I began a Wedding Ring lap quilt for my dh nine years ago (I think) before we moved to Arkansas and had children.  I finished this month as a really belated Father's Day gift for the bestest dad ever.

I was excited to finally cross that UFO (UnFinished Object) off my list but more importantly I'm happy to see something I made blessing my family.

When making summer plans to spend time away with your spouse it helps to plan well for those that will be caring for your children.  I've always tried to be overly prepared for a long-term sitter.  It has helped the time to be a blessing for the children and the ones caring for them.

 Mrs. Happy Housewife has a great post about this very thing. It is basically the same thing I do for people who watch our kiddos.  I keep all the basic info in a Word Doc and just change what is needed for that situation (ie. addresses, phone numbers, etc).

In case you ever wonder if I am "super mom"...here's the vivid reality of life around here.  I've blogged before about my struggle with balancing housecleaning and school.  I love to learn with my children and my dh has helped me to see over the years how we need to find time to "rest" during the day.  SO I've learned to be realistic about the state of my home.  It goes in cycles and spurts of being clean and shiny but right now we are just ending a busy season and its been in a state of disorder for about 6 weeks. 

BUT my heart has been at rest and peace with my family and God.   Take heart, dear mom, and enjoy the time you have with your family.  Do what you can for today but don't stress about not getting it ALL done!  no one can...except God...

Thanks for stopping in this morning!  Oh, yes....we've been painting the entryway for, um, about a month now.  Oh, no.  We planned it that way.  It's just hard to get things done quickly around here.

Why don't you come in and have a seat.  Shhh, the children are still sleeping off a fun visit to Grandma's this past weekend.

Gee, thanks for coming by.  Oh, let me move that book and adjust the slipcover on the couch.  There!  I don't think there are too many crumbs left on the couch.  Why don't you put your purse on the coffee table...so it doesn't get covered with dog hair.  *weak smile, because you look up and see this on the floor*

Would you like a drink?  Great!  C'mon in the kitchen while I heat the water up for tea.  Oh, just push those toys over.  Would you like to read the paper from the past few days?  It seems to pile up around here. 

Oh, those chocolate chips?  I'm planning to make cookies with the kids later *wink, blush, sigh*.  Would you like a few?

Then your eyes scan to the right and see the "thorn in my housecleaning side"...the DESK!  Oh, um, I've been working on lesson plans for next years school.  How long does it take?  Well, I've been working on it since March, *small chuckle*, but it seems to be like an old farm tractor...it starts and goes for awhile and then sputters and quits on you.  I guess you could label it the "interruption principle"...a hs mom at work will not remain at work once hs child views that said mom is being somewhat productive and enjoying a sense of quietness. 

Oh you have to go!  I'm so sorry.  Oh wait you have dog hair on your pants...let me get a lint roller...hmmm, where did that thing go.  Oh, it looks like a few stickers got stuck to your purse. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

FOR TODAY April 6, 2009...

Outside my window...a cold spring morning...but NO SNOW so far...

I am thinking...on the wonderful Love of Christ...

I am thankful for...the Obedience of Christ...

From the learning rooms...we begin Tapestry of Grace Year 1 Unit 4 today!!!  Only 9 weeks of school left!  We are also implementing Work Boxes and LOVING IT!!!

From the kitchen...fresh pancakes this morning.  I'm hoping to make some granola bars and cookies for our trip next week.

I am wearing...a new Diivine Modestee Cami under a thrifted top with a favorite black skirt and comfy grey sweater.

I am creating...yo-yos out of scraps for dd's window treatment.

I am going...to the library today.

I am reading...a book on the life and times of Archbishop James Ussher.

I am hoping...for all to hear and respond to the glorious Gospel of Christ.

I am hearing...quiet hymns mixed with children playing and baby babbling.

Around the house...I'm getting the Spring Organization bug...time to declutter.

One of my favorite things...breakfast tea with cinnamon creamer.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Clean the House in prep for leaving next week, bake and cook for our trip, rest, finish my list for the homeschool convention, and work on plans for next school year.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Visit Peggy's blog at:  http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to join in the fun!

