The Lord Will Provide
That came from my son's mouth??
Isn't interesting how a child will complain and never admit they like school yet, you can tell by their attitudes and behavior that when it is time to start up again they are relieved and actually glad to be back in the saddle again?This evening DH, Xavier and I sat at the kitchen table talking. Out of the blue Xavier informed us that he was glad we were fixing to start back up and that he missed doing school. Then he said it was fun. The kicker was the child who complains and groans and carries on like he is dying when it is time to do math - says I even like math sometimes. I am not the best at it but that's okay.
Okay you can pick me up off the floor now - because I know it was not my child speaking at the table. Can someone give me my son back?
Schedules/Morning Routine
Starting off a new morning routine has been pretty easy so far. Xavier and Isaac are totally into it and things are definitely improving. We do not eat breakfast together as I had hoped for, but Xavier is up way earlier than Isaac and I and eats almost as soon as he wakes up.Monday and Tuesday we got up, relaxed for about 30 minutes, had breakfast then went upstairs to clean bedrooms and complete the upstairs chores. Everything went real smooth and Xavier even practiced his guitar in the morning. We were done by 10 (which is good since we didn't get upstairs until around 9ish).
Things went a little different Wednesday though. I had to go for another Dr. appointment so when we got up we started off okay. Except we were having to leave the house early so the upstairs chores were going to have to wait until we got home. Isaac didn't quite understand why things were not going like the past two days. As I stood in the kitchen putting stuff into my purse he struts into the kitchen doorway, puts his hand on the wall, looks at me and says "Have you cleaned your room?" and started heading up the stairs. It was so funny. Who knew that in only 2 days my little one would be wanting to go upstairs to clean.
Today is another off day. Isaac and I woke up late (I really need to start setting my alarm clock). However, Xavier has completed all of his chores and is now playing his PSP. Which is an amazing thing and I better get moving if I plan to accomplish any of my goals for today.
Monday Update
Tuesday my midwife called and set me up for a couple of more appointments. Turns out I do have gestational diabetes. So we spent last week going to more appointments and learning how to manage the diabetes with diet. So far it has not been to bad. The hardest part is learning to watch a clock. I have had to set the alarm on my cell phone so I know when to check my levels after I eat, otherwise time would just go by. The only other major downfall is I can no longer see my midwife, because I am considered high risk. So I go next week to meet my new OB. Hopefully we will get along as well as my midwife and I did.
We managed to paint the nursery this weekend (even though we all have been sick). Today I hung up curtains and started putting the crib together, but Joel is going to have to finish that because I am not quite sure how it goes together. I have an idea, but I know he wants to do it. I have a few more things to do in there to get it all fixed up and then I will post a picture of it. I think it is going to be real cute though!
Today was the first day of school here in Texas. The boys and I sat at the dining room table eating breakfast as we watched all the mom's & dad's in the neighborhood walking their kiddie's to school. We are truly blessed that we can homeschool! We aren't starting school yet, however we did start the beginnings of a new schedule today. So in a way it was "a first day of school". I am schedule doomed so to speak. I always come up with great ones but implementing them is a problem. So we are spending the next month or two working into a schedule that will work for us. Mainly it is to make a habit of what our morning routine should be. Otherwise get boys to do their chores in a timely manner, lol. I am re-teaching them how to do some things which they have seemed to have forgotten how to do (sweep a floor, clean their bathroom). I am reading Managers of Their Homes (and Chores) again. To help me get back into the groove of things also. We used some of the things in those books a few years ago but then fell away from it. After praying about it I decided it was time to pull the book back out and restructure our system, or lack of one. Pray that I find a way the Lord wants me to schedule our home/school.
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Xavier has been begging to make pancakes. Not just any pancakes though, he wanted chocolate chip pancakes. This morning he decided to hit the kitchen and make breakfast. They were really good & definitely do not need syrup!
Play-Doh Fun
Isaac had a blast playing Play-Doh the other day. We bought some for him awhile ago, but we never got around to actually pulling it out.
