Challenging Myself...more...

On the same vein as my last post, I'd like to add more about how I purpose to stretch and challenge myself. 

Like my last post, I mentioned that when one is not learning and growing, one is stagnant.  There are so many things I don't know, so many things that I do know, but know so very little of and yet my appetite for knowing about those things makes them all the more intriguing to me.  Some of the things I'd like to learn to do more with is juicing, yogurt making, dehdrating, baking with spelt and quinoa, cooking with red palm oil and coconut oil instead of the highly hydrogenized cooking oils found on store shelves, medicinal uses of herbs as well as planting herb gardens for beauty and asthetics. 

I would love to do more with home juicing for the health benefits of it.  I'd like to find a good book to show which juices help to aid in which body process.  As for now, I pretty much know that cucumber juice helps with arthritis.  I'd like to find more information and put it in to practice.  As for the pulp that is left behind, I'd like to use it (minus the seeds) for smoothies and possibly breads.  If anyone knows of a good book like the one I've described, please let me know! 

Yogurt making has always intrigued me.  I would love to start making some of our own because we go through it so very quickly.  I'd love to mix my own locally collected honey and hand picked berries with it to make it as close to home made as possible.  I'm trying to get away from preservatives and get as close to God made as possible.  The genetically modified organisms (GMO's) are running rampant in our food supplies.  The kids and I watched a show about Corn through Netflix last week.  They use "dent" corn (aka: NON-edible corn) to make the high fructrose corn syrup in many drinks!  If it isn't supposed to be edible, then why are they making it in to something people consume?  Ugh!   If you would read this article called Genetically Modified(GM) Crops- How Scientists Have Perverted Natural Foods by Michael Pearl, you'll find that he quotes quite a few scriptures that point out how God's creation was deemed "good" by the creator God from beginning of the world.  You'll also find a warning about "mingling" seeds from Leviticus 19:19 that says, "Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed".  So for us, we're getting away from anything Genetically Modified for our health's sake.  Am I "running" out of fear?  No!  To the contrary!  I am choosing to get our foods from as natural sources as I can, like our front bay window, for instance.

I have dehydrated many of my herbs for over winter usage for years.  I have dehydrated basil, sage, cilantro, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and chamomile.  My husband has dehydrated onions, zucchini, tomatoes, hot peppers of all sorts of heat levels, bell peppers and beef jerky.  While my own purposes of dehydrating herbs have been strictly for culinary purposes, my husband's purposes have been to replicate a hot seasoning mix or hot sauce to share with his friends.  While I don't mind dehydrating, I would love to do it more on a mass scale with an Excaliber 3900.

If you click the picture, it will take you to the page where you can see other dehydrators in addition to the one pictured above.

When fruit and vegetables are at their peaks, I like to buy in bulk so that we can use the produce through the winter.  I would like to dehydrate some as well as make fruit leather (like fruit roll ups, but healthier), trail mix, jams and jellies because freezer space is limited to garden produce and farm fed and hunted meats.  The Excaliber is a rectangular model that would fit perfectly on my hearth while dehydrating summer's goodness. 

I admit that I need to do more research on spelt and quinoa, how to cook with them, what recipes to make with them and so forth.  Both my husband and I are diabetic as of this year now.  I need to make sure I find good sources of nutrient dense foods for all of us to eat that are not detrimental to either of our blood sugars. 

I've been cooking with coconut oil for a couple of years.  I've heard of red palm oil through an article written by Serene Allison of Above Rubies and thought it had some merit.  I started reading a few things here and there to find that the things she mentioned in the article were right.  Tropical Traditions carries Virgin Red Palm Oil.  I haven't  researched any other reputable companies to know enough about comparison pricing or anything like that.  I will be doing that very soon as well. 

