How Do You See Your Homeschooling? A yellow school bus moment!

We could all use some help with our vision at times.

And yesterday was the day

I adjusted Collin's vision.

Let me paint the not-so-glamorous-picture

of how our "back from the holidays" first day went

(the short version - the real version took about 2 1/2 hours):

I happily go in to wake the little 12 year old cherub

from his "plenty of rest" night's sleep, at 8:00am.

I go back and back and back and back,

until he finally realizes my tone of voice

is getting more gruff by the minute.

Short of yanking him out of bed, I've turned

on lights and done everything I know to do

(and still maintain his dignity and mine),

and he finally swings his feet over the edge

and it's like he's been drugged for days or something.

For the next hour and a half, I kid you not,

I am having to stay on him

to complete his morning "list"

and get ready for school.

By this time, all my "I've had my quiet time and coffee and I'm happy" mood

has all but disappeared.

(Parenting EXPERTS do NOT write snarky comments

telling me all the things I've just done incorrectly!

I have an 18 year old - been there, done that, 

this is a different child!)

So..........

by the time this lethargic, sulky child

gets to the table for school,

I have reached my limit.

So.........

What do you think I did?

Well, I did what any true homeschooling mom does.......

I pulled out my best "yellow school bus" threats and

went to town!

Yep!  That's right!  I'm shameless (well, I do feel kind of bad about it now),

but yesterday it was needed!

We were already running so far behind schedule and I was too mad not to lecture,

so for about 20 more minutes I gave Collin the "yellow school bus" threat, 

the speech about what a privilege it is for him to be a homeschooler, what a tragedy it would

be for him to have to sit in a school building all day,

when he can finish his work at home in 2 hours.

I went through what a blessing it is for him to be at home

and how God has richly blessed us by allowing me

to be at home for 18 years.

When I got done with the threats encouragement, I proceeded to

pull out the Bible words, such as laziness and obedience, 

just to drive home all my points.

By the time I was finished ranting talking,

his face looked repentant (or he was about

to fall back to sleep),

so I calmed down.

I could see that I had made some progress

(he must be a genius to have made sense

from all of that!),

and we needed to move on.

I have to say......after that.......

I had a different child for the rest of the day!

I know what you're thinking!

"Sure, anyone would be different after seeing that you're a lunatic!"

No!!  

Believe it or not, he really did need an adjustment to his vision 

about being at home; just maybe a little bit of a gentler version, but nonetheless,

he needed an adjustment. 

You see, sometimes those of us who are at home (even moms),

forget what a privilege this is!

We may fuss because we want a day off; we have too much to do.

Or the kids fuss because they don't "want to do school!"

But,

what we have forgotten is what a blessing it is!

This is not a "have to" -  it's a "get to"!!

We get to stay at home with our kids!

We get to teach them what's important in life and education!

We get to walk outside in the cool crisp air during our morning break,

and talk with our teens at 10:00am over smoothies in the kitchen!

Moms, this is a privilege!

So, today, when your kids throw you off your schedule,

and nothing goes as planned,

maybe you should just go with it.

Take a few minutes to point out

what needs to be worked on, changed, adjusted,

in attitude and deeds,

then take your child by the hand,

walk outside,

get some fresh air,

and count it all joy!

Because

you are living

a

"get to"

life

and you

are

blessed!

Press on my friends!

Hope you have a great "get to" day!

The Countdown Begins

Well, I officially feel in the "mood".........for Christmas, that is!!

I'm one of these crazy people who can only concentrate on one big holiday event at a time, so I have to get through Thanksgiving before I can even begin thinking about Christmas.

But, there's one more thing I had to get in place and organized before starting on my Christmas Planner Project (more to come on that - soon), which was school!

And, I wanted to share a little idea that came to me today as I was looking over the next month and deciding exactly what my expectations would be before the Christmas break.

This is just a fun, little booklet I put together for Collin, to motivate him for the next 4 weeks of school.

Within this booklet, he has all the assignments that are expected to be completed before we can officially take a break for Christmas.    He can work at his own pace; finishing early if he chooses.

WHENEVER he finishes ALL the assignments in this booklet, he is DONE!  Hence, the motivator!


Here's what I did:

#1   Looked over our December calender to determine how many school days we have left (for our     family  - yours may look different).

#2   Looked over each subject (just CORE subjects for this month) to determine where I wanted him to stop, so that when we start back after the holidays, we will be in a good starting place and not having to review, because we stopped in the middle of a unit.   

#3   Based on how many assignments it would take to get to our stopping point, I calculated how many times he would do that subject in the allotted number of days left.

#4   I made a separate check-off sheet per subject, listing the subject, how many lessons to the end, and made a list - #1, #2, #3, etc., with a place to check off each assignment as it was completed.   (see picture)

#5   I stapled them all together with a cover sheet that says "Count Down" (in Christmas colors) and on the back it says "You're Done!"

I try to use motivators like this for the holidays and as we get toward the end of the school year.   This gives the kids a smaller time-frame to reference and they feel they can see the "light at the end of the tunnel" (helps mom, too!)

So now that I have school organized and I don't have to use my brain power to figure out what we're doing every week, I can officially get into the holiday spirit!

Hope you are too!

Thanksgiving 2011

Well, Thanksgiving went off without any disasters or food fights or any other memories we might want to forget.   I count that as a success!

