I am so thankful that my Nanny is having a lot of good days lately. She has been very alert and talkative the last few weeks. Did I tell you that she's in a nursing home? My parents are having to sell her house since her insurance will be running out soon.
I went to her house today to gather some of her things - things I wanted that reminded me of her. There were so many things that I wanted to hold on to, but I just didn't have a place to store it all.
I was so grateful to get my Nanny's china, secretary desk, silver and sewing things along with lots of other odds and ends. The thing that I wanted the most - the thing that I will treasure the most is her wooden mixing bowl. Nothing fancy or expensive. Just something that holds one of my favorite memories of her. She made the best biscuits in that bowl. Just a sweet simple treasure that I will hold dear. To me, it is more precious than gold.
My heart is heavy. I cried all the way home. The house will soon belong to someone different. It is heartrending, but a least I still have my Nanny. I'll cherish our time together for however long God grants it. My memories of how spunky, how generous and how loving she was will always stay with me.
The lilbucks had their 1st karate tournament this past weekend. They had a lot of fun. Collin & Faith were ready to do it again that afternoon. My nerves were all messed up. Being a karate mom, may take some getting used to.
Collin demonstrating his forms.
Faith flag sparring. (right)
Faith grappling. (in white)
Collin grappling. (in white)
Collin grappling.
Collin & Faith with their medals.
Will demonstrating his forms.
Will flag sparring. (In the black helmet)
I've always taught my boys to respect women and to not hit. The first time Will got on the mat, he had to fight a girl. Ugh! This girl did not hold back. She got called down several times for excessive force. This was a long match. The refs couldn't see who got the point, so they had to keep fighting. Will started getting upset, but he pushed through it. I told him after the match, that I was prouder of him for continuing with the match when he was upset than I was that he won the match. I also told him, to respect & don't hit girls off the mat, but on the mat it's a different story. Respect them by not treating them differently than you would a guy. I may have him really confused.
Collin's 1st sewing project. (Didn't think to get the camera until after it was made.) Collin made this all by himself. I put the pedal on a step stool, gave him instructions & he was off.
Homemade traveling stationary bag!
Before life got filled with precious children, I was very good about sending cards to encourage, to thank, for birthday wishes and so on. After my days got full, I fell off the wagon. I missed doing it. I enjoy opening the mailbox (expecting nothing but bills & junk mail) and have a surprise card from someone. What a treat! I want to do the same for others again.
Someone gave Tony the cute little red knit envelope bag with a gift card in it. He got the card, I got the bag. It was perfect to hold return address labels & stamps. Cards, addresses, sticky note, a pen & my little traveling encouragment bag is ready to go. There are so many times when I'm out and about with a few minutes here and there - that I don't get at home. With so much going on, it is essential to use the time wisely.
I love making things with my hands. I find it so relaxing. Last year the kids helped me make my father-in-law's Father's Day gift. An Embroidered hands quilt (<-- click to see where I got the idea). What a great way to save the memory of my children's small hands. I have embroidered the hands for me as well, but have not turned it into a quilt yet. Soon. :)
Below is a child's apron. We have a birthday party for 2 sweet little girls that we are going to. My kids love aprons. We have given them as gifts before & everyone has loved them.
Since we had enough material left over, Faith helped me make bags for the apron and measuring spoons/cups to go into. Faith wanted a half apron for herself. The aprons turned out a little big, but that will just give them a longer time that they can wear them.
Friday after our school work was done, Collin went to work with Tony. Will, Faith & I went to Pizza Hut for their free Pizzas. Pizza Hut has a Reading Program for schools as well as for homeschoolers. You read so many books and you get a free personal pan pizza. When the waitress brought mine out, she said that they didn't make mine right and they would be bringing another one for me for free. Woo Hoo!
It was calling for snow. (In our part of the world, it hardly ever snows.) We went to the grocery store and it was a mad house. Hardly any milk or bread. There wasn't any of the 2% milk that we buy on the shelf. The stock man walked by & asked how he could help me. He went in the back and brought out their last 2% milk. So thankful that I didn't have to go to another store.
