Jacinda

Good morning!! (I am frantically searching for my coffee...so I can feel completely relaxed as I type...hold on...it's in the kitchen)



Ah...better...


Good morning! (feeling much more at peace with coffee in reaching distance! lol)

Today is the day they are starting my siding. Well, I thought it was "they" but all that came was a "he"...
Well, they are doing it for $3900 and I buy materials. Which I was thinking may not be such a good when I went to price everything out. But when I actually went to buy the stuff yesterday, it was mostly on SALE!!! God is so good to me! He knows everything I am up to! It's like the verses in Job where God said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job" and Satan said, something like yeah, right, you've got a hedge on him, his family, his stuff, everything of Job's, so why would I consider Job??" Well, God has a hedge around His faithful children. I think I am faithful? Well, I hope I am being faithful enough.

Before bible study last night we went down by the mall to pass out tracts and do some street evangelism. Those 3 round of antibiotics for my tooth infection are wreaking havoc on my body so I went to the GNC to get some acidolphilis and cranberry supplements rather than stay with Craig outside the mall. The young lady at the counter asked if I needed any help. I said" that depends on how much knowledge you have." Could I possibly been any more rude? She said "well, I have to have some knowledge to work in the store, ya think?" That was the point I realized what a snobby comment I had made. I apologized for what I had said and explained that I had meant it in the sense of Home Depot employees who are "experts" in their department and that I really shouldn't have said it. So, the sweet young lady still helped me. I can't say I really needed help as I knew what I had come for but in the back of my mind, I thought maybe I could witness to her.

She began asking me and my daughter questions about school, which led to questions about homeschool, which led to the question of why I homeschool, which led to God. At the register, I pulled out a tract and asked her "if you died today and God asked you why He should let her into heaven, what would she reply?" She said "I don't know, I need to ask myself that more often". (I think she was thinking of the WWJD mentality)

I explained that Christ died for all our sins and that if He already paid we have no reason to worry about going to hell to pay ourselves. That I grew up thinking yeah, Christ paid for my sins, BUT I still had to at least try to keep the commandments and that because I threw in that itty bitty bit of me being faithful, I wasn't ever saved. (Romans 4:5 says "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness ) I was trying to hold on to Christ rather than trusting he was holding onto me.

She said as long a she had faith in God she and everyone else was ok.

That is what most people say. So, is that true? Is everyone ok? We just need to believe in God? Which one? How much? Believe what? According to this young lady, none of those things matter. So, I guess I may as well throw my Bible away, because what it says doesn't matter?

I was gracious and just told her that there are many people who believe in God and that when they die, "God will ask them why should I let you into my heaven?" In Matt. 7 21, the people say Lord, Lord, we did this and this and this in YOUR name! Let us in!! (like Becca's version?) and He says, get away from me, you who practice lawlessness (sin) I NEVER knew you! ( not I knew you once and you lost your salvation, but rather I never, ever, at no point in time knew you--Greek word is gnosko) I mean, they say all the wonderful things they did for God and He says, yes, but what about your sin? They were saying how good they were and all their good deeds God says, your good doesn't take away your bad. For me, if God says why should i let you into my heaven? I would say , because you paid for my sins so I wouldn't have to. You promised, and YOU DO NOT LIE! I have accepted the FREE gift of salvation, no strings attached, no BUT's added to it. No but I need to be baptized, no BUT you can't live however you want, no BUT you need to repent, no BUTs at all! It is all Him, none of myself.

She still said that as long as she believed in God, she was ok. I left it at that, suggested gently she read to learn more. And went on my way. That is all I can do. That and pray for her salvation.

Her name was Jacinda. A sweet young girl...

Thursday 13

1. This is my first time doing this...

2. I really wish I knew how to add the button for Thursday 13 into my sidebar...

3. My scale was broke so I bought a new one.

4. My new scale is broke too... *sigh*
(and if I bought another one, that one would be broke too! *wink* I really thought the first one was broke!)

