Today I am going to tell you about how the Lord provided for my family recently. Some of you know that I have been babysitting for a sweet little boy every Wednesday (and his sister in addition for the summer months) for the last 2 years. It worked great with our schooling and the money helped us tremendously. So a few weeks ago when his mom called and said his grandma was going to start watching him as he is now going to kindergarten, I was a little more than bummed. We had been talking about me going to the school to pick him up two days a week. At least that is what I was hoping for. Now that I think of it, we would have been extra busy and it would have disrupted our school. But I was willing.
It was not even a day, as I remember, before I had a call from a friend who was looking to put her 18 month old into a mother's day out , but instead, thought of me! What an awesome God we serve! It will be a cut in pay to have her just half a day, one day a week, but really, we will manage. We managed the last 2 weeks without any babysitting money. But just the same, the money comes in real handy.
Our first day was yesterday. Normally, she will be here Fridays. We had a great time. It took all of my time and attention, as you time imagine. My hats off to all of you who have toddlers. I was one tired puppy yesterday afternoon! I was thankful for the help of my children, keeping Faith entertained. I think it will work out. We got our lessons done after Faith left and even got to the library.
Hello friends! I look forward to each and every Show & Tell with Mary. I trust you are all having a wonderful week.
Today I am going to show you a few things that have a common theme. Can you figure it out?
Here is my "new" sewing machine. She's a 1979 Montgomery Ward sweetie. She used to belong to my beloved's grandmother. I hear she was quite the talented seamtress. Thanks to a very helpful reader, I bought a bobbin winder and am able to use the machine without any troubles, as you might remember in a previous post I discovered that the bobbin winder does not work on the sewing machine. Now I just need some lessons. I can sew straight lines!
Here is our swimming pool we got a couple weeks ago. I am still under the learning curve when it comes to getting the chemicals right. I should have listened to my girlfriend who said to take a water sample to the pool store and they'll tell me what to do. No, I went to Walmart, trying to save a buck and now I have the wrong stuff. Live and learn. The kids love it anyway!
And lastly, here is a photo from our trip to Conner Prairie this week. This one is of the kids and their paternal grandma.
OK, so have you figured out what all these things have in common? It's not really a fair question, so let me fill you in. The sewing machine and pool were gifts from Jeff's mother. She is truly a generous soul. She is a blessing to our family in many ways. So today's Show & Tell is really about her and in her honor.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I know I plan to. The kids are going away with their Nana and Granddaddy tonight. They will be gone until Saturday afternoon! Woo hoo! They may even get to meet Lynn! (I am jealous.)
I missed not being able to join in all the fun last week. VBS did me in for a few days. But now I am rested and ready to go. Here are some photos from Grace's family party last evening. My little girl is now nine years old.
I call this one "Anticipation." Poor thing had to wait four extra days this year for her presents, as her birthday was on Monday and family could not be here until Thursday.
I call this one, "Just What I Wanted!"
Her generous grandparents chipped in and got her Kit, a dream come true.
And here are Grace, Kit and the cake. Notice Kit has changed her clothes.
This is Grace pretending to be her cake while showing us her new birthday dress.
Grace and her grandmothers.
The Anniversary Duo, 28 years strong!
Grace and her Uncle Greg.
Thank you for visiting me today. Have a wonderful weekend.
I have a smiling food theme going this week, don't I ? These are from our garden this week. Tonight we're having the last of the lettuce, the newly ready baby carrots, along with the above all in a big salad.
Have a great weekend! To see more Show & Tell posts, please visit our hostess, Mary.
Jul. 4, 2008~ Show & Tell Friday: Jeff's New Love & More ~
Welcome to my show& tell. This has been an exciting week for us as a family. Jeff , my beloved, was given this sweet 1982 Schwinn World Tourist bike. Sadly, it was not taken very good care of over its life, so he has lovingly began the restoration process with great eagerness. And now he has a wonderful touring bike to use when we bike as a family. In fact, Jeff now has a mountain bike, a hybrid, and a touring bike. Does this guy loves bikes or what? Well, let me just say that when I met him, a 50 mile bike ride was normal for him. However, with the years passing and having a family to provide for, he had to give up his bike touring days for awhile. But now, he's back to training and I think it won't be long before he can do the bike tours he used to love. Anyway, here are some photos of he and his new love.
Before... After... Little helpers arrive...
And here are some pictures of the kids on their bikes... One last look at Jeff and his new love. And here is my retro touring bike. Happy trails to you! We'll be out on the Monon this weekend, weather permitting.
Have a safe and festive 4th!
If you would like to join the show& tell fun or see more entires, please stop by Mary's blog for details. Please do stop by Mary's to wish her a very ...
Happy birthday Mary! You are greatly appreciated!
