Give Thanks

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

I am thankful today for...

my home
my church family
my children
my wonderful husband
the sunshine
God's mecries that are new each morning
forgiveness
purpose in this life
and peace that passes all understanding in a world filled with turmoil and fear.

What are you thankful for today? Please share...

Just some Rambling Thoughts....

...on homeschooling.

I have little ones, several little ones. I have four children seven and under. Two are in school and two are not. My days are very crazy. To say we have a schedule is a stretch. At times even a routine is hard to find in our home. I feel like right now I have to focus on the needs of my children. Some days when baby Kate needs rocking and holding we cuddle on the couch and read a bunch that day so that baby Kate gets her snuggle time and the older ones get school. On other days when we are running errands or I am playing catch up on the laundry, the conversation in our living room will be spelling words and math facts. This is working for us.

Do I dream of a day when I can set a wake up time and a school start time? YES!!! I know that one day that will come to my house. Or if it doesn't a schedule that works for us will be implemented. But right now, while I have children that don't sleep through the night thus waking mommy sometimes several times a night, this is working for us.

I get up in the morning when Daddy does, get him ready and out the door. Then I get myself ready and the girls up. Some mornings we start right away and we are done in the mid morning with school. Other mornings, when baby has been up repeatedly or the house needs some tidying, we will start a little later. The girls will help me clean up so that we can work in an orderly home. This is working for us.

I use to read other families blogs and schedules and desire them in my home. But God has been showing me that I must do what works for my family. And this is working. We are enjoying school now more than ever. My girls are blossoming in many ways. They are dusting, sweeping, unloading the dishwasher, cooking simple meals and desserts, and reading and adding with proficiency. And our house is full of love and peace most of the time.

I have found this year that a schedule isn't about fitting your children into some perfect list of to-do things to be checked off. To be a successful homeschooling family schooling has to work for you or it isn't productive. If you are forcing your children into a schedule that they aren't ready for, they won't learn as well and they will come to associate frustration with schooling. But, if you focus on how they learn and think outside the box to meet their educational needs, you will find, at least I have, that they will flourish. And even without a picture perfect, set in stone, runs like clock schedule your family will be the most content and happy with whatever works for them.

And this is what works for us!

Join the homeschooling schedule discussion over at Raising Arrows this week.

A change in my heart and home...

Well, Joe and I have decided that we needed to change some of the ways that we were applying our Christian walk at this time. This change is not about a sciriptual mandate or about a legalistic point of view. Right now, for our family, it is about sending our children a message that we should look different than the world. Our life in Jesus should be so evident that people can notice something different about us everywhere we go. So, we have decided that the girls in our family will be wearing skirts all the time now. As we make this transition, our girls are still wearing pants while at home as we build up a wardrobe of conservative skirts. My girls have never worn "short" skirts but now, anything that doesn't cover the knee is out. So, while we are sewing/buying these types of skirts and dresses we are allowing the girls to play at home in pants. But if we have company or are out in public, they are required to wear skirts.

We have explained to them the reasons behind this descision and they, in maturity beyond their years, and in a way only God could ochastrate, have embraced this change wholeheartedly. I have been so proud of them. They have enjoyed the new clothes as any little girl would and have also enjoyed all the comments on how pretty they look. While these are not the reason that we started this habit, they have helped to solidify what Joe and I have been telling them that the world will notice that we look different if we are all dressed in skirts.

I know that this descision is not for everyone. I don't think God calls us all to do the same. Just as some Christians are called to far away countries to minister, some are called to minister in the slums of America, this is how God has laid on our hearts to be a witness for Him. So, as I support you in your calling and ministry that you are serving in, would you support me and my family in ours? We are all God's children and we all desire to impact the world in the biggest way possible. We are all just called to do that differently. For now, my family has been called to stand out through our choice of dress. What ministry has God called you to at this time? Are you standing out in a specific way? Reaching out to a certain group? Please tell me so I can pray for you and support you in that.

Valentine Baking

I know, I know, they are a week late but I couldn't help but show off my baking for Valentine's day. I tried a scaled down version of i am baker's rainbow cake. I used colors that went with the hoilday. I was pretty pleased with the way that they turned out. The cupcakes were simple but the children loved them.

Here are pictures -

Even though I am a week late, I hope you had a great Valentine's day!

Send a Birthday Greeting

Happy Birthday Sis!

Over the past year you have been through so much and yet through it all you have given yourself fully to your job as a soldier. You are stronger than any woman I know and you have accomplished things most of us wouldn't dream of. Now, as you are preparing to leave the military and enter the "civilian" world again, I am praying for God's direction and peace to be over you. I am also praying for continued strength and recovery. You are so loving, kind and compassionate that I know you will go far. You will succeed at all you do for you give yourself to those around you. You inspire me everyday to do my best and to rise above my circumstances and to not allow other's actions to dictate my mood. Even though I will always think of you as my little sister and your time in the military has caused me more worry and concern than all of my children combined thus far, I love you and I am so proud of you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Want to leave Erin a birthday wish while she is away from friends and family and still recovering?

