Mama's Cafe
• Nov. 24, 2006 - Wonderful Website
My dh recently found this website and it has been a wonderful encouragement to us, as well as a source of conviction. I hope it is a blessing to you, as well.
www.gracegems.org
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• Oct. 5, 2006 - Reflections
Autumn is my favorite season-I get out my leaf garlands, pumpkins, apples and harvest items and decorate my house. Every year, I try to get one new item to add to my fall supplies-probably my only "collection." As a military wife, I try to stay somewhat streamlined in regard to too much "stuff", but my love of garage sales does compete with this effort. I try to be mindful that we will move again and will have to take all of the stuff with us-unless we are sent somewhere where we are only allowed the minimum. In either case, less is usually better and easier. I know it is easier on my dh, since an abundance of stuff stresses him a bit. Years ago while taking it easy during my first pregnancy, I read some books written by a Swedish author about her parents who were a pastor and his wife. The author reflects on the time following the father's when she comes across her mother burning the letters her husband had written to his wife throughout the years. The author (daughter) said to her mother that, perhaps, she would have liked to have kept those letters as mementos. To this, the mother replied she wanted to leave nothing behind when the Lord took her home that would become a burden-emotional or material-for her children. She tried to live her life in a streamlined manner-not accumulating too much so that her children would only have good memories to cherish and not have to agonize over what to keep and what to give up when that time came. What a heavenly minded perspective-to live life here as a visitor, not a permanent resident! I think of the grandfather of a friend who, when he died, left a house and shed so filled with accumulated stuff that it took many, many garage sales, private ads, and junk dealers to get rid of all of it. His children and grandchildren had to work on this problem for over a year, sorting the "treasures" from the junk. It wearied his family and burdened them for months following his -time they would have preferred to have spent grieving and remembering him fondly. I pray that I can learn to live like the Swedish wife and mother and live a life unencumbered by needless litter so that I can go home to the Father in His time without leaving loved ones burdened with the flotsam and jetsam of my life.
The name of the author of the books I mentioned is TF Bjorn-she wrote a trilogy: Papa's Wife, Papa's Daughter and Mama's Way. (disclaimer: it has been years since I first read these books-I don't think there was anything objectionable in them.
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• May. 17, 2006 - And now, the news we've all been waiting for....
My dh found out today that he will have the privelege of continuing to serve in the Air Force. We have been waiting to hear for many weeks and were pretty OK with whatever the Lord would have my dh do. It was somewhat anticlimactic to learn that he would stay in; I was preparing myself mentally to rejoin the ranks of civilian life and felt a little thud after hearing the news. I do feel relieved, though, to know he will not have to job hunt any time soon. That frees us up to pursue debt repayment and continuing education for my dh. Yay! The Lord is so good in His provision for His people.
Rejoice in the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. |
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• Apr. 28, 2006 - Does anyone know....
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I am looking for
information about Morningstar Academy/Jubilee Academy online
homeschooling curriculum. Does anyone have firsthand experience
with this system? It looked great on their web page, but I would
like to talk with someone who has either used them or knows about it. |
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• Apr. 25, 2006 - King of the Wild Frontier
This
morning when I went to get my two year old out of bed, the first thing
he said was "I Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. I shoot
Inninnins."
It is getting harder and harder to keep a straight face around here. 
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• Apr. 17, 2006 - Hope
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Yesterday, a question came up through the
sermon. "Do I live as one without hope?" I realized that I
have been living that way for several weeks, dwelling on the difficult,
the depressing, and the hopeless things of life in a fallen
world-instead of saying to myself as David did, "Why so downcast, O my
soul?" Although I struggle on the physical level with a body out
of whack as a result of a malfunctioning thyroid, I cannot blame the
thoughts and feelings I have experienced lately on that alone. I
tend to sin in this area more than any other, I think-to allow myself
to forget God's promises and sink down into feeling overwhelmed.
My prayer is that I can truly heed the psalmist's instruction to
himself, "Find rest, my soul, in God alone." As I attempt to
instruct my children and get my house in order after our recent move, I
want to do it in the power of the Holy Spirit-not my own. To
remember why we decided to teach our children at home and be motivated
by that reason. To make our home clean and inviting so that it
can be a blessing to my family and to others the Lord might
bring. Discouragement is a strong weapon the enemy uses against
mothers. I pray the Lord will make us all strong in Him and His
mighty power and help us to stand firm on His promises.
