Merry Christmas and Christmas Bread...

With such a busy season in full swing, I am going to say Merry Christmas now and return to blogging after Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and are able to spend time with family and friends.
I will return after Christmas with new blog posts and fun things to share. I have some fun new ideas to share and posts about our homeschool and frugal living. Stay tuned...


Before I go, I want to leave you with one of our favorite holiday treats.

Pumpkin Pie Bread
-makes to bread loafs-

3 and 1/2 cups flour  (can be replaced with gluten free flour, and still taste great)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup water

Pre-heat oven to *350, grease 2 bread loaf pans

In medium bowl, swift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice
In large bowl, beat together sugar, oil, egg, and pumpkin. Slowly add in flour mixture and water.
Mix until well blended with no lumps.

Pour into loaf pans and bake for 60-70 minutes.


Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Mix and store in air tight container. 

25 Days of Christmas...ideas to do with your family.

Christmas traditions are one of the little things that make Christmas so special. Having an activity or special trip to look forward to each year adds to the excitement of the Christmas season. 

One of my favorite Christmas traditions we have is to make homemade ornaments each year. We often  make enough to take around to our friends and neighbors as well. This tradition actually started when I was a young girl. Every year my parents would give each of us kids a new ornament. This way when we grew, up we all had a nice collection of ornaments to take to our new home and decorate our own Christmas tree.  It was nice that first Christmas away from home to decorate my tree with ornaments I had grown up with and that held special memories. 

This tradition of a new ornament continues on with my children. Each year we buy a new ornament for the kids. As the kids and I love crafts, we have made our own ornaments each year as well. The first time we decided to make our own ornaments was after a trip the mountains to see the fall colors. We collected a bag full of colorful leaves that had fallen. We then brought them home and placed them in a book to flatten and dry. Just before Christmas we took out the leaves and covered them with clear contact paper and added a ribbon to the top, our first homemade ornaments. We still have them and love putting them on the tree each year. We have continued making homemade ornaments each year since, and plan to do so each year. 

This year we want to add in, among our other little family traditions, a 25 Days of Christmas tradition. 

We made a list of ideas and have chosen what we plan to do, but instead of throwing the list away, I thought I'd share the list with you. 

25 Days of  Christmas ideas:

1) 25 Books of Christmas

Wrap up 25 different Christmas or winter books, unwrap and read one each night starting December 1st, ending with your favorite on Christmas morning. 

The kids decided to do this one this year. We don't have 25 Christmas books yet, but we have enough Christmas and winter books to use. I love the idea of having to go looking for Christmas books to add to our collection. 

2) 25 Bible verses and Christmas poems to read each night. 

3) 25 songs of Christmas

Listen to a new Christmas song each night, learn the lyrics, and sing together as a family. 

4) 25 Christmas prayers

Each night, as a family, say a little prayer for those in need. 

5) 25 Cards of  Christmas

Make 25 homemade cards (or buy nice cards) decorate and write a Christmas note of love, peace, and joy inside. Then hand out to people you meet, one each day until Christmas day. Give to people in the grocery store, walking down the street, or standing on the corner.

6) 25 Goodie Baskets of Christmas

On your own, with friends, or a social group, make 25 baskets of goodies. Place cookies, candy, hot chocolate, mints, little cards or handwritten notes, or whatever you like, into the basket. Decorate and hand deliver to family, friend, neighbors, co-workers, or nursing homes. You can deliver one each day, or make one each day and deliver them on Christmas Day. 

7) 25 Christmas Letters

Write 25 handwritten letters to 25 people. Either hand deliver or send in the mail, one each day until Christmas. 

8) 25 Days of Christmas Joy

 Each day take the time to sit down and write out a joyful Christmas memory or thought. Read the list on Christmas day. Keep the list and re-read each year. 

9) 25 Days of Christmas Crafts

Make a different Christmas craft each day. There are tons of ideas online. Many are simple and can be made with items you already have at home. If you choose, give the craft as a gift to neighbors, friends, or family. 

10) 25 Nights of Homemade Gifts

Spend each night working on homemade gifts for others. You can pick one gift to work on each night, or a different gift each night. 

