Little Bit of Everything Mama's Blog - Homeschool Blogger

My new Blog

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:57:00 -0500

My blog has moved. Not for any severe reason, but I just like the format of blogger better. You can see my blog at : http://littlebitofeverythingmama.blogspot.com

I've got lots of news to share and now a series going on.

I'd love to see some of my old friends there! :)

Joyfully busy at home,
Christine

An update on our water problem

Sat, 5 May 2007 11:29:00 -0500

I forgot to say that we pulled out the steam cleaner the other day during our water crisis and started sucking water out of the carpet. I lost count after 18 buckets!!

We started fans in there and have the windows open. It's drying up in there pretty well - I'm shocked.

Big P found the leak in the barn and has installed a cut-off to stop the water leak. He had to completely take out the big metal spiggot that was connected to the leaking pipe. It was in concrete, so he had to dig that out.

C.11.B. stayed home with dad to help with that major project while me and the rest of the kids went to do errands and grocery shopping. It was nice to come home after a long day's work for both of us!!

So, that's the update on the water situation and now I'm going to do a thorough cleaning on the kitchen, after having intermitten water for several days!

My life isn't perfect but my bathroom floor is super clean

Thu, 3 May 2007 18:08:00 -0500

I've been accused that my life seems perfect, or that I seem to be at peace with where I am in motherhood and life. I'm at peace, but only because my peace comes through Jesus. I know I'm where I am supposed to be, but it isn't always easy. But, I laugh....

Here's an example!

1) Let me preface this by saying that I have a dear and precious husband whom I don't try to "dump" all my woes on, but who listens to me intently and provides a comforting word when I need one. He corrects me when I am wrong, but most of all he just listens to me. I feel so much better after a good talk with my very bestest friend, My Man!

2) I laugh at myself - a lot!!!

Yesterday we found out that we have a leak somewhere on our property and it was spinning our water meter out of control. They shut the water off so the problem was temporarily fixed. Well, as you are aware, life with 4 kiddos can't move forward too much with no water - there are dishes, laundry, baths, teeth that need to be brushed, and toilets to flush! So, last night, when we were on our way home from church after a close call with a tornado, we stopped to get gallons of water to help with the crisis.

This morning when Big P got up (remember he works nights) he started to work on the problem, but the major amounts of lightening and continuous rain seems to be a "leak fixin' party pooper" and he decided to try another home improvement project - our bathroom tub faucet needed replacing. He did that because the water was already off.

So, he went to work on that only to find out that the faucet he bought won't fit our faucet. We live in a mobile home and sometimes things are quirky with fixtures. No problem, we had a nice afternoon getting things done around the house.

Then I had a "mama meltdown" when I started whining that I don't seem to be able to get on a good schedule and that the physical house seems to be out of control. He reassured me that with time, we would get back on a schedule and not to sweat it. The problem was that I seem to be "putting fires out" all day and the important gets skipped by the urgent. You know the drill, right?! (This is where you shake your head up and down in agreement).

Well, then the kids decided to go outside and have fun in the HUGE puddles in the front yard. We have almost an acre that is completely under water right now to give you an idea of the puddles. They were messy - dirty, gross, caked on mud, grass, having fun kind of gross. But, they forgot one VERY important thing - the water was off!!!! C.11.B. has some sort of funky thing happen when he gets cold - he breaks out in hives - no joke!! He was breaking out. B.3.B. was freezing and P.almost8.G. was just dirty and fine!

Big P went to the front to turn the water back on and I proceeded to hose them down with the water hose. All the while I'm thinking there is NO water pressure. So, we go to plan B. Strip them down outside and send them inside (remember we live in the country with the closest neighbor completely out of sight). When we were inside trying to get the water on in the shower, there was no water pressure and no hot water.

That's when Big P started running through the house yelling "oh my gosh, the water, oh my gosh, the water". I didn't know what he was talking about and then I saw it - the STANDING AND RUSHING WATER coming out of my bedroom - from my bathroom.

He had accidentally left the faucet thingys wide open and water was shooting out at about 20 gallons a minute - no joke!!!