We are all dealing with some form of the cold bug.  (She turns her head to sneeze.)  Excuse me. 

It has been a long couple of days around here.  We pray for restored health and are glad for the good things of the earth that God has given us.  We love the "Super" line of vitamins offered at Beeyoutiful.  I've been taking the Super Mom since Peanut was born and Pickles is taking the Super Kids (he's the only one who hasn't been very sick).  I don't get a dime of profit off of this suggestion.  I just really love their products and would love, right now,  to have the lavender essential oil to spritz our home with and shake off the sick feeling.  But all in time.  I can't order the entire catalog at once.  :) 

I have found though that having some probiotics on hand has really helped my little ones when they have upset tummies.  We found out this summer that our children are quite adept at taking pills and it has made taking supplements and herbs so much easier.

Well, I'm off to sip my sleepy tea and head to bed.  Just wanted to share a favorite link with you.

Memory Verse: Psalms 13:6 NIV
I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Please try to learn our memory verse this week. We will be sharing a new verse every week and hope that you will store them in your hearts and find a special joy in His words.

Intro: M’m M’m Good (Campbell’s Soup)
The fall is such a wonderful time of year.  The beautiful foliage and cool, crisp morning air is such a wonderful change from the hot summer.  I also love the M’m M’m good smell of fall cooking and baking.  The wonderful fall veggies, fruits and Thanksgiving foods.

Assignment:  Post your favorite fall recipe/recipes to share.  I love trying new recipes, do you?  It can be baking, main dishes, veggies, dessert or anything else you can think of.  There are no limits.  Mmmmmm..I can’t wait to take a look at some of those recipes.

 *****************************************************************************************************************

I'm baking Snickerdoodles tonight for our Church Harvest Party.  I love the smell of the cinnamon and the simplicity of the cookie.  My children love to gooble them up while they are still warm.  The recipe is no secret since I use the one from the "good old" Betty Crocker cookbook.  It is easy, fun, and yummy!  Enjoy.

Snickerdoodles

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup stick butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

2 large eggs

2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1.  Heat oven to 400.

2.  Mix 1 and 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl.  Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

3.  Shape dough into 1 and 1/4 inch balls.  Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon.  Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

4.  Bake 8-10 min or until set.  Remove from cookie sheet.  Cool on wire rack.  Do not over bake.

I was reading the Girl Talk Blog today and was reminded by this post that my goal of keeping up with relationships, meals, and laundry has been what keeps me sane these days.

Somedays when I'm daydreaming at the kitchen sink I imagine being able to keep the floors clean, make the bed, keep the shower clean, and all that other stuff that makes a homemaker feel at peace in her home.  BUT until my children are a bit older I'll continue to focus on the necessities (time together, clean undies, and good meals).  I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago but it is nice to see others feel the same way.  It helps me to remember grace when people are in my house and walking on my "crunchy" floors. 

The assignment over at Blogger Friend School this week is a challenge for me.  Especially after the post where I admitted that keeping up with the housework has been my greatest struggle lately.  So, I thought I'd write about the goal I'm working towards and actually have had the pleasure of living in at different times in life.

Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.

Years ago when I was walking through that dark valley of depression (for the first time) I found FlyLady.  Now, I know that some people would be overwhelmed by FlyLady's plan but for me it was a perfect fit.  I am a very schedule, rules, structure type of person so I really just needed someone to "tell me" what to do at that point in life.  I remember meeting DH at the door and beaming over the fact that I had washed the dishes that day.  At that time in life washing the dishes was a tremendous step and about all the energy I could muster.  He was quite excited for me (wink at ya honey)! 