11) 25 Days of Gifting to those in need

Find a way to donate time, supplies, or food each day, to those in need. This could be as simple as doing something kind each day for someone less fortunate. Visit an elderly person, take a meal to a family who is struggling, donate to your local homeless shelter, volunteer at the soup kitchen, help a neighbor with their housework or grocery shopping, or invite a lonely neighbor or friend over for coffee or lunch. There are so many ways one can help. 

12) 25 Days of Silent Gifts

Each day do something for someone, secretly. Leave a card with a little cash on the desk of a co-worker who you know is struggling, pay a bill or part of a bill for someone ( you can donate to the local utility company and can specify which address you wish to help), leave a bag of groceries and a card (no name) on the doorstep of a neighbor, mail gift cards to those you know could use a little extra help, or leave small gifts wrapped (with note but no name) on another's door step. I know that some of these take a little money, but of you are creative you can come up with plenty of ideas that cost very little or nothing.

13) 25 Days of Christmas Appreciation

Make or buy Christmas cards, write a note of appreciation and a wish for a Merry Christmas and give to local charities, adoption groups, homeless shelters, police stations, fire stations, doctor offices, mail carriers, trash companies, or health care workers. Give the cards to those who care for your community. 

14) 25 Goodies of Christmas

Each night make a Christmas treat. Try to find Christmas treats from all over the world. Enjoy the evening together making goodies and learning the history and origin of the treat each night. 

15) 25 Days to Fill a Stocking

This may be something you do a little each night or you could fill 25 stockings.

Fill one or a few stockings with 25 little items. Depending on who you plan to give it to, fill it accordingly. For a child, fill it with small toys, crayons, candy, gloves, warm hat, and whatever else you can think of. For the homeless, fill with hygiene items, snacks, warm gloves, socks, gift certificates, and a card. For an elderly person, fill with snacks, cards from friends, lotion, little Christmas decorations, and gift certificates.

There is so much one can do to bring a little joy to others for the holidays. All it takes is for one to care for others and give their time to those in need. 

We have chosen a few of these to try, and will hopefully find a couple that can be our 25 Days of Christmas, each year. 

I would love to add to this list and share with others so if you have any ideas please leave a comment with your ideas. 

**Next post: Christmas party ideas for the kiddos. 

30 Days of Being Thankful...days 25-30

Day 25)  Warm clothes and shoes. With the cold temps we've had, I'm very thankful for warm sweaters, fuzzy pants, and slippers. Knowing so many go without these simple things, reminds me to be very grateful for what I have.

Day 26)  I'm thankful for my daughter. From the first time I held her in my arms until now, I have learned so much and never imagined I could love someone so much. Lady Bug is a wonderful young lady and I am proud to call her my daughter.

Day 27) I'm thankful for my middle son, my Wild Thing! He is a ball of energy with the sweetest heart. He makes me stop and look at my children and life in a whole new way. Without him, I would still have a very limited and boring view of life and children in general. I love him very much and am happy to be his mama.

Day 28) I am thankful for my youngest son. He is a perfect mix of his brother and sister with a streak of his own silliness. I love that he is also a very loving and cuddly little boy. He is my baby, and always will be. I am blessed to be his mama.

Day 29) I'm thankful for the family and friends I have been blessed with.

Day 30) And I'm thankful for you all. I have enjoyed sharing our lives, the good and the bad, with you all. Many of you have been faithful readers for a long time, and I have come to feel as though I know you as well through your own blogs. Blog friends from all over the world, for this I am thankful.

30 Days of Being Thankful...

Day 23) I'm thankful for Internet connection and my computer...when it decides to work. I never thought I'd say that but it's true. For a long time, I was so against video games, still am for the most part, and anything techy (is that even a word). I had no interest in the computer or any of the fancy new tech toys. Sadly, I now enjoy the Internet a bit too much. I try to keep a good balance of time on the computer and time off. Now it has become a way to keep in contact with people I would not be able to otherwise, and a way to share with family and friends pictures and stories of our family. It is also now a way for me to once again, begin preparing and putting together a portfolio of photographs for my photography business.

