A glimpse into daily life that isn't so mundane in a relaxed homeschooling family of 11 (plus the dog, the goats, the rabbits, the chickens, the cats...) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0600 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0600    Voting ends November 21st at midnight....that is.....tonight!!!!          Vote for the Sevensisters blog if you haven't!    The race is very close!!!!      Best Teen Group Blog     and while you're at it.....you can vote for them at     Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog     Thank you to all who have voted!!!!!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/746469/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/746469/         (If you want to enter the giveaway, click HERE!)   And don't forget to vote for Seven Sisters over at The Homeschool Blog Awards!  (Also on the above post!) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/745766/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/745766/   If you missed last week's giveaway winner announcement, click HERE!   ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`   I have to have my priorities straight, soooooo.....   My daughters' blog, Seven Sisters is up for "Best Teen Group Blog" on The Homeschool Blog Awards!   So if you aren't already voting for a friend, family, etc., PLEASE consider voting for them HERE!   If you've never been to their blog (can't imagine, but just in case!), you can visit them HERE!     Now that we have that taken care of,  on to the NEXT giveaway!!!!   You might be familiar with the name "Frances Ridley Haveral"-- the hymnwriter who wrote "Take My Life And Let It Be" along with about 100 more.    She learned to read at the age of 3, at 4 she began reading and memorizing the Bible, at 7 she started writing verse!  She gave her life to the Lord at age 14, and memorized the New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah and the Minor Prophets!   It is said that she never wrote a line without first praying over it.     She wrote "Morning Bells" as a complimentary book to her "Little Pillows".  "Morning Bells" was written to help children to awaken with Christ each morning.  LIttle ones are challenged to imitate Christ as they seek to live for Him in their daily lives.   I have a new copy of "Morning Bells", in paperback, that I am giving away this week!     You can check it out at Amazon.com---follow THIS link.   Carol Brandt, author of "Old Paths for Little Feet" said of this book, "This is child evangelism as it should be: plain, simple, truthful, without manipulation or deceit."   I recently purchased a used copy that has both Little Pillows and Morning Bells and started using it last night with my littles!  I read about this at Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience, in this post:  "How to Build a House of Prayer" (a very, very good post, by the way!  But aren't they all?!)    To enter this giveaway (you can do any combination of the following):   1. Tell me how you will use this book (or if you will give it as a gift) if you win.   2. Tell me what you are using now as a devotional with your children.   3. Are you memorizing Scripture?  And helping your children?   Let me know what you are memorizing, and any neat ideas you have for writing God's Word on the hearts of your children.   4. Do you sing hymns/choruses/Scripture songs regularly as a family?  What are your favorites?     5. Tell 3 friends about this giveaway.   6. Spread the word through blogs, forums, facebook, twitter, and link back to here.  Let me know that you did!  If you posted on your blog, be sure to leave me your blog address so I can check YOUR blog out!  (Neat way to find new blogs!)   7. DOUBLE POINTS!!!!!  DOUBLE POINTS!!!!!  DOUBLE POINTS!!!!! If you decide to learn the song "Take My Life and Let It Be" by Frances Ridley Havergal this week (sing ALL the verses), let me know each day that you are singing it and learning it (I don't expect you to memorize it, although it will get very familiar!  ) and any other entries you make that day will count DOUBLE!        You may enter as many times as you like on #5 & #6, and if you come up with more ideas on #1, #2, #3 & #4, that is fine, too!    Obviously #7 will just be reported once a day!      This giveaway will run through midnight on Saturday, November 21, and the winner will be announced on Sunday, November 22.      Be sure to leave me a way to contact you if you win!   I'm looking forward to seeing all your ideas for devotionals, memorizing helps and what songs you are learning!    Let's have fun!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/744930/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/744930/   Angela (angdesa)!!!   Congratulations, Angela!   And thank you to EVERYONE who entered! You can go to the T-Tapp site and enter their contest--and maybe win TappCore plus be able to order another workout at 50% off!   Just go HERE! OR you can enter their other contest giveaway that goes every 10 days and win a choice of workouts HERE! I'll have more to post later this week about all the benefits I've gained (and inches lost! ) through T-Tapp, so "stay tuned"! Again, thanks to ALL who have entered, and----- Come back tomorrow for ANOTHER giveaway!    (I'm just having TOO much fun!   )   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/744810/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/744810/ As promised, I have another giveaway this week!     