Butter and Honey

Favorites: A Day with Henrietta, Pt. 1

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in February of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

It's a rainy day today, the perfect day to stay inside and sew.   Let's go see what Henrietta is up to, shall we?

Well, it looks like we've caught her in the middle of a sewing project.  Pinning a neckline with a collar can be tricky work, but I'm sure our Hen is up to the task!

She's giving it a final inspection .  .  .  .  Yes, I think it's all ready to go to the sewing machine. 

Here she is, patiently collecting her pins as the neckline is sewn.

Henrietta has done a very nice job of pinning the first bodice lining in place - How will she do on the rest?

OH!  She's staying away from that hot iron!  She'll move in and finish the rest of the pinning once the iron has completed its' task.

Well, well!  Things are moving right along for our gal Hen.  The handsewing on the bodice front and back is finished, the sleeves are both gathered and pinned and ready to be sewn. 

Is Henrietta looking a bit tired?  Poor dear, she's had quite a day.  Just a bit more to do though.  I'm sure she can hold up!

Ah, now we are nearing the end.  Henrietta has pinned both side seams very nicely and they are already for the first sewing of their French Seams.   I knew she could do it!

All Done!  Lovely Job, Hen!  Just the kind of help any seamstress needs when the needle and thread are flying.   

What's this?  We're NOT done yet?  There's still a ruffle to do?    

Pardon me, but did you say that the ruffle was FIVE Yards Long?!?

Oh, no!  I think our Poor Hen is getting a little worried.  She may not have enough pins for this job.  What will she do?

What is Henrietta doing?  It looks like she is trying to hide in the folds of the ruffle.    I'm afraid our Poor Hen is overwhelmed.

Oh, Hen!   Maybe we can tempt her out with a little treat?

How would you like a nibble of some sugar cookie?  There now, that's better, isn't it?  Yes, yes, eat up and regain your strength.

Now, you just rest, little Henrietta.  We can finish that ruffle tomorrow.  Don't you worry anymore about it tonight.  After all, tomorrow is another day .  .  .  . 

Favorites: Popover Pizza

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in February of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

Not a lot of time for dinner tonight so I made one of our favorite's, Popover Pizza.

A really simple recipe and easy to double, which I do so that we can have some for lunch tomorrow!

This is from The Southern Living Cookbook that I borrowed from my mom about 11 years ago.  I hope she doesn't want it back anytime soon.  ;-)  As always, the first time I make a recipe I follow it exactly.  Then if it is good enough, we tweak it and make it our own - so what follows is essentially the Southern Living recipe with a few little changes made by the children and I.

Popover Pizza

• 1 lb. mild italian sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3-6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 15 oz. jar pizza sauce
• 1 sm. can of mushroom pieces, or 1 cup fresh mushrooms sliced
• 1 15 oz. can olives, sliced
• 2 cups shredded mozzerella cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. milk
• 1 T. vegetable oil
• 1 c. flour
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in large skillet until meat is browned; drain fat.  Add sauce - after pouring sauce from jar, add about 1/4 c. of water to jar and shake to get remaining sauce then add that to the skillet also along with mushrooms and olives. Stir well and simmer 10 minutes.

While sauce is simmering, beat eggs, milk and oil in bowl until foamy.  Add flour and salt, beating with wire whisk until smooth.

Spoon meat mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 dish, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.  Pour batter over meat mixture.  (Yes, it is very thin and looks like nothing at all, but trust me - it will be wonderful!)  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Bake at 400F for 30 mintues, or until the top is puffed and golden brown.  Cut into squares and serve hot.   Serves 6.

NOTE:  This is just a great basic recipe that you can adapt to fit your family.  Whatever you may like on your pizza, go ahead and put it in!  When I double this, I add 1 lb. ground beef and 1 lb. of sausage to stretch the sausage.    I cook the meat mixture all together but mix the crust ingredients separately so that they are equal.  You could also add spaghetti sauce and some diced tomatoes (without the olives) for a more Spaghetti-type dinner.  And the crust on this is so easy and delicious that I can imagine it poured over any kind of meat/vegetable mixture - like chicken and broccoli with cheddar cheese.  Delicious!

Favorites: Peanut Butter Muffins

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in February of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

Who wouldn't love to wake up to these? 

It was a wonderful morning, I got everything done on my Morning Routine (FLY Lady) including making something yummy for our breakfast.  The morning set the tone for the rest of the day and wouldn't you know it, the children got all their schoolwork done, plus chores, a walk and a few little fun extras -- AND we had a good dinner that was cleaned up in time for some great company that came over!!  It was a great day!  Do you think if I make muffins tomorrow that it will go just as nearly-perfect?   (I have to say nearly-perfect because Dear Son 3 always tells me, "No, Mom, nothing is perfect except God.")