Fast forward (through the frustratingly difficult time of depression) to just a couple of years ago...I found that I could more loosely schedule my days and still get everything done.  It was a wonderful feeling to know that my house was clean.  The clutter and toys, of course, were really my only nemisis at that time.  I cheerfully worked through my week this way:

Monday was vac/dust Living Room, vac/dust/counters in the Kitchen

Tuesday was vac/dust bedrooms and clean upstairs baths

Wednesday I skipped because of Bible Study but I did do more laundry in the afternoon

Thursday was vac/dust/organize playroom and clean bath/laundry room

Friday was errands and management duties (menus, planning, etc)

This worked great until we moved to a bigger house, had two more children, and added in schooling during more hours of the day.

I do truly thank God for the strength to focus on my children and not my dust though.  For example, right now my in-laws and parents are visiting and the house hasn't been vaccumed in about 2 weeks.  I did get a bit of the clutter picked up and cleaned the baths but I'm not going to stress over the floors.  I believe that getting school done yesterday was more important than the vaccuming.  So, I'm living in the "choose your battle" mode for housework right now.  It does overwhelm me at times but I'm not allowing it to consume me.  Dust and dog hair is not eternal!  The souls of my children are eternal and my time with them is short. 

I will continue to prioritize my housework according to the maturity of my children.  I know that someday I will have the luxury of maintaining a cleaning schedule again and until then I do my best.  I found such hope in the words that pastor shared with dh and I during counseling for Peanuts dedication.  He commented on how a family pursuing Christ should be a place of order and life.  If you go visit some houses there is order and no life (no children) or there may be life and no order (children but no structure).  I'm dependent on God for the strength to be content with where we are...we live in organized chaos on most days.  I'm learning to find joy in our times together rather than how long the bathroom stayed clean once I finished it. 

Perspective!  Its all about perspective.  I'm reminded of the children of Israel when the snakes bit them.  They were told to "look up" at the rod that was in Moses's hand in order to be healed.  I am finding that I need to "look up" for a perspective adjustment when I focus my eyes on the tasks rather than the "get-tos".  I get-to teach them the Word of God, read with my children, teach them to focus on doing their best, use our collective creativity to do projects, listen to their happy chatter/laughter while playing, and help them learn to solve their differences through training in peace-making.  Oh, and sometimes we manage to clean the house too!

The Scripture that has influenced my thinking this week was a memory verse for the children last week..."No on can serve two masters."  Matthew 6:24a

I cannot serve my cleaning schedule...but that doesn't mean that I am going to just give up and let things get ugly dirty around here either.  It is a blend of perspective and balance, thus the organized chaos.

I've been meaning to post this link for some time.  My favorite cleaning products are from Mrs. Meyer's .  I usually only buy when they have a free shipping special (I abhor shipping costs but love buying online).  You can find a lot of their products in "natural food" stores but they don't usually carry the entire line. 

My absolute favorite product is the Lavendar Oxygen Bleach Stain Remover.  It has gotten the toughest stains out...even melted parking lot snow mud on white knit tights.  Amazing stuff and worth its weight in gold around here.

Just an FYI!

There have been lots of changes in our lives since we moved north last summer but it struck me how many of them are lifestyle changes.  In the past year we have started grinding grain for baking, giving the children supplements to boost their immune systems, taking fish oil ourselves, buying local farm-raised beef, maintaining a square-foot garden, using fabric necessities for momma, and we are currently considering a switch to cloth diapers. 

Wow!  Now, most folks would look at that list and think I'm a crunchy-granola-type-person (I do love granola but this is an affectionate phrase for people who are very concerned about the environment and such things) or the "super-homeschool-mom".  I'm really not nor is that my desire.  I'm the type of person who will recycle but sometimes throws things away because I'm too tired to walk to the garage, rinse the container, or breakdown the box.  So, don't be getting any big ideas about my "fairy-tale" life with a super eco-friendly green home.  Na.  Not happening here.

I didn't set-out to overhaul my family from the typical consumer to one with less of a "footprint" (is that what they call it).  I honestly was quite happy with the wheat flour I was buying to make our bread.  I was also quite content using my favorite disposable feminine products until I acquired a reaction to them.  No, these chages have mostly occurred in response to something in our lives that was the result of sin.  Sin came into the world through Adam and because of that everyone is affected by the results.  So, in some way the results of all the man-made chemicals and processes will cause a determential affect because what man makes is imperfect.  I'm not an alarmist but once I got thinking it through it struck me that if it doesn't come from God it isn't something that is perfectly made for us and may impact us in a negative way.   I'm also not someone who will ever switch to everything in our lives being organic or pure or natural or whatever.  But...