And after we started grabbing towels and realized there was no point in that, we stood there and laughed!!!! Just cracked up!!!!!!

No one was hurt, everyone was getting washed off, and warming up under blankets, and we had a HUGE mess on our hands - but it was so hilarious!!

And that's when it occurred to me why people might think that I have this perfect life - I try not to ponder on the bad. I try to move forward from the bad. I forgive a lot and forget more. I forgive myself a lot, too. I laugh at myself a lot. I laugh at my situations a lot. I know that God has me here and I'm learning so much from being right where I'm at right now. He has given me a teachable spirit lately, and I'm taking full advantage to learn and grow from everything possible! I also have a great husband who can laugh right along with me and who listens to me cry when I need to do that, too.

Do you remember Pollyanna???? Yes, we had a major water spill in our bathroom, but my bathroom floor is REALLY clean now!!!

Oh, and I bargained myself into a special ice cream treat in a bit!! heehee!!

Mama's Barber Shop!

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 21:51:00 -0600

I did it! I cut his hair!! My almost 1 year old - L.11mo.B. He's such a sweetie, but he was looking kinda girly. Even when his hair was shorter, everyone called him a girl, because he had such a sweet little pretty face.

But...he's a boy and I wanted everyone to know it. So, as if I don't have enough on my plate, I decide to become a barber and I had the barber shop quartet (actually, it was a triplet) running around the house keeping each other busy, singing, running, and playing! Quite interesting, actually!!

Oh, and this will be such a surprise to Daddy!! Surprise!!!

So, here is a before and after of my littlest boy!

And After:

International Night

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 21:41:00 -0600

We had International Night at our homeschool meeting on Monday night. We had studied Mexico for a couple of weeks and so it worked out that we would do Mexico for International Night. We made a display board and brought some of the crafts the kids did. We were not prepared to give an oral presentation - although apparently they had announced that we were supposed to. I was just going to get up and say that we had studied Mexico, but weren't prepared to give an oral presentation and leave it at that. C.11.B. wanted to talk - LOL - just like his Mama!!

We got up and briefly said a few words. I said that C.11.B. was going to talk and I would fill in where he left off. He covered lots of things that we learned and I added in afterward. It was great! I made salsa - my specialty - and it went over very well.

I typed up information about our trip to Mexico in 2003. I'll copy it below.

Here are some pictures of the evening:

About our mission trip:

Mission Work in Mexico

In January 2003, Christine had the opportunity to travel to Mexico on a short-term Mission trip. She participated in bringing gifts to the children of an orphanage in Matamoras, for Christmas. They celebrate Christmas on January 6^th. The children loved the gifts because they rarely get any new clothes or toys. We also passed out Angel Dolls while we were there. The Angel Dolls tell the story of Jesus and His sacrifice and Resurrection. We worked on painting some of the new homes they were building in the orphanage. They have 1 set of parents for each home of 12-15 children.

In June 2003, Big P, Christine, and C.11.B. had the opportunity to go back to Matamoros, Mexico and the orphanage on another short-term mission trip. This time we brought a big water filter for the orphanage, because many people get sick from the water. The men and boys worked on putting a roof on a church there. The women and girls worked inside the church for a week doing Vacation Bible School. They sang lots of songs and did crafts with the kids. Not many of us knew Spanish, but we all were able to understand each other pretty well. The “Dump” was also on our list of mission work. There are many people that live in the dump. After a section of the dump is filled with land waste, they cover it with a layer of dirt, and then sell the property off in pieces for less than $20. The people move there and build houses, which are more like lean-tos, with materials they find around the dump. It smells really bad, but they don’t seem to mind and are glad to have a place to live. We passed out toys and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches there. The people were glad to see us. God used us that week to do His work and we were so glad to be a part of it.

Mexico with My Father's World

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:43:00 -0600

Our Mexico study started out with us "driving" to Mexico. We live within 8 hours of the border, so it didn't make sense for us to "fly". The kids showed their passports, we stamped them, and headed in for our study - stopping to tell the border patrol why we were going in - of course.

