See you next week!

And don't eat too much! ;-D

Follow the "50"

and win. Read more here. If you save their "button" to your computer, you can upload it in your blog's layout page. Blogger now offers the choice to link your pictures - so you can link the button back to their blog!!

Homeschool Open House

Tammy is hosting a "Homeschool Open House" today. I'd like to invite you into our homeschool room today and let you know what we've been up to for the past 5 months...yep, you read that right, we started school in July - it was really hot and I figured while we are inside, let's start. We've taken some breaks along the way, but we are more than halfway through our second quarter.
**Each "title" of the products I've listed below are links and will take you to different websites showing you the actual products.

This is where we "do" school. The orange chair is mine and Quintin sits to the right of me, which works because he is left-handed. I have a huge metal basket on the table that houses most of our books. As you can see, our bookshelves are full to bursting as well. We certainly need to incorporate some more organization and storage in this room....it will come!

We are still working our way through the Weaver Curriculum's Volume 1. We are currently in chapter 9 studying money and stewardship. Weaver covers Bible, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, Field Trips and Memory Verses.

We use RightStart Math and guess what our current study is??? Money - yep, these are two individual curriculums and God's divine planning never ceases to amaze me that we are studying money in both programs at the same time!!

I've incorporated an additional Bible Study program into our time because the lessons in Weaver are a little above Quintin's understanding. While we discuss those themes, I like using this other program to learn more Bible stories. We've been working our way through the New Testament using the Explorer's Bible Study "Bible Foundations."

We continue to use Spell to Write and Read as our foundational phonics program. I am very pleased with his progress in this area and his love of reading. I've also introduced The Well-Trained Mind's "First Language Lessons" as a supplemental language program. It is a scripted guide and each lesson is very short. I really enjoy the poem memorization that is part of it.

We throw in all sorts of other activities that we see from TV programs or magazines. My goal is just to keep it interesting and engaging...not just for Quintin, but for his brother and sister too. They often join us at the table, if only for a few minutes, but they are still there - and I want them to see it being fun so that they continue to come back.

Thank you Tammy for hosting this. Since this is the first time I'm participating, I wanted to do an introduction to our school. I hope to post more specific activities in the future!!

10 years - so much has happened

There are some children in our church congregation that need some life-saving angels with them right now - If you believe in the power of prayer, please lift Hannah, Aliyah, John and Gavin up in your prayers.


**This is a re-post from August 27, 2007.**

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the angel that saved my life. I guess I can't really introduce him, because I don’t know his name or much about him. But I know he was there, that mildly warm November day. So, I'd like to write about what he did for me.

It was 1998, and T and I had been married for 2 years. I was leaving home, heading to school about 20 minutes away. T happened to be leaving at the same time that morning, so I followed him out of the driveway down the main road that leads past his parents’ house and gets us both to work. At the third stop sign, just before his parents’ house – something happened. Something I will never forget.

I was driving T’s first car – you know, the first one that you can call yours? It was a 1990 Acura Integra – shiny red! This picture was taken by T in 1995 at his parents’ house shortly after washing and waxing it. And it was actually my first car, too.



It was November 24, I remember the date because it is also the day of my brother-in-law's birthday. T crossed through the 2-way stop intersection and then it was my turn. As I looked both ways, several times in fact because it was a bit of a hard turn to see around, I put the car into first gear and pulled away from the stop sign.

All I can remember is hearing an extremely loud noise and yelling out T’s name. I remember smelling something strange, too. Since, I've learned that it was the smell of tires burning. I did not see the oncoming pickup truck. It hit my car on the passenger side and pushed me into a telephone pole. I blacked out and awoke on the shoulder of the road pushed up against the pole. I could reach out and touch my passenger door – it had been pushed in and the passenger seat was behind me. The driver of the other vehicle came up to me and I remember just saying sorry, over and over.

T was down the road about ½ a mile waiting on his parent’s driveway to wave to me as I went past. He had stopped to pick up the newspaper for his mom, since his dad was away hunting. Knowing I had been right behind him, he got concerned and walked off the driveway, onto the road to look for me. Their house sits back a little bit and there is an S turn right before their house, so he couldn’t see the intersection from their driveway. What he saw where cars crossing the intersection slowly and the hint of a red car in the field.

He ran inside to tell his mom and he hopped in the truck. I can still remember his blue pickup truck driving towards me and my thoughts of “Oh man, he’s not going to be happy with what I’ve done to his car.”

I was still in the car when he reached me because the seat belt would not release me. It was the type of seat belt that buckled you in when the car door closed. I was able to release the lap portion of the belt, but I couldn’t get out. I can also remember the feel of something cold and wet running down the side of my face.

