Here's a before picture...

Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen?!?    I bet she is unless you have one at home!!!  LOL!!  She's an !!  Hahaha!!  Not really but we sure do love her!!! 

Oh, I almost forgot, here's the after picture....

Yep, she's only 5 and has lost 2 teeth.   Well, she had a little help...her dentist.  About 3 years ago, she fell and hit her mouth (right below her nose actually) and it messed up the root of one of her front teeth.  That tooth (you can see it in the first picture) has turned a little dark over the years.  Well, I noticed on Saturday that her permanant tooth was nearly coming in...up above her gum line.    So, I called the dentist and got an appointment.  She said it needed to come out, along with the one beside it.    So, my "baby" girl has lost 2 teeth now.  I may be a little  about it but my daughter is very !!!  The tooth fairy came too...

Blessings!!!

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Our family met with other Momys' families at the zoo today!!  We had such a great time.    We just all love the fellowship.  There is nothing like being around other like-minded people.  You know, other people with large families!!!   It's like we can just "let our hair down" and be ourselves.  All my children had others their age to play with and enjoy.  Lanie got to enjoy time spent with other girls,   and she really loved that.  Houston had some one-on-one time with a boy that is a little older than he is.  He really enjoyed that too.  I got to hold some babies!!!  You know I loved that and Scott held one of the little babies too.  He enjoyed that!!   He loves babies as much as I do!!!   Hmmmm.....   LOL!!!   All the kids loved the zoo.  We got a family membership so hopefully the Momys will be able to meet there once a month, even during the winter.  We had 5 Momys families there, with about 25 or so people.  What a blessing!!  Thanks Momys for coming and fellowshipping with us!!  Here's Christian enjoying the zoo....

May the Lord bless and hold each of you today and in the future!!!

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First and foremost, God has been working on me.   Showing me what I should be...  In my SS study this week, He is again showing me that I am His, body and soul, inside and outside!!!  Just listen to this...

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.                Romans 12:1-2  (NIV)

Wow!!!  As I have said in past bloggings, I dedicate myself to Him each morning, praying that my actions, thoughts, and feelings will glorify Him.  I am realizing more and more that as I am "transformed by the renewing" of my mind, that I can "see" His will so much more clearly.  PTL!!!  I can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me on so many different things; sometimes I am being chastized, other times I am being uplifted by my choices.  But, always, I feel His guidance and involvement in my life, minute by minute. 

As I grow daily in Him, I enjoy listening for His guidance.  I have been getting an email update each morning on the 40 Days for Life campaign that has been going on here in the US.  It is basically prayer vigils outside of abortion clinics around the US, not protests in the extreme sense of the word but peaceful and dedicated praying for all the unborn babies.  My husband and I are very concerned and saddened by all the abortions going on around the world.     This is one of the utmost issues for us in the upcoming election, regarding who will be placed on the Supreme Court in the next 4 years.  I told my husband one evening last week as we were driving home from church that if there was a clinic near us that did abortions, I would go and be a part of the prayer vigil.   Well, the Holy Spirit prompted me and I had the thought that there was one in Lufkin so I searched and searched online to find it, but I couldn't.  The next day, I got an email from David with 40 Days for Life and he encouraged us to read his blog.  I did and I found the Lufkin location of Planned Parenthood.  They do not do surgical abortions but they give the Morning After Pill, IUD's and birth control pills.  I contacted the lady in Lufkin that was the contact person for 40 Days for Life.  And...............on Friday, I meet with her in front of PP for a prayer vigil!!!!!!  I took Houston and Delanie with me.  We prayed, the kids sang "Jesus loves me" and we read the Bible together.  It was the most wonderful experience!!   

I spoke Sunday at church during the morning service, telling others my experience.  Bro. Randy has said so often that "this isn't the service (Sunday morning preaching), your service begins when you walk through those doors as you leave..."   He is so right.  I hope that this blog will be an encouragement to each of you to dedicate yourself to God's will.  Get involved where He guides you!!!  We must stop being a passive Christian body, we must stand up for His will each and everyday!!!

May the Lord bless you all today   as you go about doing His will!!!

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Ok, we don't like Halloween so we don't "do" it.  But, we did go to our church fesitval, Hallow Him.  We had such fun!!  Here's some pictures...