5. I can eat one bite of ice cream and put the box back in the freezer without thinking twice.

6. My husband can't.

7. Usually, I buy something fo me and I never get any of it.

8. That happened with the last carton of ice cream...

9. It was my favorite--chocolate.

10. I am 28 years old...I think...let me ask my daughter...(slight pause as I yell to the other side of the house)...nope, I'm 29! lol

11. My husband is 46 or something--that's why age doesn't matter around here.

12. I was born again May 7th, 2002...the only age that matters to me...

13. Now why would 13 be hard to think of...hmmmm...It's cold and rainy outside??? not quite about me, but it's #13 anyway!

Deceptive Foods

The fun of second grade science!
Today Colton had to separate a pile of foods out of our cupboards and fridge into piles of "has sugar" vs "does not have sugar"...So, here are his piles:


These he said no doubt had sugar: (pretty obvious ones)







These he said no doubt DO NOT have sugar. I made sure to ask him a few times to make sure he was sure on his choices. (I knew he was a little off becasue I know spaghetti sauces and ketchup have sugar)




So, here are the piles accurately separated. Needless to say, my young man was shocked!

No sugar pile..

(I thought for sure Triscuits had sugar...)







Sugar pile... (Now, I figured the juice and the pie filling would have sugar but can you believe that Mac-N-Cheese has sugar??? Hotdogs??? Now why would hotdogs need sugar? And Clam Chowder?? I don't put clam chowder in it when I make it from scratch??)

Although I don't think it will affect his life at all at 6 years old, but it sure was fun to see the look on his face as I read "corn syrup...high fructose corn syrup...sugar...."

(and now you all get a glimpse of the unhealthy garbage in my pantry...lol...I can no longer plead ignorance either! *wink*)

Quick update to yesterday.

I am feeling better today. I can see that my lovely daughter is really putting forth an effort today. Makes me feel better--even like my tough day yesterday paid off. Thanks to any of you who cared enough to pray for me.

I can't think of a title

I am beyond frustrated right now. For those of you who think I am some sort of professional homeschooler with an impermeable schedule...how utterly wrong you are. I haven't felt this out of control since the first the first year of homeschooling. Right now "stressed" feels mild. I am about to go insane. Yes, insane! "Pull your hair out and claim the wee green man on your shoulder did it" type of insane.


I want to tell you all why I am so frustrated but then you will ultimately see what a pathetic mom and teacher I am...so I hesitate...


I know that as I sit here, frustrated that here it is dinner time and my kids aren't done with their school yet, that it will ultimately fall on my shoulders that it is my fault they aren't done. Maybe that's why initially I didn't even want to post about this. But here I am. I am a poor mom...I must be...

I didn't teach today like I normally would because when I went to check my daughter's homework, it was written so poorly I couldn't read it. She was in such a hurry to get it done to play, that she rushed and it ALL was unacceptable. Now this is the moment where I can either lower my standards and say "oh, it's okay..." or I stick to my guns and eventually she'll learn I mean what I say. I feel like the evil mom right now. In fact, I am so bothered my leg won't stop jumping! urg... Not really "urg..." but more like "ick". That's how I feel. ICK. Icky. Ick. So, all day has been my battle to have her do yesterday's work as her best. To give it her all.


My friend says my daughter is the most stubborn, hard-willed child she has ever seen. I say she is also the sweetest, most loving child you have ever seen. *sigh*


Oh, if only you knew how badly I want nothing but the absolute best for my children. Really. That's all I want for them. The best. Some people think I am too hard on them, but I don't see it as I am. My mom and dad were hard on me--in a different sort of way and when i grew up, I wished they pushed me harder like I am trying to push my kids. I wish they made me do my homework, and pushed me to practice my music lessons and whatever else I was good at (or needed to be better at). While my daughter doesn't play an instrument like I did-yet, she is so stinkin' smart!


She just uses her intelligence in the wrong ways...I suppose she is just like any child and uses her brains to get her out of doing things. For example, if I ask her to do her one and only chore of putting the dishes in the dishwasher, she'll go and sit in the bathroom for an hour. She does it in hopes I will do her chore. As if I don't have any of my own chores to do. I'm serious. I've had to "check" if she went because she did it for weeks straight and I thought maybe she had a real problem--but she didn't.


