I know that I've been totally MIA around here, but I have been posting regularly. . . just not here!  If you want to see what I've been up to, visit me at A Fruitful Vine.  Blessings!

In His Love,

Tammy

To see pictures of our new addition, please go here!  Enjoy!

In His Love,

Tammy

Posted in In My Home Today

This morning we said "Goodbye" to my dear mother as she began the 13-hour trip back home to Virginia!  She was such a blessing to our family during these last two weeks!  She came a week before the baby was born, learned our family homeschooling and homekeeping routine, then executed it the week after the baby was born so effortlessly that I had to wonder if she didn't miss her calling!  She sacrificially and lovingly served every member of the family in word, deed, and prayer! 

Her smiling face and teasing ways will be missed today as I take on the full responsibility of mothering, schooling, and homemaking with seven.  I must admit that this morning as she backed out of our driveway, I had to fight an overwhelming urge to run after her, throw myself at her mercy, and beg her melodramatically to take me with her!  But I know that even though she'll be 13 hours away, her prayers and loving example will be here in our home and in our hearts!  Blessings to you, Ma!  We love you and miss ya like crazy!

In His Love,

Tammy

Greetings All!  Just wanted to drop you a quick note to announce that our Little Blessing is here!  She was born last Monday, April 28 around 8 p.m. after a total labor of about 4 hours!  She is beautiful and completely surrounded by the loving, sometimes suffocating, attention of her family!  I would have posted sooner, but my mother, known here as SisterSaun, has kept me on strict bed-rest for my own good, of course!  I'll post more in detail in the coming days of her birth story, Lord willing and SisterSaun permitting!  Overwhelmed by His Blessings and Goodness!

In His Love,

Tammy

Posted in Manna on Monday

Yes . . . I'm still here!  No baby to cuddle and kiss, yet!  Just sleepless nights, an aching pelvis, and an insatiable desire to get this pregnancy done and over with!  Everything in me, physically, emotionally, and mentally is screaming, "NOW!"  I've had my share of two-year old temper tantrums with a thrity-something year old twist.  I've tried whining and wallowing in self-pity, but that only made me miserable for my dear family to live with.  Then the Holy Sprit said to me, "Why don't you try trusting and resting in My perfect will?"  Wow, interesting concept!  Could that really work?  Here's an excerpt from the "conversation" that I had with the LORD:

"But Lord, I'm tired of being pregnant!  I need to be literally delivered from this pregnant bulging body!"

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength"  (Isaiah 30:15)

"But Lord, my back aches; my legs are swollen; I walk with a waddle; and I want my body back!"

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"But Lord, I want to have this baby now!  No, forget now, I should've had this baby yesterday!"

"Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  (James 1:4)

. . .  Well, after a few more muffled whines, I gave in!  God has this baby's birthday and time all figured out!  What makes me think that I know better than He does?!  He orchestrates the entire universe from the intricate workings inside the tiniest atom to the dance of the celestial bodies around the sun.  Surely, He can be trusted to deliver this baby into my arms when the time is right!

Until that time, I'll just cuddle and kiss the six "babies" that He's already given me!  That is, if thirteen-year old Buc-Fan will let me tacke him down to steal one!

In His Love,

Tammy

This song and mime truly ministered to me when I first saw it!  To me, it was the perfect picture of what the body of Christ should be to one another:  encouraging one another as we go though the trials of life and its unexpected twists and turns.  So many times we are at the end of our spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial ropes.  The best thing to do is to tie and knot and hold on because when there is less of us, then there is more of God and His power.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Let's trust Him today to do the impossible as He forms more of Christ in us!  To Him be the glory!