I mean, it's so much FUN!     Well, except that I want EVERYONE to win!      With the holiday season upon us, we often are faced with LOTS of food, LOTS of tempting desserts, LOTS of reasons to not get workouts in, and LOTS of reasons to let go of a LOT of healthy things we normally do!!!     Added to that, how many of us would like to see our kids move more?  I forget the statistics, but more and more schools are completely cutting out P.E.  It wasn't MY favorite class in school, either!   BUT--there are so many more media gadgets that actually keep kids indoors glued to screens vs. out playing games for fun and exercise, riding bikes, etc.     Added to THAT, in some parts of the country, just getting bundled up to weather the cold and do ANYTHING outside is a workout in itself!      So for my second giveaway, I am going to help you!    You know I LOVE LOVE LOVE T-Tapp and all it's done for me!  If you happen to NOT know that, I'll give you a condensed version!  (If you want the long version, just click on T-Tapp in my Categories on the sidebar!   )     I've lost 131 inches and 7 sizes, going from a 22/24W to a size 10/12 in 2 1/2 years!   WITHOUT stressing about what I eat---no counting calories, eating regular meals with my family, just making a few healthy choices here and there and STILL enjoying my Endangered Species Dark Chocolate and a dessert at potlucks!    I've only lost 19 pounds!  (Weight doesn't matter!--Muscle and bone density DO!) I have more energy, stamina, clearer thinking.....I have a lump under my arm that has reduced in size to be the smallest it's been in TEN years!       T-Tapp is about total body health for me!   Inch loss is great, and it "reels us in", but it's the other benefits, the ones you can't "measure", that really count!  (Here is a post on the T-Tapp  Forums that I did on that very subject a year or so ago!)     As my gift of health to YOU, I am giving away FREE the TappCore dvd that Teresa developed for schools!   There are 9 moves on here--each move has a 3-5 minute instructional, then the straight through move is about 2 minutes.   The walking one is longer (I haven't timed it lately, but it's not terribly long!).  She walks with Buddy in his little carry bag on her back during that one!    Teresa told of one school where the teacher has the kids do Hoedowns about 2:00 in the afternoon--right before reading class!  Hoedowns have been proven to lower blood sugar and they clear the mind--these kids have super concentration after doing their afternoon Hoedown!     The goal is to try to get three of these moves over the course of a day.   But you can fit them in however it works with your schedule.   My younger girls do three at a time and love it!   In fact, we have a video of our youngest T-Tapper, Isaiah!    T-Tapp Toddler (sorry about having to tilt your head--we're working on that!)     Since I have a variety of readers with many different preferences, I will let you know that Teresa is in workout wear.  If you think that may be a problem for you for whatever reason, you might want to preview it and perhaps learn the moves so you can teach them to your kids (after all, when you teach you learn it better, right?!)     If you have specific questions to determine if this fits in with your family style and routine, please e-mail me (link on the sidebar).     I love Teresa's heart!  She is all about health--yes, inches lost, looking good all count, of course.  But as one who got to spend nearly a week at her retreat and talked to her a few times one on one, I can assure you she is very real and truly desires health in ALL ages!  She's even working on a dvd for Senior Fitness that should be out next year!     You can click on the banner below for more information about T-Tapp at her website.           Okay, I know!   How can you enter?   FIRST OF ALL!     I forgot in last week's giveaway to make sure you gave me a way to contact you!  If you plan to see if you win and then send me your contact information, that is fine!  (I know you might not be comfortable posting your e-mail address).     And if you are a young person still at home, please make sure this is okay with your parents first!   1. Tell me how you plan to use this dvd if you win it.  I won't be sending anyone to check up on you!  Just tell me what you think at this point you would do!     2. Tell three friends about this giveaway.     3. Blog, Tweet, post on facebook or a forum you're on.....and let me know!     4. Think of ONE other healthy habit you can add during the Holiday season!  Some ideas:     ~Drink more water (less soda or coffee)   ~Eat more veggies (or, eat at least ONE veggie!  LOL!)   ~Eat a good breakfast   ~Eat fewer desserts!      5. If you already T-Tapp or work out, let me know that you worked out that day and post it!  Tell me what you did!     Here's to better health--the T-Tapp way!      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/743049/ Sun, 8 Nov 2009 11:05:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/743049/   Piglet2U!!! Thank you EVERYONE for your wonderful entries!  It was so nice to read all your sweet comments and how many of you are going to start a Gratefulness Journal for your husbands or daddies!  You will bless them incredibly!  I wish you ALL could have won! I want to remind you that there are  wonderful resources at Revive Our Hearts--you can sign up for 30 Day Challenges, and two of them are a Gratefulness Challenge and a Husband Encouragement Challenge!  