2 c. water
3 TB. liquid Castile Soap
20-30 drops of Tea Tree Oil

~Mix well in a spray bottle. 
~Squirt on everything from baby's bottom to the cutting board!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Today Logan's father had double knee replacement surgery.

After 3 years of putting it off, hardly being able to walk at times, and chronic pain, at over 60 years of age, he finally had it done.

It was quite an undertaking.  We left for the hosptial before the sun came. We spent much of the day in the waiting room, to be there when he woke up.

We were thrilled when he arrived in the recovery room, safe, in good care, and with two brand-new knees! 

 It takes courage to sign up for something like that. I am so proud of him and so thankful that God kept him in His good care the entire time. The day was long, but we are full of greatfulness that he faired well. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Have a blessed and Joyful day,

Shannon

James 3:16 – “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder…”

Ever have one of those days when things are so loud and disorderly that if the roof caved in it wouldn’t be a surprise?  When the kids are constantly nit-picking each other and the pitch and volume of your voice just keeps getting higher and louder?  And then, dear Dad comes home to his loving family only to be bombarded with all the problems.  But never fear…SU-permom is here!  She’ll just take over Dad’s role as Head of the House and he can exercise his “authority” by gladly giving it all over to her.  But…does that really bring peace to the situation?  Does that foster love and respect in the wife’s (and children’s) heart when the family leadership roles are reversed?

There will be no peace in our homes until we find contentment by accepting our role in God’s plan for the family.  Not accepting our roles is an expression of envy and discontentment and that destroys the peace of our home.

As homeschool mothers/teachers it can be hard to “give up” our leadership role when our husband walks through the door.  All day long we’ve been giving the instructions, making the plans; being nurse, taxi driver, peace-maker, cook, teacher and Supreme Court judge.  It’s hard to lay that mantle of authority aside when Hubby comes home.

In his Advanced Home Schooling Workshop tape entitled Establishing an Orderly Home, Gregg Harris says, “All order is an outgrowth of purpose.”  He goes on to explain that a coach has a goal in mind and therefore decides what places on the team (what roles) each player plays.  “Take away the goal post and the play has no purpose.”  When we have a goal, or a vision, our various roles will then make sense.  When everyone is doing their own “thing” then there is great disorder; disorder brings no glory to God.  If we see and participate in our place on the team, we have order; order does bring glory to God.  God’s glory is our goal!

God has specific roles for each member of the family.  When women are willing to take their proper place in God’s order they get more of the man they wish they had!  We can’t keep going to God in prayer asking Him to make our husbands the godly leader we wish they were if we don’t honor our husbands by letting him assume his role as leader of our home.  This is NOT about superiority vs. inferiority, but about places on the team, about restoring the household to its proper place.  My friend, Jami S., is one of the most godly women I know.  I once heard her say something that I have kept written in my day-timer:  “My humbleness will get me further than my pride.”  God is a loving God and wants us to understand true submission and my Bible says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  (Eph. 5:21)  That’s reason enough for me!

Moreover, what is our example teaching our children?  Oh dear, I hear that old saying running through my head again, “Children learn more from what is caught than taught.”  What are my children “catching” from me?  Just as viruses have a tendency to work their way through a household this time of year, attitudes also work their way through.  What attitude about places on the team work their way (for good or bad) to my children?

As we practice submission to our husbands we ought always hold them up in prayer.  Remember, the man carries the heavier burden.  He is responsible before God to put his very life on the line, to give his life for us!  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…”  (Eph. 5:25)

I certainly realize that we homeschool moms have a lot on our plates already…but when we live out our roles, peace will begin to reign and those loads might just become lighter.  Our attitudes will be turned to respect and a deeper love for our husbands (Eph. 5:33) that our children will “catch” and take with them into their own homes in years to come.

Blessings from Ohio,

Kim Wolf<><

I have been very busy, in case you noticed that I have not posted for two weeks now. So sorry!!

Isn't this a lovely photo above? Little Miss Muffett.. so sweet. Makes me want to crawl in the photo and  "sit along side her."

I have had a very busy week in my kitchen. ( throught my house, but here is the kitchen part LOL)  I Made a few things that turned out real nice.

These are just some of those goodies that we,  and even some neighbor- friends, enjoyed this week:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pecan Shingles:

Graham Crackers

Butter

Brown Sugar

Vanilla

Crushed Pecans

Directions:

* Line a jelly roll pan, or any other pan with sides, with your graham crackers. Make sure the grahams touch.

*Melt equal amounts of butter to brown sugar on your stovetop. Add some vanilla, a teaspoon is fine. Bring to a boil, stir a little, remove from heat. Should be thick like a heavy pancake syrup. If it's not, just add a bit more sugar and melt it down some more.