Head here

Media

My family has a television, and we have a computer but they are not the focus of our homes. My children have video games, but they are a special treat. The prescence of media in our society is indoctrinating our children. Why do children seek out boyfriends and girlfriends so young? Why do they think that kissing is something you do as soon as you meet a person? Why is dating an accepted practice in our society? Because our children are exposed to it from every angle! Hannah Montana. High School Musical. Zach and Cody. All of these are names that I hear spill forth from children's mouths all the time. Have my children been exposed? I am ashamed to say yes. Not to all of these but to some and there has been damage control to do because of it. But we have learned what a huge influence that media can be in these early years. Television in their rooms, gaming systems galore, cable television, and the list goes on! No wonder we, as God's church, are loosing our children. They grow up in services but that only equates to 4 hours tops in a week. If your children view more television than that what is their main influence? What is shaping their thoughts, values, and morals. We will not take back our children and break this cycle until we claim them from the media and allow trainging through the Word of God to shape who they are and what they think.

I watched these statistics in disbelief, and yet most I already knew. The time wasted is amazing and we can never get it back. If we, as Americans spent time reading, studying, and memorizing scripture like we spend in front of the television how different our churches would look!

These are a few of my favorite things....

When Katherine cries,

when she whines,

when she's feeling sad......

We simply hand her her favorite things and then things don't seem soooo bad!

Her blanket made by her Grandmada, her first baby bought by daddy and mommy for Katherine's first Christmas, and our much loved pacis*.

*The pacis have been put away and Katherine has in yet another way, left the baby stage.

Valentine Blog Hop

This week's theme is Valentine Memory. I just had to join in when I saw this theme as I knew right away what I must share. My husband is a computer programmer and web designer. So two different years he created me a "website" and sent me the link to it in a special email.  They included everything from special words to songs that were special to us at that time. These are so special to me as I know that they took time and thought for him to create. They are truly the best Valentine gift I have ever received. I still have the links to them and play them every so often. They always make me smile and brighten any day.

A New Recipe

Amy over at Raising Arrows posted a recipe for a "Big Ole Batch of Dough" and I couldn't wait to try it. I don't yet have a mixer that could accomodate her HUGE batch of dough so I cut it in half. It still worked well and produced a stromboli and three dozen cinnamon rolls. I baked the stromboli and froze the cinnamon rolls for use later.

This is Amy's dough recipe cut in half! It is a BIG batch of dough.

A little too big for me.

Cinnamon rolls in the freezer

.

Stromboli folded and ready to bake.

Ooey, gooey and melty goodness. My family truly goobled this up!

After using her dough recipe I thought to myself, why couldn't I make a stomboli with my pizza crust recipe that has much more managable measurments for me at this time. So, I gave it a shot and took it to church for our family night on Sunday. It was a huge hit! Everyone loved it. I made it the day before and froze it until about 4 hours prior to baking. I removed it from the freezer, placed it on a baking sheet, and let it rise until I was ready to bake. Then I baked it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. It turned out wonderful!

Here is my pizza crust recipe -

3 cups flour

1 cup warm water

1 pckg. yeast

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

Combine 1 cup flour and the remaining ingredients. Beat slighty, about 100 strokes and let rest 5 min. Add the remaining flour and knead for 5 min. Now you can either let it rise or use right away I have done both and either way is fine.

For thin crust pizza, use lots of flour and roll out until very thin and not springy anymore. For the stromboli I left the dough thicker to make it more durable. I just rolled it out in a long rectangle. Then I topped it with tomato sauce and sprinkled with oregano and garlic salt.

Then add whatever pizza toppings you can think of. The sky's the limit on what you can put into this creation. My next idea is to use white sauce and chicken broccoli and cheese. We will see how that goes!

Homade Chewy Granola Bars

I made these this morning to send with my dad as he travels down to take my sister, Erin, her car and to pick up my mother. My mom has been gone for four weeks now. It will be so good to see her again! Anyway, back to the bars. My children LOVE these and they are super easy to make and I know what is in them and it isn't tons of sugar. So these are a win - win answer in my book!

Ingredients


1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted (I use applesauce)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup sunflower kernels (I have omitted before and they are good but the depth of flavor is better with)

1/4 cup raisins (sometime I use these and other times the choc. chips, I've never mixed them)

3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ ( I have used this and flax seed

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a lined baking sheet (8X8) and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

I ALWAYS double this and use a 9X13 cake pan for the baking. Allow to cool prior to cutting and I store them in the fridge to make them a little more sturdy.

I hope that you enjoy these as much as we do!

Please Pray - Urgent Need - Updated

Updated - They send her back to work and told her to deal with the pain and do her job. No more tests, no more therapy, no nothing! Thank you military for treating those wounded in service this way! I am very disappointed and worried about the long term effects this will have on her life and health. Thank you for the prayers.


