OK, here's the new game for all us bloggers. First, someone tags you, then you follow these rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
List 6 unspectacular quirks you have.
Tag 6 bloggers by linking to them.
Leave a comment on each taggee's blog to let them know they were tagged.
Thank you Alice, for the tag! Surprisingly, this challenge really got me thinking. I've always kind of thought of myself as somewhat ordinary...so when you asked for me to think of some of my quirks, I didn't think I'd have much to talk about.
Well, I was mistaken. Although it was a shock to me, I really seem to be a strange sort of bird with some questionable, if not incriminating (in a crazy-in-the-head sort of way) quirks!
So here's what I uncovered (...and, yes, sadly, I did indeed have to go to my kids for help...which they all too happily gave...).
I have a message written across my forehead which apparently doesn't show up in the mirror to me, but is plainly visible to strangers in public places. It reads, "Please talk to me - I love to listen to everything and anything at all-you want, or feel the need to share with me." Seriously, on a typical day in the grocery store, I can't make it past the produce without someone asking me my opinion on the freshness of certain fruit, or my recipe for stawberry pie. As I reach the cereal aisle, I'm the resident expert on the ingredients in Frosted Flakes...and by the time I'm placing yogurt in my cart in the dairy section, I'm listening to the wedding plans for someone's nephew. Top it all off with pictures of the check out lady's grandkids and a dissertation on the current trends in rock bands from the bag boy. This may not seem odd, until you consider that all of these folks are perfect strangers to me. Lest you think I'm complaining, I'm not. It's just a phenomenon (...and I use that term very loosely...) of which I am a receipient. My children have learned patience as a result and, at one point, when they were younger, I even caught two of them betting with each other on the number of strangers who would engage Mom in conversation before we left the store. I guess you could call this a quirk.
I have an unexplained fondness of black and white animals. True that. At one point, we had: two dogs (springer spaniel mix & boarder collie mix), one cat (tuxedo, short hair), and two hamsters, who where black with little white feet. Quirky - yes, I think so.
I have a somewhat 'unhealthy' attachment to deadlines. I learned, back when I worked in advertising, the effect a deadline has on me. I always met my deadlines no matter how seemingly unattainable they were (...and some were pretty ridiculous). So - when faced with the everyday frustrations that being a procrastinator by nature bring, I decided to put this deadline method to the test on everyday things. It works! The intrinsic stress of facing a deadline is a real mental boost, and actually energizes me. So, as each day rolls around, you'll find me with my calendar, scoping out the day's deadlines and upcoming due dates with a quirky gleam in my eye.
I avoid conflict like a flesh eating disease. Which has been, over the years, a real curiousity to my debate-loving husband. I realize that, enevitably, some conflict will become necessary at some point along the way in one's life, but I dread those moments like nobody's business. I will go to great lengths to avoid them too. In fact, to me, it seems a conflict to even talk about conflict...let's just say, I prefer peacemaking. My husband, for whatever reason, finds this to be a quirk (...if not a character flaw...). sigh
I wear black pants or blue jeans all the time. This is why you'll find an embarrasing number of black slacks and pants of different styles, along with quite a few pairs of blue jeans in my closet at any given time. Fashion challenged? Maybe. I prefer to call it a fashion quirk.
I collect children's picture books. I just love illustrated children's picture books and have hundreds in my collection. Not only that, when I visit the library every week, guess what I check out. Right - picture books! Why? Well, it's not because I'm slightly mental, or going through my second childhood. It's what I do, because it's what I do...write and illustrate children's books. One day, I hope to land a publishing deal. Then, we can call this a career instead of a quirk. :-)
And now for the tagging portion of our program. *drumroll please*
Jenn4Him @ Busy at Home. Jenn wrote this on her blog, "I am talking to myself again." Need I say more?
Pam @ Mom's Mutterings. Who says that with 2 kids, several spares and a strange cat, things are an adventure at her house!
KymPossible is a perfect tag. Anyone who homeschools with Laffy-Taffy lava rocks, ice cream volcanoes and has sumo-wrestling kids on her trampoline is one fun mom.
Kristy @ Passion for Purple 's son has a pet grasshopper of biblical proportions that he calls, "Tim Hopper." This is an interesting family!
To celebrate fall, I've joined with Katrina and her group at "Callapidder Days" in compiling a reading list. The point is simply to make some goals and enjoy the process of reading toward them. Read for pleasure, for inspiration, for education -- whatever is appealing this fall. Here is my list...
