Yesterday, I spent the day in the kitchen. First I made banana wheat muffins which turned out great. Then I made wheat bread which flopped. Next I made Cabbage Casserole which was a success and yet my Israeli Salad absolutely flopped! Finally, I canned 6 quarts of tomatoes and forgot to add Lemon juice to each quart! I learned these lessons:
1. Don't try to do too many things in one day.
2. IF you add 2 pkges yeast to a Rapid rise recipe and the flour used was self rising...it ain't gonna work!
3. Only use fresh vegetables in a fresh vegetable salad or the old ones will turn the salad bitter.
4. Don't try to do the canning and cook dinner at the same time - too many distractions! Can early in the day!
Well...I am hating the new computer!!!!! It is slower than the old computer and I have been on hold for technical support all morning! Why, oh, why do they make things so difficult?? Then I switched to earthlink from aol to see if it was faster for dialup and it is soooooo slow it is unbelievable! Needless to say, I expect to be on this thing all day long until I can get it to function the way it is supposed to. I'll keep you up - to - date! Kathy
We finally bit the bullet and bought a new computer...actually have it here, but not out of the box yet. There is a certain sadness about getting rid of this ancient computer we have been using since the beginning of time... First of all, I have a zillion favorites saved on this computer and haven't the slightest idea how to save them onto the new computer. This computer is as comfortable as a sock with holes in it. Yes, it has problems...but it still feels comfortable. It is familiar to me and I am afraid of the new technology and speed of the new computer. My sons are chomping at the bit for me to open the box and set up the new computer...They are longing for speed and new technology so they can soar faster over this invisible highway called the internet. I miss the days when they just wanted to play Lego Island or Sammy's Science House. Life's pace will pick up...I guess I won't have time to make coffee while I wait for a download anymore... and I will have to learn this new technology to keep up with the times. Oh, well...time to put this old machine to rest. I'll let you know once we are all set up and back online.
Well, I added a photo of the boys and I when we went to Baltimore Inner Harbor. My oldest, Nate is 17, Aaron is 15 and Josh is 12. I am looking for a photo of Belle that I had on my computer but my husband often manages the files on the computer and I can't find it at all. Hopefully by the end of the day I'll find it. Belle is in rough shape. Hopefully our pastor will get a chance to visit with her this week to pray with her and encourage her. She is so tired of fighting and yet desperately wants to see her little girl grow up. My heart longs for her to be healed. I know that Jesus could do a miracle for her at any moment and the cancer would be gone...yet He tarries. We wait on Him to turn and be gracious unto us. Talk to ya'all soon.
Well, I learned a tough lesson yesterday. We were about to leave piano lessons when I asked the teacher if my son had showed him the piece of music I had asked my son to learn so I could have him play while I sang at church. The teacher said, "No." So, I laughingly said in passing, "Oh, don't worry, I'll just beat him with a stick when I get home." (Let me just say, We have a No Hit rule in our house and I was not serious at all in my comment!)
The teacher said, "I hope not because I'd have to report you." My son and I sort of thought, "Are you serious?? because we sure aren't!" Yet, I was convicted by my words because people can not tell when you are serious or not. The Bible says that we are to avoid the appearance of evil and that a fool opens wide his mouth...and just the day before, I had a long Bible study with my sons on just that topic and yet here I was...saying foolishness.
My sons were funny though when we got to the car. My 14 year old son referred to in the conversation said, "Aw, Ma, you should have told him you were gonna feed me to the alligators!" My oldest (17 year old) said, "Not if you lived in Florida!" My youngest son said, "Feed 'em to the Piranah!"
Now, being the Mom of 3 teenage homeschooled sons, I often realize that I do not have the authority over them that I once commanded. When they were younger, the fact that you were older, and their "Mother" sort of kept them in line. Now when two of them are taller than you and the youngest one is standing on his tiptoes to try and look you in the eyes every day....there ain't much you can do if you have not already won their respect and honor.
Thankfully, my guys do respect and honor me...but not always do they choose to do so. Sorta like those PMS days when I choose not to honor my husband by giving him the sweet responses he deserves and instead show him the ugly side of my tongue.
So, I was humbled and asked their forgiveness. They in turn asked each other's forgiveness for the idle things said each day. But I cannot begin to tell you how much the Lord has pricked my heart with this! We are to be above reproach in the world...Oh, and not to mention the verse in Proverbs about a foolish woman tearing down her house with her own hands!!!
Lord, set a guard at the watch door of our lips so that we might not sin against Thee. May we build up our loved ones and not tear them down with our words even if it is just in jest. May You be glorified at all times, in Jesus' name. Amen.
I could hardly believe my eyes this morning when I woke up and looked out to see it SNOWING!!! It is like a blizzard out there! (I guess I should have turned on the news at least once during the past few days...
Anyway, I got up and put two the ingredients for bread in two bread machines and filled up the spare tub with water in case the power goes off. (We lost power for two days after the last snowstorm.) It figures that I would be out of Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins and bread this morning. I had planned to go shopping after church.
The boys are loving this snow because it has the best consistency for snowballs, snow men and snow forts. DO your children run outside at the first sign of snow with a spoon and a bowl???? Mine do! They think it is a food group. Seriously!
Being caught off guard with the snow this morning made me aware of "Prepared - ness" (if that's a word) . There are many things in life that I cruise along on auto-pilot on; falsely thinking that I'm ready to handle whatever comes my way. Today, I bow the knee of my heart and ask God to guide me each minute of my day. I just want to be found in hidden in the cleft of His hand. He knows our frame and what we need. If we are seeking Him and staying close to Him, we won't have to fear not being prepared for the days ahead.
Well, after a long sabbatical, I want to try this again. Blogging is daunting to me because I just am not as computer literate as some of you all seem to be. I LOVE all the wonderful blog sites on the Homeschool Blogger site...I just don't know how to make mine flow like all of you do.
So I sat down and printed out the tags and variables list - and I thought teaching spanish was hard?!
Next, I'm gonna check out the web ring stuff. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (I believe that was a "Bleg" for help.)
My heart's desire is to share with others the unique setting homeschooling 3 boys can place a mom in. There are so many funny and wonderful days mixed in with all the difficult -on your knees- type days. Encouraging them in godliness and on to manhood is truly a blessing that I would like to share with others...so please help me. I'm leaving up all my old posts...partially because I don't know how to move them around and so that those helping can check out what I have figured out and offer any suggestions.
Beginning the new year 30 pounds overweight has just begun to get my attention....my jeans are all too small!!!
So, I wrote down a 1,500 calorie break down and hope to use my lap booking skills to make a pocket chart of exchanges I can use during the day. This will also help me put weight on my 2nd son who is a bit underweight. I made a 2,500 calorie chart for him.
All of this got me thinking about our daily spiritual exchanges. Are we substituting good spiritual food for bad or worldly food in our spiritual diet?
We just subscribed to satellite t.v. after 20 years of no t.v., just videos. Although I am appalled at the degree of vulgarity that is even on the commercials - I am even more appalled at my husband and son's sense of humor toward these things! They tend to gravitate toward the cop shows and it has really been bothering me. We definately need the Lord to be Lord of this intruder we have let into our home. So, I am in prayer about the situation and have already seen conviction falling on my family members.
Well, gotta go round up the troops to start our day!
)