Try baking these tomorrow morning and see how your day goes!  ;-)

Peanut Butter Muffins   

Heat oven to 400F.  Get out 1 egg to warm to room temperature.  Butter Muffin tin.

In small bowl mix:  1 3/4 cups flour,  1 T. baking powder,  1/2 t. salt

In large bowl:  whisk egg until lightly beaten.  Whisk in 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, whisking until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes.  (This is a very important step.  It really aerates the batter making very light, melt-in-your-mouth muffins.)   Whisk in 1/2 cup peanut butter until smooth.  Whisk in 1 1/4 cups milk,  5 T. melted butter,  1 t. vanilla.

With wooden spoon, gently stir in flour mixture, being careful not to overmix.   Spoon into buttered muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes.  Allow the muffins to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the tin.

Favorites: Mommy-In-Training . . .

Or Most Spoiled Dog in the World.

You decide.

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in February of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

Favorites: I Am Resolved

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in February of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

Something my family  (except for husband and children :-) may not know about me is that I love hymns.  I collect hymnals, picking them up wherever I happen to find them:  garage sales, thrift shops or used book stores.  I have seven so far.  They all have a story. 

I got my first one from the church we were attending at the time, when they were updating to newer hymnals.  Our oldest son, an Angelman baby who was probably 6 or 7 at the time, got it off the shelf one day, and decided to "read it" - meaning he tore out some of the pages and chewed on the book.  I still have it and those torn pages are tucked into the back, a remembrance of days past every time I open it.

A few hymnals I inherited from my Grandma when her things were finally all cleaned out before moving to the full-time assisted living.  Among those were hymnals from 1945, 1940 and even one from 1934.  (Can you tell that I like old books?)

The oldest one I have so far is a much loved and used copy that I found at the bottom of a box at a yard sale.  It is very worn and the end pages have been thumbed through so much that the paper feels almost like velvet.  The original cloth cover is barely hanging on by the three large staples that hold the book together, and the title page has fallen out.  I am thankful, though, that the previous owner thought to save it and I found it neatly tucked in the center of the hymnal.  The date on it is from 1918 and its' original purchase price wa 40 cents!

Why do I love hymns?  Because music is a powerful medium, able to reach straight to our souls with no need for words.  Sadly, so much music today, especially that which is labeled as "Christian," is simply the music of the world repackaged;  music that weighs us down and creates disharmony within ourselves, distracts us from higher things, without us even being aware of it.  We may be singing words that speak of the LORD and our Savior, Jesus, but the music is speaking a different message to our bodies, and it is the music which leaves the more lasting impression.

Hymns are music, for the most part, where the words and the tune are in perfect harmony, uplifting the mind and the soul.  The children and I sing hymns at various times during the day - as a way to quiet things down, to focus on what is true and pure and right, and just as a way to praise our LORD while our hands are busy with chores.

A wonderful resource that I use when we are trying to learn a new hymn is CyberHymnal which lists hymns by Title or by the People who wrote them and plays a Midi of the hymns' tune.

The hymn that I started singing this morning as I was making our treats to take to Park Day was:

I Am Resolved  (by Palmer Hartsough and J. H. Fillmore, c. 1924)

I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight; Things that are higher, things that are nobler, these have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest highest, I will come to Thee. 

I am resolved to go to the Saviour, leaving my sin and strife; He is the true one, He is the just one, He hath the words of life.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest highest, I will come to Thee. 

I am resolved to follow the Saviour, faithful and true each day;  Heed what he sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest highest, I will come to Thee. 

I am resolved to enter the kingdom, leaving the the paths of sin;  Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me, still will I enter in.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest highest, I will come to Thee. 

I am resolved, and who will go with me?  Come, friends, without delay,  Taught by the Bible, led by theSpirit, we'll walk the heavenly way.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest highest, I will come to Thee. 

Favorites: My Angel

I'm cleaning out my old blog and posting some favorite posts here.  This one was originally written in March of 2007.  I hope you enjoy!

I bet in your everyday life you don't often see angels --  but I have my own personal one. 

This is my own angel -- my oldest son.  He has Angelman Syndrome , always has and always will.   

You've probably never heard of Angelman Syndrome before.  I hadn't either until he was born 20 years ago.  No, I take that back.  I had never heard of it until he was diagnosed at the age of 5.   I've lost count of the number of Doctors whom we have educated about it.  Still, all these years later, we do the basic Angelman 101 when we come across someone new either at school, Doctors office, or out in the community.  It's understandable, really.  You see, my son is part of the first wave, if you will, of children diagnosed with AS.    Only one year after he was born was the first official diagnosis made, and they trickled in after that.    His is the generation that information and statistics are being gathered upon in order to better serve and inform the parents of children being born and diagnosed today.  So, I guess we're breaking ground.  Just the kind of job my angel is up for!

