Where Did April Go?

It's a little after midnight here in Texas, which means it's the last day of April.   Where did April go?
I can't believe we're heading into the fifth month of this year already!  I want time to slow down!  Funny how we spend our teen years longing for the days when we'll be "old enough" and our adult years wishing time would slow down.

What About Wedneday?

Last week I was trying to come up with titles to go with the different days of the week, but this week they all sound stupid!

I'm not into the "Wordless Wednesday" thing, because it's a blog - I need to use some words!

So, here is my attempt at a "Wednesday" post, although it's really just about life and not about anything having to do with Wednesday:)

I'm tired.......

Monday night we finally got some much needed rain.  However, it showed up around 4am with it's friends - Thunder & Lightening - and kept me awake for an hour or two.    Actually, I was tossing and turning before that, due to the very rich chocolate brownie I ate around 9pm.   But, regardless.....now I'm tired!

Yesterday was a very busy day.  David, Collin and I went to Houston to a new homeschool store.  David had a business lunch taking place over there, so we tagged along and he dropped us off at the homeschool store to do some shopping.

The store was great!  I was able to sell back some books from this past year and therefore, had a store credit to use for next year.  Since I had already ordered my curriculum online, I just spent my store credit on odds and ends, such as a planner, a handwriting workbook, History timeline, and a few more miscellaneous items.    Collin enjoyed a movie in the kid's section and I enjoyed coffee and some conversation in the mom's section, while waiting on David to pick us up.   Overall, a pleasant experience.



Then we headed over to a car dealership and worked a deal on a new (used) car for me.  I finally traded in my SUV, which I loved and yet, hated, all at the same time!  I love the feel of an SUV, but hated the gas bill and the road noise, not to mention, the hefty note we were paying.    By buying an older, yet still nice car, we carved about $8000.00 off our overall auto-debt, and about $200 off our monthly note!  Dave Ramsey would be proud!

After that we fought our way back home through Houston traffic, which is always a challenge, but made it home safely. 

All in all, it was a great day!

But, what about Wednesday?

Just trying to catch up on everything that seems to go crazy when you spend a day away from home!
Collin has a dental appointment today and the laundry is calling!   My diningroom project is lurking about - pulling me in, but I can't get caught up in that just yet.    I have to stay focused on all the responsibilities and then I can play!

Hope your middle-of-the-week is going well!
See ya tomorrow......

Thinking About It - Tuesday

TODAY I'M THINKING ABOUT:

This wall that my china hutch is on.  This is my dining room and by this summer I plan on it being an old fashioned Schoolroom.    

This has been one of the hardest rooms in the house to get "just right".   It's the official diningroom and it sits right in the middle of the house!   I finally got the long, farm table I've always wanted, but the room is too small with this big hutch in there too.   When we pull the table out from the opposite wall, to seat people on that side of the table, then those on the left are almost up against the hutch. 

So, that fact combined with some thoughts about school next year with just Collin, have led me to an upcoming project!!  I love projects!   Isn't that what keeps life exciting?

I want to free that wall up by getting rid of the hutch (it's for sale!) and leaving that middle space open.  I plan on putting a framed black board up on that wall and at least one bookshelf on one side of the board.   I actually want to find and old, rustic, tall baker's rack or narrow hutch that can hold the school books and still fit the time period.   Once I have the "necessities" in place, I can add old schoolroom looking decor in there.

So.......that's what's on my mind today.    What about you?

Managing Monday

How ridiculous is this?
Not writing my "Managing Monday" post until 12:56 pm??
You're already on your way to managing your day - one way or another!

This is what happens when you've had a busy weekend, combined with Easter Sunday and a sick kid!

Not exactly what I expected out of our weekend, but happy and blessed, and hopefully, Collin is on the mend.

I am managing my Monday by:

*Catching up on laundry (what's new?)
*Scheduling bills (online) for Friday (payday)
*Working on The Plan (Collin's next few years of school)
*Cleaning the bathrooms
*Cleaning out my china hutch that is for sale


It's going to be a busy week, filled with several "outings".  I can't wait to share them with you!

In the meantime, I'm off to manage my Monday.

Blessings to you......

Debbie

What Easter Means to Me

Happy Easter Everyone! Or, as I have come to like a little better - Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Today I woke up with reflections on my mind.   Reflections of Easter, when I was a child.  Reflections of traditions that I did and didn't carry on.   Reflections of desires I've had for my own traditions, fulfilled and those yet to come.

