Wednesday, December 29, 2010

This is Crazy!!

Ok raise your hand if you love you a whopper??Or a double bacon cheese burger??!! Well guess what, you are NOT eating what you thought you were eating!

I have been trying to learn more about food,healthy eating,etc.I’ve been learning about all the different things that are done to our food that can make it unhealthy.I am learning that natural and homemade are best. These idea’s were just confirmed by an article I read entitles “The truth about your weight gain” written by David Zinczenko. Here is just part of what he had to say:

“Most fast-food hamburger patties begin their voyage to your buns in the hands of a company called Beef Products. The company specializes in taking slaughterhouse trimmings—heads and hooves and the like—that are traditionally used only in pet food and cooking oil, and turning them into patties. The challenge is getting this byproduct meat clean enough for human consumption, as both E. coli and salmonella like to concentrate themselves in the fatty deposits.
The company has developed a process for killing beef-based pathogens by forcing the ground meat through pipes and exposing it to ammonia gas—the same chemical you might use to clean your bathroom. Not only has the USDA approved the process, but it's also allowed those who sell the beef to keep it hidden from their customers. At Beef Products’ behest, ammonia gas has been deemed a “processing agent” that need not be identified on nutrition labels. Never mind that if ammonia gets on your skin, it can cause severe burning, and if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. Add to the gross-out factor the fact that after moving through this lengthy industrial process, a single beef patty can consist of cobbled-together pieces from different cows from all over the world—a practice that only increases the odds of contamination.”

I think its amazing that we can treat our food with ammonia gas(among other really scary chemicals) and then wonder why we as a country are fat and riddled with serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

The thought of dropping everything and buying all organic,non processed foods and cooking and baking everything from scratch is VERY appealing when I read articles like the one listed above.But because of time,cost,etc that just isn't realistic for me.Or for many other people either.BUT that doesn't mean we cant change SOME of our eating habits.It is realistic for me to say “No more fast food”. It is realistic to say “I’ll buy some organic foods”.The way I look at it any small change can help.

A Favorite In Our House

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With a husband and four kids in my house meals can be difficult. All said we have six people with different likes, dislikes and preferences. One dinner recipe I have found that I absolutely LOVE is Chicken noodles over mashed potatoes. Every single person in my family will eat this meal!Now that's saying something!I thought I would share!

Chicken Noodles Over Mashed Potatoes

2-4 chicken breast(some like more chicken some like less)

1 package egg noodles

Chicken broth (enough to half fill large soup pot)

potatoes

cook and mash potatoes enough for your family.

While the potatoes cook  boil chicken breast. Drain chicken and shred in large bowl.

In large pot cook egg noodles according to package directions  in chicken broth.For added chicken flavor add 1-2 chicken bullion cubes.

When noodles are close to done add in the shredded chicken breast, add salt and pepper to taste,Finish cooking.

When the noodles are finished spoon  over mashed potatoes.

This is a simple dish that can be made with several variations. Add veggies like pictured above,use chicken thighs and other pieces, eat in a bowl without mashed potatoes or over biscuits. All in all an easy to make dish that is sure to please lots of palates :0)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

From Greece to Rome

Today has been an exciting homeschool day! I love those days when everything seems to go right :0) I like to blog about them so that on those days where nothing seems to go right I can look back and remember hahaha!

Today Hannah (our preschooler) and I sat down with her new Melissa & Doug Alphabet puzzle book to work on the letters and their sounds.To my great thrill Hannah knows a lot of the sounds.A lot more than I realized she knows :0) and that's ALWAYS exciting for a homeschool momma.

Isaiah worked on his multiplication on mathletics(a wonderful online math program) and his cursive writing.The cursive is coming really easily for Isaiah and I am glad we waited till now to start it.

Justin also did some great work in math today.It was a review day not a new lesson day.I gave him number cards through 20 to put in order. Up till now the teens have been a big grey area for him.Mostly guess work as to where each went. Today he got all but two of them in order on his own.

Its very exciting  to see my children grow and learn and accomplish their work. Being a part of it all is the best thing too. I love introducing new ideas and concepts to them and working with them on each.

Today was also the end of our Ancient Greece unit study.In the morning we sat down and put together their books they have been working on.It was a great way to review all we have done the past 8 weeks. In the afternoon we help our Olympic games! There was a wide range of events from chariot races(on scooters) to the long jump and princess twirling competition!Here is a picture of the proud Olympians!

