Mar. 15, 2008
A God-Filled Life
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I was going to blog about some new decorating things I have done this week. While they were all fun things and some great finds, I think God wanted to remind me of my true purposes here. I ran across a blog and stopped to read Titus 2 out of curiosity. I read that our job is this: Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. -Message Bible translation I looked at that and said hmmm...........I have had a couple of women in my life who were mentors to me and I have learned so much. I highly recommend praying that God would send a mentor for your life. I am still a young wife and mother who doesn't get it right the majority of the time. I am thankful for those people in my life whom God has sent to me, for me. I pray that someday, I will be able to do the same. Thank you God for the reminder in your word today!!!! |
Mar. 14, 2008
Fun week
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We had a busy but good week. Monday I cleaned (outside the house) and my kids had fun playing with their cousins who were here for a quick visit. The boys had fun playing football. They all had their own football uniforms and helmets and played each other. The girls had on their cheerleading outfits. All very cute! Thursday, we went to try a homeschool-playgroup, that didn't work out so much . We got there and no one was there,so we went to the local indoor play ground. Noah had speech after that. While waiting for him, Ellie played on the playground equipment at the school. It was beautiful out. Today, we toured the police department. We went all through the building and the officer showed us all of the rooms, including the interrogation room and there was a hidden camera in the wall. The kids thought that was cool. Then we got to meet their police dog "Scooby". It was very fun. I asked Noah what his favorite part was, thinking it would be seeing the dog. He said-"No it was seeing all the guns!" That's a boy for you. Although, I am not a big fan of guns. :) He now wants to be a police officer when he grows up he says. Ellie says she wants to be the lady who sits at the desk and answers the phone or a ballet dancer. It was a busy week. It is not quite over yet. More errands this afternoon but it was a good week with nice weather. Oh, we did get a little work done too in there somewhere. Have a blessed weekend. |
Mar. 7, 2008
Friday Funk
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I am so glad to see the sunlight today!!!! It has been rather gloomy and I NEED the sunlight. I didn't used to be one who needed to sit under a special lamp or something to be in a good mood for the winter. But I find myself staying inside, longing for spring. I feel tired a lot and wonder if it is the winter blues. I have nothing to be depressed about. Just a dull winter. Anyway, another light at the end of this day's tunnel is a visit from my sis in law and her family. They are coming to stay with us Sunday evening. I will spend today grocery shopping and making sure our house is stocked. It is in need of restocking anyway! They have 3 children too. It should be fun. I have read about the recent ruling in California making it harder for home school families to continue. I am fearing the spread. I hope that this doesn't come this way to our part of the country. I just wonder what is happening around here?! How is it possible that someone could force you to put your child in ps. Anyway, I am going to continue to sit by the window, soaking in the sunlight in my comfy chair and read with my coffee in hand. Happy Friday! |
Mar. 4, 2008
Tackle It Tuesday
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For some reason I can't get the Tackle it Tuesday banner to work. Also, I am not savy enough to post pics. But I have a lot of projects that I am working on today. 1. declutter my boys' room 2. Clean utility room 3. laundry 4. perge some unused toys 5. clean out our game closet. It is rediculous!!! We already have school done for today, so I have these things to follow. Happy Tackling!!!! |
Mar. 2, 2008
Happy 13th Birthday!!!!!