What is Angelman Syndrome, anyway?  Technically, it is a deletion on a specific part of the 15th chromosome which causes an overall neural/developmental delay.  Practically, it means that my son is a nearly 6 foot tall toddler.   Seriously.  He still thinks he can sit on my lap and he gives the best hug you've ever had in your life!  He loves water, has no speech at all, is a couch-potato and a social butterfly.  He's always in a good mood, except when mealtime is late. 

It has certainly been a roller coaster ride these past 20 years, and it isn't over yet.  Each stage has had it's challenge.  When he learned to walk at five years - that was Wonderful!!  He started school at 7, after little brother was born.    Being naturally a great big people person, that was like a party for him.  Getting older caused changes, as did another little brother followed by a little sister.   We've gone through a few moves, puberty is past, and we had to deal with the heart-wrenching decision to place him in a care home when he became bigger and stronger than I am.  But even then the LORD was faithful and gave me all that I asked for before I could consider making the placement.  Our latest ride involves seeking Conservatorship over him.   Not easy but not too difficult either.  Just be sure you can write checks .  .  .  . Lots of them.

I have a friend whose son is just a few months older than mine.  Her son went through what is thought of as the typical rebellion and got into some trouble now and then because of it.  She tells me often that I am lucky because my angel will never break my heart.  Well, maybe not in that way, but there have been a few times when I thought my heart was broken regarding this sweet one who just goes through life with a smile on his face looking for his next hug.   Doesn't a broken heart come with the job title of "Parent," at least every once in awhile?

 When he was a toddler, we were part of a group that met once a week.  The children, all developmentally delayed, would be in a little class like a therapy session - exposing them to all kinds of sensory experiences - and the moms would meet to share their angst on having a child who is delayed.  Let me be right up front and tell you how much I hated those meetings (with the other moms) and felt even more of an outsider, which was strange because the whole point of the time together was to make us feel like we weren't alone and that there were others struggling, too. 

Why did I dislike it so?  Because essentially the whole time was spent lamenting the fact that they didn't have a normal child, how life was going to be different now than what they had planned, and how they hated the Down's or whatever Syndrome that had done this to their child.  I absolutely could not relate to that.   Call it bliss, call it delusion, call it faith in the absolute sovereignty of God, or whatever you will.  From the second he was born, before we knew there was anything different about him, till today, my love and feelings for my son have been just the same.  How could I hate this Syndrome for making my son this way when I felt there was nothing wrong with the way he was?  He was happy and easy-going and a joy to be around.  And he would stay that way his entire life.  How can I be upset at that?  Needless to say, it was a relief of sorts when he grew out of that particular program.

Just what is there to love about my angel?  Well, I love the way he can sit / lay on the couch with me for hours and just snuggle.   I love it when he is watching one of HIS movies and he just laughs and laughs and laughs!  I love how he gets the picture frame with he and Dad on vacation years ago and will look at it and "kiss it".  I love how his face lights up when he sees me.  I even love how he can be so focused on an object, usually food, that he will avoid making eye contact with me.  I love the way he plays with his brothers and the way they play with him.  I love that he is the champion seeker in hide and seek.  I love the way his little sister, half his size, can get him to sit down and stay there! I love how he is soooooo serious and focused -- and when you give him what he wants it's like you tickled him, he is so pleased.  I love how he can sit in the tub for- just about -ever and splash and play as long as the shower head is dripping some water. I love how he never meets a stranger.  I love the fact that, in his own silent way, he can get what he wants - like refusing to eat the hamburger and fries until he is given some of the milkshake first!  (And the little light in his eyes when he knows he has won!)  I love that when he has finished his food, he will stare and stare at mine until I give in and share. (it's a mother thing ;-) I love how he thinks he's so sly -- keeping eye contact with you and thinking that you can't see his hand reaching out like an elephant's trunk to grab some of your food! I love the fact that even though I may be done having babies, in a way, this angel will always be my baby.  I love the thought in my head of a time years ahead of where we are now, when the other children are grown and gone with families of their own, and husband is retired, and it will once again be just the three of us like it was so many years ago.  I love how just the thought of him puts a smile on my face.

My angel will turn 21 this year, which will mean that I've been a Mom longer than I've not been a Mom.  Does that make sense?  But with rewards like this .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 

.  .  .  .  .  who's keeping track?

