Routine is nice

It's so nice to be back into a routine after the last week and a half. I so enjoy normalcy(is that a word?) There's so much regular stuff to do and I am finding joy in the small things. I've prayed for several years for the Lord to give me peace, contentment and joy at home. I used to want to get out and go somewhere all the time. I think I finally have that peace, joy and contentment. Thank you, Father, for giving me the desire to keep my home and rest in knowing you. I know that might sound strange, but I enjoy being home, taking care of home and living at home. I pray that I will live this verse through Him. Every wise woman buildeth her house: But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Proverbs 14: 1

Another start to the new year

Since I last posted, things have been very hectic. We have passed the stomach bug around our home back and forth. I think it may be finally out of here! Praise the Lord!!! Bethany never got it and I hope she doesn't. I hope to never relive that week again and hope we can try again to start 2009 in a better way. When both parents are sick things around the house get way out of wack to say the least. I feel new and fresh and ready to begin again. We were able to start homeschooling again today after another week of break. It was great to get back into our routine. The kids were excited and so was I. I'm continuing to work on some organizing projects around that I'd wanted to do this year. Things are looking up! I'm trying to memorize some scripture verses from James. Hopefully by the end of this month I will have these memorized: James 1: 2-6 A lot of people think that if you pray for patience you will all of a sudden come into lots of problems, but that's kind of silly. As a Christian we should allow God to lead us and control our thoughts. I felt led to study James and these scriptures so that's why I'm memorizing them. The trials that come my way are for a purpose and not just because I said I need patience. I'm working on a menu plan for each week. I do this sometimes on paper and sometimes in my head, but a schedule would help in my planning and sanity at meal times. I find that the more I plan the less stressed I am. This plan would have lots of flexibility. I can change or tweak it to my liking as the day comes, but it just would save me time and money. This week I'm planning for supper: Mon: Baked Pork Chops, Rice a Roni, a veggie Tues.: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread Wed.: Fellowship Meal at Church Thurs. : Chicken and Dumplings, Cornbread Fri. : Hash(made from diced potatoes, leftover roast& gravy) Have a great Monday!

Wisdom teeth

I had two wisdom teeth cut out yesterday :( I've felt pretty good so far. My cheeks are puffy and sore, but it hasn't been too bad. My mom has been here to help with everything. I am so grateful to her and Michael. She has taken care of our children and the house. He has been patient with me when I am not easy to get along with :) Thank ya'll very much!!!

A New Year

I always enjoy beginning a new year because it gives me a chance to start fresh with different areas of my life. There are several goals I have for this year: read and study my Bible more, develop a better prayer life, read more books, get things organized, focus on serving my husband and children with a servant's heart, and walking at least 3 times a week. I guess I'm being optimistic with all those goals, but if you don't have any goals you'll never reach them, right? I think getting organized and exercising have been my goals for 3 or 4 years. I'm doing so much better with organizing, but the exercising hasn't developed into a habit. This is the year I hope to reach my goals. Hopefully, I'll look back at 2009 and say that I've at least improved on each of those things. I have some books that I am planning to read this year. They are: 1. Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free (Currently reading-Excellent) Nancy Leigh DeMoss 2. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael Elisabeth Elliot 3. The Redemption of Sarah Cain Beverly Lewis 4. A Wife After God's Own Heart Elizabeth George 5. The Duggars: 20 and counting (I don't have this one yet, but would like to see if it's in the library.) 6. Jon and Kate Plus 8 (I read this a few weeks ago.) Good read!

Kayla's Piano Recital

Kayla began taking piano lessons in September. She has come so far in 4 months. I am so proud of all that she has learned and I see such joy in her eyes when she plays and when she talks about it. She has had the opportunity to play in church twice. Her teacher is our organist at church so the other day after her lesson Kayla gave us a mini-recital. She did such a great job! This mom is proud! My prayer is that she would always use her talents for the Lord.

Baking Day Fun/Fiasco!

Yesterday the kids and I baked 2 batches of cookies, Bakers Chocolate Chip with holiday chips and Bakers Chocolate Chip with M&M's. We made sugar cookie mix, but haven't gotten around to baking them yet. We had a good time, but before we even started half of the bag of baking M&M's was dropped all over the kitchen floor :( I wish I had more patience and had not lost my cool with my kids. But they are very forgiving and we had fun anyway. I am trying to figure out if they really like to bake or if they stay in with me so they can lick the beaters. Hummmm....

My next thing to make was Crock Pot Candy. I first encountered this yummy treat at our church's Christmas fellowship a few weeks ago. It's sooo good! I found the recipe and everyone said it's so easy and makes soooo much candy. Michael picked up all the ingredients for me at the store(thanks, honey) and I was ready to start. A little while after I put it in I noticed a burning smell, but decided it was nothing. The recipe said, "DO NOT OPEN LID". Cook for 3 hours in crock pot. I think this is a time I shouldn't have been such a rule follower and just opened it and checked. But, hindsight is 20/20. I kept smelling the burning smell- for 3 whole hours and what did I do???? Of course I didn't open it because it said DO NOT OPEN LID! I know what you're thinking, but I was busy, not just sitting here watching the crock pot for 3 hours. After 3 hours, I opened it and found my mess. The peanuts on the bottom had burned. Not just a little, but burned to a crisp! I tried to salvage what was on the top, but it's still not the same and has a kind of burnt taste. I was so upset, because I'd looked forward to eating and sharing my candy treats with everyone. I guess I'll have to find another crock pot because I'm never making crock pot candy in it again. That is if I ever attempt it again. Everyone keeps assuring me that it must have been my crock pot because you can't mess up this recipe.... well, I did.

One Week til Christmas

Have you noticed the craziness? The kids and I ventured to the store yesterday and I was amazed at the traffic and volume of people everywhere. Everybody is running around trying to buy that last present or get food for that party, etc. All that is why I try to have my shopping msotly done by Dec. 1. Of course it doesn't always happen, but, hey, at least I have a goal :) Silas bought the board game Sorry with his birthday money. I taught he and Kayla how to play this morning after we did our school work. I think they are hooked now. They really enjoyed it. Kayla won so Silas wanted to play it again so he could win. It was one of my favorite games to play growing up. Maybe we can all play and still get along. Michael and I are both very competitive so they get it naturally. As I was typing this post Holly, 2, who was supposed to be napping walked in here and stood by me. I told her to go back and take her nap. I smelled something and noticed something in her hair. I said what is that? She said watermelon. I asked her where she got it and she showed me her sister's lotion that she found. Apparently she'd tasted some of it and rubbed it all over herself. She immediately said, "it's yucky!" Well, at least she realized that. If there's something to get into she's the one that's going to do it. That little girl keeps me very busy that's for sure.