supper planning. It's easy to take the 'quick' or the 'junk' route for lunch instead of fixing a healthy meal. At least taking the time to cut up some fruit for them to eat with breakfast and lunch. Or taking the time to think about what raw vegetables they WILL eat and setting those before them for snacks. Oh, yes, I can improve! Also, seeing that they take their vitamins and immune boosters (like Elderberry tablets, etc) regularly. Youngest son never slacks in this dept because he wakes up asking for his 'ray-ray' or vitamins (I don't have a clue how he got that out of the word, vitamin).
We took a little weekend trip down to Pensacola, Florida, to a church fellowship meeting and enjoyed in immensely. I know some people would probably think us crazy for 'taking vacations' to church fellowship meetings or campmeetings, but we love it. We love church and seeing people that we haven't seen in years (like I did this weekend, meeting a girl I met about 14 or 15 years ago at a church in north Arkansas, who had 3 children, the oldest in whom she had NAMED HER AFTER ME! Isn't that amazing?! We were visiting while our children played at the swings and she and I got to talking and found out that we knew each other! It was amazing! She said that she remembered my name when she had her daughter--who was 13-- and liked it because she didn't know any more "Monica's"--and decided to name her that. We enjoyed talking and I give her my address and Email.) Anyway, one of the cool things about vacationing to fellowship meetings. Another cool thing is hearing testimonies of people saved from sin and delivered from meth and crack, etc.--people who came with a Homeless Ministry from Oklahoma. Wow, it is amazing what God is doing. We enjoyed ourselves in spite of our children being so poorly in health during that time. God's people are the most wonderful people, don't you agree? And the amazing thing is that He desires for EVERYONE to be His people.
Well...I promised a friend that I would do a blog on some homemade things or tips that I implement in my own home. Money savers, if you will. Maybe you can find one of these Homemades to use in your home.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP
I began making my own soap about 2 years ago, probably. My very favorite laundry detergent is Mrs. Meyers and would you believe that a month or so ago, I found several containers of Mrs. Meyers Laundry Detergent at a burnout type store in which I love to shop? I stocked up (my mom and I, who is more health conscious than I) and was in laundry heaven for a while. Anyway...my supply is gone and I'm back to my homemade version. Here it is...It is very cheap and the recipe I'm giving here lasts about a week for a family of 5 (if you wash everyday like me).]
Grate 2 bars of Ivory soap (with a cheese grater...do not use the tiny holes, it will take forever)
1 cup of Baking soda
2 cups of Borax (can buy in the laundry section)

Shake up and store in a plastic container (mine is a Rubber maid one that I got in the storage section at walmart--I think it's a 8 cup container or something of the sort). Use 1/2 cup in your laundry. Now the only thing is that this has no smell. That may bother some people, but it doesn't me because I have severe allergies and I don't need an unnatural smell (Mrs. Meyers uses essential oils for the smell). I also hang out my clothes and get that 'fresh' smell the air gives. You can purchase Lavendar Essential oils or a few more 'flavors' at a health food store and add a drop or two to your laundry water to get that fresh smell. I did that once, but all I had was peppermint oils and it wasn't too pleasant to have my laundry smelling like peppermint! LOL
So...those are two ways to save on your laundry budget. Make your own detergent and hang out your clothes.
Now I am going to do a separate post for the other homemades....

Ah..normalcy

2009-03-23T09:54:00.003-05:00

Well, here to stay is the new belly bump, but gone, it seems, is the tiredness and drained feeling. Yes, I'm glad for some normalcy around here. We have settle back into a routine after a routine of doing what ever I *felt* like at the time, which wasn't much, I tell you. Is it a coincidence that I'm feeling better just in time for the flowers to be in full bloom and the freshly mowed grass to tickle my nose? Spring does wonders in dragging a body out of the pregnancy pit of despair. Yes, it does.
With my new burst of energy I have been working on maintaining the house in a state of something other than irrepair and disaster zone. I have also been feeling like being a schoolteacher again and we have been doing school work (complete with written lesson plans) full force. It is really going great and for the fifteenth time, I have no regrets about homeschooling. None whatsoever. I think it is making my son a little more clingy to me, but I will take that anyday over "Eww, those are my parents?" attitude that would hit around 6th or 7th grade in public school (when he would all of the sudden value his peers' opinion of things over his parents').
This week will consist of wiping a fresh truckload of ew..snotty noses (Evan, teething and just croupy), doing Laundry and getting to hang my clothes out (ahhh), schooling (including my now FOUR year old daughter), going on a field trip (Thursday with the local homeschooling group), and just. doing. normal. things.
Normalcy. Mundane. Routine. Aren't those nice words?

Well I thought I'd better...

2009-03-17T07:31:00.004-05:00

try to get back in the groove of posting. I don't know what has gotten in me. I guess it's the spirit of "Laziness" when it comes to the computer. I guess it's a blessing in disguise, because I'm sure I don't have the time to devote to the computer that I'd really like to be able to do. I did so enjoy blogging, though, when I was getting to do it regularly. This post will just be an update of sorts...

This morning I woke up with a refreshed, renewed sense of mind. Does that every happen to you? I have been in a funk for awhile it seems with different areas of my life, even spiritually, but just mentally and in other ways I can't describe. I'm still trying to get up early and seek the Lord, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, but it seems even when I succeed, I'm not getting 'to Him' like I had been. I know it is just a drought and maybe even a testing time, so I'm not discouraged. I start the book of Acts tomorrow and I know that it will be just what I need! We are doing good in our church and are enjoying the move of God, so that is most encouraging. There are some major changes that are occuring among us that could appear discouraging, but the Lord is really moving among us which lets me know that we are increasingly in His thoughts!

My baby girl ( I will try to get a picture posted, but who knows, I hear child #3 stirring in the next room) turns FOUR today!!! Oh my, I can't believe it. She is so excited about her birthday. I'm going to attempt a horse cake so I'm sure that the experience may prove humbling.

Speaking of baby, I'm so excited to know that there IS life within me. Having not been to the doctor yet (I'm trying to totally avoid the whole dr thing, can you tell?) OR having not taken a pregnancy test, even though my waistline is increasing, there is still something unbelievable about my being pregnant, yk? Well, yesterday (at 14 wks) I felt my first gentle nudge from this baby. It was way noticeable and I was really hungry, having skipped breakfast, so I think she or he was nudging me to get some nourishment going on! I usually feel the baby between 15 and 16 weeks, but since I really know what to 'feel' for, I'm not surprised at feeling the baby already. Anyway, I can rest assured that I'm not just getting fat! :)

Well, that's all for now. I will hurry and try to get a picture on here before I am surrounded by sleepy-eyed youngsters.

Drop me a comment if you're still reading! :)

Where I've been or rather, WHY I've been gone...

2009-02-23T10:05:00.003-06:00

After my last post, I sort of decided to take a little break from blogging for awhile. I had several reasons, but none of them would probably make sense to you, if that makes sense. :o) In other words, it was totally a personal thing.
After I got back into the attitude of blogging, I discovered that all of the sudden I could not find time to blog. I was really tired and went to bed early every night. I was not as faithful to my early morning times with God, even though I almost always got up before the kids, in time to get my Bible reading and prayer in. It was rushed though, and I'm so glad that I'm settling back into the 5am routine. My body is getting more rested and it seems I do not have as much of a need for sleep. Finally. I've known the reason for a while. I've been wanting to share it with you too.
I'm expecting! A new blessing for us is coming around September 14th. I'm 11 weeks along, so I'm starting to get a tad more strength for my duties and other things that are exhausting, like blogging. :) We are excited and are looking forward to this new baby. We have received mostly positive responses, a couple negatives, but I've heard about a few negatives that were not mentioned directly to us. :) Just makes me sad all over again to think that a GIFT from God (Ps. 127:3) derives such negativity from people with misplaced priorities. I'm sure that's another post for another time.
The kids are doing well. The oldest is doing well with his schoolwork and I still love homeschooling. Youngest is talking up a storm and all he wants to do when he gets up in the morning is to put on shoes and go outside! We all have spring fever, I think more than we have ever had! The kids have come down with the sickies and we hope we still get to go on a trip that we have had planned for some time now. We are using a variety of natural remedies and a little Benadryl on the side for hopefully a speedy recovery.
I'm sure I've failed to mention a few things that we've been up to, but at least you have an update!
God is still good. I hope you and yours are doing well.

Update coming soon...

2009-02-19T08:22:00.004-06:00

I have not died and I will be updating very soon!!

:o)

Don't give up on me!

Getting Up Early Part 2

2009-01-09T06:28:00.009-06:00

I'm going to attempt to start another post on this topic. Yesterday I got to the Title and that was it. Mothering duties called me to other things. :o)

This morning I would like to post about how I came to getting up early and give you some tips on making this transition easier. I now love getting up early and look forward to my morning time even the day before!

First of all, the Lord led me to a couple of blogs in whom the authors have become mentors to me (without their knowledge! ha). These women got up early and sought the Lord. One of these women, Jewel at Eyes of Wonder, has a really large family and you can tell that she loves her time in the morning as well. My first thought was, how can she speak so fondly about getting up early? She has never spoken about being frazzled, harried, or having an awful day. She always sounds so calm and peaceful. She can't help but to talk about God's goodness in her blogs. From her website, I found Laine's Letters (http://www.lainesletters.com/) which is letters to readers from a wonderful, inspiring lady who felt the nudge several years ago to get up at 4am. She speaks, almost in every letter, about the numerous benefits of her following after the Spirit's leading. I feel like the Lord led me to these sites because, quite frankly, I was so complacent I don't know if I would have heard the Lord if he had tried to speak to me about getting up early. I just loved to sleep. I still love to sleep, but I look forward to going to bed early to sleep instead of staying in bed late to sleep. I love forward to getting in to my soft, comfy pajamas and laying in warm sheets (warmed in advance by my heating pad..:o), reading a bit, and then going to bed. I even enjoy setting my alarm because I know it means time to get up and be with the Lord. Think I'm weird? :o)

Anyway, I felt like the Lord saying 5am. A few mornings I ignored or wasn't as faithful. When I was feeling frustrated by my day, it's like the Lord would whisper, 5am. I would repent and try again. The Lord always has the answers.

The benefits for getting up early and having time with the Lord exceed the time or the space I have to type on this blog. Just try it and you'll see the benefits for yourself. A few benefits that pop into mind are: strength (both physical and spiritual), wisdom, peace, self-discipline and control, patience, and many more.

Now, the downside is that the devil will HATE what you are doing. He will prey upon your weaknesses for awhile. When he sees he can't move you, he will move on. Yesterday, I had a bout of anxiety come upon me. You may know the feeling--worry in the pit of your stomach. I had a few things that I had to do that was at the back of my mind (or at the front of my mind)--A few things I dreaded without really a cause to dread. I was out hanging out clothes and I thought, "Why am I feeling so anxious?" And the scripture came to me, Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. I immediately gave my worries over to God and this morning in prayer I was reminded of how anxious I had been feeling and I thought, you know I wasn't anxious anymore the rest of the day! I'm not a person who worries, normally, but since I've been getting up early, I feel like I worry more about the unknown or what will happen, etc. I feel this is an attack on me. But, you know, it's nothing God can't handle. He knows what's going on.

Here are a few tips to help you want to get up early (or to motivate you):

Find a cozy spot for you to have your devotional time. A cozy recliner, a nearby lamp (who wants all the lights on in the pre-dawn?), a fleece blanket, whatever you need to get comfortable with the Lord.

Here is my spot:

Fix your favorite drink. I like a cup of coffee or herbal tea in the mornings. If I'm really sleepy, I will go for the coffee. Hot chocolate is another good choice.

Of course, those things are not necessary for your time with the Lord, so onto spiritual tips:

Read your Bible. I wouldn't use a devotional book or anything as a substitute. You can use one as a compliment, but use your Bible foremost. I read 4 chapters a morning, but you may want more or less. Pray about it. Pray about where to start. I'm in Genesis since I'm starting at the beginning and reading through the Bible. It is a wonderful book filled with exceptional stories of God's goodness and men of faith. God will give you a love for His word.

Pray. Sometimes I kneel at my 'altar' (see pic below) or sometimes I pray in my chair. Be careful not to get into a 'routine' prayer where you feel like you have to pray from a 'mental' list. This may be harmful to your prayer life. If you get to where you feel obligated to pray from a mental list or you will feel bad or like you haven't done your duty, then your communion with God may not be what He intends for it to be. Instead of praying from a list, pray what's on your heart. Pray for wisdom and patience. Of course, give Honor and praise to God first. Pray for a burden and for God to lay someone on your heart instead of praying from a list. I hope I'm clear on this and it doesn't sound like I know just how you ought to pray. That's not it. The Bible says, Teach us to pray. He will teach you to pray. Anyway here is a picture of my altar. It is just right.

Now you may have time to get a few chores done before the children wake up, which is an added bonus. I find that I might have time to wash dishes or to sweep, but most of the time, my littlest one will wake up a little after 7 or a little before. If I feel like I'm getting way slack on my housework, I will try to get up even earlier. I almost always have time to get on a load of clothes (which is what is easy to get piled up...laundry for 5 people...ha).Another bonus to getting up early is to see wondrous sites painted by God like this:

Lastly, you may fail. In fact, you probably will fail. But, God will give you grace to try again. There will be times when you sit down to read or to pray and the baby chooses right that moment to let out a wail. One that the husband may not be able to take care of. :o) You will be surprised at how the Lord will strengthen you that day for your efforts. Don't be frustrated at the baby. God will help you. He may even allow another opportunity.

Another bonus that I've noticed is that I'm not even really sleepy during the day. Sometimes, I will sneak a little 5 minute nap in while rocking the baby or something and it will help so much (used to that would just make me ill). You will be sleepy when it is time to go to bed, though. But, that's good, right? ;o)

God Bless You. It has taken me awhile to write this post, and I've felt inadequately more than a few times. In fact, I think the enemy has tried to make me feel like I'm not adequate enough to even blog about this. You know why--he doesn't want YOU to get this message. I'm NOT adequate, but I am a vessel of God and I pray that He will bless you and make you a Proverbs 31 woman and some day you can be a mentor to a young woman just starting out. YOUR blog can be read like dear Jewel's or Laine's and you can be a God-ordained help to many.

My children need me. Have a blessed day. PS. Quoted by my daughter--in play--right before I was about to send this post: I'm going to get my Father...He can do BIG things. Wow, that spoke to my heart.

Getting up Early...

2009-01-07T08:24:00.005-06:00

If you would like to start getting up early, or you really don't want to get up early, but you feel the conviction to get up early, I want to give you a few tips on making it easier.
First of all, getting up early is biblical. And it's very beneficial beyond words.
The Bible says, She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. It also says, O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; And lastly, With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
If you have young children or several children or if you just feel frazzled or frustrated at the lack of time to get things done, then you need to consider getting up early. If you find that you have no time for spiritual things or you just feel like you are fine in your spiritual condition (which probably means you are lukewarm), then you need to consider getting up early to get closer to God.
A personal testimony: For years I have felt fine in my spiritual condition. I was pretty comfortable where I was. I had good works, knew I was saved and felt like I rarely sinned. I didn't read my Bible on a steady basis and my prayer life was way sporatic. In other words, the devil was so happy where I was. I loved to sleep and would just wake when the kids would wake up. Rarely would I wake up before them. I felt like I was due sleep.
The scenario would usually go something like this: We would roll out of bed about 8:15, of course, husband has already gone to work without breakfast, without my ironing his clothes (which he never complains and does a great job, but...), and without some rare one-on-one time with each other. The kids would automatically be hungry and I felt like I had to get a few chores done first. Namely, things like bed made, dressed, living room straightened, things like that. Well, no spiritual food first thing and the kids would get ill waiting on breakfast.
Now, I get up anywhere from 5-5:30 (sometimes 6 or so, but always before the kids), have 4 chapters read and studied in my Bible, have a time of communion with my Saviour, and have some chores done before the kids wake up (usually a load of clothes washed, the living room swept, dishes washed if left from the night before, breakfast considered). I usually cook a little breakfast for my husband and have done better with ironing for him. We get to talk a little, hug some, and just be together for a bit.
The extra bonus is that I feel so much closer to God and can feel Him poring wisdom on me (because I have asked for it faithfully, every morning). I LOVE His word and I feel so terrible about the scriptures that I haven't read or studied the past 30 years.
Anyway, tomorrow I will get to those tips on making the transition to getting up early. As for now, I've got a little one playing with the printer to attend to. :o)
PS. Things are not perfect, for example, this morning I was just about to pray and the baby wakes up crying. So, I went and laid back down with him (he doesn't cry if he's done with sleeping for the morning) and I had to pray little snatches here and there while my body tried to drift back off. I finally got to get back up to see my husband off. Things aren't perfect, but I'm so happy.

Blessed Schedule

2009-01-06T06:25:00.005-06:00

First of all I want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to a dear friend, "kugoi", on the birth of her first at-home-born SON! You can read her blog by following a link in my sidebar. I hope she will post some details of her birth very soon as I am way interested in homebirths! :o)

Yesterday we started back on our 'school' schedule and I kicked myself in the 'pants' to get back up early. It is so nice being back on a schedule. The kids enjoyed the 2 weeks of holiday break, but sometimes unstructured time leads to more idle time. Idle time is not good for children (or adults). Let me say again that I love, love getting up early and having my time with the Lord. I believe this is God's will for me and anyone else who wants to get closer to the Lord. I have fallen in love with His Word and He meets me in prayer so sweetly. I can feel the results of my putting Him first throughout my day. I pray I never go back on this. I certainly don't desire to.

Yesterday I decided to try something different with our homeschooling. My dear friend (a new friend) does homeschooling with her kids in one of the rooms in our church. So I thought I'd try it. I am bad about leaving oldest to himself in his schoolwork and just checking on him when he needs me. I am distracted by getting other things done. So, I used our fellowship hall, which has a gym attached and it worked out great. No distractions. I got to work with both children. The baby played in the gym and the kids got to play after school. It was cool. My friend and her children got to have 'recess' with us. Anyway, I think maybe it is something that we might enjoy doing.

