Status report, some book logs

It has been a loooonnnnggg time since I posted anything!  This winter and spring has been crazy busy - mostly good busy, though.  Lots of fun stuff with the kids, our science co-op, all kinds of fellowships with friends, and the cabinet shop has been inundated with orders!  We also got to host a little guy from Safe Families for almost a month.  He is coming back out today for a few days to visit.  So excited!  In the meantime, though, here is a bit of status, hopefully I can update some reading logs, and maybe get a few pictures in as well.

Stole the questions for the Status Update from Kim at The Upward Call

Sitting:  in my big recliner, where I do most of my reading and studying.

Glad: that I got a bunch of cabinets ordered last night so I can chill this morning.

Thankful: to have a beautiful day, since we are driving over an hour each way to pick up our little Safe Families guy for a visit.

Re-evaluating: my plans for school this fall.

Looking ahead to: time on Saturday that I am going to make some jewelry.  The guys will all be gone at a Mens' Breakfast at church and I am going to sort my goodies and string some beads.  It has been way too long.

Feeling bad: for some of my friends who are going through some really tough times.  I know prayer is the most important thing we can do, but I wish there were some physical things I could do as well.  Sometimes there are, but most of the time it is too big.

Relieved: that Joe, who was droopy all yesterday and not feeling good last night, is up and back to his normal self today!

Happy: to be working on a new Bible study from Cruciform Press titled "Joy! A Bible Study On Philippians for Women" by Keri Folmer and reading "Ties That Bind" by one of my favorite authors, C.J. Darlington

Curious: about so many things.

Thinking: about how to mesh sports and homeschooling.

Proud: of my husband.  

Wondering: if it is too soon to start stressing out about our biology co-op next year.

Praising God: for this gorgeous day that I get to enjoy.

And now, onto some books....I really wish I could just cut and paste my logs from Goodreads...here is a link to my shelf of books I have read so far this year which I have creatively titled "2013 Log".  All my current reads are over to the right.  I have pretty much gotten away from writing reviews, just doing stars.  I know, I know.....

Other than that, not much to tell.  But, I will anyway, with just a few from the family album!

Ben at his 13th birthday party.  He had a dodgeball party.  The cake is Rubik's Cube themed.  He does not like having his picture taken, can you tell?

Joe, performing a science experiment

My Nevin.  

Henry showing us some Darth Maul moves with the double light saber his dad made for him.

Me and my mom at a ladies dinner at her church.  Yes, we are wearing paper hats.  Don't ask.

Group photo from our last airsoft war.  We usually do one in the fall and one in the spring.  

And the latest family portrait, from Mother's Day.  I think Nevin and I are starting to resemble Phil and Miss Kay, what do you think?  With our four boys, we could be some Robertsons in the making.  Tony especially plans to have a beard, as soon as physically possible.  

Tony's 15th birthday.  Me and my four men, plus Tony's buddy Caleb.  Caleb seems to show up in a lot of our pictures. 

And that is it!  Hopefully I won't wait four months to write again.  I need to update the pictures on the sidebar as well.  But not today.  Today I am going to go get the little guy!

Borrowed this from Staci at Writing and Living

Status Report for January, 2013

Sitting… at the kitchen table.

Drinking…nothing.  Should probably have a glass of water.  Will most likely have milk before I go to bed.

Waiting…for the kitchen timer to go off, so I know to go check my blood glucose.

Recovering…from way too many holiday treats, late mornings, and lack of exercise.

Slowly…getting everyone moving off to bed.

Thankful…that I got most of the school stuff ready for next week, and all my science lab reports and tests graded.

Chagrined…I have fallen back into check FB way too often.

Reading…a Molly Murphy mystery by Rhys Bowen.  Not the most intellectual of pursuits, but I enjoy a good clean mystery.

Also reading…The Silver Chair by CS Lewis to the littles and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to the bigs.

Hearing…too much chatter, not enough getting ready for bed.  I guess I'd better get off the computer and go supervise!

Status Report for October

Copied from: Kim, at The Upward Call

Sitting:  at the coffee table with my laptop.

Thinking:  the boys better get up if they want breakfast before Bible study.

Sensing:  that I will have to get off the computer and go pull them out of bed.

Wondering:  if I can just mentally will them to get out of bed.

Debating:  whether to make Chicken Enchilada Casserole of Alice Springs Chicken for dinner tonight.  Both recipes come from Pinterest (note, below on your right, you can follow me there).  

Wishing:  someone would magically show up with dinner tonight.

