Oct. 4, 2007 - Volunteering as a Family

Something my Husband and I have decided to do is make our volunteering a family affair.  If we can't show up with one or more of our kids, we turn down the opportunity.  We spent a good many years volunteering while the kids were in childcare at church, childcare in our own home or just plain running around behind us as we sat at the computer and did our "important work."  Yuck!  Never again.  We missed out on many, many moments of discipling that we are now having to go back and try to squeeze in.  It's harder doing it this way than if we had done it the right way, at the right time.

In the past, we have cleaned a section of our church sanctuary together.  When our new building was newly finished, the church was trying to hold down costs, so asked for volunteers to help clean the sanctuary.  We jumped at the chance and for six months, on Tuesday nights, we scrubbed and cleaned and had pizza together on the floor immediately behind our section.

Right now we have a few different opportunities going.  First is here in our neighborhood.  First Son and my Husband mow and weedeat and otherwise maintain the yard of our next door neighbor.  Her husband is in Iraq as a security guard, so we volunteered to help her out since she's doing the single-parent thing for now.

We are signed up with a ministry at our church called "Meals for New Moms."  Whenever we get a call, we all contribute something to a meal for a family with a new babe.  That makes our meals less than gourmet, but definitely filling, and from what I have heard, appreciated anyway.

My Husband is an AWANA Leader, and this year, has the great privilege to serve alongside First Son as he has joined the Leader in Training (LIT) program.  My husband and First Son work in the same room together as Sparks (K-2) leaders.  First Son has three of his own little boys to shepherd, and my Husband is there to help guide him.  It has been a great outlet for First Son whose nickname around here is Mr. Manager.  ;-)

And finally, once a month, we get to bake some dessert for a group of ladies in our homeschooling group.  They are new homeschooling moms, meeting for encouragement and information as they begin homeschooling, through a program called Smoothing the Way.  LOVE Smoothing the Way.  It is JUST the thing for new homeschoolers in my humble opinion.  I wonder how many would give up during their first year without the kind of encouragement they receive from this group.

I recently subscribed to the online magazine, Seasonal Delights.  The first issue I downloaded was loaded with fun fall crafts and recipes.  I couldn't resist.  Today was our monthly delivery to the Smoothing the Way ladies and we took two ideas from the magazine and had fun seeing if we could make ours look like the pictures in the magazine!  ;-) 

Here is First and Only Husband directing the kids in making Autumn Paper Cones.  I was the picture taker, hole puncher and ribbon tie-r for this event.  I do not do well following directions in making shape thingys.  ;-)

First Son says, "HUH?"

Second Son says, "No sweat, man!"

Here is our homemade Autumn Popcorn mix.  It is inside disposable icing bags.

Finished product!

Sorry it's sideways.  I forgot to rotate the picture, but you get the idea.  ;-)

Here's a picture of Third Son thrown in just for grins and because he is SO CUTE.  Look at those dimples!

First Son and First Daughter teamed up to make Pumpkin Patch Cake.  All I can say is, "Yum!"  It sure smelled good!

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Sep. 30, 2007 - Pine Cone City

My husband and three oldest have embarked on a new business.  It all started about two years ago when we went out and for some unknown reason (at least I can't remember why) we collected two huge garbage bags of pine cones.  As we pulled away from the pine trees, I said something about scenting them with cinnamon and selling them in our neighborhood.  Then I got pregnant with Third Son and that was about the end of it for me, but the kids have been wondering when we were going to actually follow through with that plan.  Well, here I am pregnant and feeling huge again, so I turned this one over to my husband.  Our kids never forget anything, so we would have been discussing it at their weddings if we didn't get on the stick and do it.  ;-)

Man, did we feel fallish today!  The house smelled like cinnamon and my brain started working.....I wanted to make some pumpkin pies and a stew.  Sigh.  Soon enough.  After all, the daily temperatures here have fallen into the upper 80's! 

So here are my husband and kids acting like cheesehounds (except First Son, who is TOO old for that kind of stuff). 

My husband went to Hobby Lobby and bought some cinnamon essential oil.  We mixed it with water and sprayed the pine cones with it.  Next, they will sit for weeks and weeks so they can really absorb the wonderful aroma.  Then we will mix in some cinnamon chips and sticks, bag up the pincones in some storage bags - not Ziplocs - the kind that have twist ties to close them.  We will close them up with some pretty ribbons.  Then the kids and my Husband will go door to door to see what sort of business they can drum up.  We're hoping to add to the Christmas budget.  Who knows?  :-)  Either way, it's a fun project for my Husband and kids to do together.  He has been filling them all in on business 101 basics.  Not to mention all the teasing and kidding that goes on while they work together.  I loved listening to them work together.

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Sep. 29, 2007 - Seasonal Delights

I realize that today (or tomorrow, if you're reading this on Sunday) is the very end of September, but I just found out tonight that the online mag, Seasonal Delights, is handing out a free year's subscription if you subscribe by the end of September.  Check it out!  I am always on the search for fun crafts to do with the kids because I am so non-crafty.  I'm just a big wannabe.  ;-)

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Sep. 20, 2007 - Fireplace Joy

So.....

Riding high on the inspiration that Mrs. Wilt of The Sparrow's Nest gave me with her pretty fireplace mantle, I decided to use today, which is our regular craft day, to organize the kids in giving a hand in the facelift.  I can only be homemade-crafty after a lot of planning beforehand.  I'm very high maintenance in that way - crafts have a tendency to wig me out!  I would much rather read a book. 

After Third Son's nap, we loaded up in the Suburban and headed to Hobby Lobby.  Great idea, Mom!  ;-)  Everything was 40-50% off.  I gave the kids and myself 5 bucks each to spend.  Here is what we came up with:

As you can see, the kids have a thing for scarecrows.  We all love it.  It's such a nice change from the disorganized mess that used to be camped out on the mantle.  As we sat in the living room before the kids went to bed tonight, we just sat and stared and admired our cheesy scarecrows from Hobby Lobby.  First Son's question was what we will put there in December, and then in the Spring - that's my boy.  Always thinking ahead.

Thank you, Mrs. Wilt!

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