Lanie is a queen, Mason is a spider and Christian is a power ranger.

Then, we have Houston as a pirate.  Scott was a pirate too but I don't have a picture of him.

I have NO clue what I am but here's a picture with my sister.  She's a goof too, I guess.

Here's another picture of our youngest in his spider costume.  He had such a good time....

We all had a good time fellowshipping with others!!  It's so much work to do this though.  All the set up and preparation time.  But, it was fun anyway!!  We were so tired though we felt like zombies at church the next day!

Blessings!!

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....it's Cinnamon Rolls!!!!

  We hadn't had these forever so I decided to mix up a batch, well actually I had to double the recipe!! The whole family loves these so much that I have to make a double batch.   These are so yummy but they aren't your typical cinnamon rolls.  They are more like Cinnamon "biscut" rolls!!  Imagine a southern "baking powder" biscut, but rolled up with cinnamon and sugar in it and topped with a cream cheese and powdered sugar glaze.  Yuummmmmm!!!  Here's the recipe if you are interested...

Cinnamon Rolls by Nelda Robinson (Homemade Memories cookbook)

• 2 cups flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 Tbs. sugar
• 1 Tbs. cinnamon
• Nuts or raisins, if desired

Mix flour, salt and baking powder.  Add in butter and milk.  Mix.  Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness.  Brush with additional softened butter.  Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.  Roll up like a jellyroll.  Cut in pieces 3/4 inch thick.  Place in buttered tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until browned.  Makes about a dozen rolls.

Now, I don't measure the softened butter that I brush on the rolled out dough, nor do I measure the sugar and cinnamon.  I just "eye" it.   I don't add the nuts or raisins but I'm sure it would be good with those too.  I top these with a cream cheese and powdered sugar glaze.  I don't measure that either but I use about 1/3 cup cream cheese and 2 Tbs. butter, creamed together.  I then add a cup or so of powdered sugar.  After that I add a little milk (Tbs. or so) to thin it a little bit.  You might want to look up a real recipe for a cream cheese and powdered sugar glaze.

These are so yummy though.  And, very different from your normal cinnamon rolls.  I'm sure you noticed that this doesn't have yeast in it, hince the cinnamon "biscut" roll. 

Blessings everyone!!!

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It was another beautiful fall day here this morning so I had the kids go outside and play.  I was keeping watch but doing some cleaning.  Lanie ran in to me and said, "My foot is hurt!"  I look down and sure enough, blood is dripping (running) off her toes...  ...all over my carpet too.  Scott was in school so I'm the only one here.   I pick her up quickly and take her into the kitchen to the sink so I can  "access" the gravity of the situation.  It's bad.    She has cut her foot and it's bleeding like crazy, over an inch deep and about an inch long.  Right at the "pad" of her foot and up between her 2nd and 3rd toes.  So, my mom comes over to hold it together and put pressure on it while I get dressed.  I take her to the clinic.  They only put in 4 stitches b/c it must heal from the inside out so the stitches just basically hold the skin together on the outside.   Here's a picture of her foot....

You can't tell a whole lot but that gives you an idea.  Poor baby.  It will take over a week to heal.    What a pain!!!  She cut it on a mason jar that our son forgot and left outside and then another son dropped and broke and left it there...   And, he didn't come tell mom either.    Lanie isn't very happy about being cooped up and not being allowed to run around...see....

Hopefully it will heal well w/o any infection or anything!

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I have been asked by Misty at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MistyKrasawski/

to share 6 unspectactular, quirky things about myself.  Ok, this is going to take some thought.  I’m pretty boring I think!! But, here goes... 

1)     I cannot touch cotton balls.   It gives me the same feeling that so many people get when they hear finger nails being scraped down a chalkboard.  UUUuuggghhh!!

2)     I do not like anyone to mess with my hair.   Drives me nuts!

3)     I MUST sleep with 3 pillows and they can ONLY be MY pillows.  I carry them around wherever I go if we are going to be gone over night.  What a pain!!!

4)     I CANNOT stand June bugs!!!   I’m “scared” to death of them and go nuts if they are flying around.  (Yes, I KNOW they can’t hurt me but I just can’t wrap my mind around that one as they are flying around.)