Asking myself:  why I moved to the country where no one delivers.

Oh, yeah, this is why we moved.

Deciding:  to go with Alice Springs tonight, and make the casserole tonight for dinner tomorrow.  Glad that is settled.

Telling anyone who wants to know:  that I woke up this morning and did my individual Bible study and did (most of) my wii fit exercise, and I am ready to face the day.

Glad:  that my dvd of Richard Simmons Sweatin' to Disco (something like that) is supposed to arrive from Amazon today..

Perplexed: at why everyone doesn't like Richard Simmons.

Hoping: that the weather will be good this weekend for Rockport Baptist Church's Family Camp!

Counting on:  a good time of fellowship, no matter what the weather may bring.

Thanking God: for my husband and sons, our home, the beautiful weather outside my window today, plenty of food and overall good health, the opportunity to share in my sons' education today.

Looking forward:  to Family Camp!

Tasting:  my freshly brewed coffee, and already considering my breakfast options!

Tuesday Morning on the Homestead

A busy week behind me, a busy week ahead of me.  This weekend I am going to the 

True Woman 2012 conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. I went in 2010, and had an incredible time, so I am really looking forward to this year. I am road-tripping with three other ladies, so you know it is going to be a blast!  

But, for now, a few scenes from the homestead:

Mr. Hunter was chased up into the tree by old Esther kitty.  He tried to make it look like he meant to be there all along.

And here is what the garden looks like in the fall!  Nevin replaced the now-deceased wildflowers with mums.  The giant sprawling vines on the left are sweet potatoes - I cannot wait!  We have never grown our own before.  I have a killer sweet potato biscuit recipe.

And that is it for today.  Going to get my haircut, run some errands, have lunch with a friend, get ready for science and all my Wednesday craziness here........

Status Report: September

Sitting…on the couch.

Eating…nothing right now - ate a Weight Watchers ice cream a little while ago.  Might have another soon.

Plugging…a couple Diabetes blogs I am following, Sweet Success: My Life With Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes Mine - check both these ladies out!

Adjusting…to living with Type 2 Diabetes, and getting back into the full swing of school this week - including our science co-op!

Thankful…for so many things, especially our home-based life right now.  We have cut out a lot of running and "busy" and I am being very selective in what makes me leave the house.    I love having Nevin home, and love being with the boys.  

Missing…ordering tickets for the student programs at Powell Symphony Hall this year.  One of the things that got cut.  I will miss it.  The boys won't.  

Wishing…that Nevin would get home from his installation before the thunderstorms hit.

Preparing….a pot roast.  Also having a green bean casserole I found on Pinterest.  Where you can follow me, by the way.

Anticipating…A whole day tomorrow to get some cleaning and organizing done; Sunday worship with my church family, and then an afternoon and evening of rest with Nevin and the boys.  Also eagerly anticipating True Woman 2012 in less than two weeks!

Thinking…about 1 John 1 that we read together this morning.  If we are in the light, and have fellowship with Christ, we are no longer in darkness.  So how come sometimes we still act like we are in the dark???

Noticing…that many people really don't understand Type 2 Diabetes, and that includes people who have it and primary care doctors.  

Reading…The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and having a hard time getting into it.  

Realizing…that these piles of folded clothes are not going to put themselves away.

Copying…Staci

Sunday Afternoon on the Homestead

Finally time to sit down and reeeelllllaaaaxxx!  A busy weekend here - a kids' birthday party at a waterpark Friday, a baby shower Saturday morning, a kids' birthday party at a skating rink Saturday afternoon, then some squirrel hunting here last night.

The squirrel hunt turned into a rabbit hunt last night, when one of our hunters spied a couple brown rabbits heading out of one of the gardens.  A few bunnies bit the dust.  Nevin got another one running out this morning.  After all our work (especially Nevin's!) there is NO WAY we are feeding our crop to the rabbits.  Every time I find a half-eaten tomato I think about how tasty fried rabbit can be.

Excellent Sunday School today.  We are in John 12.  We started John in January of 2011.  We are going through the book word-by-word.  We will maybe finish this year.  I love this sort of teaching.  It sure beats "topical" lessons from a quarterly, that is for sure.  I feel like I am really getting a opportunity to know the Word. Our sermons are the same thing, the elders are currently preaching through Ephesians.  Grace, grace, grace - feel like I come away from there saturated in the grace and mercy of the Lord.