Anyway, that's a good bit of rambling, but I did want to have a post up. :) I'll leave you with a sweet picture of my youngest.

Goals for 2008

2009-01-03T16:15:00.003-06:00

I trust everyone had a pleasant transition into the new year. Make any resolutions? I don't, but I did make a few goals. Resolutions and goals are different. A resolution is something you resolve to do. A goal is something you achieve or aspire to do. Here are a few goals I'll share with you:

1. Continue having my morning devotional time w/God--continue getting up at 5am. (The past 2 mornings I have done awful with this--sleeping until almost 8am! I know that I will get 'back on board', that I'm just going through a tired phase, but I'm so ready to get back to my early mornings with the Lord)
2. Do not fall into the snare of procrastination. (Staying up to snuff with my housework and not putting things off to a more convenient time. If I see that the trash needs emptying--do it--don't wait until I clean up the whole kitchen)
3. Read books to help me become a better wife and mother. (Primarily the Bible, of course, but I love to read books by Godly authors to help me be the woman God wants me to be)
4. Stop being late to church and other places. (If I say I'm going to be somewhere at a certain time, then I need to be there at that time. I am really going to do this because it makes my husband so happy when we are early or on time for church. I should make an extra effort if for no other reason than for him. )
5. Maintain integrity--do what I say I'm going to do.
6. Be a better helpmeet to my husband. (Don't put off doing those things that I know would help him--for example, ironing his clothes for him so he is not late for work)
7. Be consistent and firm in my disciplining the children. Do not accept any unacceptable behavior.
8. Have a more scheduled week--especially with homeschooling time for the kids.
9. Be a better, more prepared Sunday School teacher.
10. Do more random acts of kindnesses.
11. Cultivate relationships--do a better job of maintaining old friendships. Some I need to renew that have dwindled some over the past few years.

I have a few scriptures I also jotted down in my journal--scriptures for me for the year 2009, but I will have to share those later. With my slothfulness this morning, I have not read my Bible yet. :o/

Ode to my Home

2008-12-31T10:58:00.004-06:00

As I walk from the wheelbarrow, arms loaded with fresh firewood, I know there's no place like my home. For, you see, my home is special enough to have a wood burning fireplace as its main source of heat.
As I open the screened door that needs to be replaced, the ever-familiar creak and slap! of the door reminds me, there's no place like my home. For, you see, my home is special enough to have a screened in front porch, complete with old rockers.
An aroma greets me as I enter my living room--the smell of fresh bread mixed with equal parts fireplace smoke--that reminds me, there's no place like my home. For, you see, my home is special enough to have a mama who stays home and bakes fresh bread because she knows she has some little young uns (and husband) who are delighted when Mama's bread machine buzzer goes off.
I stoke the fireplace, renew the blaze and head off to give my children a surprise, when I notice the pieces of Play-doh all over the table and floor. Kids' creations don the table as food never has before. I'm reminded, there's no place like my home. For, you see, not ever home has children to make 'culinary' creations with colored dough. My home does.
I get my children settled, head to take a soak in the bathtub, and really take a glance around. An old-fashioned tub--one that you could get bubbled up to your ears in--and still not get any on the floor--that's my home.
Ah, the clothesline. How could one find such pleasure in a handmade, wooden clothesline with ropes connecting? Why? Because it's here. Here I feel the wind on my face, cool wind bouncing off of wet clothes. It's here my eyes glance heavenward and I see the bluest sky around. Not a cloud in site. It's here I gaze out over acres of field lying dormant until spring's plow slowly turns over soil. It's here I envision a chicken coop, hear goats bleating, see more children playing. It's here I do see the beautiful pines and cedars swaying in the breeze, wood stacked neatly--reflecting hours of strong man's work. It's here at my haven. My home.
The back screen door opens with a familiar sound. I look up and see a familiar face. My husband. 'Just came by for a few minutes'. Drove several miles for a few minutes at his home. And, you see, not any home has a husband and father. My home does.
Home calls. I answer. Happiness reigns.

Lord, you know my home is not a castle by far. In fact, others may have to pick and prod to see what I see, and still some may not see it. But, my home, dear Lord, is a castle to me. A shelter from the biting cold and evil forces of this cold, dark, and self-centered world. A shelter for my children. Lord, you know I am the keeper of my home. Help me, dear Saviour, to care for my home as I would a tiny infant. Thank you Lord for the inhabitants in my home. Lord, you are the greatest inhabitant. Ever abide here, Lord. Thank you, Jesus for our home.

Dinner Guests

2008-12-30T06:45:00.004-06:00

I will getting the house extra spiffied-up today. My brother and his family will be coming over for supper tonight (if noone gets sick between now and then...). I have a slight idea about what we will be having, but it's definitely not set in stone. (probably a roast and the trimmings... think, new slow-cooker...;o)
I will not be posting a Tuesday's Topic today because I frankly don't have time, but I might do it tomorrow. I have read through the Bible this year (minus a few chapters when I wasn't so faithful) and so I'm in Revelations. Hence, all that is on my thoughts throughout the day is vials, beasts, seals, angels, torment, etc. Not much for a good topic, eh? I guess just, "Be Ready". :o)
Have a good day, folks. Amy, I'll be looking forward to seeing you very soon at our New Years' Bash at your mother's. :o) Don't worry about procrastinating with the gifts--YOUR present still isn't wrapped. Your's and Emma's. I'm not really procrastinating--I just know that it will probably be tomorrow or Thursday before I wrap. Better yet, I will have a nice gift bag for you. :o)
I will still be decluttering some. I only made it to 80+ items yesterday, so I've got some catching up to do!

Update on Decluttering...

2008-12-29T11:41:00.004-06:00

I'm about to head out of the house for the first time in a few days, but first I wanted to update that I've already purged 74 items this morning just from my bedroom. Old underwear, pajamas (who needs 12 pairs of pajamas?), t-shirts (I never wear t-shirts), old pantyhose, Old things of dear husband's, things like old shorts were the elastic was rotten, etc.
I knew I could get to 100!

Updating on my condition...

2008-12-28T18:59:00.003-06:00

I am loads better--almost normal. The flu really wasn't that bad this time around. Way worse back in February when I had the flu. This time I took Flu Homeopathic tablets around the clock and took Elderberry Syrup as well--so I don't know, but they sure seemed to help. Then there's this nagging thought that I wonder if I did have a severe kidney infection? I don't know. It sure seemed like the flu just not as long in duration. My back hurt so much during the course. Anyway..I hope you and yours stay healthy. I'm ready for our house to be pretty close to normal!!
Next week will find me decluttering, preparing for the new year. I aim to throw away or Goodwill (don't you like how I've turned that into a verb) 100 items a day. I'm not kidding. I wish I had the time and energies to Ebay things, but I don't.
Want to join me? I would love to have a simple, clutter-free home. I guess my house is simple, but not clutter free. Definitely not after Christmas.
Sigh. I know my Living room floor is under here somewhere.

PS. Like my new look? It is so me. I just love it. I keep coming back to my page so I can look at it. :o) Silly me.

Sickies for ME!

2008-12-26T21:34:00.003-06:00

No wonder I felt so disoriented this morning. Around 10:30 or 11 I felt the flu come on me with a attitude! Chills, fever, aches, headache (awful headache), etc. Dear husband came home a little after 2, I think. I've been in the recliner with blankets, a heating pad, a hot water bottle and nearby are my flu tablets, water, tons of tissue, and some hot and spicy soup I made earlier this morning in my new Slow Cooker. My fever broke about an hour ago so I have been up and about for a few minutes.
I do have to report that youngest son, who was the sickest, is feeling SO much better now. He has been in here playing, playing, playing. I'm sooo thankful that he is back to his normal self. It's been a long road for him...
Well, my suspicions are confirmed that I believe my children did have the flu last week. And you know that the Lord did care enough for me to hold this off until after Christmas! He is so mindful of us.
Well, going back to my tissue and blankets....

Joy

2008-12-26T06:24:00.003-06:00

Well, this morning finds me very sleepy (I'm out of coffee) and pretty disoriented. I did my quiet time, but I was so sleepy, that I may try to squeeze it in later on today. I'm coughing tons this morning (leftover from a sinus infection) and that is pretty aggravating. Anyway, it wouldn't seem that I would be posting on a subject like joy, but I wanted to do a hopefully, quick, post before I head into the kitchen to clean it up from yesterday's baking (the cinnamon rolls weren't the best...I didn't leave the dough sticky enough and the icing was too thick).

I have noticed over the past few days that I haven't seen many smiles around. In fact, if I were keeping a record of smiles vs. frowns, I'm sure frowns would win over. This is what I've noticed during the Christmas season.

Now, I don't feel joyful all the time and sometimes I'm sure my joy is hid inside and may not show on the outside. I'm praying daily that it will show on the outside. I don't want to be fake about being happy. I want to be genuinely joyful.

From the scriptures I've found that JOY can be found in:

1. Serving--Nehemiah 8:10

2. Salvation--Psalm 51:12

3. Loving--John 15:11

4. Temptations/Trials--James 1:2

5. God's Presence--Psalm 16:11

First, as Mother's we serve more than anything else I believe. This can be cumbersome and tiring, or it can be joyful because of the servitude of our heart (This goes against what you will find in popular magazines with articles like, "How to take time for YOU", etc). Next, we can find joy in loving our husband and our children. We can also find joy in loving other people. It seems in these days we live in (days of selfishness) that it is hard to love people like we have been commanded in the Bible. I'm praying for the love I need to have for my fellow man. I think that is why it's hard for us to witness sometimes--because we don't love others like we should. Anyway... I won't stray off the subject too far. :o) We can even find joy in trials. According to the Bible, the trying of our faith worketh patience--something we mothers can use a heap of! We can be joyful over a bad day. We can glean wisdom from certain situations that arise--learn from experiences--and gain patience. And the last two are my favorites.

We can be joyful in our Salvation. Glory to God! Just think of what was done for the sins of man and rejoice in the God of your salvation. Send up your "Hallelujahs" and "Praise Gods" throughout your day and you will fill joyful right quick.

We can be joyful in God's presence. In His presence is fullness of joy. The ultimate joy. I want to stay in His presence. I remember back in the summer, I remember praying that the Lord's presence would just fill me even while I'm in the laundry room putting in dirty clothes. Whatever we do, we can stay in God's presence.

So...a cure all for the blahs? I believe so. Now, if I could get this message out to the world, namely some gloomy family members I saw lately...:o).....

I know ppl hurt and this message isn't really for them. This message is for all mothers who have children at home and who have had children at home. Mothers who have lost their joy.

Be joyful. Always looking unto that blessed Hope....

Just a note...

2008-12-25T07:27:00.003-06:00

It's hard for me after being at my Savior's feet not to do a huge post about His goodness and how He is so meeting with me in my early prayer, but I really just wanted to drop in and say a huge to my dear readers! If you don't celebrate the actual Christmas holiday then I still hope that you will reflect on the birth of our dear Saviour and that the Lord will bless you on this day.

I will be posting some pictures over the next day or so of our festivities. As for this morning, I have cinnamon rolls to make (my first...I hope they turn out well), a few more presents to wrap (we, too, do the 3 present per child thing, Amy) and a bit of straightening to do. Who can feel the *peace* of Christmas in a unkempt home? :o) Then we'll venture over to the in law's (we'll miss you, Amy, sniff, sniff) and do a bit of Merry Christmassing with them. Lastly, we may go back down to my parents and eat leftovers from yesterday.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. Oh my, it is a busy time. But, here in the quiet of the morning, all the babies asleep, nothing on except a small lamp and my Christmas tree, it is ahhhh...peace and how my heart is so joyful after I've just been at my Redeemer's feet.

The Babe who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

The Groom who is getting ready to come back for His Bride.

A Bride who is spotless, without blemish. A direct contrast from this world.

If you don't stand out from this world, are you a part of His Bride?

Just as a Bride prepares for her wedding, sometimes taking months to get everything ready, daily I want to be preparing my heart--searching, seeking, removing any dross--for my Groom. Just as a Groom is breathless when His bride walks down the aisle, I want my Saviour to be pleased with me. We have communed together many, many times through a glass darkly. But when we finally get to meet face-to-face, I want my Saviour to look upon me as a Groom looks upon his bride as she walks down the aisle.

"She's mine."

"Doesn't she look beautiful."

I want to be a part of this Bride.

Merry Christmas!

Procrastination Unmasked

2008-12-23T06:28:00.004-06:00

Before I get into Tuesday's Topic, I will update on my childrens' sicknesses. They are slowly getting better, but getting better nonetheless. We are still hearing sounds of coughing, ill temperaments, and complaints of taking medicine, again, but we are getting better...just in time for Christmas. Dear Daughter just had a bad cold, but it was a mean one. One with fever for 4 nights, stomachache, headaches, etc. She *may* have had the flu, but the dr. didn't test her for that, so I don't know. Oldest Son had the same, but did get an antibiotic for a staph infection on his stomach. I don't know how he got staph, but he had a place on his leg last year (that took *forever* to get well) and this place is on his stomach. I hate to give antibiotics and know all the nasty things it can do to one's good bacteria, etc., but I also don't want to *play* with staph infection. Youngest son had the stomach virus (FIVE days of it) and a left ear infection. He has never had an antibiotic (but I know he has had an ear infection before now) but I went ahead and got it filled since he is so sick. They both are taking a Probiotic for kids to hopefully combat the bacteria issue. I went ahead and got them a good *whole foods* multivitamin and my mom ordered them some chewable Elderberry tablets, so hopefully we are on the road to better health! This past week, I changed about 20 diarrhea diapers (4 avg per day for 5 days...he still is having a spot of it) cleaned up vomit 4 times (twice in the vehicle) and felt of feverish heads countless number of times. Any good mother would have done it, I'm not bragging, but I just look back and see how God gave me strength and his grace was sufficient and his *strength* made perfect in weakness. He also kept me from getting sick during that time (and my husband) so I could take care of my babies. We all know how contagious the stomach virus is, so I know it was the Lord's grace that sustained me.

Anyway....now something I'd like to discuss with you is a topic that has been in the back of my mind for some time now. Procrastination. First of all, I think procrastination mostly affects those *naturally* most organized and those who like perfection. Sounds totally wrong, doesn't it? Where things go wrong is lack of self discipline. Self discipline to do things now. Putting things off until it can be done perfectly or at a more convenient (perfect) time.

Case in point, you are walking from your room after laying your child down for a nap. You see two toys in the hall, a shoe without a pair, but you just walk over them because you know that eventually you will clean up that hall and you will pick up the stuff then. You want to wait until you can sweep the hall, mop, and just have a set *time* to do that chore. Next scenario, you open the door of the refrigerator and see that something has spilled in the bottom of the refrigerator. You shut the door and don't worry about it because you know that you will get to it when you clean the refrigerator out, of course including taking everything out, checking expiration dates, dumping out leftovers (that have been there for a month because you are going to get to it). You see the trash piling up in the bathroom, but you just know that you are going to clean up the bathroom, including bleaching the tub and scouring the sink, so you will take it out then.

You are not lazy, dirty, or a messy person. In fact, you can't cope with things messy. You thrive when there is order in your home. You are cheerful and you think more clearly. You don't have a 'don't care' attitude. You just put things off to a more *convenient* season (like Felix in the Bible)--a time when you can do things perfectly and right. Procrastination is making you stressed. Procrastination is keeping your home from being presentable to those dreaded drop-in guests.

I've viewed both my mother and my mother-in-law *in action*, so to speak, with their cleaning of both my home and their homes. When I was still at my childhood home, I never remember our house being messy and chaotic. I never have seen dishes on the counter waiting to be washed. My mom was always cheerful (except for a small season of depression due to hormonal imbalance). My mom always hummed while she worked. She never, ever snapped at us because she was so stressed at the house being a mess. A dear friend of mine and I have mentioned a few times about how we are just amazed at what our mothers can get done when they come to our homes to clean or how we don't remember our childhood homes ever being a mess. Well it isn't that they have extra hours in the day. It is this: They just *dive in* and get it done. They don't walk over shoes and toys and put it off to a more convenient season. If my mom (or MIL) is taking my trash to the *master* trash can in the kitchen and walks into a toy or a piece of clothing that has lost its place, she will pick it up then, put it away, and keep on the the trash. Let's see how much time has been lost. Bending down to pick up toy: 2.5 seconds. Putting it away: 10 to 15 seconds. Total time lost: 12.5 seconds. Achievement: a clear, straightened hallway in 12.5 seconds! Wow! Amazing! Someone should write an advertisement about how to acheive results in 12.5 seconds! :o)

I watched my MIL the other day in my kitchen (bless her, she had come over to clean since I had been holding sick babies for 4 days). She tackled a clutter spot that I had been putting off to a more *convenient* season and it took her maybe 5 minutes. The other day I watched my mom (who was here visiting the kids but can't help but to help me with a chore or two--one that has been put off due to procrastination), take the trash out and wipe down the trash can (another yucky chore that gets put off) which took maybe 3 minutes.

My challenge to you today is do something as you see it needs doing. If the baby has fallen off of the couch and you trip over a toy getting to the baby, please go to the baby, by all means. But if you are going about your duties and you see something that needs doing, do it then. Your house will always stay straightened. Don't put things off until you can do it perfectly. Don't wait to pick up the toy until you can Lysol it and change the batteries (hey, we procrastinators love perfection and things done right). Don't wait to sweep the rug until you can get under it and get the crumbs. If you have company, who is going to look under the rug? But that nosy visitor (supposing you have one that is not a *kindred spirit*..smile) just might inspect the top of the rug. :o) You will be ready if you don't procrastinate.

And by all means, do it for yourself over visitors. You will be stress free and happy that your home is presentable most of the time.

On a personal note, after my mother and MIL came Saturday to clean up, I've vowed that I will not procrastinate. My home has stayed orderly and I've tried to do things as I've seen their need of doing. I have found that I'm not going around cleaning all day--in fact I've had more time with my children. Try it--you'll see.

I think this is the secret, ladies. The secret that our mothers have kept because in fact, they don't even know that it's something they hold secretly. They just do it without question, without thinking. It's the trait of a hardworker. A trait most procrastinators have. They just have to get the spirit of procrastination out of them to get to the hardworking spirit. :o)

I know because I am the chiefest of procratinators.

