Mommyhood Adventures

P 52 Challenge: Self-Portrait

2012-01-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

This week’s P 52 photography theme is “Self-Portrait.” I have to be totally honest and tell you that the thought of taking a picture of myself totally made me have palpitations. I love being behind the camera. I have yet to find myself enjoying being on the other side of the lens. Really, it's not my favorite pastime. However, I do need to be challenged in this area or my poor kids will have no record of me being anywhere with them. So here is my self-portrait. Me, drinking my favorite drink from my favorite mug.

I love coffee more than words can adequately express. I didn’t always love coffee though. My obsession started during my senior year in high school. I was dating Daddy Reg at that time (he was in college) and he loved coffee and knew all the best places for coffee in town. One day he insisted that I try a mocha, while he ordered a quadruple macchiato at a little coffee shop in town. A true macchiato mind you has just a touch of milk. Not, like the macchiato you can get at that very popular, one on every corner, coffee shop we all know so well. I could not imagine having that much espresso in one cup and he was determined to get me to like some form of coffee. Well, I fell in love with the mocha and started getting them every day. I bought one before school then went to a coffee shop at lunch for another and then if I had a lot of studying to do I would grab another one after school.

It didn't take long until I discovered the latte with a double shot. Oh the creamy foam with the delectable coffee goodness nestled underneath was pure heaven on my tongue. Fast forward to today a few things about me and my coffee obsession:

I only buy whole bean coffee and grind my own at home.
I have a basic automatic coffee pot that serves me well however I wouldn’t mind getting one with a timer so I didn’t have to push the button and wait for the coffee to brew in the morning.
I own two different sizes of mocha pots and wish I had another one. I used to have three but one literally exploded and I haven’t replaced it yet. Hmmm it’s about time I did replace it.
I have a great coffee press that I use almost daily after the full pot is gone. (Sometimes I press tea in my coffee press though so it isn’t always for more coffee.)
I also have a personal sized press for traveling. When I am staying at a hotel, I bring my own coffee and press it.
Lattes are my favorite coffee shop drink.
I can make my own lattes at home and I don’t own one of those overpriced fancy machines to do it.
I love coffee.

This post is linked to My 3 Boybarians P52 Photography Challenge

Potatoes

2012-01-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

I love the conversations I have when my munchkins are little. The way their little brains process information is so cute. Last night, while discussing the dinner menu, Little G and I had a little conversation about potatoes.

-I want 'tatoes for dinner.

-We had 'tatoes for lunch sweetie.

-No we didn't, we had French fries.

-But French fries are potatoes.

-No they aren't.

-Yes G French fries are just cut up potatoes.

-No… well maybe they have a pinch of 'tatoe in them but they are not rege'ar (regular) 'tatoes 'cause they have lines in them. Can we have 'tatoes for dinner? Mash 'tatoes. I love tatoes.

We had garlic mashed potatoes with our chicken for dinner. How can one possibly say no to this level of cuteness?

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy at My 3 Boybarians.

P52 Challenge: I Dreamed a Dream

2012-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

The week’s theme for the P 52 Photo Challenge is, “I dreamed a dream.” As soon as I read that my mind started to race. What in the world was I going to photograph that represented a dream? But on Monday I realized that the photo needed to be whom, not what. I was reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech to the kids for part of their studies on Monday. And as I read aloud those words, I knew what the photograph should be. Part of that amazing speech says,

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

That line is my favorite. Judging anyone by the content of their character regardless of their skin, last name, where they live or grew up, who their parents are or aren’t, what school they go/went to, how they talk or any number of outward standards, is exactly what God wants us to do. Remember in Samuel, God says that he looks not at outward appearances but at the heart. That is what Dr. King’s dream was, that we would all look not at what we see with our eyes but what we see with our heart.

When I was a little girl I had a dream that stayed with me all while growing up. I dreamed of a large loving family. I wanted a house full of kids who love God more than anything. When you love God more than anything then it shows in your character. I am living that dream today. I have a house full of kids who love God. Every day I get to show them what it means to have reckless abandon for Christ and how to live it out. I am so blessed to be able to live my dream and I don't take it for granted.

This post is linked to P52 Challenge with Darcy and My 3 Boybarians.

One of Those Days

2012-01-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

We all have days like this:

I am so thankful that the Lord's steadfast love for us never ceases and that His mercies are new every morning. Each day I can wake up knowing that it is a brand new beginning and yesterday is in the past. And I am also incredibly thankful that most days around here are like this:

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

P52 Challenge: Made With Love

2012-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

This week's Project 52's theme is: Made With Love

Every year, we decorate gingerbread men at Christmas time. This year, we never got it done, I baked the cookies but time got away from us. So, I froze the cookies for a later date. ((Side note, do not freeze gluten free gingerbread cookies. When my gluten free batch thawed, they were as hard as rocks and I had to chuck them. I am baking some today for my GF eater.)) Who says gingerbread men are only for Christmas?

The kids take their time creating their masterpieces. They each only had five cookies to decorate this year and they took over an hour to get them done. But that is okay, it was so much fun and we always have a blast spending the afternoon making edible works of art.

Watching them reminded me how we are God’s masterpieces. We are works in progress and He is nowhere near finished with me. He takes His time with us and lovingly molds and shapes us into something beautiful.

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 1:6 ESV
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

This post is linked to P52 Week 2 at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

Conversations

2012-01-10T00:10:00.000-08:00

Recent conversations between a mommy and her five year old…

- Mommy I want to make my own lunch. I’ll put on the ingredients and then you cut it okay?
- Okay Sweetie.
She pulls out two butter knives; one for the jelly and one for the peanut butter.
- It’s easier with two knives.

~~~~~~~~~~

- Mommy does cheese come from milk?
- Yes G, it does.
- Then we can make our own cheese and put it in the “frigator” and we can have yummy fresh cheese whenever we want.

~~~~~~~~~~

- Mommy we can make our own Cheetos. (A rare and special treat in our house.)
- How can we do that G?
- We can cut carrots into sticks and put them in the oven. Then take them out and sprinkle cheese on top.
- Carrots? Why carrots?
- Well, carrots are orange like Cheetos.

I love how her little brain works.

This post is link to Sweet Shot Tuesday at My3Boybarians with Darcy.

P 52 Challenge: Resolution

2012-01-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

I decided to participate in a P52 Challenge this year. The one I am participating in is hosted by Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians, she also hosts Sweet Shot Tuesdays. Darcy totally rocks; you should go check her out. I want to stretch myself in my photography and felt this was absolutely they way to do it. Every Friday I plan to post a picture for this challenge. I really hope I can pull it off each week.

This week’s challenge is: Resolution

I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I find them very pointless, I don’t think you need to have a reason to begin doing something that you need to do, you just need to jump in and do it. Besides often times by February that promise you made to yourself has already been forgotten.

This year is no different for me. I haven’t made a resolution but after the hustle and bustle of Christmas I realized I was feeling depleted spiritually and emotionally. I knew the reason why, I haven’t been keeping my time with God as I should. So, I purposed to be more diligent in keeping my morning appointment with the Lord. I am not a morning person at all but if I don’t read my Bible first thing, I find that excuses and distractions keep me from sitting down even for ten minutes to get myself focused and renewed. Renewing myself and getting my focus on the eternal is so important for me. I need to keep that focus so that I can be the best wife and mom I can be. If I am depleted or stressed, I will not be the wife and mom God has called me to be.

Do you make resolutions?

This post is linked to Project 52 Week 1: Resolution at My 3 Boybarians.

The Leaning Tree

2012-01-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

I am in the early stages of putting away the Christmas decorations. It is such a bittersweet moment for me. All of the memories made, and fun that was had is now over and a new beginning is here. I find myself lingering every year, just wanting to keep everything out just a bit longer, but alas I know it cannot be. I must lovingly wrap up each item and store it away for 11 months until next Christmas season.

This year’s memories include all of the kids making their own Nativity Scene to put up in the house. We had one by the tree, one on the chest in the living room, one on the dining room wall and one in the media/play room. I love that pretty much anywhere you were you would see a reminder of why we as a family celebrate the season.

Our tree this year did not fall over as it did last year. For this I am so thankful. However it is leaning about 12 precarious degrees forward. It started out straight when we put it up. But every day it seemed to tilt just a little bit more than the day before. As I have been nervously watching the tree God keeps reminding me how easy it is for us to tilt in our walk with God, losing our focus on what is important. Just like it is so easy to lose focus during the craziness of the Christmas season.

I have been reflecting back on all the festivities of this past Christmas season examining how well we kept our focus on the Lord and all that is important in the midst of all of the fun activities and presents. For us, we have several gift-giving sessions with all of the family. When you have a large family, getting everyone together is almost a miracle in itself. In the middle of the packages and ribbons and bows with all of the oohing and aahing, did the focus tilt? That is where I am right now.

Every year, I want the focus to be on Christ. Why He came, and what He did and how important that is. I think we did really well not losing focus and I am praying that next year will be even better.

Christmas Decorating

2011-12-08T13:25:00.001-08:00

Christmas decorating has taken longer than usual this year to the point that there are a few things I still have to put out this week. Normally I pull out the decorations and deck the house out the week after Thanksgiving, but this year it has taken a bit longer than usual. That’s okay though; the kids have been having lots of fun helping me get everything looking all Christmassy. I love pulling out the decorations each year and finding those forgotten treasures. It is kind of like meeting up with long lost friends.

The first thing out every year is Jingle. He is our little Christmas bear. He hides around the house waiting for the kids to find him. The kids love this bear.

We started the tradition a long time ago and it is one of the things the kids look forward to. Every year it gets harder and harder to find spots that the kids won’t find him right away which makes a fun challenge for mommy too.

I love this snowman. Isn’t he so cute? I won him at a Christmas party several years ago and he quickly became one of my favorite decorations to pull out every year. I actually even put him away last since he is a snowman and snowmen fit in very well with the winter season not just Christmas.

Christmas is the one time during the year that I have candy everywhere in the house. There are so many yummy treats to eat during the holidays. One of my favorite is spice gum drops. When I turned three, my mom made me a snowman birthday cake decorated with gum drops. I remember that cake and now gum drops are something that make me smile.

There are still a few finishing touches here and there and the kids are each making a nativity scene for display. We have lots of crafts and baking to do, presents to make and wrap. And our Advent activities to help us keep our perspective and focus on Jesus, the reason we celebrate at all. It is always fun to spend the last month of the year celebrating all that God has done and all that God will do in the coming year.

Linking up with My 3 Boybarians for the Holiday Bokeh Party Click on over and check out all the photo fun.

Christmas & Advent Planning

2011-11-18T16:58:00.001-08:00

Did you realize, Advent starts in just one week and Christmas is in 5 short weeks! Are you ready? Do you know what you are going to do to prepare and celebrate? I'm getting there. I have so many things I want to do I probably should have started doing them yesterday. Not kidding. I know I can't fit them all in but there is always next year. A few years ago, I posted a bunch of Christmas Activities that I found around the web. Since some of those links I am sure are not working and there are so many new links out there, I decided to post an updated list for you to get ideas. Since I was scouring the web anyway, I thought it would be nice to share.

You're welcome.

Advent Calendars, Activities, Lapbooks and Lessons

Online Advent Calendar - TeachingMOM put this calendar up in 2008. I have used it as a guide every year. I love how much stuff she has for each day. I start the activities on the first day of Advent and adjust the amount of activities each week to last until Christmas. She also has an Advent Verses Chain you can print out and use. We have also done this yearly and discuss the verses throughout Advent season.

Advent Coloring Book - DLTK has a great Advent coloring book that all of my kids have done. This is a great book for preschoolers through 1st or 2nd grade. Even older kids who enjoy coloring can appreciate this book.

Advent Coloring Pages - Ministry to Children has a cute little Advent Coloring Book that looks like fun for the younger ones. It is simple and can be a great beginning for Bible lessons during the Advent season.

An Inductive Advent Study Guide - This is a really neat study guide that can really be used with any school aged child I think. An inductive study is a great way to really dig deep into the Word.

Printable Nativity Scenes

Every year we make our own Nativity. The kids paint pictures of all the people and animals and angles and we assemble it together up on the wall like a bulletin board. The kids love doing this every year and each year I try to use different print outs to keep it special. We also change up the painting method and sometimes add glitter glue, cotton balls, sponge paint some of the animals or whatever else we can think up to make each year a little different than the last. Here are some of the sites I have used in the past and links to stuff I am thinking about for this year. I want to make several and have them displayed all over the house this year.

Christmas Nativity Scene - DLTK has a great scene to print out that I have used parts or all of in years past. She also has these adorable Christmas Girl Angels and Christmas Boy Angels that seem to make it on the wall each year.

DIY Printable Nativity - Catholic Icing has one of the most adorable Nativity Scenes. I am sure this is one of the scenes we are going to make this year.

Make Your Own Nativity Scene - This is a really cute Nativity Scene that looks easy to put together.

Scrapbook Printable Nativity Scene - This is a great little Nativity Scene at ScrapbookScrapbook.

Paper Doll Nativity - This cute printable set is for paper-dolls. I love that it uses a box like a diorama and hay. So fun.

Printable Nativity Scenes - This one is unique as it has two scenes. One when Jesus is born with the shephards visiting and then a second with Jesus as a toddler and the magi visiting. This one is basically a print and assemble the last page of this has a bunch of facts about Jesus' birth and the Nativity and how tradition isn't always the way it was.

Nativity Scene Clipart - I have used this clip art to help make our scenes up on the wall before.

Lapbooks, Mini Books and Unit Studies

Christ Is Born Lapbook - This little lapbook is geared towards young ones. It is a cute little folder that you can put printed pieces in to make a little scene they can play with.

Nativity Lapbook - We used several elements of this lapbook a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

The 12 Days of Christmas Lapbook - We did this lapbook a few years ago and the kids loved it. It puts Biblical meanings (though they are not the official meanings) to each of the twelve days. It's an enjoyable lapbook geared more for elementary aged kids.

Legend of the Candy Cane Lapbook - Do you know the legend of the candy cane? It's pretty cool. I'm going to do this with the kids this year.

Other Activities and Printables

Christian Preschool Printables has so many fun things from games to mini books to crafts and everything in between.

Homeschooling 4 Free has so many links to so many great ideas. I thought I would add this link in for anyone who still needs some more ideas for home, or Sunday School.

File Folder Fun has a great collection of free folder games for Christmas. Just print, cut, glue and play. My kids love folder games and I have made more than I can count. I will be making a couple of these too.

I might have gone overboard but I think there is something here for everyone. With having every grade from kindergarten to junior high, I was trying to find something each of my kids would enjoy.

Fall Beauty

2011-11-15T10:01:00.001-08:00

I have a confession. Fall is not my favorite season. Only for one reason, it means colder weather is on its way. I am not fond of cold weather. However, what makes fall so special is that God paints the trees with some of the most brilliant colors. (That and pumpkin spice lattes.)

The beauty of the leaves changing from boring green to amazing reds, yellows, oranges, and purples makes me smile. It is a pity that the vibrancy only lasts a few weeks before the leaves lose their brilliance and winter weather creeps in. (Then it is time for gingerbread lattes.)
We took a walk downtown to enjoy the trees in all their brilliant beauty yesterday and the awesome wonder is too good not to share.