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It was such a fun way to end the unit.I will spend the rest of this week getting the final plans set and then we are off to Ancient Rome :0)

Monday, December 27, 2010

Small and Simple Things Week 3 Oh My!

Oh my goodness this past week was GREAT! We played,cooked,ate,celebrated,relaxed and in general had a wonderful holiday week.Christmas was beautiful.What this means for my challenge goals though are not so wonderful LoL! I basically took a week off! Not going to stress over the past though and going to just move on to this week.

Goal 1: Is to get back on schedule! My husband was off work all last week.That meant I stayed up later at night.Slept in longer in the morning and had no general schedule going at all. I find when I am on a schedule I do better. If I go to bed on time then I have more energy to get up and exercise.

Goal 2: Is to figure out something that will work for my eating habits!This has been such a struggle for me. I love to eat and unfortunately I love to eat things that are not great for me! I think my best bet will be to plan ahead.At the start of the day if I plan my lunch, dinner and snacks then hopefully I wont grab whatever is fastest come 1 o'clock when all the kids are crying for their lunches!I’ll be prepared!

To check out more about the Small and Simple things challenge ckick the link below:

http://ourbusyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/12/small-and-simple-thingsweek-3.html

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!!!

I am really loving this holiday season! Christmas is my all time favorite holiday.

I am so grateful for  the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ. Because of his birth,life and redeeming sacrifice I can have life eternal with my beloved family and Heavenly Father and I am so thankful.

I am so thrilled to pieces that this year my  husband is home with us celebrating instead of in Iraq like last year.

I have four adorable,sweet and healthy children.I know I am so lucky to have what I have and I am so grateful.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas.Be thankful for what you have and turn your troubles over to God!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Small and Simple Things Challenge

I just really love blogging! Reading others blogs uplifts me,encourages me and at times challenges me. The blog that has been encouraging me and challenging me the most lately is Tristans blog  “Our Busy Homeschool”. She has started a challenge all about getting healthier and taking better care of the bodies God gave us one small step at a time. Check it out HERE.

This is the start of week two of the challenge. Week one goals for myself were to 1.Exercise five days a week and 2. Make healthier food choices. On the positive side I did get in more exercise than usual.The down side is I didn't get in 5 days. My second goal was a total bust! I find food is my biggest struggle. But I am not discouraged. I am going to keep working at these goals till I achieve them!

For this week 5 days is still my exercise goal.My husband is on Christmas Vacation and I have enlisted his help in achieving this goal. I am also going to try again on healthier eating. I know its Christmas week and there will be lots of treats made.So my specific eating goal for the week is to eat healthy meals and allow myself the treats afterward.

I’d encourage anyone who would like to join in to go right ahead. No matter how simple or how small the goal, it is still a worthy one!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I REALLY don’t like the mall

We tend to be homebodies.Not going out too many places.The grocery store,friends houses,the aquarium places like that are all fine with me. The one place however that I just can’t stand is the MALL!

I went last night to get my hair cut.The salon I go to happens to be in the mall.It had been a good while since I had last been there and I really didn't think much of it. Until I got there that is! Ladies strutting around in stilettos and   pants so tight they look painted on.Guys with the waist band of there pants belted BELOW there rear ends.Stores full of three hundred dollar purses and any other ridiculously expensive thing you could want. This description aside the thing that happened really surprised me.I started to feel envious!

Generally I feel just fine about who I am and what I have. I am very laid back and tend to wear jeans/jean skirts a lot.With any number of t-shirts. The  cute high heels that used to grace my terribly cute feet were traded for not so terribly cute flats about two children ago and my purse cost about fifteen bucks at Target. These are all facts about myself I hardly ever think about.UNTIL I walk into the mall.I look at my brown cabalas' t shirt and tennis shoes next to the pretty blonde in a pencil skirt and heels and I feel like a shlumpy old housewife.  I begin to drool over the shiny purses and the hundred dollar makeup that promises to make me look like a super model. Reality hits and I realize that I not only don't look like these women but I honestly couldn't afford to either! What a depressing place to let myself be! Earlier this very day I felt perfectly content with the clothes,accessories and life I had.So how did this one short trip into the mall make me feel so negative?