Once again, I somehow managed to get out of cooking the turkey, which means at the age of 46, I still have yet to cook the Thanksgiving bird.   I had every intention of cooking this year, but as it turned out, David's cousin Amy saw a good deal at the grocery store a few weeks back, and offered to buy it.   Since she lives about 45 minutes away in another city, and we would have had to make special plans to meet on the road somewhere to make the hand-off, she offered to cook it and bring it down on Turkey day, so I let her.   Not a bad gig!   I did my part by making all the sides and the dessert (well, David's mom made the dressing and brought the tea and Sheri brought the appetizer) so we'll call it even.   Amy did a great job and all was well.

Here are a few pictures from our happy little day:

Here's the table before.........

And after........

Dessert was a combination of Turkey Day

and Birthday,

since this was both of David's parent's birthday.

There was not ONE pie in the house

which is kind of sad, now that I think about it.

Ted * Sheri

and Annie the Schnauser

Of course, there is never a family gathering

without some kind of porch "singing"

going on.

And here we are.......

What a great day of giving THANKS and appreciating family.

Thank you, LORD

for 

all of these blessings.

Without YOU,

there would be not one.

Blessings.......

Debbie

Thanksgiving Week 2011

It's Thanksgiving Week and here's what I've been up to:

Baking these yummy biscuits!

Not for Thanksgiving

and not because I'm a

conscientious mom

who fixes a big breakfast for

the family.

No...........

but only because I was flipping

through my 

Mary Jane's Farm Magazine

and

they looked so good!

And where the recipe calls for

brushing Milk over the tops

before baking.....

I brushed melted butter

instead.

Then,

while they were still piping hot,

I put Raspberry Jam

on top....

and had about

4 of them!

Here's what else I've done this week:

Gone shopping for the 

necessary supplies

(notice they're all paper goods).

Tomorrow I will take some pictures of

all of these supplies

in working form.

Today.....

I make dessert.

Tomorrow is my in-law's

birthday.

My Father-in-law and my Mother-in-law

were born 10 years apart,

on the same date,

November 24th.

So tomorrow we celebrate

what we're THANKFUL TO GOD for

and

Ted and Carolyn's

81st & 71st

birthdays.

And it will be a good day.

See ya then!

"Let them give thanks to the Lord

for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men."

(Psalm 107:21)

 

What Does School Look Like In Our House?

While browsing through some blogs I follow, I found a post that inspired me. 

Jen over at Gricefully Homeschooling gave a look into her typical week of teaching her children and I appreciated that it wasn't the "supermom's" schedule of getting up before the chickens.

I'm sorry, but when I read about these families that have all their kids at the table by 7:00 am and mom's in the kitchen throwing together a 3-course breakfast with all the food groups - it makes me cringe!  

Even when I didn't have teens with "hormonal sleeping disorder" (that's a joke), I could not have persuaded any of us to start our school work at 7:00am!    There is coffee that must be consumed, blogs to read, quiet time with the Lord (sweet), and digging around in the kitchen for the dreaded taste-like-cardboard breakfast bar.    And, that's just my morning routine.

The boys have to roll over at the sound of my voice - at least 3 times - with the tone getting meaner and more threatening each time.   Then they have to move from the bed to the couch, where they cover up and lay around for another round of mom threats, then they move back to their rooms, where they take about 30 minutes to do what should take 5 minutes,  of hygienic tasks.   By then, I'm exhausted!

When they finally eat breakfast, get dressed (no, we don't do school in our pj's) and get to the table, it's around 9:00am and I'm feeling like we're late.    But, actually, we're right on time!

I've always (for 14 years now) started school at 9:00am.   It's just the natural rhythm of our home; when everyone is ready to turn on their brains and get started.  

I'm an early bird, so starting school at 9:00 gives me plenty of time to do all the things that are important to my morning and even throw a load of clothes in the washer.    Feeling like I've accomplished something, I'm ready to sit down and put  my "Teacher" hat on for a while. 

A typical day of school for us, usually goes from 9:00am to Noon.   If we haven't finished by noon, then it moves to the next day.   When you play all roles, you have to split your time in such a way that accomplishes all that needs to be done.    Even though we are homeschooling, it doesn't eliminate all the bills, phone calls, doctor appts., budgets, cleaning, cooking, etc. that has to get done sometime during the day.  

This year has been a real challenge for several reasons:  David is now working from home, which adds a new element to our day, and we are traveling so much, for my dad's illness. 

So, our week was supposed to look like this:
School on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday with Wednesdays off for errands, etc.

But, for the last two months it has looked like this:
School on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, travel all day Thursday, spend a few days at the hospital with my dad, travel back home, use weekend to catch up on housework.  

For a person (me) who likes to plan my days and is not that flexible (chaos makes me crazy), this year has really stretched me!    I would not be surprised if that was God's intention all along!


So, when I read about other moms who march to the beat of their own drum and don't have that perfect homeschooling schedule, I'm thrilled!   It's the way it should be!   That's the beauty of running our own camp - we get to decide what's best for our family and change it when it needs to be different. 

So,  to all the homeschooling moms that don't have it all together and don't have the perfect schedule,  - here's to you! 

Happy Homeschooling!

Going Practical for Christmas

(This book may look familiar to you.......I reviewed it back in the summer.)

