Wasn't it just last night that we stayed up too late and ate too much and made way too much noise at the stroke of midnight? 

Where does the time go? 

We had homemade ice-cream sandwiches and homemade sparkling juice (very clever, juice and soda-water, yum!) and while the kiddos were getting ready to run out front with their pots and pans and bugles and drums and noisemakers of every sort to scare the living daylights out of the neighbors and all the pets...I was at the computer putting the finishing touches on my after-Christmas-hopefully-before-the-end-of-January family newsletter.

Whew.

At any rate, I finally got something done.  Now, I just have to send some by email, print some to mail, and ALSO mail all the packages still hanging around here waiting for me to either print off the postage and drive to the P.O. or go use the self-post (which I LOVE) or go through the line at the P.O. and wish I was back home because my sister is a postal clerk there. 

She's the only one I really love to do business with!

Let's see...one of the packages I need to mail was actually supposed to go out LAST year, but I never got to it and it STILL has last year's newsletter in an envelope all ready to go.  Heh heh.  Does anything like this every happen at your house?  Or is it just me?  (Just refer to the "Demented" post a few entries down.)  Oh well.  Sheesh.  Whatever!

It's late, I mean early, and hubby is sawing logs.  The kids are camping out since their room is in transition---we are finally getting around to painting it after living here for 14 years.  Boy, are we on top of it or what? 

Guess since we are on such a roll, we ought to make some New Years resolutions!

O.K.,  I resolve to learn some new html so I can revamp my blog.  There are a few things nagging me, like my friends list.  I want it all in a paragraph form.  I might have to sacrifice some brain cells, but it will be worth it. 

I resolve to take down the Christmas tree this next week, and actually try to find photos for all the little frame ornaments that Nana has made us for the last several years.  Really.

I resolve to make that Christmas scrapbook that I have been wanting to make.  Now that I have sorted through 8000 photos and found every last Christmas photo that I have taken since 1989, I will put them in a notebook, and journal about each one, and even embellish the pages.  Ha!

I resolve to actually cook one new recipe this year.  Since I own about 50 or so cookbooks, it should be easy to find something that sounds good that I can actually cook.  If not, I will just go to recipes.com and print off the first easy/healthy/no-nonsense recipe.  If I leave it laying around, someone here might cook it before I get to it.  I resolve to not let that bother me in the least.

I resolve to be a better wife/mother/friend.  In order to do these things, I resolve to always talk nicely, kind of like "Snow White," at least, how her voice sounded in that old Disney movie.  I will be consistent with everything with my children, and will not talk about my aches and pains with my friends no matter how much they encourage me to do so.  This should make me a much nicer person to be around.

I resolve to actually spend time teaching my 17 year old to drive.  Would you resolve to keep that in prayer with me?  :)

I resolve to actually finish the umpteen projects that are half done and taking up precious memory on my computer...before my precious memory of what they were supposed to be is gone. 

But most importantly (and seriously!) I resolve to focus more on the Lord, less on my circumstances, and less on what everyone else's problems are!  Twice recently, I came across some very good advice;  Stop focusing on the sins of other people!  OUCH.  Boy that one is so hard, especially being a mom. 

 Anyway, we are supposed to be focusing on God's goodness, not on ___________________(fill in the blank-everything that drives us crazy, all the injustices of the world, etc., etc., etc.) 

 Isn't that simple?  It should be anyway.  It's that old verse about getting the plank our of our OWN eye. 

No wonder I can't see straight!  I think I have some major surgery to do; oops, not supposed to talk about those aches and pains. 

Actually, I think I'll just leave it up to the Great Physician! 

Blessings on your New Year.  Keep Looking UP!

Nancy

P.S. by the way, Sharon Jeffus of Visual Manna is blogging!  Go say hello and read her posts.  She has some neat things to say over there.   

I am convinced that one is never too old to lie down under the Christmas tree!   Have you ever done that and just gazed up through the branches and looked at all the treasures?  My kids used to love to do that and even fell asleep under the boughs when they were really little.  They aren't so little anymore, but are still enjoying the view from under the tree.

 Here is some proof:

Aren't those twinkling stars fun?  Those and the glittery text are available if you use Photobucket.  I like their service, and you might too.  Just remember to keep your albums private. 

So why a tree? Here is a fun and very lovely page about Christmas you might enjoy.  Read some of the history of why we do trees, etc. 