Back to the playing thing. She has this mentality that she must always be playing. In a store, she can't just stand next to me. She has to play either with Colton or with anything. They have to take toys with them-everywhere. I am constantly telling them to put the toys away before I can leave. I even have to have them empty their pockets! It's ridiculous how they have such a play play play mindset! I mean, we don't watch TV like the world, don't have video games. How is it that they are so focused on playing? I keep wondering if they would be like this or worse in public school. Why? What am I doing wrong?? Is it because they have never experienced hunger? Never experienced being cold? Never experienced real sickness? Is it because they have never been without anything?


They are spoiled. I mean, compared to how I grew up. I was telling Craig how my mattress had springs that stuck out and poked me at night that I had to make sure to sleep on the edge of my bed. How my mom was always screaming at me to go clean something in her drunken stupors, and how I strived to please her but never could. I do not treat my kids even remotely close to how I was treated as a child...


I was feeling better but now my frustrations are returning. I am going to go take a hot bath and pretend my life is like a perfect fairytale...Can I do that?


Tomorrow is a new day. A day to do better, show more love, be more kind, be a better teacher, be a better mom...Pray for me...I need it...

My niece spent the day at my house...

How I *do* school...

I use Abeka curriculum and I do all subjects everyday. (And if I don't, I catch-up on Saturday)I have a 6th grader, Amanda, and a second grader, Colton. I get up early to have my computer time and wake the kids at around 7am. They eat, clean their rooms ect. and then we have a little bible study. Right now we are discussing Pride. Then we go over two sentences which I wrote on the board that have all the puntuation missing. Colton goes first and then Amanda finds the other mistakes. (this isn't in Abeka-I found this book at a thrift store or rummage)

Then my son does his AM reading while Amanda gets her books ready. Then she does her reading and Colton sits on my lap to listen. I get Colton doing his seatwork and then teach Amanda everything in the Lang. curriculum-Lang, spelling, poetry, and lastly penmanship. Penmanship is the trasition to me teaching Colton. I teach his penmanship, then go through his language arts.

At 10, we have a break--timer set--and then we come back for the math classes. I do the flashcards together and make a game out of it, rewarding them with my trinket system for every five cards they answer in 3 sec. Then I teach them Math in turn. While I teach Amanda, Colton is working on his paper and while I teach Colton, Amanda isworking on hers. Then it is lunch time. After lunch I do History and Science with Amanda, Then she does her homework. My last thing of the day is Colton's PM reading.

While I am teaching my Amanda her language arts, my son does his seatwork. I put the page out of the lesson plans in a protective cover and he uses it directly to get what he is supposed to do. I ask him how long he needs to do each excersice and set the timer. He usually beats the timer and has ALL but one side of the tablet paper done by the time it is his turn for teaching. And he knows the sooner he gets done (and still done well or I erase it) he can play upstairs. The same is for my Amanda- the more diligent you are in your work, the more free time you have.

When I get off here, I will turn my computer off and not answer the phone unless it is an emergency.

If there is any reason my kids can't get their work done, it is usually my fault. Becasue I spend too much time on the computer- as if that's more important than teaching them-- or I run my errands at a bad time, or I in my laziness, just don't want to teach. I always say, whne it comes to my kids education, *I* am their worst enemy. Just being honest...

Paint from head to toe...

Today, was an odd day.
It started out pretty normal. I made breakfast, Craig prayed with us before he went to work and then I started school. And then...
I don't know why, but I decided it was a good day to paint the trim on my house...And the kids thought it was a splendid idea as well! So, we did it. Well, most of it. I went to Lowe's to get the paint and I am estatic that they now make an exterior primer/paint in one. Makes painting so much easier! The kids had a blast and end ed up with paint, you guessed it by the title of my post--head to toe! What fun it was!