And now...home, relaxing and watching Soul Surfer.  Nevin and the big guys are at a meeting at church, then hopefully we will all be home together soon.  This week is crazy busy for Nevin, blessedly calm for me.  Hopefully my slow week will translate into me being available to help him.  I wish I could do more, but I don't know how to build cabinets......

And that is it - they just walked in the door, so the second shift of the day begins!

Saturday Morning on the Homestead

A quiet day today.  Nevin and the big guys are at church this morning for the monthly Mens' breakfast.  I am not completely certain what goes on there.  Nevin is speaking this morning, but he did not tell me what about.  I made sure he had three dozen eggs to take and the boys had their teeth brushed, that is pretty much the end of my involvement.

I really like that when Nevin takes on a commitment it does not automatically become MY commitment.  I had always thought that anything he did would be more work for me, but it has not turned out that way.  If he needs help, he will ask.  But he does not assume that if he is going to a breakfast that I am preparing the french toast casserole.  He actually does not WANT me to - because then it was my project, not his.  He would much rather show up with a couple dozen donuts from the shop that he picked up himself, than a fancy dish that I got up and made.  Good man.  Of course, if he wanted me to I would certainly make whatever he wanted.


I think I am going to putter about the house this morning, maybe pull a few weeds.  The garden began producing red, ripe tomatoes this week.

These are Early Girls. They ripen, on average, ten days before the others.  

With the tomatoes came.....squirrels.  Squirrels have descended on our garden.  Nevin has shot several in the last few days.  The cats are funny, because when he shoots Esther (my old lady that we rescued last year) runs for the hills when she hears the gun, but the rest just sit there, because they know they are about to get a fresh squirrel treat. 


(Side note here - I have a picture of A.J. munching a squirrel, but decided not to include it.  I thought it was cute, others might get all queasy inside.)


Henry was very upset that Nevin gave them to the cats, instead of dressing them for us (ug, they like fried squirrel, I am not a fan).  But Nevin said they had ticks on them, he didn't want to mess with them.  I heartily concurred. 

Going to dinner at some friends' this evening, looking forward to that.  One of the things I really like about our church is that it is a younger congregation.  We have a lot of young people in the twenties, just starting their families.  Young enough to be our kids...!  Anyway, one such young couple with two small children has invited us old folks and our four kids to their home this evening, and I am really looking forward to it.  It is interesting, moving into this "older" stage of life.  On one hand, I don't really feel older (except my feet really hurt alot). I think getting started on our family later (32) has kept us in a younger state of mind.  Most of our friends in their mid-forties have grandchildren, or at least have launched a few young adult children into the world.  Our oldest is 14, youngest is 7, so we are just-entering-high-school-still-firmly-in-elementary-school with this crew.  Many of my closest girlfriends are 10-12 years younger than me.  It is how I get away with being kind of bossy.

Much of this week has been consumed with re-evaluating the use of my time, making plans and final (I really mean it!) purchases for school this year, and doing busywork.  Yesterday I started on a website for our business, hopefully will have that up soon.  Sometime this week I hope to get our school plans more "together" and able to post them.  We shall see.  This week is shaping up busy: dinner tonight, then church tomorrow and an ordination service tomorrow night (did I mention Nevin was ordained as a deacon a few weeks back?) for two of the men in our church; park day with the homeschool group; a health fair (getting my bloodwork and mammogram for free!); c-group Wednesday evening; a friend and her children coming to lunch Thursday and a birthday/pool party to attend Friday, and baby shower on Saturday (I am bringing quiche).  The FOLLOWING week, though, I have STAY HOME written all over the calendar!  The shop has gotten busy, I need to have free time to be home, be there to help Nevin as needed, and just keep things running smoothly.  When I get out-of-the-house busy things tend to fall into chaos here.

It is past time to feed the chickens, cats and guinea pig.  Thank goodness the kids fed themselves today!  I shall go pull those weeds, and spend some time in the Word, while it is nice and quiet here.  Have a great weekend!

Status Update for July

Right now, I am......

Sitting: At the kitchen table, doing some paperwork for the business, balancing the checkbook and paying bills.

Drinking:  My second cup of coffee with Stevia in the Raw and Aldi Fat-free French Vanilla Creamer.  It is much better than it sounds.  I will have at least one more.

Enjoying:  The quiet in the house before they all wander out.

Revamping:  All my plans for the school year.  At least it is still just in my head and I don't have to erase a lot yet!  Also revamping myself mentally for the upcoming year and the new schedule - trying to eliminate a lot of "out of the house" stuff, see how school goes on a year that we stay home a whole lot.