Dong Kingman's Watercolors
I first heard of Dong Kingman when my mom (a wonderful watercolor artist) was studying his work. This book is an oldie, but goodie (published in 1980) that I picked up used for practically nothing. It has an interview with the artist, and tons of information on his famous painting style. With a career that lasted most of the 20th century, Kingman has a lot to share! Of course there are plenty of pictures of his work included too! Such a beauty - this book I'll read slowly. :-)
The Maker's Diet
I'm a couple of chapters into this book already, and it's amazing! The author (Jordan Rubin) is a person who knows first hand how what you eat can make you sick or heal you. The pictures of him as a sick person just make you want to cry. However, his story has a happy outcome, as Jordan was able to educate himself on proper eating and healthy habits and regain his once lost health. He goes on to share with the reader the how and why of norishing ourselves the Biblical way.
Heart & Mind
Subtitled: What the Bible Says About Learning. I've picked this book up and read various chapters more than once. My goal this time, is to read it cover to cover. Ruth Beechick, one of the people I respect most when it comes to homeschooling and education in general, has such a clear writing style that I've always enjoy reading.
The People of Sparks
I introduced my daughter, Sami, to Jeanne Duprau's City of Ember about a year ago after reading it myself (It's awesome!). Since then, she has devoured all the the books in the series and is anxiously awaiting the release of the movie for Ember later this month. The People of Sparks is the second book in the series and is on my list because I promised Sami I would read it. She says these books are just 'too good!'
Outside My Window... Another bright, beautiful, fall morning. It's great to be back to living in paradise after a sweltering August here in Florida.
I am thinking... of how nice it will be to have an entire day for loving on our home. We've been so booked lately with church, school, sports..etc. - that we decided to take a 'Teacher's Planning Day' today to take care of our home, yard and such!
I am thankful... fora wonderful family - a hard-working, dedicated husband and four well-balanced teens! God is good!
From the kitchen...We have just finished an awesome breakfast that my 15 yo daughter, Sami, prepared for us....blueberry pancakes, hash brown potatoes and scrambled eggs! (...all her idea - she loves to cook!) Yummmm!
I am wearing... soft, navy-colored pants, a blue, green and yellow, madras-plaid patterned, short sleeved blouse and, of course, my New Balance shoes.
I am creating... I'll be grinding some red wheat and making some bread with the my new wildfower honey later on this morning. I'm also making several ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) - little baseball card sized works of art to trade with other artists.
I am going... To the church, one day this week, to get the new bulletin board put up and tidy my Sunday School room a bit (...so that everything is sparkling for the church homecoming celebration this coming weekend!). My little students and I are studying Genesis, so our room's theme will center around 'God's Creation.'
I am reading..."Dong Kingman's Watercolors"
I am hoping...To have a little time in the studio this week.
I am hearing... our 19 yo daughter, Blake, in her room, listening to music and getting ready for work.
Around the house... All but one are up and attacking their special 'day off from school' projects and chores. I'll be joining in as soon as I'm done here! ;-)
One of my favorite things...my son's visits with his guitar to my studio while I'm out there working. I love when we can spend that time creating together.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: More home organization, school, crew, dance and Christmas Cantana practice (already!)
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Our son, Tucker (17), in one of his Senior portraits...
Special prayer request...for healing. Our son, Kellen (15), fell down at crew a couple of weeks ago and has had problems with the back of his legs since.
This week's Friend School assignment is about how we stay motivated to do housework. I can't wait to read through all of my classmates' answers so that I can get some ideas on how to better stay motivated myself! Most days, the reward of the chores themselves is enough. I'm very content to wash load after load of clothes...enjoying the clean, fresh smell as I remove them from the drier and, later, watching with joy, the wrinkles disappear as I smooth over them with the iron. Some days, I enjoy the feel of the warm, sudsy water as I wash dishes in the kitchen sink - gazing out of my window at the lovely view outside while spending some special moments alone with God.
But....
There are always those days when I'd rather being doing anything other than housework! Those are the days I make bargains with myself. You know..."...if you just finish hanging this load of laundry, you can sit down with that glass of tea and read a blog or two..."
Welllllll....I guess there's something to be said for that sort of reward too! :-)
The second part of our assignment is to share a picture of a project we're working on. I love projects! Unlike housework, they often stay done for a while after you complete them. Like this organization project that I did some time ago...
In an effort to clear shelves for our school books, I decided to move my children's picture book collection out to the hut...and, surprisingly, almost all of them fit into this little organizer thing that I found at the hardware store!
Cute, huh? I love those roomy little boxes it has too. I can throw all sorts of art supplies and stuff in them! Best of all, it left me with this back in the house....
That's right! A rare commodity - EMPTY BOOKSHELVES!! Now you may think (as my dh would) that I will fill these two shelves and that will be the end of the bookcase story. Au-contrare, I now must reorganize the shelves by the school table to have this years books handy as we're schooling...then the books removed from there will inevitably be too many to fit where they should go...causing all of those books to have to find a bigger shelf...which misplaces the books that used to live there....which means they need a new home....
Yes...the infamous DOMINO EFFECT!
