My latest happenings...

It has been a long time since I've posted, and I've missed it,I've missed reading others blogs too. Unfortunately this is just a quick update, I will still be missing for a while. I don't think I've ever been this busy, I'm ready for a break!

I still have Oregon pictures I haven't shared, maybe this fall!!

I've been madly working on school curriculum. We are doing unit studies this year, very excited about it. I can't wait to start, which is just a few weeks away for us!

I started cleaning out my trees, BIG, HUGE job! It will be worth it when it's done. (Having my second run of poison ivy, because of it,so it better be worth it! )
*Before*


*After, with tons of work still left to do!* (but I hope you get the idea!)



We are having a new driveway put in. It has been so much fun to watch. I'm very thankful to my cousin Josh, my Uncles Steve,Dan,Jerry,and my Mom and Dad. They are working so hard! It looks sooo different, I can't wait to see it finished!

*Before (we had cut a few trees down, in preparation) (Thanks Dad and Shawn for cutting them down)




Starting to take the trees out!

Ahhhh, the tree's are disappearing...

Here are some pictures I took of hubby's side of the family! They did a great job!

I'm looking forward to things calming down and being able to post regularly!

Well.....

I've been thinking and praying for a while and I've come to a decision. I believe this is what the Lord is leading me to do, but as I'm not as spiritual as I'd like to be I could be wrong! I'm still going to follow through, and if I'm wrong I know He will show me! Are you all curious???


I have decided to take a blogging break. I hope to keep posting at some point, but I may not. I may be done forever...I don't know!! =) Like I said I think the Lord will lead me to what he wants me to do!
If you read my blog, I appreciate it. Thanks!



Because I LOVE pictures I will leave you with some from our hike last week.
















This was just to prove that Reuben was there!!

School's out for summer...and some other random thoughts!

We are a homeschooling family! The past 2 years we've started our school year in July, and for us it has worked really well! That is why SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER! I think we are all really excited for a break! I can't wait to finish spring cleaning, and to get some outdoor projects under way!

This is : national turn off your TV week.

I'm looking forward to this. I'm not sure we've ever done it before... Can you do it? Can you go a whole week with out TV? Since we home school we don't watch a lot anyway, but I'm excited to do away with it for a week. I know we still watch more than we should. I have recently been convicted about the TV. (more on that in a minute) It will be a process for me, but I do think it needs done. Did any of you watch the "family" movie on NBC: Secret of the Mountain? We read about it on American Family Association and heard the program on Focus on the Family about it. I was really excited about it, they gave rave reviews. I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong it was a good movie. It just had some stuff in it, that was a let down to me. If you really want to know my specifics feel free to email me. I was told by my hubby that I'm too critical!!!

On to my TV convictions: I think God has been working on my heart concerning this. I've been thinking a lot about what my kids watch, and how it impacts them. I know that I can't shelter them from everything, but I do think God gave me this job (mom) for a reason. The time they spend on the TV, the things they watch are they God honoring? While listening to the Focus on the Family program they were discussing how to decide what to watch. One of the guests said something that really struck me. We've all heard the WWJD saying, right? He said he thinks about the disciples going to watch something and sitting down with Jesus to watch whatever. What would He tell his disciples about it? What would he tell you? (My kids don't watch anything during prime time.) The hubby and I have a few shows that we really like. I don't feel like any of them would be shows that Jesus would want us to watch. Really their probably isn't anything on prime time that he would want us to watch. Would he care that times have changed and more things are accepted now than when he walked this earth? I feel like he wouldn't care, sin is still sin. I'm probably in the minority, and I'm OK with that. Like I said it will be a process, but I will still be attempting it.
TV is like most everything else, you have to seek God for what your supposed to do. What's right for me doesn't make right for you.

On a lighter note: Exercise/Health ...Well it has been 6 whole weeks, my sil and I are starting in on our 7th week. It is going really well. I'm down a total of 14 pounds. I'm really excited, but I still have so much to go.

Oops

I just found out that some of my text is not coming through. I found out some of the words are black and you can't see them. Different computers are seeing different things. =) All of my text is white on mine, so I'm going to work on it. If anyone has any helpful hints I'd appreciate it, cause I'm clueless!
Sorry for any inconvenience!

Self-sufficient

I've had the desire to be self sufficient for years. I have one main problem.....I live in a subdivision. It's difficult, but I do try. I am lucky that my parents have 7 acres. They along w/ my brother and sil are wanting to be more self sufficient. Because of that I'm able help them out when/where I can and still reap the benefits.

