Tonight we took advantage of the cool temperatures in SC and had a wienie roast with friends from church. It was so much fun. They have a big ole dog name Goliath, a horse named Jack and plenty of land for the kids to run around on. I just love evenings like this when all seems right in my little world. God is so good to give us times like these when He lets us see a little piece of heaven here on earth. Enjoy the pictures!
IN HIM,
Julie
It's been nutty week. My hubbie traveled all week (his third week of travel) and it seems we had tons of things to do. I finally broke down and got tires on the van (I hate spending money on things like that), we had dentist appts, chiropractor appts, field trips, play dates, school work, and on and on.
Plus, I'm writing over at the Company Porch for the month. I'm responsible for the Tip of the Day which is new every week day so I'm using all my creative juices to come up with something useful each day of November. You can visit the Company Porch by clicking here. Scroll down until you see Tip of the Day…that's me writing there!!! If you don't see (or hear) from me for a while here on my blog you know that's where I am.
My best friend and I keep missing each other when we call so here is my official, “I love you girl!!” to her.
Scooting on along…
IN HIM,
Julie
One is that we had homegroup (our church's version of sunday school) tonight and I was so struck by the conversation around the dinner table. There weren't many present tonight but the ones who were discussed their disappointment in the public school system. As I battled with pride at being able to homeschool and fought with Satan over that I also felt so sad that most of America's children are battling all I heard tonight. A class labeled as art where no art is taught but some “moral” agenda taught by the guidance counselor…all this unknown to the parents who really think their kids are taking art; PE being taken away at the 5th grade level because it's not important; notes constantly being sent home about a kid having a “bad day” because he doesn't get PE and he's a BOY (goodness gracious!); learning the rules of baseball but not how to play baseball. And the list goes on and on.
What are we leaving for our kids? Who will their kids be? Will they be shipped off to school like we send dogs to the kennel? Lord, give me a heart to pray for these children, for Godly examples in their lives, for teachers that don't undo all their parents are trying to do and for the strength to stand up as Believers, those of them who are.
The second thing on my heart tonight is how sneaky Satan is. I've been studying about the difference between the word “bride” and the word “wife” as it pertains to us being the bride of Christ. I really felt some revelation today as God taught me about being his bride. And then Satan comes right in and tries to make me feel “less than” through a conversation after homegroup tonight. He tries to plant the worst thoughts into our minds.
Satan, I rebuke you, in the name of Jesus. I stand on God's truth and not your lies. I am a bride….to Jesus and to my husband. I am chosen, beautiful, sought after, lovely, and your prize. Help me Lord to act, speak and love like a bride.
Tonight is one of those nights l long for heaven. One of the nights when I hate the battle that wages against my soul and the souls of our children.
As I once read, “Lord, COME and for the sake of the children, come quickly.” (author I can't remember)
IN HIM…………….
I'm tired. I've been tired all day. My worst mornings are the ones where we have to hit the floor running. And this morning was one of those. So is tomorrow. I much prefer a relaxed homeschool atmosphere where we have nothing much to do except homeschool. I don't always get that though. Running from here to there is exhausting to me. I'm an introvert. I like small intimate group settings, I like alone time, I like down time. I like relaxed easy flowing school days.
The biblestudy I've enjoyed for years on Wednesday mornings at 9am might have to be put aside until another time. It's feeling just like another morning I gotta get everyone up and out. March, March, March….
I stress out over busy “gotta go” schedules. I need that farm/homestead and no where to go. I'd pay someone to go to Walmart for me when I need diapers. Otherwise….you'd find me at the homestead!!!!!!
Tired and missing her husband,
Julie
I remember all too well where I was on that horrible September 11th day. How about you? In honor of the men and women who died there I'm remembering…
Lorraine D. Antigua, age 32.
2996 people died that day.
Well, today wasn't nearly as smooth of a homeschool day as Wednesday and Thursday of last week. We still got some work done and tried (key word TRIED) to make clay pots for our scrolls.
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water added slowly until it's not sticky
Well, we got “not sticky” but we also got “everything ends up in the shape of a pancake”. Oh well. We're letting the “clay” dry overnight in a bag in hopes that it will be more workable tomorrow. I even tried to form it on the bottom of a cup today to make a bowl shape. I left the cup upside down and what happened? The clay eventually slid down the cup into a blob at the bottom. I guess we used too much water.
Sorry I don't have wonderful “homeschool experiment disaster pictures” to show you but the day was just too nuts for the camera.
Over the last few days one of my best friends and I have completely remodeled my husbands office. My hubbie took the kids to NC for the weekend so we could work on his office but ended up coming home because our youngest was running a fever and throwing up.
After arriving home Saturday night at midnight we spent most of Sunday resting. Then I made the mistake of visiting Stuffmart the weekend before college begins here. Big Mistake!!!
It was funny to watch the college-aged girls push around carts littered with blueberries, strawberries, wheat bagels and lite cream cheese. All the while the freshmen boys had baskets FULL to overflowing with “teekie” (sp?) torches, frozen pizza, Doritos, soda, and big screen TV's for Game Day.
