The Walnut Acre Daily - Monday November 18, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
    I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. ~ Psalm 7:17

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

We enjoyed a lot of fun games, stories, crafts and other activities today. I've been going to my sister's house some mornings to do our morning learning with them. It gives my kids a change of pace and other kids to work with and (hopefully) her a little bit of a break as well. Today was one of those days and we had a lot of fun. Then this afternoon at home we did some more work. 

Michael needed to make a turkey craft for Cub Scouts this evening so we I printed some turkey feather templates for all the kids to color. 

We played lots of games today. 

Cayson and Lauren doing kindergarten homework and Austin working on his math assignment. 

Storytime is one of my favorite parts of a day and we enjoyed quite a few books today.

This evening both Austin and Michael worked on Scout assignments before dinner. I love how serious Austin looks. He's trying to figure out how to put some of his pictures together to make a story to fill one of the requirements for an art merit badge. 

Here are some of the games and books we enjoyed today.

  

 

   FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

It's been a rough few weeks for our pets. Amanda's favorite pet rat died, three chickens were caught and killed by a neighbors dog and one of them was her favorite hen given to her by a friend, and then Sunday her cat died from cancer. It did me good to see her enjoying some time with her other cat who is a snuggler.

OUT AND ABOUT

After lunch Michael and I went over to the church so I could do some work in the prayer room. It's my job to make sure things are kept organized and up to date. The last few weeks I have really fallen behind there and one our pastors took over some of what I was supposed to be doing. So we went over some of the things he had been working on so I would be up to date and able to take from here. 

Monday evenings we have boy scouts. We usually all go except Amanda but Doug wasn't feeling very good tonight so he didn't go. He made it to the parking lot but was feeling so bad he decided to go back home and go to bed. I stayed with Michael for his pack meeting. He had a full meeting. He was part of a Thanksgiving Turkey skit, received recognition for achievements over the last month and for helping with the food drive, and got to vote for the the theme for the next Blue and Gold Banquet. 

ON MY MIND

It's been a long, busy, good day. At the moment I really don't have much on my mind besides getting some sleep. 

TODAY'S QUOTE

Don't think you're on the right road just because it's a well-beaten path. ~ Author Unknown

~ LINKING HERE ~
Tuesday - Titus 2sday

The Walnut Acre Daily - Wednesday November 6, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~1 Samuel 16:7

WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER

We had a good time today. We played lots of games and worked on reading and math together. UNO was a big favorite and the kids also enjoyed alphabet bingo, dominoes and memory.

Amanda and I have been thinking it would be fun to repaint and decorate but everything seems so expensive. Then we started thinking about all our stashes of spare change and how quickly they could add up. So Amanda has been finding, counting and rolling change in preparation for a trip to Lowe's. We are planning to start with the kitchen.

IN THE KITCHEN

Today has been a simple day in the kitchen - cereal, sandwiches and fruit for  breakfast and lunch. For dinner this evening I made a cheesy grits casserole.

ON MY MIND

My mind feels numb right now. The shock of my mother's passing last week has my mind in some sort of strange autopilot. We have been blessed with an outpouring of support in so many ways - prayers, food and help with the kids have been much appreciated and have been a major help. 

TODAY'S QUOTE

I have always the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. ~ John Locke

The Walnut Acre Daily Thursday October 10, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

~ Proverbs 19:20-21

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

Today has been wonderful. I was able to take a large part of the day and enjoy some time to just work in my planner, tweak our schedules, do some blog work and simply soak in the peace and quiet. A friend took the kids for me from 9:00 AM until 3:20 PM and I went to the library and for the day. The library is one of my very favorite places to simply relax and regroup. My favorite library even has a little place where patrons can make a cup of coffee or tea and sip while they work. Thank you so much Karen for letting me have this time today.

Later this afternoon I took Amanda to the SPCA so she could work with some of the dogs there. This is still a very important part of her week that she looks forward to very much.

Later this evening is my weekly hour in the Community Prayer Room at church with my friend Tammy. 

IN THE KITCHEN

Breakfast this morning was simple - cereal with milk, bananas and juice. Michael helped me put meatballs for meatball subs in the slow cooker before I left this morning and that was what they had for lunch, along with some applesauce. On my way home from the SPCA this evening I stopped at McDonald's and bought chicken sandwiches for our dinner. 