I would like to encourage each one of you who read this blog post to challenge yourself to research and read more about healthy diets and over all good health.  As of our last Dr's appointment, our blood tests were all good, with exception of the glucose numbers.  It is inevitable, then for us to be drawn to greater health.  We want to pass this on to our children as well.  One of them in particular seems rather rebellious against the "greater health" diet that we're pursuing.  He seems to think that the thought of "there will be no more sugar and/or sweet stuff in the house EVER again" is ancient medieval torture.  Much the same, he considers more water intake to be an aweful consequense to having more acne.  LOL  'Twas such a wonderful thing that he expressed these views in front of his Daddy.  *BIG grin*  Daddy told him that it is a part of life, to take care of oneself.  All of us need to be eating healthier foods to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

Challenging Ourselves

I know very well how it is to be "stuck in a rut", not learning, growing or moving forward.  It feels very stagnant.  I have used the past 5 years to perfect my knitting.  Now, I'm not saying that I am a perfect knitter.  As a matter of fact, if I sat beside another knitter, I would probably boggle their mind by how I do my own stitches.  I knit using a "plaited" knitting stitch.  In looking at the differences between both ways, I much prefer the plaited knitting to conventional.  It feels more comfortable for me.  I can do this more quickly than trying to switch to conventional knitting.  If you'd like to see what I mean, go to youtube and look up a video for "plaited knitting stitch" and you'll be able to see the difference, if you're a knitter.  It knits in the back side of the stitch instead of the front of the stitch. According to my book,

the plaited knitting stitch is a flatter stitch.  That is the only difference in how it looks.  I don't mind.  Really!  LOL  I've been knitting with this stitch since I picked up my knitting needles in 2005. 

As for continuing to learn about things, I'd like to learn how to do a couple simple lace scarves to go with my dresses to begin with.  I'd like to make them out of a varigaited silk.  I'll see what I can come up with.  This is what I am stretching myself with this year, in addition to the Scandanavian & Norwegian knitting.  I've been drawn to this type of knitting for a very long time. 

I love the challenge of learning something new.  I love working through patterns.  My only problem is overcoming the feeling of being overwhelmed because I don't know anyone locally to help me in case I come upon something that is difficult.  This is a challenge for me.  I go through every possible scenario in my head saying to myself, "What if I buy all the things I need to do this and the silk is expensive and whatever I make doesn't look nice?  I'll be wasting money!"  I know of many people who just jump in with both feet and plow through things like this.  Me?  I read and reread, looking up stitches and how to do them, watching videos and practicing on small swatches before I even get in to the actual piece.  I guess I just want to make sure I'm careful so that what I do will look nice and I don't waste money in the project.  That thought in and of itself is the biggest thing that is stopping me.  *sigh* 

So, I continue to practice and plan, stretching myself ever so slowly, growing and learning purposefully, methodically, every day. 

Thankfulness...

Yes, I figured it was time for me to write more about the things I'm thankful for.  It helps me to keep my chin up and to LOOK for things throughout my day to be thankful for.  With older children who challenge me daily in my own knowledge, stretching my own brain power, things here are much different than some of my other blogging friends with small ones at home.  I'll try to give you a little bit of a taste of my days through my thankfulness lists.  :)

#24--A son who is learning and growing in his understanding in spite of his Dyslexia & Dysgraphia.  What a blessing!
#25--A husband who has submitted his will to the fact that, yes, he needs to go to the Dr. more often than he does.  I'm thankful for that.

#26--Realizations that you need to lose weight, dispite your weakness for Utz Sour Cream and Onion potato chips. (Keeping things real.  I struggle with weaknesses just like ya'all!  )
#27--Thankful for good days when the body feels good and there are no migraines. 
#28--For dog hair to clean up--it means we're loved by a big loving doggie.

#29--My hubby who goes so willingly to pick up prescriptions, even when they are out of his way. 

#30--The challenges of quietly bringing a young woman back to the cross, showing her that her bitter attitude does not produce good Godly fruit and making her write why she's thankful for those who love her 10 times per person.  (Yes, I am thankful for these times.  It gives me so much appreciation for the process--regardless of the wrong doing--because I know this is right to bring her back to the cross--to repentance.)