In His Love,

Tammy

Greetings Ladies!  I'm still here!  I went to my midwife on Thursday, and she was able to give me a glimmer of hope:  I am about 70% effaced and between 1 and 2 cm dilated!  I've also begun to lose some weight which is usually a sign that active labor is impending!  So I thank God for the expectation that He has literally enlarged me with!  But even more, I thank Him for the expectation and hope of eternal life in glory and the privilege and honor of a joyfully, dedicated life here on this earth!  What a blessing it is to know Christ and Him crucified!  Revel in the blessing today, dear sisters!  It is rich and free!

In His Love and Perfect Timing,

Tammy

Posted in Home and Hearth

We painted one wall of the girls' room yesterday.  Of course, I enlisted as much help as possible. . . My Beloved did the top of the wall that joins the ceiling; Buc-Fan did the next 1/4 of the wall that I would have normally done; Princess did the middle 1/4; and Big Girl did the bottom 1/4 at the baseboard using the edger!  Mom sat on the bed and supervised! (LOL)  I hope to get the other three walls completed within the next two days or so.  We're operating under short bursts of time to accomplish this (during Sugar-Sugar's and My Buddy's naptime) so it's taking a bit longer than usual.

As I've been cleaning (read "delegating"), organizing (read "delegating"), decluttering (read "delegating"), and planning (read "prayerfully pondering"), I have tried to fight the tendency to get anxious and overburdened about all that needs to be done (read "I think should be done")!  It has not been easy!  I am a worrier and procrastinator by nature, which is sinful and in total opposition to God's command to "be anxious for nothing."  In the Mary vs. Martha saga, I am a Martha, 100%!  Oh, I'll do the work, but I'm fussin'  'n fumin' and spittin' 'n sputterin' the whole time! 

Preparing for the arrival of a new baby shouldn't be so stressful!  Every task, every moment of preparation is a reminder that a new sweet liitle soul will be arriving soon.  Yes, there will be diapers to change and nights with a minimum of sleep.  But there will also be soft coos to ooh and ahh over, excuses to just sit and cuddle, and the sweetness of life that can only come from a newborn!

Yesterday I happened to come across this poem/prayer that a dear friend gave to me a couple of years ago.  To me it illustrates perfectly the necessity of seeing the blessing in every service to our families and the proof of provision behind every duty we perform in our homes.  Be Blessed!

In His Love,

Tammy

Thank You Lord . . .

...for this sink of dirty dishes,

we do have good food to eat.

...for this pile of dirty laundry,

we do have nice clothes to wear.

...for the beds that need to be made,

they sure are comfortable at night.

...for this bathroom with the soggy towels and splattered mirrors,

it is very convenient to have.

...for this finger smudged fridge that needs defrosting so badly,

and the cold drinks inside that quench my thirst on a hot day.

...for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today,

it has baked us so many good meals.

...for the tall grass that needs mowing,

our whole family enjoys our private yard.

...for the slamming screen door and the children who slam it,

they are healthy and able to play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says that you have really blessed this family.  I do them gratefully.  Amen

More nesting, cleaning and preparing. . . We've vacuumed the floors, especially around the edges where all sorts of interesting items collect.  We've srubbed the floors, and even cleaned out and organized the bottomless abyss of junk that we hold captive in our garage!  Now, please understand that 90% of the time when I report that cleaning has been done in my home that my children have been the primary workers in the process.  I am a strong believer in child labor!  My older kids especially have been instrumental in keeping this wild place running during the last few months!  I am so grateful for them and their willingness to serve Christ through serving their Mommy and younger siblings!  Buc-Fan and Princess have done everything from dishes and laundry to diaper-changing and potty-training to homeschool tutoring and housework discipling!

Most people marvel when I tell them that my kids, even my 13-year old son, help with the cooking, cleaning, and childcare.  But I see nothing unusual about it because our philosophy has always been that housework and childcare are equal employment opportunities!  My Beloved and I do not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, or personal preference when it comes to assigning tasks and delegating chores.  Now, of course, ability and maturity levels must be and are considered, but the ultimate goal is to train future men and women who are willing to serve joyfully and wholeheartedly wherever the Lord calls them!