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Today we celebrated our church, New Horizon's 13th birthday. We had a comedian, Scott Gregory in our services. He was very funny. He also had a great testimony. They brought the children from the 1st grade-5th grade into the service I was in and I could hear my 7 yo laughing. And I was sitting in the back!!! It was so cute. While today is a special day for our church. I was also sad. We are losing our founding pastor this month. He is being moved. Our church has never had any other pastor in all these 13 years. We LOVE our pastor and his family. My oldest son's best friend is the pastor's son. We will all miss him. His last Sunday with us is next Sunday. We do like our new pastor. He has a great heart. It is just a hard thing to be going through. Truthfully, I am not sure how our church is going to do. As a staff person's wife, I tend to hear some of the truths about this situation. I know that many of you don't know me and have many things to be in prayer about, but if you can even say a quick prayer for us, I really appreciate it!!! Blessings on your Sundays!!!!!! Brooke |
Feb. 28, 2008
More tackling the bathroom
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So, last Tuesday I posted about some changes I made to the bathroom. (Formerly the kid's ducky bathroom.) Now-a more grown up bathroom)
My idea was to paint the walls. There was a blue that matched the ducky theme quite well. But, not in the new shower curtain I had chosen. So, I had some paint left over from the living room. It was a light, subtle color called desert floor. My husband didn't want it there. He is tired and doesn't love that color too much. So, we collectively chose a color together. It is now Chocolate Truffle. It is really nice. It does look like chocolate in there. It was so fun to do. The best part was I did on Saturday afternoon. It didn't take long. I really like to paint. I am however, going to use the desert floor in the hallway, continuing from the living room. sounds like another weekend project.
Fun, Fun!!!! |
Feb. 18, 2008
Can you say blessings!?!!!!!!!
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Whew! Can I say I am a little relived to have changed my pampered chef party to an open book party. It really is too hard to get a night that is good for everyone. So, no one was going to be able to come. Oh, maybe two. One thing to check off my list. I was so blessed this past weekend. There is a lady from our church that is a sort of mentor to me. She is a homeschool mom to 2 older children. (older than mine) She is a great Spiritual Lady that I am so glad is my friend. Anyway, she sent me a card. I said she read my mail so to speak. She sat down and wrote things that I needed to hear. She didn't know what was going on with me at all. We hadn't gotten to get together and chat lately. She also blessed me with a gift card to Khols. Wow!!!! I was much more blessed by the words she gave me not just the gift card. Just wanted to clarify! I posted that I was looking for Math U See. ~ used. I posted on some local groups. A lady from our church (different one) who homeschools, her children are also older and done with Math U see. She emailed me right away and said she would sell me her stuff. She had the book I was looking for plus manipulatives. I was so excited!!!! My kids saw a set that belonged to their cousins and enjoyed it so the search was on. So, these are some of my thoughts. The kids are doing well. We had an odd week last week so this week we need to plow through and get back to our norm. Things are going well. I think that is all. Blessings! |
Feb. 17, 2008
To Do List
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I have a pretty good to do list for this week. Monday-cleaning (outside of the home), take Trevin to basketball in the evening Tuesday-do school, clean my house and get ready for a pampered chef party, shop for ingredients Wednesday-School, get together with some friends; kids go to church wed. evening Thursday-School, Noah has speech Friday-School. I really needed to get this down. I think this is all the "extra" stuff this week. We'll see how the week goes. |
Feb. 12, 2008
Tackle It Tuesday
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So, I tackled our bathroom today. I took down the "kids" ducky shower curtain, and all the accessories. Replaced them with a grown up more sophisticated and cool shower curtain. It is a black and off white twall print. I am so excited! I love room makeovers. What did you tackle today? |
Feb. 8, 2008
family time
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School went well today. Suprisingly, Noah has come to me ready to do work. While I know it is due to the fact that he wants to "earn" some computer time. Still it is nice that he isn't fighting with me to do his work. I have been letting him choose what order he wants to do things in. That really seems to help him too. We are doing Writing Without Tears Reading practice-easy readers and BOB books Family Bible Math Today we watched the spaceship Columbia take off online. Noah loves astronauts and space. Ellie is really doing well reading. She daily does some kind of craft. Tonight we are just having a quiet night at home watching a movie together. |
Feb. 6, 2008
School and more
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I haven't much to blog about. We had a good day. We started with our handwriting. The kids seem to want to do that before being read to. We then did math and then moved onto our Bible. We are going through a book teaching the kids about the Holy Spirit. It is called Here Comes Heaven by Bill Johnson and Mike Seth. It is fantastic. The kids are learning and asking questions. I highly recommend it!! I personally am trying to be thankful in everything. All of the mundane tasks that I moan and groan about doing. Why is it so hard? I try to teach the kids to be happy with what they have and to be thankful and what do they really need-an example. It is amazing what they will "copy". As I sit here thinking I am reminded that my 5yo daughter says every day-" I am glad we have a nice & cozy house"; or I love my bed. I have to admit, hearing these things every day, maybe more than once a day, I get a little tiny bit annoyed. But I should be more like that. I do dishes because we have food to eat. I do laundry because we have been blessed with clothing. I find this time of year especially harder to be more cheerful. But these things have been on my mind and I wanted to get them out there. Blessings! |
Jan. 24, 2008
Little Blessings!!!!!