Day 24) I'm thankful for good friends. I am blessed to have a few truly great friends, who have been there for me time and time again over the years. They are there without judgement, without question, and without hesitation. These great friends, know me well and have blessed my life with their friendship.

To have many friends is wonderful, but to have that one or two special friends who are as family, is priceless.

30 Days of Being Thankful...

I'm obviously not very good at keeping up with these posts. In fact I believe I started the 30 day of being thankful last year and didn't do so well then either. So tonight, I'm going to okay catch-up, but I'm not promising that I will do any better in the week to come.

30 Days of Being Thankful...

Day 12) With this very cold weather today (10*) I am thankful for a home, and heat within my home!

Day 13) I'm thankful, even though times are tough for many, us included, we never go without.

Day 14) I complain about having go to work, even though it's not very often (it's more of a dislike of getting dressed up) yet, I'm very thankful to have a job, and to have a job that works with me and basically allows me to come and go as I am able.

Day 15) I am thankful for my safety.
A co-worker of mine, is from the Philipines, and talking with her I have learned that her village, where she grew up and where all of her family is, was wiped out in the typhoon. And since it is a very small village, they have yet to receive any help from the outside. Along with the obvious struggles of living though a typhoon, after a prison was destroyed, now they are not safe as many convicted murders, rapists, and others are now loose and roaming the area.

Day 16) I am thankful that I get to have my children home with me each day. I can't imagine how much I would miss, if they were gone all day.

Day 17) I'm thankful that my youngest still comes and climbs in bed with me. He is very cuddly and as he is my last, I love that he still wants to snuggle with mama!

Day 18) A working wash and dryer. I'm thankful that, at the moment, my washer and dryer are still pluggin along. Each time I put a load of laundry in either one, I wonder if it will be the last. They both have their issues and only work if you bang on the left side twice, lean to the right, and balance
on one foot, just before you turn them on. :-)

Day 19) I'm thankful I have a great man as my husband. He treats me well, and loves all me even with all my craziness.

Day 20) I'm very thankful that my children have a wonderful father! I couldn't have asked for a better man to be their father. He loves them deeply, spends times with them, and is a very involved daddy! Oh, and he spoils them rotten, which they could do without. (smile) Yet, I would rather he spoil the kids then to not be involved or distant.

Day 21) I'm thankful for the freedom to choose my religion and worship as I want. And I'm thankful
that I have the freedom and am able to teach my children about our Chirstian beliefs in our  homeschool.

Day 22) I'm thankful for sweatpants! Yep, sweatpants! I'm one that likes to be comfortable!

These were in no particular order.

Back to normal? And 30 days of being thankful!

One of these days I'm going to stop saying, "When things calm down we are going to (fill in the blank)" because things never seem to calm down. I am beginning to think, I would not be able to function if life was calm and easy. But, on the bright side, I am fully capable of functioning, although not happily, when life is throwing us all kinds of drama. 

With that said, I'm not sure I should put into writing that, I think, maybe, possibly, hopefully, life may be somewhat slowing down for us. That doesn't mean that everything is super peachy and life is perfect. It does mean that, for the moment, we are slowly moving back into a more, dare I say, "normal" lifestyle. 

It seems as though some of the serious medical issues we have been struggling with for nearly two years are subsiding.  My daughter's health issues are finally improving greatly, and I am praying daily, that they continue to improve and not resurface. We are still working to improve these issues, but we are far from the incredibly scary place we were this time last year, or even 4 months ago. I'm not quite ready to share the details of our struggle just yet, but in time, I will be. At that time, I hope to be able to reach out to families dealing with similar issues and be a support for them, as we found it very difficult to locate others going through the same thing.  Talking about our family struggles with our daughter's health to others was helpful, yet, as they had not dealt with the same or even similar issue, it was very difficult for them to understand what we were going through and they just could not relate. Everyone was very unsure of what to do, and many we looked to for help and guidance were just as unsure as we were about what to do and how to help. Including the medical team we worked with. 

Yet, with the Lord's help and guidance, we have made it through this far and continue to move forward each day. 