PS I would love to hear your comments on this issue, including any advice or tips you have on conquering this issue that I believe the devil may be using to sap our joy as homemakers.

Sickies Day 4

2008-12-20T08:16:00.002-06:00

Well we are off to the dr today...babies are way sick...update later.

More Sickies...

2008-12-18T21:15:00.005-06:00

Well, today is Sick Day part 2! Thank the Lord, He has blessed me to be well to take care of my sick babies! Evan is still having a small bout of diarrhea, but has felt better today. He has eaten just barely today and I'm nursing him pretty regularly. It is a blessing that I haven't weaned him already, because I'm glad to have the extra nourishment to give to him at a time like this. Erin ran a high fever last night, felt pretty good today (played outside some), just had a bad runny nose, cough, and hoarseness. Well, tonight her fever got back up to 103.0 and she is a sick girl! Emory stayed in bed all day with a stomachache and a fever of 103.8 (at one point). He hasn't had diarrhea, just lots of bloating, some coughing and congestion. It is so weird all of these different bugs striking at once! Dear husband stayed home with us today to help out. I felt strenghthen by his being here. We slept in until 8am because we (I) were up and down all throught the early hours of the morning. I did so miss my quiet time and look forward to it in the morning! Now, if I could just get on up at 5am! :o)
It was very warm, almost hot today and we enjoyed the varying of the temps. I *do* hope that Christmas Eve/Day is a bit cold, though. Anyways, the kids played outside and such (sans Emory) and enjoyed dressing like summer! :o)
The last 2 days have found me frantically finishing my Christmas shopping, mostly online via Ebay and Vision Forum.com. I really hope all of my Ebay toys & such get shipped by Christmas. Such a risk I have taken. I have been really pleased with my deals for the most part. Have you finished yours??
To change the subject, I read that Michelle Duggar gave birth to baby #18 today! A girl, Jordyn-Grace Mikaya Duggar. Cute name. I also didn't know that their eldest son had gotten married. You can go to http://www.duggarfamily.com/ and click on his son and wife's website. Pretty cool. I love reading about good godly young ppl making god-centered decisions. It's a breath of fresh air in this evil day!
Another thing I wanted to share is that yesterday while surfing, I found a really inspiring blog at http://www.aholyexperience.com/. Check it out and let me know what you think. Be prepared to stay there for awhile! :o)
Keep us in your prayers. My home is pretty much a wreck and I'm fighting the procrastination spirit. lol. I hate when my house gets really destructable...it affects my inner being. But, sick children come first and I have tried not to focus too much on my house. I *could* do better, though. I know that within my spirit. I just have a procrastination problem. I believe I'll blog on that pretty soon. :o)
Here's hoping that you and yours aren't sick during the Holidays!

Sick Day....

2008-12-17T08:24:00.003-06:00

Well, today everyone is sick, so we are taking a sick day. We are piled up in my bed, with a stack of movies, eventually a stack of books, and my computer. On the nightstand is a roll of tissue for runny noses, honey lemon water for hydration, plenty of wipes and diapers (Evan has the virus), and the phone. Mine and Em's symptoms are sinus infections, Erin's is tonsilitis (she has horrible tonsils) and Hubby has borderline pneumonia. He went to dr yesterday, so he is at work today.
It is sorta fun and cozy lying here resting, watching Beverly Hilbillies, but I would rather not be sick--esp Evan.
Hope YOU and yours are well.

Monday's My Day...

2008-12-15T21:19:00.003-06:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a pleasant Monday. The weather was fairly warm today. Actually it was one of those days in which you go out and feel nothing. Not a chill or heat. The sun wasn't out or the breeze blowing. We spent a good bit of time out of doors and I really enjoyed getting out without freezing! :o)

Well, my day started a little after 6 this morning. It was nice to get up without having to build a fire. I do *so* enjoy sitting by the fire, reading my Bible, but it was nice not freezing until the fire catches up! :o) I really love my old-fashioned home! :o) My devotion this morning was from 2 Timothy and after a quick prayer, I started on my day. My goal is still to get up at 5 consecutively and I know I would really reap rewards. Anyway...

The house was pretty messy a gift from our Sunday's being so busy now (Christmas play practice on Sunday afternoons), so I had my work cut out for me. Making bread, cleaning the kitchen, straightening and sweeping the Living Room/Dining Room...whew! The kiddos got up...Evan officially pitter-pats into the living room now instead of calling me until I come in to get him. It is sooooo stinking cute! Erin is a really late riser, which works out fine because she is no-napping right now (except on days where I know she will get into bed late). We had hashbrowns for breakfast, which were really good, but once again, I didn't cut up enough potatoes. Mental note to self, *use 4 potatoes instead of 3*. Yours truly got the slighted plate. :o)

During Evan's nap, we did our Bible reading and Read Aloud. We have 2 more chapters in Black Beauty. That book is really, really good. I don't know if the children have followed every single happening, but for the most part, they are attentive (not as much as with Pinocchio). The next book we will read is The Call of the Wild by Jack London. I have never read that one before, so I'm excited! :o) Oh, I fogot to mention that while I was doing some of my usual kitchen/Lr/DR straightening, the kids pulled all the cushions off of the couch, sheets off of the beds, comforters, pillows, etc. and made *caves*. Do your kids do this too? It drives me crazy if it is not laundry bedding day! (But of course, I just let them be kids, but inwardly it is driving me bonkers). Today happened to be laundry day for our bedding (oh and that is so *not* today's laundry pic above...it was definitely not a clothesline kind of day) so they had a good time playing on the bedding.

Daddy came home during this time to get our van to take it to get the brakes fixed. They were scrubbing something horribly. This took a nice chunk of Christmas spending money, but oh well, I'm just glad we had it! Poor hubby, he is having to eat liquids and broths for several more days now! Please pray for him that the Lord will give him strength to make it through these next few days.

We spent a lot of time outside, playing with Emory's remote control airplane and swinging and such. At one point we played freeze tag and even Evan would join in (*unfreezing* us). We had a 3 car pile up one time--with all 3 kiddos on top of yours truly! I got to do a little bit of yard work which is something that *desperately* needs doing. My yard is very unkempt right now. I love being outside, but preferably with the conditions are favorable. :o)

We did our schoolwork in spurts, with Reading taking the longest. I really am having a problem with losing my patience with Emory during Reading. I am having trouble deciphering whether or not his trouble with deciphering is legit. Some words like *has* and *had* or something like that, he has been saying for several months now. All of the sudden, he will have trouble with it. He spilled the beans to me one day a few weeks ago that he had *known the word, but just didn't want to say it*. I have been leary of his ability since then. He is definitely the *son of Adam*. :op Anyway, it took us an hour to read our lesson. Really. I was so tired and frustrated, but the Lord helped me with most of it. ;o) Science and History were a breeze. Daddy did his Language with him (English buff that he is). I still love homeschooling! My goal is to get homeschooling to where I just do *that* during the day (like from 9-2pm or something). I'm sure that's what I'll do when I have 2 or 3 in school at one time.

I got my favorite magazine, No Greater Joy, in the mail today, so I read it while the kids and I ate Spaghetti for a late lunch (did you get your magazine?). It proved wonderful yet again. So encouraging--the articles were so timely. Praise God for a ministry like they have--unashamed to bodly proclaim what we *must* hear for the sake of our families!

This evening was spent cleaning off my porch while the kids played in the *ahem* mud outside. They weren't literally *in* the mud, but they had toy horses, cows, etc., who were *drinking* the muddy water. They did get a bit dirty! :o) So....my porch got clean. :o)

We didn't have supper, because I'm having somewhat of a reprieve in my cooking since hubby can't eat just *anything*. I'm enjoying it because I know I will be ready to cook again when it is time. The kids and I had applesauce or yogurt.

They got baths and after a few stories *told* by daddy and read by me, they are tuckered out. Another day, more memories. Speaking of one, I was on the phone talking to a dear, dear friend (our pastor's wife who has become a wonderful friend to me) when I suddenly didn't hear my littliest one and I suddenly remembered that we had been painting in the living room which prompted my thoughts to the paints lying *open* on the chair. Evan had *painted* the chair and had spilled the water that we were dipping our brushes in. He had streaks of paint on his face and of course, was looking so innocent! It was a video moment. :o)

Well, as for me, I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I've pressed on, ignoring the bulging sinuses and scratching throat, but I'm scared at what I might be feeling like tomorrow (some faith, huh?). My mom has the, get this...FLU, so I'm really, really unsure of what tomorrow might bring. I have my cup of Elderberry/Peppermint tea and have gulped it down as if I've *found the cure*. :o)

Well, I hope you've had a lovely day. Thanks for reading about mine. You would've had lots of smiles and laughs had you been here today. I would've had you folding laundry or something! :o) Which, wait....you probably had lots o' laughs at your place and probably a *spot* of laundry folding as well????

Good night and God bless!

Friday's Fotos

2008-12-12T21:46:00.013-06:00

Just a quick blog here with some photos...the fire has gone out, everyone has gone to bed, and I'm just starting to shiver! :o)

Erin with my neices, Reilly, and Chloe. This was taken after my grandmother's funeral yesterday.

My sister and I decided to get us and the kids together to make some gingerbread cookies. Here are a few pictures of the kids decorating them.

My pretty neice, Chloe, showing off her gingerbread man.
Erin, really doing some serious decorating!

Voila!

Now...onto a few Christmas decorations....

*THE tree*--I think it is soo pretty! I hope it has been kept from any further dying, thanks to a few more inches cut off of the bottom of it. It hosts mostly felt ornaments, so it is really kid friendly.

Daddy, recovering from recent weight-loss surgery, continues the story of Beauregard. He is a superb story-teller. I love this man!

And a pic of my current obsession: wearing an apron! Oh, and *I* am my son's current obsession! :o)

Blessings!

My Grandmother....

2008-12-11T08:21:00.003-06:00

...passed away Tuesday evening at a little after 6 pm. She was 84. *Granny* was one of the godliest women I ever knew and her ultimate desire was to give praise to the Lord. I remember staying with her some during my childhood and it was not uncommon to here her going around her duties praising the Lord. She was a believer in modesty and godliness to the ultimate. She thought women should even wear pantyhose always to church. :o)
I so appreciate the heritage she left me. Because of her and my grandfather (mostly her, because he didn't get saved until later on in life), my mom is a godly woman and I, in turn, desire to be godly and holy toward the Lord.
Praise the Lord for my wonderful Grandmother! The funeral is today at 2pm. We have nasty weather here (may snow, but it has been really rainy and cold) and the two oldest has nasty colds and coughs. Should make for a bitterly cold graveside service.

Updates and such (with pictures)

2008-12-04T10:28:00.015-06:00

Hello, dear friends!
I hope each of you are enjoying this *extremely busy* holiday season. I've not enjoyed my lack of blogging, but I did have a somewhat good excuse. My internet connection wouldn't work for a few days and since we've been back online, I haven't taken the time to blog. So, I decided that I would spend just 10 minutes blogging and if I don't get done, I will save it and come back to it later. Ya gotta start somewhere! :o)

Since I've been away, my eldest has turned 6 years old. Wow, isn't that something? I will add pictures of his cake and his small party with a couple of his newest friends.

Also while I've been away, we made the Advent craft that I posted about in a few posts back. It turned out GREAT. I was surprised that I had that crafty side in me. :) Since this craft, I've had a few more ideas to pop in my head. We'll see how that turns out. :o) The sad thing is we haven't actually *done* any of the Advent activities yet. :o( I need a few more hours in the day! Anyway, we have put up the Christmas tree and the kids really helped with that. Erin (3 yr old) didn't put 5 ornaments per branch like she did last year (so cute!). She really did great! Evan has ignored the tree, pretty much, so that is a relief. I am ready for the *training sessions* should he start to throw the ornaments or such. :) Speaking of training, he is ripe for that now. I can't believe I was so dumb to think that kids couldn't be trained (or had never heard of such) when Emory was Evan's age). Evan will pretty much come when called and obey really well. It's so exciting to see this--really amazing. I'm soooo thankful to the Lord for allowing books like "To Train Up a Child" and "Raising Godly Tomatoes" to come in to my life. Thank you, thank you, Lord. I want to tell others about them, but sometimes ppl just don't want to hear what you have to say about things they look to the 'experts' on, ya know? Anyway, that is *so* off topic. Then again, I guess this post doesn't really have a specific topic, huh...

My dear husband is about to have a really big change happen in his life. A good change, we hope. :o) More about that maybe later. Just say a prayer for him next week....
Every year on my children's birthdays we try to weigh and measure them. We write it on a spot in their closets. At Emory's birthday he had grown 1 & 5/8ths inches and gained 3lbs since last birthday. We were proud of that--especially the weight. That boy sure does like to eat! :) So far since the last birthday he has: started school, memorized passages of Scriptures (like Psalm 1 & 23), learned to dress himself/wipe himself *smile*, learned to speak more clearly (this time last year he was saying, chuch for church, Ewyn for Erin, etc.) and he really behaves more pleasing. Just recently he has been admiring our new pastor's daughter, Maddie, who is a beautiful little girl age 7. He pretty much has *spoken* for her hand when the time comes. :o) I can't believe the crush bug bites so soon. :o/

My two littles have started playing really well together. Evan *adores* his sister!!! I mean he worships her, per se. He can be in the grumpiest of moods and she can say anything to him, or even come in the room and he is a different child! :o) I figure in a few months, they will be playing together as well as she and Em do now! Funny how they grow SOO fast.

As for me, the Lord has been so moving in my life. I'm still getting up early to seek Him and to read His Word. I have fallen in love with His Word! My prayer time is wonderful as well. Now, honestly, there are some mornings where I just can't *feel* it--other than my head nodding into my lap...lol...but a couple days a week, the Lord's presence comes by and I just bask in God's goodness. He is so real to me. I somehow *know* he has something for my family to do. Or, perhaps for my children. There is some reason He has led me into homeschooling, and other things that teach my children about God. It's exciting to know that God may use us in the Last Days! I read the other day in Acts how the disciples were being persecuted for Christ and they counted it an honor to suffer for Christ--they were actually happy to be beaten for Christ. I pray that I will love the Lord so much that I would do anything for Him--no matter what. I really am determined to go forward in God. If you've never had an *experience* with the Lord, I encourage you to seek Him, earnestly!

I will try to upload my pictures so I can send this and go to bed. I truly trust that all of my friends are having a wonderful holiday season. Be sure to blog about some of the things you and your children are doing. Let me know about your baking! :o) I love to bake--I may add a pic of hubby's early birthday cheesecake. It is delish! Also, other things I have made may be added (I guess I'm the only weird person who takes pictures of their culinary creations?).

Update: It has taken me several days to finish this post, as things have been really busy, so pls forgive my slowness at blogging! Here aare a few pictures to leave you with:

Working on the Advent Calendar:

Erin had fun taking all the matches out of the boxes and she and Emory also helped glue on the end pieces.

And Evan had fun putting the matches into the Coke, which by the way *wasn't* his..I got `verybody a drink that day for a rare *treat*.

And the final result! I love it--it turned out very festive! (Now we have got to start using it...I have been so unfestive this year, so far!) :o(

Now, some pictures of Em's party and cake:

A close-up of the cake, made by yours truly! :o) It was really good. I made the cake with a cake mix (but added 2 mystery ingredients to it) but I did make the icing from scratch.

Just some general baking pics (baking done over the past 2 weeks or so...I love to bake):

American Beauty cake made to take to an elderly sick man (I hate not being able to taste of something before I send it--so I don't know how it tasted!)

An old Fashioned pound cake--never had made one before--it turned out tasting delicious, but I took it out of the pan before it had completely cooled--the result--it almost came apart)

Cheesecake for *Daddy*--early birthday present--a tradition going on for about 7 years--this is a 3-layer cheesecake--white chocolate, chocolate, and strawberry! :o)

Chicken-on-a-stick, a very good, easy supper! Kids love it! Well, that's all! It's taken me forever to finish this post--have a great day!

Tuesday's Topic--What is a Lady?

2008-11-25T19:31:00.004-06:00

From www.keepingthe home.com

This article speaks mainly to the woman who is married and has children, but some of the below is applicable to all women in all walks of life.
A lady doesn't nag or complain to her husband: It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. -Proverbs 21:19 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. -Proverbs 27:15

She is a keeper of her home and submits to her husband: To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. -Titus 2:5 She chastens, trains, and keeps her children with her: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. -Proverbs 29:15

She wears beautiful, flowing, modest clothes (like dresses):In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel [katastole], with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; -1 Timothy 2:9 Katastole - long, flowing garment. (Pants are generally not long and flowing)
She may be beautiful, but she is wise:
As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. -Proverbs 11:22

She does not partake in gossip, tale bearing, slander, or other forms of frowardness of the tongue: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD. -Leviticus 19:16 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. -Proverbs 26:20 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. -Proverbs 10:32

A lady wears beautiful clothing that draws attention to her face and countenance. She takes her job of taking care of her husband, children, and house very seriously, and does her best to bless them, as if she were doing her domestic duties for the Lord Himself.She is not idle, for she knows that idle time leads to idol time. She instills this principle into her children as well.A lady knows that nobody and no day is perfect. She greets each day as a brand new day, with brand new unknowns. She looks to the Lord as her source of peace, comfort, joy, and wisdom, and faces each day with a smile, knowing that her Redeemer liveth, and He careth for her.

Friday's Fotos

2008-11-21T15:24:00.007-06:00

Yay, it's Friday again! :o) One of my favorite days! We have had a good day thus far. The kids woke up a little grumpy from going to bed late. The fireplace really wouldn't get too warm this morning either, so it was a little bit cold. They didn't like that too much. :o) But, we have had fun today. Yesterday I caught up on laundry and dishes and so I have just hung out with the kids today. We have had a lot of fun being silly and it seems the Lord has just given me some extra *joy* today! I love Him so much!
Here are some pictures from our day or another day this week...

Emory, just coming inside, getting his creative juices flowing. *He favors me on this picture*

Erin, apprehensive about trying mom's new breakfast dish, Apple Dumplings. *Also looking like childhood mom in this picture*

New recipe, Apple Dumplings (from Amish cookbook)---they took a while to make but I would say they were worth it.

