Home Sweet Simple Home

Praise Him in the Storms

We are doing alright here.
We still don't know what's going on with the finances.
My family is in the midst of planning my grandfather's memorial service.
I am to be writing the obituary.
And we're leaving in a few days for our trip to the Creation Museum.
So I guess I will continue to be scarce in my postings.
No menu plan to post today as we are going to be leaving soon and are working at eating leftovers.
Mr. Steady was able to purchase 3 doz. eggs last week for 99 cents/doz. So we've been eating a lot of egg dishes plus we received some free bread last week.
A friend of mine is astonished at how I can feed my family so cheaply and her husband has asked Mr. Steady and I to share how we do it.
The last few days have indeed been difficult but there have been good times too. I am  thankful for God holding us up through it all. I know that the God who ushered my grandfather into heaven is the God of my finances and He will see us  through. Something else--- as a surprise combined Mother/Father's day present- my parents bought us a new-to-us couch and love seat. Our couch was in deplorable condition and of course, financially we really couldn't do much about it. We had put some foam padding under the cushions and a slipcover over it . . . . but my Mama the Goodwill Shopping Queen got a real sweet deal (and used a 20% off coupon).
I am reminded that this is yet another affirmation that the good Lord is watching over us and seeing us through.
Throughout the weekend and today I've been whispering, "No matter what, I WILL praise you. No matter what, I WILL praise you." I listened to Casting Crowns' Praise You In The Storm this weekend and I was again reminded that I serve a God that is bigger than any storm that comes my way. I may get knocked down but I will not be defeated. I have the Lord on my side.

A thought for today:
The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.

Amen.

Please pray

My parents came home from visiting my grandfather only for us all to be hit with the news that he passed away yesterday morning while my parents were flying home.
With this news and all the other that is going on my heart is heavy today.
I rejoice that my grandfather is pain free and glorious in heaven today and yet I ache.
It is bittersweet.

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Oh Lord I am not their puppet-- the lastest on our lastest crisis

Lord- I'd like a Do Over for yesterday and maybe today too

The Lord shall guide you continually.
--- Isaiah 58:11a

Yesterday was a difficult day.
My grandfather- who my parents flew out to visit and who we thought was doing better is now on hospice care. He is unable to talk on the phone much and can't get to his email so they've asked that all contact be through snail mail. I cried.

We had a few problems at our homeschool group day yesterday too. Minor compared to everything else going on but it helped set the tone of my day.

I came home to a phone message from the debt counseling agency. The message pretty much said that they have failed to negotiate and that it is now up to me. I can go to court or come up with the payment in full they are asking for (which is not possible). I am to call the debt counseling agency today for more information. To say I am concerned is an understatement. I feel as if my every breath is a prayer- given over and over to God.
I have once again battled deep fear and overwhelming worry. It has swept over me in waves but thankfully did not drag me down as it did this past January. It is more like a nagging feeling of possible impending doom. I know that is not what God desires for me either. I am to rest solidly in Him.

Dear Lord,
You know how much I wish to avoid trials in my life. But I know that growth and happiness are not based on everything going my way, but are in large measure the result of how I handle adversity. Renew in me the confidence that you have blessed me with, even in the tough times.
Please give me peace Lord. I am not feeling very peaceful right now but I know that peace doesn't come from my circumstances and such but from You. Grant me Your Peace, Oh Lord, the peace that doesn't depend on what is happening all around me but that peace that passes all understanding.
Lord, deliver me once again, I cry out to you, deliver me. Please Lord don't delay-- rescue me.
Show me the way to proceed in these circumstances Lord. Be with me--- continually guide me. Give me the words to speak and the ears to hear and the mind to understand what is going on. Help me with the solution dear Lord. I put all of this in Your more than capable hands.
Deliver me Lord.
Rescue me Lord.
Be near me Lord and be my guide.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Please give me strength.
Amen.

In between with school and so much more

Life last week vs this week

Patience—being still. Be Still. God continues to ask me to BE STILL and know. Be still and trust.
And so I do.

Homeschool: Leaving a trail

I will not go where the path may lead,
But I will go where there is no path---
And I will leave a trail.