The poor cashier told me that the store had been packed with people since 7 am. (We went at 2pm). He looked very worn out. I told him that I would pray for him to make it through the day. He looked at me funny- gave me a huge smile and thanked me.
We went to the library for a few free books and movies. Yay! Free food and free movies for our Valentine weekend.
We were going to go get some free donuts with our Valentine coupons, but the snow started floating down. We headed back home for a soon-to-be winter wonderland.
Since we hardly ever get snow, Faith did not have water proof "glubs".(Faith's pronunciation) So we wrapped plastic sandwich bags around her little hands. {Note the 2 different gloves. Faith likes to play with them with her stuffed animals. We couldn't find a complete pair}
***Let It Snow! **** Let It Snow!**** Let It Snow!****
:Snow Angels:
:Snow Ball:Somebody has been watching The Christmas Story way to much. :Collin & Thomas the Tank Engine:
:Leia didn't want to have anything to do with the snow.:
We wanted to try Snow Candy ever since we read about Laura's mama making it for them in Little House in the Big Woods. It was a nice treat.
Snow Ice Cream. The flavor was good, but the kids nor I really liked the texture of the snow in our mouth. It was still fun to try. Maybe when it snows again in 2020, we'll make some more.
(After Chrismas, I found these Christmas Crackers at World Market for $0.70 a box. I grabbed up a few.) We enjoyed these for a Valentine surprise. We made some delicious cupcakes, read Valentine books & watched our free movies. The children loved their Valentine's gift from us. They were so excited. I have no idea what they are going to do with a handkerchief, but that is what they wanted. It was so much fun making them.
Late Sat. afternoon, this is all the snow that we had left. I love when it snows, but I'm happy when it doesn't stick around for very long.
Collin surprised me again on Valentine's morning. He picked out a suit to wear. My little men look so handsome & Faith is so pretty.
:Faith's little Heart Man:
Tonight, I have a story for our devotions about Jesus' love. The greatest Love Story of All.
I am so thankful that Jesus loves me- unconditionally.
Love Never Gives Up keeps running through my mind. I sang this when I was young in my youth choir. I found the music so my children could sing it in the children's choir. It is so true & such a fun song to sing.
Love never gives up, love never lets down;
Love keeps on trying thru smiles or frowns.
Love never says die even when it gets rough;
True love just never gives up!
No matter what_ Jesus loves you- His love just
Keeps going on and on and on and on and on!
When other friends disappoint you, you can be sure
He is there all along!
Love is very patient and kind…never jealous or envious…never boastful or
proud…never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own
way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will
hardly even notice when others do it wrong.
Love is gentle and patient It gives and then gives
some more and more and more and more and more!
It shares without hesitation, And doesn’t even try to keep score, -
For many years, when the kids had a "boo boo"(A pain that didn't break the skin) I would give them "Special Lotion". Guaranteed to heal all the hurts. After applying the lotion, we had some snuggling time & they were off. The next time they got hurt, they would ask for "special lotion".
My 8 year old figured it out today. He said "mind tricks are very powerful." I told him that love and attention heals a lot of pain.
A little while later, Faith came running in the room crying because she fell. Will grabs the lotion and asks her if she wants some "special lotion". He put it on her knee, gives her a hug & she's off running again. Will turns around and says, "You were right, Mom."
We all need a little love and attention from time to time.
The boys have been taking Karate for about 5 months now. During the boy's class, Faith would kick and punch on the side of the mat, right along side of them. After each class she would say, "Mama, I really would love to take Karate." Yesterday, she had her first lesson.
I also love the movie You've Got Mail. (If you have TV Guardian, I highly recommend watching it. It does have some words in it, but TV Guardian catches them.)
