Abby's Legwarmers

I got them finished up while we were watching movies this afternoon.....I've already got plans for another pair :)  Anyway, here are the pictures:

Isn't she adorable???  She is rocking that cloth diaper and Thirsties cover too :)  They are almost too tight, that's all the higher they will pull up.

With her best buddy, Bear.  In case you were wondering, none of the males in this family ever wear shirts in the house....although it does look like Dad has one on in the picture below.  LOL  Today Lee wore his coat while outside, but no shirt.....Greg put on a shirt but no coat......I have no control.

All smiles.  Isn't she the sweetest thing you've ever seen?  We think so :)

Crawling on Bear is a good way to pass the time.  Normally he yells, "Don't eat me Abby, I'm not food!" but today he was being generous and didn't.  LOL

Ok, she's done.....crawling away.....till next time!

Hello!

We made it through the ice storm in one piece.  A generator is a wonderful thing :)  Many in our county are still without power although ours was only off for about 24 hrs. 

Today we made it out into the world.  Ryan's for lunch, Walmart for groceries, Family Video for movies and we are home again....snuggled up watching The A-Team.  Going to have buffalo burgers and fries for supper.  Yummy!

This is "Cooker Bear" in his new Cars apron that I whipped up on Tuesday.  I used the pattern for the girls apron in the book All Dolled Up: Sewing for Girls and Their Dolls by Joan Hinds.  Very easy.  It took about 30 mins. worth of sewing - but of course I eliminated the cupcake applique, the ruffle and modified the neck strap. Next time I make him an apron I will have to add a pocket.  Everyone needs a pocket :)

This is the kids Christmas Eve before we opened our gifts.  Sorry, I am slow :)

Bear loves it when I make him a blanket tent in the living room.  Actually, we have had one there for most of the winter.  Occasionally, he can coerce Abby into joining him.  So I quickly snapped a picture.  Aren't they sweet? 

I've got a review to do sometime this weekend, I want to finish Abby's legwarmers and get a picture posted and I need to actually finish the legwarmers and prepare for a Super Bowl party.  I also have a custom project that I am pushing to get finished for a customer.  Lots to do :)  Talk again soon!

Epic Ice Storm

I say epic, because I don't really remember one this bad before.  They said it would get as bad as it did in 1988, but I was only 11 so I don't really remember that.  It started sleeting last night and is still at it.  Sometime this evening it is supposed to change to snow.  At this point I don't think it matters.  LOL 

Norman bought us a generator and we have 2 electric space heaters to hook up to it.  A camp stove will be for cooking.  So far the power is still on but it is just a matter of time.  Who knows how long it will be out. 

I will update when I am able.  Stay safe and warm friends!

Swagbucks

Times are hard economically for everyone right now.  I've got a way you can earn a little extra money, without doing anything that you don't normally do.

Meet SWAGBUCKS.  Swagbucks is a search engine, just like Google or Bing.  You search for the stuff that you always search for and you randomly earn "swagbucks".  You can download a toolbar to each of your computers for ease of use and continuity of login (You wouldn't want to be searching while not logged in!). 

What can you do with Swagbucks?  Well, you can enter contests, giveaways, or save them up to buy things.  The list is extensive.  I save mine up.  When I get 450 swagbucks I "buy" an Amazon . com gift card ($5).  It takes about a week to get the gift card, then I go apply it to my Amazon account where it waits peacefully with all of its friends for me to decide to buy something.  Right now, I have $15 just waiting for me, all earned since the first of the year and I am 5 "bucks" shy of another $5.  I didn't do anything but search for stuff I was looking for anyway.  Can't beat that, can you? 

There are other ways to earn Swagbucks as well.  You can take surveys.  Buy stuff from online stores through swagbucks . com.......I bought Abby some shoes last fall from Diapers . com but I entered their store from my swagbucks page.....and I got double points (for example, spend $25, get 50 swagbucks).  Also, you can refer friends.  If you sign up from my referal link then I get to claim the first 1000 swagbucks that you earn from online searches (searches only).  You get to claim them also, so we are both getting 1000 swagbucks.  Cool huh?  Of course I would love for you to sign up under me and you can do so by clicking the links in this post, or by clicking the swagbucks ad in the left sidebar.  But don't let helping me stop you from signing up.  You can also go to swagbucks . com. 

I hope that this helps some of you earn a little extra cash.  We all love a little extra cash, especially when you don't have to do anything special to get it.  Blessings to all!!!!!!!

Our Current School Stuff

I could go through the list of educational stuff that I do with the babies but suffice it to say that they play....a lot.  We read, we color, we practice letters, numbers, shapes, biggest/littlest, colors....you get the idea.  Bear will start "formal" preschool next year.  I will post about all that stuff next year :)

For now, we are focusing on Greg.  He is 10, 5th grade.  Just finished Saxon 54....I will be ordering the next level (65 I think) sometime next week.  We are using  A Reason for Handwriting to learn cursive.  He hates it, I make him do it anyway.  It is what it is.  For science we are using Creation Science unit study by Media Angels.  Very thorough and he seems to like it.  We are also basing writing assignments and spelling words from that study.  Works for me.  That brings us to history.  I like Sonlight.  Actually, I LOVE Sonlight.  We finished up Core 4 in December.  We can't afford to buy another core right now.  So I am improvising.  I borrowed Diana Waring's new Ancient History curriculum available from Answers In Genesis from a friend.  It is nice.  It is geared with activities for all learning styles.  We skip most of them but that is ok.  I read the lesson to him on the first day, then he spends several days listening to material on the provided CD's, does the Bible reading assignments, we discuss the discussion questions, do timeline/map work.  Then he chooses a research/report topic from those given.  I have been giving him 3 days to do the report and he presents it at supper that night for the whole family.  That is forcing him to work on his thought organization and accountability. The whole history units are taking us 2-3 weeks.   He is reading books I assign that we are still working on from Core 4 (we got behind on that reading somehow) or Louis L'Amore.  He really likes westerns.  Our library card expired and I don't have any money for that either so I guess he will be reading my books for a while.  For read-aloud right now, we are reading through D'Aulares Greek Myths.  I thought he would like that but he doesn't.  Go figure! 

How our day goes:
I get home from taking Lee to the bus at about 7:45 a.m.  Greg gets up about 7:15 so I encourage him to get breakfast and get dressed when I get back.  School is supposed to start at 8.  Sometimes it is 8:30. 

Ideally:
At 8 a.m. Greg and I would sit down, I would read read-aloud, history lesson and we would work through the science lesson.  Then I would teach the math lesson and go over any spelling for the day.  After that, Greg is on his own to complete history CDs, Bible reading, regular reading, math worksheets and lessons, handwriting lessons, grammar corrections, spelling practice, etc.  The papers go on my pile and I will stop and grade/correct them as I go through the morning.  If he applies himself, he is almost always done by 10:30. 

Normally:
Bear starts begging me to play with him at 8 a.m.  I send Greg to get started on independent school work (I have all sheets, etc in a folder for each day so he can do that).  At 8:30 I manage to get away from the kids and we do read-aloud.  Then Abby wants a bottle so he works some more on his own.  I manage to get her asleep and put down and we read through history (or I start CDs).  Abby starts screaming so I quickly teach the math lesson.  I get her calmed down, convince Bear he can play with her or alone and manage to get science taught.  Greg finishes his independent paperwork and begs for a break.  I let him take one.  He comes back around 10 and works on math.  Then he convinces me that he will do his independent reading later.  He disappears.  Throughout the day I remind him until he finally gets tired of listening to me and just DOES the 30 mins. of reading. 

How's that for keeping it real?  You can tell if there is something special planned for the afternoon because Greg will just sit down and do his stuff.  You can tell when Dad is home because the schedule goes almost exactly like the ideal scenario.  The rest of the time, it is a crap shoot.  LOL 

Greg says he is staying home for school next year (6th grade).  He is wanting to try Switched on Schoolhouse on CD.  Hmmmm.......I guess we shall see.

Legwarmer #1 and Other Stuff

This is the 1st legwarmer for Abby.  How would I NOT have thought of this before?  They will be so sweet under her little skirts and a wonderful use for leftover sock yarn - I suppose that most of her legwarmers will match a pair of my socks :)  Norman measured her ankle to mid-thigh as 7 inches....the pattern I was using was for a newborn so I had to work several more increases and gave it 12 inches in length....as I finished it up I was so afraid that the top would be too loose, but it just fits.  Perfect!  Which means that she won't have much growing room but they should work for this winter and we will see about another pair next winter.  AS SOON AS I get the 2nd one done I will make her model them for ya'll. 