For anyone who wants to be self sufficient I strongly recommend reading this blog. I've found them very inspiring. Tell me what you think.....

I know I've been missing all week, I'm working on a new look for my blog. I'm hoping to have it up soon!

A couple of things......

I'm sorry that I haven't been real regular lately. I've been busy trying to keep up with life! I'm sure you can all relate! I guess I'm not good at getting everything done. I'm glad that if I'm going to let something slip it's this! I have figured a few things out: It's very important to me that I keep my house clean. I have a huge sense of peace when my house is in order, so I've been making it a priority! I've also realized that I tend to have a lot of LAZY tendencies, but they really don't fit with what I want out of life so I'm working really hard to keep working. I try not to sit down until the evening. School is also a priority, I want my kids to love to learn and to have fun at it. I'll just say we are still working on this!!!! I'm doing good at getting it done, but my kids haven't gotten their part down yet!

Lastly, I started this blog for one reason and one reason only, my daily walk with God. I have really let that slip and I'm hoping to get it back on track. I've never been the christian that I want to be or that I should be. I have a really hard time reading the word everyday, I let just about anything come between God and I. I'm ashamed to admit it, but it's true, I'm very spiritually immature. I know I need to make God first in my life, but it's something I have a hard time with. I would covet all your prayers at this time and also any advice you have on making the Lord first in my life. Thank you all!

Here is a picture of Zeke at his first soccer game from this weekend!

I can't believe it......

I actually won something! I never win anything. If you remember Sarah was giving away 5 books and I was lucky enough to snag one! I'm looking forward to reading it, thanks again Sarah for having the giveaway!

A Challenge!

Megan from here is having a challenge! It is just the challenge I need! I know I'm getting ready to have Reuben pretty quickly, but exercise is very important. I have tried to walk either outside or on our elliptical machine off and on thru the pregnancy. (I haven't done the greatest!) I used to be thin, not healthy, but thin. At the time that was all I cared about. I WAS NOT going to let myself get fat. Well then I got married and started having babies, and 50 lbs later (OK right now more than that b/c of Reuben!!) I'm fat!
Between Zeke and TJ my sil and I were exercising. I was probably the healthiest I'd ever been . We were running 9 miles 3 times a week and walking 6 miles 3 times a week. I lost 25 lbs and felt really good. I knew I still had more weight to loose but( I was the girl in high school who couldn't run 1 mile without having to walk) being able to run (jog) 3 miles at a time without walking was amazing!
Since I am getting ready to have a c-section and then will be recovering from it I am just hoping to walk right now at least 4 times a week. Right after the c-section probably not that much. I hope you'll join the challenge!

Free Basil Seeds Today only

My sil emailed me with this info so I thought I would pass it on. I love fresh basil on a cold meat sandwich, so good! http://www.tomatoheirlooms.com/aboutus.asp, you just have to register an account with them. It's only for today so hurry on over.

Book Review Part 2

Well I think my verdict is still out on this book, of course we aren't done with it yet. I think that Mr. Leman makes some good points, but I have to do a lot of processing. He talks about staying consistent, which I think is very true. That's one thing that makes a lot of difference, but isn't always the easiest thing to do. Another thing he talks about is the parent really needing to change their attitude before they can change their child's. I think this is also a good point, again not always easy. I'm feeling a little bit of hope for the first time in a long time. Which is really good. I just hope I can figure it all out and make it come together. The past few days I've called Mark @ work and asked him OK such and such just happened NOW what do I do. He's been wonderful @ talking thru it with me, but I know how he feels about being interrupted @ work too! We will keep reading and see what happens!

Book Review

Mark and I just started this book. I think we are both praying that it helps our parenting skills and the way our children listen and respond. We are the first to admit that we have some serious problems in child rearing. I don't think we ever thought it would be an easy job, but I think that we both have had days that we didn't think would be so hard. I will admit that it's still worth it, but I also know that if we don't get them in control now we won't have a chance later. So far we've just read the first chapter. So far I have some serious doubts that this will work. A lot of the examples he gives Mark and I just laughed and said yeah maybe a normal kid would do that, but you know Zeke would do this or that. We're praying it works! I will keep you posted on my opinions. One thing to keep in mind, in the intro he gives a 100% guarantee this will work!

Give me some advice!