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My devotion to day was from Psalm 127:3; It says this: Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. There are struggles and challenges that we face in our immediate family. I have an 11 year old son-who goes back and forth to his dad's and our house. They are two completely different homes, a 7 year old son who some would call "spirited child", and a 5 year old daughter. They are each wonderfully different and beautifully made. However some days are better than others. This day being one of them! So I can say that so easily today! You are probably wondering where I am going with this, well here goes. Sometimes I am not the mommy that they need. Sometimes I am not the mommy that I want to be. Some days I am over tired, over emotional, and some days get more angry than others. Maybe some would say "me too". Here's the silver lining-Our little blessings and rewards really need us. They really do. They really need us to be at our best though. When my instincts are elbowing me in the gut, and my emotions or body is ignoring them, is that best? This devotion was God reminding me of how great my job is as a mommy. While the daddies in their lives are crucial, we play such a huge role too. I am here with them the majority of the time. I teach them the majority of the time. God is really telling me today to treasure these days, these blessings that HE gave to me!!!!! It sounds so wonderful to read and really makes my soul fill up to say it!!!! May your day be a little more bright-loving on your little ones!!! |
Jan. 3, 2008
Happy Birthday Elizabeth Grace!!!!!!!
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Well, today is my baby's birthday. She is 5 today!!!! It is so hard to believe!!! Of course I am happy and she is so excited, but I am a little sad too. She's not a baby anymore. Starting back to school work went better than I anticipated. You never know how Noah will do. They were excited to start the new workbook from Handwriting Without Tears. They both got new leap pad things for Christmas so they did some fun math in those. We played Rat-A-Tat Cat. It is a really fun game that helps them with numbers and memorization. We did our Bible and some Science reading. Not bad. I think that is all for now. |
Dec. 31, 2007
Is this it?!
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It is all behind us now. We wait and wait and possibly worry about the pinch of the cost of the holidays, there's excitement~more waiting; then it is over. I love having our tree up and my collection of snowmen decorations out and about. (Luckily they can stay out for a while) We have enjoyed sitting in our living room lights with the Christmas tree lights being the only lighting in the evenings. Can we enjoy a few more nights of that!?! The message yesterday at church was about the waiting and thinking, "is that it?" We remembered a time when our boys were very young and we had worked hard getting them things that we thought they would like and trying to do it on a budget as always, we were really excited with them. Then the time came for the gifts to be opened. The boys ripped into all of the gifts and would get one open, look at it for what seemed like a split second and toss it and go on to the next one. When they were all opened, one of the boys said " is that it?" I wonder how many times we have thought that. Is this it? Is this what we've been waiting for? The wise men who didn't get to experience the birth of Christ, maybe didn't see him as an infant at all, probably didn't say~ "is this it?" I imagine them just being in awe of the child who would change the hearts and lives of so many. The child who would change everything. I want to be a wise (wo)man! I don't want to look back and wonder what it was for? Don't get me wrong, I loved every single thing I was blessed with this season!!!!! I had some great moments too! But, my thoughts aren't going to the material side of this holiday but to the heart of Christmas. Expectations are huge. I expect big things from our Lord Jesus in 2008. If you had some rough times in 07, take joy in the fact there's a new beginning!!! My niece was opening presents with us and she opened one thing, would look at it for a while and play with it, then she opened up a second gift. She really loved it, she played with it for about a half hour. There were still presents to be opened. But she was so focused on the one. Of course my kids had all of theirs opened and were telling their cousin she still had more to open. I thought that is what it should be like, instead of busting through the pile and saying "is this it", stopping to enjoy the good things. Happy New Year!!!! ~Trying to be a wise (wo)man~ Brooke |
