Creating Contentment Seminar

I've only been to 2 homeschool conventions in all the years that I've been homeschooling.  I will say, that without a doubt, they were well worth the time/expense that I had to give up to go.  HOWEVER, honestly, I can't afford to drive 3-5 hours and get a hotel room and meals and pay the convention fees and find a sitter.....not every year, not every-other-year.....it's been 6 years since I've been to the last homeschool convention (and it was 5 years before that for the other one). 

So I was very delighted to find out that Lorrie Flem was going to be hosting some seminars online. The topic for February was Creating Contentment.   Unfortunately, I wasn't available for the actual seminar BUT with an online seminar, you don't actually have to be available.  If you buy a ticket for the seminar (for $3 at www.eternalencouragement.com) then you can access the seminar at any time.  All the slides, the PDFs and the recordings!  This is completely set up to be convenient for ME (and YOU).

I struggle with contentment.  This seminar really blessed me and encourages me to rethink my attitude and be grateful for the things that God has blessed me with. 

Beginning March 15th, you can also purchase the next seminar, True Womanhood is Not for Wimpy Women.  More encouragement!!!!  I absolutely can't wait to dig into this information.  And I didn't have to drive, book a hotel, find a sitter, buy a meal.  No stress, no frustration, very budget friendly! 

For this and other wonderful resources for Godly Womanhood be sure to check out Eternal Encouragement.  Lorrie's mission is to mentor other women to be more like Jesus every day :)

***I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review as part of the Gabby Moms review program.***

A Blog Planner Review

Blogger?  Yep.

Planner?  Yep.

Blog Planner?  Hmmm.  Not really. 

I think I started this blog in 2006.  At first it was more of a journal.  Then it became a "homeschool" thing as I charted our homeschool journey.  Then it was mainly reviews.  Then it was a journal again.  Now.....I don't know.  Maybe more reviews than anything. 

The thing is, that I LOVE to read blogs.  Sewing blogs, knitting blogs, food blogs, homeschool blogs and "here is my life" blogs.  If you capture my attention I will be a faithful reader. 

My blog, here, has never really had a purpose.  Poor thing.  I just do what I do and hope someone reads it.  I love to write, about everything, so I felt constrained trying to give my blog a focus.

My blog is focus-less, at least until a time that I deem it otherwise necessary.  I have a little ADHD, you have to like it, or leave it.  I can live with it :)

Now, as most of you know, I am a reviewer for Mosaic Reviews.  I love to try out products and tell people about them.  I like to tell people about everything so.....

The 1st review I was asked to do for Mosaic Reviews is of a Blog Planner.

Hmmmm.

Well then.

I thought about telling them that I don't.    plan.     my.    blog.    but you don't want to irritate the people that have accepted you to be part of their review team, especially at the beginning of the process.  There were several to choose from so I choose the least.....hmmmm.....troublesome.  I don't mean that in a grouchy way, some of the blog planners were huge things that were really life planners that included blogging.  I have a nice little calendar planner so I didn't need anything like that.  I didn't NEED a blog planner, remember?

So, I found one that Confessions of a Homeschooler put together.  LOVE her website, by the way.  If you need inspiration, get a cup of tea and spend some time.  I'm digressing again.

 

 

I choose the lined format post planner seen above.

 

Very pretty, eh?  I thought so too.

 

Now, hmmm, what to do with it?  I sat down and wrote out the reviews I had coming up.  And then I scheduled in what I wanted to blog about.  And then sometimes, I even used it :)  Cool, eh?  So if you like the more regular blogging you've been seeing lately, the blog planner is to praise for that.

 

It is a tool.  I need to refer to it more.  But I honestly like it and I can see how it helps to have all the blogging stuff written down in one place for reference.

 

In case you think your blogging could use some.....help....this blog planner is available for FREE :)  So you can give it a try and see how it works out.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  I know I was.

 

***I recieved and reviewed this item for free (remember, it is free for you also!) as part of the Mosaics Review team.***

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning

When I was asked if I wanted to do this review it was just weeks after the death of my dear friend Erin;  I was still in the cloud of grief and was eager for anything to help me dig my way out.  By the time I actually received this book life was a little different.  My burden didn't seem quite as heavy and I wondered if I was the right person to be reviewing this.....however, this isn't just a book about grieving a lost loved one.  This is a book about grieving a loss.  It could be a relationship loss, job loss, financial loss, health-related loss or the loss of a loved one.  Since I seem to qualify in almost all those categories, I decided to give it a go.

I sat down and read it straight through.  IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE READ THAT WAY. I wanted to make sure that I got all the way through so that my review would be complete.