We also got a bid on our siding for $3900 plus materials which seems much more do-able than the other bids we've gotten. The guys put up our garage door and I was impressed by their craftsmanship. After the all the lowlifes that have had worked on our house so far, just the fact that these guys not only USED a level, they even owned it! (we've had some doesy contractors here so far)

On a whole different note, I think I am going to do my best to use up everything in my pantry before buying from the store anything other than milk, bread, eggs, and butter, I mean, there is so much stuff in it, and I really don't even know what is in there anymore. I tend to be one to stock up when things are on sale, but I think I need to skow down. I still have the bone from a ham I made around April in my freezer to make bean soup. I NEED to make the soup, already! I've had the beans for eons now, it's just too hot for soup. I even have everything for split pea, clam chowder and minestone...but it too hot for soup...My freezer is pretty packed too. Meats, veggies, and a few pre-made meals like lasagna and chicken pot pie (too hot for that too)

It's always nice to have the pantry and freezer stocked for when we are poor. Part of owning your own business is to be either rich or poor, it seems. So, during the poor times it's nice to have the pantry to fall back on. But it seems it's been a while since we've had to fall back on them. That's a good thing.

I want to go listen to a tape of our friday bible study. I missed the study becasue the gus took longer to put in my garage door than I had hoped. I've heard it was a really good study.

Some people's kids...

(sigh)

So, last week I made mention of a person not being able to "deal with soemone like me" and how I would be sure to not mention Christ to that person again, that I understood and received their subliminal messages.

So, I still liked to read their blog. It had a lot to do with frugality and budgeting stuff. I posted a couple helpful hints in response to a few of their messages--no mention of God--I needed to respect that person's previous request. I went to see the response to what I had said (we're talking cooking, here) and well, my comments were deleted. Once again, I get the hint. Too bad people are so immature that they can't communicate properly. Or can't just live in peace together. You know, "live and let live"....Why not just say, could you please not talk about God? Or, would you be so kind as to move on? Immature.

I said in my post I wouldn't make mention of God again to that person, but yet becasue I am a God-believer, I am not worthy to be friends with. Sad. Seems these "kind" of people have a love everyone EXCEPT the God-lovers type of attitude...Hmmm...I still like MY side of the fence (as a God-lover) and it is much greener without the "God and People Haters".

You know, before I was a Christian, before I found out I had spent 22 years as a false Christian, everyone always liked me. I never talked about God or my faith or my beliefs s0 I got along with everyone. And now, here's another person who doesn't not like me, but just plain doesn't like my God or my faith in something above and beyond them or me.

I wonder here who the arrogant person really is. Too good to be friends with someone who believes in God. Sad...They may not believe now, but they sure will when they die...and it won't be pretty.

(sigh)

Siding

Today, to break up my school day (aka-monkey wrench in schedule),

my hubby sent some guys over to do an estimate for the siding on our house--And as I speak to these kind men, my children lose all sight or focus of their school work and of course take full advantage of my lack of attention and direction...(aka- HUGE monkey wrench in schedule)

can you believe it!! $14,000!!! Is that not insane! That was after their generous 25% discount (which I'm sure is just a marketing tactic)...Needless to say, we won't be going with that company! lol That was for insulated sided--the cheap stuff was only 10 grand...

I have a guy coming over tomorrow that said he would do it for a mere $2,000! Ridiculus! I think I am still in shock!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ok, so my tooth is hurting, I keep having chills and hot flashes and I think I am going to die... WEll, I know I am going to die eventually, Lord willing, I was hoping not soon...ok, so now my mind spins in a way different direction than where I was originally floating off to...

How do you think it'll be for you when you die?

Seriously

Is God going to say "Oh Becca, you did an AWESOME job of serving ME!"

(*sigh)Man, oh, man...

Ah, You might say, "yes"...

Then, stand me next to the apostle John --who had them crucify him upside down becasue he didn't feel himself worthy to die in the same manner as CHrist...

Or the little boy who watched torturers beat his dad to death and then him--refusing to deny his faith...

Would I do that?

Spoiled American me?