We had a major ice storm here, and had lost power that day. It was COLD in the house and we were all bundled up! I had about 3 layers of clothes on at that point! LOLOLOL

Here are the kids "passport" photos:

We had such a wonderful time studying about Mexico. I was able to ask my Mother-in-love questions about pronunciations, and talk about Mexican cities with my Dad.

We also rented a couple of DVDs from Netflix. We really enjoyed Globe Trekker: Destination Mexico and for fun we got Scooby Doo and the Monster of Mexico. Big P and the kids watched that one tonight. It is based on the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. It has given us so many opportunities to discuss belief systems that are so different from our own. Also, it has sparked discussion on how badly the Spaniards wanted to conquer the Indians and how they had a "unspoken creed" to convert or die. Big P was talking about how when nations try to conquer other people and lands, they do so with their government and their religions. That got me to thinking as to why the Mestizzos seem to mix so much of their pagan religions with Roman Catholicism. They wanted so badly to hang on to their own ways. And when the Spaniards came in with force, it didn't turn their heart toward Jesus, but more so to what they already knew.

We still are going to be doing some research on what the missionaries are doing in Mexico currently. We are setting up a display at International Night at our homeschool meeting. So, we will be including many of the information that we have learned.

On Thursday we went on a couple of field trips to finish up our Mexico study.

We have a book by Linda Morley, that is written with field trip ideas for the DFW area. This is where we found out and planned our activities.

First we went to a restaurant. We picked out several pieces of pan dulce (sweet bread) and bought a couple packages of fresh flour tortillas and fresh tamales! Yum!

Then, we headed to another place that was to have a large selection of pinatas. It was also a grocery store and restaurant. We decided to sit in the restaurant and have a snack. We had a great time. I went through and read things in the menu in Spanish and had the kids try to figure out what I was saying. They did great! We had a great discussion of how many words in Spanish and English were similar.

I was able to find a molinillo. This is what the Hispanics use to mix up chocolate and make it bubbly. It was $2.69, so I purchased it. I don't know if we will use it for chocolate, but it was fun to have. It looks similar to an upside down totem pole.

Then, we were having our Mexican Fiesta on Friday. We had invited over some friends from church. They homeschool as well. We had a great time! We had Mexican stack-up, my best girlfriend's recipe. We picked up ingredients for my salsa at the local Mexican grocery store. We had some Mexican soda's that were yummy - I liked the Guava one the best! We busted the pinata. Our friends had brought the goodies to fill it. In our studying, we found that Hispanics use more fruit than candy to fill the pinatas. So, they brought apples, oranges, candy, etc. The kids had a great time just playing with friends and busting the pinata.

We are excited to start our study on Canada on Monday!! We are on full board with My Father's World now!!!

My Father's World - Mexico

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:20:00 -0600

Today we started our study of Mexico today using the My Father's World curriculum. Yes, we are a bit behind, but we got a late start and we have decided to spread this over two years instead of one. We are just using MFW for Bible, Geography, Science, History, Art, and Music. We are loving it!!! I just wanted to share a few pictures from today.

Our power went out today for MOST of the day. We have a fireplace, but it has needed cleaning and we had put off buying one of those chimney cleaning logs. Today, DH went to town and bought the last kerosene heater in the area. He also bought a chimney cleaning log. We wanted a kerosene heater for our barn, when we get some animals. We don't want to pay the high price of having the electricity turned on out there - plus the minimum charge! This was easier and we felt more economical.

So - in these pictures, you'll notice that we are bundled up!! Before the kerosene heater started heating things up, we were at 60 degrees in the house!!!! I was having trouble keeping my temp up and just kept adding layers and more layers!! LOL The kids were fine, but Mama was FREEZING!! Heehee Did I mention that I love this weather - as long as there is a working heater around! Haha!!!

On to the pics:

We are "driving" to Mexico. Since we live in Texas, we aren't far enough to justify plane tickets. The kids showed the "guard" their passports (photos below) and we entered without any hiccups.

My Big Boys are Gone!

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:29:00 -0600

Big P and C.10.B. left this morning for a guy's weekend away. C.10.B is about to be C.11.B! LOL He'll be 11 on Tuesday! I can hardly believe it!! He has grown up so fast, right before my eyes!! I remember when he turned 6 and Big P and I talked about how 1/3 of the "formative" years that we have with him were gone. It really made us evaluate what we were doing as parents and take captive that time and the way that we parented our children.