I leave the mall and come home to my adorable kids,loving husband and comfortable home and immediately all of those negative feelings and worldy desires are gone. But I am left to sit and wonder why the feeling of discontent had come upon me at all? I would like to think I am past such things. Besides I know what is really important and I am truly happy beyond belief with my life. I suppose we all at times have that weakness in us.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Lessons Learned From The Classics

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Is it just me or are the books today in general a bunch of junk?Don’t get me wrong I enjoy some brain candy!I like to read a book just for fun! I have several Christian romance novels that I love to snuggle up with on a cold day. These fun reads and good books are no were near as uplifting though as some of the classics I have been reading! It seems to me that in the past you got so many more lessons and so much more morals and values in your books.

I started reading The Swiss Family Robinson to my kids a few weeks ago and was SHOCKED and pleased to read the Mothers assurance of God watchfulness and the family praying together in the first couple pages. If that kind of thing is in a book now adays it has to be labeled a religious book and put in a special section!Throughout Swiss Family the parents teach their children about faith,hard work and avoiding laziness.Boy we could use more books like this today!

I just yesterday started reading Little Women and it is chock full of the same types of  lessons! A particular favorite part of mine is Jo weeping to her mother about her horrible temper. This is the advice that Marmee gives Jo

Watch and pray,dear,never get tired of trying,and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault.”

You don't here the child justifying her fault.You don’t read Marmee excusing her daughters sin either.She lovingly encourages her daughter to over come her worse nature.  We need more of this in our books today. I am now on the hunt for more books classics or other with such good lessons for me and my kids.

Monday, December 6, 2010

This may be a touch subject But yeah I’m going there

This may seem like its coming out of left field and that's ok.Its just been on my mind a lot lately. Its a going to be a pretty personal post so feel free to skip reading it if you like.

I love that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. I love that I can pray through my feelings and get to a place that I can happily follow my husband and the Lords will.

Does anyone else ever feel like what is best for others is best for them? How about feeling like having more kids makes you better or more righteous than the family that chose to only have 2?Well I have been there and had those feelings before.Hey, we are all sinful and prideful at times.

You see we have four children.Two boys and two girls.They are really awesome and for the most part(you know there are those off days) I love being their mom. My hubby and I will never have anymore kids.By our own choosing.I will be honest and tell you I have felt the need around some other Christians to justify this very personal decision.

I totally know that children are a wonderful blessing from God. I wanted more children after we had our fourth little girl.As always my husband and I put the matter to prayer.We have always felt like God would help us decide if and when to have another child.I’ll be darned if my husband wasn't adamant that we were done having children.

I patiently(at first) prayed that God would inform my husband that we were to have more children.Then I prayed a bit more “fervently” that my husband would have a change of heart. I was sure that God would change my husbands will to mine. I say “mine” because I realize  now that I wasn't really consulting God in this.God wants everyone to have at least  eight kids right?!That's how I felt anyhow!

I continued to pray this way clear up to the week before my husbands scheduled surgery(if the fact that my hubby had a vasectomy is TMI then you probably should stop reading) but one day it all changed. I sat down at the computer to look at a friends blog.She had posted about her littlest child turning 1 and wondering about the next to come.  I lost it! I mean LOST it! Sobbing and crying I ran right for my Bible and sat on the couch. I started to pray.Crying out to Heavenly Father over my desires to have more children and my fear that my husband would not see things my way and FINALLY asking God whether it was HIS will for us to have more.Up to that point I was SURE that it was. I gradually began to just feel a calm warmth flow through me and I was able to stop crying.I wiped my eyes and started to read.

Every scripture I read,every single one I turned to spoke of training,teaching and raising our children. It was like Heavenly Father was telling me not to worry about having more children but to focus on raising the ones He had blessed me with. Has anyone else ever had one of those moment where you realize that you know nothing and that God is the author of our lives?

Since then my sister has had a sweet new baby,a dear friend has been blessed with a twin pregnancy,my sister in law has found out she is having her first baby and my littlest has turned 1. Through it all I have had a twinge or two of jealousy. But mostly I have felt peace and happiness because I know that through prayer God was able to tell us what was right for us.It feels good to be following Gods path for us.

I hope to remember what I learned from this experience always.That if we pray and sincerely ask for Gods will to come about in our heart He will guide us AND give us joy in the path He sets us on.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

My thoughts on what makes a “good Christmas”

The turkey is done,the football games played and now its onto thoughts of Christmas. I have had the chance to talk with several friends about the upcoming holiday. I am noticing an interesting trend. I wonder if others have noticed it too.