Would I persevere or would I wimp out and deny Christ verbally to avoid persecution?

I really wonder...I mean, I'd like to think I would but if I really, truly am honest, would I?? I whine if I'm hot, I whine if I'm cold, I bellow out like a wounded pig if I stub my pinkie toe!

And so can I honestly tell someone I would stand up to any persecutions that came my way? That I somehow deserve to sit next to the apostles at that table in heaven?

No, honesty and reality tell me "no"...

I do not compare...

Now, how in the world did my mind get there???

It is hard to keep a chipper spirit right now...

I am tired of dentists.

I am tired of toothaches.

I am tired of infected teeth.

Colton's tooth is still infected and now low and behold mine is still infected as well. Here, I had thought it was good as new and then the bubble started to reform...talk about a nightmare dental experience. So, my dentist put me on some highpowered antibiotics--round three, mind you, wreaking havoc on my natural flora...--that as I read the side effects, I guess I am ok as long as I don't throw up or get some kind of colitis that can kill me. Great.

And it hurts.
And I feel exhausted...
but my determination to stay on schedule is overtaking me. I want to rest but I don't want to, or can't afford to get behind. I mean, if I get behind, I end up with no personal time. No time for just me. You know, where you send the kids away to play why you finally get to spend more than 10minutes on your favorite hobby or time to read or whatever. Well, if I get behind, it is so hard to get caught up. I am NOT allowed to be sick.

Have you ever noticed that when a mom is sick, she stilll has to cook dinner, make laundry, ultimately still owrk, but if Dad is sick, he whines like a baby and expects to be waited on hand and foot. At least that's how it works around here.

The Dentist

So, the dentist. You'd think as many times as I have been to my dentist's office, I wouldn't get lost every single time I go there! when I get off the freeway, it is an odd intersection where you have the choice to take two different highways and I always take the wrong one. At least this time I knew enough to turn around right away! lol
I was still on time and he was running late because of a semi blocking the freeway--(I got stuck in the same traffic hours earlier)
He put temporary fillings in both his teeth and oh, my, did Colton cry! It was only the second time he went to the dentist. I asked the Doc what he did to my poor boy and he said "it's always worse the second time around." The mommy in me, wanted to run in and pull him from that wretched chair...don't worry, I didn't do it!

Odd..

I really thought I posted yesterday.

Maybe I commented on so many other posts, or was so long winded on them, I thought I actually posted to my blog. How odd.

So, today is seriously cold! What happened. God turned on the central air this morning! I think I will actually have to wear socks for the first time in months!

Today, we go to the dentist--again...

Oh, the horror stories...I had my wisdom tooth pulled because it had a cavity, not for the same reasons as most people get them pulled...it got infected...and dry socket...and then infected again..OH, and a chunk got left in because the dentist after digging in my mouth, wiping sweat off his brow gave up on getting it out! So now it still hurts...That's me...

But we are going for Colton. He had a tooth fixed on the bottom, got infected and was put on antibiotics, which didn't get rid of the infection so I popped the abscess for him and it healed on it's own...then a piece of an upper tooth fell out so I set up another appointment to have that upper tooth filled but the day of the appointment, I went out to my car and the neighbor kids had slashed my tires and literally drew all over my car (the nicest I've ever owned) with a key or something hard so we couldn't go. I put off the new appointment or really forgot once I had gotten my car fixed--shame on me--- and Colton complained of mouth pain so when I went to check on his lower tooth's abscess- there was a HUGE one on that upper tooth!! And it was the holiday weekend, at three days before we could get in to a dentist. My husband advised me to preform surgery on this one to drain it and give him some comfort. So yes, my 6yo tyke, let me and he was so relieved that it made it feel much better. So I called the dentist Tuesday to get him more antibiotics and today it is about half the size. It was as big as a full size pea under his gums in his itty little mouth. Oh, my poor baby. So, yesterday I look and my goodness he has another abscess on the bottom but this time on the outside gum of the same tooth as before!