Stampin at the Beach

We're on vacation for the month -- a treat from my mother!! -- and after taking a day or two to settle in, I've finally been able to get some stamping done!

I finished up a set of these cards:

and then had some fun with Wild About You:

And moved on to Unfrogettable:

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Did I forget to show what fun we had stamping the Friday night before we left?  The very sweet Mrs. D opened up her husband's work place - which has a large room with lots of tables so we can all spread out and stamp, stamp, stamp!  There were four of us ladies/moms stamping with seven of our 20 children in tow.

I played around with a few sets -

But this one was my favorite of the night:

What really makes this card is the great embossing from Mrs. C's CuttleBug!!  Aren't friends great?

Stampin' Fun 9/08

Last night was dear Mrs. D's birthday and so, of course, we stamped!

Here are the two projects we did, both pretty easy; one just a bit fussier than the other.

Pattern for Crocheted Facecloth

Here's the pattern I mentioned in my last post - for those who are interested.  ;-)

The pattern is from Family Circle Easy Crochet Fall 2006:

I've Been Knittin . . .

 .  .  .  and it ain't pretty!

I don't want to shock you, but I don't know how to knit.  I know, you couldn't tell that from Exhibit A above, right?  I love to crochet, can do any pattern or stitch, can do it on the couch, in the car, on a train, in a plane -- well, okay, not on a plane because they confiscate your hooks, but I can pack them in my luggage and crochet on the beach or in the forest.

But I can't knit.  I've tried.  And tried. 

But I want to learn to knit -- conquering the seemingly unconquerable and all, you know?

So, going through some magazines that a friend's mother gave me, I saw a pattern for a very easy but nice looking facecloth.  Since I'm a lady who washes her face regularly, and who likes to have special things where I can, I thought, why not try knitting again and see if I can make this cloth?

I found some great videos on YouTube for learning how to knit the continental way -- MUCH easier!

Okay then, I've practiced a bit, I think I've got it down, even if it isn't the prettiest thing in the world.  I'm ready for the pattern!!

I pull it out from where I copied it and saved it to my binder and .  .  .  .  you'll never guess.

**

**

Obviously, when I copied the pattern and put it into my binder, I was distracted and made some assumptions .  .  .

**

**

because the facecloth pattern is CROCHETED!!!!!

LOL!!

Oh well, I DID get some knitting practice in and even if it isn't pretty I feel fairly confident that I know the basics of casting and knitting.  Let's not talk about purling yet, okay?

BFS 103: It Keeps Going , , and going , , and going, , (Housework)

Memory verse: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  1 Timothy 4:15

Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.

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This is one area - Homekeeping - where I need divine help, and thankfully I get it time and time and time again.  I am not a very good housekeeper naturally, and if left to my own devices, things can get pretty bad.  Thankfully, and this follows along perfectly with our subject of last week - serving and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit - greater is He that is in me (my help, my strength, my Rock, and my Savior) than he that is in the world (my selfish, ease and pleasure seeking-self).  I do have a general plan or outline for my homekeeping tasks, even if I do not always follow them.  Day to day the best thing I can do is to rise early, start the day on the right foot, and then just keep going , and going ;-)

Over the summer, I followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and did some major cleaning (you can read it at my old blog HERE) and just as we are to spur one another on to love and good works, so my cleaning in one area spurred me on to continue and clean out other areas.   Don't get me wrong, I still have a few areas of my home that have their peculiar piles of "stuff", but they are decidedly smaller, and most particularly, out of general view.  I don't worry over them - what good will that do me? - I just do the next thing there is to do whether its laundry, ironing, kitchen, bathroom, cooking, schooling, or time together, and know that all I really need to do is be ready and available and listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

A quick example of how perfectly good the LORD is happened yesterday. Husband had asked me to dust in the bedroom.  (I need to add that husband does not have a regular time that he comes home every day.  It could be a little after lunch or it could be when dinner is over and cleaned up.)  The day went along with school, outside class, and little chores here and there.  I hadn't thought about dusting AT ALL!  Later in the afternoon, the very brief thought comes that I had better dust.  I grab the cloth and polish and dust.   Not two minutes went by and husband was walking in the door.  I literally cannot count how many times that same scene has happened over and over again. 

I don't know what's going to happen during the day.  All I know is that I need to be quiet within my spirit and ready for whatever the LORD calls me to do.