This book is meant to be a devotional.  The chapters are short, can easily be read in less than 10 minutes every morning. 40 chapters, one for each day, lead the reader through the valley of grief.  This book doesn't just speak to your emotions, it speaks to your spiritual life and physical life as well.  Each chapter has the devotional, reflections to ponder, prayer and a when you walk section.  The author, Alice J. Wisler, encourages her readers to get out and walk.  Meet the world head on, take care of your physical self and enjoy the wonders of God's beauty.

Beginning tomorrow, I am starting this book the way it was intended to be read.  Don't get me wrong, I gleaned much from it in one setting.  I can't imagine how God will work through this book when I have time to reflect, ponder and soak up the truth of His word. 

Alice also has Writing the Heartache  workshops that are geared to help others discover the benefits of writing from losses.  Alice lost her 4 year old son, Daniel, to cancer after 8 months of treatments, so she speaks from experience and wants to help you get through your loss and back on the path to living your life to the fullest.

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is available for $11.05 on Amazon.

For more encouragement you can visit Alice's blogs: Broken Psalms and Alice J. Wisler's Patchwork Quilt Blog.

***As always I received this book for free in exchange for a fair review :)

Finished Reading Feb. 10th

Edge of Apocalypse and Thunder of Heaven by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall
If you liked the Left Behind series then you will like these.  I read books 1 and 2 of the 3 book series, book 3 is on my nightstand right now.  I enjoy them very much. 

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning by Alice J. Wisler - review following

TEACH Magazine Fall 2006
This issue was about the power of prayer.  As always, great, convicting articles about the theme with some cute stories and humorous analogies thrown in for good measure.  I always come away from each issue of TEACH with encouragement and inspired to be a better woman of God. 

Be the Hands and Feet

"Momma!  I NEED you!!!!!"

Those are words I hear from Miss Abby daily, sometimes multiple times a day. 

"What do you need Abby?"

"Momma!  I need YOU!"

What she means is she needs her "love tank" filled up (a term we used with Bear when he was her age).  She needed to snuggle, hug, kiss and be reminded that someone here loved her.  It takes less than 10 minutes and then she is a happy little girl again.

Sometimes, like today, my love tank runs low.  Norman has been working 16 hour days.  In the end, it works out really well for our family because he gets more days off a week, but for those days he is gone, I'm it.  Sure, I've got teenagers.  But they are usually too busy trying to kill each other to have a coherent conversation with good-ole-mom.  Bear and Abby love to talk and tell me all about their adventures and the things they saw on TV and the birds outside.  As long as I am HERE their world is all good and they can live their lives, you know, like little kids do.

A 2 year old and a 5 year old aren't supposed to be concerned with their mother's mental and emotional health (and believe me, they aren't lol).  Honestly, there isn't anything really wrong with my mental or emotional health.  Not anything that doesn't happen to every mother out there, possibly daily.

I'm lonely.

I miss adult interaction.  I don't always want someone to NEED me (I know I will miss that but we are talking about NOW).  I would love to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and a few chapters of my current read without 15 interruptions.  I KNOW these days are short and I should enjoy them and all that, I got the memo.  Believe me, I know.  I've got teenagers, remember?

I imagine that I'm not alone.  So, I've been trying to think of ways that I can recognize these "symptoms" in other moms and be a Jesus hug to them.  Jesus is LOVE, but WE are His hands and feet here on earth. 

Look around at your circle of friends, your neighbors, the new people at church.  Let's think of ways that you (and I) can be an encouragement to them. 
*send a random "glad you are my friend" or "thinking of you" card (or text/email if you are out of cards)
*plan that playdate  -----  I know that I almost never get out of this house without at least 1 child so friendly coffee get-togethers don't work for me.  Playdates do :)  Your friend won't care if your home is a mess.  She will just appreciate that you took the time to connect with her.
*make the phone call --- I am the worst about this.  I hate talking on the phone.  There is always someone here wanting something or bothering me and I always worry that I'm bothering the person I called, but sometimes a call can be such a bright spot in my day!
*be a blessing  ---- Do you have a hobby, skill set or talent that could bless someone in your life?  Use it!  God gave it to you for a reason!!!

I guess the most important thing is to CONNECT with the people around you.  I know that without my 2 besties I would be lost! 

It is February, so it is "Random Acts of Kindness" month.  Don't forget to connect with those around you....a smile, a kind word, the littles things add up to a hug, they really do make a difference!

It's a Hodge Podge

I'm reviewing a blog planner  :)  Soooo, I've been using the blog planner.  As most of you know, if you've been around a while, my blogging is sporadic at best.  I always have fantastic intentions but they tend to fall by the wayside.  I forget to take pictures to go with the post or I don't do what I was wanting to post about or........   You know how it goes.