As many of you know my sister is serving in our Armed Forces. She recieved a head injury while deployed to Iraq. It has been giving her increased pain and discomfort over the last year. Since Christmas a lot has transpired with her. We finally had to call Washington DC and the military officials there because where she is stationed was leaving her to lie in her bed in severe pain to the point of throwing up and passing out for three weeks. Finally they sent her to San Antonio for treatment. It has helped some but her therapist has told her she needs more time. Now back at Fort Polk, they are wanting to put her back to work, living in her second story barrack room, unable to drive and 1 mile from work. She can hardly walk level ground much less drive and do stairs. We need a miracle.

From left to right - Erin (the soldier), Meagan, and myself

I know that God is in control and He has her greatest good in His command, but I am asking for prayers. This girl needs a miracle or she is going to end up pushing her body so far it will just stop, and by no choice of her own. Please pray for our family today. Her appointment is at 9:00am. Also, if you have any ideas or experience with the military and could offer ideas on how to get her help instead of more hours at work, please let me know. Email me. Leave a comment. Or call me if you have my number. We just need help before it is too late. Thanks for praying.

I am SAD!!

Well, it is finally true. It has been coming for awhile and I knew it but I kept wanting to tell myself that it would be awhile. But it happened yesterday. And here is photo proof.....

Do you see it?

huh?

Do you??!

Yep, that's right. Katherine went to church sporting her first big girl ponytail yesterday. My house is now void of babies and all I have are toddlers and children.

NO BABIES!!

This is a sad, sad state and one that MUST (in my opinion) be remedied quickly. But we will continue to wait and trust God for His timing. And while we wait, I will love the stage our children are in and enjoy putting ponytails in now THREE girls hair each morning.

She didn't seem near as phased by her achievement of this right of passage into the world of big girls as her mommy did. She was all smiles!

Weekend Plans?

It's the weekend.

Super Bowl weekend, though at my house it isn't a big deal. No real football fans here!

But with views like this out my window we are staying home. Any plans we had canceled.

BUMMER!

What is the view outside your window today? Do you have plans that you will be able to keep?

If so, enjoy them for me. I think I will be here for awhile. They are saying we will be getting as much as 6 more inches on Monday.

Maggie

Maggie...

I can't believe how big you are getting.

I have often looked forward to you being old enough to sew and cook along side of me..

and while I know that  you are still little, you are growing so quickly.

You are a joy to have around and you are so much help.

I am so proud of the young lady that you are becoming. Your heart is as beautiful as your smile.

I love you, little girl. I pray you will continue to grow in your love for Christ as you learn to be

a woman that loves her calling.

Body After Baby

I haven't written a post in a couple of weeks and the main reason for that is I have platued. I can't move the scale! I have leveled out at 135-137 depending on the day and time and how much Katherine has nursed prior to my weighing. I am still excerising, still following thinking about my diet. I am not as strict as I was in the begining but I am still drinking my 64 ounces of water a day and focusing on protien and veggies at meals. I am not gaining anything back, which I like, and I am begining to think that my body is healthy here because it just won't let go of those last 5 pounds that I wanted to loose. So, I am going to stick with the plan and hope that when gardening season gets here I can work off those last 5 pounds. You see, I put in a HUGE garden every year and grow everything from green beans to okra, from cucumbers to tomatoes and peas.

Anyway, I hope all of you other Body After Baby mommas are doing well and feeling better about yourself and for your families. Hang in there and stay focused! It will be worth it in the end! It is almost summer and we want to be able to keep up with the children as they play this year!!

One Million Arrows

"One Million Arrows"

I just recieved this book in the mail to review. Check out the video to see many familiar faces to those of you in the blogging world. I will have a post up about the book once I have completed reading it but in the mean time, find more information about it one their blog.

Tea Party

It has been awhile ago now, but I just could help myself from sharing these photos of my girls having a tea party together. They actually both drank hot warm tea during said party and thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh the joys of...

Sisterhood!!!

NOT ME MONDAY!!!!

I haven't joined in the fun in awhile but I thought I had a couple things I would like to share today and there seemed no better way to do it. So here goes!

I DID NOT go grocery shopping without any child in tow on Saturday! And if I did do that it wouldn't be the first time in 16 months for me to get this special treat. While I don't like shopping on Saturday, it was a nice treat to have a few hours to myself.

I DID NOT totally blow my diet when a great friend brought by brownies and I ate two of them yesterday. Oh well, we all can cheat a little, right?

I DID NOT get totally over come with emotion when I woke this morning to the birthday of my friend's little girls. She is turning 6 today! But more than her birthday, in three short months my Sammy will be 6! And that just blows my mind.

I AM NOT totally excited about our free trip to the Magic House tonight with Samantha and Josiah's speech clinic. It is great incentive to work on this house. And man, it needs it!

Speaking of that, I AM NOT going to get off this computer and get started! Have a great day and have fun, "NOT ME MONDAY"-ing!