Abby learned how to "pull-up" to stuff today.  She cries once she gets there though because she doesn't know what to do or how to get down.  Had family for supper tonight and Norman fixed the goose that he hunted a couple of days ago.  He is really liking goose hunting.  LOL  I had chicken. 

Got a birthday party tomorrow - for our cousin Gabby, yes, Abby has a cousin named Gabby :)  Gabby turned 1 today and was one of those here for supper.  She is smaller than Abby, considerably.  I know that Abby is very big for her age, but it is days like this that I realize how much bigger she is.  LOL  Such a little monkey.

Anyway, it is getting late, but I wanted to share the picture.  Hope ya'll have a good night!

True Treasures - A Giveaway!

If my review of True Treasures peeked your interest you can enter to win a copy, courtesy of Homekeeping Heart!  Head on over HERE to read her review and enter :)

AND We Love to Homeschool is also giving away a copy - you can go HERE to enter :)

Good Morning!

I hope that everyone is well today!

Norman got up at 4:30 a.m. to go goose hunting.  In a boat.  On a lake.  It is very, very cold out.  I am fairly certain he will return an ice cube.  But he is hoping to get a goose, the 2nd time he has gone out :)

Regular laundry is in the dryer, diapers are in the washer.  Bear and Greg are still sleeping.  Lee is in the shower, Abby is in her highchair next to me, growling.  She got her first tooth in!  We were beginning to wonder.  She is pretty proud of it.  And she said Dadda, twice to me yesterday.  Daddy is pretty proud of that. 

Nothing exciting here happens until after I get Lee to the bus stop.  Then the pace picks up!  If I can get the little 2 settled doing something quiet, Greg and I start school.  Otherwise, he starts working on the stuff he can do alone while I feed Abby or play with the littles.  Sometimes 15 mins. playing will make all the difference in the rest of the day.  After I get "my" part of school done (I'm going to be doing a school posting soon!), I work on lunch, Motivated Mom chores or play some more depending on how things are going.

After lunch, which is almost always sandwiches or leftovers, I try to finish up any chores that are left, get something out for supper and put Miss Abby down for a nap.  Abby doesn't believe in naps (8 months old!) so sometimes this is in a exercise in futility, but I give it a good shot.  If she naps and if Bear feels that I have paid him enough attention up to that point (which is rare because he is 3), THEN I will try to get some sewing or quilting done.  You can see my current projects in the left hand sidebar.  I knit at night while watching TV with the family. 

Norman gets home from work around 4, with Lee (he meets the bus at the bus stop for me most days).  We usually eat supper early, around 4:30 or 5 and then I finish kitchen clean up and we settle in for the night. 

So, that's a little about us and how things operate around here.  I have a school post up my sleeve, for anyone interested.  I am also hoping to finish at least one of the legwarmers tonight so pictures of those to come shortly.

Have a great day friends!

True Treasures: 10 Years of TEACH Magazine

As most of you know, I've been in a dark place lately.  A couple of weeks ago, my wonderful husband recognized that I needed a break and sent me to town with some "mad" money to hang out by myself.  I grabbed a book before I left......True Treasures:  10 Years of TEACH Magazine by Lorrie Flem.  Once in town, I went straight to Starbucks, ordered a large Caramel Macchiato and sank down in a huge armchair with my book.  I only made it 2 pages before tears were flowing down my cheeks. 

Homemakers know that staying home all day is hard work.  I realize that the rest of the world believes that we are all sitting around eating chocolate and watching soap operas (I do eat chocolate, but not all day.  I do not watch soap operas, wouldn't even if I did have time).  Each day I am mom, wife, cleaning lady, teacher, pretend doctor, bottle holder, diaper changer, remote control wielder, laundry washer/dryer/folder/putter-awayer, train track builder.....the list goes on and on.  While doing all those things, I am giving advice, prayfully answering questions, kissing real booboos and giving pieces of my heart to everyone I meet.  So much goes out of me every day.....it is like "the force" is leaving my body.  God's love is the force and I am thankful that I am here to administer His grace, mercy and love to those around me....but sometimes I get empty.  Sometimes I get so dry that I can't soak up God's word on my own.  I need a human touch.  Frequently, TEACH magazine and Lorrie Flem have been that human touch.  Lorrie and those that share with her, use real life experience and God's words to encourage and lead those of us who are seeking back to godly womanhood.

True Treasures is the BEST of the first 10 years of TEACH magazine.  The articles are laid out on 2 page spreads; short little tidbits to help even the busiest of wife/mother.  She has divided the articles into sections so that you can quickly find the encouragement you are looking for.  Parenting, marriage, mothering, homemaking and serving others are all addressed.  I honestly believe that it would be impossible to come away from this book without having received encouragement.

True Treasures is available for $19.97 at http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/ .  While you are there, check out the other wonderful resources that Lorrie offers.  Also, please note that TEACH Magazine is changing names.  It is the same wonderful resource, with a more fitting name I believe.......Eternal Encouragement Magazine.  Use coupon code GabbyMoms to get $4 off True Treasures :)

If you want to read what others think about this wonderful publication, feel free to check out The Gabby Moms to see other reviews written by homemakers just like you!

***Disclaimer: I received this product for honest review from TEACH magazine as part of The Gabby Moms blogging program.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Lots Going On

As usual, there has been a lot going on here.  I suppose I can quit saying that when I am dead.  Anyway, I am very thankful to have been HOME a lot this winter.  I have kept the "running" to a minimum and stayed in the house.  Some of that was due to the depression that I have been under, some a conscious decision that I have made. 

I remember when I was a new mom, early in our marriage.....I hated to stay home.  I would find excuses to go anywhere....shopping, my mom's, the park, a friend's....sometimes we would just drive around aimlessly.  In the evenings we would drive to town, eat fast food and wander walmart.  It seemed so lonely and depressing at home. 

I realize now that some of that was due to my attitude.  Some of it was due to marital and financial problems we were having at the time.  Some was due to depression.  Some was due to my laziness....I didn't want to clean, cook or "deal" with these babies.  If I wasn't home, then the problem could be ignored for the most part. 

God placed many wonderful, godly people (mostly women) in my life around the time that Greg was born.  I can honestly say that their guidance helped keep our marriage together, introduced me to homeschooling and brought my heart back around to my home and family.  God is good!  I wish many days that I had learned more during that first year of marriage, when we didn't have children.  I wish that I hadn't wasted so many years when I could have made better memories for my children.  BUT, I praise God every day that I am where I am now.  I can understand some of the struggles others are having and no matter how "bad" things get, I know that God is here, He is working, ever present in my life and family.  He has brought us a long way so I know that nothing is too big for Him to handle.

One of the godly women that was placed in my path was Mrs Lorrie Flem, editor of TEACH magazine.  TEACH isn't a magazine about homeschooling, but about mothering, godly womanhood and homemaking.  An occasional article about homeschooling will be found in it's pages, as homeschooling is a big part of mentoring in our children's lives. 

I can't hardly believe that TEACH has been publishing for 10 years!  I must have found Lorrie early on, but it still doesn't seem like it has been that long :)  Please, if you are looking for godly encouragment on your role as wife, mother, and woman of God, check out TEACH.....their magazine has a new name....Eternal Encouragement.  I think that is fitting, as Lorrie gives encouragement about the things that have eternal implications in your life, my life and the lives of our families.  Anyway, I will be reviewing True Treasures: 10 Years of TEACH magazine later this week.  Please come back and see what this wonderful publication has to offer YOU!

A Little About Me.....

Since I am determined to keep this REAL and most of you don't know me in "real life", I thought I would list out some interesting tidbits about me, in no particular order :)

***I love to wear skirts/dresses but don't do it all the time.
***I wish I had a dress that required a hoop skirt (other than my wedding dress).  And I WOULD wear it somewhere :)
***I wish I had a bonnet.....although I know people would laugh if I wore it.
***I knit funky socks, and wear them, and they rarely match the other stuff I am wearing.
***I LOVE Italian and Mexican foods.
***I love bookstores.  I love that Books A  Million has huge armchairs that I can sit in and look at books before I buy them.  I LOVE that BAM has a coffee shop so I can sip coffee while sitting in the huge armchair and looking at books.
***I LOVE JoAnn's.  If JoAnn's had a coffee shop I would live there.
***I buy fabric and yarn with no idea what I am going to do with them.  That is why I frequently have 5 yard pieces of fabric (that is the amount required for a full length dress). 
***My hair used to be naturally blonde....I am now a natural brunette that acts like a blonde :)
***I am obsessed with HGTV
***I would love to travel to Oregon on a wagon train.
***I would love to live in a pioneer log cabin.
***I would miss facebook.
***I hope to someday go to Alaska.
***Norman might leave me there.  LOL
***I wanted 10 kids.
***Most days I want to string up the 4 I have.
***Have you ever heard my philosophy on snow?
***I LOVE the color pink.  I think that pink looks fantastic with chocolate brown.
***I hope to retire to a place in the mountains.
***I enter 2 times every day to win the HGTV Dream Home in Vermont.
***If we win, I want to live there for at least a month
***I don't ski and don't want to learn to ski.
***I clean when I am mad......I am generally a very happy person :)
***As of tomorrow, Norman and I will have been married 15 years.
***I love him more now than I did 15 years ago :)
***We had a rough start, but I would do it all over again.
***I hope someday to live in an assisted living community (they cook, they clean, they drive, I just exist!).
***I would like to go tomorrow.
***The kids are ready to drop me off.
***Norman is fairly certain that I am crazy.