Tell me why in the world these antibiotics are not taking care of these infections?? And after both of us having 2 rounds, I know our bodies are going to be messed up. I have been forcing us to eat yogurt so that we can buildup some of those good bacterias the antibiotics have destroyed. Ahh, I hope it all goes well. I wonder if they can even work on his tooth with being still infected...

So, now I am going to go teach school and hopefully get it all done before 2pm... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Cast your burdens on Him because He cares for you. Do not grow weary in doing good for in due time you shall reap if you do not grow weary. Do not worry about tomorrow as tomorrow has enough worries of it's own, each day will care for itself...
Those all that flooded my mind at that moment! hehe
Have a godly day, my cyber-friends...

Still bothered...

I'm still bothered that someone thinks I am arrogant because of my "need" (I say desire) to share my faith...it makes me who I am...

Just like I said in my profile, I am one of those who talk about God too much in most people's opinion.
Hmmm...sitting here thinking about this again, pondering whether or not this person may be right...I just don't see how mentioning God and giving Him a mere fragment of the attention He deserves is arrogant.

Besides, when it comes to how "great" of a relationship I personally have with God, I would guess that when I die, God will be sure to point out to me that I don't have such a good relationship with Him...

I don't read my bible enough...
I don't pray enough
I am very selfish
I find myself unthankful,
covetous,
envious,
rebellious,
disliking authority,
NOT sharing my faith,
getting angry (especially while driving)

give me a second, I'll think of more...

not always being kind,
sometimes I even repay evil with evil...(who me???)
laziness,
gluttonous (the scale points this one out for me)

and now, I guess I can add...

arrogant...


But...I AM saved...when He died, he died for all my sin not just some of it. I am forgiven. Are you? (---ahh, here's the arrogant need to throw something in about God saving me again!)

Thankful, yes, but better ?, never..

Lesson Plans

I've never used them before. I mean, I use the curriculum lesson plans but never a book where I copy what I plan to do for each class each day, a week in advance...Well, I am using one this year and both times I have sat down thinking, "wow, do I ever do a lot" I actually have this feeling come over me of being completely overwhelmed. Anyone else have that feeling? It's almost a sick butterfly sort of feeling. I showed it to my hubby and he was impressed with my diligence this year in school...

So was my friend who corrects all my corrected work. I think I mentioned before that I take my schoolwork to her to look over. SHe actually called me and told me to keep up the good work! As a young 29 year old, I LOVE the praise! It just encourages me to keep on keepin' on...I always think of the movie Nemo when I say that- When Dory says over and over..."keep swimmin', just keep swimmin' "

Well, my lovelies are done with breakfast (we're running late cuz my hubby dropped the egg carton bringing it in the house last night, breaking 7 eggs, which led to a full-blown breakfast this morning) so I need to get going on school.

Live and Let Live

interesting...I read on a blog that someone finds religious people (didn't say me directly) hard to *deal* with because they have an attitude of being great and wonderful by their need to share their faith, or something to that effect. So, I am arrogant because I actually believe what I believe...How does somehow equate, that I am arrogant and think I have a BETTER relationship with God than anyone else in the world--thinking I am better than someone else only because I'm not chicken to say what I believe? Because as they put it, I have the need to share my beliefs. Of course, in the end, they say "live and let live".

One thought I had was why can't these people let me just live and let live. It's a free nation, speak what you like, listen to what you like, or, I don't know--don't listen! In cyber-land it's called the delete button or there's a little red x in the upper right hand corner on your screen, and if you click on it, what do you know?--what you didn't want to read disappears!... Or I can always take this as a polite, "Don't try to tell me about God, I know enough, Thank-you."

Barely voicing my opinions of origin and God on this person, (*sigh*) I merely answered a question she asked with my own opinion. Her question was something about where to find a wonderful peaceful place where money doesn't matter-no taxes ect. and I answered in "the arms of my Savior". Now, I realize this may not really be towards me and my comment but then again it probably is...Maybe these people need to add a header on their blog--any spiritual reasoning or gibberish need not be posted. I can't deal with people like you." Talk about lack of tolerance! (rolling my eyes here---uh-oh maybe I am arrogant...)

