Homeschool blogger was my first introduction to blogging. Actually, before reading an article in The Old Schoolhouse mag, I had not even heard of blogging. OK, so maybe I was a bit behind the times, but hsing four little ones left little time for much else. I was so intrigued with the idea, I checked it out and was immediately hooked. What an awesome way to share my faith, trials and triumphs along the homeschool road. Homeschool blogger allowed me to get my blogging feet wet and learn html (through much trial and error) in a safe and supportive environment.
Though I've made the move to Blogger, I will always be grateful for the wonderful environment created here at HSB and for the friends I made along the way. I hope you'll click over and say hello at The Potter's Hand. Leave me a note and let me know your blogging story. What got you started and what motivates you to keep writing?
Anyone have good advice for backing up two year's worth of blog ramblings? Other than going through post by post, I'm not sure how to do it. Yikes! I don't have time to do that. Guess I should have thought of this sooner.
A bit of bloggy advice? Backup your posts!
The Potter's Hand can now be found here. I hope you'll update your feed and stop by my new place.
Thanks to HSB for allowing me to blog here for the last two years. It's been a wonderful experience.
If you've never heard of Tim Hawkins, you're in for a real treat! This man is good, clean fun for the whole family. I've been laughing for twenty minutes watching on-line clips.
After you watch the homeschool video on his site, check out his schedule to see if he will be in a town near you soon.
There's just something about the new year that makes me seriously contemplate life. I'm not quite sure what it is. Other than the passage of time, there is no difference between December 31st at 11:59 p.m. and January 1st at 12:00 a.m. I guess it's the possibilities a new year brings. A chance to make changes...to continue striving towards the goal.
I journaled extensively yesterday during my quiet time. As I poured out my heart to the Lord, my mind turned to the practicality of my goals. Looking over the list, I began to see a need to quantify what I was hoping to accomplish. Goals need to be specific. There needs to be some way to measure whether or not we have achieved what we set out to do. Though maybe a noble goal, "To become a better person" is difficult the assess.
My main goal for 2008 is to know the LORD more deeply by the end of the year than I do now. Again, a great goal, but how will I know if I have succeeded? Here comes the practical part. I have determined to memorize one new scripture verse a week pertaining to some area the LORD is speaking to me about. As I meditate on the verse, hiding it in my heart, I am coming to know the Author more deeply. Just think, at the end of the year that's 52 verses committed to memory. This week's verse pertains to my words. If you've been reading here awhile, you might remember I have a certain affinity for sticking my foot in my mouth. "Anyone who guards what he says guards his life. But anyone who speaks without thinking will be destroyed." Proverbs 13:3
Another place the rubber meets the road is my exercise goal. Ugh...I even hesitate to make goals like these because, as I've mentioned many times, I hate to exercise. Mentally battling myself each day is not cutting it. I need something more and since Jillian (the kick butt trainer from The Biggest Loser) is not knocking on my door offering her services, I came up with another solution. A friend and I are going to work towards running a 5K together. Luckily this friend LOVES to exercise, teaches kick boxing even. It's all about accountability my friend. Maybe I can get her to dress in all black and act tough like Jillian. Nah, Linz, you're too nice!
Anyone else setting goals for the new year?
“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” - Jim Rohn
“Time is the justice that examines all offenders.” - William Shakespeare
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” - Henry Van Dyke
“Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.” - Thoreau
Time. It's a funny thing. Mike said to me recently he wished he had a few more hours in each day. Maybe an extra 120 minutes would help him mark a few more things off his to-do list and leave a bit more time for relaxing. That's the funny thing about time. It's much like water. It will fill whatever container it is placed in. If adding more time to our day would solve our problem of busyness, I'd be all for it. I have a hunch that were we granted those extra moments, we would find other things to fill them with.
2007 brought a lot of change for our family. Someone once said, "The only constant is change." While change may be inevitable, I would have to disagree with the premise. I have found the only constant in my life is Christ. He is what sustained us through our year of uncertainty.
As I look at 2007 in our rearview mirror, I see some times that felt, well, quite long. Seasons that at times I felt would never end. Transitions, changes...they're all part of life, some are just a bit more fun than others.
I have no idea what lies behind the door marked 2008. Whatever it is, we will face it with the assurance that He knows the plans He has for us and has promised they are for our good and not for evil.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Happy 2008!