This Past Week's Happenings
Monday we spent the day at home and I was able to sew and relax. I have been really tired lately, which dear hubby informed me I needed to slow down from my decluttering frenzy and take some time to relax and nap because I can't keep going and going like I want to. This is something that is hard for me to hear, but I listened to him as well as I could considering the week ended up being one that I felt like the energizer bunny.Tuesday I had my OB appointment with my midwife. Everything looks good, but "baby girl" is still breech. My midwife decided I needed to go take another glucose test and check my iron level because I mentioned I was tired.
So first thing Wed. morning I was down at the lab for both tests. Joel has been riding our neighbor's bike to work for more exercise. So after the boys and I left the lab we took him lunch and headed for our WIC appointment. We left the house at 9:30 that morning and didn't get home until almost 3. Needless to say I was exhausted and dozed on the couch while Xavier helped watch Isaac.
Thursday morning my midwife called. "Uh-oh". The bad news... Turns out I need to take the 3 hour glucose test (I failed the 1 hour test miserably). Plus I have to have my platelets rechecked because they are pretty low. The good news... there is an acupuncturist who works with the wounded military soldiers who will see us breech women in the Women's Clinic here on post. So I spent most of Thursday morning and afternoon scheduling appointments.
First thing Friday morning I am back in the lab and spent the next 4 hours bored out of my mind. I did take a bag of goodies (books to read, school stuff to look at). However, no matter what I take to kill time it is never what I really want to read or do. I have to say the best part of the day was coming home at lunchtime and finding that my wonderful husband and son had totally cleaned the house (sweep, mop, laundry and pulled out chicken for dinner) and already had Isaac down for his nap. I am so blessed!! Joel left for work shortly after I got home. We had a wonderful dinner last night. Then hopped in the car and went to Wally World. Where Joel bought a bike (no more borrowing our neighbor's). He is so excited to have a new bike and can't wait to ride it work Monday.
As for this weekend, well it has not been to lazy. Isaac and I hit a couple of yard sales and a thrift shop this morning. We didn't find anything good, but came home to a freshly mowed yard. Then we all jumped in the car and took Isaac and Xavier to the little water park at our community center in our housing area. We hung out there for about 45 minutes when Isaac decided it was lunchtime and wanted to go home. After lunch Isaac and I napped while Joel took Xavier to the movies. Once they get home we plan on going to the pool for an hour or so. Tomorrow on the other hand we have church and a lunch at Applebee's planned and maybe the pool again. At some point I want to go get paint so I can start painting rooms in the house, but I am not sure when I am going to be able to fit that in.
As for resting and relaxing.... yeah I don't do those to easily. Maybe this upcoming week but for now we are having some fun.
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
Sewing Baby Clothes
I am trying to make the outfit that our baby girl will wear home from the hospital when she is born. Sewing baby clothes is definitely not my strong suit. So far I have managed to make the bonnet, bib, and a little jacket. I am using a pattern from Wal-Mart; one of Simplicity's Vintage 52 patterns. Most of the patterns have some sort of embroidery you are suppose to do on each piece. I decided to skip that part as I am not an embroidery type of gal (meaning I don't know how). Here are the pieces I have finally finished:
However, the dress is kicking my behind!! First I have to put these little tucks into it. I am not sure how to put these tucks in as my fingers are to big to fold these little things much less try to sew them. To top it off I found the dog and cat running away with parts of my cut out pattern. I do hope I have all the pieces at this point. I know I am missing a few pins as Joel informed me he found the dog eating a piece the other day and the pin was missing.
This is just not going well and I am about in tears. If I don't figure it out soon I may be calling my dear MIL and make her drive to TX (she is in FL) to show me how to do this. Okay I doubt she would come all the way out here just to help me with some little folds in a dress, but I can dream (and cry).
Maybe if I beg... it is to hot out here in TX and the poor child may only be coming home in a bonnet and bib unless I figure this out. Granted she has about 1 1/2 months before she is due... but I am planning on her being a little early and the jacket may be to much for a late Sept./beginning Oct. baby.
I apologize for my little rant... back to figuring out these tucks. Maybe, Lord willing, I won't loose my mind in the process.