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• Apr. 6, 2006 - More changes
This
week we heard that my dh's grandmother died on Sunday-she was a devout
Hindu. Our hearts are grieving for more than just the loss of her
presence. We visited with her over the holidays in Canada.
She lived six months out of the year at my dh's house his entire
childhood, so he was very close to her. My aunt's mother also
died this week in Arizona. She gave my dh and me our first
furniture when we were married and again another set when my dh was
commisioned in the AF.
I am still digging out from our move; there are boxes in my entryway
and in the garage. For some reason, I am having a hard time
getting unpacked and settled in. This is very unusual for me-I am
usually unpacked and decorated within the first week. Not this
time! The constant rain is kind of bumming me out, too.
Sigh. Maybe I am just getting a little bit tired of the moving
thing.??? Maybe we become less elastic as we age?
My dh is at work again and learning lots of new things. He will
find out in June, maybe even in May, if he gets to stay in the AF, so
it is all about waiting on the Lord and being content. (Isn't
everything?)
My little ones are still doing piecework when it comes to school-they
are behind, I admit it. Well, I can't be the only one, can I??
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• Mar. 28, 2006 - Finally!
We
are finally in our latest house in Northern California. It feels
like forever since our family left Texas on March 3! The trip was
fun but tiring and I am so glad to be able to sleep in my own bed and
cook healthy food. The Lord has provided so wonderfully for us
here; a great house and a great church only ten minutes away!
The
house: we are living in a gated development, situated around a
lake. It is absolutely beautiful here! The house totally
matches my dh and my taste and furniture. That never happens to
us! The property manager even convinced the owner to lower the
rent for us. So neat! The only drawback is the oleander
bushes outside-my six year old decided to taste a leaf yesterday and we
had a few anxious moments, let me tell you. Thankfully, it takes
a full handful to poison a child-WHEW!
The church: we
have attended two worship services and fellowshipped with a family on
Sunday for lunch. A few neat things include: many girls who are
the same age as my two daughters, the girls all wear long, modest
dresses and are interested in old fashioned, feminine pursuits, and a
great homeschool network is a short drive away. The Lord is so
good!
My dh starts his new job here this week. I pray he will learn
quickly and will be able to work with a good group of people. (If
not, I pray the Lord will sustain him.) My prayer for myself and
my children is that we can get back into the swing of things as regards
school and also to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
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• Mar. 14, 2006 - Almost There
It has been such a long time since I
blogged and even now I can only stop by and say a quick hello. We
are in Monterey, CA tonight and will be in Sacramento tomorrow.
On Wednesday we will, God willing, finally arrive at my dh's new
base. I am excited and a little anxious to be so close to being
able to stop and rest for however long the Lord wills. I like
travelling, but this trip has been tiring. I look forward to
sleeping on my own bed soon! Our packers were really good in
Texas and I hope I still feel that way when our boxes are unpacked. The
Lord has been so gracious to us in all of our travels from Texas to
California; please pray for His safety and provision as we go to our
new home. More later...
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• Feb. 8, 2006 - The World's Easiest Test
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Here is a fun little quiz I discovered online. Hope you like it. 
The World's Easiest Test
1. How long did the Hundred Years' War last?
2. Which country makes Panama hats?
3. From what animal do we get catgut?
4. In what month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5. What is camel hair made from?
6. The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7. What was King George VI's first name?
8. What color is a Purple Finch?
9. Where are Chinese Gooseberries from?
10. How long did the Thirty Years' War last?
Ready for the answers?
1. 116 years, from 1337-1453.
2. Ecuador.
3. From sheep and horses.
4. November. The Russian calendar was 13 days behind ours.
5. Squirrel fur.
6. The Latin name was Insularia Canaria- Island of the Dogs.
7. Albert. In 1936 he respected the wish of Queen Victoria that no future king should ever be called Albert.
8. Distinctively crimson.
9. New Zealand.
10. 30 years of course. 1618 to 1648.
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• Feb. 7, 2006 - I've been tagged
Dawn tagged me, so here I go...
Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. wedding/reception coordinator
2. Reading tutor
3. Switchboard operator
4. Mommy
Four movies you could (or do) watch over and over:
1. Princess Bride
2. Pride and Predjudice
3. Lord of the Rings (all three)
4. Anne of Green Gables
Four places you have lived:
1. Mexico City
2. California
3. South Carolina
4. Texas
Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. The Andy Griffith Show
2. Divine Design
3. The Cosby Show
4. House
Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Ixtapa, Mexico
2. Walt Disney World
3. Ottowa, Canada
4. San Luis Obispo, California
Four websites you visit (almost) daily:
1. Homeschoolblogger
2. CNN
3. Back to the Bible (Elisabeth Elliot daily devotional)
4. my email
Four of your favorite foods:
1. Risotto
2. Cookies
3. Earl Gray Tea from Twinings with croissants
4. Indian lamb curry
Four places you would rather be right now:
1. Monterey, California
2. Italy
3. England
4. Mimi's Cafe
Four bloggers you are tagging:
I don't know how to tag yet. I am just a blogger baby.
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• Jan. 19, 2006 - Changes
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My dh is going to be
stationed back in our home state, doing the job he wanted following
this assignment. We are very happy about this-it doesn't always
work that way in the military. However, there are a lot of
changes going on right now in the Air Force, one of which will possibly
affect my dh in the near future. Many officers will be looking
for work soon as a result of "downsizing" which I know many
of your families have experienced. I understand the need to have
an efficient, streamlined military, so I know the changes are not all
bad. My prayer is that the Lord will provide for our family as He
always does if my dh is part of this cut back. Our desire is to
have my dh stay in, but know that the Lord's will is not always the
same as ours-and is so much better for us. That said, I am still
feeling preoccupied and a bit anxious about the next few months while
we wait to hear whether we will be affected. I ask for prayer
that the Lord will help my dh and me trust Him and not fret.
Also, that God will direct my dh in the way He has for him. Thank
You.
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• Jan. 13, 2006 - Homeschooling Blues
I
get into a real funk at least once (usually more) a year over
homeschooling. I feel so inept and unmotivated and then I read
the blogs about the great projects homeschool moms are doing with their
children, the love they have for teaching them, the energy they seem to
have. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I feel like
every day is a struggle. It feels harder this week because we
were off for several weeks and are on a new, earlier schedule-the
children are up at 6:00 instead of 8:00 and are in bed by 7:00/7:30 at
night. By 8:00, I feel like it is midnight and I still haven't
done all I need to do. Anybody out there feel like that? On top
of that, I think my curriculum is not very challenging for my 9 year
old and am piecing her studies together until I find what I want her to
do. As for my 5 year old and 2 year old, I am behind in all but
basic reading and math for the older one and still need to potty train
the younger.
Whew! On days like today, I feel like throwing in the
towel! Please pray for my heart, for me to be motivated and
believe in what I am doing and that my children will know I love them
and that I want to be with them. Even all day. Every day.
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• Dec. 6, 2005 - Shopping for Jeans
I
agree with TC-jeans shopping is depressing. Last week I went to
JCPenneys to buy blankets and passed a sale table of jeans. I
asked a salesgirl for help, described what I wanted, and watched a look
of disdain appear on her face. 
I guess asking for a non-tapered leg, natural waist jean is pretty much
out of the question these days. My husband bought me a pair of
low-rise jeans a couple of months ago and quickly found out that I
really wasn't just being resistant to change as he watched me tug and
pull my way through the day. I didn't want to say I told you
so-(actually, I really did want to but knew I shouldn't) but the fact
is, nine pregnancies later, no amount of sit ups is going to have me
wearing those jeans again! I will call them my "emergency jeans"
and put them up on the shelf in the closet where I put all my "I've
outgrown those/maybe I will fit them next year when I lose weight"
clothes. (Otherwise known as the Wishful Thinking Shelf)
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• Nov. 14, 2005 - Mom's Day Off-well, sorta!
My dh has the day off today and is
schooling the children today! YAY! He keeps looking at me
and says things like " so this is why you..." I wish I had some
cash to take off and go to Ross! Hee, hee. Quilting goes
on, but I think I bit off more than I can chew with the design I chose
for one of the baby quilts I am making. It looked pretty easy in
the picture!
My dh was a public school teacher for 7 years before joining the
military. It is so good to see him do something he believes in
and enjoys. (most of the time!) Right now is a stressful time as
he is in school and grades are everything. I pray he can finish,
graduate and move on to the next thing the Lord has for him.
Have a great Monday!
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• Nov. 2, 2005 - Its getting crazy around here!