Dec. 23, 2007
Christmas- this moment
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There are so many thoughts of what I could put in this entry. But, I will choose the cheerier thoughts. Things are getting accomplished. The cookies are done, the birthday cake for Jesus is baked. The presents are wrapped. Finally, I feel caught up. we are opening presents with the kids tonight. David has 4 services on Christmas Eve at church and will not be able to travel to my grandparent's house with us. This is the situation nearly every year. Working for the church, that is the way it goes. I feel bad him staying behind but if I did not go, I wouldn't see my family on the holidays. We meet up the next day for lunch at his grandmother's. But, he will be at church on Monday from 2pm.-12pm. I doubt he will come home in between services. There are services at 3, 5, 7, and again at 11:00. I take that back, he will probably come home between the 7 and 11. Anyway~that is how Christmas goes for us. The kids are very excited. In my stupidity, I placed some of the presents under the tree a few days ago. Since then, I have heard from them dozens of times throughout the day if we could open them. They really don't take no for and answer. But none of them got open on the sly so for that I am thankful! Honestly, I expected their curiosity to get the best of them. I am proud of their self control. I feel so blessed this in this season. We weren't sure how we were going to get our kids gifts. But, we received some unexpected gifts from some that will go nameless for now. The Lord knows and will bless them! We in unison, knew what we were to do with the gifts. One of them was specifically for that. So, praise God!!!!!! I know it isn't about the gifts. But, the generosity and obedience that blows me away. By no means are the gifts purchase too extravagant but humbly appropriate. I know they'll be content. My oldest son was so great. When asked what he wanted, he said I don't need anything mom. I think he knew that we didn't know how or what Christmas was going to be like for us. He is really growing up and maturing I thought. Enough about presents. I feel the excitement of the joy I always bank on ~will show up in me. As I sit here, I think about how He had me in mind being born into this world. How amazing that is!!!! That Mary, a humble servant who was willing to give up her "good reputation" and social status to do the greatest thing ever. Her hand print in the rest of eternity. And Joseph, an average Joe who would father a baby not his own. I loved in the movie The Nativity how his character told Mary he was scared. Scared he won't be able to teach Jesus anything. Not knowing what to expect, how to father the son of the THE Father. I love this story!!! This may be my new favorite story. The greatest story of all time. Find him this season! CHRISTmas blessings, |
Dec. 15, 2007
Favorite Christmas Memory (as a parent)
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There is a "contest" going on-you are to post your favorite Christmas memory as a parent. You may go check out the rules at ecclecticeducation. Christmas 2002, I was pregnant with my daughter who was due to arrive in January. We had a c-section scheduled but I was on bed rest and by doctor's advise, told I shouldn't travel for the Holidays. My husband's family and mine lived 2 and 1/2 hours away from us. We were less than thrilled about spending Christmas at home just us. We were dreading it and frankly a little depressed. David decided to cook us all a good meal. The meal was good, and we it ended up having a pretty nice time just the 3 of us. We spent the night watching Christmas movies and he and I sat up late that evening watching the Christmas tree lights, snuggling and talking. Waiting the arrival of our beautiful daughter. (Who btw, didn't arrive until Jan. 3. - we could have traveled.) The same Christmas, we were nominated by someone to be "adopted" by the hospital to give us extra presents for the family. We expected a couple of gifts for the kids. No, there were about 30 gift dropped off at our house. For all of us, including our baby girl (who remember wasn't born yet!!!) The sight of all those presents under the tree was amazing!!!! The kids were so excited. It was fun to see their excitement of just seeing all those wrapped presents under our humble tree! Well, 2 things-1 Christmas. It was fun to go down memory lane. |