5)     I WILL NOT drink milk out of a plastic glass and I WILL NOT eat cereal (with milk) out of a plastic bowl.

6)     I have only 1 plastic cup (for iced tea) and 1 coffee cup that I use.

Ummmm...now that I read that list, I'm beginning to think I'm pretty weird!!!!  

Okay, so now I'm tagging . . .

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Dee/

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/quietcajun/

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Raisingarrows/

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sweetsavages/

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ivleague/

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beckette/

Here’s the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
List 6 unspectacular quirks you have.
Tag 6 bloggers by linking to them.
Leave a comment on each blog to let them know they were tagged.

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I am staying very busy today.  The Lord has me on a Spring cleaning (in the Fall) mission.  I had been praying that the Lord would help my days be filled with joy.  As John 10:10 (KJV) says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  I know that Satan is here, ready at every moment, to suck the joy right out of my day.  But, I want to be joyful!  I chose to be joyful!!   I chose to live life more abundantly.  In order for me to do this, the Lord has shown me that I must purge my life of anything that "sucks the joy" from it.  For me, that is clutter.    I can't stand clutter.  And, He's also shown me that I will live life more abundantly and joyful if I will keep up with my cleaning/organizing.  So, for the past 2 weeks, I have been cleaning and organizing and de-cluttering like mad!  Trying to find any and everything I can to keep up with all the day to day "must do's".  I've gotten my weekly chore lists updated and now I'm down to the de-cluttering.   

I've also found joy in this verse, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands..." 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)

I see work now as a way I can glorify God.  I know without a doubt that the Lord wants me to work diligently taking care of my children, my husband and my home.  How blessed I am to have a home to clean and de-clutter.  How blessed I am to have children and a husband to take care of and love.    It also helps when I listen to praise music as I do my "chores".  This helps me to use the time for praising God and realizing all the blessings He has brought to my life. 

So, today I praise the Lord that He has shown me how to do all these things more abundantly through Him.  I chose to glorify Him by working with my hands as I de-clutter!   What a great way to begin finding that extra joy in my life!  

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Each morning, normally before my feet hit the floor, I pray and dedicate my day, body and soul, to the Lord.  I have such trouble during my day when things don't go as they should.  Like those times when I've just finished mopping the floors and here come my kids running through with dirty feet.   Or, when my daughter comes in and has changed clothes again.  My children know not to do these things but they do...time for correction and teaching, again.   These are the times that I desperately need the Lord's help.  Help to respond as Galatians 5:22-23 shows us, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  (NIV)  But, the KJV really speaks to me where it says "long-suffering" instead of patience and "meekness" instead of gentleness.  Wow, long-suffering!  So, this is what I long for and cry out for God to help me attain during my day. But, I fail so often.    So this morning, when one of my devotionals challenged me to put on my spirital armor, the "armor of God", each morning I immediately felt drawn to this scripture!

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...                Ephesians 6:14-18

As I dedicate myself each morning to God, body and soul, I will also pray for the Lord to "fit" me with each of the items mentioned above.  Wow!!!  I love the imagery of being clothed in "God's armor"!!  And, praying "in the Spirit" just reinforces all the wonderful attributes that Gal. 5:22-23 speaks of!!  I had such a wonderful time with God's word this morning!!!

Lord, I love You!  I praise You for all You are in my life.  Thank You for opening my eyes this morning and giving me "extra" strength and peace as I put on Your armor!!  You are everything to me.  I dedicate my life to You, body and soul.  I pray You will honored today in everything I do.  In Christ's name I pray, Amen.

May the Lord hold you and keep you all today!! 

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Oh we had such a great day last week!  It was a cooler fall day and I couldn't resist the urge to make soup.  I've been craving Taco soup for weeks but just hadn't taken the time to make it.   But, the weather was perfect and I decided it was time!!  So, we all had a yummy bowl of soup (or two )...

All the kids just love this soup!!!   Which is kind of surprising, as normally it's difficult to find a meal that everyone loves. Here's Mason enjoying his bowl of soup....

Can't you tell that he just loves it!?!   He doesn't normally eat soup either.  I thought I'd give you all the recipe too.  It is so easy and quick.  I got this recipe from a Mary, a lady at my previous church, but I'm not sure where she got it.