I'm a mom.  I want the best for my family.  I feel that my role as a wife and mom is to help my family be healthy and to make good choices that benefit the management of our home (relating to finances, use of resources, etc).  Each of our decisions to make the above listed changes came from a financial need or a health concern.  No, I'm not saving the planet but rather I'm looking out for my family and responding to a world that is contanimated with sin.  That contanimation affects our health, our finances, our relationships, and our emotions.  We are not of this world but we are in it.  Therefore, we need to deal with the affects of sin even if they are not our sins.   

Well, here we are 18 days away from becoming a family of 5!  Wow!  That felt weird to type.  I was an only child and somedays I really feel like I'm in uncharted territory with my growing family.  Now, do not misunderstand...I love the fact that we are being blessed with gifts from God but I just don't have a "frame of reference" for this life God has called me too.  I think that is part of His plan to grow me into a vessel of His grace. 

As our family has grown I've found that my homemaking skills need to grow and develop too.  Now that ds and dd are a bit bigger I'm finding that I can't keep following my "cooking for two + a little extra" strategies that worked for the past 5 years.  It is impacting our expenses and as many of you have noticed the price of groceries has taken a definate upswing this fall/winter.  So, momma has been researching what we can do to control our expense as we see the need to increase the amount of food purchased, too.  Yikes! 

Now, for a bit of background...I may have been an only child but I did grow-up on a small farm.  I have experience with cooking from scratch, raising livestock, and tending a garden.  It was an interesting change for me when dh and I married (almost 10 years ago) and I suddenly discovered things like refrig biscuit dough, pizza rolls, and tuna helper.  As a working wife (at the time) I was quite excited about the new "freedom" I felt in meal preparation.  All I needed was 20 min. and we had dinner, viola!  Well, those habits carried us through those early years and we were young so it didn't show up, too much, on our my physique (dh has gained maybe 5 lbs in 10 years, ugh, love you honey). 

We moved into our first home in the country with 2 beautiful acres and desired to start a family.  Well, the dreamer in me started seeing the possibility of a garden and the bunnies dearly loved their produce that summer!  But what happen in my heart as I worked that ground was deeper than the roots of the lettuce plants that I never tasted.  God was beginning to birth in my heart a desire to become a homemaker rather than a housewife.  I think there is a distinct difference between the two.  As a housewife I completed a list of chores each day but as a homemaker I began to desire to want to know what God expected of me in this role He had designed me for.  As a housewife I struggled with my chores feeling futile and mundane but I longed to please God and prayed that He would teach me to love the life He had given me.  That prayer began the process of God unpacking my desires, such poor reflections of true joy, and replacing them with the dreams He has for me, true joy through the constant journey of sanctification. 

Well, you say, what does that have to do with a grocery bill.  Much, my friend, much more than you think.  8 years ago my dh was struggling to teach me to save even one penny and I know he struggled to trust me with making wise purchases.  So, to hear him say, a few years ago, that he trusted me with the household expenses was such a deep encouragement.  I felt like I had been given a smile from heaven and an "excellent" performance review at my "job".  Now, I don't make the wisest choices all the time but my beloved has seen growth and my heavenly Father has blessed us because of my obedience to my dh.  So, my current struggle with trying to control our grocery bills is just another step in my growth as a homemaker, help-meet, and daughter of the King.  God is still answering that prayer from a small garden eight years ago. 

Just to share a few things we are doing to help control the grocery beast!

-we purchased a grain mill and 50# of wheat berries to begin milling our own flour.  Good wheat bread is up to about 2.49 here and there are rumors that even wheat flour will be on the rise this summer.  We are currently going through about 1 and 1/2 loaves a week so I've committed to maintain a high nuturional value for my family and keep expenses down by baking all our bread (bread machine and by hand, when time).  We can also use the flour for all our other baking.  Dh and I have been considering this purchase for quite some time but felt the time was right because of the wheat prices on the rise.

