Hello to all. I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get a new entry on here. I could give you many excuses: mommy brain freeze, multiple holidays and birthdays, writers block and on and on; but instead I will stick with a simple apology and state my intention to get here on a regular basis.

Changes: the look of my blog, the new year, my oldest is now 11, my husband is back in school earning his MA in ed. (he wants to teach HS history), my youngest (17 mos.) is on the brink of talking.

Books I've read in the last couple of months:

Arctic Homestead: Written by the last female homesteader Norma Cobb-very interesting look into the life of a family of 7 and their move into the middle of nowhere Alaska in the early 70's.

Just about to read another alaskan homestead tale.

Another Place At The Table-by Kathryn Harrison a foster moms honest account as such. Very sad, beautiful, heroic.

These books have been a departure from what I usually read, but a welcome departure they were both page turners.

Books I have waiting to read;

The Hobbit

Villete by Bronte

The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and his family, alone in Alaska's Arctic Circle;

re-reading some favorite homeschool books by Diana Waring, Karen Andreola, Teaching the Trivium by the Bluedorns which I relly love! and The Whole-hearted Child by Sally Clarkson.

Homeschooling: The children and I finished our first unit of the Prairie Primer which we really enjoyed. Now we're going to finish the last 16 weeks of Sonlight core 3. We begin reading Carry On Mr. Bowditch today. Not sure what we're planning to do for school this coming year. So many things appeal to me- moving onto Sonlight 4 (which is the most expensive option), finishing out prairie primer, doing the Mystery of History vol.1, perhaps studying medieval history which sounds really good as I feel I need a break from Am. history. I must appear pretty ADD-lol. What are you all doing? Also want to add some language studies-latin I think.

My goals for this year:

*Continuing to incorporate Nourishing Traditions into our diet. Want to start making sauerkraut and other fermented veggies. Need to cook from scratch more and stick to a plan. There's been way to much flying by the seat of my pants this year.

*Start my childbirth instructor training w/ ALACE

*Begin writing more consistently. I have so many ideas floating around in my head that I think it contributes to my brain freeze/fog.

*Have a larger garden this year-start a small flower garden for cutting/selling

*Continue in my own studies, latin, classic literature, herbs, nutrition, history.

*Start walking/exercising 3-4 x wk. I always have such good intentions....

*Work by way through the Artist's Way again this yr. including the 3 journal pages each day.

*Consistency in my study of God's word and daily prayer

O.k. that enough... gotta know when to stop!

Trips to take this year: (God willing!)

Vashon, Wa. to my sister's wedding

Jerusalem, Israel for my husbands family reunion in August. This would def. have to be God's hand as it is a very expensive trip for a family of 6. It's part of my husbands past that he would really love to connect with though-he's Horatio Spaffords great-great grandson.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12