Oct. 9, 2008 - Blogger Friend School - #105
Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.
Intro: Never Leave Home Without It (Marketing Credit: American Express) Diapers, bottles, wipes, bibs, pacifiers, extra clothing, cell phone, PDA, ipod, iphone, credit or debit cards … what would you never leave home without?
Assignment: In the memory verse Jesus tells us that He will never leave us, not even at the end of the world. He assures us in this verse that He will be with us and that means through everything we go through in life. I thought it would be interesting to write about the things we would never leave home without. For some it might be baby needs, others it might be a gym bag and bottle of water, and for some it might be your Bible and a notepad or small journal, maybe even your son or daughters favorite blankie! I’d like for you to write about something that you would never leave home without.
I usually try to leave as much at home as I can. I really hate purses and if I can, I put my debit card in my back pocket and go! I usually leave the diaper bag in the car to have on hand in case of emergencies. I do not carry it around with me unless we're going to be gone on an all-day thing. No cell phone, no bottles, if someone needs extra clothing, they're out of luck....no hand sanitizer.....no PDA......we have an iPod, but mostly use it here at home for audio books......I guess that's it! ;-)
The down side to all of this is that I don't know how many times I've washed my debit card, or lost it because I took it out of my pocket and put it....somewhere??? Once I found it under my 2nd son's bed. He thought it was one of those fake credit cards that we all get in the mail. Fun! Is it just my kids, or do yours call dibs on those fake cards? Ya know, I didn't have that kind of entertainment as a kid. ;-) Anyway, that was the most nerve wracking loss because it took almost a week for us to find it. All that time, my husband would shake, shake, shake his head at me when I had to ask him to use his debit card. I don't know how many times I have said, "If you had put your spelling book on your shelf, WHERE IT BELONGS, you would know where it is." sigh. Sometimes we need to learn our own lessons, eh? ;-)
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Oct. 7, 2008 - Sowing Good Seed
From Elsie's Children - Book 6 of the Elsie Dinsmore Series. How important it is to read books such as this that encourage us to be Godly parents. Lydia and I go to Starbucks or Marble Slab every Sunday and read a chapter together. :-)
The mother had to teach patience meekness and forbearance by precept and example, ever holding up as the grand motive, love to Jesus, and a desire to please and honor Him.
Such constant sowing of the good seed, such patient, careful weeding out of the tares, such watchfulness and prayerfulness as Elsie bestowed upon the children God had given her, could not fail of their reward from Him who has said, 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap'; and as the years rolled on she had the unspeakable joy of seeing her darlings one after another gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd; consecrating themselves in the dew of their youth to the service of Him who had loved them and washed them from their sins in His own blood.
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Oct. 6, 2008 - Exercise Challenge
I wasn't as faithful with the no-sugar thing as I should have been, but love getting out and running around with the kids and getting some exercise with them. It's a lot more fun that sweating it out with a video at 10 o'clock at night. :-) But it's a fun challenge - I work at being active with them - not just standing around watching them, and it's been a great way to connect. I do still workout with the three older kids using the Leslie Sansone videos a couple of times each week, so I feel as if I'm gettng some good exercise.
No weight loss this week, but all in good time, right?
Sign-in with Mr. Linky and let me know how you did last week! :-)
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Oct. 6, 2008 - The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today...
Outside my Window...rain today! And we’re supposed to be getting temps in the low 80’s, high 70’s for the next 10 days at least. Woohoo!
I am thinking...that I am so grateful for Homeschool Share. I do not have the time or creativity to come up with my own lapbooking stuff for Henry – or any of the other kids for that matter – and I’m so thankful for all those Moms that do, and share their ideas on this site. And Amy Pak from Homeschool in the Woods. I use her history lapbooks with the older kids. They are just too cool.
From the learning rooms...a couple of weeks ago, the boys were going to go to work with Darin so they could go to the annual Flag Football Game. It was canceled because a few key guys were sick. It was rescheduled for today, but now is canceled again because of the rain and the boys are ANTSY. It’s going to be another one of those days when I’m going to have to sit on them a few times to get their brains to come back home. ;-) God bless them.
