While I'd like to lay claim to the title of this entry, it is from my Devotions for Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellford. In this entry she brings the question, did we count the cost accurately for homeschooling? The author notes that she has had to sacrifice a lot, and only has time for a few close homeschooling friends even. Time for oneself is virtually invisible when you homeschool, though still I find myself feeling as though I should cut out even more. For this reason I've been debating on deleting my VAThinker blog, which I've already purged of multitudes of political postings, since it was created for the Presidential election. I've also pondered nixing Facebook since it is a time sucker for a mom who has 3 precious children to nurture. 

I'm feeling low right now, so won't make any decisions. I suppose what I need to do is get over this miserable cough and feel better, but also find someone who needs encouragement and do what I can. That is what usually helps when we need something, give it away, right?       

"Lord, you are holy and just and worthy of praise. Forgive me of my selfishness and pride, and please help me not to waste time, but to realize how fast these children are growing. Help me maximize our learning together and be compassionate toward them. Bless me with friendships that encourage me in this task of mothering and being a godly wife, and bless my children with honorable friends that they will have for a lifetime. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

You know how anytime a person is into a specific niche, whether it be scrapbooking, quilting, Civil War re-enactment, homeschooling, natural eating etc., they find friends and community there? Well, tonight while having a visit with a friend at a coffee place (neither of us got coffee so I can't say we went out for coffee), we got to talking about the homeschool community. We didn't chat about it for long, but I think about it from time to time. I was sharing how I'm continually amazed at how interconnected the hs community is. So many women know other women really well, sometimes people whom I had no idea had ever met. It's very interesting!            

When I became a born-again Christian my community expanded beautifully. I found people who almost felt like old friends right away. We shared a common bond that ran very deep. It is similar with homeschooling. I've met myriads of homeschoolers where I live now.  Something neat that I've learned the last couple of years is that those of us who home educate share so much without ever having to say a word, and if we're talking to fellow Christian home educators, well, we could practically call each other old friends from day one ;-). Ok, not exactly, but the bond is wonderful and I have grown to appreciate it more and more.             

There was a time in my life I felt I had to be everyone's best friend. I spent lots of time cultivating my relationships because closeness is something I thrive on. But God in His goodness and wisdom allowed me to become a part of a vast home educating world where I currently live, full of gifted women who are friends with everyone. So I've learned in this, and through them by God's grace, am free from my shackles. It's been a while since this happened, but I didn't want to share my good news until I was sure it was genuine. It feels so freeing to not worry if someone has closer friends than me. I can be a fringe friend or one of several close friends, and it is all good. I'm actually seeing the benefits to not being someone's "go to" gal!!        

The most important lesson God has taught me in recent years is that my husband truly is my best friend in the whole wide world. Hands down. He gets the prize. I need my girlfriends something terrible, but without my man, I'd be lost.  Of course, I don't know if that matters so much to him, but I need to be able to say it .                                         

Getting back on the canning horse was an adventure this year. Thankfully my friend was interested in learning, so as I relearned, she picked up a few things and went on home to can alone the next day! (yes, she's amazing in many ways)                                                                                                          

the orchard  

A seasoned applesauce canner shared her secret of going to the orchard and getting damaged apples. We bought a variety of very nice looking "damaged" apples for $16/bushel! Regular price is around $24 bushel if you go to the orchard. Stands that sell fresh local produce will run you about $30 a bushel, so we were pleased. A bushel of apples will make approximately 13 quarts of sauce.                                                                                                         

there's more fun at the orchard than just apples

After getting the apples washed, we got down to business. All we did was cut out the bad spots, cook them, run them through a seive (one of used a foley mill but the seive is better), cook the sauce, and can them.

one bushel of apples

the rare photo of me

applesauce

finished product (what's left of it)

If you would like to try your hand at canning, applesauce is an easy way to start. You won't save money the first year due to purchasing needed supplies, but after that you will save and it's so much tastier.

I would love to be someone who awakens before dawn regularly. When my dh is home, I could go work out and have a quiet time before anyone in my house is stirring.              

This morning I was up at 4 am, and decided to remain up and about. The laundry could not be any worse off, and the laundry room has been in need of some organizing yet again . The dishes in the kitchen have been advertising for a new sink and cabinet to any home that will clean them, so my choice was pretty simple.        

This is a lovely feeling to have accomplished much before the children rise. Only trouble is, at 7 am, it's about time for a nap .

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for all this election hoopla to be over with. It's kind of like being at the end of pregnancy for me; at some point you just don't care about the pain, you want the process to end. Yes, that sums me up in a nutshell. I am looking forward, however, to voting for a great patriot later today.                             