The most vivid memories I have as a child, were Easter baskets on the table, that my step-mother put together - even as we got older - and of hunting Easter eggs we had dyed the night before.

As a mom, I now appreciate how much time and effort went into the preparation of the baskets, eggs, hiding the eggs, etc.   I guess the fact that it seemed like a big deal to me at the time, is a true picture of the effort it took on her part.

The only thing missing was the meaning behind it all.  

I don't ever remember being told the story of Jesus.

But, as I sit here this morning, so many years later, I have a very clear picture of what Easter really means.

For me it means:

Salvation
Love
Hope
Joy
Promise
Victory

It means that God came down, walked upon this earth, taught us how to live, showed us what sacrifice and love are, showed us what victory is, and showed us that HE is in control.    

And because of all of that........we have HOPE. 

"Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone."

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on that cross for me.  Thank you for being my All in All.  Thank you for giving meaning to my life.   

In Jesus' precious, holy name......
Amen!

Thoughtful Thursday

"A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks 
closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24

Friendship is one of those mysteries of life.   What makes a true friend?   What draws two people so close together that they feel like family or closer than family?  Why are we drawn to some over others?

I'm sure there are many practical answers to these questions, but the one I'm thinking about today is......the Holy Spirit. 

As you probably have, I have had many "friends" over the years.   I've had good friends, shopping friends, sidewalk friends, church acquaintances, Sunday School friends,  work friends, blogging friends, etc.     But, the friends I'm thinking about today are the ones that (I believe) have been given to me by God.

These are more than normal friends.   These women are in my life because God blessed me with them.    These ladies know me, as far as knowing my heart, knowing my struggles, knowing my weaknesses as well as appreciating my strong points.    These women don't judge me or ridicule my mistakes.   They encourage me and lift me up when I need a kind word.   They care about my life and my family.   They are invested.

What develops a friendship like this?  It has to be God.   Only God can take women from different backgrounds, place them in a friendship and connect their hearts.   Is our every conversation spiritual? No.   But, the connection is there in the everyday topics.   Do we talk every day?  No.  But when we do talk, whether by phone, in person, or online, the connection is there.

How do you know who these friends are?  They are the ones that have stuck around; the ones that keep checking on you; the ones that when you pick up the phone and it's been a few weeks, it only feels like yesterday.    These are the ones that share with you,  on the same level that you share with them.   A two-way street, if you will.    (side note *I hate one-way friendships)   These ladies are real with you and you are real with them.

As I write this, I am reminded of some friendships that could have been, but the other person just couldn't let down their walls, so the relationship just never grew.   That's sad to me, yet, maybe just not meant to be.   So, you have to love that person right at the surface, because they won't let you in any deeper.    I hope they have a God-given friend somewhere in their life.  

I also want to throw out the disclaimer that these friendships don't take the place of God or husbands.  They simply provide something a girl needs - another girl -  to understand her, appreciate her, mentor her, laugh with her, love her and listen to her.   

I don't call my husband "my best friend".   He's so much more than that.  So much so, that I'm not sure what the definition would be.   I'm not into the term "soul mate" which actually derived from the New Age movement.    So, I'll just leave him in a category that is also God-given, my husband.   That holds a meaning so deep that there are hundreds of words that go into that category.   That would have to be another post. 

But, this post is for all of my lady friends, wherever you reside (phone, in town, out-of-town, blog land, etc.).   If you are connected to me by God, I think you know it and I am thankful for you.

I love you and look forward to sharing many more years with you.

Blessings,

Debbie

What About Wedneday? - Coupon Caution!

How is your week stacking up?

I feel good about my week, so far.  Although I still have those darn phone calls on my list that I don't want to make.  ( I guess I'll make them when the pressure gets too intense and the deadline is upon me.)

In the meantime, I want to write about 

Coupon Caution.

I've been couponing (seriously with the binder in tow) for a few months now and I've made a few observations that I want to share with you:

First of all, when you start couponing in the "extreme" way, your entire perspective changes.

Before I became "extreme", when I was just casually buying a paper, clipping the coupons that I needed, making my menu and grocery list, going to the store and buying what I actually needed, I was so excited to save a few dollars!  Knowing that I saved $20 with coupons was a great accomplishment and I came home feeling like I was really doing something positive.