#31--My oldest son who so patiently endures the seemingly embarrassing and odorous administrations of Tea Tree Oil to his acne covered back.  (If this doesn't work, we'll go to the Dr to get a referral to a dermitologist.)

#32--My glasses.  Yes, I know it is strange, but I am thankful for my glasses.  I've been feeling as if I need them more lately than ever before.  Thank God for tri-focals.  Yes, trifocals.  They talked me in to it since my insurance covers them instead of bifocals.  LOL  Go figure! 

#33--An automatic threader on my sewing machine!  (See #32)

#34--My hubby who loves to just sit and snuggle with me on the couch after the kids are in bed watching something on Netflix. 

#35--My hubby who so wonderfully sought after wisdom in how to fix the Sub and fixed it!  The distributor cap was wet and corroded and it needed a new one.  Inexpensive fix!  Praise God!

#36--My little dog Biscuit who is so excited to see me whenever I walk around the corner. 

#37--Papers to grade.

#38--Bathroom mirrors to clean.

#39--Harmony Wood needles from Knit Picks.

#40--Cotton Yarn

#41--Pretty woven throws to keep warm under while knitting.

#42--Lace Knitting Pattern books.

#43--Vanilla yogurt with blueberries, raspberries (both hand picked and frozen) with sunflower nuts and coconut.

#44--My Bible that my wonderful husband gave me for Christmas.

Of course the list continues, but this is just simply from the past few days. 

How about you?

Courage

It takes courage to stand up for what is right.

This is an AMAZING movie!  I highly recommend it!

Beautifully Simply Blessed

There is something to be said by living a simple life, willingly. When we live plainly, not necessarily as the Amish, but simply, the focus of our lives is moved away from "keeping up with the Joneses" and refocused on what truly matters--family relationships & working together.



How do you, dear reader, live simply? That is truly up to each person individually and as a family. There are many ways to start, but I much prefer to begin anything from my knees. When we surrender ourselves to our Lord, acknowledging our ineptedness in such things, He is faithful to guide and direct our steps.



When I began seeking a simpler life, after seeking God, I stopped at a Christian book store on my way home from a Dr's appointment. As I browsed, I was drawn to this book--




I bought it, took it home and devoured it much like a ravenous wolf. I made it to the end where the reference section was and was still *hungry* and wanted more to devour. I went through all the catalogs and books, requested catalogs of all kinds and found another book. Imagine that! LOL I checked just the first book out of the library and found that I would be foolish to NOT buy all 3! So I mentioned it to my hubby who was extremely supportive. And my quest began... 

I loved this book which is the compilation of all the newsletters that had been written and individually sent out to their readers. I have found this book to be invaluable as a tool for more ideas on how to save more money just simply by doing it myself or making things myself. I have done quite a few things in the name of saving money, like making my own laundry soap; diluting liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle, spraying a wash cloth and putting that in the drier; making homemade cleaners out of vinegar, a couple drops of dish soap and essential oil; making knee patches for jeans; darning socks; and a whole host of other things ranging from the kitchen to the kids' clothes, to yard saling.

And, if you're wondering, my husband has stretched the usage of so many things in his arena much like what I've done. He has made a tractor last so much longer than it's normal life expectancy just simply by finding where he can buy individual parts for it and doing the work himself. Mrs.Dacyczyn would say in her books something like "use it up and wear it out." The only reason it should go to the trash is that we truly tried to fix everything and have exhausted our options. To us, this is good stewardship--to keep things out of the landfill until they are truly unusable any longer.

For me, January, February and March are planning months. These are the months when I get our taxes done, order our seeds for the year and take an inventory of everyone's clothing. I take their measurements just in case I'm out and about through the summer, find a deal at a yard sale without a tag, then I can measure to see if it will fit anyone in our home. During this planning time, I also take note of some of the things I might need in my home. I have some things I need and some things I'd like to get in my kitchen. For example, I need another basting brush. I'd like to see if I can find one at a yard sale this summer first before buying new. I have some other things I'd like to find as well, but this is the only thing that comes to mind currently. With a little planning and forethought, I can save us quite a bit of money [while the garden grows], getting things we'd need anyway for dirt cheap.