Erin, looking especially beautiful, before leaving for church.

Daddy, aka "scratching tree", tells the continuing saga of SeeMore and SeeLess, Raunchy and Nasty Skunk Family. :o)

It may be corny to post a pic of my laundry detergent, but my mom gave me this--she ordered a case--yay, I won't have to make any for a while! It is, of course, natural and it has a smell! That's the exciting part! :)

This is an awesome picture Emory drew today--probably my favorite so far! These are outer space creatures from the planet RobotLand. You can see WooWee, Gus, and a GeeBer, and a few more that hadn't been named yet (at this drawing). My favorite character is the alien over on the lower left. He comes out of the crater and that is his smile face he is holding. He has taken his smiley face off at this drawing. The alien on the planet at the top is sliding down the ring. That is Earth on the right. Pretty imaginative, huh? He took me on a 'tour' of this drawing and I was so amazed.

Erin's new puppy, Gabby. This is the 3rd Gabby we've had, so I hope that name doesn't bring bad luck. She is the sweetest puppy and is so clean and cuddly. We got her last night. She was supposed to be a Christmas present, but my dad got it for her and told her early. She is a Rat Terrier. That was what our previous dog was and she was the *best* with kids.

Just wanted to show off my holiday shirt! :o) It is so comfy and cute. I got it for about $4.00 at a burnt out type store. :o)

"The Mouse takes the....er...mouse" I don't know what the thing above is...a decorative cloud, maybe?? Another creative masterpiece today. :o)

About to attempt a nap--that is cake batter on her face. I made a cake (sort of like Red Velvet Cake) to take to a very sweet elderly man from our church because he has been really sick. They had fun eating the icing on the beaters.

Now I must do a few things before the really cold temps come down hard (22 degrees tonight). I also need to icing the cake. Hope you had a fun Friday and enjoyed my photo tutorial!PS. Sorry no pics of Ev Man--he was sorta sick today and wasn't feeling well, so I somehow didn't snap pics of him. He has a new haircut and is looking esp boyish, so I'll try to get him a shot on here.

Thursday's Tip--Advent Activity

2008-11-20T08:50:00.003-06:00

Today I thought I'd share an activity I wanted to do last year but didn't have the time (due to my non Stay-at-Home status). You might enjoy doing this with your family as well. I can't wait to get started.

Matchbox Advent Calendar

You will need:

• a lot of match boxes• strong glue• spray paint• colorful paper• numerical stickers• advent activities, sweets or trinkets to put inside (optional)

Directions

1. Glue together 24 matchboxes to form a bank of drawers.

2. Paint or decorate around the outside of the boxes.

3. Glue small rectangles of colorful paper to the match box drawers (can use a scrapbooking page).
4. Number the drawers and pop your advent activities inside each of them. (To make them easier to open, you can use paper fasteners or glued-on buttons instead of numbers)

*Pictures and activity from KidCraftWeekly.com

Some Advent ideas are:

1. Put up Christmas tree

2. Make Christmas ornaments (I'm thinking of maybe something edible??)

3. Bake Christmas cookies (we'll probably do this several times)

4. Purchase a toy to send to a needy person or give to a charity (I thought about looking into doing a shoebox full of toys to send to a child or organization)

5. Have a picnic

6. Go out looking at Christmas lights after dark

7. Write a letter to Santa (If I do this I make sure my children understand that Santa is not real because I do not lie to my children or mislead them)

8. Sleep in the living room in front of the Christmas tree & fireplace

9. Watch a Christmas movie (can do this more than once)

10. Play games all evening

11. Bake something for Great grandparents and go visit them

12. Sing Christmas songs by guitar music

13. Make homemade hot chocolate with peppermint or cinnamon sticks

14. Take the kids to the mall to see Christmas decorations and to ride the carousel

15. Read the Christmas story and watch the movie about it (we have one)

16. Make a cake for Jesus' birthday

I'm about out of ideas for now and if you have any to share, please let me know! I would love to hear some of your ideas or traditions.

hope you enjoy the craft. I'm already enjoying listening to Christmas music all day as we are going about our daily routine.

Have a great day--I have a messy house to tackle! :o)

What Went on Wednesday..

2008-11-19T23:37:00.005-06:00

Got up: 6:40am...I slept a little later today because my husband had to go out of town, so he left about 4:30am...needless to say, I *didn't* get up that early..I had ironed for him the night before.

Had my quiet time...read from Acts 19-20...loving Acts...so appreciate the disciples' (esp Paul's) dedication to telling others about Christ, amidst persecution.

Had just enough time to get some wood from the woodpile and go to the mailbox to mail some letters (it was COLD doing all of this) before child #1 woke up (Erin) immediately followed by child #2 (Evan). The rest of the morning prior to Child #3 waking up (Emory) was spent folding and putting away laundry, rebooting laundry, hanging up laundry, etc. I'm still not caught up, but things are better.

Breakfast was: Waffles...they were soo good, but I made half the recipe and *I* ended up with only a tiny waffle. I had forgotten that I'm fixing Evan his own food now on his own plate so that made up an extra waffle. :o) Oh, and a small tip inserted here: If you're like me and don't like *artificial* foods, then you probably stay away from pancake syrups (read: high fructose corn syrup). I've always bought Maple Syrup, but it is soooo expensive. Last time I grocery shopped, I got Pure Cane Syrup instead because it was $2 and some change cheaper. It is really good and not much difference in taste than the maple syrup--maybe just a bit bolder in flavor, not as sweet. Anyway, just thought I'd share that.

After breakfast, the kids made their beds and got dressed. I made a big batch of chili and got a shower while the kids watched a bit of educational cartoons. I made a feeble effort to wash some dishes, but that didn't get far. :o)

Now, here's the good part: I met 2 other friends for a breadmaking bash. We met at our church's fellowship hall, ate chili, and baked 4 loaves of bread. My kids played with their kids (well, one friend has a 7 month old, so he slept mostly) the whole time--in the church gym--so it was so nice to talk and bake our bread. This was sort of a tutorial for them and their bread turned out better than mine! :o) Beginner's luck! :o) J/K. Wish I had pics to share, my batteries had died in my camera. Anyway, it was fun and we had a good time. I talked to one of the gals (my pastor's wife who is becoming a great friend!) and she said that a whole loaf was already eaten by tonight! :o)

The kids had so much fun playing with her kids so they were really tired tonight at church. Emory wrote a love note to the little girl he played with, Maddie. :o) I think he may have a crush! :o) Anyway, my mom took them home with her tonight, so I'm looking forward to another cleaning/organizational project tomorrow! Be sure to come by to see what I'm up to! Have a great night!

Tuesday's Topic--Early Mornings

2008-11-18T11:47:00.004-06:00

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. Proverbs 31:15
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 20:13

I'm really not sure what to title this, but what I want to talk about probably briefly is the need for mothers to get up early for various reasons. First of all, I don't want to sound like I've done this for ages, because I haven't. Several months ago, after feeling frustrated about not getting my quiet time done and always behind on housework, I felt the Lord leading me to get up earlier. I tried it for a week or so and it was wonderful. I would get up around 5 or before even and have my quiet time & tea, etc. Well, old Satan can't stand progress so he slyly caused me to fall back into the old routine of just waking up with the kids, succumbing to the love of slumber.

Well, last week after having several bouts of frustration with not getting things done, including my quiet time, I felt the Lord gently reminding me about getting up early. It was like he was whispering, "5 oclock--you know what you need to do". So, we started it back again. I am so enjoying my quiet time and the Lord has been so near to me this week. I don't get too much done, housework wise, but I do get my prayer and Bible reading done. My husband gets his clothes ironed and....ahem...breakfast! :o) Every morning, the Lord reassures me that I'm doing the right thing--this is the right thing. It is SO worth the sleep missed to sit alone, well, me & God, reading his Word, sipping my coffee, and getting the fire going for my family.

So, are you up to the challenge of getting up early? I feel like this will become a habit for me that I'll follow for the rest of my life. I pray that I don't let Satan subtely lull me back to the routine of sleep. For you know he doesn't barge in on anything, he *lulls* you into something where you don't really see him moving in. He is so sly, isn't he? But, God is so good to be so mindful of us. He shows us a better way.

Well, off to do the chores with the kids, make dinner, do our schoolwork, and have rest time. The afternoon will be so full.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday. We are enjoying our fireplace today and having children's Christmas music playing from WebRadio. I have bread making in my breadmaker (an early Christmas present from my in-laws) and the childrens' laundry in the washing machine. Currently, Evan is taking everything out of my wallet, so I'd better attend to that. :o)

Making my House a Haven... (pictures added)

2008-11-13T09:21:00.009-06:00

Several bloggers at whom I visit are hosting a week of "Making your House a Haven". This theme focuses on tackling spots in your home that are untidy, have been ignored, and so forth.
My mom has the kids today so I thought it would be a great time for me to participate. I *will* have *before* and *after* pictures. You won't want to miss those! LOL I have to be very brave and transparent in front of you to post these *before* pictures. :o)

Here is my schedule for today:

7:00 up, coffee in hand, settled in chair for my Bible reading, Acts 4-6, prayer time DONE (it was about 7:20 before I made it to the chair, and I didn't get my Bible reading finished before I had children in my lap, but I did finish reading it, it was really good this morning. I also prayed with the children around me, which was fine because Emory was feeling sick and wanted me to pray with him. I think it does them good to see me pray in front of them some times)
8:00-9:00 getting kids ready to go to mom's, taking them, etc.
9:10-10:00 settled at the computer for a few minutes of blogging, surfing (I did get my water distiller going and fed the cats)
10:00-11:00 general cleaning which includes: washing dishes, tidying kitchen, making beds, general straightening and getting laundry going DONE..didn't get much straightening done and I'm still continually working on the laundry
11:00-12:00 Project One: My porch--pictures to be added later (you don't want to miss those Before pictures--I cleaned my van out last Monday and just about everything is on the porch, not to mention it hasn't been swept much lately, out of sight, out of mind, ya know? Well, it's the first thing my guests see when they come in the house. Yikes. Well, good thing I rarely have guests, huh?) :o) DONE, took about an hour...I cleaned off the porch, watered the almost dead plant that I repotted Tuesday, swept the sidewalk, and even put some pinestraw in the awful nonexistent flowerbed
12:00-12:15 Lunch break (will be leftover Split Pea Soup from last night, yum!) DONE..the soup was delish and I was famished. I took a longer lunch break because my cousin was over using the internet to job hunt. I visited with him for a few minutes extra
12:15-1:00 Project Two: Linen closet--okay, this closet hasn't been TOUCHED since we moved here almost 4 years ago. It was designed to be a linen closet (right by the bathroom) but during the remodeling (4 years ago) it was just a quick place to put leftover paint cans, tools, wood glue, etc. Then, we when decided to remodel our master bathroom (nearby) about a year ago, it became a good place to shove some of the stuff from it into. Today I plan to transform it into that Linen closet that I so envision. I do have a good excuse for not doing it sooner. During naptime (when I would have time to tackle such a project) we always have a baby lying down in our room which is adjacent the linen closet. DONE, this took about an hour, but I was late getting started...I'm REALLY proud of this project..because while the porch has only been that messy for about a week, this closet has been this messy forever!
1:00-2:00 Project Three: The extra bedroom--this room has NEVER been really clean since we moved here 4 years ago. It used to be my husband's grandmother's room when this house was her's and I know the Lord doesn't let her see it from heaven because it would probably make her sad. :o( So, Nanny, today, I hope I can make you proud. I seriously doubt that I can get this room finished in an hour, but I'll try. I have been waiting until I could buy some more Rubbermaid containers because mostly this room is filled with clothes that are too little or too big. This room is the next room we will remodel because with our growing family, we need another workable bedroom. I hope before too long I can post a newly remodeled picture of this bedroom. The paneling will have to go, the ceiling redone, and the floor covering gone. It seriously needs leveling as well. Well, that's for another time...anyway... DID NOT GET DONE...ran out of time..I would work on it this evening, but I've got piano lessons. I *may* get to it tonight, we'll see.
2:00-3:00 Project Four: The Budget--Oh, I am such a failure in this area. I. seriously. *stink*. in this area of my housewifery. I will do a budget about a week after my honey gets paid. By then most of the money is gone and I'm catching up to see what is left. Okay, transparent here. LOL. Anyway, my hardworking honey gets paid tomorrow, so I plan to do the budget TODAY and also organize the bills, throw away junk mail, etc. You probably won't get a picture of this. :o)
Well, that's my day. I plan to be working my behind off. So, if I'm going to get to enjoy a few moments of computer time, I better get off MY blog. :o) Just about to work on...I have 30 minutes, so I probably won't get completely finished. I will just do the budget and not worry about organizing my bill container.
Love to all my dear readers. Come back to see the before and after pictures. You won't want to miss them. :o)

Before and After of the porch:

Before and After of the entrance: (That is panties by the door, btw..Erin brought them to me after having a 'go' in the yard...lol...good thing we live in the country, huh?)

Before and After of the Door leading to the screen porch:

Before, During, and After of the closet:

That's all...:o)

Tuesday's Topic--Children's Chores

2008-11-11T16:06:00.003-06:00

It's been a long time since I posted on a topic. Something that I wanted to share today was chores for your children.

Do your children do chores around the house? Do you find yourself just doing it yourself because it takes to long for them to do it or to show them how? Could you use some extra help with little small jobs? Well, I have the answer? Assign these jobs to your children!

For about 3 weeks now, I have been assigning specific chores for my children. I made it interesting and they *almost* think it is fun. :o) Here's what I do:

I will go around the house and find 9 things that need doing. Examples are:

trash needing emptying

toys need picking up in certain rooms

books need picking up

puzzle pieces need to go back in ziploc bags

dirty clothes need to go to hamper

couch/pillows need straightening up

table needs sweeping under

child's clothes needs hanging up or putting away in drawers

all shoes to be put away in closet

schoolwork and drawing papers to be put in a pile

Animals need to be fed, etc.

I write all the chores (I have a collection now and just put the appropriate ones in) down and put the slips of paper in a jar. Each child will *draw* for their chores. Each time they draw, they will go and do that chore and come back to get another, etc. Even Evan has one chore that he does (4 for Emory, 4 for Erin, and 1 for Evan). You can do this based on the age of the child. For example, a 2 year old could do 2 chores, 5 yr old, 5 etc.

It usually takes us about 30 minutes to do all the chores because I have to help them and guide them some.

Now, think that it will be better for me to just do it myself? Well, the first week was hard. I had to explain everything. How to put the clothes on the hangers and put them in the closet, how to arrange the pillows on the couch, etc. But, by this week, I have to do less and less explaining, esp because they are getting repetitive chores every day. Practice makes perfect. I envision that in 6 weeks, they can draw their chore, even read it themselves, and rush off and do it without my help.

If they do all their chores cheerfully and without complaint, they get to pick a piece of leftover Halloween candy. I will probably keep this up until the candy is gone and then they will just be expected to do the chore without a *tangible* reward. :o) Today, Emory didn't get candy because he did not pick up all the toys off of the bedroom floor. And then when I went in there to check on him, he was sitting on the bed, pouting. So, after the proper *training* method, he did the chore, but still didn't get any candy. :o)

My goal is hardworkers who work cheerfully. I do not want them to be my slaves and I will not treat them as such. But, everyone in the family should be required to do their share. It will make the family operate smoothly. If I start them young helping out then they won't look on it as work or drudgery. It will be a normal part of the day.

As for me, I'm still washing clothes, hanging out, dishes, cooking, etc., etc., :o) :o) Now, as they get older, it will be so nice to have a daughter stand beside me washing dishes and drying...:o)

What is your method or take on children doing chores?

Monday's My Day

2008-11-11T15:46:00.004-06:00

Wondering about my day?

We didn't get up until 8ish and it was very cold inside, which made us want to stay in bed. I got up, donned my slippers and built a fire. We have some very good lighter so it didn't take long to get the fire blazing. I wandered around getting nothing done until 9 or so and was feeling so frustrated about not getting anything done. So, I put my clothes on, shoes, fixed my hair and made a list. Those things always help me get going! I made a list of all the things I wanted to get done and separated them into hour blocks. Dishes, washing/hanging out clothes, making tea was in the first hour while the kids played. Second hour was chores for the kids, getting dressed for the kids, and our devotion/story time. Third hour was going to the store, lunch, and making a cake for my Father-in-law. Fourth hour was schoolwork, blogging, and cleaning off the front porch. The only one I got to was schoolwork. :o)

After the kids were up I made the cake (see the picture), which is a carrot cake and turned out scrumptious!! I also made supper (pork chops, corn, string beans, and biscuits) which didn't turn out too good because I was busy with the cake and also rushing because I had a piano lesson at 6:15. After my piano lesson, we went up to my in laws and celebrated my FIL's 58th birthday. We had a good time and didn't leave until almost 10.

Erin found a really cold lizard today that let her keep it. We even found it this morning too and warmed it by the fire. Erin, the nature, animal lover! :o)

That was my day.....Busy as EVER, but rewarding.

Simple Saturday

2008-11-11T08:53:00.003-06:00

Well, I'm posting this a little late, but never mind! :o) Hope you had a spendid Saturday--complete with all the good things that comes with having your family with you on Saturdays.

Just a few simple pictures from our Saturday...a simple meal of Chicken Fajitas that were delicious!! (new recipe) Also, several Saturdays I will be posting a picture of some of my favorite things. You want to do the same?

This is a tea set that I got at a yard sale a couple of months ago for $1.oo! No kidding! It is soo pretty and simple at the same time. My kitchen is painted the green color you see in the teapot, so it matches really well. I really love this tea set. It is one of the favorite things in my house.

Sorry the pics are soo blurry--I think my camera has gotten switched to a different setting by accident and I've got to figure out how to change it back!

More posting coming today, Lord willing...

Friday's Fotos

2008-11-07T15:06:00.004-06:00

Some bubbalicious photos of my kiddos!