Speaking of being called . . . I am being summoned by my blessings and responsiblities!  May the Lord keep you and guide you today!

In His Love,

Tammy

Well, the nesting instinct continues. . . This past weekend I cleaned out the girls' room and made room for the new one!  I've got her bassinett setup and the changing table with blankets, onesies, sleepers, and diapers!  It finally feels like we're having a baby!  Well, actually, I've been feeling it for about nine months now (LOL)!  But I guess what I mean is that there's more evidence than just my growing tummy, aching back, and sore legs!

In Schoolroom news, I've finally gotten a month's worth of lesson plans done, complete with printables, projects, and notes so that My Beloved can help the kids with their schoolwork while Mommy is recuperating!  Hooray!  Oh, that reminds me . . . so many of you commented on how cute the graphic in the Printables Post was.  Check out Irene's website for more free graphics.  She's actually got a whole page full of graphics called "Addicted to My Computer!"  Very Cute indeed!

And, speaking of printables. . . here's more sites to keep ya printing!

Kinder Printables  :  Calendar Numbers, Tracing sheets, File Folder Games, etc.

Preschool Printables:  Bingo and Memory Games, File Folder Games, Awards and Certificates, etc.

Home Education Resources:  Worksheets for Math, Preschool, Phonics & Reading, Spanish, Science, Social Studies, Handwriting, etc.

First School:  Theme-based printables for preschool!  Luv it!

Happy Printing!

In His Love,

Tammy

Posted in The Chalkboard

As I have been feverishly trying to get future lesson plans done before the blessed arrival of our new little one, I've come across some great, affordable (read "free") websites that offer printables for many different grades and subjects!  Here are a few for you to check out:

TLSBooks.com:  Free worksheets for early childhood through fifth grade

SchoolExpress:  Free worksheets, thematic units, and even downloadable reading books!

Education World:  Templates and Tools for teachers, such as certificates, portfolio forms, graphic organizers, calendars, etc.

A to Z Teachers Stuff:  theme, lesson plans, tips and printables

Now this is just a sampling of the many great resources out there on the net.  But be warned . . . searching for and printing out printables can be addictive!  If you don't believe, ask my dear husband!

This has been the scence at my house on more than one occasion in the last month or so!  Sorry, honey!  But he's so cute when he's patiently waiting for his turn on the 'puter!  Blessings All!

In His Love,

Tammy

Blessings All!  You all have been so sweet to keep checking in on me!  I'm still here, but with the clock ticking down, I'm really feelin' the crunch of getting "things" done around here!  I don't have much time at the moment to write, but I wanted to let you all know that I miss ya like crazy!  I'll try to set aside some time within the next couple of days to give you a detailed update on the goings-on in this full house o' mine!  Praying God's Grace will be your strength, and His praises your song!

In His Love,

Tammy

Hello, everyone!  I'm finally back after about three weeks of the flu at our house!  It took that long for it to run its course!  Most of the kids were better after about a week or so, but my dear hubby is just now in the last few days, feeling more like his old self.  Oh, but I should mention that he's a much lighter "old self" because he ended up losing about 15 pounds during the last three weeks!  Now, before you say, "Poor Ed," I must inform you that my husband is entirely thrilled with the end results because he had just previously made the declaration to loose about 20 pounds before his birthday in May!  So he is delighted to be almost at his goal without having to really "work" for it!  I, on the other hand, keep telling him that it's not fair because we should be getting fat together until this little one is born next month!

Meanwhile, the nesting instinct has definitely kicked in around here!  But for me, my drive to get our home clean, organized, and streamlined has begun in the area of homeschooling.  I've been re-aaranging, re-organizing, and re-directing just about everything and everybody, from the schoolroom to daily routines to curriculum choices.  I've also been feverishly trying to get lesson plans done for the next three months so that "school" can pretty much go on with a minimum of help from me after the baby comes!

