Posted in Friendship

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
From Minnesota

Posted in Friendship

I'm just about to head to a dear friend's house, for our monthly Homeschool Moms Night Out.  This month our theme is Knitting and Felting, so one of the Moms who is gifted in this area is going to be teaching us some of the tricks and techniques. She put together wonderful "knitting kits" for those of us who are just beginning. Isn't that sweet?

Then afterwards, if all works out, we will be heading out back to have a campfire.  Our hostess lives in a log cabin on several acres of land, so it is the perfect spot for a get-away. That just sounds so relaxing to me right now after the crazy hectic weeks we have had.  This group started out of a basic need I had for Godly, quality, authentic relationships with other Homeschool Mom's, and little did I know just how many other moms were desiring the same.  It is beautiful to see women getting "real" and vulnerable with one another, and taking off the masks.  My prayer is this will be a wonderful place of refuge for the Mom's that need true friendship, rejuvenation, safety and support so they can get refilled and ready for the month ahead .  Last month we met at a local restaurant and got all dressed up, and this month we are "kicken it chill" by dressing down, knitting and doing smores.  I was really tempted to take advantage of the whole "dress down" thing and go without make-up, but I didn't want to scare the ladies - LOL.  Hey, I am all for relaxin, but there has to be boundaries somewhere . . . ROFL.

For the ladies who couldn't make it tonight, we will miss you and hope to see you again next month (or at one of the upcoming field trips). ((HUGS)) and many, many blessings . . .

Posted in Friendship

Posted in Friendship

Thank you to my dear friend Melody (Annointed) who nominated me for the Nice Matters Award.  I am so humbled and touched by her words and friendship, as she said:

"She listens without judgement and truthfully prays. She brings so much joy to so many hurting women... she is a blessing!"

"The Nice Matters Award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to 4 others who you feel are deserving of this award.”

This is a really hard one for me because the Lord has blessed me with so many wonderful blogging and real-life friends.  I wish I could give this to each and every one of you. However since I can only choose 4, here are some that stand out to me:

 Dianna (Through The Eyes Of Happy Apple) 
for being with me from the very beginning of my online homeschool experience.  Her depth of love for the Lord and for His creation never ceases to amaze me.  She has also been a faithful friend and leader over at CHC (The Christian Homeschool Corner). She is so caring and generous, and I will never forget our meeting in Colorado a few years back - such warmth and true friendship. Thanks Di for always being nice, even when the fire gets hot :-)

Lisa (The Preacher's Wife) 
Although a new online friend, Lisa has shown such grace and truth through her online Bible study called "I AM, So You Don't Have To Be," and has touched my heart deeply and helped me heal after a hard year. Thank you Lisa for your transparency, gifting and heart to serve the Lord.

Becky (Lamere Classical Academy) 
I'll never forget when we first met in Connecticut at our co-op. Our daughters were "glued at the hip." Here we were two Texans relocated to New England, and now Minnesota and Florida. No matter the distance I know we are life-long friends, and your dedication to homeschooling is an inspiration. 

Allana (Allana's Christian Space) 
Another CHC bud! You have always been so sweet and your love for the Lord is radiant, even in the midst of all of your trials this year.  I appreciate your friendship, prayers and support in this journey of homeschooling together.

Posted in Friendship

You guys have got to see this, it is hysterical!  ENJOY :-) 

CLICK HERE  

Baby Got Book! ROFL

Posted in Friendship

My longtime friend and confidant Alisa, along with her eldest daughter Ashley (12), will be coming for a visit from Dallas.  We have been planning this for quite sometime, and finally get to have them visit us here in MN.

I first met Alisa while we were in Bible College, back in 1988.   We were both single and in separate dormitory/apartment buildings.  We didn't have any classes together, but would always see one another at the morning chapels, sitting relatively closeby.  However, we truly connected - strangely enough - at the senior retreat, our last month of college.  Here we went several years without even saying hello to one another, and then the final month of school we end up sitting right next to each other at the cafeteria table. 

We did the regular greeting and name exchange, and then she said she has always admired my red hair and beauty.  Of course this caught me off-guard and I nearly spit my food out.  I have never considered myself anywhere close to being a beauty so this statement brought a bit of a shock to me.  I also shared with her my impressions of her, and we began to laugh and hoot as we realized how much we had in common.  She thought I didn't like her and I thought the same about her, and that is why we never spoke before this.  Man, oh man how the lies of the enemy can keep women from true friendship sometimes. 

(picture left to right):
Allen, Alisa, Me and Hubby in 1993; 
both newleyweds, and in our first year of marriage.

Note:  sorry picture is so small but I had to scan, and the larger it is the more blurry.