A couple of things made me pick this up off the shelf the other day and start searching through it for a little reminder.  

Like everyone these days, I've been slowly warming up to the idea that Christmas is just around the corner.   I'm not running toward it with my arms open wide, mind you, but I realize it's going to come whether I want it to or not.   So, this leaves me with the dreaded task of gift shopping.

Don't get me wrong, I love shopping when I have the money to buy (I hate window shopping), but as the years go by, I am becoming increasingly less excited about all the hype that goes into Christmas.    I want to get off this crazy ride, but it's hard to stop, once you've been on for so long!

So my mind has been working really hard to come up with ideas that are simple, yet heartfelt.   I find this a great challenge, mostly in regard to my children.    I wish we would have set the bar a little lower in the past.    When you've run out of ipods and ipads,  musical instruments, amps, and $100 Lego sets, where else can you go?   That's the million dollar question and I'm still looking for the answer! 

That's what I loved about the "Buy American" email that I posted yesterday!!  It was full of great ideas that are practical and worth spending money on.   I especially like the part about keeping it "American" and also the idea of buying from Etsy shops and friends who create.   

Ok, so back to the book........I remembered this book as having some great, practical advice, so I thought I would revisit it and see what I could put into practice.

One of my favorite sayings, although it doesn't apply to Christmas gift giving, was

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do, or Do Without!

I need to hear this and put this into practice!  I will be the first to admit that I'm going for comfort more and more over money these days!   Simply put - I will spend a little more, to gain more convenience or save time.   This is not always wise and not really what God had in mind in the area of "good stewardship".  

For example:  Back in the summer we bought a Kuerig coffee machine.  Oh the joy!!  I love that thing!  It screams convenience! However, it also screams "overpriced coffee" loud and clear!    So, one day (very recently) David and I added up what we have been spending on those cute little "K-Cups" that make this machine so much fun and we were shocked!  We were spending......well, I'm too embarrassed to say and you know you just want to know so you can gasp, so I'm not telling!   But - it came close to the equivalent of one of those pricey Lego sets!   No kidding!  

Now, back in the summer, we had also purchased a reusable filter cup, that allows you to use your own "poor man's" coffee, but instead of trying it, we kept paying a fortune for the convenient kind......until last week.     I guess sometimes you have to reach your own limit before making a change, and last week I reached that limit!   I was sick of adding that box of tiny cups to my grocery cart; knowing they would be gone in a matter of days, so I went home and informed David that we were making a change.   However, true to how I usually cave on things, I fussed a little about having to clean the little filter cup after each brew and wouldn't you know it.....my very wise husband said, "You know, sometimes it doesn't hurt for us to do a little work."   Ouch!  

He wasn't directing his comment to me, but it hit the spot all the same.   How true was that statement and oh, how I needed to hear that!     So from that day forward, I have been using a $3.00 can of Folgers and have found that it tastes amazingly good and it takes me all of 5 seconds to rinse the filter and have it ready for the next cup.   A little work and a lot of money saved!

This is one of the tidbits the Amish share in the book.  Why buy something when you have something else that would work just as well?  Why not save that money and keep using the item until it is worn out and can't be salvaged?   If we lived like this, we could stash money away and not have to have garage sales!

But, that still leaves me with the gift-giving situation.   So I turned to the Gift Giving chapter in the book and found some great ideas.

For starters - the 3-Gift rule is a tradition worth looking into.   Each person gets 3 gifts (just as the 3 wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus) and they can go something like this:

*something we want*   *something we need*   *a surprise*

I actually like this guideline because it gives the shopper (me) a rule to go by and I'm not out just randomly looking for things that have no meaning.  

The next suggestion is "Experiential gifts", or gifts that offer "experiences".   This could range from a set of tickets to a pro-sporting event, to horseback riding lessons, concert tickets, train ride, etc.   Any gift that would give the recipient an experience and a memory.   This type of gift might not be the most inexpensive gift, but when the experience is shared, the memories will long outlast another knick-knack or toy that eventually ends up stuffed in a closet somewhere.  

Then there are the "Homemade gifts" that can be really creative and personal.   I love the idea of coupons books made specifically for someone.     Like my friend Brenda recently shared in one of her comments, she made her daughter a coupon booklet that allowed her to forgo a subject in school (a perk of homeschooling) which she could use all in one day or periodically throughout the year.   The coupons can be tailored toward activities, privileges, time spent with a parent or a friend, or anything that would be meaningful to your child.     And, who doesn't like to cash in on coupons!

The last gift-giving idea the author suggests is "shopping your own home for gifts".   On Seinfeld they called it "re-gifting", but in the book the author calls it "rethinking a gift".   She says "If I have something in good condition that someone else would appreciate far more than I do, why in the world would I not give it to him or her?"   To that, I say, "why not"?  

Of course, we're talking items that still have charm and  aren't used up and close to being tossed.  Maybe it's something that person has admired when they've come to visit or maybe it's something from your childhood that your child loves to play with, but you've always maintained that it's yours.   Maybe it's a gift you received last year at your company Christmas party that is no more "you" than your husband's shaving kit!   If it's worthy of sharing with someone else, then do it!   How many items do we really need in the storage shed?  

