The November Molly’s Money Saving Digest’s theme is Photography.  One of the articles, Take Great Pictures of Your Family by Becky Emerick, has excellent advice for beginners wanting to save money by taking their child’s pictures at home.  As a homeschooling mom without access to “school pictures,” I started doing this myself several years back, and I still gleaned very useful information from her article.  I particularly needed her advice on taking off my “mommy hat” for the photography session.  No school or studio photographer would get visibly frustrated with their subject!  I laughed as she suggested having an extra cup of coffee, eating that stashed away Halloween candy, or wearing a silly hat to get you into the photographer mode!

All of the links that are provided, for paper and digital photography, for photo editing, for online photo storage, for digital photography lessons, and for ideas on how to display photos, are phenomenal.  I have been doing home photography for several years and many of these links were new to me!  Don’t spend your precious time researching all of this on your own when you can get them all in one place for only $4.95!

There are also many slow-cooker recipes that sound SO delicious and I can’t wait to try them as the days grow chillier and our home school days get busier.  How good does Slow-Cooker Cherry Cobbler sound after a day outside taking pictures?!

Speaking as a home photographer, you won’t want to miss this Digest. Just the money and time saved not going to a studio will more than cover the cost of this Digest.

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Autumn Treasures E-Book is a delightful little science toolkit!  My younger four children, ages 3-9, enjoyed going outside and collecting leaves, twigs, berries and undergrowth for the many projects, including making a fall wreath and doing crayon rubbings.  As a mom with many children, I really appreciated all of the work that went into finding all of the links for videos and activities on the internet.  All I had to do was click on the link, and institute the activity.

There are activities, book suggestions, on-line videos, discussion questions, recipes and crafts for each day. Honestly though, with all of the content included in this e-book, you have several weeks worth of science you could do!  We spent several hours on it the first day alone, learning about the seasons, equinoxes and solstices! Even my older boys got side-tracked from their work and enjoyed watching the videos.

Comments from my 7yo and 9yo included: “This is fun, Mom!” and “Look at my folder, Mom!”  They beg me to do science each day.  I just have to get myself organized so we can jump right into it in the morning!  Thanks for making science easy and fun for all!

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Molly’s Money Saving Digest is a great monthly tool for learning new tricks and ideas for saving not only money, but your sanity, in a broad spectrum of areas of life.  Her topic this month is Organization for Busy Families. Whether you have one child or several, like I do, you will be sure to find some ideas that will help in organizing twelve areas of your home, from the bathroom to files on your computer.

One of my favorite features is the recipes for making your own make-ahead mixes to help you save money by not buying pre-made boxed mixes.  These mixes are also healthier for you, as they don’t have all of the additives and preservatives that go into the boxed type, but you still have the convenience of having so much of it ready-made.

You will also read craft ideas, a list of special dates for the month, photos, and links for further research on the internet.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the Digest, and am looking forward to trying many of the recipes and ideas included.

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I bought myself a new laptop, and thought that would help me keep more current with my blog, but it hasn't happened.

I am still very pregnant.  I have less than 2 weeks left.   The ultrasound indicated that the placenta is already calcifying, so she thought he would come a little early.  I have been feeling that way for a while anyway.  He is on track to be as big as his older brothers, not little like my last two.  Ben was 8lb 2oz, Aaron was 8lb 10oz, and Ivan was 8lb 11oz..  Then they got smaller from there.  Joseph was already 4.6lbs at 34 weeks!

Anyway, I have been getting ready for baby, and spring cleaning.  I can't tell if it is nesting or spring cleaning, but I can't seem to stop rearranging, cleaning, and getting rid of things!  I can't find my tiny baby stuff though.  I have bought a few things from the second hand stores, but I don't want to get too much, since I know that stuff is somewhere.  I am wondering if we took it to our storage container in Talkeetna, since we were living in the apartment when Timmy was a baby.

I keep getting contractions.  They are doing a something (As of last Monday, I was 3cm dilated, but the cervix was still long and posterior) but not getting too serious or regular.  He is head down and very low, so I don't think it would take much to get things started.  Naomi was almost two weeks early, and Micah and Timmy were about a week early, so hopefully Joseph follows in their footsteps and comes soon.

Craig may be going to Seattle on Wednesday (the day after tomorrow), so I am a little nervous about that.  He will leave home around midnight, and his plane is supposed to land back in Anchorage around 9pm, so he should be back home around 10:30pm.  I have an 18yo gal from church coming to stay with me, so at least I won't have to drive myself to the midwives if he comes while Craig is gone.  In God's perfect timing....

A couple of weeks ago, Micah cut his knee.  It was actually kind of my fault.  I set a glass down, and it obviously wasn't secure, because it fell off and landed on the concrete floor, shattering.  Micah was right behind me when it happened, and he started crying really badly.  I thought he was just scared, but when I asked if he had gotten hurt, he said yes.  I pulled up his pants leg, and found a bloody cut that was gaping open.  All I can figure is that a piece shot up his pants leg, "like a bullet" as the PA who attended him said.  I had to take him to the Medical Clinic and he got two stitches.

The weather has been absolutely beautiful!  We actually had a few days around 70 degrees already!  Mostly it has been sunny and in the high 50's-mid 60's though.  The kids and I have been loving it.

I have been doing some more birdwatching, so that has been a lot of fun.  I have seen three new species already this year, as well as many of the ones I identified last year.  My zoom lens on my camera isn't functioning though, so no pictures.  I need to get it shipped in and fixed, I just keep procrasinating!