I have to admit, I cringe almost when writing that though, for fear that many of my friends and family, if they read this post, will be issuing hearty, "Amens." since I've been a little heavy with the "send" button in Outlook Express over the past few months (blushing).         

Sometimes us passionate types have a hard time reeling ourselves in! My poor husband gets the job, which sometimes, he really isn't up for LOL.   

After talking to a friend recently, I have realized that those voting for Obama have far greater faith in our federal government than I will ever have, or have ever had. You see, I am not a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent, I am a Conservative.  I do not get my opinions from any political party; I'm an independent thinker. I wrote this blog post then went looking for articles to back up what I said. Not the other way around.             

What does this mean for my view on taxes? It means I will never trust any politician to raise anyone taxes because the number at which they say they will raise them is arbitrary. Already we hear Joe Biden remarking that $150K is the threshold rather than the claimed $250K.         

I believe in fairness, and to tax a group that is very successful fiscally is a penalty and against what I believe is the American Dream, which is to work hard and do your best and you will be rewarded with success. I believe in capitalism and that it is what makes America the land of opportunity and great. I'm teaching my kids to do just this, and it is NOT so this government can get a bunch of what they make. In my opinion even 35% is too much to tax, let alone 37%.               

Here is something I find dizzying. Liberals are known to make as much or more money than Conservatives, yet they give FAR less to charity. They claim to be the ones who care because they are all for more government programs to help the needy. Their idea of generosity, ironically, does not require personal sacrifice, it requires taxing everyone so that money can be given to programs, where they apparently trust and believe that the feds will rightly distribute it.

Conservatives give the majority of money to charity and are against taxing to provide. We are the ones who make personal sacrifices to help others, that in my view is the accurate measure of true generosity. Higher taxes will make it harder for Conservatives to give as much as we do, so overall, liberals are REALLY demonstrating great trust in our government.     

You know who I trust with our money? US! I believe in the good of caring American's, and it's been demonstrated. If Liberals would just personally do what Conservatives do financially, there would be no need to penalize any group in our society.

The ugly truth is that Liberals are not generous and they don't care about the needy as much as they'd like us to believe they do-maybe they've deceived themselves even. The Bible says in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Generosity IS a matter of the heart, and saying you are while not personally demonstrating it --isn't it.    

We did very little school today. No, not so we could attend the rally for Sarah Palin; we went to one a couple weeks ago. I'm so glad we did it then since the weather stunk today!                               

My plan had been to distribute pro-life materials from www.nrlc.org to my neighbors, but with the rain, that was not a good idea. I'd hoped to do a lot of laundry...catching up on the fall clothing switch-over still.                                      

I did get to some laundry, but overall, the day has been spent on politics. I'm feverishly working to educate voters via the Internet about certain issues in this campaign. I think it is defined by socialism and if one is a socialist, they should vote on way; if one is not, they should vote the other way. What is unfortunate is that many people do not understand socialism.

At the gas station today I saw a man with a McCain/Palin sticker, so I struck up a conversation. He said he doesn't care about Obama's socialism, but he cares that he hasn't completed one #@!$% term in the US Senate. I could tell by his tone he was passionate about that.

Well now, ok.                                          

I simply said I care about that AND his socialism.           

Interesting moment with a stranger.                  

My dh and I have some friends who moved out of the area but are passing through on their way home from vacation. We all went out tonight, sans children, and had so much fun laughing and catching up. It really was great to see them after a couple months of missing each other.          

Our kids are friends so had a wild time with the 2 wonderful sitters we had come watch all of them (7 kids total). After everyone left and the fun had passed, our gang had a meltdown, overly tired and crying about many things. That part nearly ruined our night! Well, for one of us .         

My friend's hair is lighter than usual and I really like the color. My hair is completely natural, but given how distraught I've been over this election, I'm thinking a change is in order. Not one that will take away my freedom, my guns, or my money, but one that will leave my hair less oily and lighter! So, before they all head out of town, I'm heading to CVS so she can help me color my locks .

My dh and I grew up with mom's who made Jewish Apple Cake, generally around Christmas. Their recipe's are very similar though we probably each prefer our own mother's :). Below, however, is pictured the first authentic Jewish Apple Cake we've ever had, and the lady who made it called it "Apple Cake" because she is Jewish. I found that to be very cool. Her's is so pretty.

It is hard to believe we're approaching the end of October. Have you gotten your fall clothes out? That is my weekend project. I should put a picture on here of the mess of clothes needing to be washed, but why would you want to see what you probably already have on your laundry room floor?!     

My focus these days is on relaxing as much as possible at night. Fall weather brings sleepiness to the house. Walking the dog gets tricky with it getting dark so early. I may put flyers on mailboxes in the dark tomorrow night with the dog though . That would be a great way to get the word out about the issue nearest and dearest to my heart without concern of confrontation!