Anyway, back to the blog planner......today I have written in that I would blog about my knitting projects.  Hmmm.  Well.  Didn't take pictures (see how that goes) and they weren't terribly interesting.  This week I finished 3 scarves: 1 camo/blaze orange for Lee (a request - when teenage boys ask you to knit something for them, you do it, quickly!) and 2 ruffle scarves for an upcoming vendor fair. 

And that's all I really have to say about that.  See?  Not very interesting. 

I've been reading, almost daily, but haven't finished anything.

I haven't sewn anything remarkable.  I did rearrange my sewing room.  Alone.  Last week.  That was a job.  I have a large solid wood L-shaped desk, a folding table, a huge, long, solid dresser and a few smaller shelving units in there.  And my sewing maching desk.  It didn't have to move.  The room is maybe 10x10 and I moved that furniture all over.  It looks so much nicer now.  It will never be a room on pinterest but it is much more useable.  I worked on Lee's quilt for a while last week :)  Much more useable!

Ha!  This is a terrible picture of Abby modeling one of the scarves I made.  Bear is playing video games in the background.

And, the most important news of the week!  Abby got her ears pierced on Friday.  Daddy took her so Mommy wouldn't cry.  I hear that she was very brave and she loves her new pink butterfly earrings.

 

Hopefully I will make it back tomorrow to post on my Bible study topics :) 

10 Things About Me

Here's a little random "get to know me" post for all my new followers :)

1. Talk history with me, particularly American history.  I don't care about the details of war or economic changes, I want to know about the day-to-day lives of people that came before me.  I want to know the daily routines, their lifestyles, their beliefs, the good-the bad-the ugly.  I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the thought that every day I CREATE history.  Think about that for a while.

2.  I am technically challenged.  For a while, in the early 2000's, I was digitally literate.  Now I'm barely able to turn on the computer or operate the remote.  I don't know what happened.  I suspect the last 2 kiddos had some to do with it......

3.  I LOVE football.  Especially NFL but I enjoy a good local high school game on a Friday night also (GO NEWTON, IL EAGLES!).  My obsession with the NFL started when I was pregnant with Bear.  It gave me something to do that didn't require moving (he was born in the middle of the season) and I could spend some time with the big boys also.  Now I knit while I watch the game.  Maybe sometime I will tell you how I choose which teams to root for............

4.  I LOVE creamy pasta dishes, spicy Mexican (or Mexican-American) food and good authentic Cajun food.  But I don't like crawfish or oysters.  Although the men in my family hunt game, I very rarely do more than taste it.  Give me chicken, beef, pork, turkey....I'm good but still picky.  I could probably live the rest of my life as a vegetarian but would miss dairy foods.  So I won't :)

5.  You can probably call me a prude but I firmly believe that women should behave one way and men another.  I think that a lot of problems in society today stem from the inability of women to behave themselves.  I do hold women to a higher standard to men.  Keep things covered up that you don't want your grandfather to see.  Watch your language and try to act like you've got a little sense....the world will be a better place for it.

6.  Knitting gives me peace.  I believe that life is too short to waste on cheap yarn.  I happily make beautiful, impractical items.  I knit things that make me smile and make those around me smile. 

7.  I joyfully homeschooled my older 2 children from K through 6th grade.  They each transitioned into public school in the 7th grade.  I do miss them terribly but am proud of their accomplishments.  I am once again homeschooling a kindergartener.  This time around I take nothing for granted.  These days are short and they are adorably cute.  I cherish every single thing the littles do and I cherish the memories made with the older 2.

8.  I LOVE to write....so I blog.  I'm not sure how worthy my words are of reading but I write them anyway. 

9.  I LOVE to read.  Mysteries, suspense, end-times stuff, history (particularly American or anything about royalty past or present), biographies, and my Bible.  I also read a few magazines and blog that I find inspiring or interesting.  I like to know about the daily lives of people (whether they are dead or alive - see #1).  You can see my current reading list in the left-hand sidebar. 

10.  I do care what others think of me.  I try not to, because I know that only God matters, but it happens.  I'm very soft-hearted.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I want to get very close to you, but I can be hurt easily.  I forgive easily.  I try to always see the best and assume the best about everyone.  I am learning that I don't have to allow myself to get hurt.  That was a hard lesson to learn but I'm working on it. 

I guess that's it for now.  I'll probably post another 10 things some other time.  Here's a post of wrote a couple of years ago......

Helping Hands at Home

I know that as a mother, I frequently feel as if I am the only one doing anything around here.  Do you ever feel like that?  If that is the case for you, then keeping reading!  I have something that will help you!

