Foofee's Zoo

Thanks HSB!

Homeschool blogger was my first introduction to blogging.  Actually, before reading an article in The Old Schoolhouse mag, I had not even heard of blogging.  OK, so maybe I was a bit behind the times, but hsing four little ones left little time for much else.  I was so intrigued with the idea, I checked it out and was immediately hooked.  What an awesome way to share my faith, trials and triumphs along the homeschool road.  Homeschool blogger allowed me to get my blogging feet wet and learn html (through much trial and error) in a safe and supportive environment.

Though I've made the move to Blogger, I will always be grateful for the wonderful environment created here at HSB and for the friends I made along the way.  I hope you'll click over and say hello at The Potter's Hand.  Leave me a note and let me know your blogging story.  What got you started and what motivates you to keep writing?

Been sleeping...

I know its been forever since I've blogged...with homeschooling, working, life, and moving...I've been a little tied up, as it were. 

Now its 2009, and I am happy to be in January.  Last January I was excited to be entering a new year too...so I don't want to be too thrilled.  Its just another year!

Wy, Morg, Cole, and maybe Seth are going to be getting ready for baseball/softball season.  Wy's season will start earlier as it is a christian high school sport.  Then we will be busy running the other 3 around, unless decides not to play again. 

In the fall we were busy with Wy in 1st year football and Morg in volleyball with a christian middle school.  Morg and Cole were talking basketball, but we asked they take a break for a couple of months.  Thankfully, they agreed. 

Now I am taking down decorations today and going to do lesson plans tomorrow.  We are ready for the start of the second half of the year to begin.

Julia

Backing up your blog

I used to play softball in elementary through high school.  So I love to throw the ball around with my kiddies.  Unforunately I'm not the same "person" as I was then.  Apparently after trying to throw the ball as far as my 9yo son encourages me to throw it, doesn't agree with my muscles. 

Monday night before my daughter's softball game, my 9yo son wanted to play catch.  So I did.  He kept backing up and I kept saying, "You're too far.  Scoot in some!"  He responded, "Naw, mom you throw it and I'll catch it." 

Well, I threw it and he tried to catch it.  We had fun.  Then Tuesday afternoon my back (right lower side) asked Was it worth it? every time I tried to move.  Fun! 

I went to sleep last night and woke up with it worse this morning, due partly to my 5yo son's legs wrapped around me during the night.  I was so tired I don't even remember him climbing in bed.  I've been icing it and taking Ibuprofen when I can't take the pain any longer. 

Thank you Lord for muscles that work right (most of the time) and family who encourage my competitive spririt!

Julia 

New video!

I put a new video on my page.  David Crowder Band's video O Praise Him!  What an awesome song.  I saw them in the Spring 07 and they were awesome.  What a great worship time!!  Although I enjoy Toby Mac, I thought it was time for some worship tunes from this band. 

Enjoy and have a blessed week,

JB

Moving on

The Potter's Hand can now be found here.  I hope you'll update your feed and stop by my new place. 

Thanks to HSB for allowing me to blog here for the last two years.  It's been a wonderful experience.

Side splittin' funny

If you've never heard of Tim Hawkins, you're in for a real treat!  This man is good, clean fun for the whole family.  I've been laughing for twenty minutes watching on-line clips.

After you watch the homeschool video on his site, check out his schedule to see if he will be in a town near you soon.

Resolutions - practically speaking

There's just something about the new year that makes me seriously contemplate life.  I'm not quite sure what it is.  Other than the passage of time, there is no difference between December 31st at 11:59 p.m. and January 1st at 12:00 a.m.  I guess it's the possibilities a new year brings.  A chance to make changes...to continue striving towards the goal.

I journaled extensively yesterday during my quiet time.  As I poured out my heart to the Lord, my mind turned to the practicality of my goals.  Looking over the list, I began to see a need to quantify what I was hoping to accomplish.  Goals need to be specific.  There needs to be some way to measure whether or not we have achieved what we set out to do.  Though maybe a noble goal, "To become a better person" is difficult the assess.

My main goal for 2008 is to know the LORD more deeply by the end of the year than I do now.  Again, a great goal, but how will I know if I have succeeded?  Here comes the practical part.  I have determined to memorize one new scripture verse a week pertaining to some area the LORD is speaking to me about.  As I meditate on the verse, hiding it in my heart, I am coming to know the Author more deeply.  Just think, at the end of the year that's 52 verses committed to memory.  This week's verse pertains to my words.  If you've been reading here awhile, you might remember I have a certain affinity for sticking my foot in my mouth.  "Anyone who guards what he says guards his life.  But anyone who speaks without thinking will be destroyed." Proverbs 13:3

Another place the rubber meets the road is my exercise goal.  Ugh...I even hesitate to make goals like these because, as I've mentioned many times, I hate to exercise.  Mentally battling myself each day is not cutting it.  I need something more and since Jillian (the kick butt trainer from The Biggest Loser) is not knocking on my door offering her services, I came up with another solution.  A friend and I are going to work towards running a 5K together.  Luckily this friend LOVES to exercise, teaches kick boxing even.  It's all about accountability my friend.  Maybe I can get her to dress in all black and act tough like Jillian.  Nah, Linz, you're too nice!

Anyone else setting goals for the new year?

Happy New Year!

“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” - Jim Rohn “Time is the justice that examines all offenders.” - William Shakespeare “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” - Henry Van Dyke “Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.” - Thoreau

Time.  It's a funny thing.  Mike said to me recently he wished he had a few more hours in each day.  Maybe an extra 120 minutes would help him mark a few more things off his to-do list and leave a bit more time for relaxing.  That's the funny thing about time.  It's much like water.  It will fill whatever container it is placed in.   If adding more time to our day would solve our problem of busyness, I'd be all for it.  I have a hunch that were we granted those extra moments, we would find other things to fill them with. 

2007 brought a lot of change for our family.  Someone once said, "The only constant is change."  While change may be inevitable, I would have to disagree with the premise.  I have found the only constant in my life is Christ.  He is what sustained us through our year of uncertainty.

As I look at 2007 in our rearview mirror, I see some times that felt, well, quite long.  Seasons that at times I felt would never end.  Transitions, changes...they're all part of life, some are just a bit more fun than others. 

I have no idea what lies behind the door marked 2008.  Whatever it is, we will face it with the assurance that He knows the plans He has for us and has promised they are for our good and not for evil. 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." 

Happy 2008!

Potty training - Disney style

Not quite sure how to potty train your little one?  Bribe them with Disneyland!

Here's the scoop on the poop (sorry, I couldn't resist!).  We have been struggling with Emma for over a year on the second half of potty training.  We have tried everything...literally.  Can't watch her favorite TV show?  No problem for her.  No sweets?  OK, she can deal with that.  She actually asked one day what I was going to take away next.  Tell me she is not a bright child!  She simply refused to do what she knew we wanted her to do.

Now, before you start leaving me comments about the merits of positive reinforcement, we tried that route too.  Sticker charts, candy, heaps of praise, clapping, hugging, parades through the house...yep, we tried it all.

Enter Mickey Mouse.  Yes, I told her that if she did not stop pooping in her pants she was not going to Disneyland.  OK, I realize that move will not win me mother of the year, but I don't think I was in the running anyway.  We were simply sick of dealing with the poop! 

You know what?  It worked!  She is so excited about going to Disneyland that she has decided she is now a big girl and will go in the potty. 

Please don't ask me what would have happened if the whole smelly mess had blown up in my face.  We won't go there.

Suffice it to say we are even more excited to not have to deal with potty training while at Disney.  Hey, maybe it really IS the happiest place on earth!