When I looked at my children on Friday night, watched their homeschool group presentation and then watched as they knowledgably spoke with different people (many they didn’t know) about their schooling- what they learned, their projects and how they made them—I thought of the above quote. I thought of how they are building a love of learning. I listened as Mr. Conductor “showed off” his work and went step by step with people on how he did different things. I listened as Sassafras shyly shared her catapult project- how she made it and how and why catapults were used in the Middle Ages (like when they would throw dead diseased bodies over the castle walls . . . . ). I listened as Maiden talked with anyone- engaging many people in conversations, proudly telling them about the different projects, background of different things and how incredibly time consuming and tedious the large paper castle was to make (and how her Daddy really did all the hard work). I listened, I soaked it in and my heart was full.
Homeschooling not only works for us—it blesses us.
Richly.
I look at my children and I know they will blaze new trails. And I pray that they are the trails God has mapped out for them.
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

Photo: Mr. Conductor, Sassafras and Maiden wearing the papier-mâché crowns they made and standing between their homeschool display tables.

Back on track- weekly menu with costs

Notes: Well, lots of craziness went on here last week- I believe we are back to our usual normal crazy this week. If the weather cooperates we’ll be trying to get out to my parent’s to prime the house (we’re painting their house as our gift to them for their birthdays this year)—which will probably mean sandwiches (perhaps sloppy joes) instead of whatever I may have planned for that evening. Also—we had our Seniors Honors dinner @ church on Sunday and a special cook-out in the evening so, being youth director--- I had a lot of leftovers shipped home with me which will really help with the grocery budget this week.

Monday 
B: Bread pudding (leftover from church dinner)
L: hot-diggity dogs, chips (leftover from church cook-out)
D: Chicken a la King on biscuits
Dessert: Choice: plethora of desserts (leftover from church dinner)
Daily Cost: $4.79
Tuesday
B: French Toast (made from bread given to us from church dinner)
L: Homeschool group: Tacos in a cup Bring: sour cream
D: Salmagundi
Dessert: Choice: plethora of desserts (leftover from church dinner)
Daily Cost: $4.95
Wednesday
B: choice: cereal/yogurt and toast
L: Polka Dots (mac-n-cheese w/cut hotdog)
D: pancakes and sausage links
Dessert: Choice: plethora of desserts (leftover from church dinner)
Daily Cost: $6.95
Thursday
B: Yogurt parfaits
L: English muffin pizzas
D: Ranch baked chicken, baked potatoes, salad
Dessert: Choice: plethora of desserts (leftover from church dinner)
Daily Cost: $7.32
Friday
B: Toad in the hole (bread leftover from church dinner)
L: loaded baked potatoes (from Thurs.)
D: Cook-out: Pizza Camp Pies
Dessert: Choice: plethora of desserts (leftover from church dinner)
Daily Cost: $6.18
Saturday
B: Daddy Cook [eggs, bacon, toast]
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Leftover Smorgasbord
Daily Cost: $2.66
Sunday * Mother’s Day *
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Lunch w/ my parents (men cook) figure our cost $6
D: lunch leftovers
Daily Cost: $7.15
Weekly Total: $40.00
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!

Where I've been and still am

 My Grandfather is dying.
Our car broke down yesterday.
And is in the shop.
We are in danger of being sued by another creditor- the debt counseling agency is “supposedly” working on our behalf but according to them “you know how the economy is and there is only so much we can do if you can’t give us more to work with.”
We’re giving them everything we can.
Our homeschool group open house and program is this Friday and we need to get our unit study “showcase” poster done and also get around the items for our display table.
And bake 3 to 4 dozen cookies.
Sunday is our Honor Our Seniors special service and luncheon at church. I am in charge as youth director. In charge of everything for the whole day. Things have already gone wrong with the DVD I was going to play and the engraving on the Grads’ Bibles.
       I am not complaining (well, maybe just a tad) and I firmly believe that God is in each and everyone of these situations. I am praying for His desired outcome.
Yesterday when I was in deep prayer over some of these issues this phrase came to me, “These are not my problems but God’s opportunities.”
            These are not my problems but God’s opportunities. It is not for me to worry and be concerned over these issues but for me to open my hands and say, “Lord, I give my burdens over to You to use as you see fit. You are in charge Lord and You know best what needs to be done. Lead and guide is in these decisions Lord- may they not be our decisions but Your decisions. More than anything else in my life, I want Your will to be done. Your will, Lord. Your will.”
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
            My Grandfather is 82 years old. He has lived an incredible wonderful and interesting life. I believe he has done and seen enough in his one lifetime to fill 3 other lifetimes. He is a man after God’s own heart and I ask the Lord to call him home. He has never wished to linger in pain and suffering and watch his world shrink to the size of a hospital bed. While I wait for this, my heart is pained as my mind flits through so many dear memories but there is much joy in knowing that we will celebrate his mecoming.                       
                    ------------------------------------------------------------------
With all of this going on- I will in all probability be very scarce in posting here as we take care of these things.
Through the storm you do not walk alone. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
---- Isaiah 43:2