That's enough for today.  Have a great evening!

Blogs, Lies and Real Life

How's that for a title?

I've been reading blogs for a while.  Started when the older 2 boys were real little.  That is where I learned early homeschooling, household scheduling....that is where I got encouragement.  Some blogs I have followed for close to 10 years now. 

Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention that one of the blogs I have followed forever, one that led me to higher housekeeping goals, encouraged me to cloth diaper.....frequently stressed me out because I didn't feel that I could "measure up" to this person.......she was living a lie. 

I find it interesting that someone would make themselves an authority on homeschooling and housekeeping.  I guess I get the desire to BE better than you are.  She made this perfect life look easy though.  I often felt bad because I couldn't get my kids to do the chores hers did and my husband wouldn't eat the nutritious foods that her's did (even though she claimed if I kept putting it on the table he would eventually learn to love it).

In learning that she was "padding" her life a little I am learning to let go of a little guilt.  I've been striving all these years to be just like her......but now I see that I can only be just like me.  That's all God wants us to be.  I'm naive.  Although I always try to be truthful (and if anything make myself look worse than the truth), I understand now that people lie on the internet - even about the mundane, like school schedules and housework. 

I've got to rework my sidebar.  Her link is still over there, although she has taken her blog down after her "cover" was blown.  I will be reworking my blog links.  I need to add some new ones anyway.

Please remember that you, God and your dh are responsible for the workings of your house and homeschool.  You don't need to be like me, and I don't need to be like you.  I think we will all be happier if we quit beating ourselves up anyway. 

I Know God is With Me, But......

This is kinda a personal posting, but if my sharing helps someone else, I am very glad to do it.  Sometimes it just helps to know you aren't alone.

Depression has an interesting way of sneaking up on people.  Sometimes it is the smallest things that make me just want to throw in the towel - and suddenly I realize I am depressed and have to look back and wonder when it all started.  Today's revelation was brought on when a friend commented about paying off one of his last 3 debts.  I could only wish we had 3 debts and that one was newly paid off!  LOL  But it is more than that and I know it.........

My battle with depression began many, many years ago.  I never felt like I was good enough and my people issues didn't help matters any.  I prefer to keep things bottled up.......I don't ever really remember exploding.  I just figure out how to deal with it.  Probably not well, but that is how it goes I suppose.  I graduated high school, got married, had Lee.  I don't really remember being excited about graduating high school, just resigned to my future.  My wedding day was the best day of my life, but even it was shadowed by hurt and disappointment, as the people I hoped would want the best for me were not supportive.  They couldn't even pretend to be happy for me and as much as I tried to ignore that disappointment, it still clouded my otherwise wonderful day.  Because of my choice of husband, we had no financial help in the wedding arrangements (aside from dh's mother who helped when she could).  Life doesn't seem to work out the way you want it to sometimes.  I have a feeling this is turning into a pity party, so I'm moving on.

After Lee was born, Norman lost his job.  We were getting ready to lose the house we had bought and had nowhere to go.  A last hour miracle financed us a trailer on my parent's ground.  We had nothing.  I don't remember fighting a lot but its hard when you don't even have the money to buy groceries.  Norman bounced from job to job while I tried to go to school.  The fighting started.  We drifted apart.  When I found out I was pregnant with Greg, I decided I had to either give this situation everything I had, or get out.  I decided to stay.  Greg was born and I hit the bottom.  I can honestly say that was the worst year of my life.  Norman got a great, steady, financially wonderful job shortly after Greg was born.  However, he had to work away from home.  There were many days that I didn't get out of bed.  Still, my memories of that year are a haze.  So many wonderful opportunities with my oldest 2 children slipped through my fingers.  Great friends and an amazing God got me through that year and helped me get out of that dark place. 

Depression is a very dark place.  Often, the depressed person knows they have a problem (I hate when people say if you know you are depressed, then stop)......they just don't know how to fix it.  Fear places a person in a place of inability......inability to think, to do, to plan.  Inability breeds and grows. 

I've struggled some since then, but I can honestly say that things have never been as bad as they were then.  I wish I could say that I have conquered depression!  Maybe people who don't care what others think, maybe they aren't affected as much.  I don't know. 

Our current situation is a mess.  If you are a personal friend, then you know what is going on, otherwise HERE is the quick story.  Feeling abandoned by the people that should love you the most is the worst feeling.  I don't wish that on anyone.  Loneliness has crept in.  I look around and want to change the house, bring in a breathe of fresh air, but what is the point?  We, God willing, won't be here that much longer.  But what if we are?  What if this house never sells?  What if we can't get financed for another house?  What ifs......they sneak up on you.......a person of fragile emotional bearing is very vulnerable to the "what ifs". 

God holds me up.  Every day I feel Him and I know that without Him I would be nowhere. Sometimes I need a little reassurance though.  A little earthly reminder that things are going to be ok.  I am trying to remember that sometimes you don't get that.........sometimes things that we can't control happen. 

A little change will do me good, and maybe a little more in a direction that can help our future.  Right now, there are so many variables.  I am thankful for the things we have and hope that the future is bright. 

Sometimes I just want to cry.........

Strawberry Shortcake Blanket - For Sale

I just finished making this adorable Strawberry Shortcake blanket.....and it is FOR SALE!

The design side is cotton print, the reverse is chenille.  It measures a generous 36 inches by 54 inches, perfect for a little girls toddler bed or as a throw for a bigger girl.  Price is $30 plus shipping, if necessary.

I am in love with it!  Don't despair for Abby, I have more Strawberry Shortcake material set aside to make something super cute for her :)

Welcome to the New Year!

To start us off, a picture of my favorite little girl....

She is sporting a new sweater dress (Old Navy), new tights (Walmart - the heavy cotton ones), almost new boots (Pedipeds, she got them last month) and the new headband I finished knitting for her last night.  It is made from the same yarn as the cell phone case I showed pictures of in the last post.  Someone asked where I got the yarn.....I am fairly certain that is from Knit Picks because that is where I get almost all my yarn.  I have no idea what the coloring is called though as I have had it forever and the label wasn't on it anymore.  It is a sock yarn (and machine washable) if that helps :)
Trying to get organized this year.  I say that every year.  Some years are better than others.  Four children really aren't any harder than 2 or 3 but there is more of everything......more toys to put away, more clothes to wash, more hands to keep out of stuff, more people to take places.  In the end it takes more mental energy if nothing else and I don't really have any to spare :)  I bought the Motivated Moms planner this year.  I looked at it last year and regretted not getting it all year.  So far I've only used it 2 days but I am liking it.  Daily chores are listed for the whole week on the left (in the layout I got) and bigger chores are listed by day on the right.  Plenty of room to write in your own stuff (appts., etc). 

Looking forward to some changes this year.  I normally don't look forward to change, but this is a good one so I am taking it.  Lots going on here, so if you feel led please pray.  I will share as stuff happens :)

My sewing/knitting business is taking off.  I'm not rich yet :) but staying busy and I love it.  It gives me a reason to create.  Lots of plans in my head.  I visited the quilt shop for some fat quarters last week and came home with more ideas.  My priorities for MY stuff are: denim quilt for Lee, chenille quilt for Abby and a new diaper bag for me.  We will see how it goes while working on orders and packing, etc.  I am staying flexible!

God has been so close to me this year.  I am looking forward to another year of seeing what He has in store for us.  I hope that all of you have a wonderful year as well!

Knitted Cell Phone Case and Other Pictures

I knitted a cell phone case!  I had to rework the pattern a little because I couldn't find the purse frame the pattern called for (very frustrating by the way).  I ended up putting an I-cord in the casing, leaving it open at one edge so that I could be hooked to a bag clip or over the wrist.  It also works as a drawstring so the phone doesn't fall out. 

I needed something to put next to it to show size so I grabbed my sunglasses, which by the way fit in it perfectly!