However -  now that I have seen the show, read the book, made the binder, bought up to 4 papers at a time, spent days clipping, sorting, filing, and making the shopping lists, I have made these discoveries:

*If I don't save at least 75% of my bill, I'm disappointed.

*If I don't have a coupon for something, I feel cheated if I buy at full price or even a sale price

*If I only have 4 huge packages of t.p., 4 six-roll packs of paper towels, and 4 unopened boxes of cereal,  I get panicky that I'm running out.

*If I don't have my binder with me in the car, I won't even stop at a store.

*I'm spending 2 good days (at least) cutting, sorting, filing, and listing, which is eating into other areas of my to-do list

So basically, I've become a coupon lunatic!

But.........I am slowly seeing the light.  

*I'm slowly getting sick of carrying that stupid 12 pound binder around.

*I'm slowly realizing that stockpiling is akin to hoarding.

*I'm slowly realizing that hoarding is putting your faith in stuff, instead of where it needs to be.

    (actually, I've always known that one)

*I'm slowly realizing that saving $20 is still a good accomplishment.

*I'm slowly realizing that I still need a meal plan - coupon or no coupon

*I'm slowly realizing that I don't want to become a selfish "shelf cleaner off-er"; that 2 bags of sugar is an appropriate amount to have on hand (leave some for the next crazy lady).

*I'm slowly realizing that couponing has robbed me of something that I actually once liked - shopping!

(although I still enjoy a bargain and using a coupon, the stress of multiple transactions, matching up the exact item, deal, etc. have taken the joy out of getting a good deal.)

So.......here I am:

Will I continue to use coupons?  

*Yes, but not to the extreme.  I think I will return to my casual self and feel blessed when I get a good  deal, whether it be by coupon or sale price.   

*I am going back to buying 1 (maybe 2) different papers.

*I will go back to feeling satisfied with an extra package of t.p. in each bathroom

 (knowing I will go to the store the following week anyway)

*I will go back to making a menu and feeling blessed if I find a coupon for my purchases.

*I will spend only a few hours a week on prep time and what doesn't get done - oh well.

So, what are you doing in the coupon world?

Thinking About It - Tuesday

Thinking About.................

*How much I love my new Kuerig coffee machine!  It gives a whole new definition to the word convenience.   No more having to fix the coffee at night to be ready in the morning.   No more trying to time the morning coffee just right so that the person that gets up a little later (hi honey) can still have fresh tasting brew.   No more washing of the parts.    Just pop in the little K-Cup, hit the Brew button, and instantly I have a piping hot cup of coffee!


*How I'm getting burned out on couponing already.  (a post on that coming right up!)


*How I procrastinate when it comes to making phone calls.   I have literally had several calls on my To-Do list for a few weeks now, and I just don't want to make them!  They are not personal calls, just random calls that need to be made for appointments and other things.

*How I never seem to get my desk cleaned off at night and every morning I wake up to a messy desk.  The FlyLady would be disappointed!


Well, that's about it for now.  Of course it's only 6:30am.   I've got the rest of the day to "Think About It".

What are you thinking about today?

Managing Monday

I love Mondays!

I know that is contrary to what most people say about Mondays, but I feel a little different.

It's the part of me that loves a fresh start or a new beginning.   The part of me that says "Thank you, Lord, that your mercies are new, each and every day."   That's how I feel about Mondays - I get a fresh start and a new chance to improve on all the things that didn't go as planned last week.

On that note - I am starting a new post series called "Managing Monday" and I would love for you to participate.   Even if you're a Monday hater, you can come along and maybe this will encourage you in a way that will change you into a Monday lover!

Here's the idea:

Mondays at my house are used for catching up on all the messiness that occurred over the weekend, plus putting together a plan for the rest of the week.   It's the day that I plan my meals for the week,  organize my shopping lists and trips for the week, get my calendar in order for what needs to happen during the week, and just a general "get my act together" day.  

So, here is my list for Managing Monday:

Today:

* I will be working on putting my coupons in my coupon binder and making my shopping lists out for the week.

*I will be catching up on the laundry

*I will be starting a new curriculum with Collin (given by TOS for review)

*I will continue to look over curriculum choices for next year

*I will be taking inventory of the pantry and freezer

*I will be calling a few Violin teachers to set up lessons for Collin

*I will be researching recipes for Easter

I'm sure other things will come my way today, but at least I have a list of priorities and can clearly see what my goals are for today.