Dec. 8, 2007
Late update
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I am way over due for a post. There have been things to write about but I have not settled down to post anything. Last weekend my husband and I went to hear Rob Bell talk. We went with a couple from our church. We stayed overnight. Saturday morning, (after sleeping in, I forgot what that was like), we went to breakfast that the hotel provides. It was amazing. Then we drove downtown and walked around and went to the mall. It was a really good weekend. Last night, we went to see Jars of Clay and Third Day's Christmas tour. It was soooo good! We really loved Jars of Clay. If you haven't heard their Christmas CD, I recommend you checking it out. Today we stayed inside and hung out together. It has been one of those days to stay inside. Tonight we are watching Christmas movies. The polar express and santa claus 2 is on. Friday was my last time at the mom's group at church. It was their last one for the semester but I won't be returning next semester. I was a little relieved knowing that my schedule will be more clear and a little sad. But, I will see most of my friends at church on Sundays. I guess that is all for now. Blessings! |
Nov. 23, 2007
Ideas for Christmas
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Wow! Thanksgiving is over, and now I am on a Christmas mission. I am in search of inexpensive, unique, fun gifts for my kids. We really like the idea of them each getting 3 gifts just like Jesus received. Here's what I have found online and ideas from others: ~magazine subscriptions: you could have a "certificate" to represent this in their stockings or under the tree. This gift keeps coming in the mail every month! ~gift cards for the movie theater, movie store, etc. ~certificates for a day out with mom or dad. ~book light and gift card from the bookstore. ~Bowling night as a family "certificate". ~play dates and sleepover coupons ~coupons for games of their choice (games from home-board games, card games etc.) ~box of their favorite cookies, crackers, etc. ~craft projects that they can keep forever. I think these are fun ideas and clutter free!!!! Ideas are welcome. A really fun birthday idea I ran across is to buy child or children a fish aquarium and family and party guests bring items to fill the aquarium like gravel, ship wreck signs, ships, etc. Maybe even a gold fish or two. I love decorating for the seasons. This morning I took down my pumpkins and thanksgiving window decorations and put out my snowmen and my nativity sets. We will put up our tree on Sunday evening. This is one of my favorite things to do as a family. We have our Christmas music going, pop popcorn and after the tree and decorations are up we watch a Christmas movie together. Happy Decorating and planning!!! |
Nov. 20, 2007
Wow! 2 Years!
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I was looking back through some of my old posts. I didn't realize that I have had this blog for so long. I started blogging in January 2006. So, it was fun to look back and see where we were in our life journey almost two years ago. Jenn 's post prompted my fun flashback. You should go check out her post. The weather outside is beautiful!! It feels like what a perfect Thanksgiving week should be in my opinion. The activities for my kids and I tomorrow are as follows: 1. Finish up our Thanksgiving/Fall lapbooks 2. Bake a pumpkin pie and Ellie wants to bake cookies with her baking set. 3. Travel to my parents tomorrow afternoon. I hope we get all of this done! But also have fun doing it!!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! |
Nov. 18, 2007
Dying and grief.....
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This morning our pastor spoke about grief and loss. It was very good. He also said something that made me think a lot about my struggles. Jesus didn't just die for us, but to show us how. To die to self. The addictions that we get into. You know those addictions that we get into while trying to mask the hurt and grief. For a while, I wasn't sure what my "addictions" were. God has really been revealing things to me. Of course there are things I have been through, and things I am not proud of. But, I know restoration is HIS business. The things I have been through have made me who I am. Would I do some things differently, yes. But not some of the ones you might think. I need to really think about my list of things God is showing me. I hope this makes sense. Dying, Brooke |