-I am trying to utilize coupons to the max potential.  I did try a trial run of the "grocery game" but felt the products with the biggest discounts didn't meet our needs so I'm trying to be a very aware shopper who matches coupons we really use to current specials. 

-I've started buying less items at the wholesale clubs.  I found that I was purchasing in bulk more for convience rather than to save money.  So, by using my coupon deals I'm trying to make wise choices. Dh and I have a list of wholesale club prices on things we would usually buy there and I compare the deals I find to that list.  Then I can make a wise choice about where and when to buy.  (example, I've started buying diapers at Target, CVS, Meijer, or Wal-Mart with coupons rather than simply getting them at Sam's). 

-We have an extra refrigarator and freezer in our garage.  So, I stock up on basics  when they go on sale.  For us this usually includes, milk, butter, cheese, chicken, frozen veggies, juice, etc.

-I have been making menus for about 4 years now.  About the time ds was born I began to see the need to have "direction" in meal-planning.  It intially helped my foggy new momma brain but since has become a key to being an organized and efficient homemaker.  I currently make menus for a month at a time.  This usually includes some freezer cooking and repeating of meals.  I am in a season (with a new baby soon) which just makes it easier to have less trips to the store.  I try to do all my shopping for the month at once and make it a family date (dh goes to help, too).  Then I can just make small trips for weekly specials and necessities.  I may rethink this once the baby gets a bit bigger.  Praying about it!

-Cook anything you can from scratch.  For us that includes, all yummies (cakes, cookies, brownies, etc), bread, baby food, all side-dishes, etc.  I began freezer cooking almost 3 years ago.  It has been a tremendous blessing to me.  I'm thinking there will be future posts on this.  :)  The other thing about cooking from scratch is that it doesn't have to be hard...I usually have one or more children helping me (that is what homeschool is all about for us, learning through life), I make sure that I have common ingredients at all times (brown sugar, oil, flour, etc.) and have it in accessible locations, I have lots of measuring cups/spoons, and I've invested in good quality cookware/baking ware thoughout our marriage (ie, gift money, "parties", etc.). 

Well, I think that is all for today.  I'm experimenting with a new bread-machine recipe and it needs my attention and ds wants to use his computer privilege.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please comment about how you are trying to tame the grocery bills and how God is growing you in your role as a homemaker.

God Bless!

I found this link and it looks like a great place to spend some time.

TipNut

I used the Edwardian Apron Pattern from Sense and Sensibility to make this apron from my dear Grandma.  I did shorten the pattern considerability (8 in.) and put velcro on the tie to make it easy for her to close.

DD had a very cute pair of girly jean bibs with butterflies in the denim.  I loved them and I got them for only 6.00 (with a shirt, too).  I was really unhappy though as they got older because the snaps on the legs never wanted to stay shut.  So, I was trying to figure out how to reuse them in some way.  Ah ha!  A bib jumper.  So, I kept my eye out for some cute cheap fabric on my fabric shopping trips.  Well, I scored big at a recent JoAnn's sale and got this baby-fine corduroy that was tie-dyed.  It was also 1/2 off the clearance price, yeah!!!  So, I used the tee-shirt dress idea and cut-off the legs from the bibs (just under the waist band) and sewed on a gathered skirt.  It is such a fun playdress!  It was a bit tough for my machine to sew through all the layers (denim and gathered corduroy) but it worked out fine.

It even matches her favorite purple shirt!!!  Perfection!

I decided to try knitting a sweater and thought that making one for the smallest member of the family would be the easiest thing to start with.  Now, keep in mind that I've only been knitting for about a year and a half.  I'm happy with the results but definately need to practice more. 

This is the smile I get when I say "smile".  She really is happy in this picture!