God is Good- God is GREAT- Big time prayer going on

Thursday's school was strange

Click on the day to see what we've been doing this week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Today is not a normal school day. I need to take the car to the shop to have the a/c looked at and get the oil changed. This shop is no place for children. The kids are going to stay with my mom while I take care of this. As noted yesterday- we crammed two days of schooling into one so that we wouldn’t throw our schedule off.
7:30 am: I am up, dressed and drinking coffee. I have my morning devotions sitting in the rocking chair in the living room. The kitchen window is open and not only can you feel the cool breeze come through the house but the scent of fresh air relaxes and revives me for the day.
8:00 am: I wake up the kids and set the timer for them to be downstairs and dressed. They know we are on a time schedule but sometimes need a little prodding. We play beat the timer. They do.
8:20 am: The kiddos are eating breakfast and I call the debt counseling agency (ugh) about the payment mix up. I leave a message asking for a call back and verification. I will be very surprised if they call me back today- it’s not something I’ve known them to do. I say a quick prayer and remind myself that God is in control of this situation.
8:40 am: Mr. Conductor can’t find his shoes, Sassafras hasn’t combed her hair. Maiden is off hunting up something- probably a book. I am ready for us to go- they are not.
8:55 am: We are now on the road to Nana’s- about 15 minutes later than I planned. It’s a good thing I padded the time/schedule. Maiden has two assignments to do today- spelling and Grammar Ace. We do her spelling (Sequential Spelling book 2)in the car on the way to Nana’s.
9:10 am: We pull into my parents’ drive- Maiden still have 5 spelling words left and she says she’ll have Nana help her finish. Nana has plans for them to be working outside- she meets them at the door and I give a quick wave and take off. I forget to remind Maiden about her Grammar Ace.
1:43 pm: I have arrived back at my parents. While my brother-in-law was working on my car this morning, my sister took me out for coffee (and a scone) and a chat. After finding out that he couldn’t find the source of the leak in the a/c- I am bummed. He has put a dye in the coolant and I need to bring it back in 2 weeks. I am seriously praying that it won’t be extremely expensive to fix. I make a quick stop at a nearby party store to pick up supplies for the upcoming dinner at church in honor of our graduating seniors (I’m in charge as director of youth ministries). When I get back to mom and dad’s, Mr. C is sound asleep on the couch, Maiden is reading a book in the recliner and Sassafras is upstairs sleeping. What? Guess the kids are worn out by all the work we’ve been doing outside each evening. My mother offers to lend us their car for our upcoming trip to the Creation Museum.
2:35 pm: We are home. Mr. Steady is already home from work and meets us at the door. Maiden did her Grammar Ace in the car on the way home from my parents (I knew I should have reminded her- thank the Lord it was an easy one today- combining sentences for better flow). Mr. Steady wants to go out to the farm (the one we help my parents care-take) and work on yard clean up. I need to go to the library first.
3 pm: We are at the library. Sassafras is busy picking out some chapter books to keep her challenged in her reading. She’s found a couple of series that interest her and grabs two of each. Maiden has finished all her required readers for the school year and has decided she wants to check out Around The World in 80 Days as a supplement (her idea). Mr. Conductor picks a few books out that look good to him.
4:15 pm: We are headed to the farm.
Our school day today was quite strange but yet I count it as learning. The kids spent the morning helping their Nana—they cooperated, did nature study and some gardening. They also helped take care of the dog. All learning experiences. Our trip to the library helped us remember our manners and using reference information to find needed books. In the evening at the farm, Maiden drove the gator. Sassafras tackled some problem-solving in finding the most efficient way to rake piles, pick up sticks and haul materials. Mr. C learned more about hard work, working together as a family and perseverance to see a job through. We also had some time for nature study- a woolly caterpillar, various animal tracks, flowers and observing the geese nearby.