CHRISTMASART

With the struggling economy many of the conversations I have had have gone something along these lines:

Boy money sure is tight.”

Yes it is,how is your family handling the holidays?”

Well we have been able to BUY the kids/family X,Y,Z, T,U and V too.So we will have a good Christmas despite the tough financial times.”

Here are the thoughts that came to me after several such conversations. 1.Since WHEN does being able to BUY lots of things make it a good Christmas?2.WHY does being able to buy lots make it a good Christmas?3.Why are we as a society in general so focused on STUFF?

This year we decided as a family to keep things very simple.A few gifts(VERY few) for each child. Because we will be “low” on gifts we plan to be full on fun and quality time.My hubby is able to take 2 weeks off over the Christmas holiday and we plan to use every second of it to play,craft,cook,snow ball fight,snuggle up and watch Christmas movies,drink hot chocolate,share with others,etc. Despite all of that wonderfulness I still found myself feeling bad about the limited number of “things” each of my children would receive!

Its plain nonsense and silliness to feel that way!I just kinda forgot it and got all wrapped up in the societal norm of giving WAY more than you can afford because after all its the STUFF that matters right?

I was reminded about the things that really matter while reading a book on a totally different topic today! One of my all time favorite homeschool books is  Teri Maxwell’s “Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit”. This book truly speaks to my heart.It is full of wonderful scriptures that speak to contentment,hard work,and gratitude.

The part that struck me strongest today was about taking our thoughts captive.Not allowing our thoughts to dwell on the worldly ideals but trying to focus our thoughts on the Lord and His ways. That's exactly what I needed to do today.I was focusing on gifts and money and worldly things instead of focusing on the joys of this season.The time with my beloved family,the chance to share with my children about the wonders of Christ birth.All the things that will make this a wonderful Christmas.

I hope that this Christmas season we are all able to keep our thought and hearts on the things that truly matter :0)

Friday, November 26, 2010

Gratitude all over!

This has been a very busy pleasant week and so my blogging has suffered. I am still doing the Gratitude challenge and have been thinking each day about what I am thankful for.

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I am thankful for my babies growing.Seeing them change and become who they are going to be.Alyssa our youngest has just stopped taking bottles and is now in what we call a “big girl” car seat :0)Very exciting!

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I am thankful for super fun science experiments that bring a concept to life! We used this balloon to show an example of how a jet engine works on a plane.The kids really “got it” and had tons of fun!

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I am grateful for little girls who wear cute little dresses and make you smile every time you see them!

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I am grateful for Daddies who will play in the snow and enjoy their kids.Also very grateful for the army that gives my hubby lots of time off around EVERY holiday!

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I am grateful for friends.When we are far from home they are there to enjoy the holidays with!

I hope everyone has felt very blessed this past week and I know through this challenge I am learning to be more grateful.I hope to carry that with me throughout the year.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Not very Eloquent

I would love to post some beautiful eloquent post this Thanksgiving day but to be honest its just not in me :0) I am so incredibly Thankful to be where I am.At home with my dear loved ones. I am thankful to have four awesome kids to play with,learn with and enjoy.Super thankful that on this day nine years ago I said “I Do” to the most wonderful man alive.

I am praying that everyone else is feeling happy and blessed today too.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Gratitude Day 21 &22

I have really enjoyed blogging all month about what I am thankful for. I enjoy writing a lot but find it hard at times to decide on what to write.Having a specific topic all month has been nice for me.

Yesterday day 21 of the gratitude challenge I am grateful for SNOW! We had our first snow of the season and it was so beautiful and exciting.

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My snow babies were all VERY grateful for the snow too :0)

Today I am grateful for blogs. I love that I can get insight,encouragement,ideas and a sense of community from reading other peoples blogs. Specifically other Christian women. I can’t tell you how many times I was feeling down or discouraged and I popped open a blog post from one of you fine ladies and read EXACTLY what I needed. Its really a blessing.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Gratitude Day 20

Today I am FILLED with Gratitude!Its been a very special day. Alyssa turned 1 year old today :0) and if that wasn’t awesome enough,my sister had me a new little nephew today!!!!! What a Blessed day!