PS. Someone had left the top loose on my body wash (Burt's Bees..you know that stuff is not cheap) so it was all in the tub when we took a bath. We decided to have a little fun! :o)

Thursday's Tip--my bread recipe

2008-11-06T10:54:00.004-06:00

I say "My" bread, but of course, I didn't invent it, the Amish did. :o)

Here it is and you can see what is left from yesterday out of one loaf.

Ingredients

2 cups warm water

2/3 cup white sugar

1 & 1/2 tbs active dry yeast

1 & 1/2 tps salt (don't skimp--I add a little extra b/c I use sea salt)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

6 cups AP or bread flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth (I just knead it in the bowl, if it is large enough, it will do fine...flip over, knead with your knuckles and flip over, etc...). Place in a well oiled bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. (I turn my stove on about 120 degrees..or the first setting while I'm making this and then turn it off when I put my bread in to rise..the stove will be nice and warm, but not too hot)

3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two well oiled 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy the yummy smell wafting from your oven!

Have a great Thursday--I'm off to our Homeschooling Thanksgiving Dinner in a bit. Gotta get the kiddos ready and mash up my potatoes on the stove. Today is a gorgeous day here--enjoy!!

What's going on Wednesday...

2008-11-05T16:03:00.004-06:00

Let's see....

We are all doing really well, enjoying our favorite season. The kids are growing, playing, bringing such joy to my life that I can't explain adequately. This morning, Evan called to me from the bedroom to come get him (he can get down by himself, but for some reason he wants me to get him out of the bed in the mornings). He was sooo warm and snuggly. I couldn't help but kiss him a thousand times, it seemed. The kids and I got back into my warm bed and I read them a story. It was a very nice moment.

What's going on here....

Bathroom renovations....still. :o)

Daddy is busy working and coming home and working some more at times. We all look forward to his coming home in the evenings and sometimes a 'surprise' during the day.

I am, as usual, cooking, cleaning, washing, washing, and washing, diapering, clothing, mothering, training, teaching, nursing, and all the while praying that I'm doing and saying as I should to my precious ones. Today as I was outside toddling after my toddler, I couldn't help but offer hands raised in gratitude and thanksgiving for my being home with my children.

I am teaching piano lessons and am enjoying it thoroughly--I added two new students this week, making my total 6 or 7?? I get all of my lessons done on Thursday evenings so I don't feel like my time is taken from my children too much.

Emory is doing great in school. We cut back our subjects, 3 one day and the other 3 the next. Six subjects in one day was too much for him. This is working great for us.

Today I went outside to check on the children and he was raking leaves, putting them into the wheel barrow. He had also stacked some wood at the front door. He made his bed without my asking and cheerfully did his chores. I was so proud of and thankful for him.

Erin is my playful one. She wants to play all day--and she does mostly. She becomes really engrossed in play and will play for hours at the time. She still isn't interested in learning her letters and numbers. LOL

Evan is sitting down beside me, playing with my camera, saying, "Cheese". He is saying a LOT of words. He is a joy to train and teach to obey. He is doing great in our mini training sessions. He loves balls and trucks and loves to play hard. He loves outside and can now climb up the slide and down by himself.

Today I have been baking--baking 2 loaves of Chocolate chip Banana Nut Bread and 2 loaves of White Bread. The kids did their chores, I talked to my sister on the phone for a while, and washed the hubs clothes. We are settling in for our evening routine...time to wake up Erin and punch down my bread. Then it will be time to get ready for church.....

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday evening!

Monday's My Day

2008-10-27T23:34:00.004-05:00

Hello, dear friends, how are things in your world? The weather has turned off crisp and very cool this evening. At this moment, I have my socked feet buried in between the couch cushions where they are searching for warmth. Don't you love the changing of the weather, though? It reminds me just how so not boring God is.
I suspect that we will fire up the logs tomorrow in our fireplace for our first fire of the cold snap. I love to have the wood-burning fire place going with the logs snapping in the heat. Oh my, it is going to be nice being home this winter, keeping the 'home fires' burning, coming in and drinking hot cocoa after playing outside with the kids, getting on a pot of soup and warm bread ready for supper, wiping cold, runny noses, getting to enjoy the Christmas tree all throughout the day, baking more Christmas goodies, getting ready for family and church get-togethers without having to rush, rush, rush, and fix something at the last minute. Yes, God has granted me the desire of my heart. Has He granted your's? Are you allowing Him--perhaps having a little faith in the matter? I pray you will. He would love to give you the desire of your heart, especially if it is the pleasure of your staying home with your precious jewels. In fact, if you're not staying home with your precious jewels, won't you pray and see if you are truly pleasing God in putting your children second best to your job? I did it--put them second-best--and it hurt so desperately for me to admit that--I tried every way to keep from admitting that they were second best. I loved them more than I did my job, but I was still not putting them first. I was with my job more than with my children. I was not even putting my husband first. I could not wash his clothes, cook his meals, be prepared as a wife as I needed to be for him and still be married to my job. I appreciate the Lord allowing me to have a wonderful job that I loved and so enjoyed, but I'm so glad that he gently tugged on me and invited me to come home. :o) He is so good. It is so good to be home.
Well, what went on at my home today? First of all, we got up around 8ish to a chilly morning. My wonderful husband took off today so he and his dad could speed up the bathroom renovations a little. It was so nice to have him home, even if he did spend more time with the bathtub than with me. :oP Just to have him around is so, so nice. They got to work pretty fast and I cooked them up some Oatmeal Muffins, which were so good. Mom volunteered to keep the children so I could help with the renovations, if needed, and also so Evan could nap (his sleeping area is right next to the bathroom). I got them seen off with mom and got started on my day. My house was near disaster, being Monday and all (Sunday is REST day..) so it took awhile just to straighten it up. I started with the Living room, taking stuff back to their proper rooms, fluffing the pillows, sweeping, and even mopping. Then I moved on to the Dining Room, doing the same. Next came the kitchen, where I washed dishes, wiped off the counters, and swept. By this time, it dinner-prep time, so I began getting ready. I made Meat Loaf and while that was cooking, I cut up potatoes for mashed potatoes. To finish it off, I warmed up some String Beans from yesterday's dinner, and cooked a pan of cornbread. We had Cherry Torte for dessert (also leftover). It was a satisfying meal and there wasn't much left! :oP We were glad to have my FIL eat with us. After dinner, I washed up the dishes, straightened up the kitchen, etc. You know today is Bed linens wash day, so all this time, I am washing bedclothes, hanging them out to dry (it was a wonderful day to hang out clothes), and putting them on the beds. Emory stayed today to 'help', so I did some schoolwork with him (having to 'motivate' him on several occasions). My mother-in-law came by to see the progress (which, indeed, involved putting the bathtub in the bathroom and doing some plumbing) and she helped me get the beds made and took Emory with her to her house. I put up my laundry from last Thursday (my clothes) and then worked on the kids' room for a while (it is always TERRIBLE on Monday). I finally called mom around 6 to see why she hadn't called, turns out she had been trying for a WHILE and the phone was dead, so it wasn't ringing. Anyway, I think she was initially upset, but she is over it now (can't help what can't be helped) and I got the kiddos back. Picked up Emory from his Cartoon daze (I was pretty upset at him because he was watching some teenage cartoons that we definitely don't let him watch) and brought him back home. I fixed Chocolate chip whole wheat pancakes for supper (pretty good--way too rich, IMO) and Erin and I had goat milk with ours (my mom is back getting goat milk for us..yay) which was pretty good after I strained the curdles out of it. :o)
Now, everyone is in bed (as they should seeing it is 12:00am) and the house is getting really cool. My house looks soo cozy this evening. It is really clean, the lamps are on, my children are sleeping peacefully, my husband loves me and is going to be so warm in the bed (he is my heater..I'm like an ice cube) and why in the world am I still on here? :o)

See you tomorrow, Lord willing. I can't decide if I'm going to blog on Procrastination or Modesty. Hmmm....be sure to come back for a visit.

Love to all!

Friday's Fotos

2008-10-18T00:43:00.004-05:00

Just a few photos from our week...mostly from Monday...stocking up on firewood, building a birdhouse with Emory (daddy did--found out later that it shouldn't have been painted red), cousins playing, an extra of Evan, and some homemade doughnuts I made. :o)

Enjoy the cool temps tonight! Brr....

Thursday's Tip--Laundry

2008-10-16T15:45:00.003-05:00

Do you have a laundry schedule? If you have a medium to large family, you may find that you need a schedule to stay on top of the laundry (before it piles on top of you). :o) I consider our family medium-sized and it is so easy for the laundry to get 'piled' up if I don't implement a schedule. Here is my favorite laundry schedule which I have been implementing for about 5 or 6 months now:

Monday: Bedding day--I wash all sheets and pillowcases. Every 4th wash, I will wash my quilts and other blankets we have on our beds. Every 8th wash I will wash my comforter on my bed (it is easy for me to keep up with 8 washes for some crazy reason).

Tuesday: Kids' clothes--I wash Erin's and Evan's clothing together because their clothes are smaller. However, I noticed the past 2 washes how huge the load is, so I may be having to separate their washes into individual washes before long. After their large load, I wash Emory's clothing.

Wednesday: Husbands' clothes--This takes 2 large loads because his clothes are larger than the others'

Thursday: My clothes--still usually takes 2 loads

Friday: Towels/Washcloths--sometimes takes 2 loads, it is according to how many baths we have taken during the week :o) I also do bathroom rugs every other week on this day.

*I wash everything together--I don't separate whites from darks. I rarely ever let my clothes sit in the washer for long periods of time, so the colors don't have a chance to bleed. When I notice my whites getting dingy, I just pick a day to bleach the T-shirts, socks, etc.

*I hang everything out on the line except Towels/washcloths, unless it is cloudy or really humid.

I also use my own homemade laundry detergent and have done so for a year or more. It is really easy to make, super cheap, and is a great detergent. I only have to make it every week and a half or so. Here's how I make it:

Grate 2 bars of Ivory soap ( I use unscented but last time picked up lavendar by mistake--it has added a nice smell to my laundry)

Add 1 cup of Borax (this is in a box found with the laundry detergents)

Add 2 cups of baking soda

Store it in a plastic container (I use a rubber maid brand small container with a lid) and shake until it is evenly dispersed. Now, enjoy the satisfaction you will receive from making your own detergent. No harmful chemicals or irritations for your body.

Once you get into a routine you will enjoy doing laundry!! It can even be therapeutic! :o) Now, if dishes were that way.....

Have a nice Fall evening!

Thursday's Tip--A Plethora of Breakfasts

2008-10-09T23:33:00.003-05:00

Dear Friend, do you struggle with what to cook your dear ones for breakfast? As you know, breakfast is a very important meal, probably the most important one for the day. Breakfast shouldn't really be a heavy meal, per se, but it should be really nutritious. So, the sugary, cheap cereals are out, right? Yes, that's right--so are the PopTarts and the Toaster Strudels (I used to love those things!). These are processed foods. They have tons of sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives in them. Things foreign to your little ones' bodies. Now, I'm sure occasionally (think once or twice a year), you wouldn't see any harm done from eating the above mentioned foods (if you could call them that), but leave it as a rare treat.

Today's tip is to give you some ideas of what to cook for breakfast--now that you know not to buy cheap, sugary cereals. If you like, have a cereal morning--we usually do this for Sundays. It's quick and doesn't require much preparations. However, make sure your cereals are as natural as possible. We like the Cascadian Farms or Kashi brands. These are natural (and yummy) cereals with no preservatives. Preservatives will be listed as BHT in the ingredients. They may be a little more pricey (not much, though), but if you have cereal only once a week, they will last at least 2 Sundays! :o)

On Saturdays when your hard working husband is home, cook him the Breakfast Bar. :o) Grits, eggs, biscuits/toast, bacon, the works. He will love it. :o)

During the week, serve some of the following breakfasts: Breakfast casserole (this is mostly eggs, which are very healthy in protein and Omega 3s)--recipe can be found just about anywhere, Egg Omelets (I add a little buttermilk to my eggs, before I fold it over, I add cheese, cut up mushrooms and a little ham), Fruit Salad (cut up apples, bananas, pears, grapes, oranges, add some raisins and a wee bit of coconut, if you're really lucky, mix up some cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla and put in with the fruit....YUM-O), Hashbrowns (this morning we had hashbrowns and Salmon...very healthy...cut up a couple of potatoes into small pieces, cook in a small bit of healthy cooking oil, add some salt and garlic...put a couple of pieces of Salmon in the skillet...sprinkle some lemon pepper on top..cook about 6 or 7 minutes on low heat..yum), Muffins...our favorites are Blueberry Muffins, Banana Muffins, and Oatmeal Muffins, using leftover Oatmeal...all are yum and I can post recipes if wanted...this may not sound very healthy, but you can make all these muffins from scratch...you KNOW what is in them, unlike the premixed muffin packages, Oatmeal...the old standby...VERY healthy...don't buy the packages unless you read the ingredients...just get the plain ole oatmeal, cook it, add some maple syrup and raisins, GREAT filling breakfast...you can also go to Candy's website at Keeping the Home and get her Baked Oatmeal recipe, it is sooo good. How about Pancakes? Wouldn't that make your little ones smile? Pancakes have always been my favorite Breakfast food. Mix 1 cup of AP flour, 1 tp salt, 1 or 2 tp Baking pwder, 1 cup milk (reg or buttermilk), 1 egg, and you have a great pancake recipe, from SCRATCH. Stay away from premixes! They put caseinate and other things in the boxed kind, which can cause food allergies. DO NOT use artificial flavored syrups. The only kind of good syrup out there on the shelves is Maple Syrup. Make sure it is 100% Maple Syrup. It is the real deal. It is pricey, but aren't your kids worth it? If you only have pancakes once a week, a bottle will last you a few weeks. Scrambled Eggs and Toast never fail. Better yet, put the eggs ON the toast, add a little mayo and that's a great sandwich! Have you tried French Toast? Mix up 3 eggs, add some cinnamon and a little sugar (no more than a tp) Dip some bread (preferably homemade, but yeah, I know...:o) in the egg mixture and 'fry' in the skillet that has a little butter (NEVER use margarine, EVER) or olive oil in it . Top with a small dollop of butter and maple syrup and mmm, mmm, good!

Well, there's you some ideas for some fresh, EASY, from-scratch breakfast foods to get you cookin'. If you don't have time for anything but prepackaged, put the kids at the table while you bake. The smell will keep them there. :o) Or, you could set out some coloring books, crayons, blocks, or some old, new toys for them while you cook. Or, you could set the youngest ones on the counter to participate or be a spectator! Mine love to do this. Watch out for them, tho! :o) Accidents can happen quickly!

I'll leave you with a pix of my dear one, Erin, picking some Huckleberries off of our tree. I loved the pigtails. I think I'll do her hair like this every day! :o)

Have a great breakfast tomorrow!

Wednesday's What's Going On?

2008-10-08T23:38:00.003-05:00

Hello, dear friends. Autumn is definitely here and after yesterday's few inches of rain, today has been cool and breezy. Crisp. Don't you love it when the weather gets crisp? Today Evan and I mowed a little grass and the crisp wind hit our face and it was enough to make me say, Ah, Thank you Lord for the different seasons! One thing God isn't and that's Boring! :o)

So, what's going on with us? Well, life is busy and going at the speed of light. Every day we make memories, laugh, cry, stress, are at peace, and in the midst of it all are busy. I enjoy the routine things we do: the making of the beds, the hanging out of the clothes (I so love this, it's therapy), the reading of the Word with my children, the reading of Black Beauty, the fixing the lunches and breakfasts, hearing my children say the blessing, the scooter riding of my son (in the house, every day), my daughter playing with the kitten most of the day, imaginative play coming from my kids' room, changing the baby's diaper, consistent nursings, watching my baby shake his head after he eats something he doesn't like, learning to read with my oldest, saying prayers at night, bathing, tucking in, hearing my little girl say, "Is it time for you to lay with me?" :o) All of that makes a day just so wonderful.

What's new going on with me? Well, this week I am starting to take a Probiotic called, ThreeLac. It is supposed to help or get rid of the overgrowth of Candida Albicans in the body. Candida overgrows and takes over the good bacteria when one takes antibiotics and/or has stress, eats too much sugar, etc. Some signs of it include Irritable Bowels, Fogginess (Brain fog, anyone?), Stomach cramps, Allergies (ME!!!!!!!!!!!) and Asthma (ME!!), skin rashes (ME, too), and other symptoms. Mostly everyone has it. Anyway, I'm giving some of the probiotic to Emory too. He has some of the same symptoms as I. I have also started taking Flax Oil capsules for the Omega 3s and giving the kids Cod Liver Oil for Omega 3s and other benefits.

Hmmm...what else? Oh, I got me some new glasses last week and I really like them a lot. It has been years and years since I had a new pair and mine were so outdated. I'm enjoying the new 'look'.

Emory is learning, learning in his schooling. He is reading more each day and learning about stuff in HIstory that I never learned about (pyramids, mummies, that sort of stuff). He can do a page of adding in no time. He is really good at math.

My little princess of a darling is soo much fun to be around. She is getting taller as I have noticed she can look at herself in her mirror. Tonight she was taking off her shoes and her dad and I commented on how she had left her shoes off all through church. We were so proud of her. She grinned and gave us a 'thumbs up'--except it was her pointer finger. LOL.

Evan has been 'counting'. I can't believe it. He loves to play outside with the others. He will get right in the dirt with the other two. I can sit back and relax more and watch them play together. He is starting to copy them. Tonight in church, they had FunPads to draw and color in...well he had to find him one as welll. He is growing up and learning some new words!

I have this huge bouquet of flowers growing in a stick pile in our field. They are gorgeous. We went and picked a bouquet and I'll leave you with a picture. We also picked some pears from our trees and I *hope* I get around to peeling and slicing them before they rot!

What else? Oh, we gave our new puppy away to a good home. I really missed him the first couple of days he was gone. He is a *hog* dog so we gave him to a little guy that hunts hogs. He is my former student and I think he will take good care of him. :o/

Tonight was Fried Pork Chops, Garlic cheddar Mashed Potatoes, Peas, and cornbread. Dessert was Pecan Pie Muffins. It was a pretty nice supper! We had to rush at it before time to get ready for church.