Then...this person also said in regards to telling a stranger she could by laundry soap cheaper somewhere else...

But it's all good. I'm sure the other mom-figure who was the recipient of
none-of-my-business was glad I said something.

Now, my speaking up about getting eternal life for FREE, rather than an eternity burning in flames, is me being haughty... Just as that mom-figure who believed her that the soap was cheaper elsewhere was happy; the person who believes Christ paid for their sins and then spends eternity in heaven would be pretty ESTATIC that I opened my mouth, eh? Does anyone else catch the blatant contradictions here? Or is it just me?

My friend said when I first got saved, that as a person grows spiritually and keeps their focus on their faith, they won't need to separate from ungodly people, they will automatically separate from you. I have found that to be very true. It's like the verse that say what does light have to do with dark and Jesus with Satan. Either the bad company corrupts your good morals or the bad company moves on.

Copperplate Video

HA! I got it to work! Enjoy the video. Mr Joe Vitolo made it, I think. You can check out more on www.zanerian.com

This has got to be the most beautiful video I have seen of this writing.

Copperplate

Ok, so I thought maybe you all might be curious as to what this copperplate stuff is I am always talking about. I am going to post a couple pictures of my latest work. I am hardly a pro--I've only been doing it since June and even still only have been able to practice a handful of times. Some of my friends think I just have the knack for it. To me, it is very peaceful. The pen just glides over the paper and it's beautiful.





Now,I am going to try to get a beautiful video of copperplate on here. As I watched this the first time, with the music in the background, it was exactly as I thought ornamental penmanship was. A symphony...
Hmm... youtube said it'd be on here in a bit...

The Stranger

Someone posted this on a board I frequent and after visiting a different blog
kind of mentioning something about TVs, I thought I'd post this here.

The Stranger...

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present, and even seemed able to predict the future!

He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry.The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example,was not allowed in our home... not from our friends any visitors or us. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked.. And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name? We just call him, "TV."

Note: This should be required reading for every household in America!

P. S. He has a wife now....

We call her "Computer."

We used to keep our TV in a closet and only pulled it out on Fridays nights to watch Family Theater on the local Christian TV station. Then we had to replace my computer monitor and bought one that had a TV tuner built in. What a tragic mistake! I am the mom who goes out of the room for peace and quiet and yes, I do pray for it to go away. Unfortunately, as I write this, I am well aware that I spend entirely too much time in front of this idiot box as well. But, I council myself that I am doing so for real communication with real people. Not just to appease my lazy flesh...really!

I'm feeling convicted to go do some laundry...

1 down, 169 to go!

So, today was the first day back to school. I suppose it went rather well. Colton's day was so easy compared to last week's that he actually asked me "Mom, why is this so easy?" He goes from major special sounds for reading backt o short vowels. So I gave him some extra drawing and stuff to brighten his day. He enjoyed listening on on Amanda's classes though. He likes it when she reads to us out of her readers.

I have a bell on the table that I ring when they aren't behaving. I use it rather than me raising my voice at them. They know that if I ring the bell and they don't obey me, it is a spanking. I didn't have to ring the bell even once. I ring it two times for them to come to the table from a break. I learned to use the bell from the Christ Centered Curriculum.
I used it when Colton was 4 for a little bit. Now I use all Abeka. It can be overwhelming sometimes all the books and reports but it really produces some excellent kids. I figure if they retain even 1/2 of what Abeka dishes out to them, they are doing very well! LOL

The other thing I implemented this year is that I gave them each a piggy bank and every time they did something good, I gave them a plastic chip in their bank. When we did flash cards, they got a chip for every five cards they got right. Then, I have a box of stuff. One piece of candy costs 25 chips, a cool pen is 100, and some other things will be in there too. When they earn that many chips, they can buy something or they can save until they can buy something "Good". Of course, I have to figure out what they think is "good". I thought maybe some clay...anyway. They only earned about 10 chips each today, but they think it is great and are really striving to earn them. I even will give them if they just shoe good manners or kindness that I think is worthy of praise.

