A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme

FOR TODAY Monday, October 6^th, 2008

 Outside My Window... Chilly 55 degrees, cloudy, & breezy! 

 I am thinking... God is so GOOD!

 I am thankful for... My husband’s stable job.

 From the kitchen... Lots of Venison.

 I am wearing... Blue Jeans, Orange Henley, & black socks.

I am creating... A menu plan for the next two weeks.

 I am going... to finish my laundry today and put it ALL away. Oh yes I am. J

I am reading... “The Complete Guide to Getting & Staying Organized”, my Bible, “Don’t Make Me Count to Three!”, and “Dr. Beechick’s Homeschool Answer Book”.

I am hoping... My mailman comes soon! I am waiting on a package.

 I am hearing... Silence! My girls are resting!

Around the house... Signs of life and munchkins! Little handprints all over my windows & doors where little hands thought the condensation was fun to draw in!

One of my favorite things… Visiting with my awesome brother and his sweet wife!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Homeschool, Cleaning, Cooking, Story Time, Swim Lessons, Co-Op, and we are planning to see Fireproof this Saturday!

Here is picture thought I am sharing... She's been up to it again...those of you who have known us for a while know Emma's favorite pasttime used to be coloring on her face or eating the marker. But I thought we were past that.

WARNING***Men reading...you might want to stop now because this is a definite feminine conversation here***

In addition to my new cloth diaper passion, I am on a journey to cloth feminine products as well. I bought this stash and just received it on Saturday but they are too big for me. I am hoping somebody out there can love them like I had hoped to so I can afford some different ones.

Okay. So I sold these. Thank you Lord! Sorry if I made anyone blush showing pictures of these. They are new and unused if that helps  

Well, I've been a bit dried up and posted out. I kind of needed a little break and had to decide if I wanted to keep on with the blog or not. I got some feedback from some people very close to me that I sounded like I was being too hard on myself and I had to sit back and reflect what I wanted my blog to be about and I wondered if that was true. I am hard on myself but I've always felt it was for good reason. I don't know. I feel like there are just certain things I have to do well at or I have to do my best at and well, I often fail at even that.

Anyway, I'm back.

Guess what I did while I was away? We invested in some used cloth diapers and have completely switched over! It is so excited to be saving money on diapers and not throwing any more away. I only regret not starting this sooner. I can't imagine how many diapers we've thrown away.

I also got drafted to teach a preschool music/craft class at our homeschool co-op. I have nine 3 & 4 year-olds in there. Let me just say, it is a long 50 minutes :). It's hard to keep them all occupied. But I'm enjoying it and know it is only temporary.

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme

FOR TODAY Monday, September 29, 2008

 Outside My Window... Cool 50 degrees, cloudy, and the trees are changing! 

 I am thinking... I have a super de duper lot to do today.

 I am thankful for... My sweet daughters.

 From the kitchen... Spur of the moment meals this week.

 I am wearing... Jammies & Robe.

I am creating... A Christmas List of Ideas for everyone.

 I am going... to miss summer.

I am reading... “The Complete Guide to Getting & Staying Organized”, my Bible, “Don’t Make Me Count to Three!”, and “Dr. Beechick’s Homeschool Answer Book”.

I am hoping... We are sick less this winter than we were last!!!

 I am hearing... My Yahoo Music box Station!

Around the house... It’s a disaster J. I came down with a cold Friday and didn’t feel like doing much over the weekend.

One of my favorite things... Organization and Cleanliness…both of which are rarely kept up around here.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Housework, Homeschool, Story Time, Swim Lessons, Co-op, and my brother and his new wife will be here for a very short visit!!!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is our first daughter, about 4 years ago when she was beginning to potty train. I did not set her up like that...she did that all by herself. Oh I miss those days! I mean I still have one potty training but can't they all stay so little and unopinionated :)

I found this link in a post at Christian Moms Forum and thought it was so cool! We've probably all heard of the Five Love Languages but here is a simple quiz that can get you started knowing where you or your spouse stands. Just go HERE and select which most represents you out of each pair of statements. Have fun!

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme

FOR TODAY Monday, September 15, 2008 at 8:00 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Cool 55 degrees, Cloudy, and Wet. 

 I am thinking... I can’t remember how many times my girls woke me up last night, I think it was about 5 times between them all? When do kids start sleeping in? J

 I am thankful for... My Family.

 From the kitchen... Spur of the moment meals this week.

 I am wearing... Jammies & Robe.

I am creating... Same as last week…I actually forgot about this so I need to do it because co-op starts Friday…Ideas for a preschool music class I will be teaching at our homeschool co-op this fall.

 I am going... To finish cleaning out my hall closet this today. I started it yesterday.

I am reading... “The Complete Guide to Getting & Staying Organized” and my Bible

I am hoping... I can stay calm and relaxed this week.

