Friday, February 10, 2012

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Trust



I have to admit trust is not an easy word for me. It has always come hard for me and I'm not even sure why. Maybe, in part, because I know how fallible I am. Maybe because there have been too many times I've trusted the wrong people, only to find myself let down. I've found myself building walls around my heart. But the same walls that keep people out so that I will not get hurt also keep out the relationships and love that I need.

But there is One that I know I can trust to never let me down. And as I trust Him He is teaching me to once again open my heart to others. He's teaching me it's okay to take risks and let others in, because even though we are all human and sometimes fail each other, He will always be there to lean on.

On Fridays we just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Won’t you join us? (<—Tweet this!)
    1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link up invite others to join in. 3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Thursday February 9, 2012

For Today

Outside my window . . . bright sunshine and 36 degrees.

I am thinking . . . that some mornings just need a do over button.

I am thankful . . . that God loves me and never gives up on me no matter how many times I have to start over.

In the kitchen . . . not much at the moment. The preschoolers will be helping me make their sandwiches for lunch later.

I am creating . . . still working on the braided rug.



I am going . . . nowhere. I'm so glad I get to stay at home all day today. Monday Michael had physical therapy, Tuesday was a follow up with the doctor to adjust meds, and Wednesday was church.

I am wondering . . . if we're going to get any good snows this winter. I would love to have at least one good snow.

I am hoping . . . in the Lord.

I am reading . . . Heaven is for Real. The kids and I are really enjoying this book.

I am looking forward to . . . our read aloud time this afternoon.

I am learning . . . what sometimes feels like the same lessons over and over again.

Around the house . . . Austin is outside with the little kids, Amanda is folding laundry, the baby is in the baby swing about to go to sleep.

I am pondering . . . And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. More gladly therefor will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

A favorite quote for today . . . sometimes the littlest things are the hardest to take. You can sit on a mountain more comfortably than a tack. ~ Author Unknown

A few of my favorite things . . . sunshine shining in my kitchen windows, watching birds at the bird feeder.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . I need to make next weeks menu plan and grocery list as well as lesson plans for all the kids.

A peek into my day . . . the view outside my kitchen window.



 

~ Linking Here ~

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Morning Musing Over Coffee - The Coin of Life




Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once. ~ Lillian Dickson


How true this is. Reading this quote makes me want to look carefully at how I am spending my life to make sure I am really focusing on things that are important.


And how do I know what is important? There are so many things that clamor for my attention and some days it's hard to know exactly which ones are the really important ones.


Here are a few thoughts that help me decide what I need to spend my time on.


Prayer and meditating on God's Word are always at the top of the list. I'm not saying that I spend anywhere near enough time on these two things, it's definitely a work in progress, but when allocating my time I know these two are very important. For me it's always a challenge to make this time happen in my rather unpredictable schedule. Michael has many early morning hours when he has a hard time sleeping. The time snuggling with him, waiting for him to fall asleep again has often become a blessed prayer time for me.


People come next. People are always a priority with God. The Bible itself is a testimony of our high priority with Him. There are people God has placed in my life that I need and want to be there for. My husband, my children, children in my care and their families are first on my list. I need to be available to listen, to guide, to laugh and cry with and learn from all of them.


After these two high priorities I then look at the passions God has given me. For me, personally, these are writing, teaching and creating. God has placed these strong interests within me for a reason. Erma Bombeck said "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." This really resonates with me and is my desire as well.


Each day is a new adventure in walking out my desire to spend (maybe invest would be a better word) my life in a way that brings God glory and allows me to be the person He created me to be.


This verse says it well -

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You in entrust my life. ~ Psalm 143:8


~ Linking Here ~


Our Simple Farm



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Pizza Pasta

I love the simplicity and convenience of casseroles and one of our favorites recently is Pizza Pasta.


2 (28 oz) cans pasta sauce
1 lb dry pasta shells, cooked and drained
1 lb turkey bacon, browned, drained and cut into small pieces
8 oz pepperoni, cut into small pieces
2 cups shredded cheese

Mix all the ingredients, cover and bake at 350 degrees F for one hour.
This recipe is very customizable by changing the kinds of pasta sauce and cheese used. Additional add-ins like onions, peppers or different meats could also be used.