Not quite sure how to potty train your little one? Bribe them with Disneyland!
Here's the scoop on the poop (sorry, I couldn't resist!). We have been struggling with Emma for over a year on the second half of potty training. We have tried everything...literally. Can't watch her favorite TV show? No problem for her. No sweets? OK, she can deal with that. She actually asked one day what I was going to take away next. Tell me she is not a bright child! She simply refused to do what she knew we wanted her to do.
Now, before you start leaving me comments about the merits of positive reinforcement, we tried that route too. Sticker charts, candy, heaps of praise, clapping, hugging, parades through the house...yep, we tried it all.
Enter Mickey Mouse. Yes,
You know what? It worked! She is so excited about going to Disneyland that she has decided she is now a big girl and will go in the potty.
Please don't ask me what would have happened if the whole smelly mess had blown up in my face. We won't go there.
Suffice it to say we are even more excited to not have to deal with potty training while at Disney. Hey, maybe it really IS the happiest place on earth!
Happy post Christmas sigh...Mike has the week off and all sense of scheduling has been thrown to the wind. The Christmas rush has been replaced by sleeping in, lingering over a cup of coffee, staying in my jammies, watching movies and taking naps. Oh, don't forget eating Christmas cookies for breakfast. Don't gasp in horror...you've done it too!
Our first Christmas in Texas was a mix of new experiences and old traditions. Spending time with family and new friends made for many wonderful memories. I have so many photos to download off my camera that it will take me a month of Sundays to complete. Dealing with the overwhelming number of images stored in my computer is sure to find its way in some form onto my list of New Year's resolutions come January, but that's for another post.
There were two HUGE surprises in our family this Christmas. NO, I am NOT pregnant! That would be a huge surprise to everyone...myself included. The first surprise was for my dear husband. I had a custom oil painting done of his favorite place on earth, the Sawtooth Mountains. This is where he grew up camping with his family, where he took us camping as a family and where he proposed to me. It turned out absolutely amazing don't you think?
He loves it and we both cried. Of course after I had been telling him for two months how much he was going to love his gift, he had no choice but to cry. I was fully expecting it! He may have been crying knowing full well I had blown our Christmas budget out the window, but he cried none the less.
Our other big surprise has to do with a castle, a mouse, Star Wars, lots of chocolate and best friends. We're taking the kids to Disneyland and our best friends from Idaho are meeting us there! We leave in 22 days. That's 22 days to find a good pair of shoes that will withstand a week of standing in line and chasing children all over southern California. Sore tootsies are sure to make me an unhappy camper at "the happiest place on earth". That certainly won't do.
Yes, our first Christmas in Texas was definitely one to remember. I hope yours was as well.
I think it's some sort of right of passage....the whole Santa thing I mean. Our oldest has done a great job of keeping the Santa secret. He loves playing along and I can tell he feels like he's in on something clandestined and grown-up. I believe he is too.
This morning I overheard him telling his younger brothers that they probably won't be getting everything on their list because, "Santa's on a budget". Yep, that's my boy. Oh wait, who am I kidding? I can take absolutely no credit for any sort of budgeting gene he may have inadvertantly inherited.
Speaking of Christmas things near and far...Someone mentioned on my last post that they had never heard "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". You are seriously missing out! It ranks right up there with Alvin and the Chipmunks singing "Christmas don't be Late". Now please tell me you've heard that one?
So here you go. If looking at photos of the back end of a hippo doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, I don't know what will!
What could be better than spending five hours shopping with four children? Why, spending five hours shopping with four children who are all trying to decide what to buy for one another while sticking to their budget and attempting to hide their purchases of course! Wow. At one point I said to my youngest son that if he did not make a decision soon we would still be standing in the aisle when they put things on sale AFTER Christmas. I was only half kidding.
We rested a bit and enjoyed some pizza at Target. OK, maybe 'enjoyed' isn't the best choice of words, but the kids seemed to like it. The best part is we made it home with smiles and good attitudes intact...even Mom! We did get a few grins in Wal-Mart as we walked through the store singing "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". What a great song!
Now we're home and though my body is begging for a nap, there are gifts to wrap, pumpkin bread to bake and boys to be carted to basketball practice. I've done pretty well at not riding the Christmas Express this year. Thankful today's busyness was the exception this season and not the rule.