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
P.S. Just so you all know - Gordo (the dog) is fine and has not suffered any problems from the possibilty of eating straight pins
This is just not going well and I am about in tears. If I don't figure it out soon I may be calling my dear MIL and make her drive to TX (she is in FL) to show me how to do this. Okay I doubt she would come all the way out here just to help me with some little folds in a dress, but I can dream (and cry).
Maybe if I beg... it is to hot out here in TX and the poor child may only be coming home in a bonnet and bib unless I figure this out. Granted she has about 1 1/2 months before she is due... but I am planning on her being a little early and the jacket may be to much for a late Sept./beginning Oct. baby.
I apologize for my little rant... back to figuring out these tucks. Maybe, Lord willing, I won't loose my mind in the process.
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
P.S. Just so you all know - Gordo (the dog) is fine and has not suffered any problems from the possibilty of eating straight pins
Not Back to School Blog Hop - School Room
This week at Darcy's Not Back to School Blog Hop everyone is sharing pics of their school area. Lucky for me I actually was able to straighten up and declutter this area Sunday!! So instead of seeing piles of junk you can actually see our school area.This is the first year we have a defined space for school. In the past we have always used the dining room table. However, with the layout of the house we were able to put our dining room table in the kitchen and use what is suppose to be the living/dining room as a living/school room instead.
The table in the middle of the area is the main place we do school (book work). Although I think the boys will tend to move towards the desk for more "privacy" this year. Behind the stand up dry erase board hangs another dry erase board. Yes, we have science posters and a cursive line on our wall. We all really like that part of it even though it is "schooly".
Thanks for stopping by and checking out our "School Room"!
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
Buffet Runner
Joel has begun working on the buffet. He has managed to fill in the cracks and stuff with wood filler. Unfortunately, the veneer is peeling and cracking off. However since we went ahead and put it in the kitchen I needed something to cover the top of the buffet. I have had some fabric sitting in "the closet" that would not only work but totally match the color scheme I am going to use in the kitchen.It was so easy to make and turned out really nice. Joel was impressed with how the fabric looked and even complimented me. Needless to say that made my day.
Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
Tanya
Not Back To School Blog Hop - Curriculum Week
A little late to the party, but better late than never right? I know many of us are gearing up for the new school year. Some have started already and some (like me) won't be starting until after Labor Day (or in my case October sometime). Darcy from My 3 Boybarians is hosting a Not Back to School Blog Hop . You to can join in!!The first week (which started Aug. 3rd) was "Curriculum Week". So without further ado... Here's our curriculum choices for our 3 boys!
2 1/2 Year Old - Tot/Preschool
Let me be honest - he wants to sit at the table and "do school" with his brothers. So I am looking into starting him on the workbox system this year. I did order Rod & Staff's About 3 books. However, he mainly will be playing, drawing, and just joining in on the fun.
10 Year Old - 6th Grade
Bible - SOW (Student of the Word)
Latin Road to English Grammar Vol. 1
Sequential Spelling
Abeka History & Science
Peter Marshall's Light and The Glory series
Saxon 76
TWSS - Student Intensive B
11 Year Old - 7/8th Grade
Bible - SOW
Latin Road to English Grammar Vol. 1
Sequential Spelling
Abeka History & Civics, Literature & Science
Saxon Algebra 1/2
TWSS - Student Intensive B
We also will be involved in a co-op this coming year and I am planning quite a few field trips that should coincide with their history.
2 1/2 Year Old - Tot/Preschool
Let me be honest - he wants to sit at the table and "do school" with his brothers. So I am looking into starting him on the workbox system this year. I did order Rod & Staff's About 3 books. However, he mainly will be playing, drawing, and just joining in on the fun.
10 Year Old - 6th Grade
Bible - SOW (Student of the Word)
Latin Road to English Grammar Vol. 1
Sequential Spelling
Abeka History & Science
Peter Marshall's Light and The Glory series
Saxon 76
TWSS - Student Intensive B
11 Year Old - 7/8th Grade
Bible - SOW
Latin Road to English Grammar Vol. 1
Sequential Spelling
Abeka History & Civics, Literature & Science
Saxon Algebra 1/2
TWSS - Student Intensive B
We also will be involved in a co-op this coming year and I am planning quite a few field trips that should coincide with their history.