*Pour that 'syrup of happiness' overtop of the grahams.

*Sprinkle the chopped pecans all over the top of the happy grahams.

*Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool.

*Share with a friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Autumn Fruit Salad

Granny Smith apples (half dozen, or more if you need more food!)

1/4 Cup (or less) Apple Cider, cold

1/2 Cup Shredded Coconut ( I use all natural)

1/2 Cup Raisins

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup Walnuts, whole pieces

1/2 Cup Vanilla Yogurt

Directions

* Do not peel apples. Core & chop apples into bite size, nickel sized pieces.

* Stir in apple cider slowly, just enough to cover/coat your apples well. Not runny! This was something I thought of instead of using lemon juice or orange juice. It not only worked, but it kicked up this salad in a big way!!

* Add all remaining ingredients, except for the yogurt. Toss well.  Enjoy.

Note: It's better if you have a short while to refrigerate this sald. Then, just blend in the yogurt directly before serving. Just make sure that you don't add the yogurt and then let it sit around. It will get runny:( and not pretty! LOL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following casserole I made for the ladies table at our local homeschool co-op. We each take a week to make a casserole. This is just your typical morning casserole. Although, I made it larger, in an 11 X 15 pyrex dish, instead of the 9 X 13. I was very happy with the result. The ladies loved it.

Strata Bake

1 Lb Sausage, cooked, drainned & crumbled

6 Eggs, beaten

2 C. Milk

1 1/2 C Shredded Cheeses. ( I used Colby Jack & Swiss)

6-8 Slices white bread, crusts trimmed

salt & pepper to taste

You made also add:

Onion, green pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms.

Directions

*Butter your casserole dish.

*Place bread slices in bottom of dish.

*Beat eggs and milk together, add your salt & pepper.  Set aside.

*Place sausage on top of bread.

* Spread around the cheese.

*Top the cheese with any extras, like onions, etc.. (I added sauteed onions/peppers to mine)

*Sprinke more cheese if you want.

*Pour your egg/milk mixture, evenly over your casserole.

*Refrigerate Overnight

***Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until it looks brown/ready.

( ( THE ABOVE CLIPART IS COURTESTY OF DESIGNEDTOAT.COM)) Thanks!!

MAKING CENTS ($$$) OF IT ALL....

The apple dish above was, yet, ANOTHER, dish that I made from those 3 bushels of apples that I got for ten bucks on our anniversary trip. Sounds nuts that they would still be good. But, I have kept close watch on them, on my cold front porch. When stored outside, they really do last a very long time. YIPPEE. I still have enough left of 3 different kinds to make a heaping more load of goodies. Lucky you'all!! hee, hee,hee.

The nuts, I usually try to buy one pack of nuts each week. That way I don't break the bank. I just replenish. I always, though, try to buy double or even tripple of those during this time of year. At Kroger this past week, all nuts were 3.99 per LB. That is a very good price. Especially for pecans. Those pecans are so costly. I love this time of year!!!

Butter is simply dirt cheap right now. It is 1.50$ per Lb at Walmart for their brand.  Land O Lakes is 2.00$, which is still a really good deal.

Disapointed that COSTCO raised the price of their heavy cream this month. They can't fool me!

Chocolate chips are also dirt cheap right now. Stock up now if you can. Freeze them too, along with the nuts, butter, and other goodies. A homemaker can never have enough staples in the pantry. In the longrun, this is truly what saves money. All kinds of things can be created in the spur of a moment.:)

Walmart also has very large bags of sugar for around $10.74$, for 25 Lbs. 

If you can purchase one large item each week, then all this will slowly fill your pantry. Invest in your pantry. I believe this saves money, big money in the longrun.

 I love to talk saving, baking, saving!!!! Can't help it!! Just forgive my ramblings....

Love to all,

Joyfully sharing,

Shannon 

Home of the brave BECAUSE of the free! Thank you, Veterans!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Prov. 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man [family] sharpens another.”

When you began your homeschool adventure, where was it that you went to ask questions, get answers, find the camaraderie of many shoulders to cry on and find out that your child wasn’t a freak because he was having trouble with his nine times-tables?  Where was it that you could count on someone with experience to be there for you?

Does “support group” ring a bell to anyone?

I hate to say it, but in many areas support groups are going the way of snow in summer-time…they seem to be melting away and fading into the atmosphere.  And I say, “what a shame!”

It’s come to my attention that many of our precious experienced homeschoolers are starting to drift away from attending their area support group meetings.  Do they feel that they have out-grown them?