~ Linking Here ~


SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff, Sharing Time, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, So Sweet Sundays, Sunday Showcase, Not “Baaad” Sunday , Think Pink Sundays, Sunday Linky Party, DIY Project Parade, Savory Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sew Darn Crafty,{K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash, MONDAY – I Made It, More the Merrier, Inspire Me Mondays, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Motivate Me Monday, Sharing Monday, Making a Home, Muffin Monday, TUESDAY - Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Confessionals , Let's Do Brunch, Teach Me Tuesdays , Tip Me Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Link-Up, Made by Me Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Foodie Wednesday THURSDAY – Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, Bake with Bizzy , Link It Up Thursday FRIDAY – Fridays on Remodelaholic, Feasting in Fellowship Fridays, Fridays Unfolded, Sweet Tooth Friday,SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party, Sweets For a Saturday, Get Schooled Saturday

Our Simple Farm



Morning Musing Over Coffee - Layers of Praise



Sandwich every bit of criticism between two thick layers of praise. ~ Mary Kay Ash

I really need to remember this today, especially with the kids. It's so easy to constantly correct, thinking that I am helping them to learn and grow, and forgetting how tender their hearts are and how much they need to hear positive things from me. So my goal today is to give twice as much positive feedback as negative, to make twice as many statements of praise as I do of correction.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with grace and love which was in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace; which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Timothy 1:9

If God can extend this grace to me, in spite of all my mistakes and faults, surely, with His help, I can do the same for those around me.
~ Linking Here ~
 
Our Simple Farm
 

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Monday February 6, 2012

For Today

Outside my window . . . it is dark and windy with a temperature of 41 degrees F.

I am thinking . . . of questions and observations to discuss with Michael's doctor tomorrow.

I am thankful . . . for hugs.

In the kitchen . . . I put Overnight Grits in the slow cooker last night before I went to bed and it was ready for breakfast this morning. For lunch I made a variation of this Vegetable Beef Soup but I made it on the stove instead of in the slow cooker and used turkey instead of ground beef. Amanda made dinner this evening and it was almost ready when Michael and I got home from his physical therapy.

I am creating . . . somehow the last week or so I just haven't been very creative. I have ideas, and projects I've started, but I just haven't found the time or energy to persue them. I will soon though.

I am going . . . nowhere anymore today other than bed. I took Lauren to preschool and picked her up again this morning. This afternoon Michael had physical therapy.

I am wondering . . . if making a new schedule will help everything that is supposed to get done in a single day actually happen? Probably not but it always makes me feel better to sit down and put things into nice little time slots. Now if life would just stay in it's nicely organized spaces I would be just fine.

I am hoping . . . that Austin finishes reorganizing his room soon.

I am reading . . . Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. I'm reading this to Austin and Amanda. We didn't look the book we started last week so we switched to this one today.

I am looking forward to  . . . a good night of sleep.

I am learning . . . to claim the work that Christ has finished.

Around the house . . . the dishwasher is running, CJ and Michael are asleep and Doug, Austin and Amanda and I are all using our laptops.

I am pondering . . . Grace and how it applies to me personally. How I receive it and how I extend it to others, especially my children.

A favorite quote for today . . . There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. ~ Alexander Woollcott

A few of my favorite things . . . chocolate peppermint coffee, sweet tea, hot soup.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . I'm hoping to sit down with CJ sometime this week and teach him to knit. He really wants to learn and he bought yarn and I bought more knitting needles Saturday.

A peek into my day . . . I had a photo I was going to share today but due to technical difficulties it's just going to have to wait until another day.




Morning Musing Over Coffee - Knowing His Word


 
 
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ~ Psalm 19:7-8
 
 
 What does God's word - according to Psalm 19:7-8 - accomplish in our lives? This was the question in our Sunday School lesson yesterday.
 
I had never really noticed these verses before but there is a lot packed into them. There are four statements here.
 
1. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
 
Psalm 1 describes the person who meditates on God's word as being like a tree planted by a river of water, receiving constant refreshment. There is nothing else so vital to the human soul as the refreshment that comes from God alone, through His Word. It is the perfect refreshment.
 
2. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
 
We never have to wonder if the counsel found in God's Word can be relied on. It is faultless and trustworthy. It will never lead us down the wrong path. As long as we're following the instructions and counsel found in His Word we don't have to worry whether we are wise. His statutes make even the simple wise.
 
3. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
 
This joy that comes from following the precepts of God, is a deep abiding joy that transcends what is going on around us at any given moment. This a joy that comes from knowing we are His child and we are in His care. No matter what else happens, He is with us and we can trust Him and His Word.
 
4. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
 
I think is my favorite statement in these two verses. Psalm 119:105 says "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." It is so much easier to walk when we have light to see where we're going. God's word provides that light, showing us where the path is clear and safe, and where there are stumbling blocks and pitfalls to avoid.
 
Not only does His word help us to see the path we are to follow, but it also gives us an inner light that shines to help others see the way as well.
 
 But unless we take the time to know His Word it won't do us one bit of good. If we are not reading and meditating on the life giving Word He has given us, we cannot expect to see these things in our lives that these two verses describe. Knowing God's Word is so vital to our daily wellbeing and our walk with Him.
 
~ Linking Here ~
 


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Menu Plan - Sunday February 5 - Saturday February 11

BREAKFASTS
SUNDAY: Sausage, Egg and Toast Cups, Bananas, Orange Juice
MONDAY: Overnight Grits, Yogurt, Bananas, Milk
TUESDAY: Crockpot Sausage and Egg Casserole, Pineapple, Juice
WEDNESDAY: Breakfast Bread Pudding, Bananas, Juice
THURSDAY: Apple Pie Slow Cooker Oatmeal, Hard Boiled Eggs, Juice
FRIDAY: Waffles, Sausage, Applesauce, Milk
SATURDAY: Biscuit Bowls w/Eggs and Sausage Gravy, Pineapple, Juice

Lunches
SUNDAY: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Pork Roast w/Potatoes and Carrots, Applesauce, Biscuits
MONDAY: Vegetable Beef Soup, Veggies and Dip, Muffins
TUESDAY: Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Rolls, Veggies and Dip
WEDNESDAY: Hot Dogs, Buns, French Fries, Fruit Cocktail (Amanda)*
THURSDAY: Vegetable Beef Soup, Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Veggies and Dip
FRIDAY: Sloppy Joe Sandwiches, Corn, Peaches
 (Austin)*
SATURDAY: Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches, Smoothies

DINNERS
SUNDAY: Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (CJ)*
MONDAY: Chicken Patties, Cheesy Shells, Corn, Peaches (Amanda)*
TUESDAY: Pizza, Salad, Peaches (Austin)*
WEDNESDAY: Dinner at Church
THURSDAY: Chicken Chow Mein over Rice, Salad
FRIDAY: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread (CJ)*

*Austin, Amanda and CJ each plan, shop for and prepare two meals each week.

~ Linking Here ~


 



Saturday, February 4, 2012

Tot School - Astronauts and Space Theme

This week we began a new theme - Astronauts and Space.

Here are some of the resources we used and fun things we did.

*All resources marked with an asterisk can be found at Homeschool Creations in the Astronaut Preschool Pack.

** All resources marked with two asterisks can be found at 1+1+1=1 in the Solar Sytem Preschool ( & Beyond) Pack.


Morning Circle Time
Bible Story - The Children from The Beginner's Bible, Jesus Loves Children, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-Planets**, Kimmy Schwimmy - I'm Gonna Be an Astronaut, The Planets Song, Sign Language for Kids - Make, Weather Watch

Space & Astronaut Themed Activities
Space Memory Game**




Prewriting Sheets*



Space Sorting Pages**




Rocket Color Books*





Other Activities

Alphabet Bingo



Number Bingo




Indoor Basketball






Enjoying an unseasonably warm day outside.