Doing: Today, some laundry, taking the guys to play basketball with friends, then Henry is having a friend spend the night and Tony is going to a friend's to spend the night.  May also do some barbecued pork steaks.

Processing:  This last weekend.  We went to Iowa to visit Nevin's family.  Always a nice weekend, no rush, no hurry.  A lot of time in the car to think about stuff.  God, life, plans for the future.  Big stuff.  Thinking about how I truly use my time.

Preparing:  Not much, I think I am still stuck on processing.

Reading:  An ebook I downloaded and printed.  I hate printing ebooks, they end up with giant print and 8 1/2x11.  But, I hate reading on the computer even more, so there you go.  I also started "Converting the West:  The Biography of Narcissa Whitman" last night.  It is inter-library-loan, so I need to get on it.

Praying:  Not much lately.  I seem to have lost my focus.   I guess praying I will get it back.  Lately it seems my relationship with the Lord has been pretty lazy.

Deciding:  That I probably need to get dressed and finish paying the bills.

Copying:  from Staci at Writing and Living

This Means War

This morning I went outside.  I fed all the cats.  I set the sprinkler on some flowers.  And then I walked over to the henhouse.  I let the chickens out, and then approached the huge Rubbermaid trashcans that we (used to) keep their food in.

This is the lid.  Note the big rock I put on the lid, to keep the raccoons from getting it off and eating the chicken food (did I mention that chicken food is really expensive?).  Not only did they tear open the lid, completely destroying it, but that stuff all over it is, yes, it is

RACCOON POOP.

Which was not my first choice of words, but this is a family site.

Be prepared.  The onslaught is about to begin.

Sunday Afternoon on the Homestead

Okay, so I am a little late this weekend!  I was gone all day, what can I say.  It was a really nice day, too.

I made three dozen baked ham and cheese sandwiches for a baby shower.  The shower was wonderful, lovely decorations, wonderful food (besides the ham sandwiches, I mean, not tooting my own horn).  Our church does a big shower for first time mamas, and then we do a smaller shower for each subsequent baby.  We have a fellowship meal the first Sunday of the month, so we combine the shower with that.  Generally, it is just adding a cake and gifts to the fellowship meal.  There are around 225 people in our church, and we seem to have six pregnant at a time.  No sooner does one deliver than another announces!  Yes, it gets a little noisy during the service, but it is a joyful noise!  Our church is very pro-family and pro-baby.

Then, I got my very first pedicure.  I now have sparkly red toes, with a black/white/silver flower design.  I can't believe how much nicer my feet look and feel.  I don't know that I would spend the time/money too often, but maybe once a month or so would be okay.....


Nevin has been working very hard landscaping -  we have lots more flowers blooming, and the tomatoes are going crazy.

Purple Coneflowers, a native Missouri wildflower

 And......he put up a clothesline for me!!!

I probably should have taken the picture BEFORE I hung beach towels on it.

I have wanted a clothesline for...well, since we got married!  Almost 18 years now.  So now I have a heavy-duty industrial one, mounted in concrete.  My backyard gets full sun most of the day, so this will be perfect!

Had a lovely morning worshipping at Rockport Baptist Church, then home to barbecue some pork steaks for Father's Day.  I suggested Chinese carry-out, but Nevin wanted pork steaks and baked beans.  I added sliced Arkansas tomatoes and corn on the cob.  He and most of the guys went to visit his dad this afternoon.  I am just hanging and chilling at home.  Tonight is the season premiere of Falling Skies.  We have been on pins and needles since last August, waiting.  It is so good to find a show we all enjoy and can watch together.

Other than that, not much going on.  I am reading homeschool books, re-evaluating my philosophies, etc.  Like I do every summer!  Pretty soon I hope to have my plans formulated well enough to post.

In the meantime - lots of household projects this week, plus a park day and getting a group together to go bowling.

And laundry, planning to do lots and lots of laundry!

It's Monday - What Are You Reading?

I had forgotten all about this, so today's post is another shameless steal from my friend Bookbelle.

I am in the middle of several books right now, from read-alouds with the boys (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with the bigs, The Mouse and the Motorcycle with the littles) and ongoing Bible reading and study, to my ever-present "one for fun, one for edification" books.

One for fun, first - Savanna,by Janice Holt Giles.  What can I say?  If you love stories of the pioneers and American historical fiction, you will love Janice.  Lots of historical detail, great characters who seem to truly come alive.  I have read several over the last couple months.  Savanna takes place in the edge of Indian territory in 1829.  I hesitate to call these books a series, because they are all stand-alone, and I (gasp) haven't read them in order (though I am trying).  The main characters are all descendants of some of the earliest settlers in Kentucky, during the time of the American Revolution. It makes it more interesting to know who their grandparents are, but it is not necessary for the stories.  I suggest starting with Hannah Fowler.