What do you do when you have something that doesn't really fit into your decor anymore,but it is very special to you? I'm not going to throw it away or anything, but I also hate to just put it away. It's a wall hanging that my mil made for Mark and I when we got married. I really like it, but when we painted the kitchen it just happened to be the wrong color w/ the wall. It doesn't go in any other room either, so I can't just move it. I appreciate any ideas!

Favorite Recipes

As I'm getting closer to the birth of Reuben, I'm feeling the need to do some cooking/baking. I've been doing really well w/ making supper and keeping the house most of the way straightened. I'm planning on making bread, rolls, bread sticks, and hamburger buns for the freezer. I decided today that maybe some cookies and muffins would be nice too. I can't have to many (cookies) on hand or I will eat them all. So what are your favorite cookie/muffin recipes? Also any tried and true freezer meals would be great. I know the more I have done the easier it is!

Does this work for you?

I decided to change things up a bit! Spring Fever I suppose! Can you read it OK? You can go to thecutestblogontheblock.com and change your blog too, it's really easy!

What would you do?

We put stripes on one wall of the boy's room. I really like the way it looks. Some people are saying stripe the wall next to it and others are saying leave it alone. So look @ the pictures and tell me your opinions!

M.I.A.

Well I guess I've had good reason to be missing! We've been working more on rooms. We got them painted and Bries is partially organized. It feels good to be done painting,but we still have Lot's of work left to do. This is the color Brie chose. It's similar to periwinkle. She's getting a new quilt for her bed and she has some shelves to keep all her stuff organized. The quilt is being quilted by her Grandma. I will be "helping" (using this word very loosely!) too.

This is the boy's room. It will have one wall w/ stripes (hopefully added soon!). We are waiting for shelves in here and Bunk beds! Zeke is very excited about his bed. I think he will be sleeping on the top bunk, hopefully he does OK. Both kids picked their own colors!

Getting Started

Well this has a been a challenging pregnancy. I know I don't have it bad compared to some, but in comparison to my other 3 it's been hard. I'm realizing I can't get as much done as I'd like to in a day I get worn out too easily. I hate admitting that, but it is true! I started today on kid's rooms. Now when I say I started I mean I started!


We have been very blessed to live in a nice house, it's not a huge house though. At times I wish it were huge, and other times(most of the time) I'm very glad it's not any bigger than it is. I have 3 wonderful kids, a little strange ,especially the middle one. Ezekiel.


I know your probably thinking what kind of mother are you, but if you knew him you'd agree w/ me. And just because he's a little unusual doesn't mean I don't love him to pieces cause I do. And I also know that YES he does probably get a lot of his weirdness from me! I can admit it. One thing he doesn't get from me is his brain. He has his dad's brain. They are intelligent beyond belief. Some days I just have to shake my head cause my 4 year old is smarter than I am. (and yeah I know that's not saying much!!) He is also naughty like you wouldn't believe. Now I know boys are different than girls, but WOW. My point w/ all of this (yes I know I'm rambling!) is that he needs things to do or things like this happen.!




In the one picture you can see that someone has taken the border off the wall. Yes that would've been Zeke! I went into his room after rest time and he had taken A LOT of the border off the wall. He just got bored, and I can say he just got punished. The other picture is more for reference of what the border looked like! This was probably a little more than a year ago.

Well today he got to peel again. He helped me take off almost all of what was left. He was a great helper! So now I just have to scrub the walls down and take out some of the stuff and then someday in the next week paint it and get it ready for Gabriela to move into! It's exciting to change things, I can wait to see how the rooms turn out!

Normal

It feels pretty nice to be back to a normal schedule. We did school this morning, which I thought was nice. I'm not sure Brie agreed, but she didn't complain about it. We have 13 weeks left for our school year, pretty exciting to think about! Then it will be time to get ready for the baby. Then I will have to prepare for next years school. I will be rudely awakened I'm sure cause I will have 2 students. I'm sure we will make it tho. We will be rearranging bedrooms here within the next few weeks. I will be sure to post pictures of before and afters.(unless blogger won't let me) We just ordered bunk beds on Saturday for the boys. I hope that is an easy transition. Brie and Zeke both went into a real bed between 20-24 months with no problems, so hopefully Titus will too. I will be planning on getting back to James tomorrow. Hope you all had great vacations!

I thought this was interesting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46MEqEgdLTg

What do you all think?

Veterans day

Thank you to all the veterans in our country. Thank you for fighting for our freedom. It means so much the way you serve your country. God bless you all.