Training our children is one of the most important things that we can do as mothers.  Character training, potty training, housework training....the training never ends. 

In Helping Hands at Home Mrs. Lorrie Flem gives us step-by-step directions on how to train our children to clean 2 rooms; the bathroom and the kitchen.  Starting at any age, Lorrie explains how our children can help us clean up our homes.  I loved her ideas and have already started implementing several of them with my 5 year old and 3 year old.  It isn't hard, it is just something that we need to do and stay on top off....the benefits will be worth it in the end!

Lorrie is offering this book on Amazon for the kindle for 99 cents!  Remember that if you don't have a kindle, you can still download an app for your computer for free :)

Lorrie loves helping women grow in their callings as wives and mothers.  Her website, Eternal Encouragement, offers guidance and encouragement as you try to be the best woman of God that you can be.

***I received this product for free in exchange for a fair review as part of the Gabby Moms review program.***

Reading for the week of Jan. 6th

Here is my list of things I read or finished reading last week: (This list is mainly for me, because I want to know how much I read and what I read over time, feel free to ignore.)

TEACH Magazine Fall 2002  This issue was on procrastination.  Some of my other reading touched on that as well.  I find it interesting how God works that all out.  I definately needed to read it.  It's a work in progress, I don't claim to have to worked out.  God is always working in me.

Large Family Logistics Chapter 1 This was a thorough going through of the Excellent Wife of Proverbs 31.  The main thing that I learned from this chapter is that God wants me to be seeking wisdom.  Wisdom in how I handle my home duties, my business dealings, my time, my family and life in general.  The way to get wisdom?  Deep and continual study in the Word of God. 

Etsy Success Stories by Vivian Ajetunmobi -   I used Etsy for a while, didn't have an success, but because of reading this I am willing to try again.

Healthy Make Ahead and Freeze Muffins by Mara Michaels and Carolyn Stone - Tips, tricks and interesting recipes if you want to freeze muffins.  They never last that long around here but it is good in theory.

How to Save Money on Groceries, Back to Basics: Recipes for the Savy Shopper by Liz MacGregor - Honestly, I didn't take away a lot of info that I didn't already know from this book but if you are new to really working a grocery budget then this would be very helpful for you.

Helping Hands at Home by Lorrie Flem - Review will be following in the next few days.

Want to see a little about keeping it real?
A classmate from school wrote this and there isn't much else that I can say that she hasn't said.  It is an absolute must read:

Mercy, Grace and Comic Relief

I'm a member of the "keeping it real" fan club here.  I type this as the littles are in the bathtub....Abby is crying, because life didn't go her way.  Earlier she cried because Bear wouldn't eat the cracker that she offered him.  There are a lot of days I want to lock them in the closet.  But I don't, because in the end, I'm trying to do the very best that I can by my children.  Isn't that what we all are striving for?  Our life, my very best, probably isn't going to look a thing like yours.  And we all FAIL....daily.  But the fact that we fail daily means that we are still trying, we haven't given up and Satan hasn't won.  I believe that he isn't going to either.  :)

Enough about that.  Read the article. 

I also updated my current reading list.  It is in the left hand sidebar if you are interested.  Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you are reading....because I need more things to add to my list (chuckle, chuckle).  Hey, I didn't list all the books that are just randomly living on my kindle.  I just added the books that are a priority right now.  But I really would LOVE to hear about what you are reading.  So please share!

Love ya!  I'm off to break up the latest fight :)

Back to School

The big boys had to go back to school last Thursday but today was the day for the littles.

For some reason we kinda slacked off, Nov. 15th being the last day I have recorded school work.  A perk of homeschooling I guess!

This year we are using MFW PreK 3, PreK 4 and Kindergarten.  Abby is 2 years old, Bear is 5 (but with a late birthday wouldn't be in kindergarten this year).

Abby worked on colors, shapes, worked puzzles, used glue and scissors, and repeated the alphabet flashcards with me.  She also listened in on our read-aloud.

Bear worked on the letter S today, name and sound; played a upper-case/lower-case matching game, alphabet flashcards, number recognition, patterning and calendar work.  And our read-aloud.  Our Bible theme is Jesus is the light of the world.

I'm working on being more consistent with a quiet time here.  Last week we moved Abby's toddler bed into a closet (with a window - a big closet) in Bear's room (with no door so its not like she is shut in).  So now they both have their own little spaces and WE don't have anyone sharing our room!  Woohoo!  So I moved a lamp over to my nightstand and I've been going to bed a little early some nights and reading.  Fiction at night (I'll share when I get finished) and Bible in the morning.  This morning I started in I Corinthians.  I read chapter 1 and then followed the bunny trails that my Life Application Bible had :)  I did some significant journaling and prayer time and really feel like I started my day the way God wanted me too. 