Photo: Chicken coop at the farm.
When homeschooling- your whole life is part of the adventure and the learning process. I love how we are having such fun that we don’t always realize that we are learning. And yet I also love how the kids look to incorporate different learning adventures in the different parts of their days. Just some of the reasons we love homeschooling!
*side note: Just as I expected we never received a call back from the debt agency. Sigh.*

Wednesday of our glimpse into homeschooling

7:20 am: I am awake. I’ve been awake for awhile, laying in bed and mulling over my day. I prop myself up on all the pillows and open my devotion book. The thought crosses my mind that it would be really helpful to have a coffee pot right here in my bedroom. Hmm. I spend some extra time in prayer, my mind whirring with many different prayer needs/requests.
7:50 am: I’ve had my first cup of coffee and gone over the day’s schedule. Two days of work in one is quite do-able.
8 am: The kids are waking up after I give them a couple of nudges and Mr. Conductor wants me to carry him downstairs. I do.
8:20 am: Everyone is dressed and eating breakfast. I read Sassafras her history text while they finish clean up.
8:45 am: We are starting school. I’ve just informed the girls we’ll be doing two days of school today and they groan. I assure them it won’t be so bad. They are not reassured. Maiden starts with her math- she has a test today [she uses Horizons Math 4]. Sass works on her math [Horizons Math 2] while I finish reading the history text that would have been for tomorrow. She doesn’t usually multi-task so well but her math work is easy and she does well listening to me and working slowly on the math.

9:40 am: We make short work of Sass’s science and she moves right into her handwriting. It won’t take long for her to get through both days of handwriting- something she loves. During this time I am also doing some cut and paste papers with Mr. Conductor. He takes cutting very seriously and is meticulous about cutting along the lines very carefully.
10 am: Maiden has just finished her math test and I begin going over it while continuing to give Mr. C direction with his cutting and pasting. Maiden is now reading her history text for the day. Sass is finishing up her handwriting.
10:30 am: Mr. C is now writing on a piece of cardstock and proceeds to cut it to bits. Sassafras and I do spelling. Maiden continues with her science reading and then goes on to her language arts assignment- foreshadowing.
11 am: Sassafras and I work on her language arts assignment- she is rewriting a copywork passage using adverbs and adjectives she has put in place of the ones that were provided. She is doing very well. Maiden finishes reading and works on a notebooking assignment. Mr. Conductor is now “reading” Sassafras’s science book. I deposit his pile of scraps into the trash on my through the room.
11:20 am: Sassafras is done with her school work. She brings down the dirty laundry, cleans up her work area and goes off on an adventure with Mr. C. I am now in the office doing youth work and Maiden comes in to do her spelling.work.
11:33 am: Maiden has finished her spelling and everyone is done for the day. We have finished two days of school in the time it usually takes to do one day. We are all surprised and very happy.
At this time school is done (except for afternoon reading time) and is when I realize I am having technically difficulties with the internet and also find out that the debt counseling company withdrew TWO payments from our checking account last month.
I now understand why school went so smoothly and why I woke up early this morning and spent extra time in prayer.
God knew it would be necessary.

goings on

Glimpse: Tuesday- airplanes and slides

 See Monday here.

Tuesday of our glimpse into a week of homeschooling:

Today is our Homeschool group day. We planned a field trip for today to the home of a local man who has built [and flies] his own airplane as well as many model airplanes. The older kids are finishing up a course in aeronautics and this is the wrap up.
We had a switcheroo yesterday evening. Dear friends of ours, who also homeschool and are in our homeschool group, helped cut wood at my parents’ yesterday evening. Their oldest child happens to be Maiden’s very bestest friend and their 3^rd child is very good friends with Sassafras. So Sass went home with our friends and their oldest came home with Maiden. The two girls camped out on the living room floor and watched a movie before finally falling asleep around midnight.