I am thankful for...CVS! I bought about $65 worth of stuff (pads, deodorant, shampoo and hair gel) for around 8 bucks yesterday. The Extra Care Bucks program is so worth the effort! If you want to learn more, go to CVS 101. If you have questions about it, please feel free to ask me.
From the kitchen...I don’t know yet. I made Chicken Lasagna for lunch yesterday and it was so good, I can’t stop thinking about it. Love leftovers. ;-)
I am reading…World Mag, St. Bartholomew’s Eve by Henty with Darin, Ishmael with Ben, Elsie’s Children with Lydia, The Trojan War with Jack, Luther for Ben’s schoolwork (I try to keep up with what the kids read. I’m mostly successful in this area), and Nuya Nuki for Lydia’s schoolwork. I pick up More Than Dates and Dead People when I can. I love to read!
I am hoping...that the election turns out like I want it to. ;-) It is SO hard to think that God may have other plans than I do. My biggest prayer lately is that God would help me to be at peace with His plan. Every now and then I’ll hear a juicy tidbit on the news and start to mildly hyperventilate. MUST…..CALM……DOWN!
I am creating...I don’t know. I feel like there’s so much I want to work on, but have so little time to devote to those things that I let myself become overwhelmed to the point that I do nothing. I need to finish cutting out the skirt that I started with Rachel. I enjoy my knitting with the dishrags, and I’m working on a cross stitch project. It’s huge. I’ll never finish it. Starting to hyperventilate again…….MUST……..CHILL! ;-)
I am hearing...Jack eating breakfast, Sophia crawling through the kitchen saying, "mama mama mama," Ben yawning and Henry turning the pages of a book.
Around the house...still lots of laundry, still dirty bathrooms. One of these days the house will be spotless and I’ll be crying over missing my babies.
One of my favorite things...Fall. The chilly breezes, the smell of firewood burning in the air, raking leaves, cooking soups and muffins…..I’m in HEAVEN. We have a lawnmower that bags that we could use to suck up our leaves for us and make that job a snap, but I reject interjecting machinery into that beloved fall chore. I love to get out and work my arms and legs and back (ow!) in raking leaves up. But we have about a month to go before we have to worry about that job. The leaves are still green and firmly attached to their branches for now! Ahhhhh, Texas. J
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...going to the Pumpkin Patch with my pal and her kids….we tried the lake last week and it started raining and blowing when we got there, so we came here instead. The house was a wreck. How embarrassing. ;-)
Nothing else in the plan….we’re going to just be home. Love that.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
January, 2007
To read other Daybook entries go HERE.
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Oct. 3, 2008 - The Duties of Parents #2
I'm diggin' the J.C. Ryle sermon I came across online titled The Duties of Parents. In it, he gives 17 hints for parents. I've been reading one hint at a time and then mulling and praying over it for a week or two before I go to the next hint. Here is #2:
Hint #2. Train your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience.
I do not mean that you are to spoil him, but I do mean that you should let him see that you love him.
Love should be the golden thread that runs through all your actions in dealing with the child. Kindness, gentleness, tolerance, patience, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to take part in childish joys—these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily—these are the clues you must follow if you would find the way to his heart.
Most persons, even among grown-up people, are more easily led than they are to be pushed. There is that in all of our minds which rises up against compulsion; we straighten up our backs and stiffen our necks at the very thought of a forced obedience. We are like young horses in the hand of a trainer: handle them kindly, and they will learn quickly, and in time you may guide them with a piece of thread; but treat them and use them roughly and violently, and it will be many months before you get mastery over them—if at all.