You will get an e-mail each day focusing on another aspect of gratefulness and encouragement.  I highly recommend them!    You can find them here. Here are two more wonderful resources at Revive Our Hearts: A Prayer for Women by Pastor John Piper Characteristics of a Meek and Quiet Spirit One more---this is available as a booklet, which I recommend you get one and keep it with your Bible to read through every day.   It has 28 Scriptures with self-examination questions in the first part, and it has 32 statements in the back part covering three categories of building your home up, or tearing it down--Attitudes, Words, Actions.  This lends itself very nicely to going through it in a month, reading one of the sections in the first part, then reading one set of statements in the second part (doubling up on the last day)!   I've been doing this for 10 years now (my cover has come off!) and it has helped me tremendously in focusing on what God would have me be as a woman whose heart is stayed upon Him, as well as what I call "True Heart Submission". A Biblical Portrait of Womanhood May these resources help you as you strive to be a Godly woman who is a blessing to the men in her life! Again, thank you ALL for entering! And another surprise...... Tomorrow I will have a second giveaway!   See you in the morning!    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/743032/ Sun, 8 Nov 2009 07:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/743032/ I had intended to post yesterday about MY sweet husband, but other things came up!       I am so grateful to still have him with me, as five years ago, I could very easily have lost him.               I am grateful for his hard work to provide for us.       I am grateful for his quiet, steadiness, and that he is so many times my rock.       I am grateful that he is such a good listener.       I am especially grateful that he has never raised his voice at me---in 26 years of marriage.     I am grateful that he has been so patient with me as I continue to "grow up".       I love you, Dallas!!!         (Note the cool bow tie the girls made him?!     )   (And note how we are a very REAL family by the background?!   LOL!)   Thank you to all who are posting and entering the giveaway!  I love to hear your grateful comments!   Here are a few challenges that you might be interested in from Revive Our Hearts (Nancy Leigh DeMoss)-- note the FIRST TWO at the top of the list are a Gratitude Challenge and a Husband Encouragement Challenge!    You get an e-mail for each day with a challenge.   Small, bite sized pieces, but meaty pieces!   I love Nancy Leigh DeMoss, because, as I like to say, she gets Christianity down where "the rubber meets the road"!   I hope you will take advantage of one or both of these challenges....and some of the things you are to be grateful for for your husband might just prompt you for what you can write in your journal!    Blessings!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/742140/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/742140/ Note:  This post will remain at the top for the remainder of the week.  Please scroll down for any new posts. (HaHa!  Maybe you better just click on the sidebar for the newest post! LOL!   You all are doing great!)   Newest Post:  Gratefulness, Continued!   ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`   It's finally here!  My first giveaway!       November is the month of Thanksgiving--which seems to get swallowed up between Halloween and Christmas at the stores---and just as well.   Heaven help us all if they figure out a way to commercialize Thanksgiving!       So for this giveaway, we will focus on being thankful!     I am giving away a triangular knit shawl made from Lion Brand Homespun yarn in the color "Baroque".                   It is plenty wide enough and long enough to wrap up your shoulders and arms on a coolish morning while you have your quiet time, or maybe on a cool evening while reading blogs on the computer!       Along with the shawl is a lovely bound blank journal (and a pen--not pictured!) so you can create your own gratefulness journal!           But this isn't "just" a gratefulness journal.     About 9 years ago I was challenged to start a Gratefulness Journal about my husband.   A place where I would write down the things I was thankful for in him.   Now at first, that was easy.  But you can only say, "He's such a good husband/father/provider, etc." so many times!   It has been good for me to really think specifically what I am grateful for.     And to be honest, the times when I was a bit upset at him were the very times I needed to be writing in that journal....and I did!  It's amazing how quickly a "big issue" gets scaled down to less-than-a-minor-glitch when you start focusing on what you have to praise God for in your mate!     I had misplaced the journal when we packed up our room for the remodeling, but I'm on a mission to find it and pick up where I left off!     And I challenge you, my readers, even if you don't win this journal, to get one and start it.     "Oh, but I'm not married", you say?     You're not off the hook either!   A young lady can write what she is grateful for in her father, and even her brothers!   It will be a good practice to be in so when you do marry, you'll have a head start on "looking for the good"!       