During this time, I've come across some great websites that offer free printables, lesson plans, activity ideas, etc.  I plan to start sharing them with you all in the next few days or so!   Thank you all so much for  "checking in" on us during this time!  Blessings to you!

In His Love,

Tammy

Blessing to all of you today!  Thanks so much for all of the sweet notes and comments!  Your constant encouragement has truly blessed me these past few weeks!  I am actually posting to let you know that I'll probably not be posting again for about  a week or so.  No... not another blogging sabbatical!  My dear hubby was sick with the flu over the weekend, and when he's sick, the "lion" truly becomes a helpless, needy "lamb!"  Although I hate to see him ill, I do enjoy the opportunity to serve him and to take care of him in a real, tangible way.

Then, yesterday, lo and behold, five out of my six children began to complain about sore throats and coughs!  So I know what ministry the Lord has for me for the next week or so. . . the Sick Bed Ministry!!!!  Please pray that my immunity will hold up during this family bout with sickness because, as we all know, if Mommy gets sick, then the whole ship goes down!  Blessings to you all!

In His Love,

Tammy

Posted in Home and Hearth

I love to take out my mixing bowls and measuring cups because inevitably one or more of the children will run to me and with eyes wide with anticipation ask, "What are you going to bake, Mom?"

I love to see my little guys bent over a book together all huddled on the couch or sprawled all over the floor!

I love to have thirteen-year old Buc-Fan peek around the corner and inform his tired Mother, "I put a load of laundry in the washing machine, Mom!"

I love to catch My Beloved with his hand literally in the cookie jar as he gives me that sheepish grin that declares, "Uh-oh!  You caught me!"

I love to have two-year old My Buddy climb into my lap, grab both of my cheeks in his pudgy little hands and say, "Kiss, Mommy!" as he plants a sweet, sloppy one on my face!

I love to have eight-year old Tigger bounce up to me, and, in his fast-talking, animated way, tell me about some new thing that he learning or read about that just blew his mind!

I love to see ten-year old Princess lovingly and patiently playing with or helping her younger siblings because I know that she's already on the road to being a more patient and loving mother than I am!

Posted in Home and Hearth

Previous Post from Past Blog!

Blessings!

Every week I try to come up with a list of at least five ideas/activities to do with my little ones that's just for fun!  I want them to remember Mommy as a joyful woman who knew how to have fun and enjoy life with her kiddos!  I'll be sharing those ideas with you all each week, hopefully!  Most of the activities can be done spontaneously, using whatever you have on hand.  Enjoy!

1.  Wash Everything in Sight:  Take the kiddos outside.  Fill a clean bucket with water and dish detergent.  Give them each a clean sponge or rag.  Let them wash whatever (i.e., the house, patio doors, toys, the van, etc.)!  They don't think it's work!  And they have lots of fun playing in the bubbles!  I usually dress them in rain ponchos that I found at T*rg*t for $1 each.  Don't be surprised if this turns into a water fight!  Loads of fun and Buckets of Giggles!

2.  Dance/Exercise to Music:  Put on your favorite tunes and just dance, exercise, and move in silly ways!  We usually use praise and worship music or traditional children's tunes.  The kids have a blast, and Mommy gets some much needed exercise!

3.  Read a Book Outside on a Blanket or in a Homemade Tent!

4.  Toss the Clothespins:  Use a bucket or a deep bowl, and take turns tossing clothespins into it!  Start at about two to three steps away.  Then stepping back a step after each person has had a turn!  Be sure to award each participant with a cookie and a hug!

5.  Take a Nature Walk in the Backyard or the Park:  Point out bugs, birds, and critters that may go unnoticed!

Posted in Home and Hearth

I love waking early in the morning before everyone else to partake of some sweet fellowship with my Lord, Lover and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I love hearing the pitter-patter or, in our case, the stampeding herd, of little feet coming downstairs when my little ones first wake up in the morning!