Now children's minds are cast in much the same mold as our own. Sternness and severity of manner causes them to be unresponsive and to back away. It shuts up their hearts, and you will wear yourself out trying to find the door. But only let them see that you have an affectionate feeling towards them—that you really desire to make them happy, and do them good—that if you punish them, it is intended for their good, and that, like the pelican, you would give your heart's blood to nourish their souls; let them see this, and they will soon be yours to mold and shape. But they must be wooed with kindness, if you ever hope to win their attention.
And surely reason itself might teach us this lesson. Children are weak and tender creatures, and, as such, they need patient and considerate treatment. We must handle them delicately, like frail objects, lest by rough handling we do more harm than good. They are like young plants, and need gentle watering—often, only a little at a time.
We must not expect everything at once. We must remember what children are, and teach them as they are able to bear. Their minds are like a lump of metal—not to be forged and made useful all at once, but only after a succession of little blows of the forger’s hammer. Their ability to understand what we are teaching them is like the small opening of a wine bottle: we must pour in the wine of knowledge gradually, or else most of it will be spilled and lost. Our rule must be, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, a little here and a little there." The hard stone used to sharpen knives does its work slowly, but frequent rubbing will bring it to a fine edge. Truly there is a need of patience in this training of a child, for without it nothing can be done.
Nothing will compensate for the absence of this tenderness and love. A minister may speak the truth as it is in Jesus, clearly and with all authority; but if he does not speak it in love, few souls will be won. Likewise, you must set before your children their responsibilities to God—you can command, threaten, punish, and try to reason with them—but if love is missing in the way you treat them, then your labor will be all in vain.
Love is the one great secret of successful training. Anger and harshness may frighten them, but they will not persuade the child that you are right; and if he often sees you angry and harsh, you will soon cease to have his respect. A father who speaks to his son as Saul did to Jonathan, saying. "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?" [1 Samuel 20:30], that father who speaks like this cannot expect to retain his influence over that son's mind.
Try hard to maintain your child's affections. It is a dangerous thing to make your children afraid of you. Anything is almost better than the coldness and bitterness that will come between you and your children, because they are afraid of you. Fear puts an end to openness between the parent and child—fear leads to concealment—fear sows the seed of hypocrisy, and leads to many lies. There is a great deal of truth in the Apostle's words to the Colossians: "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. [Colossians 3:21] Do not ignore his advice.
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Oct. 3, 2008 - Blogger Friend School - #104
Assignment: Have you done something crazy in your homeschool? Do you fingerpaint with your toes? Do you let your children do your hair? Do you wear your pajamas during homeschool? Oh, the list is endless, but it’s up to you and how much fun you want to have.
Well, I guess I'm no fun cause I can't think of one wacky thing we have done during our school hours. Although I wonder what *I* would look like to a fly on the wall during school. I know that I have literally banged my head on the table in sheer frustration, turned beet red while biting my tongue to keep from saying the wrong thing and tried, more than once, to cook dinner, talk on the phone, hold my baby on my hip and do a spelling test all at the same time. Clowns are not the only ones able to do a juggling act.;-)
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Sep. 29, 2008 - Lukewarm and Indifferent. God Replaced with Passion and Concern
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Sep. 29, 2008 - Exercise Challenge
I'm seeing some progress! I lost another half pound this week. I can live with that. ;-) I've mostly cut out sugar. Not totally, though. I eat maple syrup on my pancakes, but no desserts until Monday. Darin is doing the same thing and we've noticed that on Friday nights we hanker hard for some sort of sweet. What is it about Friday nights that makes us want to eat brownies and ice cream??? I guess it's that whole "it's the weekend thing." Remember Loverboy? "Everybody's workin' for the weekend!" LoL Ain't it the truth.
I'm getting in a bit more exercise that I have been.....I've started taking Henry and Sophia (and anyone else that wants to tag along)on a walk every morning since it has cooled down a bit. They love it. Sophia starts kicking her legs when we start walking out the door. She's SO precious. Henry is so full of energy, he runs most of the time so I can get a pretty good clip going. Otherwise, I'm doing the same ol', same ol'.