I just read a neat blog about the WHY of celebrating Christmas.  You can go read it here.

Are you enjoying this Holiday season? 

Or is it getting you down? 

Here are a few things that might pick you up.  First off, have you ever heard of Adornaments?   We found them a few years back at the thrift store, of all places.  They are out of print now, so you might have to hunt some down for next year.  (That link is to Amazon, just FYI with a couple of reviews.  It isn't an affiliate link.) 

Anyway, we've enjoyed them and just realized that the artist who painted all the little pictures illustrating the names and attributes of Christ is none other than the wife of one of our favorite Christian musicians;  Wendy Francisco--wife of Don.  You can get some wonderful music to hear from their website station right on www.donfrancisco.com and read some great articles too.  They have GREAT mp3's that you can download for a donation too. 

One quick note:  a song called "Pants" is a bit more adult in it's lyrics than you might want your kids to listen to...just a friendly warning.  It's a cute song, but might lead to some questions. Speaking from personal experience, of course.  LOL!)

Ok, so back to your holiday. 

 Are you feeling overwhelmed with shopping that still has to get done? 

 Well, just don't shop anymore! 

If you think you need a bunch of gifts still, look around your house and see what you have that you can give away.  We are all so blessed that there must be just the right thing already in your posession for that neighbor, co-worker or friend that you want to bless with a token of your love.  Give them your favorite recipe, or that sweater that they have admired, or some seeds you saved from your flowers last summer...or...the list goes on. 

Or just take a few moments to write a card and tell them how much you (and Jesus) loves them!  It really is the thought that counts. 

However, if the getting ready to give and then the givin itself becomes too stressful, just give them a big hug and pray for them.  That is worth its weight in gold!

Are you struggling with Depression?

If you are feeling depressed, you are not alone!  Holidays can trigger depression or worsen it for many reasons.  There is a website that has some good information on it, some a bit humorous, and hopefully just the word you might need to get you up and over that mountain.  You can find it here.

Christmas and everything associated with it can totally take over our lives for a few months.  Then it's over in the twinkling of an eye...and then we have to deal with the aftermath.  Try to remember the best things you can, and throw away the rest!  Focus on the Lord and He will lead you through these crazy days of blessing and stressing. 

I hope you are remembering to find Grace and Peace in each day and not let the busy-ness of life get to you.  Remember that LOVE covers a multitude of sins, and that HIS mercy is new every morning.

Great is His faithfulness!

Have a wonderful, Holy, holly, joyful, jolly, CHRISTMAS this year!

Nancy

Hope you enjoyed those!

May the Lord bless the rest of your week!

Nancy

I have been reading blog entries here and there, and have found some really desperate ladies out there.  I can feel their pain!  I have been desperate too.  It comes with the territory!

This morning I had a long discussion with a dear loved one about desperation.  She knows the truth, Loves the Lord and wants to live a Christ-like life, but there is a lot of hurting out there.

Her struggle is with sin, and she asked me "if Christ died for all my sins, past present and future, then why am I still sinning?  He died for those sins, so it seems like I don't have any choice in the matter if He already knew about those sins.  He died for them, so I guess I just have to sin anyway.  He KNEW I would sin because He died for my future sins.  I feel like I am destined to sin and don't have any choice in the matter."

Wow.  How to answer that?

Well, God knew, yes He knew we would continue to sin even though He died for those sins.  I started thinking about it.  Yesterdays sins are gone, remembered no more by our Lord.  He knows our nature!  But He also wants us to trust him for everything. 

 Seek Him First. 

The Bible says that TODAY is the day of  Salvation. 

 He wants to save us from our sins, today. 

 We can turn to Him for strength and help today. 

 THIS is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

 Don't wait until tomorrow.  TODAY.  This is what we have, today. 

 If we "blow it" today, His mercies are new every morning.  We start over. 

 THIS TOO SHALL PASS. 

There are so many times we all feel so despondent!  We get that "sinking feeling"  kind of like Peter, right?  When he was walking on the water and he took his eyes off the Lord, he started to sink.  Are you sinking?  Where are your eyes?  What are you focusing on?

  Focus on the Lord, and He will save you!

Do you feel the sand being washed out beneath your feet?  Are you falling??  Get your feet back up on the rock, THE ROCK.  You know who the rock is! 