How could one say there is no God with amazing splendor like this? The past few weeks the kids studied the process of the leaves changing for their science unit. Knowing the science just reinforced to me how Awesome our God is.

"From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday at Life With My 3 Boybarians

Teaching Children About the Library

2011-11-14T21:13:00.001-08:00

Today, I was reminded of the harsh reality that many people have no clue about the library. There were two moms who were talking to each other while their little boys were running around, practically yelling and making forts with the chair cushions. The librarian talked to them several times, and their moms did nothing. About 5 minutes after they left some parents came in for a book for their daughter. Those two had no idea how books were organized, shelved, categorized or anything. Seriously. Annoying. They tied up the poor librarian who was trying to shelve the returned books with how to find the book they wanted, which they sort of knew the title but nothing else. Then when they figured out where it was they asked if they looked for it by the title. By that time I almost yelled at them that it’s by author but I was good and bit my tongue.

The library is one of our favorite places to go and hang out. When I was a kid, I practically lived in the library. I made a point of my kids understanding the way the library works from a very young age. When they were very young, they learned that in a library you use a library voice. And that you always walk quietly to where you need to go without fooling around. They also learned to respect the books and if they take a book off the shelf and decided they don’t want it, you put it back exactly where you found it and if you can’t find the spot, leave it on the table for the librarian to reshelf. Also, we taught them to always say thank you to the librarians who help check out our books each time. As they got older, we taught them the difference between fiction and non-fiction and how the books are divided into those two categories in the library, and about how the books are shelved by author. When Princess K wanted an Eric Carl book (her favorite author/illustrator) she knew to go to the picture book shelves and look on the shelves with a C. Now, all of them spend most of their time in the non-fiction section and they have learned what numbers their favorite subjects are under.

Recently, we dived deeper into the Dewey Decimal System and they learned about those numbers on the book spine in greater detail than just that it is the book’s address on the shelve. We printed out a chart I found online that had the categories and sub categories and also found some websites about Melvil Dewey and learned about his life. They got so into this lesson they decided it would be fun to organize all of our books like the library. So all the books were taken off the shelves and put into piles.

Lots and lots of piles.

We taped up the list so that it would be easier to categorize the books and then after they were all sorted we put them all back on the shelves.

This happened a month ago and our books are still shelved accordingly. I am really impressed with how careful they are to put the books back where they belong now. Before this was not always the case.

Our next trip to the library we did a scavenger hunt. I gave each child a 3x5 card with 3 different books and their locations. Each one of them had a different list of books. Their job was to find the book and show me the book on the shelf. They loved doing that and asked if we could have another library scavenger hunt with more books to find.

We love the library. It is so sad there are many who don’t and have no idea how to find a book if they needed to.

Fall Walk and Falling Acorns

2011-11-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

We took the kids for a nature walk in the park yesterday. I love the fall only because of the beautiful colors on the trees.

The vibrant reds oranges yellows and purples are my favorite. It's the only part of fall I really like. Well that and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

However, it has still been a tad too warm here for the trees to get the message that it is time to reveal their true colors so our walk was a bit disappointing from that standpoint.

It was raining acorns along the path we took for part of our walk. It was fun trying to dodge them as they came crashing down. You would hear a noise, look up and try to anticipate where the little acorn was going to land. Hoping that it wasn't going to land on your face.

The girls had fun collecting them and by the end of our walk their pockets were full. I'm not sure if we are going to make a craft with them or just let them be. I have a feeling Little G just wanted to add them to her nature collection. Either way she had a blast trying to stuff as many as she could into her pockets.

Fall walks are so much fun. Now... if only we can see more color.

This post is linked up to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Mommy Lesson 31 - I'm Not Done Learning

2011-10-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

Before I became a mommy I read all sorts of books and took all sorts of classes about raising children, caring for children, teaching children and child development. I had been babysitting since I was 12 and was a nanny, not to mention I am the oldest of four kids. So I felt that I had this whole mommy thing figured out. Oh my goodness was I so totally wrong! The truth is that the books are good and all but they don’t know what they are talking about and the classes, well let’s just say they were all malarkey. Okay maybe not totally but mostly.

The truth is that without God, I have no clue what I am doing. Every day I face challenges while raising my kids that remind me, I don’t know what I am doing and unless I am constantly seeking God. Every kid is different and for the most part, no book will be able to tell you what to do. Yes the books have good ideas but none of them will fit every child all the time. I have also learned that the best books are written by parents who have already raised their kids and their kids are proof that how they were parented worked. The books written by those who haven’t raised several kids but are written by “trained professionals” are only good for lining the litter box. One cannot be a parenting expert unless they have been a parent and it helps if they have parented more than one child so they can realize that every child responds differently.

Without God I have no clue what I am doing, is the last lesson I am sharing this month. It has been a great 31 days even though I got sick and had to cram some posts in on the last day. I have enjoyed sharing my heart and what I have learned over the years so far. I know that I am not done learning. I am excited to see what lessons I will be learning as I venture further into the teen years with my kids. I know that enjoying the journey is essential and that I love being a mommy. I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I did.

Mommy Lesson 30 - Obedience with Reckless Abandon

2011-10-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Obedience is a big deal in our house and most of the time my kids are really good at obeying us. Daddy Reg and I believe that if we train them how to obey then they will know how when they need to. Just like if you train for what to do during a fire, then if you are in a fire you know what to do. And if they can obey us, then it will be easier for them to obey other authority figures in life. One thing we do to train them is periodically tell them to do random tasks that do not have anything to do with what is going on at the moment. Their job is to do what was asked no matter how irrelevant without question.
As I have trained my kids throughout the years, God has been faithful to show me how He trains me in the same way. He wants me to obey with reckless abandon even the craziest of commands. There are so many examples in the Bible about obedience with reckless abandon just like God wants us to obey.
God told the Israelites to not worry about food while in the dessert because He would rain food from heaven. Think about that one from their perspective. Really, food falling out of the sky? Those who did as they were told, did not go hungry, but it really is a crazy thought
Noah was told to build a giant boat that was bigger than anything anyone had ever built and he built it. I am sure Noah was a tad confused about the boat’s purpose as it took him forever to build but he still built it in the midst of all the mockery.
Abraham was told to take his son up a mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham’s reckless abandon to God is not lost on me. God’s command seems so crazy insane and yet Abraham did it without question knowing that God knew what he was doing. Abraham was blessed beyond measure out of his obedience.
Joshua was told to walk in circles around a city and then blow trumpets and the walls would fall down and they would conquer the city. Joshua obeyed with reckless abandon and the walls came falling down and they took the city.
One of my favorite examples is when Jesus spit in some dirt, put the mud he made in the blind guy’s eyes and told him to go wash it off at a certain pool. The guy went to the pool Jesus told him to go to and washed it out there. He didn’t immediately wipe his face like most people would. He obeyed without question and because of his obedience, he got his sight.
Obedience with reckless abandon, no questions asked, is a big deal in the Bible. God wants us to have that kind of reckless abandon. God is constantly showing me how to obey just by trusting Him. Obedience takes trust, it really does. It also takes faith, which is very similar to trust - but not the same thing. Obedience is not on the condition of knowing why, it is to be on the condition of trusting that God (or the person in authority) knows what He is doing.

I am learning a lesson in obedience. I know I have just scratched the very top layer of the surface on obedience. The Bible is so full of examples. The greatest example of all, Christ was obedient to the cross. If he didn't obey, I would be facing certain eternal death and so would every person who has ever walked the face of this earth.

Disclaimer: This post is inspired by a post I wrote in 2007 but is really relevant to me today too.

Mommy Lesson 29 - God's Plans are Better

2011-10-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

When you first hold your little one in your arms you have so many thoughts and your dreams for him (or her) come flooding in. As moms, we have great ideas and plans for who our kids are going to be, what they are going to be like and how they will behave. Great intentions and wonderful plans carefully thought out, by us. And then a few moments later, reality sets in. Those wonderful ideas are most likely not God’s plans.
In Proverbs it says if you bring up your child in the way he should go he will not depart from it. Many parents will quote that verse as they are laying out their blueprint for their little one’s life. But the truth is that before that precious blessing was even conceived, plans greater than ours were already set into motion. And that verse is not about training them in the way we think they should go, but according to God’s plan.

God has given each of my little one's specific personalities with likes and dislikes unique to them. Things that they enjoy for fun and other things they really have no desire to do. My job as a mom is to encourage them in their passions and equip them in ways that will help them be successful as they grow into adulthood. If I lay down my desires for them and take up God desires for them and teach them the way they should go according to God's will, then they will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (HCSB) Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Psalm 139:13-16 (HCSB) For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.

Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) For I know the plans I have for you" - this is the LORD's declaration -"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Mommy Lesson 28 - Mary and Martha

2011-10-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

There are many times throughout my day where I have the opportunity to hear God speak to me. I miss most of them I am sure, as I am self-absorbed in all that I have determined I need to accomplish.
When the kids are babies, they spend every moment absorbing in all the information they can, constantly learning about the world. We need to be like the little babies and pay attention to what God is trying to teach us each day. I know that I need to take more time listening to God’s voice like Mary and less time trying to check off the to-do list like Martha.
There are so many times where God has spoken to me through a movie the kids are watching or a book I am reading to them. There are other times where God speaks to me as I am imparting wisdom to the older kids. God speaks through everything all the time and my job is just to pay attention. I know that there are days that go by when I am so self-absorbed in my day that I forget to stop and listen or see what God is trying to show me. I need to remember how my kids were when they were babies never wasting a learning opportunity and applying that to my adult life. I need to realize that just as I set up learning opportunities for my children He sets them up for me. I cannot be distracted with life and miss those opportunities.

Luke 10:38-42 (HCSB) While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand." The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her."

Mommy Lesson 27 - Enjoy The Here and Now

2011-10-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

Something that I have continually been reminded of over and over and over again is that time is precious and enjoy your kids in the moment because in a blink of an eye, that moment is gone forever. So often I hear moms say that they can’t wait until their little one is doing one thing or the other. Forgetting that this exact moment with them is great too. I have even let those words escape my mouth a time or two. And honestly, those words shouldn’t be even whispered.
Every fleeting moment with our kids should be cherished and enjoyed as if it were the last. We are only promised the right now there is no promise of tomorrow. Just as we should not worry about the trials of tomorrow, we should also not long for tomorrow in such a way that we forget to enjoy today. Sure, it's easier when they sleep through the night, or start walking, or can feed themselves. But even those hard moments should be enjoyed. We are privileged as moms to even have these moments with our kids and that shouldn't be taken for granted. And enjoying every precious second that we have with them is so important.

Because one moment they are small cute little chubby munchkins…

…and then you blink.

Mommy Lesson 26 - Love and Obedience

2011-10-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl there was a song on my favorite album The Music Machine called Love. Part of the lyrics say, "Love makes people do the things they know they ought to do. Love is doing things for you and me" I was thinking about that song this week. When I need the kids to be obedient even though they would rather do something different, I still expect obedience. But I want them to obey out of love not out of fear of getting in trouble.

When you look at the heroes in the Bible, you see great obedience. What I notice is that all of them obey out of their love for God and their knowledge of how much God loves them more than out of fear. Sure they all knew that God is great and can send lightening bolts out of the sky or cause a whale to swallow you, but it is evident that they obeyed out of love. That's what I pray for my kids, that they are obedient out of love not out of fear.

I know that the more I cultivate that relationship with them and strengthen those bonds the more chances I have that they will be obedient out of love. I'm not saying they will be perfect or always be obedient and make the wise choices but I do believe that they will more likely make the smart choices because that is a way to show love.

Mommy Lesson 25 - An Act of Worship

2011-10-25T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'm in the midst of battling the cold the kids gave me and it was so windy today that my fall allergies just made everything worse. So I am not totally thinking clearly to blog. But something has been on my heart the last couple weeks about mommyhood that I really want to share. Tonight I was browsing some older posts and I discovered I had written about it before so I am going to just copy and paste it here.

Mommyhood is an act of worship to the Lord and as moms we need to remember that as we handle the day to day stuff that ranges from mundane to absolute craziness. Before you think I am just a crazy person hear me out. The Bible says that everything we do is to be done for the Lord and that includes the role of being a mom and a wife. Not just at our job or ministry but everything else in our lives too.

Here is a post I wrote in 2008 that talks about it. And I feel the same now as I did then.

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Did you know that every act throughout your day is to be an act of worship to the Lord? God has called every one of us to live a life of worship. We are to wake up with a heart of worship and keep that heart of worship all day even when we go to bed, we should be in a spirit of worship.

Worship is simply an act of love and devotion. In Colossians, we are exhorted to do everything for the Lord giving thanks.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. "Do it heartily," with love for the Lord and integrity. Do it thoroughly with passion and eagerness to please the Lord and do it with great enthusiasm, delight and pleasure in Him. In other words do it as an act of worship for the Lord.

So… to put this into perspective for me.

When I am giving Baby G her third bath of the day, (Yes, really, she is the messiest eater I have ever seen.) I am to give thanks to the Lord while bathing her with enthusiasm and delight.

When I am picking up the living room, cooking a meal, dusting the house, vacuuming, folding laundry, washing dishes, I need to be doing it for the Lord as an act of devotion and worship to Him because this is what he has called me to do. I will be honest out of that list, folding laundry and washing dishes are not my favorite chores. I do not always do them with an attitude of worship to the Lord.

Let me encourage you this week, as I work on this. With everything, you have to do this week, do it for the
Lord with an attitude of worship.

Romans 12:1-3 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the worked, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

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The funny thing is that Little G is still one of the messiest eaters I know and she also gets dirty just thinking about playing outside. And I still have to remind myself daily when I am getting tired of a task that I am doing it for the Lord. It's a lesson I am sure I will keep on learning over and over again.

Mommy Lesson 24 - Just Keep on Growing

2011-10-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

Today's post isn't really a Mommyhood lesson. But it is something I thought about today and I am a mommy so it still counts as a Mommy Lesson.
This morning I took the camera out to see what I could see. Being alone with my camera is one of the ways I like to recharge, it's fun to try to see things through the lens that I would probably not see.

One of the things I found were some new baby pumpkins growing. I am so in awe of this because a few weeks ago we had a crazy hail storm. The hail was the size of golf balls and really did some damage to the garden. We were able to salvage a few of the pumpkins but the plants looked like they were done after that.

I am so impressed by the determination of this plant. We had already gotten more pumpkins off of it than we expected and now it is growing more. To take a beating like that hail storm - seriously it left huge holes in all our Rubbermaid garbage can lids among other damage - and to keep on growing is tough. The rest of the plants just couldn't keep going. My poor garden looks like a war zone except for these pumpkins. (And some artichoke plants that didn't grow all season long and the seeds just sprouted last week out of no where.)

That's all hail not snow. It hailed like that for over a half hour.

I think that is how we need to be. The storm comes and we take a beating. But in the end the sun comes back out and we have a choice to make. Do we shrivel up and die or do we choose to keep on growing?

To keep on growing is the hard way to go because it takes determination. But in the end the hard work pays off and we will grow up to be a beautiful pumpkin (metaphorically speaking of course) even if we have a few battle scars. That's a testimony right there. And to show your kids that it doesn't matter what life throws at you, you will still grow and thrive is a great lesson for them.