Since I am uploading pictures anyway, here are some new family shots:

My family :)

A Book Review - Tandem by Tracey Bateman

As a new Blogging for Books reviewer I was so excited to get my first book, read and review it.  In my house, nothing ever goes like planned.  I read through the list of available books and then was called away from the computer.  When I came back the next day I didn't reread the book descriptions, I went from memory, which is never a good thing with me.

I received my book and was excited to get started reading while Abby took her afternoon bottle.  After the 2nd chapter I had figured out it was a vampire novel.  Bleh!  I am not a big fan of vampire love stories, but I did love Anne Rice as a teenager so I decided to keep plowing ahead and hope for the best.  After the 4th chapter I couldn't put it down.

Somehow the author manages to weave vampires, a saucy mystery, a romance (not with the vampires so much) and a little Christianity into one book.  Tandem seems to be the 2nd book of a series (Thirsty being the first) but it can absolutely be read alone.  I fell in love with the main character, struggling to find her own identity while caring for her ailing father.  I empathized with the main vampire character even if she did appear to be a little stuck up at times.  Several of the other characters surprised me, so I'm not giving away the story :) 

If you want to read a little on your own you can see the first chapter HERE.  Although I will try to choose my books selections more carefully in the future, this was a pleasant surprise.

DISCLAIMER *****I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Merry Christmas

A little late, but better than never, I suppose.

We have had a wonderful holiday here, celebrating the birth of our Saviour.  Norman and I always try to keep the focus on the real reason for the holiday and again this year I was reminded often of why we were celebrating.

Sunday evening we met with a group from church and went Christmas caroling.  I love to Christmas carol.  I always feel so blessed afterwards.  There was snow on the ground and flurries in the air making the atmosphere just perfect.  We ended the evening with pizza at Joe's in Newton.  I love their new addition.  The fireplace is delightful!!!

Monday evening, I fixed a dinner for Norman's mom, sister and her family and cousins.  It was nice to have the house packed with people.  I carefully dressed the table and used the good dishes.  It was somewhat embarassing to discover that we only own 4 butter knives.  LOL  So we shared, we were only using them for butter anyway. 

Wednesday evening we gathered up our crew, plus a spare, and met some friends at McDonald's for supper.  Afterwards we visited the park in Olney for the light display and the little ones were able to sit on Santa's lap.  It was very nice.  I love to look at the lights through the eyes of a 3 year old.  Bear was enchanted to see all his favorite characters all lit up in the park.  I think he met some new ones as well.  I have very fond memories of driving through that park during the Christmas season.

Thursday we braved the crowds and made a trip to town for movie rentals and last minute shopping at Walmart.  By that, I mean, the boys got gift cards from Grammy that were burning a whole in their pockets.  LOL

Friday we celebrated Christmas here as a family.  Norman was off work and we decided to do gifts on that day so we would have the whole day to spend together.  Norman blessed me with a cricut.  I enjoyed the 2+ hours that I was able to scrapbook but was depressed to realize how far behind I am!  I wonder if I will ever get to Abby's pictures??  The rest of the day was spent with games and Rock Band.  Too bad I've had a cold for a week and couldn't sing.

On Saturday, the boys and I stayed home while Norman went to work.  Normally we would have went to be with my parents or grandparents, but I just didn't feel that we would be welcome this year and didn't want to deal with the stress.  Christmas shouldn't be a time of family strife, so I proposed to make it stress-free, for my family at least.  The boys and I tried to build gingerbread houses (an epic failure) and then spent the rest of the day playing Xbox and watching movies.  When Norman came home from work he showed us all how to be gingerbread house architects.  LOL  Another movie and we concluded the day in bed. 

Today (Sunday), the boys and I are lazying around the house again.  Norman deemed the roads slick on his way to work so I didn't chance getting all of us to church.  I have really enjoyed spending so much time with my boys.  Normally we would all be doing our own thing in separate rooms, but for this weekend at least, we have made an effort to be together and enjoy things together.  I feel very blessed by that. 

I will be honest, and admit that at times loneliness has crept in.  I don't understand why members of my family have chosen to treat me the way they have.  I don't understand why they do the things that they do.  It makes me sad that I wasn't a part of the hustle and bustle (but don't miss the stress!!!!) of the family gatherings this year.  I realize that I don't get to make choices for other people.  They make their own decisions and choices, the words that they speak and the things that they do are their own.....yes, those choices frequently affect me and my family, but I refuse to let that get me down.  New traditions are being made.  Love was shared.  Christ is remembered.

I hope that all of my readers and friends have had a wonderful Christmas, regardless of the circumstances you find yourselves in.  Here, we are looking forward to a wonderful New Year......every day, week, month and year is a gift from God and I intend to use it to its fullest potential :)

A Penny for My Thoughts.....

I doubt that they are worth a penny though :)

I've been baking, a lot.  With 3 hungry boys and a growing dh I can't seem to keep snacky type things in this house.  LOL  Almost everyday, Cooker Bear and I mix something up.  Bear loves to cook.  I think it is mostly the mixing/pouring aspect but that's ok.  I suppose that there is some form of educational value in there somewhere but for the most part he thinks it is fun and it keeps him busy for a minute.  He is always so proud when Daddy complements him on his cooking.  Ever humble though, he always shares the credit with me or whoever else helped.  Such a sweet little fellow.

I finished the big project I've been working on lately.  A tied, orange and blue quilt, ordered by a friend as a Christmas gift.  Dh delivered it today.  I have a stockpile of dishcloths for sale and a hat or 2....so I decided to knit something fun.  I came across a pattern for a knitted cell phone case.  Cute as a button and made out of sock yarn.  Using up a little bit that was left over after a pair of socks came off needles, it looks fantastic.  I think I can use the pattern and more little bits to make me and Abby some headbands.  I love sock yarn and there are always bits left after a pair comes off the needles so this is a fantastic way to use it. 

Currently, I am using a twin sized flat sheet as a tablecloth.  With all the leaves in my table (and it makes it seat a "roomy" 6) none of my other tablecloths fit and it isn't a "standard" size.  So I ironed some fabric to make a tablecloth.  I am going with a 9-patch pattern of my own design.  We will see how it turns out. 

A new book I am gaining much inspiration from is Marie Osmond's Heartfelt Giving: Sew and Quilt for Family and Friends.  My favorite project from the book is a ruffled shower curtain.  Marie does it in pinks and black.  I can't imagine all the testosterone that lives here going for those colors but I might try something in blues or greens.  I love it :) 

I am looking forward to the New Year.  Many changes are before us, but I am at peace with all of them and ready to embrace our future.  We are together and happy, that is all that really matters!  Stay warm, my friends!!!!!

Freebie!

My real-life friend and fellow homeschool mommy blogger, Vicky, has blessed us with a Christmas gift!  Head on over to her blog and check out the Family Meal Time Conversation Starter Cards that she and her family have come up with.  We all know how important meal time is but sometimes it is hard to get the conversation going.  Vicky says her children feel left out when she and her dh get to catching up.  At our house my dh and I can't hardly get a word in edge-wise because of the kids.  LOL  We all have challenges.  I love the idea and look forward to using them.  Thanks again Vicky!!!!!

School

I'm waiting on Greg to get up (he is not a morning person) so decided to update on school around here.

Bear:
*knows all his shapes and colors
*knows most body parts
*is familiar with positional words and directions
*learning left from right
*learning letters A-F
*he can count to 20, but we are working on number recognition
*basic addition (he understands 1+1, 1+2, etc)
*he has most of his favorite storybooks completely memorized and can "read" them to you.  He is getting new books for Christmas.  I hid all the early readers so I would have something new he could read while learning phonics otherwise I won't know if he is reading or reciting.  LOL

Greg:
We finished up modern American history.  I love American history.  We started ancient history.  I hate ancient history.  We are using Diana Waring's new series available through Answers in Genesis.  She makes history interesting and even I am not bored.  Right now Greg is enthralled with Louis Lamour books.  Our library card expired so that is a problem, but he is reading from our extensive stash of historical fiction and biographies...the stuff he really likes.  Right now he is reading Davy Crockett's autobiography.  He says it is very good.  Math, language arts, spelling, and handwriting are going well.  We are reading Men of Science, Men of God for science and Minn of Mississippi as our read-aloud so that is covering science.  Diana Waring has science topics woven through her curriculum so after the new year we will pull some stuff from there as well rather than do science separately.

I guess that is about it.  Everything is going well.  After so many years of homeschooling we finally have a good routine and so everything just kinda gets done.  There are crazy days and days when it takes longer than others but for the most part everything is fairly stress free. 