I am also reading Spiritual Disciplines Within The Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ by Donald S. Whitney. I picked this up at our church's Grace Camp Meeting in April.  So far it is interesting.

Can I admit that I am allowing a lot of my "reading time" to get sucked up by Words With Friends on my phone?  Now that I am off Facebook  (over 5 months already!) I need some addiction.  If you want to play Words, shoot me a message with your username!

Probably not much reading today - a couple projects, then we are heading to a Memorial Day party that most of our church is attending - looking forward to bbq and volleyball in the hot summer sun.

Okay, looking forward to sitting in the shade in my chair, sippin' a Diet Coke.  Whatever!

Saturday Morning on the Homestead

Before I do anything else, let me share our new family portraits with you!  Nevin traded work with a friend of ours, who does incredible photography.  The top picture is now framed and ready for our living room wall.  When we held the beautiful new portrait against the wall.....we knew it was time to paint again!  So, the living room is getting painted, then the picture can go up.  The two others are the "also-rans".

It is very hard to get six people to all look the same way at one time.

Now, on to the rest of life.  Well, it has been busy.  This time of year the garden is going in, lots of new plants are in the ground, and the lawn it getting some care.  We completely re-did our front yard.  Nevin scraped a couple inches off the top, the boys and I picked up a good ton of rocks, then we put down new soil and seed.  I will get some pictures this weekend, with all the new plantings, it is really a sight to behold!  I don't much care for yard work, but I do love living in the country.

Last weekend we went camping with a few friends....actually, we ended up with 23 people, counting the baby and two toddlers.  It was wonderful, I ate my weight in s'mores.

Tony outlining the rules of engagement for our camp-out airsoft war.  We were so blessed - our campsite backed up to a wooded area and a creek, so we had that pretty much to ourselves, plus a big open area for capture the flag.  Not counting the babies and toddlers (and some young-at-heart adults), we had twelve kids there.

The kids spent a lot of time hanging out around the fire.

I don't know why Joe does "peace" at everyone.

Tired little man

All the weaponry, being prepared on our picnic table

Nevin just chillin' at the campfire

Coming back from the war.  That is my Ben in the striped jacket.

Check out these two lady ninjas!

After recuperating from the camping trip, we are just wrapping up the end-of-the-schoolyear stuff; Family Night in our homeschool group, Ben's guitar concert, that sort of thing.  Lots of fellowship planned for this weekend, then soon we are camping again...I know it sounds busy, but I am actually in the process of eliminating "busy" from our lives (more on that later) and cutting back on activities.  I want to have lots of time for family fun, so we are having to re-arrange some of our individual activities.

Did I mention that my mom won a COW in a raffle, and split it with us?  Yesterday I got to drive to a meat processors' and pick up half a cow, all neatly cut and wrapped and in boxes.  Huge, huge, HUGE blessing for our family!  We are down to the last few packages of venison from last fall, and the freezer was getting bare.  Next I plan to order half a pig from a local butcher and this some there will be some bbq pork steaks and grilled t-bones, yum,yum, yum!  Sorry, just couldn't help it!

Oh well, it will all work out.

Anyway, today I am enjoying being at home, getting ready to do some housework, spend some time being quiet, reflecting on the goodness of the Lord.  

You have a wonderful Saturday, too!

Saturday Morning on the Homestead: Where to Start.....

Life here the last few weeks has been nothing short of chaotic.  I feel like I have barely had time to sit still, yet somehow have managed to read a couple really good books (which you will find out about tonight or tomorrow sometime!).

I last posted about our adventures with an unplanned Saturday.  Two days later I went to my moms' homeschool meeting, and came home late with a little tickle in my throat.  By 2 a.m. my throat was on fire, tonsils huge, I was feverish and achy all over.  I laid in bed for a few hours praying a)to be healed and b) that the Lord would show me how to re-arrange all the "life" I had on my schedule.

Healing came after a few days, and the Lord did reveal a new arrangement for me.  I re-scheduled our dinner plans for the evening (a family of 13 was joining us for homemade pizza).  Then I re-scheduled our science class for Thursday.  Nevin took time out of his workday and took Ben into town for his guitar lesson.  I re-scheduled all four boys' haircuts.