I remember my eyes locking with T’s and being concerned about what he would say. He reached the car as I was wiping my forehead. He told me to stop because I was bleeding. I didn’t even know, nor did I realize I had glass in my skin. The first thing out of my mouth, after apologizing was "Call my school. Let them know I may be a little late.”

Minutes passed feeling like hours. The ambulance came and I remember them talking about using the Jaws of Life to get me out. I thought what? Just open the window, I’ll climb out. I even attempted to get out myself and they told me to stop. I was put into the ambulance and we were on our way. To this day, I still jump when I hear sirens – I feel for the person inside and say a prayer, because I can remember those feelings of: What happened? Why me? What is going on? Am I going to be okay?

I arrived at the hospital and they worked to get the glass out of my face and my gash stitched up. I only required about 11 stitches for a V shaped cut on my right temple.

Next they took me for an x-ray and found that my collarbone had been crushed – not just one nice clean break, but crushed. My passenger seat hit my right arm and my collarbone took the brunt of it. This was the same side as my incision – it was remarkable to me that I was reaching up to wipe the blood away and I don’t remember feeling pain in my arm or shoulder.

I stayed in the hospital for one night. My stitches came out and I have a scar that is barely visible. I wore a shoulder brace for 3 months to pull my right shoulder back to allow my collarbone to heal. Instead of looking like a nice smooth bone, my right collar bone looks like a rope with a knot in it.

Why was I spared? I’ve asked myself this many, many times since then. When I look at pictures from the accident, I feel that my angel pulled me out right out of that car. Then put me back in, with just a few scratches and a broken bone for good measure, after the car stopped. When I see how the only part of the car that was untouched is where I was sitting and the front driver's side of the car - I am amazed that I was in there.

That's T's blue truck in the background. You can see Riley at the driver's side window and me in the passenger seat.

I can’t imagine being in that car. I can’t believe T was so close when it all happened. It was rare for us to leave for work at the same time in the mornings.

My car ended up being towed to a garage just ¼ mile from our house. For the next several weeks, I could still see my car in the lot. I could see the top of the hatchback since it had popped into the air from the collision.

Almost 9 years have passed and I can so clearly see God’s hand through it all. I am amazed at how calm I was through the whole experience – I truly do not remember being in the car when it happened.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 170:1

Whatever difficulties you may confront today, remember it is God who holds you in His hands, just like He held me on that November day. His strength holds you up and enables you to face anything that comes your way.

Today is the 10 year anniversary of that accident - It makes me truly thankful each Thanksgiving.

Can I do it?

I'm super excited to have been picked.  If you have read my blog before, you are probably very aware of my love for this website - You Can Make This.

You can follow the other 49 challengers at the YCMT blog.  And you can follow my thrifty gift-giving ideas here on my blog.

I hope you are eager to see if I can meet this challenge - I know I am!    I've got a lot of great ideas floating around in my head and a great team of people at YCMT to work together with.

So, let's see if I can make gifts for the people on my list for under $50!

Let it snow!

Elle just came down the steps.

I suggested she look out the window as we are having some snow flurries.  I don't believe it is supposed to amount to anything, but it is still beautiful to look at and I didn't want her to miss seeing it's beauty.

Elle looked out and was very impressed exclaiming, "Snowdrops!"

Yes, why aren't they called snowdrops?  Oh, she makes me smile!!

Of course I couldn't get the snowdrops to show up in our pictures, so I'm just posting my favorite!!

Wordless...

...Wednesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday

The other week, I told the kids I was going to make Daddy's favorite pie, a lemon sponge pie.

Elle was eager to help.  As she watched me mix the ingredients, she asked, "When will you make my favorite pie for me?"

This struck me funny, because this pie I was making, was only the third pie I'd ever made.  And we don't eat pie other than holidays.  So, I needed to question her further.

"So, Elle" I asked, "What is your favorite pie?"

She answered very matter of factly, "Watermelon pie!"

"Oh really?"  I replied, "But you don't like watermelon when we have it in summer."

"Oh, but I like watermelon pie."

What's a mom to do?  I goo*gled 'watermelon pie' and actually found a recipe for a frozen pie.  I'll keep it in my stash for next summer - but first I'll ask to see if she has a new favorite by then.

Happy Tiny Talk Tuesday!

I did it!!

I survived 5 nights on my own with the kids!

Early last Tuesday, T left for McKenzie, ND on a hunting trip with his brother and father. The brothers did it as a gift to their dad to celebrate his 50 years with the business.

He arrived home, to a house of excited children, at 5 yesterday afternoon.

Brother T, Dad, my T (along with a dog and some pheasants!) They were out hunting geese, ducks and pheasants.

Yeah, I know, wouldn't you rather lay around in one of these on snow-covered ground for a week instead of being at home? I don't get it! LOL!!!

After a long day of hunting (I'm assuming, T didn't tell me that, I'm gauging it on the fact that they look tired!!)