It
has been so busy at our house lately, and it is only the beginning of
November. My dh has been studying for important tests for his job
and is a bit overwhelmed. He has a huge test next Tuesday and
must pass it to continue on to finish his training. We are trying
to be constantly mindful of God's Sovereignty and provision for our
family, but I know my dh is stressed nonetheless. We are also
having my mom come for a visit on Nov.18th and is staying for two
weeks. Please pray that he will be able to study in the midst of
having guests and also that he will not get sicker with the cold he is
fighting.
I
started cutting on the first of the four quilts I am making for
Christmas. They are crib and lap quilts, not full size, so
hopefully they will come together quickly. With the coming guest,
Thanksgiving, and traveling over the Christmas holidays, not to mention
school, the next two months feel packed already. Anybody else
feeling that way? Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be doing
anything extra (ie crafts,sewing) while school is in swing.
Disorganization seems to be my besetting problem. 
Keeping
up with my two year old is full time right now, too. He has been
waking up after only an hour or so at night and is totally alert.
He doesn't go back to sleep for a couple of hours. It is like
having a newborn again! I think I need to make him run in the
afternoons-I mean LAPS! My two daughters are very into dressing
up and playing pretend right now, so that is fun to
watch. Sometimes, though, they would much rather do
that than buckle down and do their schoolwork! (I can relate!)
Well, speaking of being busy, I had better go rally the troops for the next thing! 
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• Oct. 28, 2005 - All Done!
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I finished sewing my quilt on
Wednesday. I am so happy-and warm-now that it is done! I
actually enjoyed making it and I think it turned out alright.
There were a few oops moments; ie. sewing the right sides of fabric
together and then ripping out a few seams. All in all, though, it
turned out OK and my husband likes it, so YAY. Now I get to start
on a baby quilt when the fabric arrives next week. Hopefully,
that project will be less stressful..???
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• Oct. 22, 2005 - A Fun Day
At the risk of sounding incredibly
self-absorbed and selfish, I had a great time today-ALL ALONE! No
children with me, no diapers to change, no arguments to resolve.
Such fun! My wonderful husband sent me out to garage sales this
morning and later to the library to choose books for the week all by
myself. Please understand, I love my children dearly and enjoy
being together and am so glad to be home with them. Every
day... All day long.... Morning 'til evening. Now and then,
though, it is so nice to have a break from the daily routine and run
around town, stopping at garage sales and knowing that my children are
enjoying time with Dad. They benefit from it materially, as
well. Today my girls got 50 cent dress up gowns, all ruffly with
layers of pink tulle and my oldest a like-new cordoroy jumper with
horses on it. (the fancy dresses fit them both perfectly and had been
made for the couple's little girls 30 years ago for play, too.) I am so
thankful for the way the Lord provides for our clothing needs as well
as household ones through garage sales. Another example is the
new coffee maker I bought today-it is almost brand new-for $3 from a
military couple who are going overseas. Our coffee maker was
broken in our last move and we have been jimmy-rigging an old coffee
pot to make do. A blessing! Later, I took my girls with to
the cloth store while my toddler napped and Dad worked on the
computer. That was a fun time together, doing girl stuff and
teaching them about being content while faced with so many
choices. (something that I struggle with, too.) After a rather
stressful week with little ones, I am thankful for the refreshment the
Lord gave me today.
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• Oct. 10, 2005 - Self Discipline Takes a Holiday
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On my profile I listed quilting as one
of my interests. At the time I wrote that, I was in the beginning
stages of learning to quilt; I had purchased the cloth, started to cut
out the simple 10 inch patches and then felt overwhelmed because I was
told the squares had to be perfect. I don't do perfect. Ask
my husband. Ask my children. Ask Dawn. She'll tell
you! Anyhow, now my project sits where I left it two weeks ago,
except now my neighbor who is helping me learn, has loaned me her tools
to use to cut out the squares. And yet, they all sit there,
accusing me. Detail-oriented tasks used to be do-able before the
brain cell die-off. (post-little ones-you know!) Now, when I can
finally hear myself think at night, the last thing I want to do is
attempt a project which demands perfection. Maybe next week-it
should be getting colder and I might be more motivated then since the
quilt is for my bed. Here's hoping that I will buckle down soon
and exercise a little self discipline! |
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About Me
While I find homeschooling a struggle more often than not, I am grateful to be able to be with my children every day, seeing how the Lord is growing them in knowledge. My prayer is to learn to enjoy them more, to show them how glad I am to be home with them and to be used of God to educate them in academics, homemaking and in the Word.
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