By the time I'm done, this little bookshelf will have lead to our entire library of books being re-arranged, the dvd cabinet cleaned up, the linen closet organized, my bedroom closet tidied and the children's rooms gone through. Don't you just love home-management? (Actually, I really do!)
Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 4:15 (NIV)
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
This morning, we were up early and headed over to the local high school for 'See You at the Pole.' What an awesome experience - standing there in that big circle around the flag pole with about 100 or so young people and faculty who had gotten up and to school earlier than usual this morning to pray from their community, school and country.
See You at the Poleis all about prayer. It's about coming together and laying aside all the labels and groups for one day, to simply connect with God in prayer and connect with fellow Christians in unity around the flag pole—whether jocks, preps, geeks, homeschoolers, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, sophomores, or seniors.
The flag that was raised this morning was one that was actually flown over Iraq in a Blackhawk and brought back to the high school by a local Air National Guard Lt. who has just returned home. How very special to hear his words of gratitude for all of the prayers we here at home lifted up for him.
Bringing believers together at the beginning, so that we can stand together throughout the year...I can't think of a better way to begin a new school season!
I'd like to invite you to check out the new blogger "writing assignments" school at the Homeschool Blog Awards site, called Blogger Class Mates! It's just starting today and we hope you will stop over and join us!
What better way to welcome in a fresh new school year!
Here's what my daughter and I spent a good bit of last week creating...
a mural in the kid's class at church!
It would have been fun to have 'before, during and after' pictures...but we were having so much fun just doing it and spending time together slopping in paint, that we forgot!! Sometimes it's better to just live in the moment.
The kids are having a good time deciding which animal is their favorite!
Not shown in the pictures are the other three walls of the room. We painted waves about 2 feet high on the wall...all the way around. It feels like you're part of the scene when you're in the room.
Check out this amazing book bag that our Sami created from old soda cans (that she collected from the youth group at church) and worn out jeans. She designed and made it herself!
Welcome to my lazy little place on the web. A place to slow down and take an occasional break from the everyday routine.
About Us...
My sweet hubbie took the quirky little picture you see above. Contrary to what it may seem to indicate, the kids and I are not usually found sitting around together looking like sardines packed in mustard sauce. We were actually loaded up in our little space capsule at the St. Louis Arch - ready to ride to the top! Now THAT was a cool field trip!!
When we're not on field trips, you'll find us living our dream on a lovely little lake in the Lake Region of N. Central Florida - with lots of cows, horses, raccoons, opossums and gators for neighbors (...there are a few humans as neighbors too!). We're going into our 13th year of homeschooling, and even though all of our homeschooling children are now high schoolers, we still enjoy the eclectic, hands-on, literature based, Charlotte Mason method that we always have. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, and to Him, alone, we give all the praise and glory!
Soli Deo Gloria!!
Sunrise on Lake Winnott
Live...Love...Laf...
...my illustration blog
(click on little Laurie to visit)
My kitty, "Mac" (short for "McDermott")...go ahead and pet her!
Believe in God and you’ll believe in miracles; believe in His Son and you’ll experience one!
Logic ridicules love, and love smiles knowingly at the whole foolishness of logic.
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams
We Miss You Nellie
Schaunell Camrin Bryant 1992-2007
Our niece, cousin and good friend.
Verse - A - Day
The Steps of a Righteous Man...
are ordered of the Lord.
Eddie, an awesome & blessed man.My hubbie of 27 years, and counting!
There are those who say it can't be done -
That your dreams are too big and your hopes too high.
They must not know the size of the God you serve.
Keep believing!
~ Nancy Parker Bummett
“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”
We are...
...a Christian family desiring to raise our children with the primary focus on Training their Hearts!
III John 1:4
"I have no greater joy, than to hear my children walk in truth."
Proverbs 22:6
"Train up the child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
Deuteronomy 5:29
"Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always,so that it might go well with them and theirchildren forever!"
Train up a child in the way he should go— but be sure you go that way yourself.
The character of our children tomorrow depends on what we put into their hearts today.
I am talking to myself again." Need I say more? 
My sweet hubbie took the quirky little picture you see above. Contrary to what it may seem to indicate, the kids and I are not usually found sitting around together looking like sardines packed in mustard sauce. We were actually loaded up in our little space capsule at the St. Louis Arch - ready to ride to the top! Now THAT was a cool field trip!!
When we're not on field trips, you'll find us living our dream on a lovely little lake in the Lake Region of N. Central Florida - with lots of cows, horses, raccoons, opossums and gators for neighbors (...there are a few humans as neighbors too!). We're going into our 13th year of homeschooling, and even though all of our homeschooling children are now high schoolers, we still enjoy the eclectic, hands-on, literature based, Charlotte Mason method that we always have. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, and to Him, alone, we give all the praise and glory!
Soli Deo Gloria!!
(click on little Laurie to visit)
Eddie, an awesome & blessed man.My hubbie of 27 years, and counting!