 I am hearing... Abigail playing with Hi-Ho Cherry-O behind me and Curious George in the living room!

Around the house... Even more boxes for Goodwill than I had ready last week and laundry and dishes.

One of my favorite things... Sleep

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Story-time at our library starts this week, week two of swim lessons (which went very well last week!), and our homeschool co-op starts.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is the avatar my hubby drew up for his e-mail system at work. It shows up on his im's to others at work. Poor guy :)

Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling.  Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it.  Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family.  Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

Well, being so new to this I don’t really have much to tell yet. However, I am excited to read all the seasoned mommies assignments to gather much inspiration and encouragement.

 A verse I find encouraging is Psalm 119:33,34 “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yeah, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” _(KJV)

So far though, albeit into my 4^th week here, my biggest struggle is what to do with my nearly two year-old while we try to do work at the table. Unfortunately, she has been sick this week and last with a painful cold and has been quite irritable and time-consuming. I also know I am going to struggle with the creativity I need to make sure my kids are having fun. I am so far from being innovative and fun that I need to let loose and just relax here!

I read on Nancy's Nook that it is important to be sure to let go and let God control our homeschooling. Oh I need to get there completely! Thank you for the reminder.

I also intend to fix this closet this weekend. Friday I will be buying a new orgnizer drawer system for our winter hats, gloves, etc and our homeschool drawer system will go back in here too. This closet is a task I've been avoiding but will help out tremendously once I tackle it. I hope to be able to store some homeschool supplies in there once it's in order.

 Left Side & Right Side. It's a mess

Hi friends and family. Kelly over at The Barefoot Mama is hosting a giveaway for "Cool stuff to make the upcoming season of gifting and entertaining a hit!". Oh yeah. I love giveaways! Jump on over and take a look at her fantastic site. She is going through some awesome renovations in her soul and Jesus is really giving her some inspiring and encouraging topics to post about. You can learn more about her giveaway Here.

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling.  Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back.  Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

Well, I am really new to homeschooling. I attempted to start my 5 year-old in a kindergarten curriculum last fall but I really didn't like it and the girls and I spent our entire winter sick sick sick. So, today actually marks the beginning of our 4th week this year. We are trying out My Father's World for kindergarten. So far I'm finding that it's a little easy for my oldest and too hard for my middle daughter who is joining along when she can.

I feel completely unqualified, out-of-control, and unsure of what I am doing but I know with time and prayer I will find our way on this road. I really don't see any other options for us. So I guess we pretty much just jumped in head first to this and I have never looked back. I cannot imagine sending my girls to a public school and we just simply cannot afford a private school for them. It turns my stomach into knots thinking about them being in a public school for 8 hours a day.

I went to a private Christian school from preschool through 6th grade and then I switched to a public school. I loved my Christian school and remember every teacher I ever had there. I have many fond memories of my time there and I know that it had a lot to do with who I am today. But, having also spent so many years in a public school I knew I didn't want my children educated that way.

I am really interested in Charlotte Mason and her study ideas and that is a major factor in why we are trying My Father's World this year. I hope to follow the path of a relaxed homeschool but this year I am going to do a lot of networking with my fellow homeschool moms from our co-op and get a lot of information and ideas!

My favorite scripture is John 15:16-17 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another."

This is a picture my 5 year-old took of me yesterday. It's fun to see yourself from their vantage point

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, September 8, 2008 at 10:40 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Cool 58 degrees, Partly-Cloudy, Breezy. 

 I am thinking... How glad I am fall is here but how much I’m going miss summer.

 I am thankful for... Salvation and Redemption and our Hope.

 From the kitchen... I just put some hot dogs hiding in crescent rolls in the oven for lunch. The girls had fun making those!

 I am wearing... Blue jeans, gray long-sleeved t-shirt, & socks.

I am creating... Ideas for a preschool music class I will be teaching at our homeschool co-op this fall.

 I am going... To clean out my hall closet this week.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" and my Bible

I am hoping... My hubby has a good day at work today. He works so hard and so long every day for us.

 I am hearing... My very loud, inefficient, but thankful to have it dishwasher!

Around the house... Little things to be done here and there. Boxes of things to take to Goodwill.

One of my favorite things... Stash Premium Raspberry Herbal Tea

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Groceries, Lunch with friends on Friday, and the girls start swim lessons Thursday. Pray for me and my anxieties J.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Bailey drew this of "Grandma" last winter. I thought it was so cute!

Okay, so I'm thankful we are finally getting some rain, thanks to Gustav. The tippy top of it is finally reaching Michigan today.I don't know how many days it has been with no rain here, but it's been weeks I think. Our yard was crispy!

Also, is Michigan the only place where you can have the air on one day and need the heat the next? Yesterday it was 75 degrees in my house when I turned off my air (I keep it set at 74) and this morning it is 69 and I closed all the windows and it is chilly!!!