Mommy Lesson 23 - Know When to Just Go to Bed

2011-10-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

This Mommy had writer's block. It's probably because my head feels like one of those cartoon characters that have their mouth on the air hose and their head explodes. 'Cause yeah, my kids are great at sharing their cold with me. Even though I washed my hands like crazy, drank a bunch of Vitamin water with the Vit C and Zinc in it and tried really really hard not to accept their gift of germs. But lucky me I got to take part in the joy of this cold anyway.Ugh, my head just really hurts.

I think sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to just go to bed. So after a long day of the kids all starting to feel a little better but not really and me starting to feel a whole lot worse, I really have nothing more than that. Some days you have to just admit you aren't super human just super mom and get some rest.

I hope that this week is a sick free week and that everyone miraculously wakes up healthy and ready to tackle Monday head on.

Mommy Lesson 22 - Super Mommy

2011-10-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

So I have come to the conclusion that mommies have a super power. They can get sick and still take care of the littles. Maybe not as well as if they were well, but seriously we can still function while sick. I woke up this morning with the cold my older kids have. I love that I have taught them to share so well that they felt it necessary to share even their cold with me. I have only been so sick I couldn’t function once in 12 years of mommyhood. And that day Daddy Reg had the day off luckily so he took care of the kids. I heard stories later that they watched movies all day, eating fast food for lunch and pizza for dinner but I’m sure they were just pulling my leg… I’m sure they read books and played learning games and ate broccoli casserole for dinner. But the rest of the times I have gotten sick, I have still been able to take care of the very basics of life for the kids. The only possible explanation is that moms are given extra grace in that area.Or that we have a super power, the jury is still out on which it is.

The kids have been getting bored and running out of things to do while suffering from colds. They’ve been really good about not doing anything too strenuous that will throw them into coughing fits but there really is only so much one can do while sick. Tonight they found some glow sticks and glow bracelets. I told them they could have fun playing with them and they had a blast in the dark with them.

I had fun playing around with the camera taking pictures of the light. They were making some really cool designs in the dark with them.

So today's mommy lesson is that mommies have a super power and God gives us grace when we are sick. At the same time, it is so important to give sick kids extra grace too.

Mommy Lesson 21 - Mommy Confidence

2011-10-21T23:17:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, all three older kids woke up with sore throats. So strange for them all to come down with something at the exact same time like that. By Thursday morning they were all coughing and complaining of headaches and today, they all just sound awful. My poor kids. I am thankful that we homeschool because that means that they aren’t missing out on any school. We just paused school and will pick up right where we were as soon as they feel better which is hopefully Monday. Poor Little G, she is still feeling fine. She has been so frustrated that the older kids don’t have the energy to keep her entertained. She is so used to having someone to play with her all the time. It has made for a very long week. And here I sit up way too late on a Friday night trying to figure out what lesson I have learned that I want to share tonight.
Something I was thinking this morning was how when they were little, I would be more on edge and feel so less confident that I had a clue as to how to take care of the kids when they were sick. Knowing what works for each one to help them get better faster and be more comfortable while they are sick is important but with each kid, it is a learning curve. As a new mom, you are nervous and unsure about what medicines to give them, how much to give them. Now that they are older and I know what to watch for with each of them, I don’t feel as nervous about them being sick. I know what medicine works and what makes each of them feel better. I know the home remedies that I can count on and the ones that don’t really work for them.
As a young mom, everything is new and unfamiliar. But as your littles get older, it gets easier to handle sicknesses. Your confidence grows and that feeling of panic that rushes over you the first time you hear your little one cough is just a distant memory. While I still feel bad for them, I am confident that I know what to do. That is the lesson for today. As the years have gone by my confidence has grown and the kids being sick (even all three at the same time) isn’t as overwhelming as it was when I was a new mom.

Mommy Lesson 20 - Be a Lighthouse

2011-10-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we studied lighthouses. As with any unit study we do, I tied in our Bible study into the lesson. With lighthouses it was really easy to correlate how God wants us to be lighthouses in our walk with Him. We talked about all the ways we can be a lighthouse to let our light shine to all men. We talked about the Fruit of the Spirit and about the definition of love and that if we walk in the Fruit of the Sprit and Love then we will be lighthouses. We talked about how if we do everything without grumbling or complaining as the Bible says then we will be lighthouses. It was a great week of discussion about how to be living lighthouses. When the kids would start to bicker or complain, I would ask them if they were being a lighthouse and they would correct their attitude. It was really a great object lesson for how our attitudes should be.

When we do a lesson like that it is so easy for me to teach them while ignoring my own heart. Am I always a lighthouse to my kids? If I do things with grumbling and complaining or if I lack patience or joy then I am not being that lighthouse to my kids. If I am not a lighthouse to them, I cannot expect them to be a lighthouse to others. It is extremely important, as a mom, that I am that example in all things to them of how they should be. If I cannot be their example, who will be?

Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 5:8-10 (HCSB) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth - discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.

Philippians 2:14-15 (HCSB) Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

Mommy Lesson 19 - Mommy's Strength in Exhaustion

2011-10-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

This morning the 3 older kids woke up with sore throats, stuffy noses, coughs and headaches. Which means today was a sick day. I let the kids just hang out on the couch and rest all day. I haven't really had any time to think about blogging but want to continue with my 31 Day commitment so I am reposting a blog I wrote in 2007 that is as much of a lesson I am learning today as it was then. You can view the original post here if you want.

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In my blogger description, it says, “I am learning that to rely alone on God's strength beats getting a full nights sleep any day.” When I wrote that Baby G was only about 3 months old. She was still eating every two hours and needing to be burped and everything else an infant needs. So, I was sure that I would be back to sleeping at least most of the night within a couple of months. After all that stage in babyhood is suppose to pass right? Well, not this time. This little munchkin of mine has the hardest time sleeping. She has a hard time relaxing enough to fall asleep and when she finally does fall asleep, she barely sleeps for two hours before waking up. And sometimes the poor thing cannot fall back asleep right away. This has been causing a lot of sleepless nights for me and I am learning in a new way that I need to rely alone on God’s strength.

If I rely solely on God for strength then the fact that I average about 4 to 6 broken hours of sleep a night should not affect me at all. Because His strength is perfect when I am weak. Well, God’s strength is pouring into me in amazing ways right now in be because everyday, I am weaker than the day before. I have always been one to go out and do something myself. I am very stubborn and self-sufficient. If something needs to be done, I will do it. I am just that way. I do not like asking for help or relying on others to help me. It is a pride issue that I have been dealing with for many many years. I am learning that this is an area that God can use to humble me and cause me to rely on Him because I am collapsing under my own strength right now. Without God, I am a complete and total mess. IF I rely on Him and only on Him, not myself, I can make it one day at a time. I will have the energy to chase around a running 11 month old. Yep, she is running full speed ahead. She figured out that she can move faster at a running speed and kept on going. Everyday she figures out how to do something new. It amazes me how much they absorb and how fast they grow at this age.

Psalm 18:32 (NKJV)

“It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV)

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Mommy Lesson 18 - Time Flies When Your Busy

2011-10-19T00:41:00.000-07:00

There are those days where you find yourself going, and going, and going, and going, completing one task after the next with all the things that have to get done, only to realize at the end of the day that even though you did so much, you didn’t actually get anything on your original list done. That was today. I had a long list of tasks that I needed to check off and at each turn of the day I was accomplishing tasks, just not the ones that I had planned to. Days like that happen. Sometimes it’s because the kids are having an off day and other times it is just all of the other responsibilities that seem to get in the way. It is so frustrating at the end of a crazy day when you feel like you didn’t get it all done. It makes me discouraged at times because I know that I did a lot and yet I feel like I have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. I know that isn’t true but there are those days.

However I know that tomorrow is a new day filled with new promise and those tasks that needed to get done today can get done tomorrow. It’s taken me a while to come to terms with this simple fact. The list will still be there tomorrow to tackle. It’s okay if it doesn’t get finished today. Mommy lesson for the day, it is okay to leave it until tomorrow as it couldn’t be done today after all. There really are only so many hours in the day and when the list is long, time sure does fly.

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 (HCSB) The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen, because who can tell him what will happen?

Mommy Lesson 17 - Pumpkins and Our Heart

2011-10-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

I didn’t post for my 31 Days project yesterday but there is a very good reason. I spent the day with family and that is so much more important than anything else, especially a blog. By the time I could sit down to write a post, it was way too late.

I often take Mondays to run my errands and take the kids on field trips and yesterday we got to go to the pumpkin patch. We were able to take one of my nephews with us which made it so much more fun. An August rain storm was horrible for the patch and looking for any good pumpkins became a treasure hunt and the pumpkins we got are full of character. Whenever we came to a pumpkin we thought looked good, we would turn it over it was rotting on the bottom. It started to become frustrating for the kids. But we still had tons of fun.

Hunting for the pumpkins got me thinking. As people we always are trying to put our best foot forward and make a great first impression. Look great on the outside even though on the inside we are rotting, or just gross looking pumpkin guts. It reminded me of what God said about man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. On the outside we can be a great big gorgeous pumpkin, one that wins blue ribbons. But if you looked inside, you would see that we really aren’t that great. We all have stuff in our lives that we can work on. Our kids can look great and be perfectly behaved and the house always clean and all our ducks can be in a row but if our hearts aren’t right with God, then the fact that we look awesome on the outside doesn’t matter. As a mom, I have learned that while the kids are awesomely behaved in public is great, it is more important that their hearts are what will win the blue ribbon. And mine too. My heart needs to be right with God or having everything look great to everyone else means nothing in the great scheme of things. Just like in picking pumpkins, we need to not be fooled by what we see on top, it’s what is underneath that matters.

1 Samuel 16:7 (HCSB) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."

Mommy Lesson 16 - Mommies Need Rest

2011-10-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know that it is okay to rest? Moms tend to go a million miles a second trying to get everything done that needs to get done and by the end of the day we crash into bet only to often be woken up before it is dawn and then hopefully get a little bit more sleep before it is time to get up and start the constant go all over again. It’s the cycle of mommy life. After the initial shock you get used to it and somehow learn to function on less uninterrupted sleep than you ever did before. Probably because you increased your caffeine intake exponentially. (At least that’s what I did.)

For me, when I sit for more than 10 minutes to just relax I start to feel guilty that I am not completing another task on my to-do list that is longer than Santa’s Naughty/Nice list. But rest is important, no, it is essential. It is okay to take a break from the craziness and breathe for a moment. Drink a cup of tea, eat a piece of chocolate, or whatever you do that makes you smile.

Remember even God rested on the 7th day. Don’t feel guilty that you are not constantly being productive and busy every moment of every day. Take a moment to snuggle with your littles and curl up on the couch or your favorite chair with a book. A moment to just be in the moment. I’m telling you, you will be more productive when you are well rested than if you are running ragged.

Genesis 2:2 (HCSB) By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.

Matthew 11:28 (HCSB) "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mommy Lesson 15 - Choose Joy

2011-10-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Happy wife, happy life”? That could be changed a bit to say, “Happy mommy, happy life.” What I mean is, when momma ain't happy, no one is happy. The mom sets the tone for the house. You can build up your house with a joyful countenance or you can tear down your house with a disagreeable attitude. It really is up to you what the overall atmosphere of your house is. A warm friendly hospitable environment does not come from a grouchy mommy. In fact if you are a grouch you might as well move in with a certain Muppet. Your time with your family will be much more enjoyable if you choose to have joy. Mommies need to choose joy in all circumstances. Not easy but absolutely essential. In fact, if you laugh out loud, you will choose joy.

Proverbs 14:1 (HCSB) Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Mommy Lesson 14 - God's Love is Limitless

2011-10-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

I cannot tell you how much God has revealed to me how much He loves me through my kids. The unconditional love of a mommy pales in comparison to the unconditional love of the Father. I challenge you today to think about how much you love your little one and then multiply that the distance that the east is from the west and you will still not come close to how much He loves you (or your little ones). What is more, is that He does want to bless you just like you are always looking for ways to bless your blessings. I’m not talking about material blessings or sending money to an “evangelist” so that you will be blessed. I am talking about emotional blessings, spiritual blessings, and even some material blessings. He really does want to give you the desires of your heart. He wants you to succeed and stay on the right path, even more than we want to do that with our kids. Words really do not do justice to how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how much He takes care of us even when we think He is leaving us high and dry.
Quick example, your 2 year old is asking for a treat right before dinner. You don’t give it to them because they need the nutritious food more than the treat. That is the same way for us. We sometimes ask for the treat before we get the good for us stuff and He tells us to wait until after. Just like we have our little one wait for the treat after they have their meal. How about when you get a few extra dollars to splurge and you take your daughter out to get a new shirt, just because. Wanting to take them out to give them something just because is the same as when He blesses us. I really wanted a nice bathtub to be able to take baths in. I love bubble baths during the cold months; it is the only way I can seem to get warm sometimes. I didn’t really pray for it when I was praying for God to provide a place for us that would meet our needs. It was a desire I kept hidden in my heart. And when we moved here, I discovered a tub that is great for bubble baths. I didn’t need it, but it was a desire and God gave us everything we needed and then something extra that brings me joy (and warmth). That is how He blesses me. How does He show you how much He loves you?

Psalm 86:15 (HCSB) But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abundant in faithful love and truth.

Luke 12:6-7 (HCSB) Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!

Mommy Lessson 13 - Have Patience

2011-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

I’m taking my lesson from a snail I sang about as a kid and having patience. It’s no secret that mommies need patience. Learning patience is easy, just ask God to teach you and He will present you with lots of opportunities to practice patience.

As a mom, there is no shortage of opportunities for practice. As you wait for your little one to do a task they are learning all by themselves, that you could have done 4 times over by the time they are halfway done, you have to restrain yourself and remember patience so that they can learn the task at hand. When you are training your little one not to touch something you have to practice patience as they test to see if you really were serious about not touching that very interesting object that just begs to be investigated. As they get older patience is learned in other ways. I am learning that as my not-so-littles approach that very awkward junior high age, you have to have an overabundance of patience as they deal with the surge of emotions that need processing on a daily basis. I love junior highers and always have; I am so excited that I have one seventh grader and another not-so-little one rapidly approaching that age. But I quickly came to the realization that junior highers need a whole different kind of patience than Little G does as I peal her from the wall when she pretends she is Spider Man. (Seriously my 4 year old is obsessed with the old school Spider Man cartoons right now and it is quite exhaustingly adorable.)

Patience not only means staying pleasant while waiting. It also means not becoming frustrated or angry while encountering stresses, annoyances, grievances. Having patience also means you persevere calmly when facing challenges. Being patient means not being easily provoked. Wow, patience is the definition of Mommyhood. I feel like I am constantly in need of more patience even though I am a very patient person. I want my kids to be able to count on me having patience with them when they are dealing with stuff.