ON MY MIND

There has been a lot on my mind lately - but one of the things in the forefront has been how much I tend to think I can do things on my own and that no one will understand some of the things I struggle with. But as I've opened up more and talked to more people I've realized how important it is to share with others instead of trying to walk alone. Of course, God is always with me, but He also made us to be in relationship with each other. Anxiety and OCD has made life very difficult for me for a large part of this year (and has been a large part of the reason my blogging has been so sporadic lately) but it has also made me grow in a lot of ways. God has used this time that I've worked on getting past these things to teach me so much about His love for me and His desire for me to stop trying to walk through things by myself. 

READING AROUND THE WEB

A Balanced Life is a Beautiful Life at The Welcoming House

How to Plant a Fall Garden at New Life On A Homestead

TODAY'S QUOTE

As long as you live, keep learning how to live. ~Seneca

An Inspiring Video, Morning at the Park and More - The Walnut Acre Daily Wednesday August 14, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Be strong and take heart,

    all you who hope in the Lord.

~ Psalm 31:24

WORKING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

A number of the kids I've had here this summer are going to start school next week, so we're trying to get a few fun activities in this week before they leave. Today we went to their favorite park - Ridgeview Park. We've been to several different parks this summer but this one is their favorite. And this trip to the park went much better than the last one we took when it seemed like everything went wrong. 

We took cheese and balogna sandwiches, oranges, blueberries and cheese puffs for lunch and had water to drink. We usually eat in the pavilion but Michael wanted to eat at this picnic table this time.

After lunch we took a walk along the river . . . 

. . . over the bridge . . . 

 . . . and into the woods. 

It was a really good morning and I'm going to miss the kids who are going to school next week. We're still going to have weekly outings with the kids who are here after school starts, although probably just one a week instead of two. I'm not planning to start our homeschool work until after Labor Day so we'll have a couple weeks to catch our breath and get some things done around here before we dive into the school year. 

ON MY MIND

This video was played during the service at church this evening and I was so moved by it.

 God has a plan for everyone and as long as you are here on this earth there is a reason. Never, ever, ever think that you are not good enough or that there is nothing of value that you can bring to the world.

READING AROUND THE WEB

Scheduling: Three Tips to Prioritizing Your Day at The Busy Mom

When You're Tired of Waiting at Lisa-Jo Baker

TODAY'S QUOTE

Everyone is the age of their heart. ~ Guatemalan Proverb

~ Linking Here ~
Wednesday - Encourage One Another, Walking Redeemed, Thursday - It's a Party, 

Bacon Cheese Baked Potatoes, Musings on Moses and SPCA Volunteer Time - The Walnut Acre Daily Tuesday August 13, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.

For what You have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of Your faithful people.
And I will hope in Your name,
    for Your name is good.

~ Psalm 52:8-9

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

It was rainy this morning so we played inside. The kids wanted to play memory so we played three games. 

Jase and Christopher are both a little young for playing Memory so they hung in the living room with Austin. 

This afternoon Amanda and I went to the SPCA again so she could work with the animals.

Here are Rosie and Bailey again. They expect her to give them some attention every week. 

And this is Short Stack, a sweet dog although a little shy. 

IN THE KITCHEN

Stuffed Baked Potatoes

I cooked these potatoes, then scooped out the insides and mixed the potatoes with chive and onion cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cooked crumbled bacon, margarine, salt and pepper. I didn't use exact measurements but they turned out really, really good. We had these for dinner and I also put one in Doug's lunch for tomorrow. 

OTHER

ON MY MIND

I was listening to Exodus on BibleGateway while waiting for Michael to go to sleep and was hit by a thought. As I was listening to the story of Moses I realized that there were long stretches of time in his life that are not spoken of. There was the span of time from his adoption by the Egyptian princess to the time he was a young man and stopped the taskmaster who was beating an Isrealite. Then there was another long span of time between the time he fled Egypt and the time he was called by God from the burning bush. So, what was he doing all that time? The Bible doesn't tell us. I wonder if he ever wondered, as day followed day, if there was a purpose in his life. I wonder if Moses ever thought he was just another person, living out his days, having lost all his dreams. I wonder if just when he thought there was really no hope at all he looked up and saw a burning bush and realized that his life was really just beginning. 

I wonder . . . 

READING AROUND THE WEB

God Loveth a Cheerful Mother at Time Warp Wife

Where Does Unschooling Happen? A Look at Our Learning Spaces at Our School At Home

Flower Art using Old Book Pages at My Flower Journal

TODAY'S QUOTE

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble. ~ Rudyard Kipling

~ Liking Here ~
Monday - CraftOManiac Monday Link Up Wednesday - Cast Party Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Adorned From Above, Homemaking Link-Up, Fluster's Creative Muster, Encourage One Another Thursday - It's a Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Saturday - Your Great Idea