Now, I would love to hear how you are Managing Monday!

The Ultimate Birthday Card

As we come to the close of Ted's birthday "week", here is a look at his birthday card we gave him. 

 "When you were born we Snickerd because you looked like a Lemonhead. But at least you weren't a Runt.  As you grew we were glad you weren't a Nerd although you were a Goober.  At times we wanted to give you a few Whoppers and send you into Orbit.  Sometimes you're a Krabby Patty, but mostly a Jolly Rancher.   When your friends Mike & Ike get in a Crunch, you head to Smoothie King or Chick-Fil-A to Take 5 and eat a Whatchamacalit.    Sometimes you take your Sweetheart who is a real Hot Tamale!  We know that one day you're going to Skor and hit the big Pay Day with your Symphony of guitars!  But until then you're still a big NutRoll!"

 

 

David, Collin and I worked on this one evening when he was gone.  We had a lot of fun putting this together, and he was so surprised when we brought it out to him. 

Fun memories!

Almost Funny

Sometimes things get so hectic that all you can do is throw up your hands and laugh.   That would describe today!

In my mind, my day was perfectly planned out; not every detail, just the big things on my to-do list.   With my mom coming in from out-of-town, I planned on grocery shopping this morning then cleaning house this afternoon.  I should know better than to leave things to the last day, but some things are better left until just before the guests arrive - such as cleaning.

I made it to the grocery store (coupon binder in tow) and back home in good time, but then it all began.  One phone call after another!  I would get a call, handle the problem, hang up, start unloading groceries again, then the phone would ring again.     This went on for literally about 1 1/2 hours!  The more calls I got, the more stressed I would get! 

In the middle of the calls, I was trying to talk to the kids about things needing to be done, dropped a can of biscuits on my foot (ouch!), and still needed to eat a little something before I could start cleaning.   About that time, Collin informs me that he has not even ONE pair of clean jeans to wear.  What?    I guess I just thought I was doing laundry all week!   So, I leave my cold piece of frozen pizza on the plate, head into the washroom and throw some jeans in the washer.    Maybe I should just grab a box of Calgon while I'm in there and lock the door.   No.  I guess that wouldn't help anything.

Just as I start to eat my cold pizza again, the young man hired to mow the grass comes down the drive.  I try to pick the pizza out of my teeth so I can go outside and give him the instructions, but I don't think I did a very good job.   I kept thinking he was looking at my teeth the whole time we were talking.   Maybe not.     I get him situated and head back in to my tasty lunch.   Finally I finish and it's time to start cleaning.   But first, I have to teach Collin how to thoroughly clean the bathrooms.   This is a task that has been on my to-do list for 2 weeks, since switching his daily chore from the dishwasher to the bathrooms.   I know this little bit of training will be a great benefit to me in the future.

I finally finished cleaning the house and now I'm writing while I drink a cup of coffee.   Oh, and did I mention the phone rang about 4-5 more times while I was finishing the house?

It's been an "almost funny" day.

Blessings!

18 years ago today

Eighteen years ago today, I was a terrified, soon-to-be-mom, on the way to the hospital to finally meet my first son.

Early that morning, in this very house, David and I stood in the diningroom taking pictures of one another, knowing that it would be the last day for "just the two of us".    We actually felt a little sadness during those last moments.  We had been married for almost 4 years and were quite comfortable in our life as a duo.   Little did we know, we were about to be blessed beyond belief, by a 7lb 8oz, little bundle, that would capture our hearts and hold it until this very day.

Meet Ted -

Obviously a musician - Ted has loved music since he was a little boy.  In fact, from the time he was about 4 years old, I felt in my heart that God was going to do something with Ted, in the music world.   We raised him on Southern Gospel mostly, taking him to every Gaither Concert we could attend.   He knew all the words to their songs and sang his first trio song in church when he was about 4 years old with 2 of his buddies.   They sang "I'm satisfied", much to everyone's delight!

As the years went by, we took advantage of opportunities in church, such as "The Glory Band".   This was a group of older folks that played Ukuleles and various other stringed instruments, and had a circuit of retirement homes, the mall at Christmas, and practiced every Tuesday morning.   Ted was obviously the youngest member!  He even had a newspaper print an article about him being in the band.   He was only 8 years old at the time!