That's Michigan for ya...we can go from winter to summer overnight and vice versa. Our spring & fall are not necessarily a season we always get to go through :)

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, September 1st, Tuesday, September 02, 2008 at 8:30 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Cool 58 degrees, Sunny, Breezy

 I am thinking... I am sad my girls are sick with stinky colds.

 I am thankful for... Fall! I love the crisp air and beautiful colors!

 From the kitchen... Again, you will see meals from last week I never made.

Tuesday ~ Fresh Caught Fried Trout, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday ~ Leftover Pot Roast, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday ~ Chicken & Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday ~ Grilled Steak, Rice Pilaf, Peas

 I am wearing... Fuchsia pajama pants and my husband’s white t-shirt.

I am creating... A new nook in my hall closet for our hats, gloves, etc for this winter. Last winter it was all in a big tub in the closet and I got tired of the girls having to dig through it to find what they needed. This year we will have a 5-drawer system where everyone has their own drawer!!!

 I am going... To begin week 3 of home schooling today.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" and my Bible

I am hoping... My girls get well quickly.  

 I am hearing... Music on my yahoo musicbox!

Around the house... Not too shabby this morning! Little girls busily playing!

One of my favorite things... Organization! I’ve lost touch with that part of myself and am just finding her again J 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… Home school co-op orientation Thursday evening and a work picnic Saturday with my husband’s work.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Some of the bounty we'll be having for dinner tonight! The one my sweetie's holding and the next three are his and the bottom three are his buddy's (who gave them to us)

I am happy to report that though I didn’t even come close to waking up at 5:30 today J I did get up enough before the girls that I ate my breakfast, switched the laundry, and got in the shower. Praise the Lord! One other thing that helped my morning tremendously was having the kitchen cleaned last night after supper. I don’t always get that done because since we don’t usually get to eat dinner until almost 7, we spend time after dinner with the girls and putting them to bed then I feel obligated to sit and visit with Eric until bedtime.

But, it was such a huge blessing to me to wake up to a clean kitchen! I didn’t have those dirty, ugly dishes looming over my head and all in all, it was a great morning!

Now on to something else very meaningful to me. I am finally finishing up the book “Passionate Housewives Desperate for God” and I ran up against a quote I just have to pass along.

“ We feed the flesh until it has uncontrollable appetite with a mind of its own—pulling us in the direction of whatever feels good for the moment—led by our own carnal desires. Ironically, it’s an illusion, because the closer we get to what is supposed to “feel good” the worse we actually feel, the more we want, and the more our character suffers.”

This really hit me between the eyes. It has taken some time to build up with me, but I will ashamedly admit that I have let the media’s message of “you deserve it”, “give it to yourself”, “you work hard all day with your kids” get to me. I have allowed myself to give in to those carnal desires of small things that I get extra from the grocery store, or fast food, or whatever it may be. You know what, quite realistically, I don’t deserve a thing! Remember, I am a sinner. What I do deserve is hell. But, Praise the Lord I have been redeemed! Jesus has saved me from disaster and set my feet upon a solid rock. I do not deserve anything but by HIS grace and mercy I get to live forever. He promises me He will meet my needs according to His will.

What I need to give in return is my life’s service and obedience. Is it wrong to pick up an extra pop, snack, meal, of course it’s not. But, is it wrong when I’m borrowing the money from another envelope, when the money isn’t even there sometimes, when I’m not truthful with Eric about it? Yes…even if it was just $1.

I once heard Suze Orman tell a lady that every time she charged something on her credit card that she knew she couldn’t pay for right then, she was lying to herself! I am not sure I will ever forget that! Jesus let it sink in to me that any time I spend money I know isn’t there, I am lying! Surely the Lord doesn’t want me to lie and it is the opposite of living in His will!

I know I got off on a little tangent there but I wanted to explain what that quote from the book meant to me. Because all I got from feeding my carnal nature those little tidbits of I deserve this purse or this or that was GUILT! I never got lasting satisfaction.

My friends and family, I have been struggling for so long with the desire to wake up early and be ready for my day before the children get up. I know that not every mother needs or wants to do that, but it has been a source of great frustration for me. I have probably even talked about it before.

My ultimate goal would be to wake up before 5:30 and get my husband's breakfast ready, including tea or coffee and send him off to work with prayer and kisses. Then I could exercise a little, shower, read my Bible & pray, and then get started on any housework needed tending to before my girls wake up. Then when the girls woke up I'd want them to come to the table for breakfast together and afterwards we could read the Bible and pray. While I'm cleaning up the kitchen I'd like them to make their beds, dress, and brush their teeth. Then I'd love to do circle time and what we have for school that day. I am sure that if I could do all that on most days, my life would flow a lot easier, my days would be a lot less cluttered and chaotic, and I would feel less stressed.