One example in the book, was a family that decided to choose gifts from "around their own house" that they didn't want or need anymore.    They exchanged names with their extended family and their "new" gifts  included an expresso maker and a golf bag.   Not bad, and it was free!

Whichever route you take - new, used, or homemade - just be sure to keep in mind that it's really not about the gift - it's about the love behind the gift.  

Happy "shopping"!

A New AMERICAN Christmas Tradition

 Here is a copy of an email sent to me by a friend.   The message is simple:

Keep your money in America this Christmas! 

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. 

This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
 
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
 
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
 
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. 
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
 
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. 

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?


To this, I say AMEN! 

 

Things That Inspire Me

Here are a few magazines that inspire me to create:

 I stumbled upon this publication one day at JoAnn's Fabrics.   It was the first time I had ever seen a book about blogging, so of course I picked it up and started flipping through and  fell in love with it!

This magazine (almost a soft cover book) introduces the reader to normal, everyday people who blog and have turned blogging into a major part of their lives.    The testimonies are real; some fun and easy going and some inspiring to others because of the true hardships they share. 

Many of these people took an art they were passionate about and simply started sharing it through blogging.   Now they have reached levels of readers they never dreamed about reaching.    Others are simply sharing life as they see it; real, passionate, challenging and rewarding.    Many of the stories are beautifully simple.  

All of them make me want to write and that's the whole idea.

This magazine is similar in the amount of inspiration it offers.  

It's not about writing or blogging; but about creating those spaces which lend themselves to creativity.   As a person who has been writing for years, I will tell you that the space you're in can have a huge impact on your ability to create.   However, this magazine is not only for writers, but all kinds of artists and the amazing spaces they use everyday to inspire them to create.


You can read stories of artists, seamstresses, doll makers, writers, designers, etc. and see beautiful pictures of the spaces they've invented for themselves and their supplies and talent.


You can not flip through this book and NOT be inspired to build something, change something, make something and CREATE!    It's wonderful!


So, what are you waiting for?   Run on down to the local bookstore and pick up one of these little gems!


You'll be inspired!

Yummy Goodness

White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Pie

"A perfect blend of sweetness from the white chocolate, nutty goodness of the pecans & the tart cranberries are a taste sensation!"

We recently had the privilege of eating this amazing pie!  It was soooooo good!

It was actually the bonus dessert, given with the purchase of a 12 meal package from  Main Dish.

If you've never tried  Main Dish or a studio kitchen in your area, you should, even if only one time.

I have been buying meals from  Main Dish for about 5 years now, off and on.   Sometimes I think I can save money by not going and just coming up with my own meals and that's true, if all the elements are in place.  However, for some reason, menu making has become a dreaded chore for me; one that I can't stand to do anymore.   It takes too much brain power and due to age or hormones or life or all three......I am willing to pay a little extra for someone to do the brain work for me!

But don't think there isn't work involved!   There is!

Although I don't have to come up with the actual menu or purchase the ingredients, I still have to choose the meals I want, put them together in the studio kitchen and cook them.   The only thing missing is the actual planning of the menu, the shopping, and the slicing and dicing.

Here's how it works:

Step 1:   Go to www.yourmaindish.com and choose the monthly menu.  (There are usually 2 to choose from - the current month and the previous month)

Step 2:  Choose the meal package you want out of several options (they offer different sized packages, some with side dishes and some without)

Step 3:  Depending on which package you select, choose the number of entrees you want, out of 14 different choices.   There are usually chicken, beef, pork, seafood and casseroles entrees.   Sometimes there is a breakfast entree thrown in and there is always a bonus dessert for those who choose the 12 meal package.

Step 4:  Choose a date for your "kitchen time" or select "pre-made" (they will prepare the dishes for you - you just pick them up).

Step 5:  Register online or by phone

On "kitchen day" - you go to the studio kitchen, put on an apron and get to work!  All the slicing and dicing has been done, as well as the portion prep.   

You have your own industrial sized work station with recipes for the meals you've chosen.   You have all the utensils and pans you'll need,  right there as well. 

You turn to the first recipe and get started by going to the huge, glass fridge and choosing the ingredients for the meal you're working on.    Then go back to your station and start putting your entree together by following the directions on the recipe.    When you're done, you cover your pan, wrap it in plastic wrap, label it and put it in your cooler (they supply the ice).  

While you're working on your meal prep, the hostess will come around and answer any questions you might have, offer you coffee or a coke, clean up your trash container, and make sure you have everything you need.   There are usually several others there working on meals at the same time, so you have company while you work.   If you go with a friend, it's even nicer because the hostess will put you at adjoining tables and you get to visit while you work. 

The final step is to take the food home, put it in your freezer and voila!  You have 12 or more meals just waiting to be cooked and eaten!   (I always choose the 12 pack and because you have the choice of using small pans or large pans, I can sometimes divide the entrees up into more meals than just 12.   This works great when it's a dish that the kids and I can eat for lunch or dinner if David is gone). 

Here's the best way to make the meals last throughout the month:  

Each Sunday take a look at your calendar for the week and decide on 3 nights that you want to cook.  Choose 3 entrees, according to what kind of meal you need (oven, crockpot, grill) and take those from the freezer to the fridge.    Now you have your 3 meals for the week, you'll probably eat out one night, have leftovers from some of the meals, and a lighter meal or two on busy nights.   There you go ! You've got your meals planned for the week!