Are you worried about "global warming?"  The Lord would rather you not worry about that, He's in charge.  Keep your eyes on Him and don't be lukewarm.  Being lukewarm is a whole lot more serious of a condition than the so called global warming crisis. 

Ok, so my sermon is about to come to an end.  (This too shall pass!  LOL)

Friends, I want to challenge you.  Blogging is fun.  Cyberfriends are great!  But many times I find ladies here on HSB who are burned out, depressed, stressed and desperate. 

 Please pray for your blogging buddies and encourage them to Look To The Lord. 

Encourage them with God's Word and not your own opinions.  (been there done that, ouch.)  Reach out to those who need to know that God is here, Emmanuel.  Right here with us.  And with Him on our side, we are more than conquerors!!!

Running the race, trusting daily,

seeking HIS face, accepting His mercy and grace,

Nancy

It's a gorgeous fall day here!  Are you enjoying it?

I want to tell you about a contest, but first I want to tell you about a sign I saw at a craft bazaar this weekend.  It said "Good Morning~ Let the Stress Begin!"  I thought it was pretty funny, but unfortunately, a bit too close to home.  We have had a lot of stress lately and are having some trouble breaking out of a pattern that has formed.  With the recent passing of my Mother, and some health issues here PLUS job related stress, we have been doing quite a bit of focusing on the negative! 

Not good at all, don't you agree? 

 So today, I am making a new motto:

Good Morning~ Let the GRACE begin!

I am talking about God's Grace towards us, and by that I mean His unmerited favor.  We aren't perfect and He knows it!  But He loves us in a way that is unfathomable. And we must remember that people and situations and relationships can be way less than perfect.  But, our heavenly Father is perfect and He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Stand on that today!  And let the Grace begin!

Now, about that contest! 

 Laura over at Laura Williams' Musings has graciously reviewed my e-Book, "Haircuts For Little Men."  If you go by and comment you will be entered in a contest to win a copy!  Also, if you link a post to it, you can get an extra entry and a greater chance of winning. 

 Blessings and good luck to you all, and a hearty THANK YOU to you Laura!  (Laura has a fantastic website, by the way!)

Nancy

 P.S., you can read an additional review here and also one right here ! 

With your homeschooling, your life, your marriage, your kids, your self......do you really trust God?

Are you dissapointed today? Confused? Mad?  At your "wicks" end, as my kids say?  (Do you feel like a candle that is just about to burn out?) 

We all get this way at some time or another.  Emotions were put into us by our Creator, so He Knows how we are feeling.  But do you sometimes forget to seperate fact from fiction.....I mean fact from feelings? 

It's a human thing, for sure.  "Been there, doing that;"somebody reading this might say.

Life isn't always a bed of roses.....or maybe it is!  Your life is a bouquet of sweet smelling lovliness, and oh so beautiful, and then suddenly "ouch!"  you happened across a thorn.  Or maybe two or three or maybe a whole two dozen stems full of thorns. 

Didn't the Lord tell us that there would be thorns?  Trials?  Persecution?  Yes, He did. 

But didn't also He say that His grace was sufficient for us? 

 Yes, He did.

So today, instead of grabbing those thorny stems again, grab ahold of the one who wore the crown of thorns for you. 

 His Grace Is Sufficient!

 Every thorn, trial, knot, flaw, loose end, frustration, injustice, embarrassment, regret or doubt is part of the tapestry called YOU.  God knows.  He knit you in your mothers womb....and is now weaving you into a beautiful picture that is your life.  Trust Him and rest in Him. 

He knows just what He is doing!

Trust Him!

Blessings,

Nancy

I just stumbled across it because I haven't been checking my rss feeds this week.....just too busy with a birthday, and holiday preparations, and cleaning, and homeschooling :)

What am I referring to?  Spunkyhomeschool is retiring.  I am so sad......sniff, oh man, now I can't see because the tears are making my mascara run......

Seriously, she's been a light house in the blogosphere, and I will miss her!  Her contributions have been above and beyond; timely, informative, clear and sound!  May the Lord continue to Bless you, Spunky, and your family for years to come!

 Thinking about what Christmas means?

Don't forget to bless someone this month who might really need a boost.  Here is an opportunity for you to do just that.  See this previous post.

I read a quote today by Corrie ten Boom today that said " You are either a missionary or a mission field."  Wow, think about that!  Especially this time of the year.....when the doors are open wider than usual.  I pray that we will all celebrate the Savior, and tell somebody!