Now Greg is late getting up so I get to go be the bad mom.  LOL  Have a great day!

Winter Weather

***To my readers on facebook ***  I know most of this is old news to you, but I do have other readers that don't live around here or aren't with me on facebook.  Feel free to read on or skip :)

It snowed Sunday.  If you ask me if I like snow I say yes.  Almost always.  I like snow.  It looks pretty, I like to feel it float down on me, I love the peaceful feeling that seems to envelope everything when it snows.  However, I hate to drive in snow.  I hate to be driven around in the snow.  I hate for people I love to be driving in the snow, or away from home when it comes.  So, I guess really, I like snow when I am home, everyone I love is home, and nobody has to go anywhere for the forseeable future.  I think you can see the problem there. 

Snow causes me major anxiety.  It had just begun snowing when Norman left for work Sunday morning.  By the time I got back up at 6:30 it was really coming down and there was a good coating on the lawn and driveway.  It wasn't blowing, no visibility problems, so I decided to be brave and go to church....a 30 min. one-way drive from our house.  Unfortunately, Norman had fallen on a patch of ice in the parking lot of work (along with 7 others in 25 mins.).  Fortunately he met us in Newton and went to church with us.  Poor guy couldn't straighten all the way up, or hold any weight in his right arm, but he was being a trooper.  Anyway, by the time we came home, it had started blowing.  We had plans that night.  A beautiful candlelight service and supper with friends.  I wanted to go, but didn't want to go.  Norman said we would go to supper, as it was only 5 miles from home.  We made it down our long drive, couldn't see for a good part of the drive, made it to our friend's house.  Had a quick supper and everyone headed for home.  We were gone less than 2 hours and our driveway was drifted completely shut.  We drove through the grass at the road end and managed to make it 2/3 of the way to the house before becoming completely stuck.  So we walked the rest of the way (not far really, couldn't have parked that close to Walmart).  Very thankful that we were home, warm and together.

By morning the snow had stopped and the blowing had stopped, but the snow fairy had NOT dug the van out of the driveway.  Things being what they are currently with extended family, the boys started digging.  Norman tried to push the van out with his truck.  Finally he got a come-along and chain and managed to get it out after all day of working on it.  The boys shoveled a lot of snow.  LOL  Norman couldn't get in to see our doctor on Monday because she was out of the office so he stayed home from work on Tuesday to see her.  Lee got out of school on Monday but had to go back today. 

Now, our driveway is passable.  I am still afraid to drive down it.  LOL  I hate to drive in the snow.  I haven't left the house since Sunday evening.  I have no idea how bad it is out there (and I hear the roads aren't bad at all), but I really have no desire to find out.  Grocery shopping will need to be done at some point though. 

I wonder what the odds are of me being able to stay home for the rest of the winter?  Not good since I have to take Lee to the bus every day, LOL, but you can't blame a girl for trying!!!!!  I suppose that God made snow so pretty so that we would be able to tolerate all the inconveniences that it brings.......I will try to remember that next time!

Christmas Traditions

I've never really made a specific effort to create family traditions for holidays around here.  We usually go south for Thanksgiving.  Otherwise, I don't think that there is anything we "always" do for any holiday.  With all the upheaval around here lately I feel that needs to change.  So change, it will.

This year, the kids and I are going to make gingerbread houses.  I can honestly say that I have never made a gingerbread house.  Not to overwhelm us, I will be buying the kits from walmart.  You know, the ones you only need to decorate.  I am cheating but that's ok.  Maybe I will do better next year.

I would love to hear about some of your family traditions....specifically for Christmas or New Year right now, but I will take anything.  Comments please!!!!!!

A Gabby Mom

Just a heads up (to anyone that cares) - I have been selected as a Gabby Mom for 2011 by TEACH magazine.  I will be given products of interest to homeschoolers/homemakers/moms to check out, use and the reviews will be posted here on my blog.  I should be receiving my first item soon so keep an eye out to see what I've been up to. 

And if you don't know about Lorrie Flem or TEACH magazine, you can see what all the fuss is about HERE.  Lorrie has some of the most outstanding homemaking products/articles/advice I have ever heard.  This is great stuff and I know that you will be thankful that you checked it out.

These Boots Are Made for Walking...

I LOVE boots.  With that said, I have never actually owned a pair of above the ankle boots.  Love the looks but my whole life they were either too expensive or wouldn't fit over my fat calf.  I've always had a fat calf :(  Anyway, in high school I would borrow my younger brother's cowboy boots on Friday/Saturday nights before he turned 16.  They always seemed to fit.  I loved those boots. 

Anyway, Norman blessed me this weekend with a pair of boots.  Almost to the knee, supple brown leather boots.  I wore them today for the first time outside the store.  They are pure bliss.  Something about a boot......

Cute pink sweater, A-line denim skirt and those fantastic leather boots.  I almost felt like a million dollars.  I graced Newton Tire Center, the aisles of Newton IGA and the Jasper County Health Department in my new boots.....I doubt that anyone noticed, but I sure felt beautiful in my boots today.  Thanks babe!  Now Mommy has shoes as nice as Abigail :)

Many Things to be Thankful For

One of our 2 wonderful ministers asked me to give a testimony on thanksgiving yesterday as it was Thanksgiving Sunday.  After trying to come up with an equally appropriate Thanksgiving post for heer, I will just share what I shared there yesterday.

One of my most favorite Thanksgiving memories is of eating at a Waffle Hut in Metropolis IL.  We usually spend Thanksgiving with my husband's father and family in Metropolis.  That is quite the drive from here (about 3 hrs).  This particular year we had eaten a quick lunch with my family and headed off as part of a "caravan" with my husband's little brother and family (from Quad Cities - they broke their drive into 2 days).  Anyway, we get to Metropolis, get checked in to our hotel rooms and decide to order pizza for supper.  However, nothing was open.  No pizza places, no fast food, no slow food....nothing.  My sil Michelle and I were frantic trying to figure out how to feed 3 little kids (my 2 oldest and their oldest).  Finally, we got ahold of the Waffle Hut.  I think they thought we were funny with how relieved I was that they were open.  It was late, well after 7 p.m.  I was thankful that they were serving stuff other than waffles.  LOL  The place was busy with truckers and travelers.  A very kind couple at a nearby table spent time entertaining the kids with jokes and quarter tricks.  My oldest boys still remember it. 

We've had a rough couple of months.  Through everything we have a lot of stuff to be thankful for.  Here is just a short list:

1.  our friends  When I thought that my world had fallen apart and I had nobody left, my friends, our friends, were there.  With hugs, kind words, thoughtful actions.  God used the people in my life to remind me that I wasn't alone. 

2.  my husband  Norman is such a wonderful husband.  Patient, kind and loving to me and the kids and throughout this whole situation and before, he has been a testament to mercy and grace.  We are not perfect and I know that he isn't either, but he has shown great strength in the face of adversity.  He is my whole world and I don't know what I would do without him. 

3.  my children  As I said yesterday, some we worked hard to get and some showed up when we were least expecting it, but they are all so precious to me.  Several days in the last couple of months they are the reason that I got up in the morning....their smiles and laughs kept me going.  This stuff isn't easy for them either but they have the ability to make each day a little easier for me.  I believe that God always knows what He is doing when he places children in a family :)

4.  my Father God  The people on earth will fail you, but I have a perfect Father in heaven.  He knows how to comfort me, how to teach me and how to forgive me.  No matter what.  I am thankful that He shows His love through His word and through the actions of others.

5.  my Saviour Jesus  Jesus took all the wrong things I have done and will do; all the pain, suffering and punishment I deserve, and bore it all for me.  That is true love.  I can never repay such an offering but hope to grow more like Jesus every day.

6.  my relationship with God  In trials, there are 2 ways to go, forward and backward.  I believe that God has used and is using our current circumstances to draw us nearer to Him.  I can honestly say that I believe my relationship with God is 100% stronger than it was.  God works through all circumstances and I am so thankful for that.  I don't have to know the future, I just have to know who is with me on the journey.

There are so many other things to be thankful for.  I encourage all of you to look at your lives and this past year (or 2 or 3) and thank God for the gifts He has given to you.  Sometimes you won't even know it was a gift until you can look back. 