Gotta go to bed if I'm to get up again with my sweet husband. God bless you, dear readers! :o)

Monday's My Day

2008-10-06T16:04:00.005-05:00

Well, time to get back to blogging....

Come onto my front porch, sit down, and let's chat!

I have not been keeping to my getting up before the sun rises routine. I found that I would have about one 'good' prayer time/Bible reading per week and the rest I was falling asleep, incoherent. I am learning that what works for some may not work for me. So, for now, I'm getting up around 7ish and getting my Bible reading and prayer time done during the day. Sometimes, I will feel the 'urge' to pray at no certain time and I've found that works for me best. That is truly when the Lord meets with me the most--when His Holy Spirit gently nudges me to get down on my knees. Anyway, live and learn....

I do wish I was better at getting up with my husband and ironing and fixing breakfast, etc. I am such a failure in that dept. I guess if he minded too badly then I would get up and do it, huh? ;o) He is just too nice to get me up from my peaceful sleep. :o) I know my mom and MIL both get up with my dad/dad-in-law at 4:00/4:30. Well, I'll just try to do better. That's what we can do, right?

Today's chores have been: doing our bedding laundry, drying outside, putting back on the bed, general picking up, wiping down appliances including washer and dryer (I got a 'new' one over the wk end), cooking, and just general picking up (did I say that already???)

Today's menu included: Oatmeal with maple syrup and raisins, Salmon and bake potatoes for lunch (the BP were already in the frig), and for supper we will have Black Bean and Salsa Soup. I can post recipes if anyone is interested.

Actually, tonight is our monthly ladies' meeting and we are taking finger foods. I am taking Apple dip and Apples: Two pkg Cr Cheese, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tbs of Vanilla. That's it. Yummy!

The kids have been playing and playing today. In fact, I did a lot of their normal chores because they were so busy playing that I hated to disturb them. I don't feel bad about this. :) I love it when they play. At one point, all of them were playing in the dirt. Even Evan. Their play was very imaginative today. That's what I like.

My MIL got Erin a Tele-Tubbies outfit at a yard sale (which I don't like Teletubbies, but my kids do) and she wore it for 3/4ths of the day. I'll leave you with a picture of her out playing in the dirt in her outfit! LOL It was hilarious.

We are so enjoying our new pastor and family! Wow, we heard some great preaching (some from the nursery...ugh) this weekend!! Anyway, things are going great with them and we are soaking in the unadulterated Word of God being preached (not that it wasn't before, you kwim).

Okay, well we have some more schooling to do...Emory wants a plum peeled (my kids have been eating tons of fruit today)....and I need to finish my soup for supper.

Lots of love to my readers!

Taking a little break...

2008-09-29T20:19:00.002-05:00

Blogging requires thinking and I haven't been able to do much of that lately for some reason. Maybe my body was anticipating this bug that I have today??? My kids have had a one day bug with stomach aches and headaces and yours truly started getting it today. This stuff is BAD. Right up there with the flu. I told my hubby I was sorry that I had not sympathized with the kids more. He informed me that as an adult, I probably have it worse.

Weird bug, this is. Started out with some nausea and a minor headache. The nausea subsided and the aches came on, full force. I kept trucking it, albeit slowly. When the kids all laid down, I laid down as well (with Em). Hubby came home early and took over (even cooking supper). :) I thought I might be feverish, but took temp and it said 98.8. But, now I am *burning up* and sweating, so I know I had a fever. Weird, eh? Extreme aches and fatigue.

Ugh...I hate all these different kinds of bugs. Well, I hope tomorrow is better since I have to play for a funeral and sing. Don't think I could croak out anything at this point. My mom has the kids...Evan hasn't felt well today either--he may be feeling the same as me, but I *know* he is doing some major teething.

Well, hope to be back to posting regularly when the brain fog has lifted.

Wednesday's What's Going On?

2008-09-24T22:22:00.003-05:00

Here's what's going on...

*Cooler Temps! :o)

*I cooked Chicken n' Dumplings for the first time today..Yum! :o)

*We have too many pets. :o?

*My early morning risings have caught up with me. :o/

*My kids got on my nerves a few times today. :o/

*My husband is still the greatest ever! :o/

*I washed his Digital Voice Recorder today in the washing machine. :o/

*He didn't get upset with me. In fact, I don't remember him ever getting really upset with me. :op

*Evan sounds hoarse.

*God answered a prayer for us last night. I prayed that Erin would have peace and go on to sleep (she has been waking up several times in the night being scared of the dark). She slept all. night. long. She also had a sinus infection beginning yesterday and she was fine today. God is SOOO good. The good part is I really felt like God was answering the prayer when I prayed it. It was really neat.

*I washed a mountain of dishes today. I also bleached my counters.

*I didn't sweep my front porch and sidewalk.

*My van is still a wreck on the inside.

*I got yet another piano student.

*It seems payday will never come. :o/

*I'm excited about Sunday when our new pastor takes presidence.

I need to go to bed now so maybe I can stumble out of bed and not fall asleep during my prayer!!

Tuesday's Topic--Criticism

2008-09-23T10:15:00.003-05:00

Today I felt like blogging about something I struggle with--criticism of others. In fact, I think it is a characteristic that plagues women a lot more than it does men. I feel this is because women like to size themselves up to others and we like to size others up to ourselves. How do we measure up to others? How do others measure up according to our standards?
Now there are several meanings of criticism, but the one to which I'm referring is this: "The act of passing judgement; faultfinding." How many times do we find fault? How many times do I find fault in others?

There are two ways of criticizing (using the definition I stated above). One way is verbally and the other is mentally, in our minds. I really don't know which one I do the most. It is easier to criticize others when you are around certain people. If you are around your friends and those with whom you feel most comfortable, you might be more at ease to 'speak your mind' and get an affirmation from that person than say, a stranger. It might even seem fun. Our minds seem to be 'to ourselves' so we can criticize all day and no one will ever know. Right? :o/

How does criticism make us feel? At first, it makes us feel good because we are A. elevating ourselves above others and B. covering our own faults by revealing another's. What happens after the 'high' is gone? We start feeling like we probably said too much, or we probably should've not said some of the things we said. If one feels like this after criticizing, that's good. It means there is still a conscience! :o)

What does the Bible say about criticizing? A lot. Here are a few verses that I really need to commit to memory and pray the Holy Spirit will bring them to mind when I'm tempted to criticize:
The famous one: Matthew 7:1-5

Matthew 7
1Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Now some liberals today will say that this means tolerance for everything and everyone. This is not what these scriptures mean. The Bible went on to say in verse 16, "Ye shall know them by their fruits". As true Christians, we should be able to observe others and tell by their fruits what they are. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit". I think these scriptures are referring to fault finding. How many times to we criticize others for things that we are guilty of as well? Could it be that we can't see our own faults? Proverbs 30:12 says, "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." I want to see my faults. I pray the Lord will reveal them to me so I can crucify the flesh in specific areas.

Has being critical of others ever resulted in your getting into trouble? It has me. Especially when I was a teenager or younger. I would criticize someone with another and they would go back and tell them--you know the game. Proverbs 21:23 says, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles". I think about the trouble I could've spared myself if I had've kept my mouth shut. :o?

There are several additional scriptures in Proverbs that I could blog about, but for the sake of time I'll just mention the above.

How can we keep ourselves from finding fault? Crucify, crucify, crucify! Deny yourself the 'pleasure' of finding fault in others. It will take the Holy Spirit helping you AND practice. Start with your thoughts. YOU have control over them, ultimately. When you think negatively about someone, ask God to help you replace that thought with something good. When you've done this for a few days, you will find yourself doing it verbally. If you feel you MUST say something regarding someone, tell it to your husband-- if it is just something you can't get off of your mind and it is more of an 'issue' instead of fault finding.

Have I arrived? NO! The Lord is working on me though. Oh, and I thank Him so much. My prayer has been lately a fervent one: Lord, help me to crucify the flesh DAILY, minute by minute, hour by hour. We must 'die to self' to allow Christ to ultimately REIGN and live in our hearts. The work He wants to do can't be done if we are living to and for self.

I'll leave us with this scripture: "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" Proverbs 16:24. Have you said anything pleasant about someone lately? Try it. I will--I sure could use some honey! :o)

Have a blessed day! I love all my blog readers! :o)

Monday's My Day

2008-09-22T22:38:00.003-05:00

Happy Fall to everyone! I do believe this is my favorite season! I love, love fall. The cooler temps, the crisp air, the pumpkins..ha, I love it! I makes me want to cook a pot of soup, curl up with a good book and a nice comfy blanket and ah...relax and breathe in the fall air!

Well today you get a recap of my day, without pictures. It is a LOT of work to photograph every part of my day so I decided not to today. Maybe I can every other Monday. :o)

My day started early, 5:50 to be exact. The LORD has been waking me up to go to prayer with him for 4 days now. It has been wonderful. This is the miracle: I can't WAIT to get up and have my quiet time with Him. Amazing, huh? I pray that I keep the desire--the Lord has been really so near to me during my prayer time. I can't express what the Lord has done in my (our) lives in the past year. He's become so near to me! Anyway....:o) I had my prayer and Bible reading from Ezekiel 21-25...fairly interesting stuff. Emory actually woke up first and then the other 2 soon followed thereafter. My Dear one was sent off to work, bless him. I piddled around some, cleaned the bathroom, which should've taken me 5 minutes, but took me 30 because all of the kids were awake and demanding Mom's attention. I'm sure you know how it is. :o) Breakfast was eggs and grits, the kids had applesauce as well. Then, we set to work.

Now, how are Monday's at your place?? I don't do a whole lot on Sundays (most of the time not even making beds) so my house really needs straightening on Monday, especially the bedrooms. I don't do laundry on Sat and Sun so I have a huge pile of laundry usually by Monday, which dwindles down throughout the week.

This morning I gave my oldest two Four chores apiece to complete before we got started on our usual routine. Erin had to bring the trash to the big can, clear off the breakfast dishes from the table, wipe off the table, and take some blankets to her room. Emory had to take sheets to the laundry room, put them in the washer and begin the wash, and then they helped me move some books that had been sitting on the laundry room floor (for months!) to a 'new' bookshelf. I can't remember the other chore I had him do. Anyway, they were very helpful today. They played outside for a pretty good while, I hung my sheets out on the line and played with them some. Evan napped and we did our Devotions and read our chapter in Black Beauty. Emory started his school work for the day and did Spelling and Math. Erin colored a few pictures I printed off the internet for her.

All this worked up an appetite and I wanted to reward us for working hard, so we decided to make a cake. We (Emory and I did most of the work) made a Coconut Pound Cake, which is really yummm! I didn't let it cool long enough so it stuck to the pan some, but it's still good. Meanwhile, I fixed us some lunch which was frozen pizzas and chips. It was so not healthy, but we have a tendency to not eat healthy on the second week after grocery shopping. I run out of the healthy stuff and have to get cheap junker food. LOL.

After lunch, we had our 10 minute pickup which turned into a 10 minute pickup for the Living Room and a 10 or 15 minute pickup for the kids' bedroom. It was a disaster! In honesty it probably took longer. The kids were pretty helpful, of course, stopping every few minutes to play with a distraction. :o)

Erin took a nap and we started on our part two of homeschooling. We like to sit out on the porch and do the reading Lesson because Evan will play on the porch while we do school. Emory is on lesson 52 and doing great. I catch him trying to read other books now. It is so exciting that he is learning to read--I've always been so nervous and scared that I wouldn't be able to teach my child to read. Anyway, we were silly during the reading lesson. He learned the word, 'fog' and kept calling it 'fig' so I would make up sentences that used the word 'fog' but say 'fig' instead. For example, The ship blew the fig horn to warn other ships OR "I can't see because of the fig". It was funny and silly. Of course with 5 year olds, Once Silly, Always Silly. LOL For awhile, at least. We did Language (still on Proper/Common Nouns). He had to write down 3 family or friends' names to show capitalization in Proper Nouns and he chose me! :o) I was #3 on his list, but he still chose me. :o)

I kept falling asleep during the schooling (it really isn't boring, I was just sooo sleepy) so I decided to let Emory play on PBS kids while I took a nap. So I curled up on the couch and took a 20 minute nap (set my trusty timer). When I awoke, we got everyone loaded up to go meet daddy. Our trip was to Lowe's to get some bathroom faucets for our tub and sink. It was fun picking out something. We got faucets that cost in the middle of the road. Next was a trip to get diapers and then to get something to eat (Mexican). We looked around Petco for the kids and Em and I stayed at the Mice cage for the longest...laughing at the mice fighting over food and this one mouse kept getting stuck under the wheelie thing. It was a hoot.

Ev sacked out on the way home, after a little mama's milk and a diaper change. He is doing so much...saying, "See Daddy?" and just really getting involved. His latest thing this week is throwing everything into the garbage can. I have found a variety of objects in there lately! :o)

Well it's getting pretty late, but I wanted to check in. Hope I didn't bore you to tears--it's a lot more fun with pictures, isn't it? Well, you have a good night. God Bless!

Simple Saturday

2008-09-20T19:26:00.003-05:00

Well my mom had my children today (she gets the itch to keep them every 2 weeks or so) and I had many, many things I wanted to get done. I relaxed a little bit here and there, but basically, I was full fledge all day long. I cleared off some of the clutter from the front porch, swept behind chairs and benches, bleached the swing and the wood around the screened in porch, washed and dried my living room/dining room curtains, swept and mopped, wiped out my window sills, but my biggest project today was the shelf in the picture above. For several months now (could it have been a yr?), it has been husband's drop-off place. Now, I really didn't mind because a man's gotta have a place for his stuff and we just haven't designated a place. So picture knives, guitar picks, receipts (oh, tons of receipts), change (lots of coins), and etc. etc., in front of this beautiful crystal. That's the before picture. Check out the finished product! Now if I can keep it that way. Please share with me where you hubby keeps his stuff.....I'm thinking about a cabinet all to himself. :o)

I enjoyed my Saturday! It was just a simple Saturday.

Have a nice Lord's Day tomorrow.

Friday's Fotos

2008-09-19T20:04:00.003-05:00

How are you and your's this day? God has been so good to our family. I woke up early and sought the Lord and He is so faithful.

Here is a little reflection of our week. Today we went to the park and it wasn't too good--there were too many mosquitos and poor Evan fell into an ant bed and got several bites on his hand and leg! I was right there with him, grabbed him up and started brushing off like a mad woman. He didn't cry, and my hopes is that they won't itch him since he isn't messing with them.

1. First photo is of Emory and his first art project! I have it up in his room--it looks so good.

2. My cowgirl and all her beauty!

3. One of Erin's block creations--I love looking at the intricate details of the animal pens and the arrangement of the animals--Look at the men! I guess they are the night watchers sleeping on the job??? :o)

4. Just a pic of my living room--I rearranged the chairs this morning and I thought it looked really good. I don't know why I didn't do this arrangement earlier!

5. Evan at the park..what a cutie!

Happy Friday to you--have a great weekend!

Thursday's Tip

2008-09-18T22:09:00.002-05:00

Just a small tip before I head to bed....

If you don't have a timer, get you one! You can use your cell phone or stove timer as well. Set your timer for everything! Pick your least favorite chore and set your timer to complete the task in increments. For example, I really don't like washing dishes. So, I will set the timer for 15 minutes and wash. When the timer goes off, I will go get on the computer or do something else for 10 or 15 minutes. I then will go back to the dishes, etc. until the job is finished. You must obey the timer, tho! :o)

If the house has just gotten a little unkempt, set the timer for 10 minutes...you will be amazed at what you can pick up and straighten in 10 minutes time. Sometimes I will even set the timer to read the Bible.

It is a handy tool. You can get one at the dollar store!

Wednesday's What's Going On?

2008-09-17T22:37:00.003-05:00

Another Wednesday...time to post about what's going on at our house!

Let's see...

FALL is coming!!! It was really, really cool yesterday morning and this morning. I love it and say, Bring it on!

My wonderful husband has been working on the ongoing bathroom remodeling this week. I'm really not in a hurry to get it finished, there is no reason to be stressed over it--we have an extra bathroom.

My husband picked up a stray puppy (that's a way to get into my heart..:o) last week and we thought he was a woe be gone mutt. I took him to the vet last Friday to have him checked out, etc., and it turns out that he is a Catahoula Cur breed. He is a sweet, playful pup. His name is Tender Foot. :o) So, now with 3 cats and a dog, whew, it's getting crowded in the animal dept. :o)

My husband and I and our two great friends (husband and wife) sing together and have had several invitations to sing at different churches. We so enjoy singing together. We have a singing this coming Sunday.

I have another piano student which makes for a total of 4. I said I wouldn't take over 5. I really enjoy it and it's a good way to make a little extra money. God is so good. Dear hubby has picked up a guitar student too.

I joined a Sewing Club that will meet a couple times a month. I cut out my first pattern today. Isn't that crazy? My mother, the excellent seamstress and her daughter, who can barely sew on a button. :o) I have a cloth diaper pattern that I'm taking next week. I can't WAIT to make my own cloth diapers. Maybe then I'll actually use them. ;o) Anyway, it's a good time to get out and just enjoy sewing! :o)

Evan is officially walking now. He doesn't even crawl anymore. He is tee-teeing in his potty an avg of twice per day.

Well, I guess that's the bulk of what's been going on. Hope you'll drop me a line to let me know what's been going on in your house!

Homeschooling..

2008-09-16T23:25:00.003-05:00

Homeschooling is going really great. I am a teacher by profession, but more of one by heart. And the fact that I'm getting to teach (guide) my child(ren) is just the best feeling ever. I'm thankful several times a day for God allowing me and speaking to me about staying at home. It is my calling and I'm so glad I yielded to the call. I love everyday. Somedays are monotonous (sp?) and I really love the dependability of the days. But, anyone who has kids can tell you that there are really and truly zero monotonous days with small kids. Every day is so different and sweeter than the day before. I love being on a schedule, *knowing* what happens next in our day. The children know also and it keeps them from getting a little antsy and crazy. :o) We are not on a tight schedule, as in, "Oh, it's 9:30 on Thurs and I've got to scrub toilets this very minute". LOL In fact, I more than likely won't get to scrubbing toilets until I notice a line in the commode or start smelling urine. :o) But, I don't CARE!!! :o) My house is tidy and cozy and thanks to a couple of 10 minute pickups during the day, it stays fairly neat. We have a lot of fun, though. It's not *all* fun and games--I have to cook, sweep, laundry, yes, blessed laundry, etc., but I usually don't get too busy that I can't stop for a hug, a squeeze, a kiss, a little tag, you're it!