Along with the improvement of our daughter's  health issues, we are equally as thankful that our 9 year old son is no longer dealing with the health issues he had to deal with last winter. He was found to have what can be a rare and very serious skin condition, that at times is known to affect the internal organs and other things. As it goes, our family never does anything "normal" so our son showing up with a very rare condition, sadly, was not too surprising. We weren't even too concerned until we talked to the doctor, and he mentioned he hadn't seen it (the skin condition) in 15 years, and that the other doctors in his office had never seen it. Then, we worried, and made the terrible mistake of researching it online. I will tell you, please don't research a medical condition online, without choosing your reference sites very carefully. 

After days of research, I was a complete wreck! Not only were we smack in the middle of dealing with my daughter's serious and incredibly stressful health issues, I was now convinced that my son's health problems were going to be life altering. Even though it really was a possibility that he could have some very serious problems, the doctor wasn't ready to be too worried, yet. Luckily, we had a great doctor who took this on and hit it as hard as he could with the meds he felt would make a difference. Thank goodness they did. After only 6 months, Wild Thing (9 year old son) was much better and now has no trouble at all, and will hopefully never deal with it again.  Though it can return, we are not looking too far ahead. Day by day is our plan! 

Which means, that other than Wild Thing having asthma, my kids are...healthy! 

Yay! It's such a blessing to be able to say that I have pretty healthy kids once again. 

I know many families, and read many blogs where so many parents are not able to say their children are healthy. So many of these families worry each day if there will be a tomorrow for their children, and so many have to sit by and do the little they can as they watch their child suffer through medical issues and pain. For these families, I pray for peace and healing. 

After the last year and a half, I no longer take for granted the health of my children. I am very thankful for the three little blessings I have, and for their health and happiness

I am counting this all as day 6,7,8,9,10 and 11, of my 30 days of being thankful! 

 

30 Days of Being Thankful...

Day 5) I am thankful for my health and for the health of my husband and children.

At the moment I have both family and friends with some serious health concerns. It's scary to stop and realize, again, that as amazing as the human body is, it's also very fragile. As I spend time praying for loved ones health to improve, I am reminded that I am blessed to be as healthy as I am.

30 days of being Thankful...

I did this last year, or most of it anyway, and wanted to do it again. I'm a little late getting started but it's better late than never. 

I don't get a chance to post each day, but I will post when I can. 

Since toady is the 4th  I'm going to play catch up. 

30 Day of Being Thankful...

Day 1) 

I'm thankful for the Lord and thankful He loves me, even with all my faults! 

Day 2) 

I'm thankful that I have an amazing husband whom works so hard to care for his family and so that I my stay home and care for and raise our children

Day 3)  

I'm thankful for my three amazing children. I am so blessed to have been given such great and wild kiddos. 

Day 4) 

I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends. I have so many great people in my life that I don't deserve. 

Weekly Wrap Up

 

In our home this week:

As this is the week of Halloween, the kids were talking about, thinking about, and dreaming about Halloween costumes and candy!

This year instead of my making them a costume, they each had a store bought costume. Though it was nice to not have to frantically finish a costume the night before the trick-or-treating frenzy, I did somewhat miss making something special and unique for my kiddos. Even though I didn't enjoy spending the money on their costumes, it was nice to just buy them and be done. The costumes didn't cost a great deal but I'm cheep and would have rather spent a bit on material and made a costume that would last a little longer than a few nights. Even with store bought costumes, the kids had a great time trick-or-treating and now have much more candy than should ever be allowed in the house.  

In our homeschool this week:

There actually hasn't been much school going on this week. Lady Bug and Wild Thing did each have their day at the homeschool enrichment program they attend as well as their fencing lesson earlier this week.

Yet, with one little one not feeling well, daddy home from work, and too many errands and projects going on, school was set on the back burner for the week. Believe or not, no one cried one bit about missing school. Imagine that, homeschool kids happy to play hookie from school too!

Next week, we will be back to our normal routine of school and chores.

Projects we worked on this week:

While hubby was home and the weather was still nice we took the time to get some house projects done. The backyard finally was cleaned out and it no longer looks like the field overrun with dry weeds as tall as the fence. The kids are now actually spending time out back and I'm not worried about them getting lost in the jungle of dead weeds. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but it felt like it.