Enjoy your family this Thanksgiving.  We have a busy week so I probably won't be posting again until next week.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

I Talk Too Much

One of my earliest memories is of my Mom telling me to be quiet.  I was 5 or 6 and had just come home from school.  I asked her when I was allowed to talk.....I had to be quiet at school, on the bus, at the dinner table....when could I talk.  LOL 

The truth is, I was/am a very shy person.  It takes a lot for me to stick my neck out there in social situations and I am by far 100% better than I was.  As a child, social situations literally made me sick.  I can remember going days at school and on the bus where I didn't speak to anyone.  I did have friends, and I did talk to them, but I often felt left out of conversations that they were having with others.  A snide or sarcastic comment from anyone would shut me up for a week.  A cousin told me once that if I couldn't sing the song right, to not sing it at all (in her defense I was singing Johnny Cash and I am a soprano).......I still occassionally doubt my ability to sing (I am not Miley Cyrus by any stretch of the imagination, but I can carry a tune).  Getting in front of people to sing, speak or play flute was the worst kind of torture.

In high school, at a parent teacher conference my freshman year, Mr. Buttemeyer told my mom that I was an introvert and that she needed to get me some help.  My mom didn't see where that was a problem, but she came home and told me I needed to talk more.  LOL  Now my mom seemed to me to be the popular girl in school, always knew everyone and could carry on lengthy conversations with people she had just met.....I envied her swavy in social situations.  Her telling me to talk more was like a cheetah telling a turtle to run faster.....it just wasn't going to happen. 

But I did try harder.  Acquired myself a larger group of friends made up of many guys.  I find guys much easier to talk to.  If they don't like you, don't want to talk to you, or think you are stupid, they will just tell you.  You don't have to wonder "do they think I sound stupid", "do I look like I just got out of bed"....for the most part they will let you know without you even having to ask.  I still, to this day, have trouble dealing with females.  Maybe it is the comparison factor.  I worry about what my hair looks like, whether my socks match and whether or not I am wearing baby food before I ever manage to say hello.  And God forbid, that she be someone in a tailored suit with pefect hair.....I am already out of my league before I even started.

All this to say, I discovered after high school, when I met dh and his family for the first time, that people believed me to be stuck up.  I was astounded, because I was as far away from stuck up as a person could be.  I would do anything (almost) to be included and accepted.  Apparently I gave off that impression though....you know, since I very rarely spoke.  LOL  It is a miracle I ever met anyone in my entire life.  So I tried harder.  A smile seemed to break the ice often so I used it.  It became easier to make small talk with other people.  I discovered that most people weren't judging me, they were just trying to live their lives as best they could.

My oldest son, Lee, has never met a stranger (neither has dh for that matter).....he drug me out of my shell a little more.  The things I would have avoided doing, he loved to do......the places I didn't want to go, he did, and guilted me into it.  Most people who see me now would never believe that I was so shy as I child/teenager/young adult.  I'm not perfect in my approach to social situations though.  I often ask who will be at a function so I know if there is someone there I already "know" and can latch onto.  If I see an acquaintance in town, sometimes I don't go up and say hi....."what if they don't remember me, what if they don't care to talk to me....etc".  I have these conversations with myself all the time!  And then I think, "what if they were thinking the same things?"  We could have made a connection and didn't.....because of fear!  What a deal that would be. 

If you are a close personal friend.....I apologize.  Not because I don't love you....I do!.....but because I talk.  A lot.  I have a ton of things to say and if you are "lucky" enough to be someone I will freely talk to, you will be the one who gets to hear all the things that ramble around in my brain.  It can sometimes be an ugly place in there!  I also love to listen and want to hear about all the ugly things that are rambling around in your brain. 

Remember when we were teenagers and would just drive around all night talking?  I yearn for those days back....not for the youth or lack of responsibilities, but because of the connections that were made in the sharing of hopes, dreams and futures.  Laughing about some little thing that happened that day. 

I write, here and on facebook, because that is almost like being able to sit down with a cup of coffe/tea/coke/cold beer and talking to you for hours on end.  You share your struggles/hopes/dreams/laughs and I will share mine.  For all the hours I spend writing, what I am really hoping to do is make a connection with someone.  Mainly you :) 

I hope that you have a great day!

Another day in the Neighborhood

I could sit here and list off the stuff I managed to get done today but lets suffice it to say that there was much done and much undone :)  I think that is how it goes.  Another day of loving and serving my family is almost over and I have much to be grateful for.

On facebook I and several friends have been listing something every day that we are thankful for.  Today, I was (and still am!) thankful for coffee.  I wrote that with tongue-in-cheek because I have been out of coffee for the past 2 days.  I'm not an addict (yet) but it sure helps me get going in the morning.  Other days my thanksgiving has been directed toward my husband, children and friends......most importantly my God and His word.  No matter our circumstance in life (and ours aren't what we would hope they would be at this moment) there is always something to be thankful for.  I find it helps with contentment to think daily of our blessings. 

Bear ran with me to the post office.  Today a sub for the sub was working.  LOL  Our postmistress was sick and our substitute postmistress is on maternity leave.  So there was a very nice lady that we didn't know working the counter.  She was very helpful with my package.  When we got ready to leave Bear wanted to give her a hug.  He likes to hug everyone.  I told him he would have to blow her a kiss, so he did and a hug too.  He is the sweetest little fella. 

I've been knitting lots lately.  Mostly for sale.  I have some project ideas in my head for some stuff for me and Abby though.  After Christmas I think, when the orders slow down, I will see about getting some of that stuff started.  I have also started a denim quilt for Lee.  I hope to do one for each of the children over the next year.  I love having a creative outlet to express myself.  It is nice, also, to keep my hands busy during stressful times. 

Well, I guess that is all I have to say for tonight.  Have sweet dreams, my friends!

Persistance

If you want to see persistance in action, please come see Abigail.  This little girl is the picture of persistance.  She has just spent 15 minutes on the living room floor trying to roll over inches from Bear's Bob the Builder crane.  She was trying to reach her binky.  When she finally got rolled over (how exactly she fit in that spot, I am not sure) she decided to play with her plastic rings instead.....but that was her choice and she made it.  I guess after all that work she had earned the right to decide what to play with.

I wonder how persistant I am in doing what God wants me to do.  Often I start out with gusto, but end up with a wimper......I get tired, I can't see the end of the line.  I want results RIGHT NOW and get frustrated working with nothing to show for it.  I wonder how often I miss the blessing of the journey.  I also find it interesting to think that oftentimes at the end of the journey there may be a better toy than the one I began reaching for (just ask Abby).  I've got to keep going!  Keep working, keep reaching and never give up. 

Listening to Myself Think

I am dangerous if I get to thinking for a while....real dangerous.  You are lucky that it doesn't happen very often. 

For many years I struggled just to get the basics done and often times wondered what all the fuss was about with colorful curtains, a "dressed" bed, throw pillows and blankets, fancy towels, etc.  I had enough trouble keeping food on the table and clothes clean....there wasn't any money for anything extra.  I always equated "pretty" with "money".  We didn't have money to make or buy fancy throw pillows, or nice curtains, bed sets, beautiful pictures for the walls. 

We still don't have any money and if we do manage to come across some, we tend to spend it making memories rather than on things (or on things to make memories with LOL).  I am learning though, that pretty can be achieved easily with things on hand. 

I am not God's gift to housekeeping......in fact, there is a whole nother world above my standard of housekeeping, but in all honesty, I try my best with what I have.  I try to make things pretty and I try not to spend all my time fussing at the kids about the messes.  The messes will clean up sometime....the memories, I hope, will last forever.  It is hard.  Some days I just want to scream.  You can tell when I've reached my limit.  I figure one day, in about 18 years, my house....my decorating.....will be up to some kind of societal standard.  At this point, I don't really care. 

Acquiring things isn't a very good goal to have.  LOL  I am beginning to understand that as I started to pack....we have so much junk.  Some of it is reasonable stuff that we have used or will use in the future.  Some things need to be kept for future generations.  Most of what I have a tendency to acquire doesn't meet any of those criteria though.  I have already gotten rid of loads of stuff and hope to get rid of more....MY stuff :)  I'm trying very hard to leave everyone elses junk alone. 

As I am packing, and grouching, I am trying to think of those pioneer women, who moved everything they needed in a covered wagon......all the food, clothing and household supplies they would need to reach their destination and set up house once they got there.  Can you imagine?  Our favorite saying while packing for a trip is "there's always a walmart if we forget something".  No stores, no way to get things if you forgot it or ran out on the way.  Those women were something!  I believe that most lived happy, fullfilling lives out there with their families....making a future for themselves and the ones they loved.  Maybe you could just drop us out in the middle of nowhere to live in a little log cabin.....make sure to pack our TV, laptop and cell phones please :)

Aren't you glad I don't think very often?  I guess there isn't really a point to this post.  You can call it a "getting to know me" post.  This is how I think.  When I have the time and energy to do it.

Have a great evening! 