Proverbs 19:11 (HCSB) A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (HCSB) Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs;

Mommy Lesson 12 - Laugh Out Loud

2011-10-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

I can’t tell you how much craziness happens in our house. Really, my kids have crazy imaginations and tons of creativity which leads to all kinds of crazy antics. And Little G, she is constantly doing stuff that is just down right crazy. Like dump flour on the floor while the lid was still on. (At least that’s her story and she is sticking to it.) Or just the other day, she decided she was Spider Man and tried to scale the wall. I really wish I took a picture before I told her she wasn't actually Spider Man. My kids are always making me laugh. Really they do, even on the hard crazy days, I laugh. They love being silly and making me laugh too. There are days where the laughing is a delayed reaction but it is still there. And that is the lesson I have learned that I am sharing today. You have to laugh, or you will just get stressed out. Even if it is an inside chuckle so you don’t discourage them. Laugh. It really is the best medicine. Especially let out a chuckle or two when you are trying to clean up crazy messes like flour.

Psalm 32:11 (HCSB) Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Proverbs 17:22 (HCSB) A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Colossians 1:11 (HCSB) May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy

Mommy Lesson 11 - He's Still Working on Me

2011-10-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

You know that song, “He’s Still Working on Me”? It’s a song of my childhood that I often sang in Sunday School. When I was little I didn’t completely understand how long it would take for Him to be done working on me. Let me tell you, He is still working on me and He has a long, long, long way to go. Every day as I watch my munchkins I see myself in their behavior/character/attitude and I think, wow I really need to work on that so that I can have them work on that.

He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, ‘cause He's still working on me.

There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.

In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.

Something I continually learn over and over is that I have so much to work on. So many days, I see my ugliness but then I remember that the Potter hasn’t finished me yet. I have to stay moldable so that He can finish and someday He’ll be done and I will be all He is making me to be. Until then, I’ll just remember that He loves just as I am right now. He loves me like I love my kiddos, so unconditionally without reservation no matter what. Because He is still working on me and He hasn’t been working on them nearly as long.

Isaiah 64:8 (HCSB) Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Mommy Lesson 10 - Mommy's Need God's Word

2011-10-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today didn’t go as planned – at – all. Really nothing went according to what was set up in my mind. And the kids were less than perfect today on edge and having a hard time with all things that had to do with life. Days like this happen I don’t live in a fairy tale where everything is perfect all the time. But I also didn’t spend time in the Word this morning. I kept telling myself I would get to it in a bit and a bit turned to later which turned to it being 10 to midnight and I haven’t sat down to read except when I did the kids Bible verse for the week. I did however get stressed enough to eat two brownies. Now that could mean that this post should be called Mommy’s Needed Chocolate or Mommy’s need the Word. I am going with the second choice because I know that the Word would have been a really good thing for me today. I am not saying that the day would have gone better but I am sure that I would have handled the day better if I would have taken that time in the morning sometime before the day got too crazy. Even if that moment doesn’t happen before the kids get up – I have two that wake up before me most days. I still need to take those few moments to just sit and be with my Lord so that I can keep my focus and handle the stresses of the day without consuming the brownies. Well maybe just one and because it sounded good. Not because I really was stressed and needed chocolate.

Romans 12:2 (HCSB) Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Mommy Lesson 9 - Seek Wisdom

2011-10-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:1-5 (HCSB) But you must speak what is consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, pure, good homemakers, and submissive to their husbands, so that God's message will not be slandered.

Do you have a Titus 2 woman in your life? I seek out Titus 2 women who can speak wisdom into my life and teach me how to build up my home. I’m not talking about physical building up but spiritually building up your family. , and emotionally building up your family. Seek out those who can speak into your life and give you the sound advice you need when you are facing trials.

Proverbs 27:17 (HCSB) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Mommy Lesson 8 - Don't be a Nagging Mommy

2011-10-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

You know the verse that says that a nagging wife is not fun to live with? Well actually there are 5 verses about a nagging wife in Proverbs. Yeah, five, I am guessing that means nagging wives have been around since the fall of man. Okay so, you might be asking yourself right now, what do nagging wives have to do with mommyhood lessons?
A whole lot actually.

As my not so little kids have gotten older I have learned how they like to not tell me everything right away anymore. Whether they are processing their feelings about something or it’s just something they are thinking about, me nagging them to tell me right away is not something I should be doing. They need space and time and will tell me when they are ready. If I have done my job then my relationship with them is strong enough that I can have the confidence that they will talk to me when they are ready and they have the confidence to know I’m ready to listen when they are ready to talk. Believe me this is an active everyday lesson for me right now. I catch myself nagging them all the time when I perceive something is wrong and the more I nag, the less willing they are to talk. In fact usually said tween goes to their room to be alone.

Nagging is like a continual annoying drip, it's a sound that makes you just want to bury your head under the pillow at night to make the sound go away. Think of that drip from a gutter drain when it is raining. drip…Drip…DRip…DRIp…DRIP… it seems to just get louder and louder with each drop. When you nag, it is just like that. A nagging mom is not winning any child’s heart. But a patient pleasant mom does win hearts.

So do brownies - just saying.

So I am learning to not nag and give them some space. Let them know that when they are ready to talk I am here ready to listen. And that it is safe to talk to me. If they have a fear of getting in trouble when they talk to me they won’t be coming anytime soon or probably ever. So don’t nag or badger your kids or your hubby. Or you might find them in the corner of the roof huddled together just to get away from you. Or maybe even roaming a desert wilderness somewhere where it is quiet.

Proverbs 19:13 (HCSB) A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.

Proverbs 21:9 (HCSB) Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

Proverbs 21:19 (HCSB) Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

Proverbs 25:24 (HCSB) Better to live on the corner of a roof than in a house shared with a nagging wife.

Proverbs 27:15 (HCSB) An endless dripping on a rainy day and a nagging wife are alike.

Mommy Lesson 7 - Wisdom is Essential

2011-10-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has been a mommy for more than 2 minutes will be able to tell you that being a mommy is full of tough decisions. The decisions from the very beginning where you second guess yourself about what car seat, crib, stroller to later when you are trying to figure out sleeping, feeding, and playtime. There are so many decisions to make. And everyone you meet asks you about those decisions and then gives you their two cents on the matter. (I have been on both sides of those conversations.)

Then as the kids get older and you have the training and discipline issues. You find yourself constantly asking the question, is this a behavior issue or character issue or is there something else that needs to be addressed? Seriously tough to answer questions as you try to figure out what is in the best interest for that child. Constantly asking yourself if what you are doing is right or should you change it up. We are bombarded everyday with decisions that directly impact our kids and we really never want to make the wrong decision.

Right now, for me, I face daily challenges about the kids schooling. With four kids who each have a different learning style, I am always asking myself if I am teaching them the way they learn best or am I needing to switch it up. I agonize over books and curriculum purchases afraid that the one I buy won’t really be the one they need. I have learned this year even more about seeking God as I try to make the right decisions. Homeschooling is so great in that area. Knowing that I can tailor each child’s school to the way that they learn best is so great. But knowing what is the right one can be so confusing as you get the conversations about what you are using and why and then you hear their two cents about that decision. (Again, I have been on both sides of that conversation.) Then I go back and rethink my choice wondering if I made the right choice. I really don’t want to mess it up.

But I have learned to not be afraid of messing up. I know that I am going to mess up. I am it’s just a fact. I am not perfect and sometimes the decision I make may not be the right one. However, I know that God will be there to help me make the right decision and help me fix it when I do mess up. I pray every day for the wisdom I need to be able to teach and guide my kids in the way they should go. I have learned that one of the most important tools I need in my mommy belt is wisdom and that wisdom only comes from God.

Proverbs 2:6-7 (HCSB) For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity.

Proverbs 13:10 (HCSB) Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

Proverbs 24:3 (HCSB) A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;

Proverbs 14:1 (HCSB) Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Mommy Lesson 6 - Be Flexible

2011-10-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Flexibility is a major key to sanity. It seems I am continually learning how to be more flexible. I am a mom with a plan. I plan our day, our week, our school, our meals, our chores, and our fun. I love having a schedule and everything falling in place like a puzzle coming together. However I have landed on my face many times as my carefully coordinate schedule gets pulled out from under me.
The other day the kids’ behavior was responding to the weather change. They were all on edge and really not being themselves. It was so evident to me that if I attempted to do any structured school work, I would just have to reteach the material the next day. They were in no mental capacity to sit still and absorb new information or complete their school assignments. How did I know this? From past experience. I cannot tell you how many times I had them sit down to “do school” on days like that only to have them not remember any what they learned the very next day. And the tears and stress and arguments that ensue on those days is really not pleasant or worth it. So… I realized I needed to change the course of the day right then. (Hey, maybe I’m actually learning this lesson.) I told them that as long as they could get along nicely then they could just play and hang out instead of do school work. They were more than happy to oblige to that request and really tried hard to get along for the rest of the day. Had I forced them to sit and do school, we would have had much conflict and no real learning. Instead I was able to focus my attention on reminding them how to treat each other. (Seriously they really were just irritable.) This is also a very important lesson they need to be reminded of. Other days, I redirect our day in the opposite way in which we were going.

For the longest time, I would fight to keep to my plan every day no matter what the circumstance. Now I am much more able to remember the bigger picture and that in order to stay sane, I need to not stress when the day does not go according to plan.

Proverbs 16:2-4 (HCSB) All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives. Commit your activities to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB) A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21 (HCSB) Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail.

Mommy Lesson 5 - Watch Your Words

2011-10-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

Did you know our kids are like little tape recorders? I see it a lot when Little G mimics what I say. I will hear phrases I often say come out of her lips in the cutest fashion. Sometimes what comes out isn’t really what I want to hear. Usually I think through the shows or movies I have let her watch, and then I realize it was me who taught her that and I now have to undo what I didn’t mean to do in the first place. Other times she says the cutest things as she is trying to imitate me but how it sounds is absolutely not what she was saying. Like when she says the word, “ridiculous.” Wow, if I didn’t know already what she was saying I could really be wondering where she was picking up her language. Most of the time what I hear from my kids is what I want to hear, and it makes me smile.

But occasionally I hear something out of one of my kids’ mouths I really don’t want them saying I cringe and then think to when I could have possibly said whatever they said. You see, being completely honest, my mouth can really be hard to tame sometimes. There are moments when what comes out is not what should be said. The scary thing about words, once you say them they are out there and can never be taken back. One must really guard their tongue to not say what should not be said. I can tell you right now that I have learned a lot about taming my tongue from my kids.

Psalm 19:14 (HCSB) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

James 3:7-9 (HCSB) For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness.

Mommy Lesson 4 - Heart Reflections

2011-10-04T15:51:00.001-07:00

It seems every day; God reveals to me something that I still need to work on through my kids. When I find myself correcting one of the kids for their attitude about something I make sure I pray that God shows me the root of this attitude so that we can fully address it and show our kids how to overcome that attitude and walk in a godly attitude. Almost every time I pray that prayer for wisdom and discernment God puts up a spiritual mirror and I see that reflection in my own life. With four spiritual mirrors, I can tell you I have seen a lot of my own ugliness that my flesh would rather me not see.
Our kids reflect us in so many ways and one of the biggest things I have learned is that they see our heart and will reflect our heart through their behavior and attitudes. Every day an opportunity presents itself for me to come before God and ask Him to show me what I need to work on. Every day I come again to the realization just how desperately I need God in my life to make me the person He has created me to be.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Mommy Lesson 3 - Walk With Daddy

2011-10-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I was going through some old photos and I ran across the picture below. It is one of my most favorite pictures of all time. The relationship of a little girl and her daddy is so evident in this photo.
Little G has complete and total trust in her daddy. She knows that her daddy will always keep her safe and lead her in the right direction. She doesn’t question him at all; even today she has that same complete and total trust in him.

As I look at this photo I am reminded once again how we need to rely on our Heavenly Father just the same as Little G relies on Daddy Reg. He knows where things are heading and He knows how to get us through it all. We just need to put our hand in His and let him take the lead. It’s so much easier said than done I know. I can’t tell you how many times I have started to take my gaze off Him, and start to pull my hand out of His and look around for a different path, especially when the path gets bumpy and full of sharp curves. I need to make sure my relationship with my Heavenly Father is such that it is easy to keep looking at Him and walk side by side through whatever life throws at me. Without that relationship there will be no trust. But if I keep my eyes focused on who is leading and not the circumstances then I know that I will be okay.

Psalm 3:5-6 (HCSB) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Isaiah 12:2 (HCSB) Indeed, God is my salvation. I will trust [Him] and not be afraid. Because Yah, the LORD, is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation.

Mommyhood Lesson 2 - Crocodiles and Dust Bunnies

2011-10-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I was reading a story to Little G, as I do most every night before bed. The book she chose was Christopher is Not Afraid…Anymore. It is a cute little book that I have had since my preschool teacher days and I have read many, many times. This time as I was reading it, I realized that I use the book to remind the kids they have nothing to be afraid of and I really need that reminder myself. The kids’ fears are mostly small things – in my eyes – like crocodiles under the bed or trying a new trick or being too high on something but I realized last night that to a child those are really big fears. So giving them the tools to face the fears that are really big to them (even though in reality they aren’t all that big) is the same as me using the those very tools to face my really big fears that really aren’t that big compared to God. There are many fears I have faced as a mommy that I needed to totally trust God in. Like when Princess K was a baby and she was so very ill none of the doctors really knew what was wrong. And like when Daddy Reg lost his great paying job and we had no idea how we were going to survive. To me those fears were as giant as the crocodiles and swimming without water-wings for the first time and riding a bike without the training wheels. But to God they were little things that I needed to not be afraid of; because He already knew that everything would be fine, and those crocodiles are really just tiny little dust bunnies. It’s all about perspective and when my sights are on Jesus than really, why should I fear. He is so great that He conquered death. I mean really that is huge and the most awesomest thing anyone has ever done.

Psalm 27:1 (HCSB)
The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom should I be afraid?

Psalm 34:3-5(HCSB)
Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

Mommyhood Lesson 1 - Be Moldable and Teachable

2011-10-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

When I became a mom, I looked forward to all the things I would be able to teach my kids. I never realized just how much more I would learn from being a mom than I would teach. I absolutely have learned more about myself and about who God is in the past 12 years than I learned in all the years before. This month for the 31 Days of October Series, I am going to share just a bit of what I have learned so far. I have committed to posting some lesson or tidbit I have discovered everyday this month. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I haven’t even come close to scratching the surface of what God wants to reveal to me through my kids. My prayer is that through my posts you will be encouraged in your walk through mommyhood (or life, if you aren’t a mommy) and that at the end of this month I will have also learned even more than I know now.

I have learned that God will use any opportunity to teach me something. All I have to do is pay attention. He is always working on me every moment of every day if I allow myself to be teachable. Being teachable as a mom is so important. Realizing that you don’t know it all or have all the answers is so important. Because we don’t know it all (Unlike when we were teens and we really did know it all.) and we really have so much to learn. If we remain teachable and moldable then our children will see that and will learn how to be more teachable themselves.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (HCSB)
Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

Isaiah 64:8 (HCSB)
Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands.

31 Days of Lessons In Mommyhood

2011-09-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Around the blogosphere bloggers everywhere are getting ready for 31 Days in October. I love this idea and many of the bloggers I love to read did this event last year and encouraged others to join in this year. (My favorite last year was Darcy's 31 Days to a Better Photo) At first I wasn't going to join in on all the fun, but then decided why not. I have something to offer and it would make me have to post daily. (Something I am really striving towards.)