Hubby also finished the sliding glass door we put in earlier this summer. The walls around it are now smooth and painted to match the rest of the room. 

I even sat down and decided on the kids' Christmas gifts from me this year.

Wild Thing has been asking for more camo pants since he has about worn out the last pair I made him. I have just enough material to make another set of pants complete with multiple pockets and maybe a hat or bandanna or camo pants for his stuffed bear. He will also get another pair of properly fitting church pants. Making pants for him is just about the only way to make sure his pants stay on. I can't find pants long and thin enough for him, so luckily I can sew and make him a few each year.

Lady Bug is getting a pink and green polk-a-dot blanket she's asked me to make for her for awhile now, as well as some more doll clothes for her Madame Alexander dolls. She had a dress pattern picked out but decided to wait until spring. Whew, thank goodness. It was a doozie of a dress, so I'm happy to have that off my shoulders until after the holidays.

My Little Man, is getting a stuffed bear and some pants as well.  I found the cutest stuffed bear pattern recently and can't wait to see how it turns out. He's excited about the bear too, so I really hope it isn't too difficult.   

What I am reading:

Not much other than a few blogs and a page or two of a book here and there. My brain has been going so much, I just can't seem to settle down long enough to really focus on what I'm reading. You don't even want to know how long it's taken me to write this post so far. I just can't seem to focus on any one thing for long.

What the kids are reading:

We actually have a few books going at the moment. We are reading, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Apple and the Arrow, and the boys and I just finished, The Sword in the Tree.

Little Man has been reading very well and picks different books to read each day. I love that he is still excited about reading and that he tries to read everything

Wild Thing is reading Halloween Fraidy-Cat at the moment. He still struggles somewhat with his reading so we are trying to find things he enjoys to read about and can get excited about reading. 

Lady Bug has been reading a variety of books, but not as much as normal, so we are going to have to get back to our daily quiet reading time.

Thought for the week:

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude tword it. Every oppourtunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an oppourtunity."

-J.Sidlow Baxter-

*I am working on a computer that is very grumpy and keeps turning off. So just blame any spelling or grammar errors on the computer, not on the half-awake mom who is just about to crash right here at the table.

Week 6 One Year Nature Study Adventure

Due to a very busy weekend we didn't get to take our nature walk on Friday last week, so we went this Monday. I'm glad we waited because the weather was perfect, it was beautiful, and we walked in the rain for awhile. A short walk in the rain is good for the soul. At least I think so and the kids seemd to think so too!



Week 6 Nature Study adventure
The kids in our first photo each week.

I love that we have kept up on this photo each week. I love having a shot of all my kiddos, and I am excited to see all of these pictures lined up side by side after a full year. I can't imagine how much they will change over this next year.

  

My boys, discussing the pond creatures in depth.
Or maybe just talking about the two turtles sun bathing on the log.

 This week we saw three turtles sun bathing on logs out in the pond. The kids always look for the turtles, but until this week we had not had the pleasure of seeing them.



We found these two hiding among the grass along the creek.
I love the bright green of the duck's head and the green grass in the background.

I love that each week we have seen some wildlife, and that each week it's been a different animal or little creature that we see.



To walk along a gravel path with the swish of the leaves beneath my feet is one of my favorite sounds.

This new path we found a week ago, is quickly becoming my favorite. The overhead covering of trees, the stream along one side, the gravel path and leaves covering the ground, and the way the sun peeks through the trees in just the right places, makes it absolutely beautiful, and perfect. I could walk this path all day.


What is fall with out some falling leaves.
You must take time to toss up an arm full of leaves.

I love this picture. It's not very clear, but the idea comes across and it reminds me how easy it can be to find the joy in each day the way children do. A handful of leaves tossed in the air, and everyone is smiling. The older couple that came up behind us couldn't help but smile and laugh as they watched the kids. 


My little explorers!
They too are really enjoying our weekly nature walks.



Lady Bug and her awesome shadow.