Before you leave, be sure to pick up the "Cooking Instructions" that list how to cook the entrees as well as suggestions for the side dishes and bread you could serve with each meal.     Since your food is nicely packed in a cooler, you can stop off at the grocery store, buy your side dishes and any other items needed for that week, and you are good to go!

Believe it or not - this is actually a great way to budget for meals because the price never changes!  If you buy the 12 pack, once a month, you will always know how much to budget for your main entrees.   The bonus is that most of the meals leave you with leftovers (at least for lunch), so you are actually getting more than enough for your money.     And variety, to boot!

Here is a list of all the meals I now have stashed in my freezer for the next month or so:

Apple and Herb Roasted Chicken (this is actually 2 whole chickens, which I will turn into 2 meals)

Pork Chops with Apples and Yams (we had this Saturday night and it was delicious!)

Frito Pie (2 meals worth)

Peppered Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin (2 tenderloins)

Roast with Mushroom/Onion Gravy (2 meals worth)

Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas (4 meals worth)

Turkey Meatloaf (2 smaller pans for the kids and I.  2 meals worth)

Cheesy Chicken Bundles

Pecan Thyme Tilapia

Chicken and Dressing (2 meals worth)

And there is my menu for the month!   

I have made a list of staple items needed for the month and with the exception of milk and fresh produce, I can limit my trips to the store to just a few times a month, which cuts way back on money spent!    And that's my goal - not only to cook good, healthy meals, but to stay out of the store - for time and money's sake!

Collin and I are trying the meatloaf tonight because David is gone and he doesn't eat meatloaf.   It's already smelling so yummy in the kitchen!   We have 2 pieces of pie left too.    Just enough to make a cozy night on the couch with "Pete's Dragon" on DVD and a quickly growing 12 year old, who doesn't mind still hanging out with mom, a great night in my book.  

Until next time...........

Be blessed!

If You Peeked Inside My House Today......

(In light of my topic yesterday, I thought this would be a fun thing to write about today)

So.....

If you peeked inside my house today.........

You might see.............

Me trying to catch up on laundry that I promise every week to get control of......

making out a list of toiletries and hygiene items I want to stock up on.......

doing some "office" work such as phone calls, insurance tidbits, etc.

taking back some overdue library books (oops!)

paying my house note

helping Collin with his schoolwork (I guess that should have been #1, huh?)

kissing my sweet husband goodbye as he heads out of town for a budget meeting (sad face:(

David getting packed and heading to Dallas for one night......

kissing his sweet wife goodbye (another sad face:(

Ted probably heading to the studio to work on some songs he's producing......

praying God will bring his missing laptop back to him.......

Collin moaning about getting out of bed......

taking an hour to get "ready" for his day.........

trying to weasel his way out of various school subjects........

obediently doing his assignments, although not very quickly..........

making me laugh with his outrageous dancing he does...........

making me glad I still have a "kid" around to keep me company.......

Later...........

Me making meatloaf because David's not here and Collin and I eat strangely when it's just us.......

David calling and saying he misses us as he's ordering a big steak from Room Service.......

Ted calling to say "he's at Sheri's".........

Collin asking me what we can watch together on TV........

Us falling into our beds and anticipating the morning, when everything looks fresh and new and we start this life all over again.......

except that tomorrow we'll be eagerly waiting for the car to pull into the drive and the man of the house walking up the steps............

then everything will be right again, because Daddy's home, and the lights will look brighter, the noises won't be as scary, the house will be louder and our hearts will be fuller.  

That's what you'd see if you peeked inside my house today.............. 

Are you nosy or just curious?

To answer my own question: neither!

I prefer to call it interested in how others live.

My friend over at Homesteader's Heart just posted a great little piece about how she enjoys looking in people's windows as she's passing by.   I do too!!

I've always felt drawn to know what people do on a normal night at home.   So when I pass by a house with the lights on inside, I look!   Hey! Don't leave the curtains open if you don't want people to see inside!

But my interest isn't just about what goes on during family time, I love to know how people live their daily lives as well.

When I first started researching homeschooling, my favorite books and articles were those that shared a family's schedule and how they orchestrated their days.    For some reason, this was always my favorite thing to know - more than what curriculum they used (that was the 2nd favorite thing to ask). 

I think this plays into my love for organization.    I'm always tweaking my schedule, plans, to-do lists, etc. and so I love to glean new ideas from how other people line up their responsibilities.    It may be weird, but I like it!

What about you?   Are you nosy, curious, or just interested?

A "Good Day"

Today is a "good day" as I've heard my step mom Ruby say several times over the past 7 weeks.  That's how she describes the days that my dad is stable and not fighting to breath.   That's how she lets me know that all is well......for the time being.

Well, I'll take it!  I've learned to wait for those words; to appreciate the "good days" as they come - one at a time, with no guarantees attached to them.   It's enough for me to know that in the turmoil of tubes, needles, ventilators and nurses, my dad can still have a "good day".

Thank you, Lord, for good days!

A "Truth" that sticks

Sometimes in life you come across a "truth" that sticks with you for years.   I was recently reminded of one of these sweet nuggets that has completely shaped my stay-at-home days and I want to share it's message with you.