I have learned so many lessons through my adventure in Mommyhood. Many lessons I have shared in the past and so many more I never put in writing. When I originally started this blog it was to share what I was learning about myself, about God, and about life. Of course as all blogs do, it has evolved into so much more and includes all my adventures from fun, to homeschool, to lessons in life and everything else in between. By no means is this to promote myself as one who knows it all but just to share what I have learned and hopefully learn from anyone who cares to comment.

I look forward to October as I reflect on the lessons learned in Mommyhood. And look ahead to the lessons still to come. As I have entered the land of the junior higher and quickly approaching the jungle of teendom. While I love this age immensely I am, once again, falling to my knees before God admitting that I really know nothing.

Will you join me on the journey?

I'm linking up with Darcy at Life With my 3 Boybarians for this year's 31 Days series.

Flour and a Four Year Old

2011-09-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

As I was just sitting down to rest for a bit before tackling the next task in a very busy day I heard a voice. A very timid voice coming from the kitchen saying, "Mommy."

"Yes G?" I responded hoping it was something simple like her needing help with a drink of water. But there was no answer.

A very helpful sibling walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "Uh you better get in here."

So I wearily got up not looking forward to what I would see.

"How did this happen, G?" I asked amazingly calm and not upset in the slightest. Just seriously confused how the flour that had been on the counter was now standing upright on the floor with the lid on and half the container all over the floor and a very still 4 year old.

"I don't know," said G with a sheepish grin. She was starting to dig her cute little piggies into the pile of flour that was around her.

As she started to enjoy the mess she was in, I quickly snapped to my senses. And gave out orders to the bigs.

"One of you get me a towel." Quickly fetched by a very wonderful helper, I got the majority of the flour off her feet and then stripped her down as efficiently as possible. I sent her to the bathroom with the older girls who got her washed off and dried and dressed in new pj's while I swept up the floor.

Thankful I hadn't gotten to the mopping yet and still baffled at how the mess came about in the first place.

It's all part of the great adventure called Mommyhood.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Constitution Day Prep and Planning

2011-09-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

September 17, is Constitution Day. I started to do a little research to get some ideas of what we can do to learn more about the Constitution and those who fought, toiled, persevered and risked everything to bring forth this more perfect union. There are an overwhelming amount of sites filled with ideas, worksheets, activities and lessons for Constitution Day. Below is a list of links that I found that were solid and full of great info and resources. I am really excited about next week as we study about the foundation of our country. US History is one of our most favorite subjects and I know the kids are excited about what we will do.

Constitution Facts has a page dedicated to Constitution Day. Here you can order a free copy of the Pocket Size Constitution Book along with so many other things.

Library of Congress Teacher Resources This is the Library of Congress site. There are a lot of useful resources, lesson plans and links on this site.

Constitution Center has an interactive Constitution where you can look up all sorts of topics and where it is in the Constitution. This site is great for the older kids and any curious adult. They also have a Constitutional Timeline that is really cool.

Congress for Kids is a really fun site for the kids to explore.

Center for Civic Education has some really great lesson plans for all grade levels laid out.

The National Archives has the Charters of Freedom you can download high res images of some of the most important documents in US history here. Just to see the images of these documents is cool. I hope to one day get to see them in person. They also have Teacher Resources for teaching on the Constitution.

Ben's Guide to US Government for Kids is one of my favorite sites. It has so much about our government broken down into grade levels. A great resource for anything having to do with history.

Homeschool Helper has a free Constitution Lapbook for those who love lapbooking.

Happy planning.

Praying Mantis

2011-09-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we had a little visitor who cam to hang out on our back porch.

He spent the entire day hanging out on the rail, under the rail, and anywhere else he felt to go.

The crazy thing is that he stayed there all day.

That night when I went to turn off the porch light, he was still on the railing.

So I took some more pictures.

He turned his head to the noise of the camera which I thought was so cool.

A little later, I went back to the door, just curious to see if he had finally left and he was on the window. So all the kids gathered around to check him out as close as you can through the glass. He moved his mouth and cleaned his legs and kept turning his head from side to side. It was so cool and prompted me to decide we are going to study the praying mantis for school this week.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

First Week Of School

2011-09-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

Last week we started the school year at full speed. Originally I planned on easing back into the school routine but then decided diving in head first was the way to go. The kids all welcomed school starting too, it was evident that they were done with the lazy no routine days that our short 3 week summer break allowed for. I was more than ready for routine too.

On Monday, we went to the zoo. It was a total surprise for the kids. They knew we were going somewhere but didn't know where. Then when we arrived there was another surprise of meeting up with some friends from out of town. We spent the whole day together with them and stayed at the zoo until it closed. The kids asked that we always start the school year with a filed trip from now on.

I made sure to take some first day of school pictures at a park that is near the zoo. By far my most favorite first day of school pictures to date.

The rest of the week I decided it would be fun to stick with a zoo theme.

On Tuesday, we journaled about our trip.

On Wednesday, we played Which Animal Am I? I taped an animal picture on everyone's back. Then they went around to each other asking yes or no questions like, "Am I a predator?" and "Do I have fur?" When they figured out what they were, they came and asked me if they were their guess. The kids had lots of fun and made for a lot of laughter.

On Thursday, we learned about food chains and food webs.

And on Friday, we played the board game called Zooreka.

We also did other fun activities like shaking hands with each other while learning about triangular numbers and finding out how many handshakes it takes six people to have shaken each person's hand once. Believe it or not, those two things are totally related.

Another thing we did was learn about the Colors of Salvation and their meanings. We made cross necklaces that have the colors on each side as a reminder of what Christ did for us. We also started learning the Bible verses of Romans Road. The verses were copy work and we will be focusing on memorizing these verses this year.

Overall we had a great week with just a few speed bumps to maneuver and some wrinkles to iron out. I was reminded again this week just how thankful I am that I can teach my children at home. Being able to tailor their education around their needs is great but knowing that I can have the focus of our day on who they are in Christ is the greatest gift.

Mini Office Weblinks

2011-08-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks I have been buried in text books, school supplies, teacher manuals and websites. I have spent most of my time planning and prepping and organizing for this school year. We officially ended last school year on the 8th of this month. I decided it was time for a break and I really needed some time to plan and regroup. Our official start date for this school year is the 29th of this month and I have a lot of things to get done in order to be ready.

Something I want to implement this year are mini offices. A mini office is basically a reference folder that is folded similar to a lapbook. They can cover any subject and can be as in depth as you need them to be. I am planning on making one for math, language, Bible, and a kindergarten one for Little G with the basics. The kids are really excited about these and I really hope this helps them remember concepts in a more concrete manner as they use them. As mine are far from finished, I have no pictures for you, yet. But I can tell you what I am putting in them and point you in the direction to make your own if you want to.

The math office is what I am working on right now. Here is a list of what I am putting in it at his point. I might add more as the kids learn new concepts like the Pythagorean Theorem and the Fibonacci Sequence.

addition, subtraction, multiplication & division fact sheets
coin values and how many to make a dollar
pi
Roman Numerals
number line
polygons and geometric solids
types of angles
greater than and less than
measurements and their abbreviations
place value
perimeter, area, and volume

There are a lot of resources for mini offices out there. Here is a list of some of the better ones I found.
Busy Teachers Cafe - This site has several pictures and links to printables. I really like the language printables they have. Seriously check it out even if you don't do a mini office because the way they describe how to write a paragraph is very cool.

Meacham Mini Offices - This teacher has pictures and links to the printables she uses and also describes how she uses them in her classroom.

Teaching Heart - This site has so many different examples and links to the charts/printables they use for many different subjects and levels.

abcteach - Most of the printables on this site are for members but there are two for fractions and grammar that look really nice that are for free. Plus instructions on how to put a mini office together.

Mini Offices Squiddo Lens - Jimmie has a great lens on Squiddo with several links and pictures and a great description of what a mini office is. Seriously, check it out, you will not be disappointed.

Mini Office for Mom - Heart of the Matter online has a great post about mini offices and I love that Amy suggests making one for yourself. I might just do that, instead of the home binder that I never seem to use.

I hope that gets you pointed in the right direction if you want to use a mini office in your school day. Or even for homework if you don't homeschool This could be a great help for any child.

Homeschool Weblink-Right Brain Math

2011-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for Weblink Wednesday.
Once upon a time, SoCalVal hosted a link up called Weblink Wednesday on her blog where homeschool moms all over the planet would link up and share their great finds on the web that help them with their homeschool. Then SoCalVal would compile the great links on her website appropriately called Weblink Education.
Today is the very first Weblink Wednesday for this year, and I am so very excited to participate every Wednesday sharing what I have found and seeing what other moms have found.

I've been researching and looking for new ways to teach math to my kiddos this year. The other day I stumbled upon this very cool site called Right Brain Math. This link goes directly to a page with some quick videos (the first one starts playing instantly) where he shows the 3's times table in like 3 seconds on a tic-tac-toe board. That totally got my attention as I had never seen something so cool before. I love math and patterns and math patterns and numbers and all the fun tricks you can do with them. After I watched the video I excitedly called the kids over to watch it telling them how incredibly cool it was. They watched it and I saw some lights go on inside their heads. They all thought it was pretty cool but weren't quit that excited to be learning math concepts right before bedtime. But did say that it would be fun to watch more during regular school teaching hours. There are several videos to watch where he shows some very cool and easy tricks for the 6 times table and the 9s and several others. If you click on the kids section you can find some free i-phone apps to practice the 4s, 3s and 7s. There are even more videos teaching more patterns and tricks on YouTube. I am really excited about these videos and implementing them in our school time this year.

The Coolest Butterfly Experience

2011-08-09T19:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took the kids to Six Flags for the day. The kids had a total blast running from one fun activity to the next. One of the coolest things we did was visit the butterfly exhibit.

There is a building that is hot and humid like a rainforest filled with flowers

and pink baseballs adorned with golf tees.

But the coolest part of course is that the butterflies are flying all around you. You have to watch your step because they will land right on the path and hold up traffic. But if you are slow in your movements, you might be lucky to have on land on you. Several flew against my face but none actually landed. but instead I got to take lots and lots of pictures of them. Here is a compilation of some of my favorites.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to a butterfly exhibit like that, I totally recommend it.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday

This Year's Curriculum

2011-08-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Curriculum choices. Wow, as a homeschooling family today we are so blessed to be overwhelmed with choices. I am thankful for all of the resources we have today as I know that wasn't always the case. Over the years I have had the opportunity to try many different types of curriculum. Some I have bought and some were given to me by generous friends who no longer needed their stash of books.
When choosing curriculum you really need to ask yourself a few questions. Like:

How does my child learn?
How do I teach?
What type of homeschool do we have?
Are we classical, Charlotte Mason, delight directed, Montessori, delight directed or are we eclectic?
Does my child do better with workbooks or with manipulatives?

Questions, questions, enough to make your head spin. There are several posts around the net about this so right now I won't go into it.
We are eclectic around here. I pull a little bit from every teaching style depending on which child I am teaching and what works for them. I have learned over the years that homeschooling is not about me at all, it is all about them.

I do have one major criteria for all my curriculum choices. It has to measure up to the highest standard. You see, my end goal is one that is eternal. I know that might sound hokey to some but the Bible is very clear about what is really important in life and I don't take it lightly. Our school verse is

Psalm 86:11 "Teach me Your way, LORD, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name." - HCSB

That is my end goal. That my children with live by Truth.

Our spine for this year has already been decided. But the rest of the curriculum is still being sorted out. As I have just started my actual planning and we are finishing last year this week. (You can read my last post for more info there.) We chose KONOS as our spine. Well in a sense KONOS chose us. A very good friend gave us all her KONOS a few months ago. I love it because we do unit studies all the time and KONOS is just that. Unit studies put together with a Biblical world view. It teaches at all grade levels which I love tremendously. I can use the same thing for all the grade levels I am teaching this year. For each subject there is an exhaustive book list for all levels that I can take and just grab books from the library or buy if I want. And you don't have to use all the books, nor do you have to finish the ones you do read. There are activities of all kinds some require more supplies than others and you can choose just how much or little you want to do in a specific area. And I can pull from stuff online and add to something if I feel the need. It does take a little getting used to at first, the layout was a tad confusing but once I did figure it all out, I really fell in love with it.

I really can't wait to be able to sit down with a cup of coffee and read what others are choosing this year for their homeschools at the Not Back To School BlogHop Curriculum Week. Come back next week to see our "School Room."

Want to see more?
Here is last year's Curriculum post, Curriculum 2010-2011
Here is a previous post about Learning Styles
Here is a previous post about Teaching Styles
Here is a previous post about Choosing Curriculum

Homeschool Planning

2011-08-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Where has the summer gone? Really I want to know. It seems like it just started and now it is almost over. Actually for us the weather didn't even start feeling summer like until about the beginning of July, we had a winter storm at the end of June and mid July was just like spring. So weather wise, I guess summer did just begin.Crazy weird weather can totally throw you off balance when you have all your plans in place.

August marks new beginnings at least on the school front. For homeschoolers and non homeschoolers alike. There are a lot of Back to School Sales everywhere you look and many parents (and teachers) are scrambling to get everything together for the new school year. I am one of those who are scrambling. I remember when I was little and referencing the new year, not in January like all the adults, but at the start of the new school year. Did anybody else do that? Just a random thought I had.

August is the Not Back-to-School BlogHop at Heart of the Matter Online. It's the 3rd year and I love doing this hop. It is so much fun to connect with other moms and see the plans they have for the new year. At Weblink Education, Valerie is hosting a Back to School event. Every day she is addressing different issues. If you register today (8/3), she is having a big giveaway tomorrow. CurrClick is having a back to school sale too. I love CurrClick because they have so many downloadable resources that are free and also a huge amount of curriculum that is so reasonably priced that you can just download and go. (And if you click on the link on my blog sidebar, I get a small credit for your purchase.) I love not having to pay for shipping or waiting for the UPS guy. Even though one of our favorite times of the year is when the boxes of books come in the mail. It's like a mini Christmas when that box of school books arrives. I just can't wait to dive into them.And the kids if only for a brief moment are excited to try out the new school books.

I'm a bit behind this year though. We are just finishing up our stuff from last year. Normally, I would have just put everything away and pick up where we left off, but we were so close to the end, that I decided to press on. However, summer fun has overridden school time more than once and we have a bit more to get finished. There is just so much fun to pack into the summertime weather. We went to the lake with some friends on Monday, it was so much fun. Little G had never seen a beach (even though it wasn't the ocean, it counts when you are 4) and the kids really enjoyed the lake.

Our plan right now is to start the last week of August or the first week of September, depending on how much planning a prep work I get done between now and then.

Later today I plan on having my first BlogHop entry posted about this year's curriculum. I hope I can get everything done. But as everyone knows, the best laid plans...

