Our weekend is usually our cleaning time....organizing, rearranging, vaccuming, dusting. Today as I clean, I thank God for the stove I can wipe crusted egg off of, for the floor I have as I clean up spilled juice, the mirror covered in fingerprints, the playroom that is scattered with an over abuncance of toys....
We have not been able to get the images and stories out of minds about the tornadoes and devastation that so many folks have experienced. I have been following Kelly's blog for over 2 years now, and to know her house is totally gone, her neighbors house destroyed and a father/husband has died leaving behind a wife and 13 children....to hear that good friends of ours had debris in their yard (so close but God saw fit to spare them).
It sure brings reality to light, how attached we are to the things of this world, to know that life is so precious and at any moment it can change.
I thank you Lord for the continued protection and safety you give our family, how you watch over us and guide us, how you love and care for us. Thank you for your continued blessings that we so easily take for granted so often. Help me not to grumble and complain at circumstances that are uncomfortable to me. Please keep my eyes and my focus on you!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Generation Cedar is in need
Help is needed for a sister in Christ and her family. Generation Cedar (Kelly Crawford) who I have listed along the left hand side under my Blog list, has lost their home due to the tornados that went through yesterday. Kelly and her parents have lost their homes and took refuge in a neighbors basement. If you feel led to help this family, there is a donate button at A Wise Woman Builds her Home. Please keep this family in your prayers. They just had their 9th baby last week.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We're growing feathers!
Our family just doubled in size *big smile*
1. All black sexlink - Betsy
2. Black sexlink/white tip - Louisa
3. Black sexlink/brown head - Pocahontas
4. Rhode Island Red/stripe back - Amelia
5. Rhode Island Red - Martha
6. Rhode Island Red - Laura
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Let me introduce you to the newest members of our family. They are named after famous women in history. Can you guess their last name?
1. All black sexlink - Betsy
2. Black sexlink/white tip - Louisa
3. Black sexlink/brown head - Pocahontas
4. Rhode Island Red/stripe back - Amelia
5. Rhode Island Red - Martha
6. Rhode Island Red - Laura
We like FREE
Do you like free things??? Sarah Mae is GIVING her e-book "31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way" for free today. You need to blog or tweet about her product in order to get the free download. Better hurry!!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Resurrection Sunday (eve)
Because we have much to do in the morning (arriving to church early for practice and communion set up etc....) we decided to do our Resurrection account tonight before bed so it would not be rushed. Daddy read from Isaiah 53 and this year we tried a different resurrection treat. I found this posted over at Women Living Well and it was a real treat :)
After reading Isaiah 53 and then the bible account of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, we pulled out the cresent rolls (represents the tomb), marshmallows (represents Christ's body), butter (the ointment) and cinnamon (the spices). We rolled the marshmallow in the butter and cinnamon, put it in the cresent roll, put it in the oven and waited to see what would happen.........and when we bit into it, the tomb was empty!!
*and they tasted really good!!*
After reading Isaiah 53 and then the bible account of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, we pulled out the cresent rolls (represents the tomb), marshmallows (represents Christ's body), butter (the ointment) and cinnamon (the spices). We rolled the marshmallow in the butter and cinnamon, put it in the cresent roll, put it in the oven and waited to see what would happen.........and when we bit into it, the tomb was empty!!
*and they tasted really good!!*
We hope you all have a blessed day tomorrow as you celebrate our living Savior!
Updates
Some quick updates:
I celebrated a birthday. The kids (and daddy) made a very delicious pudding pie for me which was the first 'sweet' I've had since January! Was it ever good!!
I've been busy putting together our new school year curriculum/plan. It's been quite the task scheduling 3 children this year! We are doing several subjects together which we'll do the first half of the day and the then they break off for their independant work. We'll see how that works out. Our curriculum this year includes:
RightStart Math
Rod and Staff Reading/English
Alpha Phonics
Explode the Code
All about Spelling
Apologia Science (they want to do Zoology this year)
Truthquest History
Sonbeam's bible verses
Devotional (probably pick something from my Doorposts prize package!!)