Taco Soup

• 1 lb.  - hamburger meat, browned
• 1 - small onion, finely chopped
• 1 - Taco Seasoning packet
• 1 - Ranch Dressing packet
• 1 can - Rotel tomatoes (milder?) 
• 1 can - whole corn
• 1 can - carrots (or mixed veggies)
• Chicken broth
• Grated cheese
• Tortilla chips/strips

Brown hamburger meat with onion, drain well.  In boiler, add Taco Seasoning packet and ranch packet to the hamburger mixture.  Add canned corn, carrots (or the mixed veggies) and Rotel tomatoes, including the liquid in the cans.  Then, add just enough chicken broth to cover the mixture well.  Heat this on med-high until beginning to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 30 minutes to an hour.  In individual bowls, top with tortilla strips and cheese.  Yum!!

I make my own tortilla strips by frying corn tortillas in a very small amount of oil until crisp.   Uuggghhh...bad for us!   So, next time I'm going to try baking the tortilla strips in the oven!    Enjoy!!!

This is so yummy on a cool fall day.  I know you could make this in the crockpot but I haven't done that yet.  I probably will though, because I just love my crockpot!!!  I have tried it both ways, with carrots and with mixed veggies.  It is delicious either way but my kids like it better with the carrots.  I know, it sounds like it would be weird with the veggies but it isn't.

May God bless and hold each of you today!!!

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Well, today it is cool and cloudy here in East Texas.  I just love rainy days so I'm hoping we have some showers this afternoon.  Right now, my kiddos are outside enjoying the cool weather.  We started school this morning and then the pull of the outdoors was just too great!!  But, others are putting their schoolwork to good use...

Lazy kitties...    I guess the kids aren't going to get much learning done with those cuties lying on their books!!    Oh well, the kids need time outside and that is the beauty of home schooling.  We can adjust our schedule as needed (or wanted).  We will just move our school time to this afternoon.  And, since they already got several subjects completed, it won't take long to finish it up.

I read a wonderful devotion this morning, on a subject that is near and dear to my heart...patience.  I must give this need to my Savior each day, the need for patience.  I do not handle my emotions well at all when I feel that "things" are not going to way they should.    If we are running late for example, I get upset and I will act badly toward my husband and children.  You know, one of those mornings when I have done everything I possibly could the night before, to get us out the door on time.  Something always comes up and I just get so frustrated.    I certainly do not react the way God would have me to act.  Today's devotional from Crosswalk: Girlfriends in God helped me to see that God is using all these trials to "painfully rub off the rough edges of our character", my character.  I've been painfully aware that I have a midrid of rough edges.  I don't respect my dh some days as I should.  But, I do praise the Lord that He is opening my eyes to all these "rough edges"!!!  This helps me to make sure that I allow the Lord to give me the strength to correct these imperfections.  I am working so hard on becoming the person that Ephesians 4:2 speaks of, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (NIV) And, going right along with that scripture for me is Proverbs 31:26, "She openth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." (KJV)  This is where I have such difficulty but the Lord is using little trials in my life to smooth my those rough edges.  PTL!!! Pray with me for growth in this area. I will be this woman today from Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." (NIV) I know the Lord is molding me to be a better woman, wife and mother.  Better days are on the horizon for me as a wife and mother and person!!!    I have such joy and praise for the Lord as He opens my eyes to the things in my life that I need to change or areas that need spiritual growth!!!!

Lord today, I pray You will give me strength, wisdom and dignity to only speak with kindess and love. I pray You will give me patience with my family.  Thank you Lord for James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."  (NIV)  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.  You are all I need today and tomorrow.  I will rest in You and the knowledge that although my tomorrows are numbered, I have eternal hope in You!!!  I will wear that crown!!!   In Christ's name I pray, Amen.

If you'd like to read the whole devotional on patience here's the link...

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/girlfriends/

BTW, you may have noticed that I used quotes from both the KJV and NIV in this blog.  I normally read from both of these, and normally the wording of one will speak more to my heart than the other which is exactly what happened today! 

May the Lord hold each of you today.... 