This is  me, my mom and Alyssa the day she was born:

100_4155 What an amazing day that was. I was induced for the first time and BOY did that hurt!I remember just saying over and over again after I had her “Wow that hurt!” :0)

This is the first time Alyssa got to meet her Daddy.He was deployed in Iraq when she was born:

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And now in what seems like no time Alyssa has become such a sweet,calm and adorable little person:

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100_7494And lastly Alyssa surrounded by her brothers and sister.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Gratitude 18 and 19

I’m really grateful for the scouting program.My oldest Isaiah just earned his wolf badge.He received it at his pack meeting last night and was SO proud of himself.

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I’m also thankful for prayer.Specifically that I can pray about the kids and homeschool and I always get the peace,strength and guidance I need. God really is SO good to us.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 16 & 17

Yesterday(day 16 of the challenge) was a rough day for me. I was dealing with some people in my life who weren't acting very mature.Their immaturity was making MY life more stressful. So for day 16 of the challenge I am very thankful for the ability to close my door,hang up the phone and be alone.To just shut out the world sometimes.

Today I am thankful for getting rid of bottles for good! Our youngest Alyssa is turning 1 this week.At 1 we get rid of the bottles and move to a cup. Now that we have prayed and made the decision that four is the number of children God intended for us it means that each phase we finish is the last! I will never have a baby using bottles again. I thought that as we started coming to these milestones that I would be sad.But so far I am not. I think that's because of God really. For a while I wanted to have more children and the thought of not having more made me very sad.But when God told my husband and then me that this was it, it because easy for me to  accept. I am thankful to God for that too.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Another Double Gratitude post :0)

So apparently posting every day isn't my forte! That's all right what I lack in regularity I will make up for with persistence!

Day 14 was Sunday and I was very thankful for a movie theatre on post that showed a FREE and EARLY showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now I know that some people don’t like Harry Potter. I respect that opinion.I understand the whole witchcraft thing. Me personally I look at it as a fun story.My children know the difference between a make up story and real witchcraft.They know that witchcraft is of the devil.We can know the reality and still enjoy a story with it in there.I think the thing that makes Harry Potter ok for me is that in the end good wins. In my mind its a story between good and evil and good wins.Yes its a good wizard But hey it works for us! We really enjoyed seeing the movie and the fact that it was free was even better!

For Day 15 I am grateful for modern medicine.My husband came home from P.T (physical training) today hobbling.The first thought in my head was “Really?what have you done to yourself now?”  Now before you think me a unloving wife let me explain.During his 12 month deployment to Iraq my husband was hurt several time BY HIMSELF.That's right.Of all the worries  a wife has when her husband is deployed to a war zone MINE was that he wouldn’t hurt himself AGAIN. :0) Anywho, like I said my first thoughts weren't the most gracious! It turns out while they were running today Hubby stepped wrong.He said it POPPED and hurt a lot! After a long E.R visit and some X-rays we found out that he tore two of his tendons in his ankle. I am thankful for the pain med’s that are helping Justin relax and for the fact that he could have an x-ray and know exactly what's wrong.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Gratitude Day 13

Today I am grateful for breakfast :0) Whether its me and my four kiddos baking muffins and pouring pancakes or my hubby and I frying eggs and bacon.I love spending time in the kitchen with the ones I love!

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 12

Today I am SO grateful for my childrens good health. I think when our children have never had any major health issues we tend to take it for granted.They have always been healthy and we kinda assume that they always will.

Life really is so fragile.These earthly bodies of ours are subject to disease and decay and so are our childrens.Today I am grateful for my healthy happy munchkins and I am saying a special prayer for all of those who have had to face first hand the reality of lost health.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Another Double Gratitude post!

So I am really bad at posting every day! Hahaha That's alright though I am going to just keep making up for it by double posting :0)

For day 10 yesterday I am grateful for Christian romance novels!I know that sounds silly but I am a reader. I always need something to read to occupy my brain. Yesterday my brain was just all unsettled because I couldn't find anything to read.I was looking for what I can brain candy.Something fun and light to entertain my mind. FINALLY I found on my shelf a Christian romance I hadn't read yet. I got a ton of them from my grandma back a few years and I though I had read them all.Turns out I hadn't and I was able to spend my quiet hours before falling into bed with a good book.