BFS 102: Try It - You'll Like It! (Acts of Service)

Memory Verse for this week:   Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. Psalm 26:2

Assignment: This week I want you to do something for someone else. Do you have a neighbor that needs you? Do you know an elderly person or single mom that could use you? What about the homeless? Pack even one single sack lunch and give it to someone in need. Do you know someone in blogland that is struggling right now and could use a note from you about how much you care? Pray about this. Let God put on your heart the perfect thing for you to do for another. Now, here is the kicker…I DO NOT want you to post about what you do. Whatever you choose to do is between you and God. Our rewards are in heaven, not here on earth, Mathew 6:1. I want you to post about how doing this “act” made you feel. Was stepping out of your comfort zone in this area as hard as you thought it might be? Could you see the gratefulness in their eyes? Hear it in their voice? Tell it from their typing? Do you think you might make doing things like this a more regular part of your time?  If this is an area that you are already active in, tell us how you feel this has impacted your life.

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Essentially, this is about listening to the Holy Spirit's prompting.  For years I used my shyness as an excuse to ignore (disobey) that voice.  The last few years, however, it has become harder to disobey it and so I have found myself repeatedly stepping outside of my comfort zone.  It takes many forms: calling or sending a card to someone that is on my heart; simple assistance at the grocery store; stopping and offering help to someone along the way; an apology, words of encouragement, or a quiet good deed to a loved one in my home.

It is easy to see the bright face or hear the sing-song surprise or thankfulness in their voice and know that you've done something unexpected and made an impact.  But what is even better is the joy from within when I know that I have pleased my LORD and Creator by obedience through a small act of physical service. 

My Simple Daybook: Monday, September 22

Graciously hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman

Outside my Window .  .  .  .  all is in darkness.  At 6:11 a.m. the sun has not yet made its appearance  over the horizon

I am thinking .  .  .  .    how soon it is until we leave for vacation and how much I want to get done in preparation

I am thankful for .  .  .  .   a box of beeautiful knit/crochet magazines that I received from a friend's mother

From the kitchen .  .  .  .   all is silence

From the learning room .  .  .  .  it's the start of a new week.  I need to finish younger son's assignment sheet this morning, do a lesson in zoology with younger son and daughter, and gently cheer on older son in keeping pace with his Biology homework

I am wearing .  .  .  .   my jammies

I am creating .  .  .  .   a file of  embroidery stitches for daughter and I, with great pictures and instructions, that I found at Primrose Design -- beautiful!

I am going .  .  .  .   to try and finish laundry today, including ironing if I can get it done before we leave the house; and gotta get something out for dinner

I am reading .  .  .  .   my Bible and Ivanhoe (pre-reading for son's soon to start Medieval History), AND all those knit/crochet magazines, with runs to our copier to copy the ones I want to keep (they'll go in a project binder and will be much easier to find and look through than 40 different magazines)

I am hoping .  .  .  .   in the LORD

I am listening to .  .  .  .   the hum of the computer and my husband sleeping

Around the house .  .  .  .  everything is silent.  As soon as I post this I will wake the children and get the day started

One of my favorite things .  .  .  .  hearing my children laugh and play together

A few plans for the rest of the week .  .  .  .   keep up with housework and get some advance planning and prepartion done for vacation while keeping on track with schoolwork 

 A picture thought I am sharing .  .  .  .  

As part of our Korea study last week younger son read The Kite Fighters and then we all listened to it on audio Friday evening.  A very good story!

Training Daughter: Time Together

Training a daughter.  What an awesome responsibility.  My daughter is 10 and growing fast.  Soon we will need to have the talk about a girl becoming a woman .  .  .  .  but until then I've really been thinking and conciously deciding to spend real time with her, reading, cooking, learning, playing, or just talking -- even more so because she and I are the only girls in a house full of boys.  I want to make sure that foundation of fellowship and trust between us is solidly in place.  I want to make sure she knows what she will need to know for whatever the LORD has planned for her.

Practically, what I've done is carve out time for her.

I was really looking at this and that curriculum last week, trying to think of something extra daughter could do.  What about this history with a textbook?  Or how about that one with some workbooks?  Maybe she'd like this one with lots of books?  Or should we do this one with lots of projects?

Gently, the LORD spoke to my heart and turned my eyes to the abundance of resources right before me on my very own bookshelves.  I have, and we've done a little bit in, Training Our Daughters to be Keepers At Home, in addition to So Much More, Raising Maidens of Virtue, Beautiful Girlhood, The King's Daughter, and more.  