Back to homeschooling... In Spelling, Emory is just reviewing writing his letters now. I've had to really redirect him on this for somehow a few of his letters have been learned incorrectly. It would be so easy and less stressful for me to let him do it the way he's been writing them, but I don't want to water a seed of laziness or 'just anything will do' attitude. So, we've been writing correctly and rewriting correctly. :o) Math is still very easy for him now. He is just counting and writing how many, matching the number to the word, etc. It's a breeze. Reading is going good...we are halfway through our Reading book. I'm so excited to be finished and have him reading small books on his own! Language is through the Well-Trained Mind series and it is awesome. He has memorized one poem already and has learned the definition of a noun, how to distinguish between a common and a proper noun, etc. WOW. I taught fourth grade and I remember teaching that stuff! History is the same curriculum and it is advanced. This week he has learned about the Fertile Crescent, the first farmers, and the Egyptians. Guess who is learning with him??? Yup. ME!! We are memorizing scripture as well and are finally through with Psalm 1. :o)

You know today I was sitting there watching him work and what popped into my head was a thought that went something like this, "You know if I were teaching (or any teacher) out of this book, we would get about 3/4ths finished and the rest of the book would just be for naught." I have never finished a textbook in a schoolyear. I don't remember finishing one while I was in school. That is another huge plus about homeschooling. You can finish the schoolbooks. You can take your time, learn, and soak it ALL in. We can read all of our history book. It doesn't matter if we are still working on it next year--it won't be cast aside because it's a new year, time to get new books--we can finish it!

It still only takes us probably a little over an hour to do our schoolwork. It's amazing. I'm amazed. It shows me how much of traditional school is really devoted to learning. I think about a dear very intelligent student of mine I had last year in my class. She would finish early, rarely ever made under a 100 and spent most of her free time reading. At home, she wouldn't have to worry about the pressures of making a 100 and could advance herself without fear. She would get all of her subjects done in an hour or less. Think about that.

Another thing that I've been think on in regards to homeschooling is that I see a huge bond that has been created between me and my son. We are so close now and have such a special relationship! Little silly things we share, special praises for a job well done, he knows what I expect and I can see him trying hard to please me, it's just all good.

Daily I thank God for my calling and for my life right this moment.

Monday's My Day

2008-09-16T01:02:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I did a "My Day" post. This is a typical day for us. To enjoy this photo session, scroll all the way down until you see, My Day Part one. You will have to read from the bottom up. I'm sorry for this and worked hard to prevent this, but it still happened.

Thanks for looking!
Have a blessed day,
Natural Mama

Wow...part 7??

2008-09-16T00:43:00.002-05:00

Time to get the sheets on the kids beds too! They will sleep like angels tonight. :)

Ms. Snackeroo has to have some applesauce for a late night snack!

Our last little bather for the night!

Time for bed and time for mom to hit the kitchen with a vengence!

The kitchen is clean and it is 11:10...mom has been taking breaks to work on her blog. Little One woke up for some Mama's milk! Hope you enjoyed our day.

We sure did. God is so good. I'm am the most blessed. Ah....

Pt Six

2008-09-16T00:30:00.004-05:00

Let's put all the dishes in the sink. Wait are there some from the weekend too?? Well, I think I'll put them off a little bit longer. Go outside and play with the kids a bit. It's such a cool fall evening.

My mother in law comes over to show us the Saddleback Caterpillar that put my FIL in deep misery by its excrutiating sting! Interesting, huh?

Daddy works in the bathroom, our ongoing project. We are finally getting somewhere. He is such a hard worker!

Evan runs around with "Wocket in my Pocket" for about 10 minutes. It is so cute. I had been reading to the kiddos, so he wanted to show me that he could read by himself! :)

The bed is *finally* made--a couple of hours before it is time to crawl in...the freshly laundered sheets will feel lovely tonight!

Monday pt 5

2008-09-15T23:59:00.004-05:00

More bedding to go on the line....(Don't you just love seeing clothes and especially, quilts, hanging on a clothesline. It is such therapy for me.)

Sneaking in a few minutes of play time with Evan.....(this cat has hardly ever been touched by anyone..he is pretty wild...but Evan is determined to close in on him one of these days)

Oops, 4:00, better set out something for supper...how about yummy salmon?

Time to fold.........

**This is the transition time in our home...the kids wake up, mom is recharged and refueled, Evan starts getting fussy because he is getting sleepy again, but it is too near bedtime to put him down. Erin wakes up and immediately goes out to check on and play with her new kitten, Mr. Chief. Emory wakes up via Mama and gets on his scooter. He then decides he would like his 30 minute *Entertainment* time, so he is allowed 30 minutes to play his gameboy. Meanwhile, Evan is on the counter some, on the floor some, etc., and I'm making a delicious supper for my wonderful family.***

Here it is: Salmon marinated in Soy sauce, peppered down really good, Home fries, and Sauteed Squash. Simple but satisfying.

Monday Pt 4

2008-09-15T23:18:00.004-05:00

This is Erin, making her nest.

Boy, History, Language, and History can make one tired (you should've seen me in the pic with him--I tuckered out for a few minutes after cuddles)

Drug myself off of the couch for my Bible reading, Jeremiah 50-52. Did I really finish Jeremiah today?!? Woo hoo

Little one is awake and we settle down in the back so not to awaken the sleeping beauties. He in his rocker, sharing a few raisens while I fold a bit of surprise laundry that I discovered in the dryer from last week. :)

Monday's My Day Part 3

2008-09-15T23:01:00.003-05:00

Somewhere in here I spent about 30-45 minutes cleaning up the kids' room (with their help). It had gotten awful over the weekend!! You could barely see the floor. Ugh. I had a picture, but it obviously didn't download?

What a nice surprise, Daddy is home for a short visit!!! :o)

I round up a quick dinner, begin making preparations, with my Supervisor sitting on the counter! :o) I don't know how it is at your house during food preparations, but at mine, someone is going to be on the counter every time! LOL Notice that they still aren't really dressed for the day! :o/

Spaghetti, Yurm!! I ran out of reg noodles and had to use some whole wheat elbow noodles..I think I liked it better that way!

Daddy's gone, and life gets back to...hmm...getting in trouble?? See that marker spot on the door..that was Ms. Erin's creativity gone awry! The first 'trouble' incident of the day. Guess it isn't too bad. ha. She did have to scrub it up and clean the rest of the door that she could reach.

Time for some Mama's milk! Erin is resting at this point and Emory is chilling before his Reading and other lessons. (Sorry about the blur of this pic)

Monday's My Day Part 2

2008-09-15T22:26:00.004-05:00

Time to get the Living Room back in order...

Recess time while mom hangs out the sheets (even tho it was so not a good day to hang out clothes...very damp and even drizzling rain for a bit)

Let's come in for devotions before Evan wakes up... (Matthew 11:28-30.."Come unto me, all ye who labour and are heavy laden....." and Black Beauty, Chapter five & six...our current read aloud)

Emory does a little schoolwork, Spelling and Math

Monday's My Day Part one

2008-09-15T21:57:00.005-05:00

...It's just another Manic Monday!.... :o) Thought I'd share with you my day.

Last night, Evan had a bout of something that had him crying for about an hour--I think it was teething, ears, stomach or maybe all of the above?? I don't know. After some Tylenol and lots of prayer, he went to bed about 2:30. So...we slept until 8:30! Now, I like to get up between 6:30 and 7:00 and get the kids up at 8, but it was dreery out and the night before's events caused me to sleep late. So...we had a bowl of cereal, which I usually save for Sundays. Next, we got all the sheets off the beds. The kids helped rather cheerfully! I was proud. Evan got a diaper change while gnawing on the Tylenol bottle. While I straightened up my room and got dressed, look what transpired in the living room! :o) They had all the pillows and extra blankets for their cave! :o) Here I am dressed for the day. It is a little cool this morning, so I wore a thin sweater like shirt.

Simple Saturday

2008-09-13T15:34:00.002-05:00

A simple day. A simple meal.

Ahhh! I love Saturdays!

Friday's Fotos

2008-09-12T17:44:00.003-05:00

Here's a few snapshots of our week!

Emory & Erin dressing up

Erin digging for roly pollies

Evan checking out the trike

My clothes swaying in the breeze...

Thursday's Tip

2008-09-12T01:20:00.002-05:00

It's actually early Friday morning, but since I fell asleep on the couch and missed my usual posting session, I'll post now! :o)

Tip for ya:

If you are having trouble with your homeschooler being antsy, unattentive, and even quite bored or disgusted with schoolwork, review what he or she has done entertainment-wise for that day. Any TV? Any Gameboys? Any Highly Stimulating computer time or other activities? Schoolwork doesn't compete very well with those activities. The brain has been stimulated albeit while having to do close to nothing other than letting itself be stimulated and entertained, and now it's having to work! It's shocking to it! What? No moving pictures? No highly colored images? No little men jumping around? No action? Just white paper and wait...I've got to use that yellow long pointed object to put something on that white paper? Wow, that's a lot of work! :o) (That is the brain's dialogue, btw. :o)

Okay, so I've learned my lesson. My Aha moment. No Gameboys, computer time, OR TV until all schoolwork is done. And I've got to balance the entertainment. He doesn't do any probably half as much as *normal* 21st century kids, but still it's probably too much. They only watch a movie on Wednesday's (while I mop) and maybe on the road if we go on long trips. He may chose either gameboy or computer time AFTER his homeschooling session and complete activity for 30-45 minutes.

Just thought I'd pass on that tip for ya. Will be posting some pix for ya tomorrow! :o) Good night, er, morning.

Wednesday's What's Going on...

2008-09-10T21:49:00.002-05:00

Well, let's see if I can give a pretty decent mid-week report:

*Homeschool is going GREAT! I love it. It only takes us a little over an hour to do all subjects, not counting our devotion and read aloud. Emory is enthusiastic mostly. I stay on him when he gets lazy, not losing my patience, but gently guiding him and reminding him that he IS going to do his work. :o) He always does it and we have a good time when he does 'pick up his feet'. :)

*Speaking of homeschooling, I went to my first homeschooling mtg in the county and it was ok. It was pretty unorganized, but the president had resigned (b/c she was living in another state trying to run it all while her husband was working construction) during the middle of the yr last school yr, so that was understandable. We talked about several things, but didn't really decide on anything, much. I found about some extracurricular activities I can get Emory involved in, so that was neat (see next paragraph)

*Emory had his first Art class today at our County Extension office. It was pretty fun and way cool. He got to pick a clip art picture to paint on a 11 x14 poster. He chose a still life of a pear. It was relatively easy (I'm so glad he chose that) and he did great. I'll try to remember to post a pic of him and his artwork tomorrow. He will go once a month. They have sewing lessons starting next Wed and I plan to attend that. I have really been wanting to learn to sew. I mean SAHM and sewing goes hand in hand, right? ;o)

*Remember I told you a few posts down about trying EC with Evan? Well, since his first birthday, I'd been taking him to the bathroom after diaper changes, when I see him dry after awhile, etc. Well, he hadn't done anything and I was getting a little slack. I would just take him before bathtime. Monday night before bathtime, I noticed that he was still dry and it had been awhile since I had changed him. I sat him on the potty and he went! I was ecstatic!! He has gone FOUR other times on the potty since Monday night! :o) Woo-hoo

*Erin's funny of the week happened tonight. Our friend and current fill-in preacher was preaching about the 'Truth" and was near the end of his msg. Erin looked up at her grandmother and said, "Well I love the truth, but I don't want to learn the truth" :o) Cute (for now..hopefully she WILL want to learn it later).

*I have a slight sinus infection this week. I have soaked two tissues since I've been on the internet tonight. Ugh! I'm using the nasal spray, Xlear, and it sees to be opening up my sinus passages a bit.

*My husband got a good evaluation this week and gets a 2 step raise!! Woo-hoo. Praise God for that!

*Evan is walking everywhere and is cutting his 'eye' teeth. Yikes. It hasn't been pretty. :o)

*We have a new pastor, voted in Sunday night. We are pretty excited. :o)

I have truly enjoyed our week and all its busyness! Have a great rest of the week!

Nature Seens...

2008-09-09T16:09:00.002-05:00

I forgot to tell you all what came in my yard on Friday morning. I was wiping off the table and saw a cat stratching on our pear tree. So, I ccall my kiddos to come look at the orangy cat. It must've heard me because it turned around and stared at me. I knre instantly it wasn't a normal cat. Especially when it started walking away. I told my son to go get me the phone and he did. I called my husband and told he what we had seen and he said it sounded like a cougar. So, me believing it to be a cougar, went and loaded us into the van to go look up towards my neighbor's house. When we got up there it was there on the edge of the woods and when it saw me it sprang into the woods. Right after we got home, my husband arrived. We haven't seen it again, I don't think. Today as I was hanging clothes out on the line, I saw something in the trees, moving around and big enough to cause the limbs to lean over (I'm pretty sure it wasn't a squirrel). It had a blondish, long tail. It was pretty far down in the woods, but it caused enough commotion for me to notice. Anyway, a guy that works with my husband called the game warden and described it to him. He said it wasn't a cougar (they are endangered), which I knew it wasn't after I looked the animal up on the internet. Anyway, the man said it was called a Jaguarundi which is native to Central America (or maybe South?). Anyway, he said someone had brought a few up here and several ppl have been spotting them around the area. He said they aren't aggressive and like to eat things like small dogs,etc...?? I mean, if one will eat a small dog, it might eat a small child! :/ Well, the description fits to a T. It was a little larger than a house cat, definitely not more than 20 pounds, longer, and the whiskers were more prominent than a house cat. The tail was as long or longer than its body. Anyway, interesting, huh? We have being really careful going outside! :/

The next animal I saw was yesterday while cutting grass. This little arachnid, I think, was just God being extra creative and humorous! :o) I showed it to the kids today and we DID have a camera this time (didn't have one for the jaguarundi). It didn't show up very well, though, so I'm just going to get a pic from the web. We looked it up on the internet for Science, and it's called a Yellow Smiley face Crab Spider! Cool, huh??

God has given me an extra dose of contentment today! I'm so happy staying home and taking care of my children. It just feels so right, yk? He's given me patience and wisdom and I so don't deserve His goodness. I hope He continues!! :o) I want for nothing today! God's blesses are abundant and so meaningful to me. I was praying today and I said, "Lord, so many times you've given us material things (tangible, I think that's the right word) and they have been soo helpful..money, etc. But, I'm especially thankful today for the intangible things...patience, wisdom, love, virtue, etc." There is nothing more fulfilling than being in God's will!!

Well, it's hamburger steak tonight and I'd better go get started. Got a 6:00 piano student. :o)

Natural Products

2008-09-08T14:47:00.003-05:00

The day of our field trip we went by a really nice Health Food store. I love using natural products which is mostly what I use. Here is a picture of some things I stocked up on:

Jason Powersmile Toothpaste

'Green' Bug spray

Organic Grits

Organic, Natural Hair Gel (Giovanni)

Natural glycerin soap

Organic Aloe Vera Juice

Organic candy

I also bought the kids some Knudsen juice, but that is gone! :)

PS. In just a few minutes we will be leavning to go to our first county Homeschool Meeting. I'm SO excited!!! My mom has the younger two kids, so we have gotten in some good homeschooling today. I have cut a little grass as well. Just finished baking 2 loaves of yummy bread. The house smells too good to leave, but Emory is ready to meet other boys and girls who homeschool! :o)

More Pix

2008-09-06T10:32:00.003-05:00

I meant to post some more pictures of our trip last night and the baby woke up, so here are more pix of our trip yesterday.

Our First Field Trip!

2008-09-05T22:50:00.003-05:00

Ironically, we have started talking about Archaeology in Emory's History Lesson and my husband was in a city today that has Indian Mounds (Moundville Archaelogical Park), so we went with him. We called it our first field trip. We had a good time--it was slightly muggy and hot, but the kids didn't complain very much. As long as they had plenty to drink, they were cool. The mounds were really amazing. There wasn't much to see there, but one can let his or her mind really wander back to 1100 AD to imagine what was going on in this civilization of the Mississippians. Here are a few pictures from our day. OH! We stopped by on the way and got me a new digital camera. I love it!!! Hope you like seeing pictures...lol.

New Schoolbooks and new schedule!

2008-09-05T07:46:00.002-05:00

Emory got his new school books yesterday! We got Story of the World for History, Math workbook, Spelling Workout book, Language for the Well Trained Mind, and I'm going to order the Science through ABeka--my brother is a homeschool coordinator/seller, whatever. His Math workbook is first grade and he did 5 pgs on his own! There is not much in the first 3/4ths of the workbook that he doesn't know how to do! :o) The history seems a little advanced for 1st grade, but I'm just going to do a little every day and plenty of activities. We are very excited!!!

My schedule now is basically I try to get everything done in the mornings before the kids get up (so far I've started laundry, put up dishes, picked up in living room, changed trash, got dressed, and have breakfast in the oven). I'm about to clean the bathrooms which is wayyyyy overdue! I also stay up late to do anything that needs doing. I'm just going to focus on getting extra sleep on Saturdays and Sundays. :o) The only chores I do while the kids are up are making our beds and just doing table chores after we eat. Yesterday we had time to play a game--it was so fun! Here is a basic rundown of our schedule:

6:30--Me up
8:00--kids up
Breakfast
Table and counter clean up
Make beds, kids get dressed and straighten their rooms
Go outside for an hour or less
Read aloud (we are almost finished with Pinocchio) and Devotions
Reading with Emory, Erin colors or does a puzzle
Math with Both
Play time or Game time
Lunch
Listen to story on Record
Nap for Erin
Restime for Emory (I can get a few things done or rest myself)
Other subjects for Emory (science, spelling, language, history)
Computer time for Emory, Prayer time/bible reading for me
Start supper plans and play with Emory

We have unstructured time after Daddy gets home! :o) Just being together and chillin' is our goal! :o)

Evan naps at 10 and 3, most of the time
We have 2 10 min pickups during the day

Did you notice the lack of housework and the amt of time with kids? I love it. I do laundry in the mornings, dishes at night and the other chores in between times (oh, on Wed I let them watch a movie and I will mop the whole house at that time) I still sweep on MWF (just front of house) and Emory gets trash MWF, dusting and windexing is just when needed (when I can spell my name on my furniture...lol). I sweep off porch and sidewalk while the kids play outside or watch movie on Wednesday.