After staying in bed for two days (unheard of) and consuming massive quantities of Alka Seltzer Cold Plus we managed to have a delayed science, a re-scheduled pizza party and then I hauled myself out on Friday and Saturday for the Greater St. Louis Homeschool Expo.  THAT was a not-to-be-missed weekend.  Two other ladies rode with me both days, we packed lunches to eat in the car (so fun, we opened up the back of the Suburban and put down the seats and it was like going to the drive-in), and spent two full days there.  We even went out for a grown-up dinner Friday night.  I will elaborate more about what I learned in another post on planning for next year's school, but for now - let me just say it was the boost and refreshment and encouragement I needed to finish this year well.

Sunday was the last of our birthday bonanza season - my Joe seems to have gone from a little guy to a big guy suddenly.  He is nine.  He is the first of my boys to be fashion-conscious.  Everyone else dresses for comfort, but Joe has style.  He likes flat-billed hats and shirts with cartoon characters.  Joe requested Angel Food Cake with Chocolate Icing, so I made an easy chocolate buttercream, and it was delish.

That was really a good cake.

An Air Soft Warrior is born

Note any resemblance?  What a handsome pair.

The guys

This past week has also been a bit of a whirlwind - took a day off to stay home, and spend HOURS switching out closets and drawers, then on Tuesday I had my Ladies' Discipleship group here, followed immediately by out-of-town relatives popping by (Michelle, if you read this - I was SO GLAD to see you guys and wish you could have stayed longer!).  Wednesday was back to our regular routine of science-guitar lessons-small group Bible study.  We'd missed our group for two weeks because of sickness and it was so good to see everyone again.  When we got home, we found that Daisy had had her kittens,

Daisy and babies

so now we have baby kitties again.Thursday the boys and I and my friend Faith ran all day - they FINALLY got their haircuts, bought new tennis shoes for all four of them, lunched at Chik-Fil-A, bought chicken feed, went to Walmart, hit the butcher shop, oil change, bank, etc.  Came home exhausted.  Yesterday was geography club.

Doing a report at Geography club.  The topic was North America.  Ben chose Area 51 for his report.  Let's just say that we are an eclectic bunch in our group!

Today we are hosting a huge air soft war in our woods (so far I think we have two dozen boys participating, not to mention the parents and siblings who will be hanging out).  Tomorrow is church, fellowship dinner and AWANA.....and next week I have STAY HOME written on the calendar!

Some weeks are just like this - life gets busy, lots of fun opportunities start crowding the calendar.  It is hard to know what to do, what to pitch.  Our "spring break" from school work was sort of taken in bits and pieces the last few weeks.  Monday, back to regular schedule.  I like all the busyness at times, but it makes me appreciate my home so much more.  I am making a list of all the home projects that need to be done around here, and can't wait to get started!

I Have NOT Dropped Off the Face of the Earth

Hello - I know it has been almost two weeks without a post.  I promise, it is not for lack of anything interesting.  Actually, there has been almost TOO MUCH interesting around here!  At least interesting to me.  But I am running out of steam, and by next week I should be ready to crash.

Hopefully, I will get an update on life here on the homestead tomorrow or Saturday morning.

Until then.....


Something nice to look at.  My friend Dakota Lynch took this, and added the wording. His nature photography can be viewed at Dakota's Nature Photos

Saturday Morning on the Homestead

Another Saturday here.  I am starting to like Saturdays.  I never did, you know.  Too.....open.  Too unstructured.  No idea what could happen.  No plans for the kids (ie, no school).  No telling what Nevin may be up to.  Always a possibility that whatever fragile, tentative plans I have made for my day (note the selfish "my day" - part of the problem, perhaps????) could be upended at any second.

I am getting over this, though.  Remember, I am flexible now!  So, what is going on here today...

One of the families at church had a baby yesterday, so this afternoon I am taking a drive to deliver homemade pizza and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.  All just an excuse to hold the new baby, of course!  Nevin and the big guys are at our church monthly Mens' Breakfast, and then going to go do some guy stuff.  The littles are watching a movie in their jammies.  I got up and did the school schedule for this week (most of it) and now am taking a break.  I am fully caught up in "preparing for high school".  Last night I was printing up college admission requirements for a few schools, reading up on how to do transcripts, what "counts" as high school level credit, SAT and Bright Flight scholarships......okay, had to stop!  That is why I am going to the Greater St. Louis Homeschool Expo this week.  Woohoo - five more days!!!!!