Today I am SO Grateful for the men and women who have served in the armed forces and for those who are currently serving. I am free to raise my children in the way I choose and to worship my Lord and Savior as I see fit thanks to all of them. I am grateful to my husband who serves in the Army. For his example oh duty,honor,hard work and integrity.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 9

It 5:30 in the A.M and I am a little tired. I try to get up at this time every day of the week so I will have time to exercise and shower before the kiddos will awaken.Today my husband was up at 4:30 A.M for work. I can barely drag myself out of bed an hour later than that!For this reason today I am grateful for the FREEDOM I have as a stay at home mom. That's right!I don't feel trapped.I don't feel isolated. I feel truly blessed to be able to set my own schedule.Be (essentially) my own boss of how my day is run. I am thankful that God has put a joy in my heart for being at home. I’m grateful that I have such a supportive and hardworking husband who wants me to be at home raising our children.

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There have been times during my journey as a Stay at home mom that I have not felt content and fulfilled. I know its Gods will for mothers to be home to nurture and guide her children.Looking back I can see that the times I was not content at home were times that I wasn't aligning my life,my actions and my thoughts with what Heavenly Father wants of me. I was focusing more on what “the world” tells me I should be and want and do. Well guess what,the world has got it all wrong! I am the most happy and fulfilled when I strive (imperfectly) to be who God wants me to be.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Gratitude Challenge day 7 and 8

Yesterday was a  nice relaxed Sunday but for some reason I didn't get sat down to do my Gratitude post.

I’ll share two things I am grateful for today.First I am grateful for Christmas tree’s that are decorated the first weekend of November :0)

100_7424 You read it right!We put up our Christmas tree this weekend.Much to my husbands chagrin! We usually wait till the weekend of thanksgiving (doesn't most everyone?). I decided  since my husband missed out last year due to being in Iraq,that this year we would celebrate for extra long! I’ve been listening to Christmas music with the fam’ ever since and I LOVE it!

The second thing I am thankful for is people with positive attitudes. Growing up I was a “glass is half empty” kinda girl.My son  also has  a “half empty” mentality.Thankfully though, somewhere along the line I learned that we can dwell on the bad,sad and disappointing and be miserable OR we can focus on the good and be happy. Notice that I didn't say I found a way to make all the bad,sad and disappointing disappear!Nope its all still there.I’ve just learned how to have faith in the Lord to get me through and to focus on the good.

I have had several good examples in my life.My sister has always been a “glass is half full” person and I am pretty sure she gets it from my mom. My husband also has a way of seeing the bad,pointing it out and then MOVING ON.He doesn't dwell on the negative and I love that.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 6

Today I am grateful for frugal friends! I spend my morning shopping some of my favorite thrift stores with my friend Jackie. She is like me and loves to save money and find good deals.

Its like the Duggar family says “Buy used and save the difference!”

Friday, November 5, 2010

Gratitude challenge day 5

Today I am keeping it short and sweet! I am thankful for lazy-sleep in mornings :0) Today my usual 5:30 a.m wake up time came and went.I was warm and snuggled in my bed till about 8 and it was WONDERFUL!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 4

Today several things have been on my mind. I think today though I am really most thankful for my husband. We have SO much history together (which I love!) We have been together since we were both around 16 years old :0) We were high school sweethearts.We married and had children right out of high school. There have been ups and downs in our marriage like any other and we have grown closer and stronger as the years have gone by.

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One of the things I love the most about my dear husband is how selfless he is.He works so hard to take care of us and is still always willing to help out around the house. Sometimes its just the small things that really mean a lot. Like tonight for instance.We went to a buffet for dinner and after I helped the kids get there food I sat down and told him to go ahead and get himself something.He said no and let me go first.It was just a simple thing really, but it just made me feel so nice.He is always doing things like that and I just love him so much for it :0)

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Doubting myself

Today I have been focusing a lot on the negatives and not so much on the positives in our homeschool journey. I have been feeling very inadequate. Thoughts like “I’m not good enough.” and “I just can’t do this.” have been in my head today. But I KNOW beyond any doubt that this is exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing. After praying it through and talking it over with my sister Tristan I am feeling much better. I just have to remember that I can do all things through Christ. If I look to the Lord for strength and guidance while we are traveling down this path of homeschooling HE will make me able.

We all have moments of doubt.About many different parts of our life.I’d love to hear how you handle it when you are doubting yourself.