I love it!!!!!!!!

Wednesday's What's Going On?

2008-09-03T14:02:00.002-05:00

Thought I'd just do a post about what's going on...

***We got a new kitten from my dad which makes us a total of 3 cats. Erin named him Mr. Chief.

***Emory has some kind of bites all over him that made me think he was getting Chicken Pox. I have inspected the new kitten for fleas and only found 1, which seems normal for an outside cat. No one else has received any bites. I just washed the sheets on Monday, normal homemade detergent??? Anyway, I gave him some Benadryl this morning and he has been super sleepy. He finally went to sleep a few minutes ago on the couch.

***Evan is pretty much full-blown walking. He can even get himself up to the standing position and take off walking.

***We got to put an amt of money in savings yesterday and it makes me feel so relieved and thankful to have something in savings.

*** I won't get anymore paychecks after August. I'm okay with that. The Lord is taking care of us. I'm enjoying doing what God wants me to do.

***We are having Chicken Salad Sandwiches for supper. I'm also contemplating cooking a cocunut pie or something. YURM

*** I need to sweep my floors and mop before the children wake up. Also, I need to pray and perhaps read some more chapters in my Bible. I only got 1 & 1/2 read this morning due to children interruptions.

Tonight is church which I never dread. Well, that's all for now. I really need to get a subject to blog about! Sorry to be so boring. Oh, and my camera has to have some work done to it, hence the lack of pictures on my blog for awhile now.

Nothing to it...

2008-09-02T21:59:00.002-05:00

There was really nothing to the Hurricane our way. We had a little bit of wind and scattered showers...nothing really. It was uneventful, to say the least. I'm not wishing for something bigger, but I do like to see a little bit more wind. I have good memories of us as children being on my grandparents' porch watching the trees sway over in the wind during a Hurricane. I don't mind Hurricanes. Tornadoes, no way. I am really scared to death of tornadoes. In fact, it may be #2 or #3 or my fears list! :o)

Not much more to post, normal, good day. Evan is walking really good now and probably does more walking than he does crawling. He is really growing up! He jabbers all the time and acts like he is carrying on a conversation with me. It's exciting.

I hope Emory's schoolbooks come in tomorrow! I'm anxious and looking forward to getting started really well.

I got up really early this morning, so I'm going to go to bed pretty early. Good Night!

Weekend in Review..

2008-08-31T23:45:00.002-05:00

Even though I don't hold down a corporate job during the week, I still look forward to the weekends. I like having my husband home, enjoy us piddling around the house together, and I also quite enjoy the benefits of having dual disciplinarians in the home. :o) I don't stick to a schedule or have to do laundry on the weekends. I do basic pickups and cook a bit. We just enjoy being together. Some weekends are busier than others and we have obligations, but I do so enjoy those that require no special preparations or leaving the house unless we just want to!
My sister and her husband (and girls) are down for Labor Day Weekend, so we've visited with them a bit. Friday we went grocery shopping together and then Friday night our best friends' son had a birthday party and it was really fun. We love chillin' with our favorite people--you know people with whom you don't have to put on airs or anything--you can just be yourself. Those are the people with whom you have the best times! Anyway, Saturday, we slept in a bit (until almost 9!). I was expecting my sister to come over, so I started getting the house straightened and cleaned some. I got everything but the kitchen and took a break to cut a bit of grass (actually, I finished the whole yard). Then, the babies and I went to a bridal shower while Emory stayed and helped his dad work on a birdhouse and finish insulating the bathroom. After the shower, my dad took Erin and the rest of us (my neices included) to see some pigs (Erin's dream!). I came home pretty soon afterwards, cleaned my kitchen and my sister and her family came over. We decided to go over to my In-laws' to go swimming. My sister and I talked while we watched the kids swim. That is until I noticed my neice, who can't see very well, literally sinking in the deep water. My sister had Evan so I jumped in to save my neice. Whew! I finally just decided to stay in (the water looked tempting anyway! :), fully clothed and all! :) We later came back to our house, ate pizza, and chatted. It was a good and long day. I was proud that it was long, because I love long days if they are weekend days! :)
This weekend, we had a visiting preacher (upon whom we will be voting in the next week or so), and and he really did some great preaching. We still aren't sure how we feel about him as our pastor, but we are praying for God's will. It is just a serious situation--getting in a pastor. I almost wish churches could have a 'trial run' for the pastorship. :) Anyway, we are enjoying our long Labor Day weekend!
Tomorrow, the hurricane will hit the United States--projected around New Orleans. I know we will feel some affects--hopefully NOT tornadoes. They are scarier to me than hurricanes! Anyway, we are just to lots of rain and winds--Fay came last weekend. :o)
Emory had some behavioral issues this week--I don't know WHAT was the matter, but he was somewhat sullen and a bit rebellious. We didn't do schoolwork for a couple of days because he really easily frustrated and lacked enthusiasm. One day, I contemplated putting him in school, not because I didn't want to handle him, but because I was thinking maybe I wasn't doing the right thing--maybe he DID need to be with other children in a classroom setting. He seemed bored. I prayed long and hard on Thursday--I need(ed) so much wisdom. The Lord reassured me and I felt Him speak to me that I needed to take one day at a time, enjoy him, stop worrying and just make the best of today. Oh my, that helped me. God is sooo good. So, Friday, I went ahead and ordered him Science, Math, Language, and Spelling books. I am so excited about just digging in with fulltime homeschooling with him. I have workout a new schedule, which is more children-focused than before and I'm excited! I'm going to try to remember what I felt God impress me to think, "Don't worry about tomorrow, enjoy today"! I may have to put it on my frig! :o) There WILL be times that we have a bad day and may have to put off school for a day, but God is there to help us and I believe He will reward us for wanting to teach and train our children at home and in His ways.
Well, I have ants crawling over me from somewhere, so this will be all. Anytime after a rain, they will find some little minute crumb that can barely be seen with the naked eye and devour it. Ugh! Well, this is one crumb that can be seen that doesn't want to be devoured! :o)

Have a great Labor Day!

And the winner is...

2008-08-30T13:58:00.002-05:00

Patricia!

Congratulations! Please Email me at msc2001uwa@yahoo.com your address and I'll get the book out to you.

PS. I have read your blog a few times and I enjoy it.

Have a great day!

To my readers: plz remember us the first of next week, Hurricane Gustov will affect us from the way the looks.

Have a great weekend!

FREE Giveaway...

2008-08-28T14:15:00.002-05:00

I noticed on other blogs that occasionally, the blogger will have a giveaway! I also noticed that I have TWO of these awesome books on my bookshelf, so I want to give one away. All you have to do to play is leave a comment stating you want to enter the giveaway. You may enter until Saturday at noon which is when I will draw. I will notify the winner and you can Email me your info for me to ship the book out to you. Please do not play if you do not plan to read the book. I want to pass it on to someone who will read it. It is a GREAT book--possibly life-changing for you and your family.

PS. If you are just a reader and don't have a blog, now would be a great time to sign up for a blog so you can keep in touch! :o)

EASY Peanut Butter Cookies

2008-08-28T14:10:00.002-05:00

Okay, this week has been the week for me to post recipes, but if I find a good un' then I want to share! This recipe is SUPER easy and these cookies won't last past a day (unfortunately). :)

1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup sugar (if you are using natural PB, then use the whole cup, if it is reg PB w/ sugar already then use 3/4 cup)
1 egg
1/4 tp vanilla flavoring

Mix PB and sugar. Mix in egg and vanilla. Bake at 350 on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.

Very easy!

A must read....

2008-08-27T23:28:00.003-05:00

I have been working on this book for a few days. Last night I finally finished it (around 1am)--it is a wonderful book! It's a free download, so read!!

http://www.zealandpublishing.co.nz/womanhood%20book%20secrets%20of.html

Another Recipe...A Frugal one too!

2008-08-27T23:17:00.001-05:00

This has been a very lean week, financially speaking, so I've been fixing from what I had in the cupboards. I had bought a pack of split peas for 72 cents a couple of weeks back and yesterday I made this soup. Very yummy and quite filling!

Split Pea Soup

3 qts. water
1/2 lb. bacon, cut in pieces
1 lb. (16 oz pkg) dry split peas
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 c. canned tomatoes
1/4 tsp. cumin seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 med. onion, chopped
Put in slow cooker at night, ready for noon meal. Let cook on low all night. Very good. We also had this yummy cornbread:

My Mom's Cornbread (with my 'touches')
1/4 cup AP flour
1 & 1/4 cup Corn Meal
3 tps baking powder (or 1 tbs)
1 tp salt
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk (may need a littl more if you use buttermilk)
I add 3 tbs of melted butter (if you don't add the butter, put 1/2 cup of oil instead of 1/4)

Preheat oven to 450-500. Add a small bit (bout 1 tbs) of shortening (can use oil or drippings--depends on how healthy you feel that day..lol) to a cast iron skillet and place in the oven for shortening to get hot. Mix dry ingredients; add liquids. Stir well and take out hot skillet. Put batter into skillet (it should sizzle) and bake for about 15-20 minutes. You have some fine southern cornbread!! :o)

This meal probably cost less than $5.00!!

My Chicken Pot Pie

2008-08-26T08:46:00.002-05:00

I had Chicken Pot Pie on my menu for this week because I had some leftover chicken from the Chicken Salad I made last Wed night. I had trouble finding a recipe that didn't have Cr of Mr soup or Cr of Chicken (which I don't like to use b/c of MSG) and I did find one but didn't have access to a computer yesterday. SO, I had to make my own. It was yummy. First of all, I had some refrigerated chicken broth leftover from cooking the chicken the other day--so when you see chicken broth, that is from where it came.

Chicken Pot Pie

3/4 cup of cooked chicken (can use more, this is all I had)
2 cups of chicken broth (divided)
2 carrots, cut up
2 celery stalks, cut up
1/2 cup of English Peas (I used canned)
salt, pepper, garlic, poultry seasoning
1/4 cup of AP flour

In a skillet, saute raw vegetables in 1 cup of chicken broth. Add some about 1/2 tp of poultry seasoning. Add a little salt and pepper (I never measure). Saute until soft (for about 10 mins). Meanwhile, add a little garlic powder to cooked chicken (I don't measure--maybe 1/4 or 1/2 tp). Once vegetables are tender, add the vegetables to the chicken. Sprinkle the flour into the leftover broth and begin stirring immediatly with a fork. You should have the heat on low at this point. It will clump up some, but try to mash out the clumps with the fork. Slowly add the rest of the chicken broth, stirring and mashing the flour until it is mostly dissolved (I found I could quite get all the small lumps out, but that's ok). The mixture should be thickening. Add a little salt. After the flour is dissolved some and the mixture is thickened a bit, add it to the chicken/vegetables mixture. At this point you can put in the canned English peas (if you use frozen, you would want to put them in with the raw vegetables). Stir this up and make your crust.

For Crust:

2 Cups AP flour
2/3 to 3/4 vegetable shortening
1 tp salt
4 Tbsp. cold water

Mix shortening, flour, and salt with a fork or pastry blender until crumbs are pea size. Add water and pull together with a fork or fingers to form a ball. Roll out onto a clean counter and form into a circle big enough to cover pie dish.

Add chicken/vegetable mixture to a glass pie pan or a small casserole dish and carefully pick up your pie crust and put it on top of the vegetable mixture (it will be pretty thick--if it tears, you can mend it back pretty easily). Press the sides down around the edges of the pie plate.

Bake at 375 until pie crust is slightly brown--probably about 30 or 35 minutes.

Enjoy! You don't even miss the Cr of Chicken soup!!

Random...

2008-08-24T14:24:00.002-05:00

Today is the Lord's Day and I am trying to keep it low key--resting a bit. The kids are napping/resting, the Tropical Storm came through and left us with a cool snap, wet conditions, and breezy. It feels wonderful.
Some things I will be doing today is reading in God's word, working on our menu for next week, and making some brownies for our after church meal. We are hosting a new pastoral candidate this week, so we will be eating at the fellowship hall tonight after church.
I don't know if you are like this, but I like to have a new focus for each week. This week I'm going to focus on continue getting up before my kids do, making sure I have a good prayer session every day, keeping the house straightened, having good, meaningful devotions and good homeschooling with the kids, and tackling clutter!! That is what I really want to do. I have a good spot where I going to put all the clutter or things that have no place and then I'm going to sort through it all. :o)
Well just some randomness, but I wanted to have a new blog up!
Oh, I went to see my new neice and family this weekend (for a very brief visit) and she is beautiful and SO tiny! We had a nice time.

Me, Lord?

2008-08-21T14:25:00.002-05:00

My mom has the kids today--she wants to keep them once every 2 weeks or so--so you'd think I'd be busy getting lots of things done. But, I felt like starting my day off with Bible reading and Prayer. First of all, let me say that I do not claim to be Ms. Spiritual or anything of the sort, but I have been drawing closer to the Lord and have felt such an urgency to be exactly what God would have me be. He has been really meeting with me in prayer and I feel myself drawing closer to God.
So, I start with my Bible reading (Jeremiah 5-8) while jumping on the trampoline (think, physical and spiritual exercise coupled in one..lol). Then I go to my prayer room, which is our future homeschool room at the back of the house. God met with me there and we communed together. It was wonderful. I have been praying that God would make me a bold witness for Him. In my prayer today, I had a thankfulness and a longing for Heaven. I also had a strong feeling that the Lord is coming soon because of the fulfilling of the 'last days' prophecies. After my prayer, I just sat quietly 'listening' for the Lord and He impressed upon me to go see my neighbor. I don't want to say too much because I don't know who reads my blog, but they are nice, sensible people. But, all indications show that they are lost. In fact, the husband has admitted to me more than once that he knows he needs to get right with God. We pray for them all the time. But, today, I needed to go see her (the wife) and God told me what to say. Boy, do you know how hard that is? I don't even like to go to someone's house for a planned visit if I don't know them very well, much less an unplanned visit to someone I've only talked to in passing? Well, I thought about it for an hour or so (my dear husband came to visit me and bless his heart, I was so preoccupied in my fears) and finally it was like God said, "Go" and I went. I opened my Bible before I went and oh my, the verse I read was this," He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me, He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Matthew 10: 40-42. Wow, I mean that was for me!
I admit, I prayed that she would be outside so it would be easier, but I really felt like I would have to go up to the door and knock. I walked by the trailer one time and walked all the way to the end of the road and finally on the way back I went up to the door and knocked. She came right away. I asked if the dogs bit (they have several hunting dogs who barked ferociously at me) and she said "No" to "come on in". Well, I got to the point and said that I didn't want her to think I was a freak or anything but I had been down praying and the Lord had impressed upon me to come and tell her that she and her family were in His thoughts and He loved them. I told her I didn't know where they were at spiritual speaking, but to know that I just didn't go to ppls doors and tell them about God, that God had impressed upon me to do so. She said a few things but I didn't really hear her, kwim? She was glad I had come and said that we all go thru rough times, etc. She appreciated me coming and then we just started talking and talked for about 30 minutes or so. We had a good time and she is a lot of fun. I planted the seed and now God can water it, you know? I've been praying that God would help me to just exude joy from my life that others can see Christ in me by being around me or talking to me. Oh, this is my prayer!
Anyway, I'm not pinning roses on myself in any way--this was very hard for me to do and I wanted to share about it on my blog. Get close to the Lord and he will use you. You will be glad that He did. Even though I was really nervous, I was so glad that the Lord would speak to me to tell someone that He loves them! The world is dying and going to hell and if I'm a super-spiritual Christian and I never tell anyone about Christ, what have I done?? The super-spiritual don't mean a thing if I never shine as a light for Christ. God is so good to me and I want to be willing to do what he has for me to do.
Later on, I'll post a couple of yummy recipes you'll want to try! Stay tuned....

Night Owl

2008-08-20T07:18:00.002-05:00

My middle child, Erin, is about to be renamed, "Night Owl". For the past 3 nights or so, she has been awake when we went to sleep and has gotten up to play or to come in our room sometime during the night. This morning before the alarm went off, we heard something in the living room. It was her--leaving out of the living room and going into her room!

She gets up usually from 8-9 and naps for 1.5 to 2 hours a day. She doesn't go to sleep until after 10 every night. In fact, I don't know what time she has gone to bed for the past 3 nights.

She is really scared of the dark. They don't watch anything scary nor do we talk about scary things. She is just scared of the dark. We leave lights on, but then she can see to play. We discipline her if she gets up without an emergency, which she will sometimes 'make up' one.

Well, this is our new dilemma with her. If you've been thru similar, feel free to share advice. BTW, she NEEDs her nap because she gets really whiney and ill. I have awakened her after 1 or 1 & 1/2 hrs. every day this week so she doesn't get too much sleep at nap time.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Today's chores:

Husband's laundry

Put up childrens' laundry

Sweep and Mop Living and Dining rooms

Change Trash

Sweep off Porch

And if my mom keeps my kids for awhile, I will finish mowing the grass

Decluttering the extra bedroom (Project)

Homeschooling:

10 minute Bible Study with kids (I take a scripture or two and we discuss it)

Read Aloud (currently reading "Pinocchio")

Emory--writing worksheet (letter 'X'), practicing subtraction, copywork, & Reading Lesson

Erin--recognizing numbers 1-5, practicing writing the letter 'E'

Menu for today:

Breakfast: Pancakes w/Maple Syrup

Lunch: Tuna Sandwiches

Supper: Chicken Salad Sandwiches (church night--quick supper)

Well, I better get busy before the little ones awake! Have a blessed day!