So I stopped looking for something extra to do and instead added a little box to her assignment sheet that says ~*~*~*Mom & Daughter Time~*~*~*  And you know if it's on the assignment sheet, you HAVE to do it.  ;-)  So she comes to me daily and says, "It's time, Mom.  Let's go read!"  So we go outside and sit at the table beside the pond where we won't be interrupted by brothers and we read.  We're starting with Beautiful Girlhood.   I don't know how much of it she understands, but we stop and explain and talk, and we're together.  After we read a chapter of that, we've been reading about how to take care of long hair, an article I found on-line and printed to put into her a Godly Maiden binder that I've started for her.  I have been working on my own Homemaking Binder and thought why shouldn't she have a binder of her own as well.  It has the current lessons that we are working on in TODtbKAH, plus some extras like an article for young girls on living a meaningful life, a lesson on cross-stitching, and the article on caring for long hair.  I will add more to it as we go along.

Another Wonderful!! thing we've done is to join a needlework group for young girls.  A homeschooling mother put it together and arranged for some older ladies who are members of a local stitching guild to come and teach the girls.  Our first meeting was last Friday, the 12th, and it couldn't have been any nicer.  I'll save the details of it for a later post -

Thank you, Father, for this tender, eager heart.  Thank you for the way she looks to me for direction and the reminder that it is for me to make sure that I am looking to you for my direction. Thank you for the smiles, the giggles, and for her small, soft hand in mine.  You give blessings beyond measure and you alone are worthy of Praise!

My Simple Daybook: Wednesday, September 17th

Graciously hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman

Since I didn't get a chance to do this on Monday, I'm adding it now. 

Outside my Window .  .  .  .  the sun is out, shining bright yellow on the last of my basil and chard, and on husband's overgrown tomatoes

I am thinking .  .  .  .    about what a wonderful job the children have all been doing in their schoolwork last week and this week.  And thinking about calling Mrs. D and seeing if older son can go to her house after Biology class to do homework with her son

I am thankful for .  .  .  .   my home, my children, the noise they make, even the mess they make -- I know all too soon it will be just husband and I

From the kitchen .  .  .  .   all is quiet right now.  I made Millet Muffins for breakfast, including some in my heart shaped pan - one for each of them!  Soon, older son will do the breakfast dishes and it will be time for lunch

From the learning room .  .  .  .  older son is finishing his Biology homework, including making his own Biological Key for Kingdom Monera (that's bacteria), youngest son is doing his history reading, The Kite Fighters, and daughter is practicing piano

I am wearing .  .  .  .   red top with white shirt underneath, a floral skirt, and my sandals

I am creating .  .  .  .   a plan for daughter and I to spend time together reading, learning, cooking, working, and stitching.  Yesterday we read the first chapter of Beautiful Girlhood and then part of some information about caring for loong hair

I am going .  .  .  .   to keep working on laundry, then we'll do our Bible and History reading together before lunch

I am reading .  .  .  .   my Bible and Ivanhoe (pre-reading for son's soon to start Medieval History)

I am hoping .  .  .  .   that husband gets his Rx soon so that he will be feeling better

I am listening to .  .  .  .   older son practice the piano

Around the house .  .  .  .  all is cool and bright.  I need to vacuum before we leave the house today, and make sure I get something out for dinner tonight.  A real bonus would be if I could get the kitchen table cleaned off!

One of my favorite things .  .  .  .  hearing my children say they are all finished with their work,  hearing the same song being practiced for the thousandth time (or does it just seem that way? ;-)

A few plans for the rest of the week .  .  .  .   keep up with our Korea reading and finish by Friday, remember to keep my expectations on the LORD - my help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth - and not on my family members, and to remember the qualities of being meek and quiet

 A picture thought I am sharing .  .  .  .  

Corn Tortilla Chicken Lasagna

I've made this twice now, and while it is a bit time consuming to put together, it makes two 9x13 dishes and is so delicious it's worth it.

For your consideration and enjoyment!

Corn Tortilla Chicken Lasagna

• 36 corn tortillas
• 6 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast (about 3 lbs.)
• 4 cups pinto beans
• Three 16 oz. jars of your favorite salsa (I use La Victoria: one mild red, one mild green, and one medium red -- use what you like. )
• 4 cups sour cream
• 15 oz. can ripe olives, sliced
• 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack Cheese
• 3 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese

Prepare two 9x13 in. baking dishes with non-stick spray and arrange 6 tortillas in each dish; then top tortillas with 1 cup chicken, 2/3 cup pinto beans, 1 cup salsa, about 9 evenly spaced dollops of sour cream, 1/2  cup Jack and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese.  Repeat layers two more times, adding the sliced olives to the third layer before adding the cheeses.

Cover dishes and bake at 350F for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and sides are bubbly.  Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  Makes two, 12-15 serving casseroles.

BFS 101: What a Relief! (Homeschooling Struggles)

Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling.  Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it.  Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family.  Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

This is a fairly easy one for me because I have struggled with the same thing over and over.  It comes with a different coat every now and then, but underneath it's the same old struggle.