And if you are a single mom for whatever reason, you can give thanks for perhaps a Godly woman who is your mentor, or for God Himself--specifically how He is helping you as you look to Him to be your all.     How to enter:   NUMBER ONE!  YOU  MUST DO THIS ONE NO MATTER WHAT OTHER WAYS YOU CHOOSE TO ENTER!  AND IF YOU ENTER ON ANOTHER DAY, YOU MUST DO THIS ONE AGAIN!   1.  Tell me one thing you are grateful for today about your husband (or daddy, etc.).    It can be about his character, something wonderful he's done, how he's weathered a trial, his quiet steady support....   2. Tell three friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did.   3. Post about the giveaway and link back here on your blog or facebook or twitter or whatever else is out there that I am so-not-savvy-about!     Just let me know that you did!   4. Tell me that you are going to start a Gratefulness Journal for your husband (or daddy).   And please DO IT!  If you want to wait to see if you win this lovely journal, that's fine, but MAKE SURE YOU DO IT!  It will be an incredible blessing to you, and if/when you choose to share it with your husband or daddy, it will certainly bless him as well!   This giveaway runs from today, Monday, November 2, through Saturday, November 7, at midnight.    I will let Random.org pick the winner and announce it (hopefully!) on Sunday, November 8!     You may enter as many times as you like!   If, for example, you enter today, you will tell me one thing you are grateful for in your husband or daddy, etc., then maybe tell me you told three friends and posted about it on your blog.   If you happen to twitter about it tomorrow, and you want to come tell me, you must tell me another thing you are grateful for in your husband or daddy, etc.!   Does that make sense?  For each day that you comment about something you did, you also share something you're grateful for!   And it counts each time you do it--as long as it's not the same thing!   And please, no generic "He's a good husband/daddy/provider"!   I want specifics!      Happy "Thanksgiving"!    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/741322/ Sat, 7 Nov 2009 13:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/741322/       My back aches.    I'm so tired of this job.   Hauling these buckets of slop certainly isn't "fun work"!         How did I get to this place, anyway?   Why did I think this was better?   Why did I leave my father's presence?         The pigs rush to the trough as I pour in their meal of "garbage soup".    Shoving each other out of the way, trying to get it all for themselves......just like my life.         Seems when I thought everything was good, I was pushing and shoving others out of my way to get what I wanted.         Then it all changed.       It ALL changed.         Now *I* was the one being shoved out of the way.   No one had time for me.   No one wanted to help.   I was used up and cast aside like a broken toy.       I'm so hungry!  I haven't had money for food for nearly a week.   I've squeaked by, but now......I'm so tired of the cold and the loneliness and the gnawing hunger.......       I start looking at the slop.   There's some bread and gravy that doesn't look too bad.    Maybe I can snatch it out before one of the pigs gets it......       WHAT AM I DOING?!  I stop myself short.       Slop!  Pig slop!   At home my father's hired hands eat better than this!  Even in a famine, Father wouldn't let them eat pig slop!     I've had enough!   I throw the slop bucket down and start for home.   No need to go back to my "room" and get what I have left.   It isn't worth keeping.       I have a long trek home.   Lots of time to think.   Thinking about how these pigs shoving each other around to get some morsel of slop......and it's really garbage.    That's what I've been doing.   I left the best, thinking it was restricting me, thinking my father really didn't care, that he favored my older brother......so I come out here and squander my inheritance like I'm really somebody, only to find out like so many before, how easy it is to be used.   Especially when you think you're so great!   Seems fools like me are the biggest fish for the savvy world to catch.        And throw out the bones when they're done.       Friends!  HA!   Hardly......       And me, shoving others out of my life.   Like my father.....my brother.......       What am I going to tell him?   "I'm sorry" seems a bit trite, considering how I've treated him!    All I can do is humble myself before him, beg him to take me as a hired hand since I am no longer fit to be called his son.   And pray my older brother will have mercy on me.  After all, when Father is gone, my brother will be the one I will depend upon for my daily sustenance.     I've worked slopping those hogs.....I'd rather do anything for my father....no matter how hard or menial or grubby the work, I'd do it for him.    I know I can't earn anything from him, but just to show how wrong I was and how much I appreciate food and a place to stay....I'll do anything he asks, and I sure don't expect him to even talk to me.       Heart heavy.   Feet feel heavier.   I'm looking down, but even so, I can tell I'm getting closer.       There's widow Susana's home.   And there's Simon bar Judah's barley field.   Just a little farther.....       Past the stream where Jehoshua and I used to play.     Around the next bend.....wonder if he'll be at the house or with the workers in the field?       I finally bring myself to look up.       Total shock!  Could it be?!     Could it really be?!     