For those of you who are wondering, yes I do try to find clothes for my family at yard sales. I've found some things for each one of us. Last year, I hit the jackpot when arriving at a yard sale just 5 minutes before they closed on their last day. They gave us 3 bags of men's size large clothes for my oldest son for just $5. They were very good quality clothes too. One must be willing to spend a couple Saturdays and some Sunday afternoons yard saling to get these deals. My husband laughs at me. He knows me so very well, though. If I see a yard sale, he knows I'll want to stop, just to see if I can find something that will save us some money in the future.

I always pray about the Lord filling all of our needs. If it is His will to do that through yard saling, then all the better. If not, sometimes it happens, but that just means I need to wait.

Some things that I always look for at yard sales are as follows~

• Fabric--We live out in Rural Northwestern Pennsylvania. The nearest fabric store is 35-45 minutes away, depending on the weather. I don't have the ability to drop everything at a moment's notice and go to the fabric store. I just isn't doable. I look for fabric at yard sales that is usually cotton. Occationally I may find something that my daughter likes and would like to make in to something, so I get it. One time I found 5 yards of polar fleece fabric for $5 at a yard sale.
• Notions--All kinds! Especially buttons, thread, needles and plastic bobbins.
• Vintage tablecloths and napkins. I found some last year, but the tablecloths were too small for my table.
• Good quality items for gifts--the "just because" kind.
• Yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks.
• Books based on what we're studying or will be studying. :)

Let's face it, when a spool of thread at a yard sale costs $.10 and at the local fabric store, it costs $2.79, I'd rather pay the $.10 and save the 2790% difference (yes, that surprises me too) to purchase on other needful things.

I would like to encourage you, dear reader, to do the math on a variety of things you purchase. Calculate the savings you would have if doing it this way. Challenge yourself this year to stretch the dollars you've been given by the Lord, because all things we've been given are from Him. :)

Blessings,

Regina

Sunday Happenings...

This morning started like any morning does...with the alarm going off at 7AM.  I awoke my precious daughter to let the dogs out and the boys to get their days going.  I finished my daily bathroom hygeine, vacated so others could use the bathroom and went downstairs to get some breakfast. 

By 9:00 everyone was ready, except Daddy who just got in to the shower.  We were leaving at 9:45, so he was right on time. 

We had a lovely time visiting a new church, given much to ponder and pray about.  After getting home to down some lunch, Mr. G and I sat at the table having our lunch together and discussing a few things about this morning and some physical issues he had with the pews.  So far, we both liked the church, but would like to visit others in the area to get a better comparison.  Next week, it'll be a different church to visit for 2 Sundays.  :) 

After Mr. G left for work, the children ate what they could quickly and we were off to piano lessons.  They're all progressing quite nicely and doing so very well.  :) 

This afternoon was very strange!  So strange in fact, that we finished our Mega Shopping.  How strange to be doing our Mega Shopping on a Sunday afternoon!  So many times we get it done on Friday mornings and then it is done and we don't have to worry about it.  This time, though, the big Sub was making funny noises on our way to "Harp Hopper" (as JL use to call it), so we went home and didn't finish.  The big Sub is running rough, so Mr. G is going through a list of things it could be, fixing this and that as well as seeking wise counsel from a friend of his or two who use to be mechanics.  Prayers for healing on the big Sub would be appreciated.  I know....it is an inanimate object, but it is an integral part of the running of our home.  ;) 

After reassurance from Mr. G that it won't just quit on me, I confidently completed our Mega Shopping and came home.  What a blessing! 

Now, here I sit with my feet up, fighting going to to sleep because I'm exhausted.  I just finished talking with the dear friend who I'll be co-teaching with tomorrow about teaching the young ladies in the Keepers of the Faith class.  We're teaching the girls how to knit and crochet.  I've sent my daughter up to clean her room.  DA asked to play a computer game.  JL is getting his lunch put together for tomorrow's home school class day.  After they're done, they'll do some tidying up for a guest to come stay the night tomorrow after home school class day. 

