Made homemade pizza yesterday. Sauteed onions, garlic, red and green peppers and mushrooms. Am I wrong or is garlic the complete and absolute ruler of all spices? I just opened up the DISHWASHER to put a dish in and the smell from the garlic press wafted out...(washer hadn't been run yet) That is pretty bad isn't it? When garlic can make the unrun dishwasher smell good? Lol
Problem with cold weather: It's not that cold people. The real problem is that it is cold enough to require heat which means the air in the house is so dry there are not enough tissues to go around nor pumpkin spice coffee to coat irritated throats.
Just because one wants to see what Lord of the Rings looks like on flat screen, you cannot pass Gollum off as sweet "Barney type" character to 19 month old.
Hey, don't judge me man.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Bright Lights/Not so Big City
Before Kelsie left yesterday, they watched the Bright Lights video: "Making Brother's and Sisters Best Friends".
Can we say, freaky homeschooler types?
But true to what I expected, the material was superb. I am glad we got to do something spiritually profitable while she was here. I had big plans. But you know how that goes.
She was supposed to stay until the weekend until we found out she had three projects due for school on MONDAY. Sheesh, kids.
Another public school testimony: She reported school is boring, dangerous and drug infested. Pregnant girls abound and alcohol use among her age group is prevalent. She says it is more a matter of survival than learning and the teachers are on the most part completely uninterested in the kids or their jobs. Ouch. She and her two sisters are doing pretty well I think due to a high level participation in sports.
Anyway, back to the video. This video was very affirming. I have been accused, upon occasion, of micro managing the kids. Lol But I love that that old proverbial pudding is proving out.
The video explained how little irritations left unchecked can grow into divisiveness between sibs. So I am glad that I didn't let all the "little" things go unchecked. Now I don't have to hear all the bickering, fighting and arguing. But there is still SO MUCH work to be done. In all of us yes, but my CALLING is to guide and mold those kids. We are beginning the Mom/Daughter Bright Lights discipleship program and I cannot wait to see the fruit of it! I'll keep everyone updated.
Things that stuck out the girls were:
Humility. Repaying evil with kindness. One girl had a pencil roll off her desk and another girl picked it up and said it was hers. She later went and got advice from a parent assuming the parent would call the teacher, etc. But instead she took the girl to the store and bought a pack of special pencils to give to the other girl the next day as a gift. A great surprise to the offending party and the girl was super friendly and wanting to be her best friend after that.
Praise: Seeing how amazing praise can work with sibs. A little attention goes a long way. This is highly evident with my hubby who is away a lot now. Whenever he gives ANY attention to the girls, they beam. If Sloan gives any attention to Lauren, she nearly shines like the sun. Etc. Etc.
To me, their analogy of a fish hook struck me. They were using it to reference irritations between sibs but I saw it as sin. The hook of sin enters easily but the barb at the end of it makes it ridiculously difficult to extricate. But it MUST be done. Wah, hah hah.
Man, am I whiny today.
Can we say, freaky homeschooler types?
But true to what I expected, the material was superb. I am glad we got to do something spiritually profitable while she was here. I had big plans. But you know how that goes.
She was supposed to stay until the weekend until we found out she had three projects due for school on MONDAY. Sheesh, kids.
Another public school testimony: She reported school is boring, dangerous and drug infested. Pregnant girls abound and alcohol use among her age group is prevalent. She says it is more a matter of survival than learning and the teachers are on the most part completely uninterested in the kids or their jobs. Ouch. She and her two sisters are doing pretty well I think due to a high level participation in sports.
Anyway, back to the video. This video was very affirming. I have been accused, upon occasion, of micro managing the kids. Lol But I love that that old proverbial pudding is proving out.
The video explained how little irritations left unchecked can grow into divisiveness between sibs. So I am glad that I didn't let all the "little" things go unchecked. Now I don't have to hear all the bickering, fighting and arguing. But there is still SO MUCH work to be done. In all of us yes, but my CALLING is to guide and mold those kids. We are beginning the Mom/Daughter Bright Lights discipleship program and I cannot wait to see the fruit of it! I'll keep everyone updated.
Things that stuck out the girls were:
Humility. Repaying evil with kindness. One girl had a pencil roll off her desk and another girl picked it up and said it was hers. She later went and got advice from a parent assuming the parent would call the teacher, etc. But instead she took the girl to the store and bought a pack of special pencils to give to the other girl the next day as a gift. A great surprise to the offending party and the girl was super friendly and wanting to be her best friend after that.