Wow, I cannot believe how flat it is out there! (sorry as my SDian friends, but seriously, it's flat. I look into my backyard and can't see my picnic table in the woods because the back corner of the yard drops off! I know, I know, I need to travel more!)

I'll never understand the lure of hunting. I did not come from a family of hunters, so this took some getting used to when I started dating T.

"You go into the woods? With a gun? And sit there for hours? Just so you can kill something? Which, by the way, you must gut? And then drag out of the woods? And then we hang it's head on the wall? Couldn't we save the money and buy a nice piece of artwork?"

I'm just sayin' - I don't get it. Besides....orange....it is NOT my color! ;-)

While we still have bear season coming up and buck season...I think I can handle it! I'm just happy to have T home (and my camera...but don't tell him I said that!)

Drawing 101

I think it thrills all parents to see the skills and talents that develop in their children.  It especially thrills me when I see a skill developing that I myself, do not possess.

Quintin loves to draw, he always has.  We decorate the sliding glass doors next to our kitchen table with the kids many drawings.  I took a few down to share today - so please excuse this mommy gloating post! ;-)

A drawing of one of the many toy gu.ns laying around the house:


Star Wars - Chewbacca, R2D2, a storm trooper, C3PO with various spaceships in the background.

His newest challenge?  Drawing Calv.in and Hob.bes.  We picked up a used book of Ca.lvin and Hobb.es "There's Tre.asure Every.where" at a book store when we were at the cabin the other weekend.

This was the cartoon he liked:


And here is my budding artist's rendition:
 

With each drawing, he amazes me.  I just wish I could learn how to help him not be such a perfectionist.  When he doesn't like what's he drawn, he gets so upset and crumbles up the paper.  But his dad tells me that was how he was as a kid...I guess the apple didn't far fall...huh?

Thursday's Thoughts

- Is it too early to wish for spring? I enjoy fall and winter, I really do, but there is something about a cloudy day, like today, that makes me long for sun, sun, sun. I think it is time for a sun and sand vacation! Oh, Poppa Roar!!!! ;-)

- I'm eager to get my Christmas shopping done so I can spend time enjoying the advent with the kids.

- No, I'm not pushing past Thanksgiving...we are with T's family for Thanksgiving day so I have no preparations to do. Friday evening we are having some of my family for turkey sandwiches and other goodies which won't be as hectic to plan for as the actual day - so I'm feeling relaxed. When I'm relaxed, I like to stress myself out by looking ahead to the next item on the agenda! Planning, planning, planning!

- As much as today's clouds could make my mood gloomy, I'm deciding instead to look forward to the beach trips we have planned for next summer. 7 months - let's start a countdown now! :-P
- What on earth did we do to have 2 children born in the month of December? Ok, granted, I know the obvious answer...but, boy, is it tough planning with 2 birthdays next month.

- Is it Sunday yet?

- I continue to be amazed by seeing how God takes care of all the little details. It is a thrill to see something come together - that looked impossible a week ago.

What are you thinking about this Thursday?

Wordless Wednesday

Need to add words to make blogline's monster like me!! x-(

Free Spirit!

You Belong in 1960

You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Obviously, I'm in a mood for silly web games/quizzes this week - sometimes, you just need to be silly to de-stress...can I get a second?

 

Celebrity look alikes

I've seen this on some other blogs and thought I'd play along.  I'm a little disheartened that out of the 10 faces it matched to mine, 4 of them were male.  And two males were ranked #3 and #4.  I knew I had a very strong jaw line, but come on!!  ;-D

Here are my results:

I was suprised one didn't come up - a lot of people have told my mom and I we look like the character Dana Scully from the X-Files played by Gillian Anderson.

What do you think? 

I'm just glad God made me to look like I do (massive chin and all). I honestly don't want to look like any celebs!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Ok, I must first admit, I'm sitting here in short sleeves and it is in the 60s outside. And yes,I'm mentioning Christmas.While my good friend, Just Mom, is already decorating for Christmas, Oh yes she di'id, I've started listening to Christmas music (which I believe she started doing 4 months ago).

I will admit, the music has lifted my spirits this week. And I've comleted more Christmas shopping.

I've also been thinking about decorations. Inside and outside decorations.Last year, at an after Christmas sale, I purchased a pre-lit, artificial (obviously) 9' Christmas tree for our family room which is open to the upstairs. I'm very excited about putting it up - although, honestly, I must admit that I am a little afraid to remove it from the box for fear of never getting it back into the box.

But what about the outside? In the past, I've hung wreaths in my windows, swags at the windows and last year, I went more simple. We have candles in our windows year round, but I think I love them the most at Christmas-time. I light 5 trees, but this picture only shows 2 of them.