(((HUGS)))
Jun. 13, 2008~ Show & Tell: Grandma's Weekly Visits ~
For the last 10 years, my dear mother-in-law has made the 2.5 hour trip to our house once a week in the summer months when she is not working as a science teacher. The kids and I really enjoy this weekly visit because that means we get to take her to all sorts of fun places. Then when Daddy gets home we eat a nice meal together which includes my brother-in-law, Uncle Greg.
Now, you have to know that Uncle Greg is a big boy at heart and the kids just adore him and he likes to pick on them play with them. Sometimes we have to ask his mom to speak to him about his behavior, but all-in-all, he's a great uncle.
This week we stayed close to home because of basketball camp in the afternoons. I just now realized that I did not take photos of our morning at the splash park. But you've seen those here before, so I hope you'll forgive me.
Here are some photos of our late afternoon and evening. On a funny note, instead of walking both ways to the restaurant, we drove the van to town because it was so humid. After eating dinner, we decided to walk the 1.5 miles home as it was really nice out by then and we had eaten too much ice cream, needing to walk it off a little. My sweet Jeff biked back to get the van. I just love living so close to downtown, sometimes! I won't tell you how he had to bike back home for his van keys. No, that might be too embarrassing.
Even while Mary is away, she is able to pull off her hostess duties. Thanks Mary!
Do I have a tale to tell you! It all starts back when I had this desire to have a table in my sunroom and leave the dining table in the kitchen nook area just for eating. The only table I had at the time was this old drop-leaf table that was given to me. But really it is too low for adults to use and the legs are too close together so that no one can comfortably sit on the sides. And did I mention how it tips? No, I don't think I did. Anyway, you get the picture. I was slowly growing more discontent as time wore on.
Well, a couple weeks ago, I got the idea to start the search for a round table at the plethora of garage sales around here while I was out looking for a pitch fork (that's a whole other tale.) I also thought to tell my garage-saling girlfriend what I was looking for, who in turn told me her garage sale wish-list. (This is a good idea. Maybe a future Tightwad post, Mary?)
So, today this same sweet friend calls me up to ask if I would watch her precious 16 month old for awhile so that she could work on her very own garage sale that she is having this weekend. I was just going to the grocery store, so I said, "Sure!" And here is where God stepped in to make the title of this entry work.
On my friend's way out of my neighborhood, she passed a garage sale and would you believe that they were selling a table, a round table! She called me and asked it I wanted it. From there I am not sure of all the workings, but she ended up getting a sweet deal on the table and two chairs. Did I mention that the table has a leaf? No, I don't think I did. It even has a leaf! And do you know what she did? She gave me the table and two chairs! She said it was payment for babysitting. Wow. There I was just trying to be a blessing to her and she out-blesses me! That's how God works.
And now, here is the table... Isn't it awesome? I can easily sand and varnish the top. And most of the time anyway it will have a vinyl cover because of the art we do in the sunroom. (Now the search is on for a couple chairs...)
May. 23, 2008~ Show & Tell: Things That Make Me Smile ~
Good day to you and thanks for stopping by. Today the theme of my Show & Tell is "Things that make me smile." (Click on link to see more posts at Mary's blog.)
Two things in this picture make me smile...my sweet daughter and wild flowers picked from the yard.
My dear cat sunning in the window makes me smile.
Who wouldn't return this smile?
A strawberry's bloom really puts a smile in my heart.
A tidy livingroom makes me oh so glad.
And a little boy coloring while listening to a book on CD can set my heart to singing.
What makes you smile?
This week at Olympians ,the Wednesday night Bible club our kids go to, the theme was Beach Party. I took these pictures just before leaving. They came home just as worked up and as usual it took awhile to get them to sleep! In fact, this is how they've been acting since spring got here. Everyday is a party in their minds. And I am the party pooper making them finish the school year strong!
Have a great weekend. If you'd like to see more Show & Tell posts, see Mary aka Canadagirl.
Welcome to Show & Tell
hosted by Mary aka Canadagirl. To see more posts like this one, click on Mary's name.
Some of you may remember that just one year ago we moved into our current home. Wow, that time has really flown by!
Since the walls had been recently painted completely white before we moved in, we did not feel compelled to repaint, even though the bland white gets old after awhile. But being frugal, I decided to hold off painting until the 30 dirty fingers of my children make it a necessary thing to do. So in the meantime, I wash these white walls (at their level) and make the best of it.
You may also know that this week I took on 2 extra kids for 3 days to earn a little "mad" money. I decided to use a little of it to buy some curtains and add a little color to our world. Last night, while the kids were at karate and dh was working, I stole away to Target and found something for the dining area. It was not my first choice in color, I was hoping for a slate blue, but I think it will do nicely. And the price was right!