Hey, today was somebody special's birthday.  You can stop by his blog and wish him well, if you would like!  He would be thrilled. 

Well, it's late and it has been a really wonderful start to a wonderful month.  I better get off here, but I did want to say that we went and heard a wonderful choir and orchestra perform Handel's Messiah this last week.  I sat there in awe, and just drank in the beauty and power of it.  If you get a chance to take your kids to hear it this year, do go!  First look it up though, and tell them how it came about.  It is a powerful story of God's hand, not only in the making of the music, but the story of our redemption within the music.  If you go, just close your eyes and feel the music.  Drink it all in.....it is amazing!!!!

God is amazing,

Blessings!!

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

Related Tags: home education, homeschooling blogs, spunkyhomeschool, Advent, Christmas, Corrie ten Boom, Handel's Messiah,

.................probably not at all what you thought!

I was random blogging this week and came across this post by Traci. It's an older post, but I am so thankful that I found it.   Moms on assignment.  Wow.  You will love this one! 

God Bless you Traci as you take your assignment very seriously!

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz

 Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

      Do you use the Bible in your homeschooling?  How do you use it? 

 If you could only have one book to use for your homeschool curriculum, would you choose the Bible? 

 How would you describe the Bible to someone who has never heard of it? 

Although there are a thousand books or so filling up my home, my favorite is my Bible.  It is always new, always thought provoking and soul cleansing.  It is sometimes convicting and many times, the uplifting that I need when I need it.  It teaches me about who God is, who I am, what I am to be like.  It teaches me how to love my husband, nurture my kids and how to love my enemies and keeps my priorities straight.  It teaches me history, and shows me glimpses of the future~ a bright future!

The Bible is a resource nobody should be without.  It actually is way too much of a living treasure, to be called "a resource," but I have also heard it called the "instruction manual for living."  It truly is.

Now, I am not here to debate versions, but when I was younger, say......in my early 20's, I had a little pocket new testament.  It was KJV.  I knew it was important, and that I needed to read it.  But I could not understand the language.  It was too hard, to foreign, too.......King James English.  Still, I kept it and reverenced it for what it was, God's Holy Word.

One day someone introduced me to THE BOOK version of the Bible.  It was written by Kenneth Taylor, (or paraphrased by him) for his children.  Since I was still "a child" at that time, it spoke to me too. I especially liked reading the Old Testament, because I could understand it more.  After that, I could go and read a more concise version and get the whole meaning.  Or at least that which the Lord revealed to me at that time.  I don't want to be so presumptious to say that I "get" the whole Bible.  I don't.  I am always learning something new!

God's word  to us is ever changing---only because it speaks to us in new ways depending upon where we are in our journey, not because God is fickle. 

God's Word stays the same.  The Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Isn't it wonderful and calming to know that some things never change?  We deal with so many changes in our lives and for some, change is hard to handle.  We lose loved ones, change jobs, deal with illnesses, see loved ones and neighbors morv away......change happens. Houses are torn down, fields are plowed and developed, our favorite little shop closes for good.  Friends change allegiances, children grow up and people change their minds. Sometimes change is the only constant in our lives.

But we are made for change.  From the tiniest dot that we begin as, in our Mother's womb, we are changing at a rapid pace.  If we didn't, we would die. It was planned that we would grow, and with that growth we would change; not becoming different for the sake of the same, but to grow up.  The Lord knew that we must grow. We have to grow in stature and in wisdom. We must grow in knowledge and in character.  And the "changes" that go on around us are the catalysts for that growth and maturation. 

So what does the Bible have to do with any of this?  It guides us along the path of change.  It keeps us on the straight and narrow.  It feeds us and gives us purpose as we walk "this way, not that way."  And if we have stepped off the path......it gently leads us back.

The Bible is lliving, breathing, life giving sustenance for me.  I could not live the life I am supposed to live, without it.

If you haven't been introduced to the Bible, get a hold of one today and read it.  Click here for a place to start---I have compiled some links to the great lists of the Bible.  You can also click on the BibleGateway link on my sidebar and start right at the beginning, in Genesis.  And let me know what you think! 

May the reading of His Word bless you greatly today!

Nancy

Homeschooing Is Life!

©Nancy K. Baetz

 Homeschooling Is Life 2006

Related Tags: The Bible, Homeschooling Curriculum, Home Education, Books, The BOOK, changes, stress, peace, God's Word