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Oh, do I have a story to tell….   For many years, I have wanted a sewing machine.  I don’t really know how to sew, but I did sew curtains for my classroom about 8 years ago with the help of my sweet MIL – THANKS Mom!    I have been a member of Momys for nearly 3 years now and so many of them are talented seamstresses, it has made me want to sew even more.  As the years have passed, I have so wanted to be able to sew clothes, make things for my home, or give a home-sewn gift.  The Momys have had a couple of Sew A-long’s that I really wanted to do but no machine.  Well, a couple of weeks ago, I felt that the Lord was urging me to put a “wanted” post on Freecycle for a sewing machine.  I thought, “Yea right, I’ll get a machine all right… a monstrosity of a thing that won’t work and then I’ll have it sitting around adding to all my clutter” so I just pushed the thought aside.  Then, a day or so later, again I really felt the Lord was prompting me to put a post on Freecycle.  So, I did.  Several days later I got an email from a lady asking if I still wanted a sewing machine.  I replied that I did but at the same time I was wondering what I was getting myself into.  I asked her if she had one I could give a “loving” home.  She said she did have one that she wanted to give me…a brand-new still-in-the-box machine that her MIL had given her.  She said she had never used it and never would.  WOW!!!!  I couldn’t believe it and thought that it can’t “really” be a “real” sewing machine.   We met the next week and here’s what she blessed me with….

Yes, it was brand new and never used... Thank you, Daina.  God bless you!!!   I am so grateful!!

As I went through these past two weeks exchanging emails with Daina and being amazed with God’s goodness, I thought of a couple of scriptures…

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.     John 16:24

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.        Matthew 21:22

I praise the Lord for this wonderful gift, for the wonderful Daina that He wrought and for her preacher daddy that taught her "not to be selfish with her material possesions".  I pray the Lord will give me the opportunity to bless someone like Daina did me!!!    I never actually prayed that the Lord would provide a sewing machine, but He does know my heart.  This was a blessing to me and my whole family.  I can learn to sew and so can my children! 

But, as I thought about this blessing, I must say the Lord had me thinking of other things too!!    My thoughts and prayers were on Aaron and Morieen who just lost their 3 yo son Cole from cancer, Corrine & Pete who lost their precious Rachael, the Drews family who lost their beautiful Christian, Cathy (who right now is in the fight of her life against the cancer that might take her home), precious Baby Emmy who is playing at the feet of Jesus right now and so many more.  The list goes on and on…  I don’t know them IRL but I love them.  Some I know better than others, but the Lord has given me a love for each of them that is indescribable!!!  As tears pour down my face, I just don’t understand why the Lord didn’t bless them with their hearts desire.  I have prayed so many prayers for these wonderful people.  Oh, if I could have just given them their hearts desire….  I will never understand these things this side of heaven.  But, I do know that God loves them with all His heart.  And, I know this…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”          Jeremiah 29:11

That is one of my favorite verses.  In my life, when I don’t understand God’s ways, I hold on to that verse with everything in me.  It gives me hope and comfort.

I also know that God gave His own son for each of us.  Jesus Christ died in my place…in your place.   How I wish that the Lord had given each of these families their heart’s desire and I am praying for that very thing for Cathy.  But, without a doubt His will is perfect, even if I do not understand it.  I will continue to pray for God’s comforting arms to be wrapped around these families and all the others in our world that are hurting….  May God bless each and every one of you!   

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Well, here is my solution for school on a beautiful, crisp fall day here in Texas.....

Of course, the kids loved it!!   The breeze is so nice.  It's about 84 degrees here today and in the shade with the wind blowing gently, I don't think we could ask for more!  It's perfect for the kids to do their learning out under God's blue sky.

Here's another photo I couldn't resist....

Houston is such a little helper.  I am so proud of him.  Lanie just soaks it up most the time.  Well, unless she "already knows"!!!

Final thoughts for today....

Life is so precious and short.  In James 4:14, it is written "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." I want to exhort everyone that reads this to live their life as though they will meet our Maker tomorrow.  Love, laugh, and live as the Lord wants you to.  Today, I am going to kiss my children more, hug them tighter, and PTL for each one of them!!!  I am going to tell my husband how much I love him and appreciate him!!  I am going to tell God how devoted I am to Him and that I, body and soul, am His and will do my best to live today and everyday as He wills!!!

