A place to ponder the things of life, our love for the Lord and each other, the many things we learn day by day, and daily joys of being a family! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:14:00 -0600 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:14:00 -0600 The month of December has been a whirlwind. We celebrate 3 birthdays in our family. My ds, dh, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It has really been a busy month filled with a lot of joy. We celebrated a quiet Christmas at home with a few students from the local bible college and seminary. They are such a joy!! We opened presents with the kids on Christmas Eve and slept in on Christmas Day! This is the first time we have tried this and I think the tradition is a keeper. Our Christmas day was calm and relaxed. We started with fresh warm cinnamon rolls, the kids playing, and mom and dad making final preparations for dinner. We were blessed beyond measure! We hope to plan for a more giving Christmas next year and are going to have a jar to collect change so that we can find ways to bless others. Our hope is to have kids that will want to talk about "What did you GIVE this Christmas?" instead of the traditional "What did you get for Christmas?" We have already begun planting the seeds for a GIVING Christmas for next year. Tell me what you have planned, I would love to hear some suggestions of how we can prepare all year to be a blessing to others! Marcia   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/450694/ Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/450694/ Wow! What a time to ponder where the time goes....when your baby turns 6! It is truly bittersweet. I miss the sweetness of babyhood, but I love the independence and joy of childhood! Our youngest Ezekiel celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and boy what a day. It began with a momma snuggling and rocking the "big boy" like a baby and telling him the story of his birth while he sat in my arms (OK and lap) just taking it all in. He then proceeded to do a birthday dance on our bed to help daddy wake up. We celebrated twice today, once at brother's therapy office (they are like family, and this was Ezekiel's request) and once at Daddy's work (Red Robin YUM!) He was blessed with wonderful gifts including a special package from his Sunday School teachers and even a birthday tip from one of Daddy's customers. We had chocolate cupcakes for both events and even had enough to share with one of our pastors and his family who happened to be in the restaurant too! We got home and as he was getting ready for bed he told me this was the best birthday ever! It was such fun to celebrate because this is the first time he has really gotten excited about his birthday! Who knows perhaps this will not be the end of 6 year old birthdays...but I will post more about this another time. Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/444373/ Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/444373/ Today was a wonderful day! We typically do not have school on Sundays and Mondays due to Monday being one of my husband's days off. I had told the boys that we were going to do a real clean out of their room today so we could bless others with toys and clothes that we do not use or need any longer. I was greatly encourage by a number of you on how to do this. Quiverful explained how she cleaned out the play room at their house. We gave it a go for the toys they each got to choose 7 stuffed animals and 7 favorite toys, the rest we would give away. They were so good about it. Before I even got up there they had the hall filled with toys they wanted to share or didn't want any longer! We have been extremely blessed over the years with clothing from many sources but this has created an over abundance for my youngest! The oldest has limited clothing since our friends tend to not have children close to his age. We were able to clear out two kitchen trash bags of clothes and he still has a dresser full. I am sure that this will make it easier for him to keep things organized and cleaned up. I also bagged clothes too small for the oldest to be in waiting for number 2. When the room was clean and organized the boys were so excited, and we actually have room and containers for their gifts for Christmas! In the process of the day my youngest son said he didn't understand God. Knowing my son, I wasn't too worried. I asked him about what he didn't understand. He didn't understand why God was invisible. He said I still believe Him, I just don't understand. He also wanted to know about Satan and how he became a bad angel, why did God let him be bad, will Satan ever be good again? Whew.... there was lots of discussion and lots more questions. I am so grateful to God that my soon to be 6 yr old is pondering the things of God. He has already made a profession of faith and I can see the Lord at work in his heart. Sometimes the questions get tough....but I pray that I would never hesitate to stop and take the time to enjoy deep thoughts with Zeke! (Oh, by the way, they both get that from their Dad!) We finally got our Christmas decorations out and sat by the tree and drank hot cocoa and listened as our boys talked about what they will do with their families when they grow up. It is fun to listen to because they talk like it's the present. "My wife bought some ornaments for the kids and you can come over to our house and bring your wife and kids." Ahhh! The time will go by so quickly. I want to learn how to better savor each moment and each opportunity to help lead them into a God centered life. Blessed Beyond Measure! Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/442447/ Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/442447/ Oh, the little things that can bring me joy! I have been so excited! With my freezer up and running I have been taking every opportunity to fill it. I have been preparing freezer meals, biscuits, bread and stocking up while the prices are right. You see, we have gone from a regular monthly salary, to living day to day on tips! Yep, it sure does test your faith in God's provision. But our God is faithful and has continued to provide even though we are making about half of what we were 18 months ago and one fourth of what we were making 3 years ago! OK, back to the point.....Chicken! Meijer had a great sale on whole chickens 69 cents/lb (less than I have seen them since last winter). So, I waited until we had a little to spare and went chicken hunting tonight! My boys just love shopping, especially when mom says it is on sale. I bagged myself 7 chickens for the deep freezer! Whoooohooooo! When I got home I was putting my stash in the freezer and realized that God had blessed even more! The label with the price on all but one of the chickens was 66 cents/lb! Our God is so good that he even sends chickens from heaven at a better price than we can imagine! I love how my "Daddy" takes care of His daughter!!! My son, Ezekiel, was equally excited and shared with the cashier, "MMMMMM! I am a man who likes my meat, and chicken is my favorite!" He brings me much laughter! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/441343/ Sat, 8 Dec 2007 22:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/441343/ We recently went to the local Nature Center. We had such a great time! They had a bird blind and we were able to identify at least 10 different species of birds in a matter of 15 minutes. We also took a 1.5 mile hike through the watershed area, there was so much to see even though most everything is leafless. Here are a few pics! A Fungi ! It was so pretty!   Some mushrooms! Nathaniel with a leaf bigger than his head...he thought that was so cool! My DH, Nathaniel (8) and Ezekiel (almost 6)! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/440100/ Thu, 6 Dec 2007 16:58:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/440100/ Boy did I have a great Thanksgiving! You may find that funny after I share what all happened. We are here in Kentucky without any immediate family in the area. Our closest friends moved back to California in the summer, so we didn't want to be alone for Thanksgiving.....so we opened the doors and invited some missionary and seminary students and a large number of my husband's co-workers. The final count was somewhere between 20 and 26. Most of them are quite young and do not have any real domestic skills...so I planned to prepare all the food. Not wanting to run out I really over prepared. A 20 lb. turkey, 6 lbs of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, (all in restaurant chaffing dish size) 30 whole wheat rolls, 30 sweet rolls (all made by hand), 2 pumpkin pies, 1 apple pie, veggie tray, chips, dips, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, "angeled" eggs......etc. We removed our couch and love seat from the basement and set up tables and chairs for the group so that we could all eat together. I prepared for 4 days. I was so excited. We were hoping for this to be an opportunity to share the gospel with many of my DH's co-workers. We have many who have questions about the bible and have expressed interest in getting together to talk more. All was going well! Our student friends arrived early to assist with last minute details. And then....no one. No, not even one of my DH's co-workers came. It was quite disappointing! All that preparation... all that food for 8 people total!!!! But, by the grace of God I was able to get perspective quickly. I could spend my time grumbling about those that were not here, or I could enjoy the blessing of the few believers that the Lord provided to share this time with us! What a wonderful time we had! Our guests shared about their future ministry plans and blessed us with the company of believers. We laughed, enjoyed way too much food and a few games. Wow! What a difference the Lord can make in our attitudes when we choose to let Him give us perspective instead of wallowing in self pity!!! We were even able to bless three young men (living in the dorms) with tons of leftovers to take home! (They talked about how long it had been since they had had home cooked meals!) What a joy this Thanksgiving was when I could choose to put away self and sharing in the blessing of what God had provided! It may not have been what I planned but it was just what I needed! Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/435863/ Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/435863/ Well, how do you do. We are the Aranda Family. We were recently transplanted by God from So. CA to KY. And we have found KY to be a wonderful home. My DH and I have been married for 11 years and have two wonder gifts from God. Nathaniel is 8 yrs. old and Ezekiel is going to be 6 in Dec. My DH is the most wonderful husband that any woman could want or wish for. He is God's gift to me! We had the less than traditional home up until 18 mos. ago. God saw fit to have my DH laid off from work the day that our first son was born. What a blessing that turned out to be. Our son was brought into this world and due to birth trauma has Cerebral Palsy, is partially deaf and dyslexic. During my DH's 7 years as a stay at home dad, full time student, and volunteer he was able to create incredible bonds with both of our boys! I was a full time teacher and educational consultant for 10 years. The Lord called me home, to educate my own children and called  my husband back to full time employment. We went through one very traumatic year of public school with Nathaniel. Even being in "the system" I was unable to ensure that his needs were being met. Nathaniel and Ezekiel have enjoyed being homeschooled and are both thriving. We are beginning the process to expand our family through adoption in Ethiopia. We all are excited to meet the new child(ren) that God has chosen to be a part of our family. I am constantly challenged by homeschooling, caring for my DH and DSs and our home. I long to be an excellent wife and mother and know with God's grace I will move toward that goal a little each day. Trusting Him for it all! Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/430116/ Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/430116/ I have been wanting to begin preparing meals ahead and freezing (again) for more than two years. I allowed everything to get in the way of doing what was best for my family and for our finances. I am happy to say I have finally began. It began with a complete cleaning of my dormant freezer and checking that it was freezing well with a freezer thermometer. I would not say that I am by any means prepared or Once a Month Cooking yet, but I have begun the process. I have a harvest of 2 cheese and spinach lasagnas, 2 egg casseroles and 2 bags of frozen biscuits. My hope is to have my freezer filled with wholesome treasures by Thanksgiving (slowly but surely). The more I prepare the more excited I become. I will soon provide some of the recipes I am using with all of the extra time I will have. My desire is to be faithful with what the Lord has graciously provided for us, a good steward of time with my children and the ability to hopefully bless others with the bounty in my freezer. Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/419936/ Fri, 2 Nov 2007 16:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/419936/ For all you homeschoolers out there looking for a great phonics program that your kids will love listen up! I have been using the online program Click n' Read with my kindergartener for about 6 months. We "played" with it last school year (Pre K) and two weeks after Kindergarten started he stunned me my reading three letter words on a restaurant cup and cereal box. Nothing is stopping him now. Click n' Read's systematic phonics, sight word, and reading instruction were the key. Check it out you have nothing to loose, they even have a money back guarantee! Better yet if you send me an email with your address I can email you information to get $10.00 off. Visit ClickN READ Phonics for more information at http://www.clicknkids.com. The link is also listed under the links on the right. Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/415972/ Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/415972/ We recently visited the  Cincinnati Museum Center and the Real Pirates exhibit! Wow! It is definitely a must see! It is developed by National Geographic and is the only verified "authentic" pirate ship recovery and salvage! We were treated to the entire ship story, artifacts lost at see in the sinking of the Whydah Galley in 1717. We even got to touch real pirate treasure that is nearly 300 years old. If that isn't enough you get a look at how the recovery is beeing done and the techniques being used! They are still recovering the largest portion of the find nearly 20 years after the discovery! Our boys were completely captivated by the "real life" history right before their eyes! (Their dad, mom and granny were equally impressed.) Check it out if you get the chance! It is a traveling exhibit and may be in your area some time soon.Check it out at the following website.   http://www.nationalgeographic.com/mission/real-pirates/ And don't forget, Sept 19th was International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Marcia http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/415946/ Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ArandaClanAdventures/415946/