Moving my Blog

I have decided, that I much prefer Homeschool Blogger, so I am going to blog over there. Use this link to get to my new blog. Now to find the time, lol!

It Just Hit Me

This morning I ate breakfast at about 5 o'clock in the morning. When the children woke up to eat their breakfast at 7:30 I didn't eat a second one like I normally would. It just hit me that I didn't want to eat because I was hungry, but because I like the taste of the food. When I actually thought about it I realized what I have been doing all these years. I have been eating for the taste and pleasure, not for actual hunger. So today I said no to a second breakfast and continued my daily duties. It's hard to believe, but I resisted little chocolate donuts, lol! If you knew me, you would know that is quite a feat.

So even though I feel very frustrated with my printer that will only print half of the page I need for school, grrr, I am not running to the pleasure of food. It is wonderful to finally be able to go aha to what I believe the Lord has been trying to tell me.

Today, we are going to skip actual school and do a bit of home ec. The house is becoming a pit again and I just can't do school when I feel the walls caving in. So today we will do lessons in housekeeping which will probably involve me doing most of the work unfortunately. Oh well, little by little they will learn. Just as the Lord is patient with me, I will do my best to be patient with my children as they are learning and growing in this area.

Here is a verse that has come to my mind for today:

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:10

After reading this in context my understanding of it is that it is a warning to those that hear the word of the Lord and tune it out and don't really have a heart to hear. My time in the Word in the mornings has gotten put aside again as my youngest has begun to wake up and need my attention. So, I have not been reading it. I feel the Lord is reminding me with this verse to come back and hear, really hear His words.

So, back to the Bible I will go. He is so good to call me back to Him.

Doing it for my husband

Over the years as I have become more comfortable with myself and my appearance, I have stopped wearing make-up pretty much. Part of the reason I admit is that I have been to tired with all of the children. And my wardrobe has gotten pretty bad, sloppy looking.

The Lord has been showing me that this isn't good. Yes, my beauty shouldn't come from my outward appearance, but my heart. But this doesn't me that I shouldn't make any effort for my appearance. For Christmas my children recieved the Veggie Tales Esther story. Now the telling of it Veggie style is pretty loose. But it did get me thinking about how Esther went through the beauty treatments of her day with the other candidates for the queen position. The Lord used her appearance in a special way.

Thinking about that caused me to think about my dh and how I used to look pretty cute when we first got together. But as time went on my appearance has slipped. I know my husband loves me, but I started wondering how much I have been loving him. I mean, is it fair that my husband have to look at a sloppy, plain woman? That isn't who he married. I realized that I could bless my dh with my appearance being made beautiful with beauty treatments (make-up etc, not plastic surgery). So this week I have started wearing make-up again. I have my timer set for an hour before he gets home, so I can go and do my beauty treatments. You wouldn't believe the response I have gotten. Yesterday, he walked in the door and did a double take. He got a huge smile on his face and said I am beautiful, I look just like when we first got married. It really brightened his day. And hearing such a wonderful comment brightened mine too, lol!

So though I am tempted to feel like I am being vain by applying cosmetics and fussing with my appearance, I won't. I am doing this out of love for my husband and such a simple thing to do too. And if it was fine for Queen Esther, then I guess it isn't a sin for me either. Such a little change, but such a blessing for my sweet husband.

What can you do that would bless your husband? Little changes sometimes say the most when we do them for those we love.

Have a wonderful day blessing those you love.

Feelings

Lately I have so many feelings seeming to overwhelm me at times for no apparent reason. I am sure it is just lovely hormones, I am not as young as I used to be. Right now we are going to be able to fix a few of the things that need to be fixed, and I finally have a new computer and pda. My children are all healthy and doing well and my husband and I are very happy. But I keep feeling sad, and irritable. I guess these hormones are to keep me humble and seeking the Lord constantly.

Part of the reason I know is my sister. She is suffering so much and it is hard to enjoy your own blessings when those you love are suffering. She has 2 fractured vertebrae in her spine and has had tests run on her liver, and for rheumatoid arthritus and lupus. She is going to the doctor today to find out some of the results. She is just miserable, but she tries to make the best of it. Please pray for her if you think of it.

Well, I need to tackle some of my to do list before my crew wakes up and the day really starts. Have a good day everybody!

I'm Back!

We were able to purchase a computer this weekend, and now that I am learning my way around it I am back. I am happy to have it, but I do miss some of the programs from my old "friend". I don't always do well with change, silly right?

I recieved a magazine called TEACH. I was extremely blessed to read it. It is a magazine for Homeschooling mothers and it is a blessing to read. It isn't like some that focus on methods and products, and super kids and families. This magazine is more of an encouragement to push closer to the Lord as you live your daily life and do your daily duties. I was touched by many of the articles in my issue.

This past week I was reading my issue, and I set it down. Well, now I must figure out where I put it because I am going to review it with a few more details than I have given. One of the things I really enjoyed about it though was that it took more than one sitting to read it. I am a voracious reader, and I usually read through a magazine in one sitting (read that bath, lol). But with this magazine the articles were thought provoking and I have read it in several sittings, not just one. This has made it so much better for me, I got to enjoy the magazine for longer than I normally do.

Personally, I plan to subscribe to it. A homeschooling magazine that focuses on encouraging the heart of the mother/teacher is just what I need to reach ever higher in my calling.