Trail Guide to Bible Geography (we did World Geog last year)
.....So far we've already started our new math program with RightStart and we are all LOVING it!!! I wish I had known about it years ago! We've added Explode the Code this year which the kids are enjoying. I also found a website with some great free grammar worksheets I'll be adding. Our cursive/printing worksheets are the bible verses we are studying through Sonbeams.
If you need to add anything to your curriculum this year, check out Old Fashioned Education for all their FREE resources!! She has tons of stuff on there to homeschool K-12 for free.
I celebrated a birthday. The kids (and daddy) made a very delicious pudding pie for me which was the first 'sweet' I've had since January! Was it ever good!!
I've been busy putting together our new school year curriculum/plan. It's been quite the task scheduling 3 children this year! We are doing several subjects together which we'll do the first half of the day and the then they break off for their independant work. We'll see how that works out. Our curriculum this year includes:
RightStart Math
Rod and Staff Reading/English
Alpha Phonics
Explode the Code
All about Spelling
Apologia Science (they want to do Zoology this year)
Truthquest History
Sonbeam's bible verses
Devotional (probably pick something from my Doorposts prize package!!)
Trail Guide to Bible Geography (we did World Geog last year)
.....So far we've already started our new math program with RightStart and we are all LOVING it!!! I wish I had known about it years ago! We've added Explode the Code this year which the kids are enjoying. I also found a website with some great free grammar worksheets I'll be adding. Our cursive/printing worksheets are the bible verses we are studying through Sonbeams.
If you need to add anything to your curriculum this year, check out Old Fashioned Education for all their FREE resources!! She has tons of stuff on there to homeschool K-12 for free.
We look forward to Resurrection Sunday tomorrow!! Such a special day to remember what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ did for us. Death could not hold him in the grave...he is risen, is risen indeed!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Ruby's growing family
Here is some more of Ruby's family. I think it is actually turning into OUR family. There is mommy, daddy, and 2 sisters.....we will be making 2 brothers as well. Our daughter has been learning different stitches (whip stitch, blanket stitch) and she made the pouch to hold all the dolls in :)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ken Ham
And......Ken Ham's ministry (Answers in Genesis) gets blasted again! The devil is on the attack....and it will only get worse. Younger children should avoid reading the article. http://patriotupdate.com/articles/tsa-employee-hacks-christian-site-posts-explicit-pics
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Doll kits arrived!
So after posting about winning a beautiful piece of artwork, guess what came in the mail today! Our doll kits from Doorposts :) They sent us the complete Ruby doll kit and the complete Goldie doll kit ($65 worth). Today we made Ruby, and over this week we will make the rest of her family. Lots of fun!! 
Here's Ruby!
We also want to wish Dad/Grandpa L a very happy birthday!!
Here's Ruby!
We also want to wish Dad/Grandpa L a very happy birthday!!
Winner!!
http://jasmine-aboverubies.blogspot.com/2011/04/winner-of-rachel-ramm-fine-art-giveaway.html#comment-form What is the Lord trying to tell me? I have just won a beautiful piece of artwork by Rachel Ramm. I entered to win an 8x10 painting and have chosen the following: cozy cottage. Can't wait to get it. Thank you Lord!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Weekend
Saturday, we enjoyed a nice day at the zoo. It was hot but we had such a great day. It's been awhile since we've gone out to do an activity together as a family. Enjoy the pictures! 
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Sonbeam Recommendation
This year we are memorizing 26 scripture verses, one for each letter of the alphabet. I want to recommend this resouce put out by Sonbeams. She has done a fantastic job of putting KJV verses to music so it is easy for children to memorize God's Word. If you visit this link, there are 4 sample songs to listen to. When we drove to Canada last week for grandma's funeral, the kids listened to this CD all the way there and back. By the time we got home, they had memorized several verses and loved singing along. Sonbeams also puts out a teachers guide to go with the CD for parents to teach a lesson with each verse. Here's the kid's singing the verse for letter A and B.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
No clippers!
So...I wanted to try a haircut without using the clippers. I like the longer look on our 3 yr old, but like the buzzed looked on older son. I figured just cutting with my fingers as the guide would produce a longer look. Although the haircut didn't turn out too bad, I still didn't get the look I was after. Oh well....he's still a cutie :) 
Packages!
Guess what came today!!!