Well, I just thought I would post the latest on here.  Probably everyone has given up on my posting, but since I am using this as a journal, at least I will have something written a little more recently!

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It has been such a busy fall/winter already!  I have been so tired with this pregnancy, and not feeling well.  Nothing sounds good to eat, especially anything with meat in it.  I crave fresh fruit and salty things.

My little four are dressing up in Christmas costumes right now!  It's so funny to see my 2yo in a bathrobe that is 2ft. too big on him, with a little gold crown on.  My one daughter is Mary (of course!) and has a sheer curtain over her head and a blue church dress on.  They have made a little manger out of an empty tote and have one of her dolls in it.  (They don't seem to mind that Jesus was about 2yo when the kings actually came.)  Someone told Timmy to kneel like he was praying, so he kneeled down and started praying. I got the cutest pictures!  I will have to post them soon.

We are going out of state in January for my brother's wedding, so I don't really want a tree this year.  We leave on Jan. 8th, and I don't want one more thing to have to do before we leave.  We are going up to my in-laws for Christmas anyway, and then snowmachining out to their cabin for four days.  When we get back, we will have Micah's 4th birthday, and then leave in a week.  Thus, I am really not into decorating this year.  It's sad though....

I better get off and fix dinner for this crew.  Daddy had dinner in town with his boss, so I am being laid back tonight, but I better feed them soon, so I can get them to bed at a decent time.

Hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying this Holy-day season! 

Blessings to you and yours,  Grace

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I received my first award!  Thank you Michelle!

AWARD RULES

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 3 or more blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs telling them they've won an award!

I would like to nominate the following ladies:

Kimalita

Martha

Jenn

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Thank you to those of you who have prayed for me on my trip to see my grandpa.  He is doing MUCH better now, and I am hopeful he will make it to see his great-grandkids in January!  I am finally kind of getting back on my feet after my trip.  It took me a while, due to unforseen circumstances.

Now for the surprise....WE ARE EXPECTING our 7th baby to be born on May 23rd!!  I am 12 weeks pregnant!  My body fooled me in September, so I really wasn't expecting it, but by the middle of October, I had experienced all of the lovely first trimester miseries, except for one, which is usually my tell-tale give away!  Oh well, now I just don't have to wait so long!

We are all very excited, and of course would LOVE to have a baby sister for our one girl, but we will have to wait and see.

Anyway, now you know why I have been so quiet...I can hardly get through a school day and get dinner on the table, let alone get on the computer!!

Hope you all are doing well, and life is going good.

Blessings, Grace (and baby!)

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Hello to anyone who is actually reading my blog!  I just wanted to let you know (particularly the Blogger Friend School ladies) why I am not keeping up with the assignments.  My husband has graciously sent me down to visit my grandparents in Utah.  My grandpa was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and my grandma has Alzheimers.  They are in their late 80's, and I hadn't seen them in 3.5 years, so it was time for me to go.  Our whole family will be coming down in January for my brother's wedding, but we just aren't sure Grandpa will make it that long.

I would like to ask for prayer for them.  My grandpa is very fragile, and it is hard to see him like this.  He is probably 5'10", but is only 104lbs, and that is up from a couple of weeks ago.  Please pray that he gains strength, and that if it is God's will, that he will be able to see all of his great-grandkids once more. 

Also, if you have time, would you pray for my family that is back in Alaska without me.  My husband is home with the two oldest boys, the three youngest are with friends, and my third child is with his grandmother.  They seem to be doing really well, but more prayer can't hurt!  Also, I will be driving and flying home on Friday and Saturday.  I could use prayers as I will be alone the whole time.  I had a really great drive over though!  God really ministered to my heart!!!  Amazing how much you hear when you are alone!

Anyway, that is what is on my heart right now.

I was keeping up with the assignments so well too!  I ALMOST made perfect attendance!!  Bummer!

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Assignment: This week I want you to do something for someone else. Do you have a neighbor that needs you? Do you know an elderly person or single mom that could use you? What about the homeless? Pack even one single sack lunch and give it to someone in need. Do you know someone in blogland that is struggling right now and could use a note from you about how much you care? Pray about this. Let God put on your heart the perfect thing for you to do for another. Now, here is the kicker…I DO NOT want you to post about what you do. Whatever you choose to do is between you and God. Our rewards are in heaven, not here on earth, Mathew 6:1. I want you to post about how doing this “act” made you feel. Was stepping out of your comfort zone in this area as hard as you thought it might be? Could you see the gratefulness in their eyes? Hear it in their voice? Tell it from their typing? Do you think you might make doing things like this a more regular part of your time?  If this is an area that you are already active in, tell us how you feel this has impacted your life.

Second try...I had just finished this and hit a wrong key and lost it all, so here goes again:

This was a good assignment for me this week.  I already had a lot going on this last week, so I tried to incorporate little things into what I was already doing.  I have had a complaining spirit, so this got me thinking differently about people, changing my focus from feeling hurt, frustrated, or angry with people, to what I can do for them.  It is good for me to set an example for my children in this way.  For my boys, it will encourage them to be gentlemen, and help them to know better how to take care of their future spouse.  For my daughter, it will help her to see beyond herself, which is something that I tend to struggle with, and give her concrete ideas for things she can do as she is maturing.  I am naturally a "giver" (mostly of my time), and that can cause problems by getting myself too busy.  Finding the happy middle ground has been hard for me.  The focus needs to be to glorify God in all that we do, and this is particularly important in how we treat others.  Christ gave us the ultimate gift, so we should certainly be able to share little gifts of our time to those who could use a little friendship and kindness.

My cheerful givers!

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

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