Sunflowers & Ponderings

2011-07-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of volunteer sunflowers growing in my garden this year. These two caught my eye the other day. Volunteers are so much fun because they just grow without following the "rules" of gardening like how far apart they are supposed to be or how much water they need. They just grow. I've been watering them just like I've been watering the ones I planted. Here's the funny thing, they are growing better than the ones I planted. The ones I planted, are spaced properly and in the right location for sunlight and I water just like these. Funny how things work out like that.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

This verse doesn't really have anything to do with the sunflowers. It's just a verse that spoke to me today.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday

God Paints

2011-07-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

I just love it when God paints the sky. It reminds me of how amazing He is.

From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

You Scream I Scream...

2011-07-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

... We all scream for ice cream.
Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Did you know that July 15th is national Ice Cream Day? Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation in 1984 and that just gives me one more reason why he is one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States.

So... naturally this month we are doing a unit all about ice cream. I have found a treasure trove of resources for this and thought I would share the best of what I have found. There is something for everyone so if you are looking for something to do with the kids, here is a great start. Besides, it gives you an excuse to eat ice cream - you know because it's educational.

We All Scream For Ice cream LapBook - Homeschool Share has a unit study/lapbook that we are using as our foundation. There are several books she uses and my library only has one of them so I am going to improvise a bit.

I is for Ice Cream - First School has some fun activities for preschoolers.

Ice Cream Unit - DLTK is one of my favorite site for little and she has some fun preschool stuff for National Ice Cream Month.

Ice Cream Theme Printables - ABC Teach has several printables from templates to color pages to word-searches.

The Ice Cream Dream - Here is a pdf of printables that cover a little bit of everything.

Ice Cream Printing - Twisty Noodle has several ice cream theme tracing worksheets.

Ice Cream Math Challenge - Scholastic has a fun printable math problem. It's great for those learning money.

Ice Cream Addition - Here is a printable addition/coloring game.

Ice Cream Coloring Pages - More than just ice cream there are summer theme coloring pages here too. Actually this site is full of all sorts of coloring pages, its my go to for color pages.

Ice Cream Info - California Milk has some ice cream information.

More Ice Cream Info - This site has so much stuff on it, I haven't explored all of it yet.

Ice Cream in a Bag - If you haven't done this, you should. It is really fun to learn the basics of ice cream science. Here is another site that has some more science info about ice cream and rock salt.

Ice Cream Chemistry - I found this page with some more advanced questions for chemistry. It looks like a great spring board for older kids.

Ice Cream Soda Science - We did this activity when we were studying the three types of mater. We will probably do this again, you know for review.

Ice Cream Art - This site has a great pop art activity.

The Ice Cream Stand - This looks like a fun activity to teach finance and business skills.

Ice Cream Time Line - A lot of history on this site. It touches on pretty much all the aspects of the history of how ice cream came about.

Icecream.com - Here are some fun ice cream facts.

Ben and Jerry's - I couldn't have an ice cream post without a link to them. Yummmmm

Dryer's Taste Tester - This is interesting about the guy who has one of the best jobs on the planet.

There are some fun online math games the kids can enjoy too.
Cone Crazy
Ice Cream Shop
Minko's Milkshake Shoppe

I know that there is so much here. I know we can't do it all but we will keep busy with all of what I have found.

All About The Food

2011-07-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the Independence of our country yesterday like every other American. BBQ, food, swimming, family, food, friends, food, traditions, food, fireworks and (did I mention?) food. I don't know about you but every holiday I realize just how much Americans love food.

I was in charge of dessert at the family BBQ so I made two yummy desserts. I made lemon sugar cookies decorated like citrus slices. I got the idea and technique from The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle. I made my own lemon cookie recipe because all of the recipes I had were for drop cookies but not for rolled. I really wanted rolled lemon sugar cookies so that I could make them totally cute. I'm making these again and I'll share the recipe with y'all so you can enjoy these yummy little bites too.

Then I also made a star studded Blackberry Cherry Cobbler also with my own recipe for the topping. I couldn't find just what I wanted so I modified two different recipes to make the dough just right for what I was going for. I know I'm kinda nuts and a total control freak. I wanted to make sure the stars maintained their shape while baking. I think it turned out pretty cool but the stars started soaking up the juice from the berries so they were purple. I love purple but it wasn't quite what I was going for. Next time I will make sure they stay more on top of the fruit. I'll be making this again soon too. The girls asked me to make it again almost immediately after eating it.

Then after dinner we had our traditional s'mores. For anyone who lives under a rock and doesn't know what a s'more is, let me educate you. Well, actually Ham Porter from the Sandlot explains it so eloquently so I'll let him educate you.

Alrite now pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham.

Then you roast the 'mallow. When the 'mallows flaming... you stick it on the chocolate.

Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good!

I love celebrating my country's birthday. I am so thankful for those men and women and even children who risked everything to establish this country. And what Jefferson said 235 years ago is still true today.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. ~ Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday

Adventure in Nature

2011-06-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful warm summer day. It was 93 degrees and we decided that it would be fun to go for a nature walk in the park and then throw rocks in the creek. Sounded harmless enough right? It turned into a crazy adventure.

First, the park was packed with people and every little bank to the creek seemed to be occupied with people.
After a while we decided to find a spot on the other side of the park than we were on so we walked back to the car so we could go to the other side of the park. While we were walking Little G's flip flop strap broke. So she ended up on Daddy Reg's shoulders. She was fine for a while then she decided she really wanted to walk and completely fell apart. It took a few minutes to get her calmed down but then she was fine by the time we reached the car.
Then we went to the other side of the park which ended up being equally packed. Everyone (and their cousin's best friend's uncle's nephew) had the same idea to enjoy the sunny day enjoying the water. I could not believe how many people were at the park. We finally found a nice little spot to enjoy the creek and at least throw rocks, it was a bit deeper and the current was swift so we decided playing in the water wasn't going to happen.
While the kids were throwing rocks, Princess K went to the edge to get her feet wet (totally fine we were all doing that) and her flip flop fell off. She jumped in to rescue it but the current was faster than she realized and the shoe was on it's way down the creek. She stopped following when she realized it wasn't safe and Little Man came to the rescue and caught her shoe a bit down stream. Princess K was soaked and so upset she had almost lost her flip flop. We got her calmed down and then came home.

I made homemade pitas and we had chicken gyros for dinner.

Here are two of my favorite pictures from yesterday.

Daddy Reg and Little man enjoying nature. They were watching a show on the ipod.

A blue dragon fly I played chase with trying to get close enough to take a picture.

Today it's pouring rain and the high is supposed to be 68. It's the exact opposite of yesterday. Glad we chose yesterday for our adventure.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

Summer

2011-06-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Happy First Day of Summer!

I love summer weather. I love that we get so many wonderful fresh fruits and veggies. If you have never eaten something within seconds of being picked, you just haven't lived. And for that I am deeply truly sorry. Because the amazing taste and smell of something fresh picked and then immediately eaten is bliss. This morning, after I watered my produce section (aka the garden)

I spied some apricots just waiting to be picked. I decided they had waited long enough so I picked one and ate it. Apricots from the store have no taste compared to one straight off the tree. We have a plum tree filled with little green plums, I can't wait until they are ripe. I love fruit trees. We have several and I really want to add more to our collection.

The garden is taking off finally and aside from my battle with the critters that like my tomato plants (I've planted 18 and I only have 3 left.) it is flourishing.

The purple snap beans are starting to blossom. I am so excited about these, we planted green, white and purple beans this year. It's so cool to have more than just green beans. When they are steamed and buttered, laying on the plate they look so pretty and taste delish.

The pumpkins are growing well and I anticipate some great sugar pumpkins come the fall. Here they are soaking up the sun after enjoying a fresh shower this morning. I can't wait until fall when I can cook up some fresh pumpkin for pie, and pancakes, and bread and muffins. We love pumpkin here, if you couldn't guess.

The bees are everywhere this year. And they are more aggressive than last year, which means I haven't been able to take nearly as many pictures of them. I love bees, I have probably taken close to a thousand pictures of them in just the past year and a half. Bees are truly amazing.

I have some volunteer flowers that are growing in my garden this year.
We have morning glories everywhere along the pathways.

We have a section of giant sunflowers again this year. Several are volunteers but then we planted some more too. I love sunflowers, they are amazing. They are just starting to form their blooms. This one is facing the morning sun soaking in all its hot rays.

And there you have it, a quick tour of my garden on the first day of summer.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy.

Gardening Adventures

2011-06-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

Do you like to garden? I love gardening. The whole process is relaxing to me. Well… almost the whole process, but more on that later. I have been blessed with a huge area for gardening. This year, we went all out and put in pathways and squared off little plots. I even have an Excel graph showing me where everything is and when it was planted – because I’m geeky like that.

I love putting seeds in the dirt and watering them every day with anticipation. I check on them more than once a day to see if a tiny sprout is emerging.

When that first tiny sprout emerges from the earth I get so excited almost giddy really. It’s like the days before Christmas as a kid when you can hardly contain your expectation of what is coming.

And the swelling pride that comes when you see your plants actually growing the way they should.

And then there is the exhilaration when you see your first fruit growing.

I love that I can grow healthy food for my family. I love that they can taste what a tomato is supposed to taste like and that they can go out to the garden and snack on fresh peas whenever they desire. I also love that my kids are learning so many skills while gardening and they know how we get our food. It is important to understand where food comes from. There seems to be an increasingly large lack of appreciation for our farmers and ranchers these days. My kids appreciate what farmers do on a large scale because they do it on a smaller scale.

Then there is this, what really makes me grit my teeth and cry. Lately I have been running out to the garden every morning and every afternoon just to see if my plants are still there. I’m now going out to see this.

A hole where there was once a plant. It is so frustrating so see your plants get sucked into the ground. You see I have (well I don’t have it but you know what I mean) a gopher. This gopher thinks that I planted my tomatoes for him (or her, I haven’t bothered with introductions but if I do introduce myself to him/her it will be with a shovel.) Sorry okay where was I? Oh yeah the fact that I am ready to go caddyshack on the gopher that moved in and has so far eaten 8 of my tomato plants. *Sigh* That is the part of the process that I don’t like in gardening. Replacing what was stolen from me by a rodent.

You know there are so many ways our walk with Christ is like the garden. From when we are just new in the Lord and starting to sprout with such promise, to even that tomato plant that gets sucked into the ground. You don’t want to be that tomato. You have to protect yourself from the gopher. Next year, I am going to make some raised beds and line the bottom with chicken wire to protect my plants. We, in our walk with Christ need to protect ourselves too. We need to make sure that we don’t get sucked into the ground. Surrounding ourselves with others who can keep us strong and give us wise counsel is so important.

Psalm 1:1-3 How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Mommy Time

2011-05-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

What do you do for Mommy Time? I enjoy taking my camera outside and just take pictures of what I see. I love being alone in my thoughts while I take in God's creation all around me. If you take the time to notice, you will be amazed by what you can see. It is a way for me to get some quiet time with God too. When I go out expecting God to show me something even the smallest something, He does.

I can't sit and have a "quiet time", doing nothing and listen for God. My mind wanders through my list of things left to do and what still needs to be taken care of. But if I go out with my camera, I seem to be able to move all of those thoughts to the back of my mind and allow God to minister to me. Sometimes just a verse pops into my head, other times it's an object lesson with the ant that catches my attention. I get so much more from taking pictures than just a pretty photo.

Most of the time, as a mom, we can find ourselves constantly going and going, not really slowing down enough to see what is around us. And while there are many things I enjoy doing like blogging, sewing, crocheting and knitting, baking, gardening or reading a good book; going outside with my camera in hand to take pictures of what is around me is one of my most favorite ways to unwind and get myself back in focus. For me, time seems to almost stop, I can go out for a couple minutes or a couple hours and it all seems the same to me. But when I come inside I feel so refreshed and ready to take on the challenges that face me.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Ladybugs Lots and Lots of Ladybugs

2011-05-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Little G asked to do a Ladybug Lapbook a couple of weeks ago. So I obliged by finding The Grouchy Ladybug Lapbook at Homeschool Share and checking out some ladybug books at the library. We only did 2 elements of the lapbook but that was all G wanted to do. However, this past weekend, we were so excited when we found ladybugs all over our grape vines. We got even more excited when we discovered that they were hatching and molting and going through all the metamorphic stages that a ladybug goes through from egg to adult.

I of course had my camera handy to capture this very cool homeschool moment when the words on the page become life and we get to witness what we have read. I love it when they get to learn "hands on" and really solidify that knowledge. The kids have been studying them the past few days really getting an understanding of everything.

At first ladybugs are so ugly and look like worms with legs almost. Really not pretty at all. Then they slowly change and shed their exoskeleton to where they have just a soft shell with no spots. Then after a few hours that shell hardens and their spots appear which makes them so pretty. Their metamorphosis reminds me of how we are in Christ. We are new creations that start out like the ugly larva and turn into a new creation like the beautiful adult ladybug. Something that really struck me is that when they first emerge and their shell is soft and just one color, they are pretty defenseless. It reminds me of how we are when we are young in Christ. We are vulnerable because we haven't grown strong in our faith yet. I love it when God shows me His great design in His creation.

Hi Mr. Ladybug, how about a closeup? Isn't he so cool? I love bugs... well... cute bugs anyway. And bugs that help my garden grow.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Ring Around the Sun

2011-05-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

The other day my daughter called me from the dining room saying there was an upside down rainbow in the sky. This of course was something I just had to see. When I got to the window and looked out sure enough it looked like an upside down rainbow from our angle, but I quickly realized it was actually a ring around the sun. I couldn't pass up this photo opportunity so I promptly grabbed my camera and ran outside. Then I had to figure out how to take a picture of the sun without blowing out the image or burning my retinas.

I think it came out pretty cool. I love sun flares and am trying to get better at capturing them correctly. I've never tried taking a picture of the actual sun before so this was a challenge for me. I think I got it figured out though.

In other very cool news... Darcy, who blogs at Life With My 3 Boybarians announced the winners of last week's Sweet Shot Tuesday link up for Artistic Photo Canvas. I was one of the winners! I am in shock really. I never win giveaways. Thank you so much Darcy for hosting such a fun link up every week and having so many fun giveaways. And thank you APC for doing a giveaway on Darcy's blog. Now to figure out just what photo I want on a 16x20 gallery wrap.

If you haven't checked out Sweet Shot Tuesday, you should. It is a fun link up where anyone who takes pictures can link up their Sweet Shot for the week. You don't need a fancy camera or any real skill; you just need to take pictures with what you have. The best camera is the one you have at the moment you want to capture something, whether it is a DSLR, a point and shoot, a cell phone or even a lomography camera.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Friday British Fun

2011-04-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Did you stay up late/get up early to watch the Royal Wedding? We didn't, but we did record it so we could watch it as soon as we got up in the morning. With 3 little girls, the prospect of watching a princess wedding was an absolute must. Besides it counts as school... it's current events, and culture studies. In our house everything counts for school.

I decided the festivities would not be complete without something fun to eat so I made some vanilla scones inspired by PW's Vanilla Bean Scones. I didnt' have any vanilla beans so I used French Vanilla coffee creamer, it did the trick.

Then for something on the more healthy side, I made individual breakfast trifles out of yogurt, granola and strawberry puree. Basically I made parfaits, but trifle is a bit more English. They were a total hit with everyone. I got the idea for these from Nigella Lawson but then totally tweaked it a bit so that I could serve them for breakfast. I of course had coffee and I let the kids have some hot cocoa. I love making moments extra special with food like that.