I like the simplicity of white lights. Even the simple wreaths with a soft red ribbon. I'm not much for show ... or work, when it comes to decorating. The simple the better, in my mind. But, this year, since I have so many good helpers here at home, I'm thinking on taking on more of a challenge with our decorations.

I've been looking, reading, researching....and I've been thinking about doing something like this.




(If it isn't working, click here to watch it on you.tube)

What do you think? Simple, right?


;-D

Prayer as Breathing

Pray continually.—1 Thessalonians 5:17

What we think about prayer has a lot to say about what we think about God.

For some, prayer is mainly an exercise in bringing our “list” before God, cluing Him into our needs (as if He somehow was not in tune with them in the first place). For others, prayer is our divine check-in with our Creator, informing Him of the day’s goings on. While still others see prayer as a moment of holy reverence, filled with “thee” and “thou” and a whole host of other words we would never use in “regular” discussion with our friends.

But what if prayer was so much more?

More than our lists.

More than talking over our day.

More than addressing some far-off deity.

What if prayer were more like breathing? Just as breathing is pretty essential to our physical well-being, so is prayer to our soul. From very early on, our spiritual ancestors knew there was a connection between prayer and breathing. This is why prayer is likened to our breathing in so many writings. They knew that breathing is essential to our lives. It is something that provides life and vitality, and without it, we wouldn’t live but for a few moments. Breathing is something we do almost unconsciously.

What if prayer were like that? I think this is essentially what Paul is getting at when he tells the followers of Jesus in Thessalonica to “pray continually.” I doubt that he was telling them to walk around continually with their heads bowed and eyes closed. Rather, I think he was inviting them to see prayer as a connection, as a way of living and breathing, a way of being connected to and communing with the Creator.

Breathing is equal parts exhaling and inhaling. You can’t inhale without exhaling. Likewise, you cannot exhale very long before inhaling.

I wonder if prayer is like that – equal parts exhaling and inhaling. The Scriptures are filled with people who exhaled, people who, from the depths of their souls, spoke words of honesty to God. Frustration. Doubt. Anxiety. Anger. Joy. Sorrow. Pain. Disappointment. Hope. Fear. Dreams. Brokenness. Just take some time to read through Psalms and you’ll see these kinds of emotions and many more. Historically, the people of God knew one thing for certain: God is big enough for our emotions, good or bad. He knows about them anyway, so why not tell Him honestly?

The Scriptures are also filled with people who inhaled, people who sought for the Creator God to fill them with His presence, His goodness, with peace and wholeness. They sought God to fill their beings with His, to allow His Spirit to dwell with theirs. By inhaling, they were seeking to have their lives be more in rhythm with the way and life of God.

Take a few minutes today to breathe, really breathe. Allow yourself to inhale and exhale, to pray to God your Creator.


**This devotional was written by Mike DeVries from Today's HomeWord Devotional

He's got you and me brother...

While watching election results last evening, we were reminded of the important things in life.

As we watched, we could hear Quintin singing in bed.

He was singing, "He's got the whole world in His hands."  Singing almost every verse, as learned from a 'Sunday school songs' video.

He's got the whole world in His hands [Repeat 4x]



He's got the wind and the rain in His hands [Repeat 3x]


He's got the whole world in His hands


He's got the sun and the moon in His hands. [Repeat 3x]


He's got the little bitty baby in His Hands. [Repeat 3x]


He's got you and me Brother in His hands. [Repeat 3x]


He's got everybody here in His hands. [Repeat 3x]

Through the voice of our oldest, we were again reminded that God is in control and it is our children that make it all worth it.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for this precious child's song.

FOREVER God is FAITHFUL

Forever by Chr*is Toml*in

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

And God approves this message!

Isn't it great to know WHO really is in charge?

Credit - I don't know the person who created the video or the email that circulated with the 10 predictions, but I thought they were both fitting for the day.

Please be sure to vote today!

Fall!

I love this time of year.  The temperatures have dropped and it feels nice to snuggle under a blanket in the evenings.  The leaves are at their peak and so beautiful.  Here is a tree in our backyard.  I can look at this from my kitchen sink.

Beautiful, isn't it?  However, this small tree, and the others just like it around our house, just don't drop enough leaves to make a worthwhile pile to jump in.  So, the kids and I headed to my parents' house on Friday for lunch and some fun in the leaves!  They have several big trees and my dad saved some leaves just for us!

Early Saturday morning, we headed to the mountains so T could get some time in the woods before archery season ends.  His brother and a friend were up so he headed out with them Saturday afternoon into the evening but they didn't see a thing.  :-(

Sunday, we took a drive around and stopped at a beautiful lake at the top of the mountain.

Quintin LOVES skipping rocks!

The leaves have already dropped where we were, but it was still very beautiful and peaceful. 

What did you do this weekend?  Other than eat too much trick or treat candy? ;-)