However, my life for almost the past two years has been completely the opposite. My girls wake me up most days and they are sure I get up and if I don't they go back to their room and play and usually end up arguing and that is no way to start our days! Then I crawl out to the kitchen where there is usually a pile of dishes in the sink and just little things here and there that are never put away that drive me nuts and make me irritable. I spend time on the computer while the girls watch Caillou and eat their breakfast (which is another whole thing in itself). Then they eventually get dressed and some days they make their beds. I eventually shower and wake up and I hate spending the time doing all that while they're awake. I feel it is selfish of me to not have that all done before they get up. Anyway, the whole point here is I have no real routine, no schedule, no order to my life.

Prior to marriage, I was a neat-freak, order-guru, and loved organizing! But over the years, and especially after children, that all fell to the wayside. Now I have neat little piles of papers that I keep in a few different locations, which also drive me crazy. But I can't seem to get on top it all. I've read a few books, prayed about it a lot, but something just isn't working for me.

I've see Flylady and it seems a bit overwhelming to me. I ordered a book a couple weeks ago called The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized: *Manage Your Time *Eliminate Clutter and Experience Order *Keep Your Family First  and I hope it arrives soon. I am sure it will be here any day. I don't know if it will provide any more revelations to me I haven't already seen but I am desperate for change.

I have tried setting my alarm cold turkey for 5:30. I've tried backing it up every week by a half hour until I get there. It is not a matter of the time for me, it is just getting up period. I have been like that as long as I can remember. I just love laying in my nice, warm, comfy bed and hate getting out of it. But once I get my shower I'm good!

Please pray for me as I learn to wholly lean on God in this area of my life and attempt to do what's been impossible for me! Thanks for letting me get all that out

   A special thanks to The Simple Woman for hosting this meme.

FOR TODAY Monday, August 25^th, 2008at 8:30 a.m....

 Outside My Window... Fall is once again on its way here. What a beautiful sunny, cool morning! There is a slight breeze allowing the leaves to dance in the wind. All week we haven't a chance of rain and highs in the low 70's. PERFECT!

 I am thinking... School was fun last week! The girls enjoyed it so much and Emma (3) picked up on things much quicker than I expected. She's doing it alongside Bailey for now. I'm expecting it'll come to a point where it's too hard for her, but we'll see.

 I am thankful for... Grace & Mercy! I feel so unworthy and when God gives me those gifts I can't help but be thankful.

 From the kitchen... Again, you will see meals from last week I never made.

Monday ~ Ham & 15 Bean Soup, Cornbread

Tuesday ~ Jewish Chicken Soup & Homemade Italian Bread

Wednesday ~ Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday ~ Chicken & Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Friday ~ Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Vegetables

 I am wearing... Flowery pajama pants & shirt and my trusty old robe.

I am creating... Creation notebooks to show what the girls have learned and made in these first two weeks. A new budget worksheet. I re-studied Dave Ramsey’s book and fixed our budget up a little. I expect we will be consumer-debt free by the end of next year. It has been a long road. I have to remind myself it took us a good 6 years to get into that pit and it will take us a couple to get out. We got serious about paying debt off the beginning of this year and so far have cut it in half! Praise the Lord!

 I am going... To do loads of laundry, put away dishes, load more into the dishwasher, put away things from the weekend, play with my children, go outside, and exchange two of our new fish casualties for living ones.

I am reading... "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God", my Bible, and "To Live is Christ"

I am hoping... To accomplish what I set out to do today.  

 I am hearing... My front lawn sprinklers and my girls playing with barbies in the living room. Abigail’s behind me trying to put pegs into a peg board. She loves stacking them.

Around the house... What's new? Laundry, dishes, dust. I have been decluttering and trying to purge our closets to simplify a little.

One of my favorite things... When our Pastor's (also a cousin) 2 year-old son says purple. He says it like this "pooper". I ask him to say it over and over for me since it gives me such a chuckle. I think he's so smart to know all of his colors too! 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… I want to say that yes, we went to the beach last week. My mom & dad went with me and I actually got to sit in my lawn chair a little and rest while my mom played with the girls.

But this week, I have a dr's appt tomorrow morning and then will grocery shop Friday. Saturday we are going to my in-laws for a cookout. Other than that, just homeschooling & taking care of the house this week.

Here is picture thought I am sharing... This is when we got home from the beach last week. Emma had missed her nap and was wiped out. I couldn't even wake her up for dinner. When I tried she just slid to the floor and slept on her back another half hour.

I have decided to try something new to get my blog out there a little more in a circle of fellow homeschooling moms and to learn from them as well. I am joining Blogger Friend School 2008-2009. I am unsure of what to expect but I hear I will be challeneged spiritually and have the opportunity to build friendships and journal memories together.

To learn how you can participate in school and the Back to School Giveaway go HERE.

Won't you come join me and others in the fun!