I hope you guys are getting some exercise into your days! Sign-in with Mr. Linky if you have an update and leave a comment so I'll know you were here. :-)
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Sep. 29, 2008 - The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today...
Outside my Window...temperatures in the high 80’s, and here it is, just two days away from October. One of the guys who was working on our leak last week told Darin that according to the Farmer’s Almanac, this winter will be the coldest ever. That seems strange to imagine at this point.
Well, I couldn’t resist. I surfed on over to the Farmer’s Almanac site to see what I could find and found this:
As homeowners across the country pray for a mild winter to offset rising energy costs, the world-famous Farmers’ Almanac is warning us to prepare for the worst. “Numb’s the word!” is how the 192-year-old publication is predicting the upcoming winter season.
Go HERE to read more.
I am thinking...that I miss Darin when he has to go to work.
From the learning rooms...Ancient Egypt, Apologia Zoology II, Teaching Textbooks, Sonlight L.A., lapbooking, history pockets.
I am thankful for...the work that God has given me. My job as a homeschooling Mom is NEVER boring or tedious. There is never enough hours to fit in all I want to do here at home. I love it.
From the kitchen...Pumpkin Patch cake for tea this afternoon. We made this cake four or five times last year for other people because it’s so good and the kids love to make it. I hope the link works so you can see it and get the recipe! Let me know if it doesn’t and you want it.
I am reading...WORLD mag, St. Bartholomew’s Eve by Henty with Darin, Ishmael with Ben, The Trojan War with Jack, and various books about cars, planes, trains and trucks with Henry.
I am hoping...that I can keep my cool this week and not let all there is to do become overwhelming. I want to enjoy every minute – not wig out. ;-)
I am creating...organization in my bedroom. Sophia has been sharing our room with us since she was born so there has been little cleaning going on in there since she still takes two naps and goes to bed pretty early. When she is awake, we’re usually doing one of a million other things we have to do. This weekend I begged Darin for us to team up and get some deep cleaning done in there. We had a treadmill that no longer worked in there, and a lot of dust bunnies. We got about half the room cleaned. I’ll have to bide my time for next weekend, or try to squeeze in some time for it during the week.
I am hearing...Henry being frustrated. He's trying to put on a necklace, but can't seem to get it around his neck. Darin is offering to help him.
Around the house...working on knitting more dishrags, and I badly need to catch-up on ironing.
One of my favorite things...I love to can fruits and veges. I haven’t had the chance to do any canning for the last few years, but I’m looking forward to a spring garden.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...hoping to meet with some friends at a local lake this week so the kids can throw rocks and get muddy, update our hymn books that we use for Bible Study.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
A fistful of Cheerios.
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Sep. 27, 2008 - An Award
Sandpiper over at Journey Through Motherhood gave me this nice award. So nice! Thank you!
You guys go visit Sandpiper. She is literally DAYS from giving birth to Baby #6, just celebrated her 14th wedding anniversary, and her 2nd blogoversary! :-)
I get to pass this award on to some of my favorite bloggers. Here they are:
Sherry at Large Family Mothering is a true Titus 2 woman. Her blog posts always - ALWAYS encourage me as a wife and mother. She's always right on the mark. She posted some tips (I can't find that post now!) and I'm excited to use one of her tips this winter with our 9 month old. Ya know how socks always fall off our babies' feet? She says use tights instead! So simple, I would have never thought of it on my own. ;-)
De'Etta at Choosing Joy. First of all, I like the title of her blog. Isn't it true that we do have to CHOOSE to be joyful through so many things? Secondly, I love her "slice of life" entries. Maybe I'm just nosy, but I like to read about what's going on at her house. Lastly, she's my exercising hero. She usually gets in 60 minutes at least 5 days a week. You go, girl. ;-)
Kelli at There is No Place Like Home. I love to go look at all the kewl crafty things she makes, the good food she cooks and the nifty way she decorates her home. I don't have time to do all the fun things she does, but I like to go look anyway. And I agree....there IS no place like home.
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