I need to take them down and iron them, but a sweet blogging friend asked for a photo and there is no better day than Show & Tell, right, Jane?
Have a wonderful weekend. I have posted pictures from our latest trip to Conner Prairie in a slide show up top for grandparents. I thought I'd spare you all another Show & Tell from there!
Apr. 4, 2008~ Show & Tell: Living History Museum Opening ~
Good day to you and thank you for choosing to visit my blog today. If you'd like to see more Show & Tell posts, please go see Mary aka Canadagirl.
Thursday was a day that had been marked on our calendar for months, the season opening of Conner Prairie . Yes, I've blogged about this marvelous place before many times, but truly, it is a different place each time we visit. Thursday was no different. Here are a few pictures.
We observed this rooster for quite awhile, learning his ways. We decided he was the dominate rooster out of the two at this barnyard.
This little guy was getting a bottle when we happened on him. We just missed our chance to feed him.
Triplets were every where in the Conner Barn! Triplet lambs pictured here and triplet goats. The farmer said more triplets are on the way.
Here are my favorite triplets.
This is Blue. He is in training to be an ox. His other half, Red, was in another pasture. We've seen them grow over the last few years. It is amazing to watch them work together wearing their yokes.
In addition to the above encounters we...
dipped candles
helped make biscuts and cookies
hauled fire wood
had a 1800's school lesson on statehood
chatted with the doctor about herbal remedies
learned about 1800's money system (cutting coins into bits, 2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a dollar)
watched iron being forged into a tool
watched a log being cut by hand into boards
petted newly hatched ducks and chicks
swept a floor
I can't wait to go back next week!
Please scroll down for my Thankful Thursday entry, if you are reading this on Thursday! Thanks. Have a great weekend.
Do you like cookies? I love them! So when I went to Ladies Bible Study a month ago and discovered this delicious and simple recipe I just had to share it. This recipe is so versatile. But first, let me tempt you with this picture...
These were from Easter.
Now here is the recipe:
1 cake mix, any variety, I used lemon (I know Mary, I am sorry)
1 egg
1 stick of butter (very soft)
water
powdered sugar (optional)
Mix first 3 ingredients with a hand mixer, adding the water at the end to determine how much you need for it to be a cookie dough consistency. I think I added less than 1/2 a cup, for a double batch. Drop by rounded spoonfuls (or use a small ice cream scoop) onto parchment lined baking pan. Give them a little pat, but don't press down to flatten. Bake at 350 until just before they start to turn golden on the edges, maybe 8 minutes depending on your oven. (Mine is hot and uneven.) Let them cool on a bakers rack. You can sprinkle powdered sugar on top. I don't remember how many a batch makes. I doubled it for Easter and we had plenty.
Now here is the fun part. Tonight I am bringing these same cookies to our flock group, but I am going to make cookie sandwiches with them using cream cheese icing in between the 2 cookies! And I am bringing confetti cookies for the kids, using a confetti cake mix. I also plan to make these again with chocolate cake mix and make cookie sandwiches with white frosting in between. Oh, the possibilities are endless!
UPDATE: Hello again. I wanted to let you know that the Funfetti cake mix is for some unknown reason a little trickier than the lemon. They actually have a different recipe on the box. I tried that recipe and they were a bomb, as in not good! When I used the recipe on my blog they were much better, but still harder to do than the lemon. There is a different consistency. I made them OK today. I just was careful when I added the water. Just a little at a time until the dough is like chocolate chip cookie dough. The lemon cookie dough is softer and a little smoother.
Have a blessed weekend!
Jenn
I hope you have a great weekend! I look forward to reading your show & tell. I'll be making my rounds after I bake some more cookies for tonight.
Mar. 20, 2008~ Show & Tell Friday: Spring Cleaning the Garage ~
Hopefully, the title of this Show & Tell did not turn you off. Garages are not the most fun things to look at, right? You've seen one, you've seen them all. But since we spent an entire afternoon in ours last Sunday, I thought it deserved mention. I did not take any before shots because, frankly, I did not think I would have stoop to this for a show & tell. But my creative juices have been all used up creating my spring look and so I had to reach deep for this one. Perhaps I should have showed off my cat again?
I am so thankful for this garage, by the way. It is the biggest one I've ever had. And my goal is to get rid of even more things. We ended up taking a Jeep full of stuff to Good Will on Sunday, which is a great start.
I need to "mooch" away some of these books, Denise! Except I don't want any back in return. If you have a Show & Tell to post, link up at Mary's blog.
Hello and welcome to my humble home on the World Wide Web! This is Show & Tell day, hosted by Mary. Today's topic is all about me! I almost feel silly about posting this frivolity. Actually, I was at a loss as to what to post, so I took a look back in my photobucket account and decided to post some of the things that make me smile.