Yes!  YES!  IT'S FATHER!     I run in spite of myself!    It seems like he is running towards me, too!!!     But I remember where I've been, what I've done.   As I get to him, I fall to my knees.     "Father!  Father!  I am no more fit to be called your son!!!   Please take me as one of your hired men!  I'll do any job, no matter how hard, no matter how menial, no---"   "SON!"  Father falls to his knees beside me and hugs me.     "No, NO, Father!  I'm sweaty and I smell of swine and slop and--"     He's weeping!   Hugging my neck and weeping!     "My son!  My son!  My son who was lost is now FOUND!"     The hired workers all run to see what the commotion is about.       "Quick!   Bring the robe and the ring!  Kill the fattened calf and make haste!  We are celebrating today!  My son was lost, but now he is HOME!"      He takes the robe and puts it around my slop stained shoulders.  Shouldn't I bathe first?  Purify myself?     He puts the ring on my finger again......I'm not worthy!  I sob!     "Son, from the day you left I never stopped believing you would come home again.  I have been preparing for this day all along!  I knew you would come back!   Come back to our time together!  You will always be my son!"     I weep upon his shoulder, trembling in his tender embrace.   I can't bring back the inheritance I've squandered.   I can't bring back the years I've wasted.     But I can start over this moment--this day!     He still loves me!  I'm still his son!     He was there, waiting, all along.       I didn't need to get cleaned up first or prove myself.   I only needed to turn....     And go Home!!!!!     But now, because of my father's love for me, I WILL get cleaned up and stay that way.       What love!     I want to bask in that love for the rest of my days.   I never want to do anything that would bring him shame or break his heart again!     "Thank you, Father!  Oh, thank you!   It's so good to be Home!"     He puts his arm around me as we head into the house for a joyful celebration.....     ....a celebration of a love that has called me Home and caused me to long for my father's relationship again.     I'm Home.   I'm HOME!     ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`     James 4:8     "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."       How often do we get this backwards!   We think we have to "get cleaned up to take a bath"!!!       What is the first command?  "Draw nigh".   As we initiate that move towards (or back towards) our Abba Father, He draws near to us.   Actually, He was there all the time!   WE are the ones who moved away, and as we move back towards Him, we see that He is there waiting.....even running to meet us as did the Prodigal Son's father!       THEN we cleanse our hands....our works, deeds, words.......and purify our hearts.......our motives, attitudes....       But really, even that is done by Him.   As we draw near, and see He is there with us, because we love Him so much, we WANT to purge away the dross.   Prune away the dead and diseased branches.   Cleanse our hands and hearts of all that is not pleasing to the Very One Who gave us life and sustains our life.       So again, it's not about US.  It's about HIM.   He loved us before the foundation of the world, had a plan, gave His only Son to fulfill that plan, redeemed us to Himself, paid the bride-price.       How can we want anything less than to please our Heavenly Father?   And our Heavenly Bridegroom and Lover of our souls?!       All that I do, I do because I love Him---not to earn His love or favor!       Even when I stray.....a little..... a lot.......even when I foolishly "charge God" because my heart is hurting....or lonely......or selfish.......     He doesn't let me stay in the muck and mire.     He is patiently waiting to see just a hint......just the tiniest hint.......of turning.......       Then He's there!    Ready to receive me, to hug me, to pick up our relationship. That's what it's ALL about.  Relationship with Him. That's why He died---to restore that Eden relationship He created mankind for. Oh, won't you come Home?! Sometimes we actually stray, sometimes we stray in our minds.  Sometimes we check out and get out, sometimes we check out and "leave" even though we're still physically here.     Either way, the Father waits.      He longs.     He prepares.       He's there!   Outstretched arms and a hug that says, "I knew you'd come back!  I've missed you!        You don't have to get cleaned up.       Just go Home.   Draw near and He is already near.  He'll help you clean up and purify---but right now--     Let's go to the celebration.           The Celebration of a Father's Love. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/741118/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:23:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/741118/ Oh, I wish aj was right!  A new baby would be wonderful!       But alas, that's not it!       Jennifer hit it---       IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!! Why should my daughters have all the fun?!   Although I won't be doing FIVE giveaways,   I thought I could do at least ONE!      So, THAT is what IT is! Well, but WHAT am I giving away? You'll have to check back Monday to see!        I will give you a hint to help prepare you......BE THANKFUL!       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/740574/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/neveradullmoment/740574/