Snuggles

Last year, Norman bought me a new queen size mattress set (moving up from a full size).  It was a good purchasing decision because we barely have enough room in our bed now.  The older boys went to 180 Saturday night.  Bear doesn't like to sleep in his and Greg's room alone.  So I wake up in the middle of the night to find on the top 3/4 of the bed (from south to north): Norman, Bear, me and Abby (in her cosleeper - thank goodness).  On MY half of the bottom 1/4 of the bed is Sadie and Tiger.  I had no blankets.  It was cold.  I didn't freeze.  It is a miracle :)

After Norman went to work yesterday I laid back down with the babies to get Abby back to sleep.  It is bliss to be snuggled in a warm bed with 2 babies :)  They are bed hogs though so I got up after she went back to sleep.  I had the honor of snuggling her back to sleep again this morning.  I think that is the best way to start a day.

We ran out of coffee yesterday.....going shopping tomorrow.  So I am indulging in some delicious hot cocoa to warm me up.....ice tea is brewing for the caffeine later.  The last load of laundry is in the dryer and I am getting ready to take Lee to the bus stop.  Today is a "home day".  I love "home days".  The older I get the less I like to run around like a crazy person.  I remember when I hated to stay home.  Maybe God changed my attitude. 

Lots of household tasks to do today....and lots of playing, snuggling, and reading as well.  I sure do love my kids. 

Have a great day friends!

Life Happens

I'm here :)  Just been busy.

My extended family imploded, causing a lot of issues for us.  By God's grace, mercy and great friends we are making it through.  We are, however, going to be moving.  When we moved in here 7 years ago, I swore we would never move again.  I will never, ever say that again.  I hate to move, with a passion.  We "settled" here....acquired stuff I never dreamed of needing to move.....acquired 2 more children and all their "stuff".....but it is what it is....I will manage and I know we will be better for it in the end.

Packing, or planning to pack has become a part of every day here.  For the most part we have all the seasonal stuff and collectibles packed up and in storage to be dealt with later.  We will be spending Christmas here (I believe anyway) so I am thinking about holiday decorating.  Thinking of new traditions for the kids.  Mentally busy.

Abby moves her walker....and rolls all over the living room.  That is keeping me busy.  Cleaning and decluttering to keep the house ready to "show" keeps me busy.  School planning, playing with Bear, knitting for sale and gifts.....all keep me busy.

I have found, though, that during this time I have found extra time to spend with God, His word and His spirit.  I am learning so much about my God and myself.....my expectations, my attitudes, my deficiencies and making new goals for myself.  I am so glad that I haven't walked through the last 8 weeks alone....God has been carrying me and has sent others to walk with me along the way.

My little family is so great!  I always knew that, but we have "pulled ranks" and are really enjoying each other, learning about each other......we are here for each other. 

Well, my baby is fussing so I'm going to try to put her back to sleep.  I hope to post more.  Love you, friends!

Monday, Monday

It is Monday.  Doesn't really matter to me that it is.  Right now my weekends are frantic with soccer and stuff.  Norman has Tuesdays and Wednesdays off.  So Monday, right now, is just another day of work, school and household chores....soccer practice in the evening (although I think that this is the last week of one of them). 

I like Norman being on day shift.  I am getting more done every day (although the house doesn't look like it) and I am losing weight (we are eating meals like normal people).  His days off don't feel weird to me like they did when he was on 2nd shift.  For the most part, everything stays the same, he is just home.

The only complaint I have, and it isn't really a complaint....more of a difficulty.....is that I am not a morning person anymore.  Mind you, I am NOT a night person.  I really prefer to be in bed around 8:30 p.m. and we are some nights.  In younger days I would bound out of bed at 5 a.m. and the world would be my stage......sometimes all my work would be done by 8 a.m.  LOL  Now, I am dragging out of bed at 4:55 a.m.  Stumbling around starting laundry and the dishwasher.  I have a nice routine going so I am still getting things done, but I feel like I have been hit by a truck....every single morning.  LOL  Maybe the difficulty lies in that I am getting up early every-single-day.  Norman has to get up at 5 on the weekends for work.  Lee has to be up early for school on Tuesday/Wednesday.  Abby still wakes up at least once a night and sometimes twice......I had to let Sadie out and back in once last night.  Maybe I will feel better when Abby starts sleeping through the night.  For now, I am making the best of it.  Getting off the internet and taking a shower.  It's time to start the day!

My Precious Children

I love all my children equally and try very hard to be fair in all decisions, time spent with them, etc.....but I am loving this special mother-daughter relationship with Abby.  Yes, I do realize that she is only 5 months old and I anticipate that our relationship will only grow, get sweeter and be tested over time, but it sure is nice to look into her chubby, little, round face with her tongue hanging out.....as she tries to eat every magazine she can get her hands on.....and her socks.  LOL  She is a perfect snuggle bunny......all of my kids are......I just love her to pieces.

Now Bear, he is being incredibly cute lately.  My personal favorite is when you compliment him and he says "awww shucks".  It is too cute!!!

Greg caught a tame rabbit in his live trap yesterday.  That is good because the little bugger got out a few months ago and they couldn't catch it.  Lee is looking forward to his first year deer hunting with his bow. 

So much going on here as my children just keep growing.  Everything changes :)  I guess that is enough rambling for today.  It is a beautiful fall day and we have soccer games to attend.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day :)  And a wonderful week!

God is carrying Me

Remember the poem, Footprints in the Sand?  That's how I have felt the last few weeks.  Dealing with a very stressful family situation, an upcoming move along with normal kid/household stuff has really taken it's toll on me.  Some days I feel like screaming, some like crying and some like running away.  For the most part I don't do any of those and I know the only reason why is that God is carrying me.

You see, God never promised that everything would be roses, He just promised that He would be there.  I have felt God so many times in the last few weeks.....in answered prayers, comfort from a friend, a verse from God's word.  Sometimes the tears are comforting, as I have begun to see how past hurts from the same people have shaped issues I am still dealing with to this day.  I am beginning to see how parts of the puzzle of my life have been fitted together.  I am thankful, though, for everything  that I have been through, because all of my past has made me, ME. 

This week was particularly overwhelming for me.  So I have taken a step back and am just focusing on the normal household tasks and the kids.  The kids need me and they need me to be completely available to them, emotionally and physically.  So does my wonderful husband.  I really don't know how he has managed in this situation for so many years.  He is truly my hero :) 

So, my encouragement for the day is that you are never alone.  God is always there, watching, listening, comforting and carrying.  I am so thankful to have such a big, loving, faithful, merciful God. 

Fireflies and LadyBugs

Today's science lesson was on Fireflies and LadyBeetles (Ladybugs) - because officially neither of them are bugs or flies....they are both beetles :)  There is your science lesson for the day.  Also note that I was spelling beetles like the rock group...but spell check didn't like that!  LOL

Anyway, Bear is terrified of any bugs, but especially ladybugs and fireflies.  No matter how much you explain about their good qualities, he screams whenever he sees one.  Heaven forbid they be in a herd.  LOL  But he participated and drew a fantastic rendition of a ladybug...in purple.  But hey, that's something anyway.  He has also been "teaching" us all about ladybugs and fireflies.  I hope he remembers some of it for his dad this evening!

Heads Up

Feel free to head on over to Sew Blessed if you are looking to do some early Christmas shopping or perhaps something for a wedding/baby shower.  Just up are knitted dishcloths.  They are 100% cotton.  Check them out!  More items to come :)

Walking through the Teen Years

Leland turned 13 this summer.  That statement makes me feel old and I worry about what will happen to our relationship as he gains independence and becomes his own person. 

I usually walk around town while the boys have soccer practice.  Usually I am pushing a stroller, but last night Norman kept the babies at home.  I had my ipod in my hand and was ready to go when Lee offered to go with me.  Now, walking is my time.  I zone out and have a terrible tendency to ignore the ramblings of Bear (isn't that horrible???) while I try to refocus and relax.  Last night I was going to be able to be ALONE!  And Lee wanted to go with me.  So I left my ipod in the van and we walked.  And talked.  I shared some life experiences and learned a lot about my teenage son.  I am so very glad that we were able to have that hour and I hope that he and I (Greg and I, Bear and I, Abby and I) can carve out more time over the next few years to spend some one-on-one time and get to know each other better.  Maybe the teen years won't be so bad after all..................and for the record, I am going to forever be 33 :)  So maybe getting older won't be a problem after all.  LOL

Remembering

I had to do something today that I never wanted to do.  I had to explain Sept. 11th to Greg.  My oldest 2 children were 17 months and 3 years old on Sept. 11, 2001.  Although Lee (3) watched the news with me, I knew he didn't understand and didn't remember the frantic 3 hr. drive home or the anxiety that kept me up nights for the next few weeks.  However, he has seen the news coverage, the TV specials and has heard me talk about it many times.  Apparently Greg has not, or didn't realize what I was watching.  He came out and watched the news with me for a bit this morning.  And the questions started.