When he was 11 years old, we bought him his first guitar.   His Sunday school department had a praise band and he started playing along with them on Sunday mornings.   That eventually led to the Youth Band, then on to being the Lead guitarist on Sunday mornings, in one of the venues our church had in another city.     He played there for three years before taking a break.  Currently he plays on Wednesday nights for his Youth group and on Thursdays for the College Bible study.   Needless to say - he's busy!

Within the last year, he has started his own recording company and knows,  that besides being an artist, recording and producing are his passions.    

But, what is Ted besides a musician?  He's a compassionate young man, who has always had a heart for God. 

When he was a little boy, he gave his heart to Jesus very early.   He had a passion for telling others about Christ and still does.   God has blessed Ted with the heart of a counselor and has given Ted numerous opportunities to minister to people his age.   In fact, at times it would concern me that he was hearing about so many burdens from his peers.   But, I have trusted that God would use it for HIS glory and do with it what HE wanted to do.    So far, it looks like God is handling it just fine!

David and I are so proud of the man that Ted has become.  He has proved himself trustworthy of keeping with our values as a family, and has proven to be a responsible young man.    He respects our authority but he also feels comfortable enough to voice his opinion and know that we will listen to his view on things.    I think that is what you call a healthy relationship. 

All in all, I could not imagine life without Ted.   All the late night guitar sessions, trying to get him out of bed in the mornings (life as a musician), and the many math programs we've tried.    It's all been worth every second!

So - Happy Birthday Teddy - from mom, dad, and Collin.   We love you and can't imagine our lives without you:)


Go here to see Ted's website and hear a taste of some original music:

http://www.tedslaughter.com/

The Plan

We are on our 13th year of homeschooling and one thing that has never changed is the fact that the months of April and May are like Christmas for me!

Around this time every year, I start getting curriculum catalogs in the mail and my adrenaline starts getting revved up!  I love shopping for next year's books, supplies, ideas, etc.  Actually, now that I'm writing this, I remember being that way when I was a girl in school.   I would get more excited in August about buying new school supplies, than I would about buying new school clothes.   Not much has changed!

Next year will bring a new season in our homeschool; I will only be teaching one, as Ted will be graduated and working on college courses, which I don't have to coordinate.   So, that leaves me with Collin going into 7th grade.

I'm kind of excited though, because I think he's always taken a back seat to the urgency of keeping Ted on track (just being honest).  They are 6 years apart, so when Collin was old enough to start school, I was already at this same stage, with Ted going into 7th grade. 

Seventh grade is an important time in the planning stage because I actually start counting credits for highschool in 8th grade (for some courses).  Which means that by 7th grade, we really need to know what direction we're going in and what our "Graduation Requirements" are going to be, in order that we fit everything in that is important to our family. 

The past few years Collin has diligently worked with Switched on Schoolhouse, which we love, and he's done very well.   However, I'm wanting to spend a little more time working together on things such as History and Reading, so I am having to really think about how to keep him working independently, and yet incorporate some "mom time". 

Of course, then there is the little issue, when teaching independence, of trying to get a boy to read a list and know "what comes next" without mom having to tell him!  This one area is enough to drive mom out into the woods screaming like a lunatic!   I was at a Lisa Whelchel conference once when she addressed this very topic.  Her answer was to remember that these are the training years and training means you teach them until they get it.    But surely she didn't mean this long!  I guess that needs to be high on the list of priorities for this next year!

So......back to the curriculum search.......that's what I spent yesterday doing (mixed with laundry, cooking, walking the dog, etc.) and I will spend more time on that today, as well.   The funny thing is - I'm actually sad when the search is over and I have my plan in place, because I know it won't come around until next year!  

I realized this about myself a few years ago (the let down aspect) and I came up with a solution: I would purposely plan to add one or two more things to our line-up around January, just so I would have something to look forward to!  That may sound crazy to some of you, but to my fellow curriculum-junkies, you get it, don't you?

So, I'm off to pour over my catalogs and write out a plan for my almost-7th-grader.    It's hard work, but someone's gotta do it!

Until next time........
Happy planning!

Sweet Memories

I finally got around to cleaning off the school bookshelves this past weekend.   I thought I had some things to sell but when I started sorting through the books, I couldn't part with some of them.