Praise: Seeing how amazing praise can work with sibs. A little attention goes a long way. This is highly evident with my hubby who is away a lot now. Whenever he gives ANY attention to the girls, they beam. If Sloan gives any attention to Lauren, she nearly shines like the sun. Etc. Etc.
To me, their analogy of a fish hook struck me. They were using it to reference irritations between sibs but I saw it as sin. The hook of sin enters easily but the barb at the end of it makes it ridiculously difficult to extricate. But it MUST be done. Wah, hah hah.
Man, am I whiny today.
Heading for the "Take Down"
Kelsie's gone, Boohoo! We had a great time with her, such a sweetie! It was hard to watch Sloan have to say goodbye to her...but good to be inching back toward a normal schedule. Can you believe I didn't get ONE picture while she was here as I have lost my camera??? I'm PRAYING that Kate, currently in her "Let's-help-Mommy-by-throwing-everything-away stage didn't do the unmentionable. Chewhi, do you remember Kelsie? Anyway, fare thee well Kels!
Back to life: I was always one of those "love Mondays" types. Hated Fridays LOVED Mondays. Don't ask me why. I always loved to work...get busy, you know. It's hard that right after the work of the Holidays that we cannot gently roll back into our schedule. Instead, we have to take down Christmas. Take down the decorations, take down the tree, the Christmas cards, the lights. We "take down' Christmas like it's a criminal or something. (see slightly worn and tired Santa, running in a zig zag pattern while I am sprinting to make the tackle.)
But the point is that after all of that putting up, taking down is SO MUCH WORK. So we dress things up for the Holidays but then have to work work work to get rid of it. So to speak. But I don't wannaaaaaa, wah, hah, hah Whine, kvetch, moan.
I normally take down on Jan 2nd but it will have to wait until Saturday when Jeff comes home. I am supposed to be school planning until then but instead am having a wannabe sewing day with the girls tomorrow.
Someone is going to have to take me down and then pin me down to a schedule of some sort soon...:)
Back to life: I was always one of those "love Mondays" types. Hated Fridays LOVED Mondays. Don't ask me why. I always loved to work...get busy, you know. It's hard that right after the work of the Holidays that we cannot gently roll back into our schedule. Instead, we have to take down Christmas. Take down the decorations, take down the tree, the Christmas cards, the lights. We "take down' Christmas like it's a criminal or something. (see slightly worn and tired Santa, running in a zig zag pattern while I am sprinting to make the tackle.)
But the point is that after all of that putting up, taking down is SO MUCH WORK. So we dress things up for the Holidays but then have to work work work to get rid of it. So to speak. But I don't wannaaaaaa, wah, hah, hah Whine, kvetch, moan.
I normally take down on Jan 2nd but it will have to wait until Saturday when Jeff comes home. I am supposed to be school planning until then but instead am having a wannabe sewing day with the girls tomorrow.
Someone is going to have to take me down and then pin me down to a schedule of some sort soon...:)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Send in captions!
Come on people...send in those captions! Remember you can enter as many times as you'd like!
I haven't gotten that many...
I haven't gotten that many...
Today's Online Devotional...
Remain in Him
Today's Scripture
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV).
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV).
Have you ever thought about the relationship between the branch and the vine? We don’t use these kinds of word pictures very much anymore, but think about it--if the branch is not attached to the vine, it withers and dies. The branches’ very life depends on it being attached to the vine. The same thing happens if we try to operate in this life without Jesus. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are cut from our life source. But when you remain in Him, by daily connecting with Him through prayer, worship, and study of the Word, then your life will be fruitful. You’ll walk in joy and blessing. I love that this verse says “much fruit”, which means you will have an abundant harvest in your life. God doesn’t want you to just barely get by. He wants to overwhelm you with His goodness. Remain in Him today. Choose to make Him top priority, and you’ll see His hand of blessing operating in every area of your life!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year's Contest!
Starting out the New Year with a new contest! Put a winning caption to this picture and win a basket full of "My Favorite Things"!
You must EMAIL captions to me so they remain anonymous amongst participants. I will pick winning caption on Friday and announce winner. You may enter as many captions as you'd like! No entries accepted after Thursday 6pm. If the winning caption is from someone who lives out of town, a name will be chosen randomly from the names of all other LOCAL participants and prize will be gifted to them on behalf of winning entry.
Think up some good ones and Good Luck!
(Prize details TBA soon...)
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!!!!
May the Lord bless you each with love, happiness, peace, prosperity, self discipline, friendship, laughter, joy, health and the increasing knowledge of Jesus Christ!
May each day bring Glory to God and love into your lives.
From the deepest recesses of my heart, I thank you each for blessing my life with your friendship!
Looking forward to a new year with Y-O-U!!!
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