Looking at the changing trees with such a bright blue sky in the background reminded me of how much life changes.
Yet, that no matter what we are facing or struggling with, there is always a big and bright God just above us to help us through. Just like these trees, even though  they are losing their bright and colorful leaves now, they will be renewed and made bright and green and full of life again in the spring.

 

Lady Bug and her baby brother.
Well, 5 year old baby brother that is.

 This picture of Lady Bug and Little Man makes me smile for so many reasons; for the joy it gives me to be so blessed as to watch my children grow, the memories my children make with each other each day, and for many memories like this I wish I could have had with my baby brother. Time is so precious, cherish each moment.

The Grandfather tree.
This is the 100 and some year old tree.

 We love this tree. The kids climb up on Gramps (tree nickname) each week. The picture truly does not do it justice. I could not get the whole tree, which it very large, in the picture no matter where I stood without stepping into the pond. It really reminded me of a grandfather too. The strong center trunk with so many steady and giving branches, many reaching out and covering the smaller trees and walkway as a protective grandfather would do. Even the way the kids are drawn to this great tree and how they are not happy unless they have had their turn sitting in just the right spot...by themself.
Reminds me of my Granddaddy and Grandpa.

We all love the changing of the trees, but I love to see the changes in so many of the different shrubs and plants each week. To me, even in their dull browns, they are just as beautiful as the trees with the golds and reds.

The snow capped mountains through the changing cattails.

As much as I have the itch to move right now, I don't think I could live without waking up each morning and seeing my mountains. Being able to step outside and see them off in the distance, reminds me this is home.

Gramps, has a tattoo of sorts.

 After we found this heart carved into the tree, I found myself wondering how long it had been there and if  J &C were still together, and what their story was. If trees could talk...


Our tree.



We end our nature walks with a stop at "our" tree. Though I think Gramps is more our tree than this one. Yet, I still make sure we all stop and notice the changes from week to week.

Another wonderful nature walk.

Six weeks and still enjoying each trip.

This may be the one project in our homeschool that will benefit us the most.

Weekly Update...a little late

 

                                  

In our home this week:

This last week we have been going, going, going! I miss the days of staying home and having no where to go and nothing important to do, at least to do outside of the home. The kids are enjoying being busy because it is due to their activities that we are so busy.

At the moment the kids are all enjoying Kung Fu twice a week, and the two oldest, Lady Bug and Wild Thing are enjoying taking Fencing classes once a week. Add in Cub Scouts, the kids’ homeschool enrichment program they attend once a week, and our homeschool group and we are running quite a bit. Hopefully we can scale things down here soon. This mama is ready to stay home and just enjoy our days reading and homeschooling.

In our homeschool this week:

This week we wrote and published the first edition of our family newspaper. The kids and I decided a week or two ago that we were going to begin a new project to encourage the kids’ writing. I thought that a family newspaper would be fun and still give the kids some great writing and editing practice.

Each month the kids will spend a few days to one week writing, editing, and publishing their articles for our paper. In our paper so far we have, of course the front page where the kids will write a brief report of what they want to share about our life. Then a sports page where the kids will write about their Kung Fu, Fencing, or other sport like activities. We also have a school page where the kids write about our homeschooling.  Next, we have an animal news page, where the kids write about our pets or include interesting animal facts, and then we have our nature study page, where the kids write about our adventures with our one year nature study.

My youngest has the honor of writing the weather page, where he tells about the recent weather and then predicts what the upcoming weather will be like. For now he mostly dictates to me what he wants to say and I write it for him. But as we move forward he will be writing more and more of his own weather page, as well as helping on the other pages. Last but not least, we have a comic’s page. Lady Bug is our lead cartoonist and has created a very cute cat comic character that will be our main comic for the time being.

We have shared our first edition with a few family members and offered for those interested, to subscribe to our family newspaper.

On the healthy side of life this week:

Sadly, there is little healthy news to report this week. I have still not managed to get my sleepy self out of bed earlier than the boys, which is very early, so that I can get out and walk. So again, this will be my goal for the upcoming week. Wish me luck. Or maybe I should ask you to wish me good sleep, so that I can wake up rested and ready to workout.