Years ago, a close friend spoke some words to me about how she wanted to "be available" to work for the Lord.   This was a time in both of our lives, when we were very involved in "church" work and yet, right at the beginning of our "mommy" days.    Her statement was simple, yet profound in the way that it really made me think about how busy we ladies can become, in trying to serve, outside of our homes.

Her message was this: "I don't want to get so busy committing myself, that I am not available when God comes knocking at the door."   What she meant was, she didn't want to tie herself up so tight in commitments at church (committees, choir, teaching, etc.) that she would have to say "no" to the Lord if HE wanted her to minister to someone of His choosing.

That little statement shaped my future!  It made me realize that I could have easily tied myself down to many other "good" works (and I did - before this) that I would have to turn down the little interruptions that often come unexpectedly.   Interruptions from the Lord such as ministering to a friend in need, cleaning a house for a single mom, cooking for someone in need, driving a friend to an appointment, lending an ear to someone who just needs to be heard,  or as simple as it sounds - just taking care of your own family and household in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord.

Sometimes we women want to run around "taking care of things".   We have this need to be used and often it happens at church.   We feel guilty saying "no" so we over commit and then our family suffers.   But it's not just at church.   We take on the concession stand at sporting events, PTA, Support Group leader, Drama Teacher, Bus Driver, BSF leader, and so many other "leadership" positions that your head spins just thinking about it all! 

And our house is messy, our kids are eating poorly (and in the car), our husbands feel neglected, and our nerves are on edge.   

Who wins in this situation?  In my opinion - the enemy does.

Have you looked around lately at the state of turmoil families are in?  Parents going in two different directions, never a meal eaten together, calender so full that there is no time for down-time? 

Ladies, we have to be choosy about who gets our time and who gets our "best".    It's not noble to have a calender so full, that even your husband has to make an appointment with you!   This is the beginning of disaster!   In fact,  I recently came across an older couple who is still struggling with this!  Sadly, the husband, who is probably in his mid 60's, expressed to me disappointment that his wife has so many outside obligations, that she's rarely at home.   I got to witness his words while looking at his face, and it still saddens me when I think about it.   This man missed his wife! 

When I hear ladies running off their list of "going here, doing this, I'm so busy, blah, blah, blah"  I am just grieving on the inside for what they are doing to themselves.   It truly saddens me.    And it's always the same - stating how busy and overwhelmed they are, yet in the next breath, talking about the newest commitment they've placed on themselves.    

And, since the enemy is clever, (he knows how moms are) he makes us busy running our kids around from new commitment to new commitment.   Same results - just sounds less selfish!

Bottom line - you're not in a good frame of mind, the kids are begging for "down time", your house is suffering, and deep inside you want to be different, but you don't know where to start or what to let go of. 

But guess what?  God knew this would happen.  He knew we would look to the world for our satisfaction, our fulfillment, our worth.    So He addressed it in His word.

Of course there is the Titus 2: 4 passage that speaks of "love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

But, in addition, there is 1 Timothy that gives us an idea of what God considers "good deeds" for women: (5:10) "and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble, and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."  (5:14) "So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander."

And, let's not forget about the famously envied Proverbs 31 woman!  She is not idle in any sense of the word, but her deeds are all about home and family.    She is resourceful, busy, noble, and has her husband's good will, first and foremost,  on her mind.   "She watches over the affairs of her household" and she is blessed by the praise of her husband and children.

So where are you at this point?

Busy beyond reason?
House suffering?
Husband neglected?
More committed outside the home than inside?
Children's activities dictating the direction of your house?
No time for ministering if the Lord were to call you to reach out?
No time for hospitality because you're never home?
Find yourself complaining about how busy you are, yet not doing a thing to change it?

Yesterday I heard a sweet friend say that she didn't want to be so busy that she didn't have time for what the Lord wants her to do.   Ahhhh!  There it was again.......that sweet "truth" that has shaped my life at home, shaped my outside commitment level, shaped my view on how I should live my life.  
And, my spirit rejoiced when she said those words because it was like another woman had come to know what God wanted for her life - simplicity, home, family, availability, and peace. 

We can be about God's business when He calls.   We just need to make sure it's HIM that's calling and not the world that says "it's good to be busy."  

Friendship For Grown-Ups - Honesty

 ***This is a post I wrote back in November of 2011, came across it today, and thought it was worth re-posting.  This is a great book, with much wisdom.**






A few weeks ago at the Women of Faith conference, I had the privilege of listening to one of my favorite speakers of all time........Lisa Whelchel.    She was exactly as she has been all the other times I've seen her......delightful, funny and honest about herself and she reminded me of how much I loved her last book, "Friendship for Grown-Ups".

This book is small in size but big in great advice on how to maneuver through friendships.....even as a grown-up, (which apparently, doesn't get any easier!)

I'm always telling my kids,  that as unfortunate as it is, even as grown-ups we have to navigate the waters of friendship and sometimes we sink!   You would think it would get easier as you get older, but I haven't found that to be true.   I think age just adds to the list of complications you have to overcome to have and be a friend.

In this book Lisa is very honest about her difficulties in finding those true and lasting friendships.   She covers so many topics about finding "safe" friends, drawing boundaries, being honest in conflict and walking away when the time comes.    These are all based on her own experiences as she tried to open herself up to grown-up friendships.