Take a peek at the website, I think you will enjoy it to. And as soon as I figure out which safe place I stashed my magazine, I will share about the articles that touched me the most.

Well, it's good to be back. I think it will take me a bit of time to get a good computer time balance going again, but I am sure it will happen.

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming, and I am busily working on my gifts. I have made a lot of progress, and have most of them made. Currently I am working on some things for my boys. I keep having ideas of what I want to make pop into my head, but I know I won't have time for everything.

Here are some things I would like to make, but won't be able to get to:

hooded scarves
doggie sweaters
adult ponchos
prayer shawls
placemat sets


I get ideas, and I need to write them down so that when I am planning next year I know where to start. I have such a hard time remembering things lately.

Right now we are taking a break from formal lessons and working on chores (the children really need to be trained better in this area), and craft projects. This is such a fun time of year, and I am thankful that homeschooling allows us to enjoy it so much.

I am feeling very tired because of working on projects secretly when the children are in bed. But it will be so fun to see the surprise on their faces on Christmas morning.

I had better get to work, and get the chore training started for today. Have a a great day preparing for the celebration of our Savior!

Changed the Bible Reading Format

I wanted to be able to maintain the daily bible reading links, but I am so forgetful and time is so hard to come by, that I went ahead and changed the format. Now there are links to various types of daily bible reading plans. If you click the link it will take you to the appropriate page for that plan. This makes it simpler for me to maintain.

I hope that you enjoy reading through the bible as much as I do!

I Finally Figured it Out!

Over the years I have done battle with my tub/shower, and I have been losing. Our water is so hard that it seemed I needed power tools to keep it clean. I tried all kinds of cleaners and sprays and nothing worked. I was resigning myself to have a dirty looking tub and consoling myself with the fact that at least I knew I had cleaned it. It wasn't very encouraging though. I mean who wants to clean their bodies in a grungy looking shower? And I knew that my husband was having his doubts that I ever really cleaned it.

Recently I stumbled on something that has given me the advantage in my battle, and I do believe I have victory at last! I have always used nylon scrubbies similar to SOS pads to scrub my tub but it was near impossible to get the stuff off the tub. So I decided to do just a tiny bit each time I shower. I take my scrubbie, and scrub just for a few minutes right before I shower/bathe. This has made such a difference. I no longer dread my tub and my husband actually said it is starting to look new (he is being kind, it is a really old tub and nothing could make it look new). So bit by bit the hard layers have come off and I continue to scrub each shower to ensure it doesn't come back.

Our shower curtain was a problem also, because it rusts and is so awkward to clean. I ended up buying a new one at the Dollar Tree and getting rid of the old one. The new one is flimsy, but I am going to buy a new one each month or so and keep that looking nice also.

I had tried to do this before with a flimsy scrubber and squeegy, but it didn't do a thing. I needed something stronger, the nylon scrubbies, for this to work. So if you are fighting a losing battle with your tub, the answer is simple. Scrub before you tub! And bring out the big guns, don't use any old wimpy sponge, lol!

Some Technical Difficulties

I am having some problems with my computer. It needs a repair, so I may not be able to post except once a week for a while. I have a notebook computer, and the part that the cord plugs into for chargeing or running off electricity is broken and doesn't always get a connection. Actually I think it is a miracle that it has one right now. So as the Lord allows I will blog, and as He allows it will be repaired.

This down time I am going to look at as a blessing. I won't have the temptation to fritter away my time on the computer, so I will spend more time doing what I should be doing. Just imagine how clean my house will be, lol!

We had a lovely and relaxing Thanksgiving. We put up our Christmas tree, or I should say the children did. It is such a blessing that they are now old enough to do those things. I am beginning to see fruits of my labor in my children and it is a real joy.

Today I was able to enjoy a day with my Mom, which is rare. We went out and braved some of the after Thanksgiving sales. It was such fun to help pick out gifts for others, and for my own kiddos too. Then we got to just sit and chat which is rare nowadays. My only regret was not bringing my crochet with me so I could be productive, I am just so unused to sitting and not doing anything.

Well, I had better get back to my crocheting and get to putting away all the small things I bought today. I hope to be back soon!

Kids and Crafts

Today I had such a good time making bead candy canes with the children. So my thankful for today (yes, I know I haven't been doing it everyday, I mean to I just don't get to it), is kids and crafts. Something as ordinary as red, green and white pony beads and pipe cleaners become something extremely fun as I watch the children creating something. My two year old, Brook was so pleased with herself for making hers and I was such a proud mama! What a blessing to be able to enjoy simple things with my children. What a rich life I have with them!

I've Been Tagged!

Also, if I exercise I can earn extra points.

That is the 5th sentence from the 23rd post on my blog!

A fun game:

Find the 23rd post on your blog.

Find the 5th sentence.

(This is supposed to tell something about you!) :)

Cut and paste it along with these instructions.

Tag 5 friends who have blogs!

Leave your sentence in my comments!

Momys

Today I am thankful for Momys. If you aren't familiar with Momys it is a website, momys.com where mothers of many children get together online. It is a great place and I am so blessed by the Momys. They are loving and giving. When I am down I can always go onto Momys and be encouraged. I am also blessed when I am encouraged to try harder and do better in my calling as a wife and mother by other Momys. And in my walk with my Lord.

So today, I just want to praise God for a place like Momys!