We got the house cleaned up, school done and I decluttered my sewing room a little and made a curtain for Abby's new room.  It's adorable :)  Not pink, I let her pick from several fabrics that I had and she choose a sky blue with yellow daisies on it.  Very cute. 

Lee made it home from school a few minutes ago.  Greg is at basketball practice.  When he gets home we are having pancakes for supper.  Norman is working 16 hours today so he won't be home until around midnight. 

I'm looking forward to some knitting after supper tonight.  I'm working on a special surprise for a friend.  I'm always inspired when I am upstairs and see all the yarn that is there waiting for me - and a friend is donating some more to the cause on Wednesday!  Am I a lucky girl or what?????

Welcome to the Middle Class

I think that maybe while growing up, I led a somewhat sheltered life.  I mean, I know I did, but there are a lot of things I didn't realize growing up......trying to keep to today's topic, we will just stick with some financial considerations here but I'm sure there will be more posts.......

Anyway, finances were almost never discussed in our home while growing up.  If I happened to catch the tail-end of a conversation about money, I was always quickly reminded that we don't talk about money with ANYBODY.  That included my grandparents.  So we never talked money.  My parents, my mom especially, was very frugal.  She was careful that she didn't overspend.  That meant that frequently I felt like we were poor.  I remember being told often that we couldn't buy this or that because it was too expensive or it wasn't needed.  I still remember with horror the "granny" shoes I had to wear for marching band my whole freshman year (we had to have black tennis shoes but all Dollar General sold was these very ugly old lady black shoes, so that's what I got.....).  Occassionally I was teased about my clothes or things like that and I did spend my own money (when I began babysitting, etc) on odd things - fancy ink pens, binders, books.......just trying to fit in.  As an adult, I know it had to be hard for my parents.  As farmers their income wasn't guaranteed the next year and there are a lot of unknowns in agriculture.  So, growing up I thought we were poor.....even though we lived in a nice house (that was paid for, my parents made sure I knew that lol) and my parents drove nice vehicles (again paid for lol)......I will never forget when I was in high school.  Someone asked if I was going on a trip and I said no, we didn't have the money for that.  My not-so-close friend laughed at me.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they were laughing, until they clued me in to the fact that my dad raced stock cars as a hobby - poor people don't do that.
Oh.
 I guess they don't.
 My whole perception of my upbringing changed.  My family wasn't poor.  We were solidly in the middle class.  Had been the whole time.  How sneaky is that?   I felt a little cheated after that....how many times did I just not ask to do something or for something I needed because I didn't want to put undue pressure on my poor, struggling parents.  lol

My husband never knew middle class growing up.  He was the poor that we weren't.  Poverty wasn't anything new to him.  The stories of his childhood sometimes make me cry.  His mom was single.  They moved every 3-6 months.  He never knew what it was like to live in a house that was 100% paid for, heck his mom didn't even own a house until he was almost an adult.  My husband had medical issues as a teenager and young adult that saddled him with thousands of dollars of medical bills.  He graduated high school but had no higher education.  He had never been taught the value of paying off debt or learning a trade.  He floundered a little in early adulthood.  We met, married and started this adventure together.....in the first year we were married, dh was hospitalized with different things 3 times.  He had heart problems and 3 surgeries.  Although most of his problems were able to be fixed or treated, those first couple of years he didn't work more than he did.  And we amassed more medical bills.  We used a medical card for me when I was pregnant with Lee.  I will never forget my dad's contempt.  He was disgusted that "he" was having to pay for my pregnancy.  I was, again, mortified.  We used food stamps, WIC, both of us working when we could.  We bought an older trailer (on payments of course).....we always paid our own utilities.  I tried to stay in college.  Norman took a night class to prepare him for IDOC training - he took the test for Illinois Department of Corrections 3 days after I gave birth to Greg (again with a medical card, food stamps and WIC - oh the horror! Imagine my shock when I learned about farm subsidies.....really dad?  You made me feel bad all these years.......). 

3 months later, my husband went to work at a job 3.5 hours away.  He had a salary.  We now had medical insurance.  We went off public assistance.  We PAID OFF all those medical bills.  We started establishing our credit.  We bought a house.  All while financially helping several family members who didn't appreciate the sacrifices we were making for them.  That kinda hurts, but I guess that is the way of life. 

Anyway, all this time we were proud of our middle class status. 

Things fell apart a few years ago. Those people we were helping, still didn't care and had no respect for anything at all.   We now live in a rental in town.  We don't know when/if we will ever own our own place again.  We try to be content. 