Two of my favorite concepts she talks about are brick building and imagination balloons.
See if you can relate to either one:

Brick building - a "brick" in a friendship is the beginning of a "wall".   Every time you have a disagreement with that friend, a brick is laid down.   Then you experience a disappointment with that friend and you lay another brick down.     If you don't take care of each brick, as they appear, then before you know it - you've got a wall between the two of you.   You can probably think of one or two relationships, right now, where there is the beginning of a small pile of bricks that need to be broken into bits, so they don't turn into a wall.  

Sadly, we have a tendency to just keep piling on the bricks, until the wall is too tall and menacing, so we walk away.   I wonder, how many friendships could have been saved by just taking care of each brick as it appeared?


Imagination balloons - These are like those little dialog balloons in the cartoons, where one person is talking and the other is thinking something at the same time.    This happens all the time in friendships, but it looks like this:
(As Lisa writes in her book) - She calls her friend on the phone and immediately her friend says "Can I call you later?"   Lisa says "Sure" but when she hangs up the phone, she instantly creates a balloon that says "Huh! She didn't even take time to talk to me!  Something must be wrong or she doesn't want me calling her anymore."      Can you relate?

Because of some action on our friend's part, we instantly create a dialog balloon and fill it in with all kinds of things that we are imagining to be true.

Thankfully, when Lisa's friend called her back, she explained that right when Lisa called, her dinner was ready and she wanted to eat it while it was still hot!  Can you imagine how that one small incident could have turned into nonsense, had the friend not called back right away?

As women, we are always dealing with outside influences that affect our emotions; whether it be hormones, the stress of home, kids, husbands, work, etc., and we let that spill over into our friendships.

Instead of being honest with one another, we assume and create these imagination balloons and fill them in, without the other person even being aware of what's going on.   Dangerous stuff, ladies!

Unfortunately, the only way to deal with bricks and balloons, is honesty.   And that, sadly, is easier said than done!

When was the last time you were honest with a friend?  This covers so many aspects of friendship.  Are we honest when there is conflict?  Are we honest when sharing our imperfections?   Are we honest when sharing our hurts, our mistakes, our sins? 

Why is it so hard to be honest? 

Fear of conflict....that's what keeps us from being honest.   But is it fear for ourselves or for the other person?   Are we avoiding honesty because it gets uncomfortable for us or because we don't want to hurt the other person?

I think we all struggle in the area of honesty - just in different ways.

You basically have two kinds of people, when it comes to being honest: the one who tends to speak their mind and the one who doesn't speak it, but shows it.

I've always been the one who tends to speak my feelings and this has caused many bricks and balloons, I'm sure!  Not everyone appreciates honesty; especially when it hits you like a ton of bricks!  Speaking the truth is not always pretty and it takes maturity and God's hand over your mouth, to learn to do it correctly and with love.    I'm still a work in progress!

On the other hand, I've been the recipient of the other form of "honesty" (which I really don't consider to be honest), which is the "kind" honesty.    This is where the person "beats around the bush" with their actions and just ends up avoiding you because they don't know how to come out and say what's on their minds.    

I remember experiencing this many years ago in a friendship that was really special to me, and it hurt me more than if that person would have just been honest with me about what she was feeling.   Instead of just talking to me and telling me what was coming between us, she just began avoiding me and making up excuses as to what was wrong between us.   It got us nowhere and eventually we lost the friendship all together.  In her mind, she thought she was being "nicer" by not telling me what was wrong, but just moving on (she confessed later on).   Well, it wasn't "nicer" and it didn't make her seem any more righteous than someone who might have confronted the issue with love and gentleness.   In fact,  I found it dishonest and deceitful and much more hurtful in the long run.

I see this happening with my kid's friendships at times too.   It's painful when it happens to me as an adult, but it breaks my heart everytime I see this happen to one of my kids.

It leaves you wondering what went wrong and you don't even know how to fix whatever it was, because there was no honesty to help you along.

Yes, honesty is hard.   It's uncomfortable.   It makes you squirm and turn red and want to be anywhere but where you are.   However, the rewards can be growth and a stronger connection, if you allow love to be your guide.

As Lisa says: "Ironically, in almost every situation where I have taken the initiative to confront issues before they grew, the result has been a more tender, yet more solid, relationship."

If you have an "honest" relationship, hang on to it!

If you have trouble in this area, pray and ask God to help you manage conflict in a more honest way.

Don't let the bricks stack up and don't create balloons where they don't belong.

We want our friends to hang around!  It would be a lonely place without them.

Are You a Dream Stealer?

"Mommy, I know what I want to be when I grow up!"

We've all heard this line from our little ones and hopefully replied with encouragement and excitement.  

But, what about as those "littles" grow and get closer to the age when they really need to be thinking about what they want to do or "be" when they grow up?   How do we respond?

When Ted, who is 18 now, was younger, he wanted to be a pilot in the service.   That idea came from his love of airplanes and his respect for our military.   I have to admit - as noble of a dream as this was, it was not my dream for my little boy.   Not for any other reason but the obvious......military equals danger.  How do you combine pride for the noble and fear, in the same heart?   Thankfully, this was a boyhood dream; one that was replaced with God's calling on his life.

Ted's "calling" came early in life - probably around the age of 12-13 years.   He knew that music would be his life and he had no shortage of ideas about how to use it.   