The wedding was so much fun to watch. It was exciting to see the dress and the church. Both were exquisite and elegant without being overdone. I loved watching Kate as she rode to the church all excited and her wave was so cute. Then as they rode in the carriage, I thought it was so sweet and her wave settled a bit and became more royal like. It was something I noticed because I remember as a child practicing "the wave" and learning how to courtesy and walk with a book on my head. It was fun learning how to be a princess when I was little. I know that I would not have remembered how to wave if I were in her shoes today though.

I'm not normally into weddings, in fact I really don't enjoy weddings. Mine was the most simple wedding possible complete with wedding cakes from Costco. But watching today was really fun and enjoyable it made for a great way to end the week.

Blowing Bubbles

2011-04-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

There is something so precious about little ones blowing bubbles. Little G loves bubbles, a bottle will keep her busy for a while... well until the bottle is empty at least. I captured this precious moment on Sunday when she was blowing her new pineapple scented bubbles that were in her Easter basket.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy.

Easter Reflections

2011-04-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve been reflecting over this past week and weekend. This last week was full of God revealing Himself in new ways. I love it when He does that. My heart’s desire was that the kids would stay focused on the real meaning of Resurrection Sunday and come to know God even deeper this year. It is always my heart’s desire but especially more so during holidays when it is so easy to get distracted.
We spent the week reading passages that corresponded to Holy Week. It really helped keep us focused.

Then on Friday we dyed our eggs. Dyeing eggs is one of our favorite traditions.

Friday evening, we went to Via Crucis (the way of the cross) at church. This is the first time we did this and it was absolutely a perfect way to spend Good Friday. Walking through each step of Christ’s walk with the kids and reflecting on all that Jesus went through brought so much reality to the kids. Little Man was disappointed that it ended at the sad part. It helped bring to realization how the disciples and Christ’s followers must have felt on that day; sad and defeated, not sure what to do next.

Saturday night before bed we made Easter tomb cookies. (It’s tradition for us.) The kids every year learn a bit more and this year it helped solidify what we did on Friday. If you haven’t made these with your kids before I really recommend it. It is such a great hands on lesson about the Resurrection. The cookies get baked overnight and in the morning the little tombs are hollow inside.

Sunday, we of course went to church and enjoyed a lovely Easter service. Complete with cardboard testimonies that brought me to tears. Hearing/seeing how God changes people’s lives every day is awesome. After church we hung out at home.

We hid about 16 dozen plastic eggs and the kids had a hunt of close to epic proportions. We will have Easter candy until Christmas. Not really but it seems like it.

This year more than ever before I am incredibly grateful for the cross and that Jesus conquered death so that I can have life. Life without Jesus would be void of all hope and pretty pointless.

Under the Lilacs

2011-04-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

I am blessed with lilacs along our driveway. I love lilacs, they remind me of one of my favorite childhood books.

The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house has been shut up for several years. Yet voices were heard about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high wall as if they said, "We could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the mullein outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole that it might peep in and see what was going on. ~ Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott

When I was little I read Under the Lilacs probably a dozen times. Alcott is one of my top 3 most favorite authors. Her books are absolute timeless classics.
The aroma coming from the lilacs is wonderfully intoxicating right now. And just breathing in the sweetness and enjoying the gorgeous purple brings happy memories and smiles to this busy mommy.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Poppies!!!

2011-04-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

Poppies are popping up everywhere. I absolutely love these beautiful orange flowers. Their vibrant color always makes me smile when they pop up in the most unexpected places, like the side of the freeway. These pictures were of some in a field next to a park we went to this week.

Aren't they just lovely? I love how much they reflect the sunlight. It is almost as if they could illuminate a dark room with how much they glow from the sun.

Do I reflect Christ in such a brilliant way, like these poppies reflect the sun? That is a question I asked myself. Even their amazing beauty is reflective of the One who created them. Reflecting Christ in all I do and say without once saying the actual words, "I am a Christian."... I have so far to go.

Romans 1:19-20

since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

"Smells Like Prayer"

2011-03-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday at church our pastor talked about prayer. He described someone who prays all the time, "smells like prayer." That phrase hasn't left my head since he said it. I want to smell like prayer.

I was discussing it with the kiddos yesterday and I was asked what he meant exactly. So I started to explain it. If you walk into a house where bread is baking in the oven the whole house is permeated with the glorious aroma that comes from that bread. There is no question when you walk in, about what is in the oven. You don’t ask, “Oh, are you baking bread?” No, you breathe in deeply and smile saying, “The bread smells divine.”
Or if you walk into a garden of flowers blindfolded, you would know where you are just from the fragrance wafting into your nose, that tells you that you are in a garden. To smell like prayer would mean that you wouldn't need to say you pray a lot; it is just obvious by being around you.

I am so challenged in my prayer life right now to keep prayer first and foremost in my mind and heart. Prayer is so important and I know that so many days I do not pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

St Patrick's Day Fun

2011-03-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick's Day was filled with tons of fun. We had Lucky Charms for breakfast (a special treat around here especially on a weekday). We spent the day learning about St Patrick and Ireland and making components for our lapbooks. One component was to take 1/2 cup of Lucky Charms, and graph how many of each marshmallow was in that half cup then compare their results with everyone else. We found that on average there are 20 marshmallows in each half cup, at least in the box we had. The kids had tons of fun. And we will be finishing what we ran out of time for this weekend.

We baked green velvet cupcakes and decorated them with Lucky Charms. So fun and such a yummy dessert.

We watched Veggie Tales Sumo of the Opera as is tradition so we could watch the St Patrick story. We love our Veggies.

I cooked a beer braised corned beef in my new pot. It turned out beautifully! I was so excited as that was my first time ever cooking corned beef. I found the recipe on Food Network's site. I don't know the exact link or I would take you to it. The kids loved it and I am sure I will make it again next year the exact same way.

I love making a big deal out of special days like St Patrick's Day just to help break up the monotony of the everyday and help the kids avoid burn out.

Buildings and Bridges

2011-03-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Last week we took the kids on a field trip. Where we went was like stepping back into the 1800's only with cars and power lines. But the buildings were very much old and beautiful. I love old buildings, the story they tell and the character they reflect of a much simpler time. I get caught up in the romance of the history and find myself almost wishing I was in that time period.

Walking down a back alley/walk way. I love how the "NO Parking" sign and the car are the only thing that really shouts that we are in present day.

I love old brick and the old shutters. I kinda wish I could have lingered longer to take this from different perspectives and play with the shadows. It's so pretty.

I had to capture this one as we were walking down the street, the windows in the alley caught my eye.

Then there was this bridge on the river. I love bridges except being on them, that always makes me nervous, but looking at them and marveling at the architecture I love.

This bridge is so cool because instead of lifting up to let a boat through, it turns sideways. That motion of going around makes it more fun and interesting to watch as boats passed.

This field trip was so much fun and I took many more pictures as we explored all day and visited the train museum. I am sure I will post more about it later.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Pi Day

2011-03-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

Today is Pi Day, did you know that? Pi is 3.14 and today is March 14th (3/14). Isn't that genius? I LOVE math and numbers so I love today. And, every year we celebrate Pi Day by eating pie. Perfect for celebrating. It's a circle that we can find the area of. And my kids always seem to ask how dessert became a math lesson as I am writing equations on the white board that hangs in the dinning room. To me, it's exciting - I know I am a total dork but I'm okay with that.

There was no time today to bake a pie so... while we were doing our big Costco trip we picked one up. Their apple pie is pretty good for not coming from my kitchen.

Do you want to see a million digits of pi? Go to Pi Day.org. Did you know, pi is a number that goes on forever and never repeats? That is just mind boggling.

For fun, you can find your birthday in pi.

Happy Pi Day everyone!

St Patrick's Day Plans

2011-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

We love St Patrick's Day and it is just a week away. The kids started asking me what we were going to do this year and asked if we could do a lapbook. How could I say no? We love how we can incorporate so much learning into a lapbook and allow the creativity to flow at the same time. Well, I went to work coming up with ideas and thought I would share the wealth of resources I have found with you so you can enjoy the day learning.

If you think that St Patrick's Day is just about wearing green and eating green food, you are missing out. St Patrick was an amazing man who loved God with reckless abandon. Veggie Tales has a great little short about him on their DVD Sumo of the Opera, we watch it every year. I'm still formulating my plan for this year but here are some ideas I have found so far.

Christian Preschool Printables has some fun print outs for the littles including a Bible verse printable that would be great in a lapbook.

File Folder Fun has several folder games to print out. I think I am going to print out Shamrock Showdown for the kids to practice their place value together.

Bible Story Printables has a fun Shamrock craft that I think I want to do.

Homeschool Helper Online has a St Patrick's Day Lapbook with lesson plans ready to go. I am going to use some of these for the lapbook.

Homeschool Share has a Lapbook to go with Jan Brett's book St Patrick's Day in the Morning. There are some fun learning ideas here and if you want to read the book, a great resource for activities to go with the book.

CurrClick is offering a free study called of Shamrocks and Shillelaghs. It is full of information, Irish sayings and activities to go along with any unit study that has to do with Ireland.

WebLink Education has several links to all sorts of activities for Saint Patrick's Day.

DLTK has several coloring pages, crafts, worksheets and ideas.

I also found this Squidoo lens filled with so many lapbooking ideas I almost don't know where to start. Wow so many links.

Okay, so now I have more than enough resources at my fingertips. Remembering that less is more I am going to put together a lapbook/unit study that will work with the kids. Now, on to plan the menu for the day.

Spring Blossoms

2011-03-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! While we may not be experiencing spring weather everyday, the blossoms are appearing everywhere. So, for anyone who lives where the blossoms haven't had the courage to appear yet, her is a glimpse of spring for you.

Like our plum tree. Just a few blossoms right now but soon I am sure it will be covered and look like a white cloud.

Look at the pretty blossoms on our peach tree. So pretty. I love pink blossoms, it always reminds me of cotton candy when the tree is filled with pink blossoms.

And look at the apricot tree. I love how vibrant the pink is on these. There are just a few on this tree, I hope more will appear soon.

I am so ready for spring right now, I really can't express it in words. But right now, I am so totally over winter. I love spring, it seems to always bring new hope and a second wind for us to finish our school studies for the year. I don't know what it is but by the end of winter we all have burn out and are in need of a change of scenery. So... bring on the spring weather!

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

My New Kitchen Tool

2011-03-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Today, a box arrived. You see, Hubby bought me a gift. He knew I really wanted this and I would never think of spending any money on it myself. So, he took matters into his own hands.

Did you see? It's from Sur la Table, a kitchen supply store that I absolutely love.

Just the box makes my heart skip a beat. It means this box contains something to make my time in the kitchen more exciting.

Oooh I can hardley contain myself. I love cooking and being in the kitchen. Every time I am in a cooking store it's like I'm a kid in a toy store.

What is it? What is it? What is it?

An orange box from Le Crueset, some of the best cookware is made by Le Crueset. Enameled cast iron pans that are so heavy weight and conduct heat perfectly. They can be used on the stove or in the oven and are so pretty they can be put on the table and served from. Oh I am so giddy right now.

It's purple and beautiful!
Look at all that gorgeous purple!
I really love this color, it's such a unique color for a pan.

This 6 3/4 quart french oven is so heavy. And it is the most expensive cookware I have ever owned.

The first yummy dinner I plan on cooking in it is Boeuf Bourguignon, Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. Yummmmm.... I can't wait. *super happy dance*

Hope of Spring

2011-02-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

I am extremely excited to see the little buds on the trees. A sign that spring is on it's way. I am totally ready for winter to be over.

I am thinking spring fever will be hitting hard soon.

Or maybe that's just allergies.

Either way the promise of a new season and new beginnings makes me smile.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Adventures In Adolescence

2011-02-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Luke 12:6-7 ~~ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

These eyelashes are Princess K's. Princess K's name translates to "treasure" in English. She is my treasure, but more importantly she is God's treasure. She is quickly approaching that age all young girls seem to go through, where we question our worth and value. Are we pretty enough to be liked? Are we dressing so that we fit in? Will my friends still like me if...?

The uncertainty of our value comes up in our minds all the time as an adolescent. I know that this is a vulnerable spot in our minds and the enemy knows just when to attack that spot to cause us to question our value. I am reminded every day that my responsibility as a mom is to equip my kids to ward off the enemy's attacks in the battlefield that is their mind. More than just speaking worth and love into their lives daily, I need to give them the tools necessary to battle those thoughts of uncertainty. Prayer and Bible memory are the most affective tools we have to ward off those attacks. Even on days when it seems like so little I know that God is so much bigger than those fiery darts of doubt and uncertainty.

Also, time. Spending serious quality time in mass quantities with my munchkins is so powerful. It's the bond that forms so strong between us that when I speak those words of encouragement and worth into her during those times when she is doubting, that she will hear and listen and most importantly believe and trust those words.

Psalm 139:13-14 ~~ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Math Lessons

2011-01-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

The living-room floor is where we did math today.

I have a little one who prefers to avoid math at all costs. Getting a math lesson in during the day is like pulling teeth without pain medication and a real pair of pliers. Seriously, not kidding. So whenever I can, I try to incorporate games and real life math into our day. This week, we have been focusing on just basic math facts and adding more than two numbers together. I have been challenging myself to do this without using any drill worksheets or flash cards.

Well, we are using cards, 52 of them to be exact.

And colorful chips.

The kids love playing games and there has been a whole lot of addition going on, past the sum of 21.

And strategy as they figure out if they should risk it to get a sum closer to 21...

...or if they should play it safe.

This post linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy.

Frosty New Years Eve

2011-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve morning we woke up to a beautiful frost.

I really hate the cold but I love the crunch of the frost on the ground. There is something about that sound that makes me smile and forget just how cold I am.

Frost crystals are so pretty I don't think I will ever cease to be in awe of the intricacies of the ice crystals on the leaves...

... and the walnuts.

Happy New Year! I pray this is year you are blessed beyond measure.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday with Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

Every year the kids and I do a Nativity bulletin board on the wall. As I was taking pictures of this year's finished project, I remembered a post from a couple of years ago that I wrote about Mary.

As I ponder again about what God revealed to Mary as she held Jesus that first night sitting with the animals and, I am sure, marveling that the angels sent the shepherds to see her little one, I thought I would repost those thoughts. They are fresh and new again in my heart today.

December 12, 2008

I have been dwelling on a verse the past week or so. It is really getting me thinking and wondering.
Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
This verse reveals her mother's heart for her son. She knew she had been entrusted with the greatest gift to the world. She knew her son wasn't any ordinary son. She knew she was responsible for training him and molding him and preparing him for what God had planned for him. But, how much did God reveal to Mary about Jesus? It is like that song Mary Did You Know?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

I have been entrusted with 4 beautiful little ones. It is my responsibility to prepare them for what the Lord has for them. Just like Mary had to prepare Jesus, though they aren't going to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. I know that God has great plans for each of them to advance His kingdom, I don't know what those plans are exactly. Only with God's wisdom can I do what I need to, in order to prepare them.
Just what I am thinking about.

Merry Christmas!

Cookies Cookies and More Cookies

2010-12-20T22:46:00.000-08:00

Can there ever be too many cookies at Christmas time? Or ever for that matter.