My Doorposts grand prize packages....oooohhh I'm so excited!! I can't wait to dig in and organize and plan for this coming school year :) We are still waiting on the newest edition of For Instruction In Righteousness, and there are 2 doll sets that will be coming. I can't say enough how thankful I am for these resources. These are items I have been wanting, searching for on Ebay, and researched (or should I say drooled) over and over. They provide solid, biblical material that I would recommend to everyone!! Now...where do I begin???
My Doorposts grand prize packages....oooohhh I'm so excited!! I can't wait to dig in and organize and plan for this coming school year :) We are still waiting on the newest edition of For Instruction In Righteousness, and there are 2 doll sets that will be coming. I can't say enough how thankful I am for these resources. These are items I have been wanting, searching for on Ebay, and researched (or should I say drooled) over and over. They provide solid, biblical material that I would recommend to everyone!! Now...where do I begin???
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
What does successful homeschooling look like?
Each homeschooling family looks different. What represents success for you may be different from the next family. What is your goal for your family as you homeschool? I love the cartoon that one of the speakers at the homeschool convention posted during his lecture.
Boastful Parents Homeschool Reunion
Man 1 - "My son graduated with honors and is now a doctor"
Man 2 - "My daughter graduated and is a successful high school teacher"
Man 3 - "My child loves the Lord!"
Whatever goals you have for your homeschooling years will reflect your curriculum choices, activities, etc. What does success look like to you? Is it graduating with good grades, entry into a prestigious university, a well paying job??? Is it a desire for your children to grow up grounded in the word of God, cultivating a servant's heart, growing in spiritual maturity? This is not to say that your children can not achieve academic excellence AND love the Lord, but as parents we need to decide what our primary focus for our children is going to be. When our focus is on their walk with God, academics will fall into place. We need to desire spiritual growth over academic achievement. When they stand before God, it is going to be their relationship with Him that matters, not if they have memorized all the States and capitals.
I love how Amanda Bennett brought to light what successful homeschooling was for her family. It was children firm in their faith, knowing right from wrong, respectful, curious/wanting to learn, helpful, using their gifts, go after their interests, self-motivated, likes to work together, self confident, and a desire to develop knowledge.
If you haven't done so, sit down and write out your goals for your children. Give them a vision for their future! Protect them from wrong influences and provide godly role models. Lay a solid foundation of scripture, give them training in godliness. Don't fall into the trap of following the world's ideals for education. Proverbs 1:8 lays it out for us as parents. Fathers, you are to instruct your children. That goes way beyond merely teaching them! Mothers, we are to teach our children. Teach them to acquire a taste for God's word from birth! What an awesome responsibility....to be bathed in prayer!!
Boastful Parents Homeschool Reunion
Man 1 - "My son graduated with honors and is now a doctor"
Man 2 - "My daughter graduated and is a successful high school teacher"
Man 3 - "My child loves the Lord!"
Whatever goals you have for your homeschooling years will reflect your curriculum choices, activities, etc. What does success look like to you? Is it graduating with good grades, entry into a prestigious university, a well paying job??? Is it a desire for your children to grow up grounded in the word of God, cultivating a servant's heart, growing in spiritual maturity? This is not to say that your children can not achieve academic excellence AND love the Lord, but as parents we need to decide what our primary focus for our children is going to be. When our focus is on their walk with God, academics will fall into place. We need to desire spiritual growth over academic achievement. When they stand before God, it is going to be their relationship with Him that matters, not if they have memorized all the States and capitals.
I love how Amanda Bennett brought to light what successful homeschooling was for her family. It was children firm in their faith, knowing right from wrong, respectful, curious/wanting to learn, helpful, using their gifts, go after their interests, self-motivated, likes to work together, self confident, and a desire to develop knowledge.
If you haven't done so, sit down and write out your goals for your children. Give them a vision for their future! Protect them from wrong influences and provide godly role models. Lay a solid foundation of scripture, give them training in godliness. Don't fall into the trap of following the world's ideals for education. Proverbs 1:8 lays it out for us as parents. Fathers, you are to instruct your children. That goes way beyond merely teaching them! Mothers, we are to teach our children. Teach them to acquire a taste for God's word from birth! What an awesome responsibility....to be bathed in prayer!!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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