7:40 am: Momma wakes up, has prayer and devotions before setting foot out of bed. I quickly shower (and pray some more) and then coax Mr. Conductor from his warm blanket cocoon. He didn’t care for having the bedroom all to himself last night and missed “the sissies” as he calls them. I put him in the living room with the girls and he snuggles in, content to just lay there with them. They, the girls, are still out.
8:15 am: Coffee! I’ve got cinnamon rolls in the oven (menu change due to guest) and a bowl of grapes, strawberries and banana slices ready and waiting. I get on the computer to send out a weekly email to the youth in my youth group plus a couple of other needed to do’s for my job as director of youth ministries.
8:35 am: I’ve got a couple of emails that need immediate attention and I’m a bit flustered by one. I wake the girls up and hustle them to the shower. Mr. C comes and sits on my lap while I type.
8:50 am: Mr. C goes off to get dressed and the girls are making a lot of noise in the bathroom. I’ve answered one email but am totally unsure about the 2^nd one. I pray.
9 am: The girls are dressed and taking the rolls out of the oven for me. They ask to pop in a short cartoon and I let them. Neither our friends nor our family are big on TV watching (neither of us has reg. TV access- no antennas, no cable, no satellites yet we survive!) so this is a special treat.
9:30 am: I’ve finally finished on the computer and realize that I didn’t make our sack lunches for today. I enlist the girls help in assembly line sandwich prep only to find that we have no bread thawed but the nasty stuff with the seeds in it that we got for free that none of us like to eat . . . . we make sandwiches out of hotdog buns and dub them silly-wiches.
9:45 am: We are suppose to be leaving for the field trip but are still finishing lunch prep.
9:55 am: We’ve packed the car and are finally on the road- we are suppose to be at the airplane hanger at 10 am- it is about a 10 minute drive. We will be late- again. Maiden’s dear friend points out that we’re always late and so not to worry- everyone will expect it. Gee, thanks.
10:06 am: I have passed the driveway to the hanger and back up. I count cars- hooray! We are not the last ones here. Sigh. I’ve got to do better than this. Nobody is worried that we’re 6 minutes late and I am sure that Maiden’s friend is right- its expected. The kids are divided into two groups. While group one tours the hanger, group 2 meets with the owner’s wife and she tells them the most amazing story of God’s intervention when they had a horrific plan crash in the mid-80s. Not only do we get to see up close a  really cool homemade airplane but we are blessed with a story of God’s love and care of us. Too cool for words.

11:20 am: The homeschool gang is on the road and heading for my home. I live 5 blocks from the park the group has planned on going to for lunch and play. The park does not have a bathroom; I have two. I pray that we left things respectable enough and that the toilets are all flushed.
11:45 am: We’re heading for the park after 20-some people have used our two bathrooms. One of the few times I’ve been thankful for city sewer hook-up.
11:50 am to 1:40 pm: We play at the park, eat lunch, walk the boardwalk along the St. Joseph River and generally laugh, visit and have fun. Mr. C stops to dump about 4 pounds of pebbles out of his shoes before he hops in the car, tired, dirty and happy- ready to go (for once). I am thankful he kicked off the shoes before getting in the car.
1:45 pm: We are home. A quick clean up with washcloths and everyone is grabbing a book and laying down to rest. Ahh. The girls are both reading school books- working ahead.

Working ahead is good because I just found out that we’ve got to cram two days of school into one tomorrow. I had to make an appointment for the car for Thursday morning. We have no air conditioning. We are going south on vacation in 2.5 weeks. I drive a black car and it was 78 degrees today. My mechanic, a.k.a. my brother-in-law, is pretty sure he just needs to recharge the a/c. My sister offers to meet me at the shop and take me out for coffee while he does this. I call my mom and she agrees to take the kiddos for the morning but wants to be outside exploring and such, not inside doing school. Hence the need to cram two days into one.
This wasn’t in my plan when I decided this was the week to give everyone a glimpse into our homeschooling but these things do happen and one needs to be flexible. It is the end of the school year and their schedule is a bit more relaxed right now than say a month or so ago so it really won’t be that big a deal to combine two days.
And so another homeschooling day comes to a close.