I am so very thankful for so many things the Lord has given to me!  I know that some of my bloggie friends are doing a 1000 thankful things.  I'll have to find out more about that, but I guess I'll start now.

#1--Jesus my Lord and Savior
#2--My husband--Mr. G [adding more detail as I go along]
#3--My oldest son DA
#4--My daughter HJ
#5--My youngest son JL
#6-13--All of our sweet bebes in heaven
#14 & 15--Our dogs Biscuit & Rustie who keep us laughing every day
#16--A warm home with a roof over our heads
#17--Clothes and shoes
#18--All the papers that adorn my coffee table that show the learning and growing of my children
#19--Morning snuggles with my beloved
#20--Laundry to do that shows my family is happily busy with life and all it entails.
#21--Laughter and fun thinking of loved ones and how to spoil them for Valentine's day.
#22--Gardening catalogs

And last, but certainly not least...

#23--My beloved's CPAP machine that helps him breathe at night.  Praise God!  [Complete with Darth Vader sound effects!  LOL]

...when...

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man.  In my life time to this point, I haven't done much study on his life or upbringing, but to read his writing is aweinspiring.  When I read his writing, I can feel the indellible connection of his words to the words of the Bible.  I know the above words are a mere tip of the proverbial iceburg, but I feel the same would definately hold true when applying the above principles to family relationships. 


Luke 12:51-53 KJV "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (52) For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. (53) The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."
[I'd venture to say brothers and sisters too]

Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.[emphasis mine]

When...

...in the course of family events...

...one speaks the truth in love...

[love must be tough]

...one is ostrasized...


...it is time to shake the dust off one's feet and move on...

Matthew 10:14 KJV And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

...when this happens...

...sadly...

...it is time to give them over to God...

[according to the next verse]



...with a broken heart, grieving their loss because they're dead in Christ...

...please pray for me as I mourn for their loss...



Cold Winter Days

When walking out the front door of our house, we look to the left and see this lovely bird feeder that my husband made for us to enjoy all the winter birds who come for a visit.  We watch the little chickadees hopping around in the crunchy brown leftover foliage from last summer far to the left and enjoy their flitting too and fro.  The foliage is left in place from the gardens and flower beds to keep the top soil in place during the rainy time and for the birds when they return to nest in the spring.  To some it looks unsightly and unkept.  We're caring for God's creatures.  :) 

This is my beautiful red maple in our front yard just to the right of the above picture.  She certainly looks like she needs a jacket!  Brrrr! 

The suburban is pretty well covered.  The boys were out uncovering her this morning when we were getting ready to leave for church.  They scraped for quite a while because underneath all this snow was quite the layer of ice!

The dry erase board looks very full of meal plans, grammar and the word "Ventriloquist".  This is pretty much how full it is at the end of a day's worth of work.  This day, we discussed diabetis and how detrimental too many carbohydrates are in the diets of diabetics.  After discussing this above, I set them to colaborating on the first week of dinner menu plans for February using this as a guide.  They did pretty well.

This is how our table looks while doing school every day.  Yes, there is usually a stray bottle of ketchup still on the table from lunch.  LOL  It usually gets put away as soon as they're done writing.  LOL

And...

...when Momma lets them collaborate and walks away to sit down and knit...

...this is what happens...

Winter time means lots of snuggling with Biscuit.  :)

I found a new pattern to try, so I've been working on it too. :)  I've made 2 crocheted dishcloths, 1 knitted dishcloth and 1 crocheted potholder out of this cotton.  It has been so very nice.  I love the flecks of color in it! :)

What do you do in the winter?

Cloudy Rainy/Snowy Winter Days

After getting all the morning chores done, the children get started on their school work.  Some mornings the clouds roll in and makes the barometric pressure fall.  The fall in the barometric pressure is a cue to both my husband and I that we need to prepare for the inevitable achiness that accompanies this type of weather.