Needless to say we have made up for lost time and are so honored to say we have been the very best of friends for over 19 years.  After college we went our separate ways for awhile, however always kept in touch by mail and phone (there wasn't the handy-dandy email back then). I went off to work for a Japanese Fortune 500 company, and then became a Senior Pastor's Admin, while she went to Hawaii as a missionary.  Then in 1992 we met up again in Dallas and she had her fiance Alan, and I had my fiance "Hubby."  We went out to eat after church and reunited as we shared all the Lord had done in our lives up to that point.  It was touching to see how the Lord brought those two together while on the mission field.  Now they have four beautiful children: Caleb (14); Ashley (12); Christian (9?); Charity (7?), and have been married for nearly 15 years. They reside in Plano, Texas and are Apostolic leaders; starting new churches and ministering in several different countries, including Spain, South America, and Africa (this Fall). 

I can't tell you how exciting it will be to "hug her neck" and sit up till all hours of the night talking and chatting, while our girls' (who have been friends since they were itty-bitty) get to chatter away as well.  I wish Alan and the other kiddos could be here, but it seems to be a special girls' get-together this time around.  

Then in September, Lord willing. . . we will be seeing our dear friends Chuck and Kristine, also from Dallas.  They will be up in our area for a convention.  We've known them for over 15 years and were in church Youth Group together. Oh it is going to be so great to connect again with these dear friends.  I'll write more as it happens.

Have you had any visitors staying with you this summer?

Posted in Friendship

I decided to have a spontaneous playdate together with some of my good friends, and what a great time we had together.  The kids all got along great and it was so nice to see the older ones helping care for the little ones.  The kiddos went between the trampoline and the blue blob pool for several hours while the Moms had great conversation and a time of relaxation (except when "Mom duty" called of course). Hubby was so sweet to cook all of our meats on the grill.  He bought this new organic wood charcoal that makes the flavors of the meat so yummilicious, without all the carcinogens.   After lunch and swimming the kiddos dried off and we all went to the park (which is two doors down).  

Picture of some of the kiddos enjoying lunch by the hammock

While there they played on the big wooden fort, and the Moms talked about new and exciting things they have found to educate their kids. One Mom had a special Spanish instructor to recommend, while another had a piano teacher.  It was great getting to bounce ideas off of one another. We decided it would be fun to possibly get together on a monthly basis, except perhaps make it a Moms Night Out.  Let's face it . . . Moms put so much into raising and caring for their children, and wouldn't it be nice to have one night a month to meet with other Moms whom you can authentically call "friend," Be open and honest with one another (transparent), lifting up one another's needs in prayer, and bounce ideas off of one another?  It is hard to do that in a group where most of the faces are strangers, but something like this would allow friends to really connect on a deeper level.  I am lifting this up in prayer and going to allow the Lord to lead.  We'll see what He does, as this is going to have to be His work and not mine.

In the meantime . . . I am loving spending time with my friends and having fun in the sun.  What a great day:-) 

Thank you Lord!

Posted in Friendship

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

Posted in Friendship

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Homeschool Bloggers:

1. Create a Space That Is Uniquely "You":  although it is really easy to find a cookie cutter template blog, and just go with it, or copy someone else's, see if you can alter yours in any way that is a reflection of your personality, even if it doesn't look polished.  It will help people get to know the "real" you.
2. Meet people and make new friends:  random blog, add to your friends list, and welcome new Bloggers with an encouraging word.  Leave comments when you visit another blog and find yourself enjoying the entries. I need to do this more often!
3. Be A Giver:  Host a contest, carnival or giveaway.  It will not only increase the traffic on your site, but will be a great way for you to get to know and bless others. 
4. Share photos or scanned images:  we like to SEE you and your family and love seeing examples of your homeschool in action! I especially love to see examples of children's work, such as notebooking, journaling, art, etc. If only I had a scanner (sigh).
5. Write regularly:  an outdated blog is boring.  If you’re on vacation or sabbatical, write about it, so we don’t think you’ve abandoned us forever.  Choose a time to write every day (or every other day).
6. Consider your readers:  check your spelling and grammar before posting.  Test all your links.  Be sure your font is legible and attractive. Also give credit where credit is due if you are reposting an idea, or another's work. 
7. Don’t be afraid to write in short installments:  if you are intimidated by others’ long entries and detailed posts, consider choosing a theme and writing a series of posts.

Write your OWN Seven Habits of Effective Homeschool Bloggers on your blog.  Grab this button to post with your entry.  Finally link back to Maureen's blog entry and post a comment so everyone there can visit your blog and read about your Seven Habits.

Posted in Friendship

Kaitlin attends a monthly meeting called Keepers of the Home, where she and ten other homeschool girls get together and learn all the lost arts of "ladyhood."  Some of the things they have learned this year are calligraphy, flower arranging, story telling, origami, soap making, etc.  To celebrate the end of the year, and all that the girls have learned. we had an English High Tea, where the girls exchanged tea cups and shared a talent (such as piano, violin, dance etc.) with the group.  Here are some of the pictures of our tea.  What a truly touching experience, and one we will remember for many years.