When he was a Freshman in highschool, Ruby (my stepmom) gave him a keyboard/recording program that plugged into the computer.    This was the beginning of something big!

For hours Ted would sit and create songs on that keyboard; teaching himself everything there was to know about recording and composing.    (One more reason I love homeschooling!)   He spent so much time teaching himself the art of recording, that I actually used that time and knowledge as a Science credit (Recording Science falls under Applied Science.  Another great homeschooling perk.)

Little did I know that one small keyboard would lead to a recording business and sound studio, now called TJS Productions?

But, what if I would have been a dream stealer?

What if I would have said something like "that's not practical" or "you need to get a real job"?  What if I would have insisted he go in another direction that seemed more practical and reliable?   What if I let the doubts and forgotten dreams of my own, dictate the future of this young man?    How selfish that would be!

You see, we get burned out by the reality of life.   Some of us have given up our dreams and therefore, we allow that negativity to spill over into the lives of our children, who are still young enough to dream.   
    Don't do that!     Let them dream!      Let them create!

           Let them feel that calling on their lives that God has created them for!

It may not seem practical to us, but that doesn't mean it's not real and obtainable. 

Dreams change and they eventually may take a different path, but by letting them dream, we are stepping aside and allowing God to move them and take them places we never would have thought of. 

If we squelch that, we may be stepping in the way of God.   Only HE truly knows the plans HE has for our children.

So, if your child is showing signs of a God-given talent - step back and let them dream.   It may amount to nothing or it may amount to everything.   

Don't be a dream stealer!

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, 

in love, in faith and in purity."

(1 Timothy 4:12)

(This was a verse I would always give Ted when he

had challenges before him.)

Ted and Over Everest

Ted's Logo

Go to Ted's Website

It's Dangerous Being a Writer!

You wouldn't normally think of writing as a dangerous profession, however, I've discovered that there are some aspects of it that can be hazardous to the reader's health and my  testimony.

You see, as someone who has to write, meaning it's in me and it has to come out, I tend to use writing as my own form of therapy.   Granted - it's a lot cheaper than a shrink, but it can be counterproductive to winning friends and influencing people!

When I feel frustrated, I want to write it out.   

When I feel happy,  I want to share.  

When I feel slighted, I want to vent.  

And when I want to praise someone, I do. 

Kind of like a singer pours their heart out through song; I pour my heart out on the page of this blog.  Good or bad, this is where it lands and I know it's not always pretty and proper!

Take, for instance, a post I wrote a week ago about "Christian Bullies".    I was so mad when I wrote that!  The mama bear showed up and took over my keyboard!   Everything I wrote in that post was true, but I shouldn't have put it into words.  I should have just left it alone and handled it calmly.   The Holy Spirit quickly reeled me back in and I removed the post the very next morning.   However, those who receive my blog through email were probably shaking their heads at my hot-hotheadedness and I can't say I blame them.    This is something my family just laughs about, but the public may not be so kind.       So, to you email readers, I say "sorry"!  I'll try to do better in the future!

The bad thing is, that writers are passionate!  Whether we're creating a song, a poem, a story, or just writing about our day, we tend to have passion for what's going on paper.   It's hard to keep the emotion of who you are and what you're feeling, out of your creation.    

It would be like telling an artist NOT to paint what they feel; it can't be done!

So, although I am going to try to not write from heated fury anymore, I won't promise that I can curb any of the other emotions that come along with life; that would just be dishonest. 

I'm an outspoken person and it shows in my writing.  

But, I'm also a loving, kind, compassionate, tenderhearted person, and that shows as well. 

So, if you decide to stick around, you may want to ask yourself if you can handle the gamut of emotions that come from my posts.     If you're looking for icky sweet, overly loving, ooey-gooey peace filled posts - ummmm - it "ain't" happening here!

But, if you enjoy honesty, a little humor, and a lot of giving God the glory - then you've come to the right place.    

And, I'm glad you're here!

Amazing G-Free Cupcakes!

THESE KEPT ME BUSY TODAY

Gluten free chocolate cupcakes with Toffee Vanilla Frosting

These were, by far, some of the best cupcakes I have ever made!

I went to Basic Foods last week to look for some G-Free products.   Since my dad has Celiac, I'm always looking for G-Free food that would be safe to make for him, plus, you just never know when someone else will need to go G-Free and I want to know what I'm doing.

So......I went to peruse the aisles, just to see what was available in the specialty shop.   I know the local supermarkets are carrying more and more products, but I thought I might find something unique at Basic Foods and I was right.  

I've tried G-Free desserts before and they were "ok" so I expected these to be about the same; maybe a little dry and kind of non-descriptive.   However, I was so wrong!

These little cupcakes are a strong match for some regular cupcakes I recently bought at a Cupcake Bakery!

But - the best part is the Toffee Vanilla Frosting!  Oh my goodness!

All you add is butter and water and you have a buttery, sweet, creamy frosting that melts in your mouth!

I took some to my mother-in-law across the yard and almost insisted she eat one right then! (You're a good sport Carolyn!)

The sad part about this yummy creation is that my dad is still in the hospital and can't even try them.

Get well soon Daddy!  I want to bake you some treats!

(Now I've got to go put a warm towel on my head.  I think I've given myself a sugar headache.)

Until next time.......

Blessings!

 I will be checking Amazon and the Gluten-Free Mall Online

for this brand.