Hi to you all

This is just a quick message to let everyone know that I am only allowing registered users to comment on my blog. I have done this because my husband has had an obscenely offensive comment put on his blog by an annonymous person. He has had to block anyone viewing his very first entry because it is that bad. Certainly not something you want your kids reading.

It is so awful that people feel the need to use HSB as a platform for their own rantings against anyone and everyone.

Anyway on a brighter note we are all off to my parents this weekend and then the older three are staying there for the rest of the week for a holiday. I don't know what I'll do with myself Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!

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Delight yourself in the Lord,

And he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37 v 4

My dear friend Jane (AKA Dear lord I feel like a whale )beautifully wrote out and framed this verse as a gift for our wedding nearly ten years ago. It hangs in our hallway and I read it at least once a day as I go past. This verse has always been very precious to me and I feel that this particular promise from God is always going to be one I need to cling to. It is so easy to get lost in the busyness and stress of life and to lose sight of what the desires of our heart are. If we delight in Him our desires will be His desires and then we will find contentment and peace because we know that we are asking for the things that our Father wants us to have.

God has filled his Word with so many promises that are ours for the asking. He will never disappoint or break those promises. He is faithful and just.

Praise and worship our Wonderful Heavenly Father today.

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My very beloved and darling husband has begun a campaign to scupper my not so excessive blogging time. I have to admit I could spend inordinate amounts of time blogging but I think DH setting up his own blog is a bit mean.

Actually I am really pleased because I think he has a lot to offer. Granted this will be mostly in the geeky world of computing but he knows stuff that would make your brain spin if you are an amateur like me. Anyway we will have to (very amicably of course) share out computer time and try very hard to remember that we have 4 kids who would obviously get a little cheesed off if we didn't give them some attention!!!!! :) :) :)

I think it is really important for our guys to get on board as much as possible with homeschooling and I hope that more of our dear men set up blogs so that they can share their skills and knowledge and support each other in becoming the amazing men of God that He planned them to be.

By the way my hubby's blog is Harrier ( in a previous life aka before marriage etc he was majorly into Flying and nearly got into the RAF.) So check it out.

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Well I can safely say I have just had a truly wonderful weekend.

I have just dropped Mia off at the station ( middleearthmom) and I feel really sad. I have only known her for a couple of days but I feel like I have made a friend for life. So really this entry is for her. She has been an enormous blessing and encouragement to not only me but my family. We have had a great time, done alot of non stop talking ( something I love to do) and eaten alot of good food!!!! ( something I love to do even more.) Also I have been able to find out some great home schooling ideas and received some really good advice.

So thank you Mia for coming to stay and thankyou too to her family who let her come all this way for such a long time.

Many thanks also to Paul and Paulie it was great to meet you and I hope I didn't poison you!!!!!

Love Deb

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One of the things I have been fascinated with during the few months of blogging is all of you out there who are into scrapbooking.

I had never really thought much about it and it doesn't appear to be something you hear alot about here in England but it is something that really appeals to me.

I would love to hear from any of you who want to share their hobby and pass on some tips.

I am also wanting to get into cake decorating and have just bought some books on how to do it. I have never been very artistic but I am of the opinion that you must be able to learn and I am hoping that when I have some free time there must be something to do other than fall asleep on the sofa!!!!!

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My Mum rang me earlier to let me know that they wouldn't be coming today as my mum is full of a cold. How gutted am I?

My kids cry when they don't get to see them (they live 2 hours away in Manchester) but I must admit I feel like doing the same. My mum is one of my best friends and I count the days till the are due to arrive or we get to go there. I don't think I will ever grow too old to want a hug from her. It's Mothers Day here in the UK next Sunday and the good thing about them not coming this weekend is that they will be here next week instead.

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I went to an event called the Education show with some fellow home schooling chums on Saturday. The place, NEC in Birmingham was huge and you feel like you are in a large airport terminal. We wandered round getting freebies thrust into our hands as often as we got odd looks when they read our badges. Home Educator at a school exhibition, talk about walking into the lions den.

Alot of the stuff was completely irrelevant to us but I managed to find some really good stuff that will help loads. The thing that struck me most is just how daunting it must be to teachers when they look at all the subject material and try and decide how to cover all they have to teach to 30 kids from such varied backgrounds with such varied needs. I was reminded again of how glad I am that we can home school our children and meet their individual needs in an environment that nutures and develops our fanily's Christian beliefs.

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One of the most amazing things about this blog is how people can share each others burdens and ask for prayer knowing that there are thousands of people all around the world who will respond to them. Prayer is the most powerful gift that God has given us and no Christian is exempt from it. How wonderful that we have an open channel to our Father God who hears our cries for help and answers them in truly miraculous ways.