Our mornings take a little bit different turn in cases like this.  We stay in bed a little longer, until the pain meds start to help.  The kids get moving on their chores, make coffee for us (what a wonderful blessing that is!) and get showers if they want to.  The morning starts out so much more "low key" due to our achiness.  Why?  Because we have to roll with the flow.  The expectations we have of ourselves need to be loosened and given grace when there are physical ailments.  These are days that we try our best to work through what we have to do.

Many times we end up doing an abbreviated day of school with just Bible Reading, Bible Copy Work, Language Arts, Math & Science.  This will take us up to noon, if not just a little after lunch.  We use the rest of the day for games, reading or other projects.  What a wonderful restful time to just relax and be together. 

Last Saturday we did something different in our Christmas Clean up than we've usually done in years past.  We brought all the Christmas bins downstairs and lined them up in the entry way with their lids off.  We emptied all the unwanted undesired things out of them before putting away the things we love.

We ended up with lots of extra room in each bin for clearance 75%+ off sales and Summer yard sale finds.  If I don't love something, I've decided, in 2012 I'll be purging it from my home.  Everything that comes through the door is something that is loved.  All unloved, doesn't fit, old, stained, chipped and just too much work to maintain will be given away or thrown away.  It is time to simplify!  For so many years clutter has taken up so much of my home.  Even though I've had it under control for a while, there were so many things in the attic that were just thrown up there after we moved in here.  Well, in a few years my hubby will be able to retire and I don't want to deal with having to lug the clutter along to where ever we move.  I don't love clutter, so it's time to get rid of it. 

Rainy, snowy winter days are wonderful to get things like decluttering done.  When we're stuck in the house with nothing better to do, decluttering is a good thing.  This is blessing my family as well as myself.  I feel so much lighter when I see that trash bag leave the house!  :)

Books! Books!!!! BOOKS!!!!!!!

How I love reading books!  No, I don't mean a Kindle or a Nook nor an ebook. 

This is one of MANY bookshelves we have currently.  Some need replaced....well, I should say most of them need replaced.  They've been extremely loved and well worn. 

This is generally what my side tables look like where I sit.  I always have papers to grade, calendars to write stuff down in and books with tons of research to do.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  My job is the most wonderful job in the world--Wife, Mother, Teacher, Home Keeper, Child of God.  It is a job that I love with all my heart and soul.  Why would I not want to learn about things that would help those I love, things I love to do and a God I love to serve?  :)  Love makes you do things you wouldn't think of doing one year and the next year, you find yourself eye brow deep in researching something for the greater benefit of someone you love. 

Insomnia and Books

I fell asleep around 10:30PM and found myself awake a little over 2 hours later.  It is now 3AM and I'm still awake.  I figured after reading friends posts on facebook and reading some scripture, I would be able to go back to sleep or maybe even be yawning, but one yawn...and that's it. 

So, I figured I'd go through my books on amazon wish list and share the book reading goals I have for this year.

In no particular order...


I've had this one on my list for a while.  I think I'll figure out a way to read it this year!  LOL



This is another one I've wanted to read for a while.  Scripture intrigues me.  All of the historical information and religious practices intrigues me.  It helps me to understand and put things in to context so much better when I know the history and practices. :)


I enjoy having people over and showing hospitality.  I also love being hospitable to my own family.  I know I could always grow in this area, so I'd like to read this particular book as well as the next one on hospitality. :)




So many times in the past 10 years I have found that the more I focus on what God teaches us in His word, the better I feel.  For example, when Daniel was taken in to captivity by the Babylonians, he requested pulses and water.  Well, from my own understanding, pulses is just oatmeal/grains and vegetables.  When I add more vegetables to my diet, if not completely replacing a meal with a salad, I feel so much better.  What wonderful information!  I'd like to learn more, so I'd like to get this book to give me a "kick start".  :) 