My biggest struggle as a homeschooling mother has nothing to do with homeschooling. per se.  It is not the schooling part that is my issue.  To be painfully honest, I am lazy and selfish and will drop something useful or that needs doing without a moments hesitation in order to fulfill a selfish pleasure.   This is all bad enough, but with homeschooling I have three pairs of eyes watching me do this. 

My most heartfelt desire has been to train these children that God had entrusted to us to seek service; to deny self in order to bring glory to the LORD; to give way to a brother and think how you may help others; to work when you don't really want to for the simple reason that it needs to be done; to work without complaining and instead be focused upon the LORD and his goodness and mercy.

(I have 15 minutes to finish this before I have to stop and wake the chidlren for the day.  Can I do it?)

The hardest part of homeschooling is that I am the living example that my children will follow, for better or for worse.  I can speak and encourage and implore and plead till I'm blue and crying, but if my words and my actions are not in agreement, then what good does it do?  Ouch!

Some days are better, some days are not so good, some days are nearly perfect.  It is all dependent upon how willing am I to lay down MY life and MY wants in order to speak the words of life AND live it as I walk through the day.

Quickly I will say that as much as I was dreading this week of schooling with outside classes starting and a schedule that has us out of the house every single day of the week by 12:00 or 12:30 p.m., the LORD was so wonderful and gently led me down a different path this weekend in order to prepare me and through me the children.  We are still out of the house everyday, but my fear and panic of undone laundry, a messy home, and abandoned school books -- has instead turned to joy and praises to the LORD for meals that are planned and ready, laundry washed and put away, a home that is in order, and school work that is finished and the books put away before we need to leave for that day's event.

 Picture ideas: That never ending, hard to keep clean closet (shelves), the children doing school work you didn’t know if they would ever get a grasp on, your schedule or organizer with plans for the day

This is my picture idea for the week.  My younger son, who just turned 13 -- I was debating whether to start him in this or not.  I even asked older son his opinion -- he knows the text, he knows the work that is required -- how do you think he will do if he starts this?  We were both of the same opinion, that he is capable of it, but it may be a bit much reading for him.  Well, I dropped it for the time being and thought maybe we'll come back to it in a few months and see at that time.  Younger son, who didn't know that any of this was going on, came to me not even 15 minutes later and asked if he could start General Science.  Can you picture the stunned look on my face?  Can you see the LORD smiling? 

Yes, dear, of course you can do General Science if you'd like to.  :-)

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My Scripture for this week is a long one - but so small compared to the abundant blessings that I have witnessed this week.

 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.   Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.   Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.   One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.   I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.   And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.   They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.   The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.   The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.   All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.   They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;   To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.   Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.   The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.   The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.   Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.   The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.   The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.   He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.   The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.   My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145

Journal, September 10, 2008

Yesterday was .  .  .   Tuesday, a great day all around.

Yesterday I .  .  .  was up early, early and got started on my day.   When I was finished with reading and computer time, I was going to just put my apron on over my jammies before  I got to work but  the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me ;-)  so I dressed for real and I'm so happy I did, it makes it so much easier to set a good example for the children to get up and get ready for the day.  I woke the children and then made a batch of blueberry muffins for breakfast.   They started right in on their schoolwork while the muffins were baking.  After breakfast I vacuumed the house (after sitting down and cleaning all of the hair off of the roller brush - YUCK!), then the children took a 10 minute break from school to do a tidy-up of the house.  What a difference!  Finishing up their schoolwork, we all got ready for the park, P.E. Day.  I heated up some Minestrone from the freezer to take for my lunch, and got Taco Bell for the children on the way to the park.  We had a wonderful time as always, and were happy that our next book had arrived so that we can start our new Bible study next week.  Prayer for Mrs. D and her heavy heart.   The rest of the afternoon at home was spent quietly.  I updated their LLNotebooks while older son worked on his Levitron experiment, and younger son and daughter played a game together. 

Goals I accomplished .  .  .   I vacuumed and picked up the house, made another batch of laundry detergent,  spoke gently and gave encouraging help, and was is bed at a good time so that I could get enough sleep to rise early - this morning!