So, this weekend they are having a Dad/Son weekend away. They are camping at a state park. It's so cold here right now, but they are in a cabin type of thing. Their plans this weekend are to geocache, hike, talk, cook-out, and start the Bible study - Plants Grown Up.

We proposed this idea after I spoke to a friend of mine about how they do their children's birthdays. They take a camping trip. We met the Phillips' while we were on vacation in October. They looked like homeschoolers and since C.10.B. was getting along so well with their 6 yo, they knew we were homeschoolers, too! LOL Isn't that funny! So, we talked to C.10.B. about doing this in lieu of a birthday party, promising that we would invite friends over to spend the night more often than we have in the past, so that he didn't think that was just a birthday thing. He was psyched!! Check out his excitement on his recent blog post here.

I miss them both terribly!!!!

To top it off, my 2nd son, B.2.5.B. is at Grandmother and Grandfather's house (B.2.B. affectionately calls Grandfather - Potty - his 'er's come out as "y's" and he just can't get the Grand part out yet). It's sooo cute!!!

So, I have an empty house with only 3 of us here! Wow, you look forward to the time when you can have a little break and then your heart literally aches when they aren't all here!! It's the strangest feeling and I can only attribute it to being a mother - the BEST profession in the world!!!

And for P.7.G.'s birthday we are going to San Antonio. We are combining it with a family trip. We were planning to go to San Antonio in May, as my Mother and Father-in-love gave us points to their timeshare for our anniversary. Being the "family" kind of family that we are, we wanted to take the kids! LOL We can still have our time - it's a 2 room suite! We'll end the "vacation" with her camping trip by going to one our favorite RV resorts (we usually never go to resorts - so that it is funny that I would even think of such a thing) that is down the road about 1 mile from Sea World! You can check out her excitement on her recent blog here.

I hope your weekend is super blessed!!! I'll be posting about some of my recent discoveries later in the weekend! :)

The Computer Strike (well, sort of)

Tue, 9 Jan 2007 21:51:00 -0600

Anyone who knows me knows what a computer nut I am. I'd literally be lost without this thing because I use it for so much in order to better manage our home and activities. The calendar is on here, the phone book, any information for various activities, my Bible study, friends, relatives, encouragement, and everything in between! So, it would seem that it would be easy to get caught up in being on here too much and this is where I was.

I knew that I was on the computer too much and yet I didn't know how to stop it. It's like an addiction! Can I hear an "Amen!"?

And so, when I was talking to my best girlfriend, b, about this, she, too, had been made very aware of her need to stay away from the computer more. She told me her plan and it helped me to formulate mine. It may encourage you as well.

My BIGGEST excuse for getting on the computer was that I needed to handle something. And this would happen several times a day as things popped into my mind that needed to be done - email this person, check on this date, and so it continued. It was BAD!!! When the kids came looking for me, they walked in the direction of the computer!! No joke - even my 10 month old! LOL

I tend to get sidetracked anyway and I would get on the computer for one thing and end up doing 100 other things and never get to the one thing that I needed to do!!!

I've now put a piece of paper on a clipboard and it is on my desk. When I think of something that I need to do on the computer, I write it down. That way I can check it off at the end of the night when I get back on the computer and I don't have to try to store it in my brain, only to forget it and remember it at 3am!!

I want to be the best Mama for my kiddos, and sitting on here all day isn't going to get that accomplished. And so, b, and I talked out the plan and she said something about what we NEED to be doing is taking care of our kids. So, I took that and ran with it and created a poster for us to post over our monitors.

I'd be SILLY to say that I could get rid of the computer completely, because it is a great tool when used correctly.

The Bible says "If your hand causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell...." Mark 9:43-47

And so I say, if the computer makes you stumble or causes you to sin - TURN IT OFF!! That's right! We are now turning off our computers throughout the day because even with our little signs up, it is too easy at this point to go to them.