Gratitude Challenge day 3

I was feeling a bit off today.Do you ever have those days?When your  feeling moody and emotional for any number of reasons? Well that was me today! Then something happened that brightened my day.My sister called! She is a fellow wife,mother,Christian and homeschooler. She is my big sis and always willing to listen and talk me through my bad days. I love her so very much. Since my husband is in the Army we don't live near family.Being far from my sister is hard for me.I am very thankful we both can keep in touch with the dial of a phone or a quick email :0)

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When I think about my sister and how close we are,she really is my best friend  I have to chuckle a little!For it was not always so! As teenagers we fought like cats and dogs!We honestly couldn’t stand each other. One time it even came to blows!We were fighting over the thing all teen girls fight over,who got to use the phone!LOL  If someone had  told me then that now she would be my favorite friend and my closes confidant.I would have laughed.I am so thankful for my sister and the closeness we have developed over the years.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gratitude challenge day 2

Today I am thankful for a body that works and is in relatively good health! It is 5:30 a.m. and I am up getting ready to go exercise. I do NOT enjoy getting up early and I don't particularly enjoy exercising either. That aside I am very thankful that I am healthy enough to be up and going and working out.

As any normal women who has had multiple children there are things I don’t love about my body. I have a little extra padding here and there.Things are a little less firm and a little less perky than they were when I was 16 :0) I tend to dwell on those things far too much.Today I want to focus on all the things this old body of mine does right. I am capable of making meals to feed my dear children. I can hug,tickle,carry and play with my children. I am able to be up and working.Cleaning,organizing and making my home a comfortable place to be. I can work along side my husband and share in the daily duties of life.

I am really very thankful for this body of mine and all that it makes me able to do :0)100_5246

Monday, November 1, 2010

Gratitude Challenge

I’ve been meaning to sit down and write a blog post for some time now. In fact I have sat down at my computer several times with the intention of writing.For one reason or another though a post never got written! Sometimes it was the kids interruptions.Sometimes there was just nothing in my head to write! That's why I am so glad I came across  the Gratitude Challenge over on Garden of Learning.

In life we too often focus on the negative.We are so focused on what we don’t have that we miss seeing just how  blessed we are. So the basis for the challenge is to post every day of November.Blog about what your thankful for. I think this is a great idea and I’m hoping it will help me get past my bloggers block! :0)

Today is day one and it took me a minute to decided exactly what to write about.Kids,family,hubby.All of these came to mind. Then I decided that I wanted to start at the most important place.

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I am thankful for the knowledge I have of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful that through His atoning sacrifice I can be forgiven of my sins. That I have a loving Savior always looking out for me.Always waiting to welcome me with open arms and forgiveness.

I am thankful that I know I am a daughter of God and that He loves me. We all have  days when we feel like we  are not pretty enough,thin enough,smart enough,organized enough,crafty enough,lovable enough or any other. When I am having one of those days it is such a blessing to me to know that I am the daughter of a King. A Heavenly King who made me in His imagine. I am weak, I am not perfect.But I am loved and I am worth while.

I hope you all will join in with me this month on this challenge. How have you been blessed today?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Such A Cool Guy

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That right there is my hubby and I have to say,he is such a great guy! He is faithful,hard working,loving,has a great sense of humor and loves the Lord as much as I do. The other day when we sat down as a family to have our daily(well Mostly daily) scripture study he did a little impromptu lesson with the kids that I thought was so neat.

He told them that he would whisper in their ear a scripture one time.After he whispered the scripture to each of us in turn he said “Ok now I want you to tell me what that scripture said word for word!” Needless to say not one of us could.

Then he told us that this is why we are so blessed to have the scriptures and why reading them every day is so important.If we want to follow God we need to know what He says.If we want to know,remember and live His gospel we have to be familiar with it and read it often.

I just thought that was a cool way to 1.Get the kids attention and 2.Help them realize the blessing the scriptures are to us.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

I’ve Been Tagged!

Jeanine over @the Peel Academy is playing a wonderful game of tag as a way to get to know other bloggers and she has tagged me!Thanks Jeanine!She had some questions and here are my answers!

1.What do you love most about homeschooling? This is a hard one for me to answer because I love pretty much EVERYTHING about homeschool! Today I think I love most that we can live a family centered life.My kids still value their parents opinions more than their peers and I think that's saying something!

2.What is your favorite way to socialize?OOHH Good one Jeanine! I love to get together with other families and have game nights.There is nothing better than food friends and fun games!

3.What is one of your attributes that only other homeschoolers understand? Its not necessarily an attribute,but I get excited over all the things we study and the different resources I find and library book sales!LoL Other homeschoolers understand that!