It has been a hard, sad, traumatic week for so many. But praise God they are not alone. They are covered and surrounded by the prayers and love of many people they have never met as well as those closest to them.

I think that no matter where we are today we can all stop a short time and continue in Prayer for those we have had brought to our attention as well as the people in our own lives who are going through very difficult times right now.

Dear Lord

I want to lift up Emily, Candace and Missey's family to you now. I pray that you will comfort them, strenghten them and be so close to them.

I pray for complete healing for Candace and Emily and that you will help their families as they help them through this dark time.

Amen

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It is so weird reading other peoples blogs as they talk about the lovely weather. Reading Genas blog today as she talks about not wanting to do any work because the day is so lovely made me smile. Here in the UK it is freezing and the wind is really cold and strong. I am sitting here trying to imagine being somewhere warm and the sun shining. In reality I am wearing a pair of my husbands socks (why are they always so much warmer?) and two jumpers and dodging the drafts that seem to get in from everywhere in this house.

When trying to explain to the children all about different time zones across the world it is also interesting to see how they react to the fact that in other parts of the world it is summer!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be great to spend all year round dodging winter by living in different hemishperes!!!

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My husband went away for the week last night and today begins the next few crazy days of managing on my own. I have never had to stay on my own with the kids before and instead of heading off to my parents I thought I would brave it.

As I went to sleep last night after making sure everything was locked up and switched off and had stopped hearing noises that weren't there I realised again how easy it is take our dear men for granted. They may be at work all day but their prescence in the home and the peace and security they bring are never more noticable when they are not here. It is very rare that my hubby has to go away and for that I am very grateful but I thank God with all my heart for him and all our guys out there who do an amazing job leading us and providing for us.

JUST HURRY UP HOME SOON!!!!!!!

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It is 6:45am and I am up with 3 out of 4 of my little tribe so I thought I would post an update about how my venture into the scary world of acting in front of 40 11 year old school children went!!!!!

I can't believe how nerve racking it felt when the group were the oldest of the children. Some of them listened to the Life Of Jesus avidly, others looked incredibly bored. It was loads easier doing my bit in front of the younger ones. Maybe because I'm used to this age group. What is so amazing is that we have had a wonderful oportunitity to share the Gospel with about 150 kids who otherwise would just get a very watered down version of the story that usually leaves out Jesus' death and resurection in the religious education lessons.

I actually really enjoyed myself and it was great to work with other people from my church in this kind of thing. I am usually doing stuff in the kitchen or sunday school.

By the way I made my costume out of an old sheet with a hole cut in for my head. Can't claim to its ability to make me look slim!!!!! but it served its purpose.

Have a great day.

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Today was one of those embarrasing days when you wish the floor would swallow you up.

Our church is hosting a Bible Exhibition over the next few days and the topic is the Life Of Jesus. The local primary school will send its classes to different sessions and will get some "Religious Education". It is really good fun and they also do some food tasting made up of different foods a bit like waht they would have eaten in Bible times.

We have been to similar exhibitions before but this year as it is at our church we get the added bonus (not) of acting in it. This happens to be one of my worse nightmares but I am also not very good at saying no!!!!!!

I had to try on my costume this morning after church ( bear in mind it is the day before it starts) and as I struggled to get it over my head I realised that as I am far from a size 12 ( under statement) I was going to have to give up. How embarrassing to have to tell the Pastor that due to my slightly larger than average size!!!!!???? the lovely outfit just wasn't going to fit.

Its one of those times when I am glad I can laugh at myself but Oh joy I have now less than 24 hours to come up with a suitable outfit depicting the character of the Bride of Cana. (thank goodness I haven't got to find a wedding dress though.)

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I can hardly believe it is the end of January already. Where does the time go? You can see how easy it is to wish your life away especially at this cold time of year. Summer holidays are just around the corner it seems and we haven't even got to Easter yet.

One of the things I have never been very good at is taking one day at a time. I am always in a rush and as my Mum is forever telling me, crossing bridges before I have got to them. My piano teacher is always telling me to slow my music down so I can fit in the hard bits.

I am learning though to enjoy each day and make the most of every little thing that happens especially with the Kids. It is so easy to miss things in the rush to move on to the next exciting occurance. God has promised us all we need for TODAY and although I am sure He doesn't mind us looking forward to things, he wants us to gain strength and joy and peace from him for this day.

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We are hopefully half way through having our kitchen fitted. What a mammoth job it is turning into. Every time the poor fitter takes out a cupboard he finds more problems to undo and and I keep anticipating walking in to find a wall has fallen down.