I came across the Miller Series on the shelf.  Are you familiar with those?  They are stories about the Miller Family, who lived in a simpler time.  The stories are great for character lessons and add Bible verses to bring home the moral of the story.   There are about 5-6 books in the series and Ted and I shared each one, at some time during our homeschooling journey.

When I took these from the shelf, a wave of memories swept over me, causing a few tears.  I sat there for a second and allowed my mind to wander back in time; to all the sweet sessions we had on the couch, reading together.   He is now a week away from turning 18 and I have his diploma sitting on a shelf, waiting to be given. 

I never really imagined what it would be like to reach the end of our school years together.  I've been so busy these last 4 years, keeping records, making transcripts and schedules and telling him to get out of bed!  But, the time has come and I am happy, sad, thankful, excited and proud, all rolled into one.

Ted has turned out to be an amazing young man.  I truly couldn't be happier about all that God has done in his life and all that God has molded him to be.    I will dedicate a post to him in the future.

In the meantime, I will keep the books and put them beside all the books Collin likes to read, which are not about simple times, but things such as Ripley's Believe it or Not and Guiness Book of World Records!  Not exactly memory evoking ones, but somehow they fit Collin's thirst for trivia and knowledge about random things.   Don't you just love God's creativity?  No two kids are alike!

The moral of this post is that if you are a homeschooling mom, treasure the little times in your day that will someday turn out to be the sweetest memories you have.  

The day I found the books, I took them in to Ted's room and showed them to him.  He got a sweet smile on his face and said that he remembered them too.   That's all I needed to see, to know that it's all been worth it.  Every hour of every day that I have spent with my sweet boys on this amazing journey of education, has blessed me in a way I never dreamed of.   And, anything that I had to pass up or say no to, doesn't even compare to the privilege it's been to be at home where I belong.

Coupon Update

Today was my shopping day at CVS and Walgreens.

This is a picture of both store's purchases combined.

Retail $114.42

Paid  $47.77

Here are some of the best deals today:

 Doritos were 3/$9.00

Milk was $3.19

After coupons/Extra Bucks

Paid $2.19

and received $3.00 Extra Bucks back

so this was actually a money maker!

 This was the big P&G promotion where you buy $30 worth of selected P&G products and get $10 Extra Bucks back.

The retail was $38.94.

After coupons and using Extra Bucks from previous purchases:

I paid $11.02 !

 And - I got $10.00 Extra Bucks back!!

This is a deal that everyone can take advantage of this week:

Buy this for $8.99

Get $8.99 back in Extra Bucks.

I got it for $7.99 with a $1.00 off coupon.

So I actually made $1.00 on this!

Overall this was a good day for deals.   On Thursday I will go grocery shopping and report back if I find any good deals.

Happy Shopping!

The Blessings of Home

It's early Saturday morning and I  am doing two of my favorite things - reading through blogs and enjoying a cup of coffee.

It's been a wild week.  It seems I spent a good majority of this week doing what everyone else needed done and neglecting the things I needed to do.   Some weeks are like that.   It makes for a frazzled mom.

Speaking of frazzled - I'm currently working on a Bible Study called The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood.   This is one of the simplest studies I've done, yet one of the most applicable.  I am gleaning something from every lesson.

Today my plan is to catch up on regular cleaning around the house.   I have a memory that often flashes through my mind when it's cool and crisp outside.   I remember times of opening all the doors and windows and turning music on and cleaning.   That is actually my idea of a perfect Saturday.  

On Saturdays I love to cook for my family and anticipate a family night in front of the TV watching classics.   I remember as a kid, watching Carol Burnett and The Love Boat.   That was a simple time. 
Now our rundown consists of things like Mary Tyler Moore, The Lucy Show, and old Hawaii Five-O's that we have introduced Collin to.   I'm so thankful that we have these shows on DVD, so that we can provide our family with decent entertainment.

I will be sorting through the shelves for school books to sell today.   It's that time again!  I used to love this time of year, when I would sell my used books and devour the new Homeschool catalogs that were coming in the mail.    Sadly, I haven't had time to do that this year.

I have two books I'm trying to get through right now - "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" by the Krazy Coupon Lady, and Candace Cameron's new book "Reshaping it All".    I'm about half-way through with both and I need to crank it up because I have one book for review, sitting on the shelf.

I have several articles started, that I hope to submit soon, but I need to find time for that too.

Life is busy, but never too busy to pick up the camera and capture this:

 Outside my livingroom window

Have a blessed week,

Debbie