Attacking Clutter cont.
My goal to attack clutter is slowly making progress. I finished the master bedroom (well my side of it). Joel is going to have to go through his own drawers and stuff. At least it is beginning to look clean and put together.Since I can not finish our bedroom I decided to move on to the media closet. When we first moved into the house this past January Joel put shelves up in what would be the coat closet. We figured it would be a great place to store all the CD's, DVD's, video game equipment and things of that nature. It has been a lifesaver. 7 months later... the shelves are no longer neat and orderly. Originally I thought it would only take me an hour or so to get this closet done. Boy was I wrong!! What I didn't realize was that I would spend that much time plus some just putting CD's and DVD's back in their cases. I did finish the media closet yesterday, but I am definitely starting to slow down when it comes to this decluttering project.
One major downfall is that some things do not have a home yet and I don't want to work on more than a couple of areas at once. So everything that doesn't have a home or needs to be gone through later is being piled in my upstairs storage closet. I had hoped to start tackling it today after I straightened up our school area. However, my dear hubby kind of threw a wrench in that plan.
Joel is fixing a buffet we got for free from our neighbor. Well, after talking to him about it sitting in the carport we decided we might as well move it into the kitchen. Redoing it is going to be a slow project and since birds like to build nests right above where it is sitting in the carport...
Okay I admit moving it was actually my idea. I wasn't thinking. Can I blame this one on being pregnant?
Joel jumped on board and I had to tear the kitchen 1/2 apart to put the buffet in there. Now my kitchen looks like a tornado hit. Ahhhh!! I was really putting off decluttering the kitchen until last. However, if we plan on eating at the table anytime soon I better get working on it now. So off to the kitchen I go....
Keep Trusting the Lord~
Tanya
Attacking Clutter
I recently read an article (well a few articles) about the cost of clutter. According to the article(s) clutter costs money by:- taking up space
- taking time to clean
- results in buying stuff you already have
- results in paying late fees & time when trying to find that bill/paperwork
With the "Want What You Have Not What You Don't Need" motto in place this has opened my eyes greatly to the amount of stuff that not only my kids have, but what I have.
I am a packrat and a very disorganized one at that. Which is why I buy school supplies all the time when I really don't need them. Or when grocery shopping I come home with another box of Bisquick (there are still 2 unopened boxes in the cabinet.)
Obviously "clutter" is costing me extra money. So I decided to tackle the clutter and get organized for cheap and preferably free. Although I love all those cool storage options and neat things that help you organize your stuff. I already have a stack of plastic totes piling up in the "closet".
First thing I needed to do was make a plan. I am also a perfectionist which does not help the clutter pack rat monster that lurks beneath the surface
Here is what I decided to do:
1 - List every room/closet/area that needed to be de-cluttered and organized.
2 - Get my boxes/bags out for the: Keep, Trash, Giveaway, Sell? piles
3 - Keep an inventory of closets and storage areas & put in household manual
4 - Keep items where they are used and make organizing simple everything in its correct place
At first I thought I would do 1 area a day. However, whether it is being a perfectionist, enthusiasm to accomplish this task or my nesting instinct coming out. I quickly realized 1 area a day was not going to do it for me. I did decide to start small though, by completing the smaller areas first I get a feeling of accomplishment. Which helps one continue on.
Day 1 I tackled:
- the linen closet (how many sheet sets does one need for a bed size we don't own?)
- turn towel closet into bathroom/upstairs cleaning supply closet
Day 2 I tackled:
- the upstairs bathroom supply closet
- all the bathrooms (boys, master & 1/2 bath)
- Isaac's (my 2 yr. old) bedroom & closet
- Micah & Xavier's (my older boys) room & closet
- nursery closet
Day 3 I tackled:
- Isaac's clothes
- the master closet
Day 4 & 5 I tackled:
- the master bedroom
So far I have learned that we store stuff in the weirdest places and no wonder I don't know what I have or where it is. Sheets in a master closet, clothes that don't fit or don't wear, and just general crap taking up space. It has been a hard to appropriately deal with some of the items I run across. Especially when I know if I stick it back where it was I will forget about it again (I don't need it) but I don't want to get rid of it either. Tough choices are having to be made and with the Lord's help I have been letting go and moving forward.