First up....birthday presents make me smile!
The Word of God makes me smile.
Library books really get my heart pumping.
McDonald's iced coffee in the summer makes me smile.
The thought of one day going to Alaska with my family makes me smile.
Junk food makes me smile. (Please don't spread that around. I want people to think I am above the lure of junk food. Hee, hee. )
Learning with my children makes me smile.
Success in the garden makes me smile. So there you have it. These are a few of the many things that make me smile! Have a great weekend. (Weekends make me smile too!)
Welcome to my humble show and tell today. It almost did not happen, as my memory card for my camera is now not working. Thankfully I was savvy enough to figure out how to use the USB cable! Yippee! My show and tell today is actually homeschool related, too. Amazing!
What I want to show you is the way we have our workbooks altered each year.
We take them to Office Depot and they put spiral bindings on them for us, at a very small price.
This makes a huge improvement. Not only will the book now lay flat to write in, it is easier to find the actual page you are on if you leave it open to that page. It also makes it easier to copy a page if needed, for family use only.
I really wish the companies who publish these books would do this in the first place. Perhaps I should make this suggestion!
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I pray you have a blessed weekend. See you on Monday!
What happens when you train your child in the way he should go? They take off!
This past Monday we spent some time at the local children's museum. Many times in the past, I would encourage my children to sit down and draw a piece of art that they liked. This time, my son sat himself down and started to draw before I could even mention it. And he did a great job, if I do say so myself. He even got the shading right.
If you'd like to see more Show & Tell posts, see Mary aka Canadagirl.
Have a fantastic weekend.
My sweetheart was away working yesterday from 7AM until 9:30 PM. I really had no expectations for Valentine's Day. I told him my present was that he was willing to work so hard for us. But, he did not disappoint. He came home with these... And 4 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies!
It's Friday again! Wow. I must be getting old because it seems like every two days is Friday now! I do look forward to this day in blogland. I love visiting your blogs to see what you come up with.
Today I am going to show you our new math program, Math U See. We are on lesson 12 of the Alpha level and so far so good! (Why didn't I try this long ago?)
One of the greatest things about this program is the DVD that comes with the teacher's manual. l am growing in fondness for Mr. Demme as well as are my children. He has such a personable manner and teaches things in such an understandable way.
We are starting at the beginning of this program because I noticed that my oldest was having a lot of trouble with simple subtraction. Instead of being frustrated, he is now encouraged.
One of the critiques I have heard about Math U See is that this way of learning math puts the kids at risk of becoming dependent on the rods. Honestly, after working a few problems with them, they are more than willing to move along at a faster pace. And as Mr. Demme says, he doesn't walk into the bank and ask for a blue, mint and yellow. (You'd laugh if you heard him say that.)
Truly the greatest part for me is that we can do it all together. We sit down together and watch the DVD. They usually beg to watch the very short lesson more than once.
Another great thing is that the practice book has 3 pages of practice worksheets and 3 pages of cumulative review. Wow! And I have 3 kids! It works out great to share one book. If someone needs extra practice, I simply go to the website and use their worksheet generator for more. How easy is that?
OK, so far this has been all talk. Here is the show... This is what my kids love best about the program....they get to build things.
My parting thought is this. If something is not working, or if your child is not grasping a concept, don't be afraid to try something new. It is worth the expense. It saves aggravation in the end. And it is such a joy when you find the right program. I also want to thank Keri and Melissa for your willingness to help me while making this decision. You're the tops!
If you'd like to join Show & Tell hosted by Mary aka Canadagril, click here.
Hello and welcome to "Busy At Home". My name is Jenn. I am honored to be the wife of 13 years to my best friend Jeff. I also have the privilege to be the stay-at-home mom of 3 wonderful home educated children ages 10, 9, 6 here in beautiful Central Indiana. This blog is where you'll find recorded the happenings of a very busy family striving to be a light in our world for Jesus.
I have a smiling food theme going this week, don't I ? These are from our garden this week. Tonight we're having the last of the lettuce, the newly ready baby carrots, along with the above all in a big salad. 
Before...
After...
Little helpers arrive...
One last look at Jeff and his new love. 
And here is my retro touring bike. 
Happy trails to you! We'll be out on the 
Isn't it awesome? I can easily sand and varnish the top. And most of the time anyway it will have a vinyl cover because of the art we do in the sunroom. (Now the search is on for a couple chairs...)
These were from Easter. 
)
I need to "mooch" away some of these books, Denise! Except I don't want any back in return. If you have a Show & Tell to post, link up at 
So there you have it. These are a few of the many things that make me smile! Have a great weekend. (Weekends make me smile too!)
They take off! 
And 4 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! 
This is what my kids love best about the program....they get to build things. 