The best part of the day was .  .  .  Oh, choices, choices!  One was watching the children complete their schoolwork in such good time, and how happy they were to tell me that they were ALL done before lunch and the park.  Another is just the satisfaction of being busy at home and getting  so many of my own chores done while the children are studying.  A third is the encouragement from daughter to make dinner.  I kept stalling and stalling and finally she came up to me and said "Let me make dinner!" So I showed her the recipe and got her started browning and measuring part of it while I chopped the other part.   It simmered and was finished and delicious!  The fourth and best thing was to be able to honestly praise and compliment older son on working so hard to get his schoolowork done in such a timely manner.  (He has worked so hard these past two days to get all of his school done before we leave the house for whatever we have that day - and in truth he has accomplished more than he would have normally done in an entire week previously.)  "You are starting a good habit that will not only allow you to get so much more done in a day, but it will also help you to be better prepared for whatever life the LORD has planned for you and your family."  He glowed.  It was very sweet - but don't tell him that.  ;-)

I prepared for tomorrow by .  .  .  sitting down with daughter and planning what we would make for lunch tomorrow, getting the laundry started (after the detergent was done), and getting in bed!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.   My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.   He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.   Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.   The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.   The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.   The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.   The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm  121

My Simple Daybook: Monday, September 8th

Graciously hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman

Outside my Window .  .  .  .  is still, quiet darkness.  5:14 a.m.

I am thinking .  .  .  .    about all of our plans for the day: rise early, school and fellowship, then the first day of Biology class for older son.  Will I do our history reading with the other two while we wait or do I not want older son to miss that?

I am thankful for .  .  .  .   the quiet; the peace and order which reigns throughout the house, if briefly

From the kitchen .  .  .  .   Cinnamon Raisin Apple bread is rising in the machine, then baked potatoes for an early lunch, and I need to start our dinner, Saucy Sausage Sandwiches, in the crock-pot before I wake the children

From the learning room .  .  .  .  all is in readiness.  LLNotebooks are caught up, new assignment sheets are in place, and I've prepared the children for what will happen today and what needs to be done

I am wearing .  .  .  .   pink rosebud nightgown

I am creating .  .  .  .   an organized, peaceful home.  Making good progress on my cross-stitch, I am now over halfway finished

I am going .  .  .  .   to read my Bible, get dressed and ready for the day, start what I need to in the kitchen after checking on the laundry, and then wake the children

I am reading .  .  .  .   my Bible and Magna Charta by James Daugherty (pre-reading for son's soon to start Medieval History)

I am hoping .  .  .  .   that today goes smoothly, all of the children get their schoolwork done before lunch, and that son is anticipating starting Biology and not dreading it

I am listening to .  .  .  .   the soft hum of the fan and the gentle in and out breathing of husband still asleep

Around the house .  .  .  .   almost all is in order - Praise!!  Also, we have an infestation of weevils that is driving me crazy

One of my favorite things .  .  .  .  sleeping children and the continual newness of the Word of God

A few plans for the rest of the week .  .  .  .   are to keep on track: prepare the night before,  rise early, wake children early, diligently and consistently get school done (with gentle encouragement from me, NOT continual badgering and prodding), have our time of fellowship and then lunch before we need to be out the door for that day: Monday Biology, Tuesday P.E. Day/Bible Study, Wednesday Biology, Thursday Piano, Friday Needlework Group for daughter and I

 A picture thought I am sharing .  .  .  .  

Journal, September 7, 2008

Today was .  .  .   a very good, productive day.  

Today I .  .  .   got up early, or at least before everyone else.  Husband was awake most of the night with the television on so I ended up on the couch about 1:00 this morning.  I slept well after going over most of son's Medieval History study guide and getting straight in my own mind what he will need to do.  Breakfast was Pull Apart Bacon Bread with scrambled eggs, which everyone complimented and enjoyed.  Dinner was a combination of Chinese take-out, fresh focaccia bread, and leftover pork roast & vegetables.   While I was ironing, I highly encouraged the children to clean their bedroom - which they did!!  All cleaned up, including straightening the closet, and the floor vacuumed!

Goals I accomplished .  .  .   started with getting up and getting breakfast ready.  After that, I started on laundry for the day.  We are starting our busy week (Biology Mon & Wed., P.E. Tues., Piano Thurs., and a Needlework group with daughter on Fri.) in which we will be leaving the house by Noon three days of the week, so I needed to get all of our laundry done and ready.  I also ironed all the shirts that husband and sons will need for the week.  I got caught up on the children's Learning Lifestyle Notebooks and am ready for the morning, and did a training session with each child on proper kitchen clean-up.  

The best part of the weekend was .  .  .   accomplishing the above goals (a load off my mind as I face the week ahead), and that the children and I had our together time today in the Word and singing hymns.  Today we read in Psalms and sang Praise Ye The LORD, and He Leadeth Me.

I prepared for tomorrow by .  .  .   planning my menu: Fresh Raisin Bread with yogurt and fruit for breakfast, baked potatoes for lunch, Saucy Sausage Sandwiches in the crock-pot for dinner & filling drawers and closets with clean clothes & by spending time reading the Bible.