Trusting the Lord,
Tanya
Our Current Motto
A couple of months ago Dad wrote this on the dry erase board in the kitchen:Want What You Have Not What You Don't Need
Who knew a simple saying could become a family motto. Dad wrote it after listening to a sermon on the way to work. This just happened to be at the same time that our 2 oldest were constantly asking for stuff. Dad came home wrote the saying on the board then tasked each of our sons to go through their room and make a list of everything they own. The lists were quite long and extensive. Dad's point was quickly made. When asked how much of their "things" do they play with/use? Not to mention how much room it takes up.
Unfortunately for Mom (me), this new motto came at the same time that we had a power surge and my desktop went ka-put. I was totally planning on buying a new computer come next paycheck. Except this saying... it held me back. Do I really need a new one? I have a laptop (which is 1/2 broke), but I can get online and do what I need for the most part. Plus Dad has a laptop that I can use to print. So while I know I will need a new computer soon, I can wait a few months.
Fast forward to now. We all now quote the saying from the kitchen board when at the store or talking about something we "want". It has helped to curb our spending a little, at the least made us think twice before buying something on impulse.
I am sure there is a verse we could memorize, which would correlate with our new motto. However, I have not looked for one yet. Maybe I will should do that.
But until then - I pray you all have a wonderful day!
Trusting the Lord,
Tanya
Bathroom Reads
I know its a weird title for a post and maybe just a little TMI. However, we are a family who keeps books and magazines in the bathroom. With 3 boys - it is my only get away (and not a very good one).Our current book is Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan. It is a collection of hymns and stories behind them. This book is awesome! I only wish I had a piano and knew how to play so that I could learn the music to some of the hymns and would know what tune to sing them in. They really need a CD to accompany the book, if you ask my opinion
Anyways, I wanted to share my current fave that I am trying to learn. It was written by John Newton and called:
Though Troubles Assail Us
Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
Yet, one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, "The Lord will provide."
The birds without garner or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn to trust God for our bread.
His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied.
So long as 'tis written, "The Lord will provide."
When Satan assails us to stop up our path,
And courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart cheering promise, "The Lord will provide."
No strength of our own an no goodness we claim;
Yet, since we have known of the Savior's great name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide:
The Lord is our power, "The Lord will provide."
A New Day
09:24, Wednesday, August 5, 2009
.. 4 comments
.. Link
How does one start a new blog? I have blogged over at HomeschoolBlogger and at Blogger, but wanted to do something new. So after looking around I found myself here. Unfortunately, I do not have a "homestead". Well at least not in the meaning that is implied here at HomesteadBlogger. BUT I dream of one and even though we may not have any land and are still living on the grid. Our family is trying to cut back, be frugal, and live a simpler life. We are the typical family... or at least I think we are. There is Dad, Mom, 3 Boys and a girl due Oct. 1st (but if I get my way she will be here in Sept.)
. We homeschool and are striving to raise Godly children who grow to be Godly adults. Dad is in the Army and will retire in about 5 years. Which is about the same time we are praying we will be able to buy a house with some land. Dad and I are high school sweethearts. We had our ups and downs but, married we have been for a little over 14 years. We did the normal - credit card thing, bought a new car, got in debt and now we are still digging ourselves out of it. Over the past few years we managed to pay off our car and get down to 2 credit cards, which we plan to pay off come income tax time. Yet, we wondered why we have no money (it just flies out the window I tell you). So after taking a good hard look at our life and our spending habits and discussing what we want (goals & dreams). We are changing our way of doing things. So it is "A New Day". Here I hope to journal our success & even our failures. Maybe one day I will be able to look back at this and see how far we have come.
Always remember to trust the Lord - "He will always provide".
In Christ~
Tanya
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