Having Issues

Monday of Glimpse into our Homeschool

Monday

Welcome to the first of a series of posts giving you a glimpse into our little homeschool. I’m not a big fan of Mondays but I prefer a Homeschooler’s Monday to the alternative . . . .
8:20 am: Waking up late today. It seems I’m still recuperating from fasting and no sleep. I decided that I would sleep until I woke up and 8:20 am is when I woke up. I start my day with prayer. I go in and wake the kidlets and head on downstairs. The tables were set for school and breakfast last night so all I need to do is pour myself that first cup of coffee and go over the schedule. I take a couple of minutes to toss in a load of laundry and contemplate my devotion from this morning. I felt I had rushed through it and am trying to give it a bit more thought. My thoughts seem rather jumbled this morning.
8:35 am: The kids are finding it hard to get moving this morning too. While they are getting dressed I read Sassafras her history text for today. Maiden and Mr. Conductor wander into the kitchen for breakfast but keep an ear tuned to our reading.
9:10 am: Breakfast is done and cleaned up and we are starting school. Considering the kids got up a half hour later than usual and that it’s Monday- this is good. Maiden starts with a couple of easier subjects, handwriting and Grammar Ace. Sassafras is messing around with getting her school tub out and fiddle-diddling. Mr. Conductor has climbed up in my lap as I sit in the rocker and snuggles in good and tight. This doesn’t happen very often anymore so I take full advantage of it and just hold on. I suggest Sass start out with handwriting so that I can continue snuggling.
9:25 am: Mr. Conductor has announced that he would like to do some school today. I tell him, “No school until you get dressed.” He hops off my lap, grabs his clothes and heads into my office (he has taken to “surprising” me with dressing himself lately). Maiden is plugging away at her math (some beginning geometry). Sass and I start her spelling while I pull out Mr. C’s workbook and crayons.
For the next hour or so, I continue to work on subjects with Sassafras that require my attention (Science, read alouds) while giving direction to Mr. C and checking over Maiden’s work.
11 am: Sassafras is finishing up her math and Mr. C is building Lego contraptions. Maiden has just finished reading her Detective Science and is doing the DNA project from the book. I jot down a list of errands that need doing and a short grocery list.
11:20 am: Sass has been off sitting on the couch reading her reader- I know she is reading through the whole book even though only 10 pages were assigned today. She’s suddenly surged ahead these past few weeks in her reading and the readers in her curriculum are not challenging her. I have her read them anyway and answer questions to help her with her narration. We are supplementing with more challenging chapter books in the afternoons (during quiet time) and it is working for us. Maiden is frustrated that she isn’t further along in her work and knows that we will be leaving soon for errand running. She asks to take her spelling and dictation in the car. I okay it.
11:40 am: Sassafras has finished her book. Maiden is reworking some math problems that she got wrong (we don’t always do this but these were sloppy mistakes and it needs a redo). Mr. C and I are cleaning up some of his clutter.
Noon: I’ve packed a bag with our nature sketch pads and we’re hunting up sharpened colored pencils. It seems we’re in low supply (even though I’m constantly finding a pencil here and there all over the house). I fill the trunk with 4 bags and 2 boxes of clothes and 2 more bags of shoes destined for Goodwill while Sassafras frantically sharpens the pencils she can unearth. Mr. Conductor digs out his trusty baseball cap and helps Maiden water their sprouting seeds and move them to “better sun” as he puts it.
12:15 pm: We are now on the road. We’re getting a later start to our errand running than I wanted but I’ve decided to add a nature hike to our list of things to do- I don’t tell the kids where though. We stop at the bank, drop the trunkload off at Goodwill and a quick stop at the grocery store. Lunch is drive though at McD’s as Sassafras got a gift certificate for her birthday and has been wanting to treat the family for weeks now.

1:30 pm: We’re eating lunch out in the gorgeous sunshine at a wonderful little local park. We quickly polish it off and head off into the woods armed with sketch pads and colored pencils (I purchased a new set of pencils for Mr. C for 88 cents at the store and Sass bought herself a new set too). This is one of the kids favorite nature hike spots (besides their grandparents’ farm). Mr. C has declared that he’s on the hunt for a sneaky snake and Sass goes crashing off into the underbrush after a chipmunk. Maiden quietly moves on ahead to find a good spot to stop and sketch. I take a moment to marvel at the wonder of it all- not nature so much as my children and the wonderful blessing of being able to do this with them. While we hike, we sketch and pick up a few specimens- fat acorn tops, interesting dried leaves, pieces of bark and tiny rocks. We watch 4 buzzards circle lazily overhead and Mr. C contemplates aloud what must have died to interest them. Ah, what goes on in a boy’s mind. After our hike, the kids play at the playground for awhile- pretending the big play thing-a-ma-jig is a pirate ship—Maiden veers off to the pre-school “playscape” and declares it’s the S.S. Minnow, hums the tune and pretends to pursue the big pirate ship. I marvel at how she is young woman and still a child. I laugh and wink at her and she runs off yelling, “Avast Ye Hardies- Prepare to be boarded.” Her brother and sister scream and giggle and take off . . . . . I take a picture with my minds eye and tuck it in my heart.