Happy Anniversary!  Three months ago today I deleted my Facebook account.  And how has this affected my life?  For the better, on the most part.  I have found that I have more time to accomplish things around the house, for one thing.  There are two really incredible benefits.  First off - now that I do not "check" (check means "hang around reading for an hour) Facebook in the morning I have time to do my Bible reading first thing, have time to spend reading a "book that requires highlighting" and time to organize my morning.  Since I do not "check" my Facebook before bedtime I manage to get my plans/thoughts sorted for the next days' school.

As a result - we are now doing regular, consistent Bible study in the morning.  First thing after breakfast.  The most incredible blessing of this is that on the days that Nevin is home he participates and we get to start our day singing worship songs, praying, studying the Bible and reading a devotional from VOM Jesus Freaks (martyrs of the Church).  All six of us, together.  This has radically changed how our day goes around here.

Another benefit of no Facebook is - no drama for Mama!  I used to get so caught up in what other people were doing, what they thought, sucked into judging people by their posts, and setting myself up to be criticized by others.  It was also way too easy to fire off remarks via the messaging without giving them enough thought, and not always recognizing how "tone of voice" does not translate in a FB message, and then having that to deal with.  When I think of the days - literally DAYS - of school I lost, and even more, the peace of mind that was gone - well, let's just say it is good-bye and good riddance for now.  There are certainly some aspects that I miss- good friends who have moved away, relatives that I don't see that often, old friends from school that I made contact with through FB.  That is kind of a drag.  But it is interesting, too, the friends that I didn't have "time" for before that I am having to make more effort to see.    There is a joy in the effort of texting a note, planning a visit, writing a letter.

One other drawback- I have found that I don't take as many pictures of my kids now that I cannot instantly share them on Facebook!  So, for those of you who are just plain missing the pictures of my family, I give to you...... the first three of the four birthdays we celebrate in February and March!

#2 Son, Ben, twelve years old.  I cannot believe how much he is starting to resemble my dad.  That is a chocolate cake (Easy and Elegant Devil's Food).

Everyone is fascinated with the presents

Dad and the guys.  Ben is wearing his coonskin cap, pretty much a permanent fixture during the cooler months.

Me and them.  Look how much taller Tony is than me.  I am not short, either, I am 5'6".

Tony's 14th birthday.  The candles on the cake are footballs.  He requested Red Velvet cake.

When I started to take the picture I told Nevin to stand up straight and he said he was...yep, Tony has passed up Dad.  Nevin is 6', so we have a really tall 14 year old!

And Nevin, with his Snickerdoodle cake on his 46th birthday!  

We may not be the skinny, cute little things from the wedding pictures, but that is okay - we may be a bit weathered, but that is because of the storms the Lord has sailed us through together.  There are definite benefits to getting older.  I wouldn't trade the experiences we've had for all the facelifts and tummy tucks in the world.

An Unplanned Day, That Has Accounting

Is that just the combination for restlessness or what?  I have sick folks again - 3 out of 4 boys and a husband.  Nothing series, all various stages of colds and coughs.  Just enough to be miserable and not want to do anything but sleep and watch cartoons.

Okay, my husband is not watching cartoons, just for the record!

So, I had to cancel the science co-op, guitar lessons and our community group fellowship.  And find something to do with myself.

I have been tired all day, because I was awake listening to coughing all night.  Then I got up at 6 and started getting ready for science.  Which didn't happen.

What to do, what to do.  Too tired to work up any enthusiasm for fun.

I have a green folder that says, "Paula Do This".  It is all the loose pieces of paper that I don't feel like dealing with, or I need to look up information for, I need to file, etc.  All business-related.  So, I tackled the green folder.  Then I did some accounting work and updated some business "stuff".  Then I managed to read both my new National Review AND World Magazine.  And take a nap.  Played with the cats.  Messed with the chickens.  Re-filled glasses of ice water.  Watched Toy Story.

You get the picture.

Tomorrow I promise to be more productive.  But at least I made a big dent in that green folder.

Saturday on the Homestead: What Is Your Passion?

This topic came up on a homeschooling forum this week.  One of the moms asked us what our passion is.  There were a lot of responses, many of them in the form of different arts, crafts, scrapbooking, that sort of thing.

I like those things (okay, not scrapbooking).  I enjoy making beaded jewelry, I like to take pictures, I like to make cards and bookmarks, I used to (B.C. - before children) enjoy counted cross stitch.  But these are not passions.

Even reading, believe it or not, is not truly a passion.  It is a relaxation, often it is a resource for my passion, but in and of itself, it is not the passion.