4.What makes you human (i.e. less then perfect)? I lose my patience. I always hear from non homeschoolers how patient I must be and really I’m not!I figure God knew I needed something like homeschooling to show me my failure in patience and humble me :0)

5.What are your strengths?I’m a good planner and organizer. I enjoy having a plan and following through with it.

6.What books are you enjoying? I just finished re-reading the “Love Comes Softly” series by Janette Oke.A very uplifting series!

7.What charitable or social cause would you devote your time to if time was not an issue? That's a good question! If time weren't an issue I would love to be more involved with learning to live more “naturally” and helping others do the same.As well as fighting the obesity epidemic in America.

Last but not least 8. What do you want to be when you grow up? :0) I want to be a career student. I want to get my masters in library science and go to culinary school and study art(because right now I know nothing about art!) and become a sign language interpreter.I just LOVE to learn!

Now I get to tag a few of my favorite bloggers and ask 8 questions of my own!

I’m tagging :

Tristan@OurBusyHomeschool

Another fellow homeschooler@Almost Unschoolers

Mrs.Regan@Regan Family Farm

And last but not least Kris @WeirdUnsocializedHomeschoolers

This is what I’d love to know!

1.How has your homeschooling philosophy changed over the years?

2.What is one of your favorite “guilty pleasures”?

3.Favorite childrens author?

4.Favorite homeschool resource?

5.What is one of your secret ambitions?

6.What is your favorite place you have lived?If you have only lived in one place what is your faorite thing about that place?

7.What are your top 2 reasons for homeschooling?

8.If life were simpler ;0) what would you like to spend more time doing?

Friday, September 24, 2010

Being about their Fathers and Mothers work

Today was a nice Friday with Dad home from work. We sat down to school as usual and Dad headed out to the garage to start on his shelf building project. Part way through school I got this feeling that I should send the boys out to the garage. “Oh no I told myself.We have to finish our work.The boys also have a bedroom to clean,its just a mess!” It really WAS a mess, See!

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After telling myself all these things I still had the feeling to send the boys out.So finally I said forget the school work for now and sent the boys out to be with their dad.

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Whilst the  boys were  out doing their “man work” we girls decided to do a bit of “womens work” and bake some yummy garlic cheesy muffins.

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Yes there was house work that needed done and school work to complete.But this morning was really about showing our children the joys of the roles God gave them.Letting the boys be boys.Letting them learn skills from their father that will make them capable men someday.For me sharing the joys of the kitchen with my girls,no matter how young they are was such a blessing. I have many fond memories of sitting around the kitchen and watching the women in my life prepare meals.

In todays society we are often told that men and women are the SAME.I’m sorry but that is a LIE plain and simple. We are fearfully and wonderfully made,men and women both.But we ARE different.God has given us different gifts and different roles.Today I truly enjoyed seeing those differences in our home.

Justin is 6!

s41081cb125687_17_0 That's my NOT so little boy and he just turned six this week.

The night he was born was such an amazingly exciting night.Less then 4 hours labor,only 1 hour actually at the hospital before delivering, no pain meds and a doctor who Laughed and exclaimed that it was the fastest delivery he’d ever seen! That whole exciting entrance into the world has never actually fit my Justin. From day one he has been the calmest and quietest boy.

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He’s my shy guy,never talking to strangers and usually hiding from my camera :0) When he was in the hospital with pneumonia last year he refused to speak to the doctors or nurses!I had to tell him they wouldn't let us leave until he answered their questions just to get him to talk!

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He has the most charming smile, when he isn't hiding it away that is! He has brought such joy to my mommy heart.I thank the Lord daily for him.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Walk Like an Egyptian

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Since revising  our history plans we have been “walking like Egyptians” All week! Are big focus this week?Pyramids! We started off the week watching “Chasing Mummies” a series that follows archeologist working in Egypt.The series is definitely not geared towards kids so I wasn't really sure just how well it would catch my boys attention.I turned on the first episode and all I heard through the entire half hour was “Oh Wow mom look at that mummy!” “Look there are snakes in their How Cool!” “Mom I am going to Egypt and I’m going to find a tomb no ones ever seen before!”  The boys loved it and it provoked some really great conversations with the boys.

The rest of the week has been spend reading Mary Pope Osbornes Magic Tree house book “Mummies in the morning”

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and building pyramids

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You know your doing something right when your kids tell you they just “LOVE” history :0)