I do have to report that I am still, nearly 3 months, free of caffeine! No soda and no coffee! I am also working on finding a tea that I like to replace my morning coffee. So far I’m finding that I’m still not a tea person. I will keep trying, because I do love having my hot drink in the morning.

On my reading list this week:

I have been so busy that I have not had my reading time each day as I would like. As a result, I am now in the middle of a handful of books. Normally, I try to limit myself to bouncing between two books. Yet, I have found myself with books I have started all over the house. Almost as if I have a different book for every room in the house. I need some quiet reading time soon so that I can finish a few books and concentrate on just one or two.

The book that is mention-worthy is another homeschool book I recently found, “The Joyful Home Schooler,” by Mary Hood, Ph.D.

For those just beginning the homeschool journey it’s a great book to look at before you start, if you’re a seasoned homeschooler, it’s still a great book. I agree a great deal with her thoughts on homeschooling and the way she educates her children.

She is also the author of, “The Relaxed Home School.”

 Thoughts for this week:

Go to bed early! Get a good night sleep! Then get up BEFORE the kids, so that you can have a few moments to your self!

I used to do this each day. I would get up before everyone else, read my Bible for a bit, and then go running. Looking back, this was the time when I felt the most relaxed and happy, not to mention how much healthier and thinner I was.

I think it’s time to make “me” time a morning a priority again!

Weekly Update

*Note:
As I am now left to write many of these posts on my Ipad due to my computer being headed to it's final resting place, please ignore all the odd writing, extra words in random places, and horrible grammar. This device is not kind to blog posting, and often has a mind of it's own and "corrects" my writing...without my permission!

Outdoors: 
We have enjoyed yet another trip to our nature center for week 5 of our one year nature study adventure. There are no pictures today, since I have not had time to download them off my camera. But I will make sure to share soon.

This nature study, or nature afternoon, is turning out to be more fun and interesting that I had thought it would be. I originally thought it would just be fun and educational and a great way to get us outdoors, but it's proving to be much more. We all are seeing so many new things we have never noticed before. This nature center is one we have been to many times, yet, I am finding that we didn't really "see" very much of it at all. We would wonder through and look around, but rarely did we stop and really look for or notice the incredible beauty and detail this place has to offer.

Today on our nature study, we ended up with some much cooler temps and some rain, but it still turned out to be a great time. We even discovered and enjoyed walking on a new trail we never noticed before. Along this new trail were a few other trails we plan to explore in the up coming weeks. This makes me think of how many trails we will find and how well we will know this place before the year is up. So much fun!

The kids are enjoying it just as much as I am, in fact I believe that Wild Thing is enjoying it the most. He absolutely loves going and is so excited each time he finds something new or recognizes some change in something he already learned about. Homeschooling at its best.

In Our Homeschool: 
The last two weeks have been a bit challenging. Hubby's work schedule has changed drastically, and he has been putting in a great deal of hours. Everyone is ready to pull each others hair out trying to adjust and figure out this odd new schedule. So, school has been a little different. Seem days are "normal" and others are, not! I was really frustrated at first, but I have reminded myself over and over  that this is the beauty of homeschooling, we simply work our life and school together.

I am again trying to get back to our more relaxed homeschool style, trying to let God guide our days instead of a us being ruled by a schedule or fancy chart someone else wrote for their kids or curriculum. And no, this doesn't translate into being lazy and not wanting to teach my kids. It's just our way of making homeschool and family living an all in one package deal, and trust me there is still plenty of learning going on!


New This Week:
The kids, Lady Bug and Wild Thing, began to take fencing lessons once a week through their homeschool enrichment program they go to each week. I knew they'd have fun, but oh my goodness, Wild Thing is over the top excited about this fencing class. He has decided, for now, that he wants to be a professional fencer (not sure the actual title) when he grows up. He is also convinced that he NEEDS all this fancy fencing equipment, which is not cheep at all!  He has even been looking up prices on Ebay for kids fencing gear.