Now, I have mounds of laundry to tackle....

May God bless you today!!!!

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Oh it is so hard to make the children do their school work when it is just so beautiful outside!  The kids had so much fun this morning as they ran around outside.  They jumped on the trampoline forever too. 

Aren't they cute? They are having so much fun.  Christian looks like he is doing one of his famous "ninja" moves!!!   So, how do you (mom/teacher) tell them to come inside when all you (I) want to do is join them in the beautiful outdoors?  Well, how do you?    

  I will update in just a little bit to tell you what I did.....  (But, I bet you can guess!! )

Now for my musings...  Right now, I'd tell you that Fall is my favorite time of year.  Really, it probably isn't.  I don't have a favorite season.  I do have a favorite time of year.  That would be the time of year when any season changes to the next.  I love the beginning of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.  It feels as though it is a new awaking for me, time to growing and change.  Time to be still and listen for the Lord's call.  What does He want of me today, in this season?  I PTL for His world, with all it's beauty (and strife).  I know that each day that passes brings me closer and closer to Him, spiritually and physically.  I want to live every day, of every season, with joy and longing for His word and His purpose in my life.  My husband and my children are so much apart of what He has for me in this season.  It also includes the joy in ministering at church too.  We (my husband and I) are very involved at church.  We teach Awanas (2 different groups) and now we have been asked to teach a young adult SS class.  How blessed we are.  I believe we will begin that in the next couple of weeks.  My prayer is that the Lord will use us to bless and challenge others in their walk with Him.  Thank You, God, for all You do!!

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Oh the smell of fresh baking bread...    There is just nothing better, not that I can think of anyway.    It's been a long time since I baked bread every week but I am going to make it a habit again.  Whole wheat bread at the store (which isn't even good for you) has gotten so expensive, nearly $3 a loaf.  So, I'm going back to grinding my own wheat and making/baking my own bread.  Wow, it is so delicious and GOOD for us.  I just love my NutriMill and my Bosch.  I couldn't do all this without them, that is for sure.  My husband is such a sweetie to get them for me!!!

Today, I made 5 loaves of whole wheat bread and 2 loaves of whole wheat cinnamon swirl.  Boy, are they delicious.  We are having BLT sandwiches for lunch, just as soon as I get the bacon finished up in the oven.  That is about the best tip anyone has ever given me...make the bacon in the oven!!!    No getting splattered with bacon grease and having to stand over a hot pan on the stove!!!  Wahoo!!  

As I sit typing this, I'm enjoying the smell of fresh baked bread and bacon cooking.  And, there is a wonderful breeze blowing in my open windows.  We have been able to have the air conditioner off for the past 2 days and it has been heavenly.  Last night I even got cold and had to cover up!!!  PTL!!!   Our electric bill has been OUTRAGEOUS this summer.  So, these cool days and nights are a wonderful blessing from God!!!

Now I'm off to get those BLT's ready for the kiddos!!   Oh, get some schooling done with them too...   LOL!

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This is a picture of our family at Easter.  I think it's the last one we have taken all together.  Our oldest, Danielle and Nick, aren't in the picture. It's not the greatest picture but at least it gives you an idea of who we are.

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I have been so looking forward to this new year!!!  Houston's in 2nd grade and Delanie started Kindergarten.  We started a little early, August 18th, so that we don't have to stick rigidly to weekly schedule.  Some weeks we might have school all 5 days, but other weeks might only have 3 days. 

So far, the kids are doing great!  Lanie is just loving school.  I'll have to take some pictures of them as they work.  Lanie asks every morning, "When does home school start?"  Houston whines, "Don't remind her!"  As you can tell, Houston isn't jumping for joy at the prospect of schooling.  But, he's doing great too!

This year we are using the following curriculums:

Rod & Staff (phonics, reading)

Handwriting Without Tears

100 Easy Lessons (reading)

Math U See (2nd grade)

Saxon (Kindergarten)

Five in a Row (for Science, Geography, History)

I want to add Mystery of History and Math U See for Lanie.  I guess we'll see if we can work that into our budget this fall.

Christian and Mason are doing Pre-School Activities in a Bag (as I can get them put together). 

Blessings!!

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