I found it relatively easy to explain the facts, the actions, the events.  Just like a history lesson.  What I found more difficult was to explain my feelings......how do you explain the fear?  The need to get home to a safe place immediately?  How do you explain that to a 10 year old that hasn't ever experienced anything remotely similar in his young life?  I tried and I am sure failed miserably.  Honestly, I hope he never feels those same things.  I hope that nothing like this ever happens again.  I can never forget.

Fall is Here

I am my father's daughter.......a farmer's daughter.....so nothing smells more like fall to me then the smell of corn dust :)  I know, people with allergies hate me, but really, you know it is fall if the combines are running!  LOL  So, my parents shelled the corn in the field between our houses.....so now I can see what they are doing and EVERYONE on the road can see what we are doing.  I hate that. 

This is day 2 of Norman on dayshift.  Yesterday was anything but normal with a bunch of emergency trips to town for my brother thrown in, but I still think everything went well.  Today is going great!  School is almost done (its 9:40) and chili is simmering in the crockpot for supper.  Laundry is almost done and the house is picked up.  I just have a few more small tasks to complete before we head to town for a library event this afternoon.  I look forward to having Lee and Norman home for supper :)

I think I may have to pack up my shorts and capris though.  I am sitting here freezing!  LOL  Have a great day everyone!!!!!

Choosing Joy

In this lifetime I will have many choices to make.  Many choices to be made every single day.  Although most of the choices I make have no bearing on my eternal life, many will impact how my day goes or how others perceive my life or how my life experience is remembered.


Some of the choices I have faced today include:
*when to get up (although for the most part, Abby did that for me)
* what to have for breakfast (don't tell WW but I had leftover pizza)
*TV news or Bible study (sadly, today I chose TV news)
*shower or just dress (I showered)
*chores or my fun stuff (I did "must do" chores and then knitting)
* lunch menu (leftovers)

You get the idea.  Out of that list, the only thing that I can see that would have eternal value was the choice NOT to have Bible study.  However, several of those choices will impact my outlook on the day - did I feel rushed because Abby got up the same time I did? How is my energy level because I chose a crummy breakfast? Am I ready to face the day since I chose a shower? Do I feel somewhat justified in my choice to do something for me (knitting time) now that I have the household running somewhat smoothly?

No matter what option I choose at each crossroads I always have the choice of JOY.  Choosing joy means that I am at peace no matter what time Abby or the clock wake me up.  I can feel JOY that I didn't have to make myself a big breakfast (or JOY that I had the time/ability/desire to make a healthy breakfast).  JOY keeps me smiling when I don't have the time to do my things.  JOY breeds patience and kindness when Bear tells me something 25 times or wants me to build the lincoln log town.....again.  JOY reminds me that having my husband home every evening is worth the 4:45 a.m. wake-up call.  Joy leads to contentment when I wish we could go out to supper, or I can sit on our "imaginary porch". 

Living a joyful life enables others to see Christ through me.  Do I lead a joyful life daily?  Unfortunately not.  I hope though, that most of my days are filled with joy.  I ask God daily to give me joy in my heart and that the joy I feel will lead others to see the joy of Christ in my life.

Sometimes it is easier not to choose joy.  Sometimes feeling joyful takes effort.  I have found though, in my life, that the little effort required to find the good in each person or situation leads to wonderful blessings in my life.  A day may go from bad to better or at least memories will be made. 

My lincoln log mayor is calling me to rebuild his town :)  So for now, I am choosing joy in playing with this little boy.....one who won't be little for very much longer.  Thank you God for the ability to live with JOY!

Nobody Should Pay Full Price for -------

I was going to entitle this post "Nobody Should Pay Full Price for Diapers", but then stopped because most of the points I make will apply to just about anything that you buy on a regular basis.  For the ease of understanding, I will be discussing diapers.

I have a 4 month old in diapers.  Unless you have already bought cloth diapers and are using them exclusively then you will be buying diapers at some point in the future.  Here are some ways to get your diapers cheaper or even free!

Diaper coupons abound.  They are everywhere.  You can get them from your local newspaper or the internet.  They are also included if you order a diaper sample.  I get diaper coupons in the mail after having signed up for new baby type information on the internet.  If you haven't done this, then you should.  You can also earn diaper coupons if you have a favorite particular "brand" like Pampers or Huggies.  These diapers contain a code on the packaging that you can enter into an online account.  Save the "points" from Pampers and you can earn a $3 coupon sent to you by mail.  I assume you can do something similar with the points on Huggies packages as well.  These codes are also available on packages of wipes :)

Occasionally CVS will have store coupons for diapers that print at the bottom of your purchase receipt.  You can use this with a regular diaper coupon for more savings.  I try to never pay more than $5 a jumbo pack for diapers and I almost never buy a store brand (although some are very, very good).

By far the cheapest way to get diapers is from Amazon.com.  Most name brand diapers cost around $8 for a jumbo pack.  I can get the equivalent of 3-4 jumbo packs of diapers for $23 (a savings of $1-$9) with free shipping by choosing to have diapers shipped to you on a regular schedule.  It is called Subscribe and Save.  Anyway, I get my diapers for FREE using this option.  Want to know how?

Go HERE and sign up for Swagbucks.  Install the toolbar on your computer(s) or use their homepage while doing your internet searching.  Shop through regular stores from Swagbucks.  Take surveys and check out special offers.  While doing all these things you will be earning points.  Every 450 points earns you a $5 Amazon gift card. You can also use your points for other gift cards or items from their store, but we are talking diapers and other items here!  Stay with me :)  Anyway, you can store these $5 gift cards on your Amazon account, allowing them to accrue.  Then you use that "money" that you "earned" to buy your diapers (or whatever other items you can get from Amazon).  Remember that Subscribe and Save shipping is FREE :)  So I have huge boxes of diapers shipped to my house with NO money out of my pocket - or very little depending on how much internet searching my kids or husband do.  You can start doing this also by going HERE and signing up.  I promise, this isn't some weird way to get your banking information or making you buy something you don't want.  You use their search engine just like you do google.

I know times are hard economically for a lot of people nowadays. I hope that this information will help you stretch your budgeted dollars a little farther.  Have a great day!

First Few Days of School

Many of my online blog friends have been doing "first day of school" posts. I don't think that I usually do one but there isn't any reason not to so here we go.

Lee had his first day on Friday. At least I didn't cry this year. And yes, I do realize that he is 13. I think I am making big strides in the "letting go" department. Anyway, he had a good first day and the last 2 days have went well also. He is very glad to have a study hall this year. He is on a new bus route in the afternoon. He gets home at the same time, but is with different people. So some of his friends that he rode home with last year have dropped by. I always wanted to be the house where all the kids hung out, but let me tell you, teenage boys EAT....a LOT. LOL I will definately need to go grocery shopping and I need to just plan on baking several times a week in anticipation of a visit. It is great getting to know his friends though.

Greg and Bear had a very short "here is the plan" class on Friday and then a short day on Monday - dad supervised while I was in town. So today was actually the first "real" day of school for them. I think it went well. I gave Bear my undivided attention right off the bat. He was THRILLED. We are using a free curriculum I found on the internet. It is going really well. With our letter of the week we are using the Abeka memory verse cards that my friend Shanna gave to me. So this week for the letter A we are memorizing "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23". We drew pictures, sang songs, read about the days of creation and several books that I had gotten from the library. I think it went really well.

While I was working with Bear, Greg was working on independent stuff. Mainly drawing. I am encouraging his artistic abilities this year. I think it is going well so far. Everything else went about the same and I was done with schooling by lunch time, just like last year. I was afraid with the addition of another scholar and a baby that I would still be working after lunch, but other than a few minutes of grading I was done by 10:30. Greg finished up shortly after lunch and was done with chores and everything by 1:00 ish so that isn't bad. He hasn't started working on his character building projects yet, but I don't anticipate that taking to much more time.

Abby is her normal sweet self :) I have nicknamed her smiles. She is such a sweetie. Loving her so much and yes, she is very different from the boys. So very thankful to have her every day :)

Our family is very blessed in that my husband will be going to day shift in 2 weeks. He has only worked less than 1 year of day shift in the 15 years we have been together. It has been at least 11 years since he worked day shift. I am so excited! I am sure that I will have to rework our schooling a little as I am used to him being home and awake at least during lunch time, but Greg and I agreed that if Dad wasn't home, we could eat lunch whenever we wanted! LOL

Thinking about sharing some struggles, but will save that for another post. Have a great week!