Changes Needed: 
Our sleep schedule. Our sleeping schedule and meals are so crazy at the moment. With hubby's work hours and all of our activities we are getting up late, going to bed late, and running all over, sometimes all day, and I don't like it! As much as I like routine and schedules, you'd think I'd be able to keep us on a normal routine, but it seems as though all I keep up is the craziness that is our life. But I am still thankful for all this craziness, it means we are still alive and together as a family.

On The Healthy Side Of Life:
It has now been over two months since I gave up caffeine! No soda and no coffee for two months. I am now a recovering caffeine drinker. (smile) I have pushed though the first few weeks of headaches and wondering if giving up my morning coffee was worth it, but I am happy to say that it is very worth it.

I am now looking to try some herbal teas, since they have no caffeine, and taste less tea-like. I've never really liked tea but I really miss having a hot cup of something in the morning. If I don't work to fix this craving before winter gets here, I know I will find myself slowly creeping back into the coffee routine on those cold winter mornings. Which is something I don't care to start up again.

So this is where you come in.
I'd love to know what types of tea you enjoy (no caffeine) and what you add to them if anything. And which teas are the best for your health? Let me know your thoughts.

Thought For This Week:
Stop working so hard for tomorrow that you miss the gifts of today! Take a step back from planning, schedules, work, school, chores, shopping, cooking, and anything else, and just look at all the gifts in your life. I bet we would all find more than we would expect, if we took time to really look around.

God gives us one life down here. Don't waist it!

Learning to simply be and enjoy each moment!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough has enough of its own worries. Today has enough trouble of its own" Matthew 6:34

“You've got this life and while you've got it, you'd better kiss like you only have one moment, try to hold someone's hand like you will never get another chance to, look into people's eyes like they're the last you'll ever see, watch someone sleeping like there's no time left, jump if you feel like jumping, run if you feel like running, play music in your head when there is none, and eat cake like it's the only one left in the world!” 

― C. JoyBell C.

After the recent medical issues this summer, I was told by my cardiologist to read a few books on relaxation and meditating. While I started and found the two books he recommend were just not for me, I did skim the books and discovered a few things that are useful. 

I am not a meditating kind of person, I just can't sit still or focus on something (or nothing in order to meditate) for more than a few minutes...ok, seconds. Which is the problem, and the reason I ended up in a cardiologist office being told to RELAX! But after skimming the books I did find that I, and most moms, are far too busy trying to keep everything in order that we do not stop and just take in and "live" in the moment. Not meaning to be careless and live moment to moment, but to actually "live" and experience each moment. 

As parents and a society as a whole, most of us spend far too much time planning for the future or living in the past that we don't focus our attention on today or right now. We spend much of our time thinking about when, what if, and someday. So much so that often we don't truly enjoy these precious moments we are given...right now! 

As parents, I think it worse. Not truly enjoying this day effects more than just us! It affects our children and spouses as well. As a mom, I know this is true for myself. I often get so caught up in trying to keep things clean, schedules on track, homeschool school lessons ready, homeschool fun club planned and active, cub scouts actives lined up, doctor and therapy appointments set and kept, household chores done, and anything else that comes up, in check according to how I think it should be done. But spending so much time and energy on everything else, drastically takes precious time away from the most important things in my life...God and my family. 

I am slowly learning, and relearning that it's ok to say no and to not pile my plate so high with commitments that I can't even breath myself. I still typically have too much going on and I still catch myself saying yes to things I shouldn't. But I am getting better, and slowly finding it easier to say no to others and yes more often here at home. And home is where the focus needs to be! 

Anyway, after skimming through the books, I have tried to make more of an effort to 

truly "be" in the moment that is now. Whether it be playing with the kids, really focusing on hubby, or spending time on myself, I'm trying to stop and put everything else out of my mind and really be there and enjoy that moment. God has given us moments we will never have again, and to think that I am not fully taking those in and seeing the blessing that they are, hurts and makes me mad. 

So, I don't have some new complicated plan to enjoy life and my family more, I am simply trying to take things as they come and actually LIVE each day and each moment one at a time! 

Life is not about tomorrow, next week, or even 5 minutes from now! Life is about right 

now, right here! No one is promised tomorrow! A lesson we all know far too well, yet forget most of the time.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” 

― E.M. Forster