I've added a variety of sewing books because, although I've been sewing for over 30 years (seems strange to say that), I can still learn more techniques, brush up on the newer technology and learn more about the wear and care of different fabrics.  Serging is one of those things that intrigues me.  It may be a "piece of cake" for some, but I've always just zig zagged or used my serging stitch on my machine to make sure my fabrics do not fray.  Once I found this book I realized how much more there is to learn and know about serging.  This may help me in my decision to buy a serger or not to buy a serger.  LOL 



I have the opportunity to join a group of ladies to study this particular book.  Yes, I know I've studied so many others, but I'm intrigued to see what others have to say about the Proverbs 31 woman.  I gleen more and more each time I reread the wonderful books I do have, but sometimes how one person words something speaks differently to some than others.  It is for that reason that I study so many different books on this particular topic. 


This is in no way exhaustive.  I have tons of other books I'd like to read on Faire Aisle Knitting, wool, and spinning, other medicinal, companion planting and organic gardening, among a host of others. 

What would you like to read this year?

Chore Changes and Back to Work in Earnest

Our new chore changes are in full swing.  In case you missed them, they are as follows:

These are the chores the children are assigned now.  If you'd seen the chore list before, there was something missing...bathrooms.  The kids caught it though and I fixed it.  The only reason HJ has a longer list than the boys is because the dogs only take a few minutes.  JL has dishes to wash which usually takes measureably longer than the other chores to be done.  His major time to take care of the dishes is after dinner since it is the largest meal of the day.  Naturally, there are more dishes.  I've discussed with him the importance of getting everything finished at night so that he can gather, sort and start laundry in the morning. 

From the list above, one might gather that my husband I sit around doing nothing, letting the children take care of the daily cleaning.  To the contrary! 

Below you will see my calendar. 

Along the left side, you'll see the room of the week.  Each day's job for ME is listed across the bottom.  I'm "The Detail Lady".   Pun intended!  LOL  I take care of all the details in the house.  If there is something that has been missed, it is my fault.  ;) 

For this week, today was windows, but with the temperatures currently at 0*F, the Windex would freeze on contact.  So, with this week being the Living Room, I take some extra time doing the dusting.  I made it around 3/4ths of the room on Monday.  Today, I was on the phone with technical support trying to get SOS working on the computers, so my window wiping time went by the wayside.  No losses there.  Tomorrow I wipe things down...which when in the Living room entails....an extra day to get the dusting done!  Hooray!  :)  Thursday morning we're getting the Christmas decorations taken down, then in the afternoon we'll carpet scrub.  In between all of that, we'll do school.  Friday is delegated to decluttering, if we're home, but if we're running errands, we'll do it on Saturday.

If you'll look along the right side of the calendar, you'll see my baking schedule.  This is the "goal".  My Bosche broke right before Christmas, so we haven't been following this schedule.  I look forward to the day when we can.  :)  I most likely will revamp lots of different things on there.  We currently do what is needed when it is needed.  It's all good though. 

Today is Wednesday, which means wiping things down.  I wiped down the bay window, the computer desk, the heater registers, and the baseboards.  I also asked the strong children to pull the couches out for me to vacuum behind and wipe the baseboards, so I figured it was time to vacuum under the cushions as well as teh cushions themselves.  It took me a little while because I had to take a break due to the dust in the air.  I figured I'd better take a break or need my puffer.  The break was a good thing.  :)   I finished all that up with the help of my kids and then took a nap.  I told them they could go out and play in the snow.  Yippee! 

Back to work in earnest this week has meant the children getting all of their checklists done.  This means not just the bare minimum of schooling, but all of it.   Here is a close-up of their daily checklist.  Please keep in mind, their daily chores only take them 15 minutes to do.

This year, we've used Plants Grown Up and Polished Cornerstones from Doorposts as our guide for the children's Bible memory verses and Bible copy work.  If you click on the links, Doorposts supplies exerpts from each book as well as a table of contents for you to see their product.  We really appreciate this tool and use it daily as a guide to raise up our children.  What a blessing it has been for us.