In this picture she just wants her Honey Nut Cheerios!  :)

So, I've been a lurker over at Rocks in My Dryer for awhile but I've never been brave enough to jump in with some helpful thoughts on "Works for Me Wednesday".  Well, todays backwards edition is my first attempt to join the fun.  I figured that asking others for their advice would be better than giving my own. 

My BIG frustration is cleaning the shower doors in our bathroom.  I've looked for tips online, I've asked other people, I've tried everything....I just can't seem to get the slightly foggy look to go away.  UGH!!!  I work really hard at it and then sit back and the sunlight streams in to reveal the slightly foggy whitish film that WILL NOT COME OFF!   HELP!!!

My personal opinion is to remove the doors but I know DH wouldn't like that and adding a dark curtain would make the small space seem smaller. 

I'm up earlier than most New Year's Days but I went to bed long before the clock struck midnight, too!  Dh and I had plans for an evening out with some friends from church but had to cancel due to a stomach bug that ds had picked up while visitng family.  We returned home from our visit on Sunday evening and ds was ill late that night.  He seems to be doing better now and so far no one else has come-down with it (and I'm praying no one else does!). 

I actually was quite relieved when we made the decision to stay home last night.  I really enjoyed our visit with family but was so glad to be home.  So, we (dh and I) found ourselves cleaning the carpet in DS room at 1 a.m. Sunday night and I knew in my heart that I just wanted to be home with my family for the passing of the New Year. 

I spent New Year's Eve getting my Gestational Diabetes test done, going to the library, stopping by Target and going to the grocery store (wow, it was BUSY there)!  I arrived home around 4:30 p.m. tired and sore (baby is getting big) but I was greeted with the smiles I love the most!  We had a simple dinner because of DSs tummy and the kiddos went to bed a bit early.  Dh and I snuggled on the sofa bed and watched the first two parts of Wives and Daughters.  We watched the news for the weather at 10:28 and headed up to bed. 

Well, you say that sounds rather blah and mundane...to some I'm sure it seems that way but I have been struck with the simple joys of family life the past couple of weeks.  We have had no lofty ideals of how to celebrate or make memories.  We've enjoyed being together and have marked this recently past Advent season with simple reminders of who Jesus is and why He came.  Now as we look forward to a New Year we will spend our last day of holiday vacation (with daddy) being together (reading stories, snuggling on the sofa bed to watch the Rose Parade, watching some movies, playing together, doing some basic chores, and watching the snow fall). 

How I pray more families would enjoy the simple rhythm of family life...at whatever stage or age their kiddos are.  

We will mark the New Year this morning with our traditional breakfast....French Toast Casserole and Blueberry Syrup, YUM!

I'll leave you with the recipe...

French Toast Casserole

1 LB. Loaf of Italian Bread

8 oz. Cream Cheese

1/2 c. sugar, divided

1/2 t. vanilla extract

4 Eggs

2 c. Milk

1 t. Cinnamon

2 T.  Butter, melted

Cut bread into one inch cubes (about 14 cups).  Place half of bread cubes in a greased 9x13 pan.  Place cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl or measuring cup.  Cover the container with plastic wrap and cook on 100% power for 30 seconds (will vary with your microwave).  Stir it with a spoon, cover again and cook until it is completely melted.  Stir half of the sugar and all of the extract into the cream cheese.  Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the bread cubes (it will not completely cover them).  Top with remaining bread cubes.  In a bowl, beat the remaining sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and melted butter together.  You can freeze it now if you would like.  I make it the day before and let it sit in the frig over night.  Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until browned.   Allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting.  Serve with warm syrup or purchased or homemade fruit toppings.

Homemade Fruit Syrup

1 and 2/3 c.  Fruit, canned, frozen or fresh (drained of liquid) or 14.5 oz.

1 c. sugar

1 c. Corn syrup

1/2 t. vanilla extract

Chop fruit into pieces no more than 1/2 in. square.  Combine fruit, sugar and corn syrup in a sauce pan.  Bring to a boil stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.  Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the extract.  Serve warm over the French Toast Casserole (or pancakes, ice cream, waffles, pound cake, etc.).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!