Yesterday I was having a rather stressful day. I don't think it was anymore stressful than the others as it was just random things going on and I was having to deal with them. What I realized was the in the past, I have run to the computer in my frustration instead of to Jesus!!! I was replacing Jesus with the computer! What's up with that?????

The plan is this: I get up and do my Bible study online in the morning, then I turn it off! I pull my little sign down (quote at bottom) and move on with my day. After dinner, when the kids are busy with another activity, showers, etc. then I can get back on here. The computer stays off during the day.

The kids have had to turn it on to use it for Spanish, blogging, and Typing - all part of school, but they turn it off afterward.

I realized that my day is so full with the kids and just basics of keeping a house - HOW IN THE WORLD DID I SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON HERE????

The quote on the computer is made into a little poster type thing. I found a picture of a potter working with clay to put on it because it fit perfectly. And this is the quote that b and I came up with. Use it if you'd like - we hope that it blesses someone else!!

The ONLY thing that I must handle is my children… to love, nurture, and disciple them! Nothing else needs my attention more than this! Everything else CAN wait!

Decluttering my heart!

Tue, 9 Jan 2007 21:22:00 -0600

In accordance with Amy's CCC - Colossal Clutter Clean-up, I did a heart check. Our first assignment was to clean our hearts and find out where are hearts are in regard to the clutter in our homes. There is a reason behind our clutter in our homes and it starts with our heart.

I will be adding more to this series of posts as I declutter my home and get ready for the CHCHC (Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge) which is deep cleaning our home (and our hearts). First I needed to declutter and am so grateful to Amy for putting all that she has in this.

Here's my entry:

I'm realizing that this is a vicious cycle. When I am stressed about the house and it's condition - I go to the store and try to buy happiness and peace. I get home with my "happiness" and it clutters up my home more. Then I, again, get stressed about the clutter and buy again. And so the vicious cycle continues until I cry out to the Lord and say "Please help me STOP!"

I thrive in a neat and orderly environment and yet my home is rarely that way. So, it would seem that this is the very reason I am stressed a lot of the time. This isn't the legacy that I want to pass on to my children. I need peace in my home - the kind of peace that only Jesus gives. To be consumed with Jesus is to not be consumed with stuff. When I think of peace, I think of clean, crisp, cool & warm. I think of spring and fall at the same time because I love those seasons. Christ is my Spring and Fall!

I have cried out to the Lord for help and He is helping me!! Praise God!! I'm learning, as He is graciously showing me how impulsive I am. I will elaborate further in another post going into detail the issues that I have in my heart and why I struggle so bad in this area.

Some have expressed to me that it would seem on my blog that we have the perfect life. We do have a great life, please don't misunderstand what I am about to say. God is gracious and good to us!! He loves me so much that He sent His One & Only Son for ME!! Because of that, I lean on Him for everything!!! And because of that, I can have a more positive outlook on circumstances as they arise and seem out of whack.

We have struggles! I'm a sinner - my children are sinners! But, God is bigger than all of us, and He allows me to see the best in situations and praise Him through all things.

I have a dear sweet husband and a sweet best girlfriend who listen to me complain and then quickly set me on my feet with sweet words of encouragement and guidance back to the Word.

They do not let me complain and join into that complaining! That IS NOT A FRIEND! Don't kid yourself if you think that someone who would let you wallow around in your sin and then sin right along with you is a friend, at least not a Christian friend. And whether that talk is talking bad about your husband or your children or your circumstances, a real friend leads you to the Lord for strength and WILL NOT allow you to badmouth any of the above. Read Matthew 18:15 and you'll know that for sure!!

And so, I've been able to share with b and Big P about this decluttering journey and I know that I have their prayers and guidance. I'm excited about it! Call me weird, but I look forward to the challenge of having God call out my sins! LOL Seriously!! It is a great and glorious thing for God to bring me to my knees and make me completely rely on Him. My heart is so wretched!!! And I need to clean it as much as I do my home!!

So, I look forward to adding onto this as I go through this journey and look back at where the Lord is taking me and what He is doing in my heart. And I'm certainly looking forward to a decluttered and clean home!!! :)

In Christ,
Christine