I love to see my older ones studiously bent over their schoolwork at the dining room table, sharing with one another the different things that they're learning, laughing, and just enjoying being together!

I love to reach into the pantry and pull out a few basic ingredients.  Then, with the help of a good recipe and the provision of the Lord, whip up a warm, nourishing breakfast for my brood!

I love to glance over at My sleeping Beloved before I rise in the morning, and know that he doesn't have to rush off to work because his office is down the hall and to the left!

More loves to come, Lord willing, tomorrow!  Be Blessed!

In His Love,

Tammy

Posted in Menu Plan Monday

  This week's menu will be a slight variation from the norm.  I'm experimenting with the idea of having a list of possible meals to choose from instead of assigning each meal to a particular day.  I hope that it'll give us more flexibility when it comes to meal planning and grocery shopping.

So, this week's meal selections are:

1.  Sloppy Joes, French Fries, Baked Beans

2.  Black Bean Burritos, Spanish Rice

3.  Cream of Potato Soup, Homemade Bread, Tossed Salad

4.  Baked Chicken, Vegetables, Rice

5.  French Toast Sticks, Bacon, Fried Apples

6.  Slow Cooker Taco Soup

7.  Baked Potato Bar, Tossed Salad, Breadsticks

8.  Cheeseburgers, French Fries, Baked Beans

9.  Enchilada Casserole, Black Beans and Onions

10.  Slow Cooker Lasagna, Corn, Cinnamon Breadsticks

For more menu plans visit Tiany's Website here.

Posted in The Chalkboard

To make the Paper Clip Counting Activity, you need:

5 index cards

a marker, pen, or crayon

colored dot stickers

paper clips, the larger the better

1.  Write one number on each index card (#1 - #5).

2.  On the bottom of each card, place the correct number of colored dot stickers (i.e., the number 5 card will have 5 colored dot stickers on the bottom).

Your finished set of cards should look like this:

3.  Place the correct number of paper clips needed to complete the activity on a tray or in a baggie, etc.  As the child gets more skilled at this activity, you can make it more challenging by giving him more paper clips than he will need.  But, for now, giving him exactly the amount he needs helps him to correct his own mistakes.

Now to introduce the activity, have the child count the number of dots on a card.

Make sure to relate the fact that the number written on the card is the same as the number of dots on the card.  Then let the child place a paper clip over each dot while counting each one aloud.

The child will know that he is correct if all of the paper clips on the tray are gone and if each dot has a paper clip on it.

And look how good they'll feel when they realize that they've done it all by themselves!

  Happy PaperClip Couting!

Greetings, all!  I would like to introduce to you all an additional blog that I am starting, entitled "Gentle Grace!"   It will basically be an on-going journal of my search in the Scriptures and through life's experiences about Biblical womanhood!  I will continue to maintain Chalkdust and Apples, as well, but it will be primarily a family journal of our lifestyle of learning.

In addition, I do not plan to post on a daily basis on either sites.  However, I hope to be able to commit to at least a weekly posting schedule.  During my blogging sabbatical, the LORD dealt with me on the use of my time, my talents, and my resources.  Truth be told, the absence of blogging in my daily routine left a lot more time for my family and I to do those things  that a Christian family should be doing (i.e., learning, working, playing, praying, singing, talking, ministering, and just being together)!  I found that my homemaking and homeschooling was done with more creativity, greater passion, and a driving desire to please the LORD, first and foremost!  What a glorious few weeks it''s been!

On the other hand, I am fully aware that God has given me the Internet as a outlet for ministering and being ministered to!  Therefore, I will not neglect the responsibility of "one-anothering" within the body of Christ either.  I will simply be following God's plan for prioritizing my life's commitments.  May each of us prayerfully consider His will over our own so that whatever we may do, it may be pleasing to Him and bring Him the ultimate glory!

In His Love,

Tammy