Norman still works for IDOC.  We are still solidly in the middle class.  We pay insurance premiums that would make some people sick - and deductibles and copays also.  We pay taxes for services we don't qualify for.  We pay a fortune into a pension that probably won't be there when my husband is ready to retire.  We worry where the money will come from for gas, groceries and our children's school needs.  Welcome to the middle class.

Some days I long for the lower class.  I know that I shouldn't, but let me tell you, it was easier.  Insurance for our children was paid 100%.  I didn't have to worry about a prescription not being covered, or coming up with a copay for 4 sick children.  People who qualify for food stamps get way more money than I would ever know what to do with in a grocery budget......Oh how I dream of walking down a grocery aisle and just putting stuff in the cart. 

What happened to the American Dream?  When it was a good thing to be in the middle class? 

I'm trying to learn contentment.  It's hard.  I will admit that I am jealous of those whom seem to have it all together and I'm jealous of those that don't seem to have to worry all the time.  I know so many people in our shoes.  It is a fact of life now.  A very sad one. 

Happy New Year!

Happy, happy New Year!!!!!!

I hope that you and your family had a wonderful night last night.  We stayed home.  We were invited to one party by a friend from church but it was "adults only".  Our options were to
 1) make our teenage sons stay with the babies while we went to the adult party
 2) hire a babysitter that Abby knows and that was available (yeah, right) OR
 3) stay home.
 We stayed home.  Norman had to work the next day anyway so it would have been an early night whether we went out or not.  We watched a Nicholas Cage movie we hadn't seen yet (Stolen) and had homemade lasagna with garlic bread for supper.  Lee went to Anna's.  Greg had Anna's brother Brock here.  It was a good night.  I'm thankful for another year and looking forward to another one.

So, it is that time of year when we get to make grand plans for the future.  In the past, I would make great goals and have lofty expectations of myself and those around me.  I'm not doing that this year.  Instead, I'm making a list of things that I hope I or our family can do this year and that will be what I use as my guide.  Kinda like a bucket list, but a little less morbid :)

**Read books ((I have to add that I read, a lot, to the kids.  But reading has kinda fallen by the wayside for me.  I am changing that this year.  I will try to keep my sidebar updated with the things I am reading and maybe will review a few also))
**Walk more ((As in exercise))
**Knit - specifically learn to read lace charts and do a fair isle type project
**Plan 2 day-cations with my dh ((1 for our anniversary and 1 just because))
**Plan some kind of trip or excursion with all the kids ((probably over summer break but even then will be very difficult))
**Make quilts for all the kids
**Plan my Christmas gift list by August ((It take a while to make stuff))
**Watch less TV (especially for the littles, which takes creative planning on my part))

I think that's it.  Abby will be 3 this spring and I realized over the last couple of months that I was more "free" to do things without her attached to me 24/7....although I still consider her a clingy 2 year old.  I'm sad that she doesn't "need" me all the time but also grateful that now I can mainly do my bible study without her crying or spend time knitting without interruption.  I don't mind the interruptions but it was almost impossible to do anything that required concentration because she was so clingy.  Its getting better.  I'm looking forward to the next stage.

I'm also hoping to do better at menu planning and careful grocery shopping.  This economy stinks and I've got to do all I can to help our family without being away from my family :)

I think that's all.  I look forward to blogging again this year and hope you look forward to this glimpse into our lives.  Have a great day!

A LATE, but FREE Christmas gift for you!

December got away from me.  It really did.  My friend's funeral early in the month cast sadness over the preparations and I didn't really get in the "mood" until the week before.  Then the kids got sick.  Then MOM got sick.  After 5 days, I have finally decided that I might live.  Maybe.

While in my feverish state, I spent a few hours on the computer, reading Lorrie Flem's new digital Eternal Encouragement magazine.  It was free the whole month of  December (sorry, I didn't get it shared sooner). 

Go HERE and then go down to the red "click here to read free issue" button.  Its that simple.  You will love the articles, recipes and ideas that Lorrie includes for busy moms.  All the links are "clickable" and there is even an audio message from Lorrie at the beginning. 

I encourage you to take this time and get to know Lorrie and her ministry to moms.  You won't be disappointed.

Check back over the next few days to see my New Year's goals, reading lists, etc. 

Have a great day!

A Little Merry Christmas :)

I wrote a lengthy blog post last night.  It had no point and it was whiny.  I saved it but probably won't publish it.  I guess I just needed to get the "not fairs!" out of my system.  LOL

Today's post is very random.  There used to be a meme that went around that was similar to this and I enjoyed reading a glimpse into the days/lives of others.  I hope that you enjoy mine!