Our most recent cookie baking adventure included a batch of these little delectables, Almond Spritz Cookies. They are incredibly easy to make and oh so tasty. Especially with coffee, tea, or any other yummy drink. Or on top of desserts. Or by themselves, eaten by the handful.

I started making spritz when I was 10. I taught Princess K how to make them this year. We are making anther batch this week. I have pretty much eaten all of this batch. I drizzled some with chocolate, I love chocolate. And cookies. And cookies with chocolate. And cookies covered in chocolate. And - well I think you get the idea.

Cookie Decorating Fun

2010-12-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

We love decorating cookies, especially Christmas cookies. I love watching the kids' creativity come out in their edible pieces of art. No two cookies ever come out the same no matter how hard they try.

This year's Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies were so much fun. We make these cookies every year - it's one of our many traditions. But I tried to change it up a bit this year.

I put cookie dough through a garlic press and made hair for the girls.

I also taught the kids how to use flood icing to make their cookies even prettier.

Then Little Man decided to give Daddy Reg a "Red Hot Challenge" cookie. He covered it in cinnamon candies. Then Daddy Reg had to eat it in 4 minutes. He did it in less than two. I think next year, we need to up the red hots and make him eat it in less than a minute.

The girls always take their decorating seriously and do their best to create masterpieces.

Sometimes though, it is fun to just pile the goodies on.

I was also inspired to make some cookies who were just having a bad day. I got the idea when Pioneer Woman posted a link to some very cool cookie cutters.

I instantly wanted them.I think they are genius!

However I realized that I could do this on my own using two cookie cutters that I already own.

I love the humor in the fact that they look like they had a bite taken out of them. It just cracks me up. I may need professional help.

Every year we create new memories that I know will be cherished forever.

Christmas Cookies

2010-12-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies for decorating fun. A Christmas tradition in our house are these cookies. The flavor is awesome and the texture of the dough is perfect for rolling, cutting and of course, decorating.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Christmas Tree Adventures

2010-12-12T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's such a good thing that my girls absolutely love decorating the tree. This weekend has been jammed packed with fun crafts, activities, baking, and the Christmas Tree crashing to the ground. We think that the side we had facing out was just too heavy wile all the decorations that it was off balance.

We had put the spasest side in the cornor - as is tradition. But that side had a rather large empty spot. I guess it was too much for the tree to handle because Saturday afternoon it just fell over. After the clean up and assessing the damage - only 1 ornamant met it's demise.

The girls and I set to decorating the tree for the second time this year. It was so much fun to have the opportunity to decorate the tree again. However, I really don't recommend letting your tree fall over just so that you can start all over.

Of course I had to take pictures all over again.

I am so glad that I only lost one ornament and it was just a store bought one. My tree has so many ornaments that I could never replace. Like this one that my sister-in-law made me years ago for my birthday. (She gave me a set and I still have them.)

Then there is this one that I have had since I was 12. I love this angel, it is so simple.

Then I of course had to play with my camera and the Christmas lights. Check it out, I made the lights heart shaped! I am so excited that I was able to figure out how to. I love having fun with my camera. Darcy at My 3 Boybaians is hosting a Holiday Bokeh link up party. I'm linking this post to join in on the fun.

Hot Cocoa Fun

2010-12-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday our heater quit working. Luckily it wasn't freezing but it was that damp cold that makes you feel colder than you really are. The HVAC guy is awesome and was on it right away but the part the heater needed was not a part he could just run down to the store for. We had to wait until Tuesday for him to fix it because that is how long it took for the part to arrive. Sooo... we made the best of it.

We had slumber parties in the living room and in the school room (depending on the night) every night. We watched movies, read stories and had lots and lots of hot cocoa. We used our fun special Christmas mugs to make the cocoa taste even better.

We melted these fun Caramel Apple Hershey's Kisses in the cocoa.

We floated scoops of yummy Vanilla Bean ice-cream in our cocoa.

We stirred our hot cocoas with candy canes. One of my most favorite things to use as a stirrer in my hot cocoa.

Of course no hot cocoa is complete
- without toppings -

Like the classic, marshmallows.

Or marshmallows topped with sprinkles.

Or you could be like us and just go all out by adding whip cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry on top.

Next time you make hot cocoa, think of something fun you can put in it. There really are no rules for hot cocoa, you can even put chili powder in it if you like a kick in your chocolate. It's entirely up to you.

Birthday Surprise

2010-12-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

I have a hard time relaxing and taking any time for myself. It's just how I am, constantly doing what needs to get done and taking care of everything. I have a hard time just sitting still. For my birthday, a very dear, sweet friend of mine surprised me today with some Relaxing Bath Tea. See, she has been speaking into my life and trying to convince me that I need to take some time just to relax and unwind. So to help me do this she got me the bath tea and a candle. I am so blessed to call her friend as she blesses me everytime I see her. Not with gifts but with her sweet spirit and love. And her abibitly to speak into my life without the fluff. God knew she was the exact friend I was in need of and for that I am so extremely thankful.
Thank you so much my sweet friend. I love you so much.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Chirstmas Activites

2010-12-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well the Christmas season is upon us and I realized this weekend while eating more than enough turkey and pie that I hadn't started planning this month's school lessons. After the initial panic of not being prepared, I took a breath and started planning.

Traditionally we focus our school activities around Christmas setting aside traditional lessons during the entire month and don't take anytime off until Christmas Day. Some activities are the same every year like tracking Santa's Christmas Eve trip around the world at NORAD Tracks Santa and Advent Bible reading But I try to incorporate new ideas each year like next year I plan on being more prepared so we make a Jesse Tree.
One year we completed 2 (yes two) Christmas Lapbooks. One was all about Christ's birth where I took bits and pieces from several resources and we put them together in one huge lapbook, and the other one was the Twelve Days of Christmas. (I know the twelve days of Christmas doesn't really represent Bible stuff but it is a great way to learn a bunch of Bible facts.)
This year, Little G is able to do some fun preschool activities and the older kids are wanting to do something completely different than normal. So this month proves to be a fun adventure just waiting for us.

Here are just some of the resources I am pulling from this year.

NORAD Tracks Santa ~ My kids have never believed in the big guy but we love tracking his flight every Christmas Eve. This turns into a huge geography lesson every year as we follow his flight path around the world. There are also activities to do throughout the month that are pretty fun too.

DLTK's Christmas Activities ~ I absolutely love DLTK's sites. All of her sites are full of all sorts of ideas. We have done the Advent Color Pages in the past and this year we are going to do more from this site or one of her sister sites for sure.

Christian Christmas Advent Calendar ~ This calendar has a Bible reading, activities, crafts, recipes and songs for each day of December. I am really impressed with this calendar.

Christmas Around the World ~ Learn about other countries traditions every day throughout the month.

Advent Bible Verse Chain PDF (1) and Advent Bible Verse Chain PDF (2) ~ We have done this particular chain of verses the past two years. Overall it is a really great collection of verses to help prepare for Christmas.

Koch Snowflake ~ This is so cool, if you love math. I love math and think in numbers and love everything symmetrical. This lesson will be so much fun to teach the kids.

Advent Wreath History ~ Veritas Press has this PDF full on information, scripture and color pages along with how to make your own Advent Wreath.

Birth of Christ Lapbook ~ Veritas Press also has a free LapBook. A few years ago we did a Christmas LapBook and used several elements from this resource.

And if you want more lapbook or Christmas ideas, you can check out my Christmas post from 2008. There are so many links to some really fun activities, lapbooks of all kinds and great lessons, I am so excited about all the possibilities for this year.

Now to prioritize and figure out how much I can realistically do before Christmas.

Frosty Sweet Shot

2010-11-30T10:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning as I blindly stumbled towards the kitchen only thinking about my first cup of coffee, I looked out my dining room window and was greeted with a beautiful white backyard.

Everything was covered in a beautiful layer of frost. I am not a fan of the cold, in fact I absolutely detest the cold. I purposely live where it doesn't get that cold and when it does, it is for short periods of time. Sometimes even that is too cold for me.

However I always smile and marvel in God's beauty when he frosts his creation for us to enjoy. It always puts a smile on my face and somehow I don't feel as cold.

The frost was so pretty glistening off the blades of grass...

...and the tiny flowers on the bushes.

I marvel at the intricacies of the little tiny ice crystals. How amazing is it that such tiny details do not go unnoticed by one who created the vastness of our universe.

A layer of frost showing off the details in a leaf recently fallen from the tree struck my eye and reminded me of a crayon rubbing. Only this one is so intricate and perfect and will never be duplicated. It is a one of a kind masterpiece here for only a moment for us to enjoy.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Praying Mantis

2010-11-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

In August, I posted a photo of a baby praying mantis that I discovered in the garden, he was a cute little fella. Yesterday we found this guy on the back porch. Isn't he so wise looking? He could be the same one from a few months ago.

Who knows, maybe he's the same one - or not. Either way I have completely come to the realization that I absolutely enjoy taking pictures of bugs - as long as they aren't creepy or gross.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday at Life With My 3 Boybarians.

The Incredible Egg

2010-11-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

I have an egg in a cup of vinegar on my counter.

It's been there since Friday when, for Health,I decided to show the effects acid has on your teeth. The Health demonstration turned into a total science experiment, when the kids observed that tiny gas bubbles attached themselves to the egg and caused it to become buoyant. Then as the bubbles popped, the egg moved. Wow, a health lesson and a physics lesson all in one.

Then they started noticing that as the shell became soft and rubbery it started changing shape. The egg is absorbing liquid now and the shell has cracks all over it.

Hmmm, I can add a lesson about osmosis and semipermeable membranes here too. It's amazing what can be learned from having an egg in a cup of vinegar on the counter.

And here the kids thought they were just going to see how acid eats away tooth enamel, and feel a rubber egg.

Election Day

2010-11-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today is Election Day. As a family we all go together and vote. The kids love that even though they don't get to actually vote, they are part of the process. The reaction of the volunteers when they see all the kids with us is priceless, they always get so excited seeing the kids with us. The volunteers always crack me up, and the kids love getting their "I Voted" sticker when we are done. When Little Man was 5, he was so mad that he didn't get to actually vote, he was adamant that it was his, "right as an American citizen" to vote. He was actually crying about it. I love that about him. Even now, he is still very much in tune with what every proposition says and who is running for what position, and if you ask him he will already tell you which political party he is. I love that about him and I know that when he is old enough to vote, he won't take that responsibility lightly.

This post is linked to Sweet Shot Tuesday.

More Pumpkin Theme/Unit Links

2010-10-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago the older kids did a pumpkin theme unit that included many of the links to printables, lapbooks, and various activities I posted for Weblink Wednesday (a linky that was hosted by Valerie Watne who has Weblink Education).

This year, I decided to do a preschool P is for Pumpkin unit/lapbook with Little G after she had such a great time during our field trip to the pumpkin patch. I am using some of the links and resources that I found before but I also found many new resources that I am sure she will enjoy.

Here are the resources I found.

Pumpkins Unit Study - Homeschool Helper Online has a unit study geared towards PreK - 1st. They list a bunch of ideas for activities you can do as well as some books to read.

Pumpkin Craft/Popsicle Stick Puzzle - Child Care Land has a fun puzzle idea, you have to scroll down towards the bottom of the page to find it. There are also a few other pumpkin ideas on this page.

Pumpkin Bulletin Board Project - If you are looking for a bulletin board idea, this one is pretty cool.

How a Pumpkin Grows - Kidzclub has a sequencing card printable that could also be used as a mini book.

My Pumpkin mini book - This is a little pdf for a mini pumpkin book. You describe your pumpkin and count the seeds.

Pumpkin Themed File Folder Games - File Folder Fun has a few different pre-made folder games. They also have blanks so that you can fill in with whatever material you need to cover.

My previous Pumpkin Theme Link post.

Fall and Pumpkins

2010-10-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

Yeah for fall weather!
I have to tell you that in October, our average temps range in the low 80's to upper 70's but not this year. So far we are averaging upper 80's to low 90's. Then we dropped 10 degrees overnight and we went for sunny skies to lots of rain and 60's. This week has finally started to feel like we have actually entered the season called autumn. Hooray for our week of autumn! Seriously, according to weather reports (not that we can believe those) it is only going to get colder. The trees are finally starting to show glimpses of color too. I can't wait for the rain to go away so I can enjoy a colorful walk in the park.

This past week we visited a local pumpkin patch taking a moment to enjoy our fall temps.

We had the place to ourselves for almost an hour before people started trickling in which made for a great afternoon full of all sorts of crazy fun. The kids had a blast pulling Daddy Reg in the little cart that we had for the pumpkin picking still to come.

We had a blast exploring the different varieties of gourds and pumpkins interspersed amongst each other in the fields.

Doesn't this one totally look like the mushroom guy from Super Mario Bros?

And then grinding some corn to feed the animals. Little G loved feeding the animals and was sad that there weren't more animals to feed.

I am thinking of doing a pumpkin themed unit with Little G this week. I am sure she will love it. The kids did one a couple years ago and it was one of their favorite units.

Night Owl

2010-10-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Confession, I am absolutely, totally, completely, entirely NOT a morning person. Not even a little. I consider 9:00am early and I don’t even begin to function like a normal person until about 10am. I have such a hard time being chipper when I first wake up and my morning prayer is never full of excitement.

Instead, you can hear me moan out a prayer that begs God to help me wake up and just survive my day.

Psalm 88:13
But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

I wish I was more of a morning person.

One who wakes up ready to face the day and sing, “Rise and shine and give God the glory glory!”

Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

I seem to be more in tune to God’s revelation later in the day.

And instead of God speaking to me in the sunrise, He speaks to me in the sunset.

I am a total night owl. I prefer my time with God later in the day or even more at night, when the house is quiet and still; after the hustle and bustle of the day is over. That seems to be when my spirit quiets itself waiting for God to whisper His promises in my ear and reveal His mercies to me in His Word. As I lay in bed, (usually after midnight) I think about His steadfastness and thank Him that I did survive my day.

Psalm 119:148
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

It’s good to know that God made me to be a night owl and not and early bird, being alert at night is part of who I am. I love knowing that He never sleeps and is always at His peek and it doesn’t matter if it is dawn or dusk, noon or midnight.

Psalm 121:3-4
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

It’s also great to know that sleep, sweet sleep is something He gives us, especially when we need it most.

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

October

2010-10-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH

We are already halfway through October! Wait what?!? When did that happen? Where have I been? Seriously? No joke, this month for me has just been a blur. We're not busy traveling or doing a lot of crazy fun activities or anything, but it has still just been a blur. I really cannot believe we are a month into fall arlready. Fall weather/October for us usually means we aren't in the 100's and 90's anymore but this year it hasn't been so. (Though it is considerably cooler today with a high of 82) Maybe that's why I don't feel like it is fall and we are in the midst of October.

We haven't done any fun fall activities like in the past. No cool leaf designs, or acorn people. Nope, we have done nothing of the sort. In fact I didn't even think of it until yesterday. Where has my head been this month?

Heck even a walk in the park shows virtually no sign of fall here. *sigh* Fall... oh Fall... where are you? Come out and play for a bit okay?