For Language Arts, we've enjoyed the "all encompassing" curriculum of Alpha Omega Lifepacs for years.  However, it became so very labor intensive for all of us and trying to keep track of all the work books was difficult.  We switched everyone over to Switched on Schoolhouse and found after a while that for Math it wasn't the perfect fit for the boys.  They needed something else.  JL needed to be completely away from SOS so we switched him to Sequential Speller, Victory Drill Book and Easy Grammar.  He has made such great leaps and bounds in his fluency and comprehension this year by making that switch!  Praise God!  The two older children still use SOS for Language Arts, but also have been doing Sequential Speller to fill in some gaps where the Lifepacs Language Arts program didn't fill in. 

I'd like to take a moment here to broach the topic of gaps in learning.  As home schoolers, we have the ability to stop where we are when we find gaps in learning to address them, then move on.  This at times means taking our children and putting them in to a grade level of curriculum that they're truly not "in", but truly capable of doing more.  We've done this with our oldest son.  He's capable of college level comprehension, but has some rudamentary skills that he needs to show proficiency with before moving on.  Does this mean we're "dumbing down" our curriculum?  To the contrary, we're filling in areas where he needs filled in and giving him extra to do in areas where we know he excells.  This truly is a tailored system that we use for all of our children.  They're growing and striving for new heights.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that all 3 of my children would not receive this type of education in public school.  The public schools wouldn't be able to keep up with their needs. 

On to Math!  We started off using Lifepacs for Math in the very beginning, after trying things for a year.  It did a very good job using the spiral method of learning.  What this means is that for a few pages, the child would review already learned concepts and the next page would introduce a new concept with a bit of work, but not a lot.  The next few pages would move on to another concept that the child already knew and perhaps add a little bit to it, constantly and consistently building little-by-little to the child's understanding.  We liked this way of learning for the children.  However, they outgrew it, didn't like to have to constantly and consistently review concepts they'd already learned.  We switched all 3 of them to SOS Math which used somewhat of the same method, but not really.  All the lessons on fractions were in one unit (much like Lifepacs, but different).  All of the lessons on division were in one unit, instead of constantly and consistently built upon throughout the entire year.  I didn't like this, neither did my boys.  We switched them to Math-U-see and they've been doing so much better ever since!  (I wish we would have started with Math-u-see years ago!)  HJ has requested that she's allowed to stay on SOS Math.  I foresee, however, a time when she'll need to switch to Math-u-see as well.  She'll need to decide when that is. 

Our Science Curriculum comes from 2 sources.  This year, due to a Creation Science class offered at our home school group, HJ is using The New Answers Books 1-3 by Ken Ham.  She is truly loving this class and it counts toward her High School diploma requirement for science!  :)   DA is also enrolled in a Lab class at our home school group for Chemistry.  They are using the Exploring Creation with Chemistry books.  We love both of these programs for our children because it keeps our focus where it needs to be--on God's creation.  Yes, each of these courses teach the children the falacy of evolution.  Focusing on THE Creator in their education has proven to solidify their faith in an AWESOME God.  Why would we do anything else?  ;)

This year for History and Geography, we're studying the Holocaust as Seen Through Children's Eyes, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence as well as the Civil Rights and Women's Rights Movements.  We're currently studying the Constitution and will move in to the other areas as time passes.  We plan to study the signers of the Constitution, their lives and contributions to society and how that affects how we live today.  We use real books, not Kindles or Nooks.  We believe it is more important for the children to be holding a book in their hands.  However, that said, I do understand when someone's eye sight necessitates using technology to be able to read.  A friend of ours has this concern. 

For music, the children take piano lessons and practice daily.  For art we just have them take art classes through our home school group for now.  Occationally classes are offered through The Sawmill for them to take.  Last year they took an oil painting class.  We plan to enroll them in more of these types of classes as time allows and as their interests dictate. 

We have yet to fully delve in to whole courses for foreign languages.  We speak Spanish and use American Sign Language with the children already.  I know that I've lost a lot of the Spanish I'd learned while in San Diego, but I've kept up with the basics.  I do need to get in to more verb conjugation.

This is what we've been up to this week.  What have you been up to?