So, there's the summary of the day. I need to go grade today's papers. I think it's important to keep up on grading so that I can go over their mistakes right away tomorrow instead of finding them a week later! (as I did last year!)

Freezing Food

Well, only because Jessie asked me for some tips--trust me, I'm NO pro here! I know there are a few things you shouldn't freeze--egg dishes for one...ok, so I can only think of that one.

I think most casseroles are freezable. I have a friend who lines her pans with aluminum foil and makes the casserole, usually you pre-bake or par-bake, and then cool it, put the pan in the freezer and then pull out the aluminum foiled dish and bag in a big ziplock. That's what she does, but she has a huge freezer-- I don't. So, right now I have in case of emergency, a pot pie and a dish of lasagna. I used the taco meat I had for the dish I brought to church last Sunday.

I've heard of freezing rice so that you always have it on hand. Some people take all their leftover vegetables and dump them in a community bag in the freezer, then when full, make vegetable soup.

just make sure to always label, date and use freezer bags...

I also went to Sam's club and bought a huge thing of spaghetti sauce for $3.88, browned some meat and mushrooms, added to the sauce in those plastic ziplock tubs (I love those things!) and froze up spaghetti sauce- enough for 3 large containers!

Ooooh, my meatball recipe is spectacular! And I have a bunch of recipes to go with it...The idea of typing all this is rather intimidating right now!

1 cup unseasoned bread crums
3/4 cup Romano or Parmesan
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup beef broth (you'll actually need more broth because the pan gets coated with it too)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 eggs, beaten
2 T. dried oregano
1 T. minced garlic
1 T kosher salt
1 T ground pepper
2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I skip these...my delicate stomach can't handle them)
pinch nutmeg


Stir together everything but the meat

Then add 2 lbs ground chuck

Mix up with a fork...

Make into balls, I make little ones, medium ones and MEGA ones

Put them on the pan, cover bottom of pan with more broth...

Bake at 450 degrees about 25 min. for medium size ones

You can save the broth and use it in your own spaghetti sauce--which I have a recipe for too! I got this recipe from a free book a magazine sent to me years ago...and I've used it ever since!

Meatball subs are easy...

Take some hoagie rolls and gut them, put mozz. cheese in them, some meatballs, cover with spaghetti sauce and bake 450 until heated through.



Easy Roast beef in the Slow Cooker---Take some bbq sauce, dump half the bottle in, put in a roast, pour in the rest of the sauce and cook on low 6-8 hours, depending on the size of the roast...

Or a different roast---put in some baby carrots, potatoes, a whole onion--but peel it--some garlic (I put in 8 cloves, but I LOVE garlic!) cook for 8-10 hours on low or I prefer to add a 1/2 cup of water and cook it on high for 7-8 hours--never fails to fall apart that way!)

Easy meatballs in the slowcooker--

2 can Cream of mushroom
2 pkgs cream cheese
can of mushrooms 4oz sliced
1 cup milk
2-3 lbs meatballs


mix sauce well, add meatballs and sauce, cover and cook for 4-5 hours on low, serve over noodles

My dad always made pork roast (I prefer dark meat) where he put the roast in the slowcooker with a couple cans of saurkraut and cooked it on low for 8 hours--again, I like high for 6 hours--it comes out almost sweet...well, at least sweeter! We eat it with a good bread and a salad.


Ok, that's enough for now! I love to talk homeschool and cooking! LOVE to cook! Oh, Jessie, I could go on and on...I would suppose I talk about cooking as much as I talk about God!




Speaking of that, I offered a woman a tract today and I thought she was going to bite me or something! And the other day on the freeway, an immature person was showing me their limited knowledge of sign language through the window. People don't like me bumper sticker that say "Real Christians know that homosexuality and abortion are sin". Yep, that's the one they don't like. I'm just stating a fact, not picking on anyone personally. I'm a sinner too, ya know, I just don't do that one...geesh...

Alright, gotta go.. My timers been going off for the whole last paragraph!