It's a miracle we ever marry, huh??
Wishing for a more structured tomorrow but still content with what mommy learned today 
…..
Julie
Oh, what a wonderful idea I got here for including a fascinating story about a friend who does not blog. Yea, I know, it's Thursday night but after the last 2 days I've had I'm not sure what tomorrow will hold. But I do have something to look forward to as my best friend arrives on Saturday and we will spend the entire day at the lake with other Christian friends. Fun!
Ok, so back to my Fascinating Friend Friday….
I have a good friend who God as used in my life in so many ways. She is still seeking her faith to make it her own. When we first met we did not instantly hit it off. Instead we really didn't much care for each other. As time has passed though she has become one of my very best friends.
Her kids are about the same age as mine and she lived in our neighborhood for many years. She has since moved to a larger city close by so I still get to see her often. I have a very funny story about one of my kids getting their gum stuck in a very very inconvenient place on their bodies and she is the proud owner of a really gross dishwasher story.
When her oldest was potty training she had a newborn and had left the room to change the wee one's diaper. When she returned to the kitchen there stood her three year old relieving himself in the opened (as in the door was left down) dishwasher full of previously very clean, just washed dishes.
Our standing joke with one another now is “Exactly how many times do you have to run the dishwasher before you can (in good conscience) drink out of your glasses again?”
Anybody care to guess? We've failed to come up with a number yet. All I know is it took her a long time before she used glassware again.
Do you have someone really cool to blog about? Join us in Fascinating Friend Friday.
Julie
After reading Life with the Crew's blog about “Things I Will Not Go Cheap On” I decided to join in the fun too. So here's my list (also in no particular order)
1. Toilet paper…..enough said
2. Baby wipes…..I've definitely bought the cheap ones, you know the ones that you need 3 of so you don't get poop on your hands when 1 Huggies wipe would have done the whole job. My favorite of favorites? Walmart's wipes for sensitive skin. Love 'em!!
3. Paint…..good paint is worth it's weight in gold.
4. Cheese…..someone ONE time bought me processed cheese food slices instead of the real thing. That stuff doesn't even melt. Yuck and double yuck.
5. Cat litter…..much to my hubbie's shagrin we still have a litter box. I've tried every kind of cat litter known to mankind. The crystal kind that you throw completely away and then refill the box with a new bag works marvelously. It really is the very best in odor elimination/control. But it ain't cheap!
6. Chicken Nuggets. I have found no other nuggets better than Schwan's Chicken Bites. Everything I see in the grocery store is pressed, processed, glued together chicken parts. Schwan's actually sells a real piece of chicken in a nugget form. Yum. (It's not a daily meal but one I'll feed the whole family once a week or so.)
6. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Gatorade. There just is NO substitute. I've tried the off brand. Again, yuck. My husband and kids love it and I prefer it over tons of fruit juice. We still drink apple and orange juice but after football practice it's Gatorade all the way!!!
How about you? What are your favorite “I could never go cheap” things??
Gayle, I hate cheap tin foil too!
And just because I can't bear to post another blog entry without photos here are some from the park today while son #1 and #2 were playing football. And yes, it's hot here! 100 or so today!!!
Please go welcome Kathy to the family of HSBers. Her writing is so real, heartfelt, honest, raw, and led by the Master. The name of her blog is Kamp Splete Home School
Go give her a big HSB welcome. I know you'll love her.
And has anyone checked out Preschoolers and Peace? It's got fabulous ideas whether you have a preschooler or not. The above link is to her website. Her blog site at HSB is here. She also has a great link to My Lil Picasso which is a fabulous website for prepackaged crafts for your kids! Oh, I'm so going to use them this year for my four year old.
JULIE
I am happily enjoying my belated Mother's Day weekend away by myself. My wonderful husband graces me with a weekend away almost every Mother's Day. He and I have both learned that a little rest goes a long way for mom!! So once again I find myself in Ocean Isle, NC visiting my friend Sandy. It was in this general area that I met another HSBer just a few months ago. What a treat!
But back to the Resting…
It's taken me a few days to settle into “not being constantly needed”. It's a strange feeling as a mom to get to a true place of rest. After a Saturday filled with shopping, yummy food and pampering our toesies I think I'm finally at the place of rest. My body has realized it's not constantly on call, my brain hasn't heard “MOMMY!!!!” for a day and a half now and I've actually slept through the night without some sweet little thing shaking me quietly saying, “mom….mom….are you awake?”.
What a wonderful feeling to be able to step back from my family and rest. Jesus rested. I know we are to follow his example. But we all know as mom's it's a rare thing to have time to rest.
I'm thankful to God and to my husband for allowing me the time away to recharge my batteries. The best part is when I return home we have one day until our whole family leaves for the beach for our family vacation! Yippee. I may never return home and this year I might actually have a little bit of a tan!
Wishing you all rest….
julie
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