2:45 pm: We are heading home- laughing and talking of all the fun we had. I remind them that we’ll have quiet time when we get home as they have reading to finish and Mr. C needs a nap. They’ll be going off with the Dad to Gramma and Grampa’s to cut wood tonight.
3 pm: Groceries are put away. And nature treasures are spread out on the table to catch Daddy’s eye when he comes home. The girls head upstairs to wash their dirty tootsies and read good books. Mr. C has his sketch pad and new pencils at the coffee table and is making up a story about shy tractors as he draws them. He has me label them. It doesn’t take much for me to nudge him to the couch for his nap. He asks for a couple of cookies as he thumbs through his Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature.
3:20 pm: I put down the book I’ve just begun to read as I realize I never took the laundry out of the washer. I think guiltily of the paperwork sitting in my office and of the fact that I haven’t been on the computer all day. I decide to put the laundry in the dryer instead of out on the line since it looks like the neighbors are getting ready to burn leaves and I’m also concerned that I’ll forget it on the line too. I push aside my guilt over paperwork as I remember I only just finished a lock-in with the youth group 2 nights ago and deserve a bit of a break. Rationalizing, yes, but it makes such good sense.
It’s later now- the kids went off with their dad to work and I stayed home to work. I remembered to get the clothes out of the dryer and fold them. I updated the school binders and organized some of the school books. I took an hour to myself to sit and read some more. I picked up the bits of daily debris around the house and put away some laundry. I prepped for breakfast and laid out tomorrow’s clothes. I dozed off while I was reading again . . . . I did a bit of paperwork (more like paper shuffling) and got out some needed items for tomorrow.
I wrote this post.
It was a good day.

This week's menu

Famine

I am participating in 30 Hour Famine today. This means I have not eaten since midnight and will not break my fast until 6 am Saturday morning.
The 30 Hour Famine I am participating in is co-sponsored by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and World Vision. The money we are raising will help fund a joint project between these two ministries to assist children and families in Malawi.
Allow me to share some startling facts:
29,000 children under age 5 die every single day because of hunger, disease, and poverty. That's one child every six seconds.
Of these children, 15,000 die as a result of malnutrition.
That's almost 5.5 million children each year.
Around the world, more than 850 million people are hungry, including over 300 million children.
That's one out of every six people on the planet.
$1 feeds a child for 1 day. Let me share how my youth group and I put this into perspective . . . .
$1- the cost of downloading a song
$1- the cost of a can of pop from the vending machine
$2- the cost for lunch at school
$1- the cost of two candy bars
My youth group set a goal of raising $365- enough to feed 1 child for an entire year. They set an individual goal of each raising $30- enough to feed a child for 1 month.
$30 is about what it costs for a family to go out to eat.

As part of our group fast- we are having a lock-in tonight. As a rule, I detest lock-ins. It is difficult to get ablebodied adults to volunteer to stay up all night with a bunch of teenagers. It is difficult for me to stay up all night with a bunch of teenagers. In the past, I have always had to clean up some "interesting" messes from lock-ins . . . . . and I could go on but I digress. I agreed to the lock-in as a way to encourage participation and hopefully to build group unity. I've planned some interesting games and devotions for this evening.
Please keep me and my youth group in your prayers today. I would greatly appreciate it. Please also pray for these people around the world that need physical nourishment as well as spiritual nourishment. We are praying today that God would use the money we are raising to do amazing things- not just to feed physical hunger but to touch and heal hearts.
One of my youth commented that it is her hope that when she gets to heaven she will meet the people she helped today. She will never meet them in person, yet she prays for them and hopes to some sweet day- make that connection.
May God be with us and may we bring Him honor and glory today.
Dear Lord- help me to stay up, stay sane and stay aware today and all through the night. Please, oh, please help me not to be a grump and remind me why am doing this. Help me to make a difference today. Amen.

A glimpse and reminder from last years schooling

I thought I’d preview next week’s series with a post linking to last year’s . . . .
So here is a week of homeschooling in review by the days:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Looking back at the week myself, I again marvel at how well we did and how much we accomplished. So often in the daily grind of things I get the feeling that we are behind or not accomplishing much and yet- we do!

Come catcha glimpse

 I had such fun taking pictures for Stones of Remembrance Homeschool that I decided to make a special little photo for next week’s series of posts- A Glimpse into Stones of Remembrance Homeschool.

Yes those are an old pair of my husband’s glasses on the apple. I couldn’t resist.
So consider this my invitation to you to join me next week for A Glimpse into Stones of Remembrance Homeschool.
Perhaps you’d like to give others a glimpse into your homeschool too? Super! If so, feel free to leave a comment with this and next week’s posts- I’d love to read how others are doing it.