~ Linking Here ~

Homeschool Log

AUSTIN AND AMANDA

MATH

AUSTIN
1. Introduction
2. Growing Patterns: Flowers
3. Growing Patterns: Building Blocks
4. Growing Patterns: Artwork
5. Growing Patterns: Happy Faces
6. Summary
7. Train Game

AMANDA
1. Introduction
2. What is a Tessallation?
3. Identifying Tessallations
4. Covering a Surface
5. Creating a Tessallation

ENGLISH
AUSTIN AND AMANDA
Video: Basic English Grammar - The Simple Past Tense #1 (8:14)
Video: Basic English Grammar - The Simple Past Tense #2 (6:03)
Video: Basic English Grammer - The Simple Past Tense #3 (10:57)
Video: Basic English Grammer - The Simple Past Tense #4 (10:49)

AUSTIN AND AMANDA
SCIENCE
Video: Show Me Science - Gravity and Force (2:40)
Video: Show Me Science - Magnetic Force at Work (1:45)
Video: Conceptual Physics - Centripetal Force (2:40)
Video: Conceptual Physics - Calculating Friction Forces (1:50)
Video: Centripetal Force Demonstration (1:05)
Video: Video on Buoyancy (4:50)
Video: Buoyancy - Archimedes Principle (7:45)
Video: Four Fundamental Forces (10:30)

AUSTIN AND AMANDA
SOCIAL STUDIES
Video: History of Farming (3:26)
Video: Making History - Agriculture (5:20)
Video: American Agriculture (2:13)
Video: Agriculture and Food Systems (4:20)
Video: Farm Machinery Through the Ages (6:10)
Video: A Day on the Wheat Harvest (9:24)
Video: The Future of Food - Introduction (9:49)
Video: From the Farm to the Fridge Part 1 (5:32)

LITERATURE
Leah Mordecai: A Novel by Belle Kendrick Abbott - Chapters 1- 4

MICHAEL
MATH
Worksheets - Trace and Color #2 - 4
Pattern Recognition - 3 Pages

READING
-AN WORD FAMILY
Two -an word family worksheets
Review Flashcards
-an word family lesson from Starfall (3 times)

SIGHT WORDS
SING, SIT, US, JUMP
Reveiw and act out flashcards (4 times)
Sight word memory match game (4 times)

OTHER
Letter Hh online book from Starfall (4 times)
Letter Sounds Worksheets - Letters Ww, Xx and Yy

SCIENCE: Earth and Space (Book)
The Rocky Planets
Giant Balls of Gas
Faraway Planets
Bits and Pieces in Space

SOCIAL STUDIES
Worksheet: All About Me (Self-Awareness)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Beyond Imagination



"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" - the things God has prepared for those who love Him-" 1 Corinthians 2:9

This week has been full. Full of appointments - two therapy appointments, one at the school, probably another one at the pediatricians office today to check an ear that is bothering a little one. It's been full of cooking meals, teaching homeschool lessons, cleaning up messes, playing games, listening to music. Friends have been in crisis and needing prayer. A friend from Florida called and we talked for an hour catching up on things and laughing. Like I said, the week has been full. Full of good things and some not so good.

And during all this activity, in the back of mind I've had the sense that something wonderful is being formed through all these seemingly disjointed and disparate parts of my life. I know God is working and I'm excited to see what is coming next.

And this verse is not only for me but each of His children. As we allow Him to direct our steps, we know He loves us and is working in our lives for our good. And the result is a life beyond our imagination, bringing glory to God.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Poor Decisions, Consequences, and a Loving God



Last night after his shower one of my kids came out of the bathroom with two bald spots on his head, one on each side. They weren't huge but they were definitely noticable. I questioned him about them only to recieve complete denial that anything was wrong and that he had done anything. After some investigation I found the evidence in a razor so I asked again. Still complete denial. Finally, confronted with the evidence he admitted that he had decided to try to cut his hair.

Torn between the desire to laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing, and the reality of needing to make a decision on consequences, mostly because of the lying, I postponed the rest of the discussion until after school today.

But this morning, as I was sitting here thinking that kids do the strangest things, I was struck with the realization that sometimes God must think the same thing about me. When I jump into a situation without really thinking it through, forgetting to ask Him for guidance, I often end up with some really strange results. And then, knowing that I've messed up but not wanting to admit it, it's tempting to just try to plow through, insisting that everything is just fine, making things even worse in the process.

And as I have to work through the consequences of my poor choice, I have to wonder if God chuckles just a little, not because I am having trouble, but simply because of the absurdity of the whole situation.

I am thankful that, even though I sometimes make poor decisions that in retrospect are just plain silly, God loves me anyway. And lovingly and gently He helps me through the results of my decisions and back to where I need to be.

Now, to decide how to handle this little incident. I guess I need to pray for some wisdom. And to remember that we're all human and make silly choices sometimes.