I smell...... an oats and honey bar in my scentsy warmer.  I don't think that I have turned on the one upstairs yet but it is Silver Bells.

I see.....a dreary day outside.  No snow and doesn't look like we will get any before Christmas.

I hear.....semi trucks driving by (we live on the highway) and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the TV.....the littles love this movie!  It helps that we live in the hometown of Burl Ives (Newton, IL) so we've seen the characters of this movie (in costume) around town a lot lately :)

Around the house.....I need to fold one more load of laundry for the day and then that will be done.  I cleaned both bathrooms and swept the downstairs hard floors.  The littles had a bath and got scrubbed up.  AVON phone calls were made.  We cleaned the playroom and moved a bookshelf.  I promise we picked up the living room but it doesn't look like it.  lol

Later today.....more AVON phone calls, knitting and Christmas carolling tonight.

For supper.....I laid out some chicken breast to thaw.  I'll probably bake them in butter with some cajun seasoning.  A green salad, corn and macaroni and cheese will round out supper.

In my sewing room.....My first big project of the new year is to clean/declutter/rearrange and redecorate my sewing room.  It just isn't functional and I need it to be functional.

On my needles.....a black shawl in seed stitch.  It's a Christmas gift :)

Plans for tomorrow.....working at Marilyn's house and then the last of my Christmas shopping. 

Have a great day friends!

Missing You

It's been a long week here.  I feel bad complaining about it though, because I saw the pain today of those that are hurting much worse than me.  I kept thinking about blogging, but I just couldn't put things in words.....and today definately won't be perfect, but I feel like there are things that I want to get out, I want to remember, and I'm afraid that if I don't do it now, I won't.

My childhood friend, Erin (Sparks) Bergbower, and her husband Barry, died last Friday night.  It was sudden, unexpected and a shock to everyone that knew and loved them.  Today we buried them. 

Erin and Jennifer Sparks were identical twins.  We have been friends since kindergarten.  I LOVED going to their home.  Their mom, Sue, was an angel (which ironically she collected).  Erin and Jennifer have an older brother and younger identical twin brothers.  Their house was full, crazy and fun.  As adults Erin and I didn't really revolve in the same circles.  She moved to another (nearby) town and never had children.  I see Jennifer all the time.  I wish I had made more of an effort to get together with Erin, but as happens so often, life just goes and if we don't make an effort to do something, it doesn't get done.....that's my life-point for this story.

Anyway, I have lots of wonderful memories of times with Erin.......
**Sitting in their front yards and getting the semis to honk at us
**calling the operator and trying to get them to connect us to the White House (you would probably get arrested for that nowadays  lol)
**watching Dirty Dancing for the first time
**a trip to St. Louis with the girls to the zoo
**slumber parties
**playing volleyball at their high school graduation party
**visiting after I had Greg (and my grouchy hospital roommate - Erin was sure she could take her out lol)
**Jennifer's bachelorette party
**a trip to Terre Haute for shopping and Chinese

Today, I can hear Erin talking.  I can hear her humor and see her beautiful smile.  A person couldn't be around Erin and not be happy.  She went out of her way to be like that and people LOVED her.

Another memory that I have, and one that seemed to haunt me today, was a sad memory.  You see, another friend of ours died over 21 years ago.  That funeral was the first funeral I attended alone, the first Catholic funeral I attended, the first friend that I had lost.  Erin and Jennifer were there also.  Their mom, Sue, played mom for us all, shepherding us through the service, taking us to the graveside, giving hugs and smiles and loving all of us.  Denise's funeral was the first time that I understood that bone crushing, breath stealing grief. 

Hearing about Erin's death, I just couldn't believe it.  I was in shock.  I told another friend that it was like the day Denise died, all over again.  That's exactly how I felt.  Exactly. 

Today I sat in a pew with my childhood friends.  I watched a mother, father, sister and brothers mourn the loss of their girl, Erin.  As terrible as my grief is, I would bear it all to not see the pain on Jennifer's and Sue's faces.

One of the pictures that was included on the memory boards was of our 8th grade class....before Denise died.  We were all there.  Probably the last picture of us together. 

As we were driving in the funeral procession, we passed a business that Jennifer's husband is employed at.  The men that work there were standing along side the highway with their hard hats across their hearts......and I cried.  Erin and Barry, you were loved and will be so missed.  I don't know how your families, your parents and sibling, your friends will go on without you, but we must. 

I long to see you again.  I know that you and Denise are waiting for us. 

Cooking Extravaganza

For our November Gabby Moms project, we are reviewing Lorrie Flem's new bundle Cooking Extravaganza.

This product group contains 7 e-books and 1 "real" book. 