My passion is serving.  Followed closely by home educating.

Now, lest you think I am all holier-than-thou-or-anyone-else, please hear me out.  I don't mean servitude.  I mean serving and being able to minister and be hospitable to those around me.  It starts with my family, and flows to my church and homeschool group and friends from there.  I love to have the kids' friends over, to have other families gather with us, to host a group of ladies for a book discussion or Bible study, or just to hang out.   I look forward to fellowships and bringing food, or taking a meal to a family with a new baby.  This particular season of life has brought the blessing of having a flexible schedule, to be able to take the time to talk to my boys, to spend time with my husband, to be an ear and heart to other women.  My joy is in organizing events for our homeschool group, getting together with the other families, and especially this year, and there is a special love (love, love. love) for our science co-op.

I guess I am passionate about Apologia General Science this year.  Thank you, Dr. Wile!

I love getting to talk to the kids, and to try to help reinforce what their moms are doing, to give them a spot to do the "fun" part of science (ie, mix stuff together and see what happens) with each other.

Yesterday I was at the skating rink with all the homeschoolers.  I think this is our 8th year of monthly skating at the local rink.  The first few years it wasn't hardly worth the owner's time and gas money to open for us - some months only three families showed up!  But now, there is a big crowd most months.  I get out and skate with the kids, and see all ages, from little guys being pushed around in strollers to high schoolers, watch them all interacting and having fun......and I think, "I did this."  And I get such a rush of joy from it.  I am not getting into some wild back-patting, but I organized this years ago, it is my baby.  And now, it is a well-established monthly event.  It did not take much effort, but it took a commitment to be there every.single.month for a few years to help get it going.  I think I have maybe missed one or two in the last eight years.

To have a bunch of little guys high-five you at the skating rink, this is joy.  To sit on the couch in the morning with my husband and sons, and study God's word together, this is joy.  To have four boys have FUN writing crazy stories together, or see them in deep strategic conference as they plan their next air soft war, this is joy.  To gather with a bunch of ladies who know each others' hearts so well that we can laugh and cry together, this is joy.

To see a family come walking through our front door carrying a mixing bowl full of cookie dough, and ask if they can bake the cookies here, that was some joy!

So, it would be nice, I suppose, if I could find some great artistic ability, or political cause, or intellectual pursuit.  And maybe someday I will.  But for now, my passion is here, in my home, in my family, in this community.

And I have found joy.

Can I Say That I REALLY Hate Accounting?

This is my third, count'em THIRD Saturday in a row that I have spent hours getting my accounting "stuff" all up-to-date and ready for the accountant to do our taxes.  At least today it was only a few hours (like three!). And now it is done (doobie doo dun dun) and ready to be dropped off.  I hope she does her usual magic and we don't end up owing.

Oh well, this is part of being a business owner.  And really, I have got it good.  Our cabinet shop is in our front yard.  Nevin just has to commute 100 feet or so to work.  He can have breakfast, lunch and dinner with us.  I can do most of my work in bits and pieces as I have time at home, instead of having to leave the kids and go into town to work (like I did when we had a shop in town).

So, now that THAT is over, what are the happenings here on the homestead?  We've had a great week - lots of friends hanging around, chess club, our science co-op, my ladies' discipleship group (and lunch out with one of my friends!), our small group fellowship......we have been some fellowshippin' fools this week.  But hey, there is nothing better than spending time with the saints.  It makes me see how incredibly   blessed we are with the friends and family the Lord has provided to us.

I read an excellent book, Hannah Fowler, by Janice Holt Giles.  I will review it next month, but all I can say is that if you liked Mrs. Mike, O Pioneer, My Antonia, A Lantern In Her Hand, The Tall Woman, et al, then you will love this book.  And if you DIDN'T like any of those books.......well, what is wrong with you, anyway??

Now that all the accounting is done, I am cooking for fellowship tomorrow after church (I told you, it has been a fellowshippin' week).  I am making a big pot of venison stew and a lemon cake.  I may toss together something else, too.  Tonight I am going to make venison nuggets (tasty fried pieces of venison steak, splashed with hot sauce, sooooo gooooood!) and some form of potato and veggie for dinner.  Probably mashed potatoes and green beans.  I also got the menu all made up for the week, and the corresponding grocery list.  I feel like I have been very productive.  Very soon I am going to put the food for tomorrow aside, and finish up laundry.  Then tonight, we can all hang out and watch a movie together.  

And that is it for today!  Nothing earth-shattering, but really, do you want the earth to be shattered?  Me neither.