Look at it this way:  if I take two pieces of rusty, dull iron – I have two pieces of rust, dull iron!  J  But if I rub them together, something great happens; they start to change.  They become a little sharper, they become a little brighter and shinier.  They become something usable.  Iron can’t sharpen iron unless there is friction between the two…they have to meet together.

As I asked you in the beginning, think about when you were a new homeschooler and your child just wasn’t catching on to a concept and, at your wit’s end, you went to your homeschool support group and started asking around for help.  Lo and behold!  There was a wonderful, experienced mom there who had actually “been there, done that”!  You went home, tried her advice and it worked!

Now…think of this:  A new homeschool mom, full of hopes and dreams and fears comes to your homeschool support group.  Her child just isn’t catching on to a concept and she’s at her wit’s end; and after coming to your support group she starts asking around for help.  Lo and behold!  Does she find it from you…OR is this one of those nights when you decided you just didn’t want to go tonight?  After all, what more do YOU need to learn about homeschooling since you’ve done it for so long?

Well, what if the reason you are to STILL attend your group has changed?  What if it’s now a ministry?  What if the reason that new homeschool mom leaves the meeting a little sadder and a little more fearful and discouraged is because YOU weren’t there to answer her questions the way someone was there for you?

Isn’t it time for us to be there for a new generation of homeschoolers?  Isn’t it time for us to share our experiences, our triumphs, our joys and even our failures with the new crowd?  Isn’t that part of our Titus 2 duty?  Did the Lord really make you a part of your group JUST so you could get a newsletter, go to gym or co-op or field trips, find out about curriculum sales and legislative updates?  I don’t think so.

This is a new season in our lives and an opportunity to shine as examples of experienced homeschool moms!

Let’s not be a part of the “me, me, me” crowd…we’re past that.  Let’s be the Lord’s hands and feet and minister to our sisters and their families and ease some of those fears and build some dreams!  After all, a long time ago someone cared enough to be there for you.  Now it’s your turn.

Blessings,

Kim Wolf<><

A Quiet Sun, a Cold Winter

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a colder-than-normal winter. One contributing factor is sunspots—or the lack of them!

This year and next, sunspot activity will be very, very light. Whenever this phenomenon has occurred in the past, the result has been a cooling influence on Earth. Solar experts believe that the Sun will remain calm for another year.
See sunspot activity for 2009.

Robert B. Thomas, who founded this Almanac in 1792, believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots and solar radiation. Sunspots are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Click here to read “What Are Sunspots?”


To this day, the Almanac uses three disciplines to predict the weather: meteorology, climatology, and solar activity. (See How We Predict the Weather.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sun’s effect on our climate, read “The Influence of Solar Activity on the Weather.”

Or, join this forum: “Are Sunspots Disappearing?”

Seasons of the Sun

Learn about the discovery of the 11-year solar cycle and its importance in predicting the frequency of sun spots and the strength of solar storms.

       SUMMIT COUNTY HOMESCHOOL BEE

CHEC will host the local Homeschool Geographic Bee on Friday December 4, from 3-4 p.m. at The Chapel (Akron Campus).

The National Geographic Bee is a geographic competition open to all students in grades 4 to 8. Our local Bee is for homeschooled students who reside in Summit County and surrounding communities.  The winner of this Bee will take a written test to qualify for the State Bee. 

To register or get more information, contact Bob Mellen at robert.mellen@att.net.  Send the name, age, and grade of the child(ren) you wish to participate. You must register by December 2.

The cost of the Bee materials is provided by a gift from 4 Corners Maps, an on-line map store found at www.4cornersmaps.com.

Here is the most recent photo of Providence. My friend Susan V took the photo in our yard this week.

She is growing up so fast. Wish you could see her face, but doesn't she look cute?

Notice the shirt? I LOVE CANDY... Thought it appropriate being that it's the 31st. LOL!

We aren't going trick-or-treating, but we are going to a church party tonight. Scheduled for the men tonight is a chilli cook-off. For the women, a dessert baking contest.

Logan started his chilli last night. Those pots of goodness always taste better on day two.

As for my dessert? Well, I am up for the challenge. I am making a Chocolate-Pecan Pie and Apple-Cake. Two desserts, just to have extra food on hand. A pie doesn't ever seem big enough~hee,hee,hee.

I am looking forward to seeing our boys dressed up like shephards. Last year folks thought that they were jedis. It was really funny, watching the boys faces when people would comment. The little guys would say something silly like, "No, Maam, I'm a SHEPHARD~!"

Blessings and Joy to all- It's another beautiful day~!

Joyful Happy Harvest Day,