The real book is What's for Dinner Mom?.  I reviewed that earlier this year so you can read that HERE.  This bundle will include a SIGNED copy!

Today I'm going to tell you a little bit about the other 7 booklets this bundle contains. 

1. Bulk Cooking Tips and Tricks contains all the "how-to's" of bulk cooking.  No recipes, just tips and tricks.  Wonderful information that you will want to have before beginning a bulk cooking adventure.

2. Fill Em Up is a booklet that all moms of boys should read.  Can teenage boys eat!  And eat, and eat, and eat.  Included are a couple of recipes but mostly this is another book of tips, tricks and ideas to fill those tummies!

3. Healthy Sanity Saving Breakfasts is a little booklet filled with recipes and ideas to get your day started. 

4. Lorrie's Favorite Recipes from 2011 are just that - Lorrie's top 10 recipes in 2011.  This is stuff that is relatively easy, pantry friendly and approved by her large family.  Meat dishes, soups, stews, casseroles....there's a little bit of everything in here. 

5. Pizza Primer - starting with crust and ending with spices, this booklet covers everything - including the scientific "stuff" about how to make the best pizza dough.  I will never wrestle with pizza dough again.  There is a from scratch pizza sauce recipe and ideas for interesting toppings.  I'd kinda given up making pizza from scratch but I think I'm going to start again!

6. Sensational Salads I think that this is my favorite booklet.  You can't go wrong with salads and I am always looking for ideas. 

7. The Secrets of Chocolate Chip Cookies This starts with the basic recipe and then gives you various ideas, add-ins, tips and tricks to make the perfect cookie for your family.

This bundle will be available beginning tomorrow, Nov. 19th for $19.97.  If you are thinking of purchasing this is a Christmas gift (It would be a GREAT gift) then be sure to order it by Dec. 12 in order to ensure delivery before Christmas (remember What's For Dinner Mom? is a printed book!).

You may get this bundle from Eternal Encouragement at www.eternalencouragment.com

ALSO, Lorrie will be giving away a copy of this bundle to one luck winner on her blog..... www.randysrib.com 

I received this product as part of the Gabby Moms review program in exchange for a fair review :)

A Month of Thankfullness Day 13

I'm thankful that we are a healthy family.  I know that is subject to change so I try to never take a moment of it for granted. 

I am praying for those families that are struck by illness. 

A Month of Thankfulness Day 12

I should have done this post yesterday but didn't want it to get lost in my list since I was behind.  Today I am thankful for all the veterans and those active duty members that are serving.  I am so thankful that you are willing to be out there on the front lines defending freedom.

Abby was being bullheaded today while I was getting ready to take her and Bear up to our local Veteran's Day ceremony.  She insisted that she wear a white bridesmaids dress someone had handed down to her.  It  had a FULL skirt and was a little long for her (we had to hold it up so she could walk).  I decided that the veterans probably wouldn't mind a little girl over-dressed for the occassion, so I put her in pants and a shirt, dress over the top, her cowgirl boots and a nice jacket.  Black knit gloves and her Hello Kitty stocking hat completed the look.  We got some looks but most were smiles. 

Our local town has a wonderful ceremony for the veterans.  They ask that the families of the deceased veteran's bring their flags in and they have them displayed around the courthouse lawn.  The Newton Marching Eagles played several patriotic songs, a local girl sang the National Anthem, a local minister led the prayer (Nate Hagen), the Boy Scouts led us in the Pledge of Alleigence and then a local Naval Reserve Lietenant (RoxAnn Dhom) gave the speech.  It was beautiful.

Thanks again for all that have served, and are serving our country. 

A Month of Thanksgiving Days 8, 9, 10 and 11

I got behind.  Sorry about that.  I've been knitting a lot, finishing projects and starting projects.  Staying busy as usual.

Anyway, I committed to do this so I'm going to try to catch up.  Might not be as much commentary as usual :)

#7 I'm thankful that we have the freedom to go to the polls and vote.  I didn't like the outcome and I worry about the future, but I am thankful that I had the option to go and voice my opinion.

#8 I'm thankful for good friends that keep me in the loop, encourage me and help me any way that they can.

#9  I'm thankful for good, strong, responsible boys.  Lee and Greg are growing up to be such wonderful young men.  I'm so so grateful that God gave them to me. 

#10  I'm thankful that we can be a place for the kids to hang out.  I love having a houseful of kids/teenagers.  There have been several here already this weekend and I expect more to drop in since there isn't school tomorrow. 

#11  I'm thankful that my husband works so hard to support us.  There are so many mothers that struggle through life alone and I am grateful that by the grace of God I am not one of them.

More tomorrow :)  Have a great day!