The character in You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly, loves daises also. In it, she has a handkerchief with daisies and her initials on it. I wanted one ever since I first saw the movie in 1998. 11 years later, I finally made one for me.
I love making things with my hands. Hand embroidery is easy, quick and fun.
I never have a tissue when I need one. Maybe now, I can hold on to my special handkerchief. I think I've started something in the family. My kids all want me to make them one now.
(Blessing # 41) I was blessed with being diagnosed with ADD about 11 years ago. (I may have had it during childhood, but didn't know enough to get it checked out.) You may ask, 'why do I say blessed?' Well, we know the down side of ADD {Side note: my ADD is like you're in a room with 20 people hearing everyone's conversations and knowing what they are saying all at the same time. My brain is on overload.}, but I choose to look at the up side of it.
I was taking Adderall to help. After doing research on this drug, I found out that it was basically "speed". If you have ADD, it does the reverse- it slows your brain down. If you don't, then you are flying high. When I was expecting my first son, I knew that I wasn't going to take it during my pregnancy. I also knew that I couldn't work very well without using something to help me.
I have no medical degree, but I do have a little bit of horse sense. If sugar and carbs give you energy & energy for the brain, then maybe to much of it causes ADD. I started researching on natural sites. There was a lot of evidence stating that diet does cause ADD.
I changed my diet. I was slowly seeing the symptoms of ADD slowly decreasing. When I go for long periods of time, not eating healthy, I notice that the symptoms increase. Medical doctors have told me that diet is not the cause. I know my body better than anyone- despite what they say. This may not be the case for everyone, but for me, ADD is caused by my diet.
The reason I am talking about ADD is because of my quiet time. Over the years, reading my Bible has been challanging for me. With my brain going in 90 different directions at one time, (okay, maybe only thinking of 5 different things at once) I can't focus on His precious word. If I can do something while I'm reading, I can grasp what I'm reading. Since that is really hard to do, (Blessing #42) I've been using Bible CDs. Alexander Scourby (Dramatized version) Holy Bible KJV is wonderful! I put it in and start cleaning. After I listen to however many chapters, I turn it off and talk to myself about what I just learned and how I can apply it to my life. (Again by talking it out while I'm cleaning or cooking - works along side with the ADD) Then I start praying for what and whom the Lord lays on my heart (also while I'm doing something with my hands).
This may not be the best choice for people without ADD, but it works for me. When my ADD is under control (my diet is healthy), I can sit and read my Father's Word. I do cherish holding my Bible in my hands and seeing it in print.
As my mother-in-law says, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."
Yes, it is February and the next school year cannot start (for us) until June, but it is my time to start looking at curriculum for the next school year. I love researching and looking through lots of curriculum, but it can be overwhelming. Especially when it is time to make the final decision. Since I cannot afford to change curriculum half way through the year, I feel that I have to get it right the first time.
I research a few weeks and then pray about what we should use. After I find out what we are going to use, I keep my eyes out for sales, used curriculum, etc. I like to do reading and math, one or two days a week, during the summer for review and so we can get a jump start on the next year. In order to do this, I have to have what I need by May so I can plan. A little OCD maybe?
I am praying about doing Will & Collin's Science & History together next year. Most families do this when teaching multiple children, but I haven't attempted this yet. Hopefully, this will help make my job a little easier.
I am wanting to use living books with History this year. I am looking into using Truth Quest History. They use real books as well as showing God's hand in history. Sounds wonderful!
As for the rest, it's up in the air.
Blessing # 40. I am thankful for my curriculum counselor with my accountabilty group. She has helped me so much.
I am a born again Christian. I am a child of the King. I love spending time with my family. We enjoy going to the mountains in the summer and the beach in the fall & winter. I have been married to my "beloved" for 14 years. I am a homeschool mom of 3. Researching is entertaining.
I love dancing with my children in the rain, singing in the car with the music turned up loud(when I'm alone), sewing, going barefoot, drinking hot tea in the fall & winter & homemade lemonade in the spring & summer.