We have lived here for 2 years and it is one of those houses where you take things down or lift things up at your peril. I can wait a long time I'm sure before starting another project.

I can't wait though till I can get cooking again and for once in my life I'm looking forward to filling my washing machine. This kind of thing certainly makes you realise how easy life has become domestically. Who could imagine life without a washing machine and I could now easily talk myself into believing a dishwasher is an essential now instead of a luxury.

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Hi out there!!!

I am slowly begining to realise just how busy we can get. One minute we feel like things tick over nicely, then all of a sudden things really hot up.

Since Christmas the girls have finally after a long wait got places at Rainbows and Brownies. This has meant our week runs like this:-

Monday- Kids Club at Church

Tuesday- Brownies

Wednesday- Ballet, Rainbows and Home Group( church)

Thursday - Deb Piano lesson

Friday - Hubby Youth Group ( church)

Saturday - Ballet

Sunday Church

I know that many of you this may look light weight but we have gone from having most evenings free to as you can see none free. I wrestle alot with this kind of thing ie. whether the Kids need all this activity and trying to decide if it is good for them or not. What do you think?

On a different note, thankyou to those who posted recipes for cookies. I am still interested in anyones yummy recipes so keep them coming please.

Love Deb

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Calling all lovers of cooking out there.

I was wondering if any one had any seriously yummy cookie recipes. We are big fans in our house but as yet haven't discovered a really good recipe for home made ones.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received and tested by 6 food loving people.

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I love Sundays when you don't feel all rushed and hot and bothered even before you have arrived at church. Today has been one of those days. The kids were all bathed and hair washed the night before and I got on with preparing dinner well in advance.

This afternoon we have been to a place called Foxton Locks not far from where we live. It is where different canal routes converge at a large set of locks. The children love it there although for an adult it can be a lump in the throat experience as you try and keep them away from the sides. Today has been one of those beautiful, cold, misty days in winter that I love. It is great to get out as a family and be in the countryside. The children have come home covered in mud, wet through and tired out and Me and hubby have come home tired but relaxed. Nature in winter is wonderful and it is awesome to see Gods creation at this time of year when everything seems dead but really it is just waiting patiently to burst forth into life again.

I have now only this evening to do my preparation for tomorrow, the mountain of ironing is still there and the dish washer needs loading but it has been worth it to get out and have the cobwebs blown away.

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Hello and good morning. I am making the most of still being in holiday mode and indulging in my blog again. No doubt that come Monday there will be hardly any time to spend on myself. This weekend I have to knuckle down to some preparation for next weeks lessons.

Our trip to the hairdresser went extremely well. Isaac was such a good boy very grown up and proud to be nearly four. Jacob now is the owner of a smart new hair cut and he looks like a proper little boy. He also had his first pair of shoes yesterday.

 It was a day of moving on for me. It is always hard when the baby of the family starts to grow up especially when there probably wont be any more ( I've had 4 c/sections). It is hard not to feel a little bereft but as my husband points out to me we can enjoy watching them grow up and being fascinated by them at any age has to be the key. The other advantage of them not being quite so little is that you also venture out alot more, confident in the knowledge that they will stay close by and not break anything. I had to go into the local music shop as well yesterday to buy some new piano music and felt brave enough to not put Jacob in his pushchair. Can you tell that I am trying to talk myself out of baby mode!!!!!

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After much thought and dampening down of my inbuilt fear of computers I have decided to have a go at blogging. My friend Jane a.k.a dear lord I feel like a whale has done an excellent job in convincing me I can do it so hear goes.

My Husband who has just arrived home from house group has already had to help me sign in so anyone who kindly reads my blog please bear with me.

I am 32 years old, married to my computer programming, wonderful, patient and tolerant husband Mark and we have four great children. Leah is 7, Hannah is 5, Isaac is nearly 4 and Jacob who is 13 months old.

We live a fairly hectic life in Leicester UK and I am very much a work in progress as regards to homeschooling. We have been learning at home for nearly 3 years and we feel very much called to it by God and this is what sustains us through the times when we are finding it hard. We are also very blessed by having so many friends who homeschool near by so we are never on our own.

I have read alot of other peoples blogs and they have all helped to inspire me and have given me encouragement to keep going so thank you to you all and keep it up you are a great blessing from God.

Anyway after a great Christmas holiday we are all gearing up to start back at lessons with a few groans from our oldest who would quite happily spend all her time with her nose in a book and definitely no writing!!!!

Well that is all for today as after taking up piano lessons again recently after many years I really must do some practice and empty my washing machine for what feels like the millionth time today. I look forward with eager anticipation to any comments that may come my way and my husband has promised me that he will help me jazz up my blog soon.

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