Random facts about me

My family probably knows some of these since they grew up with me.

1. I once played a chinhead in a skit at youth camp.

2. I also once stole a pair of polka dot boxers from the boys dorm and ran them up the flag pole ( I was a counselor that time and I had help =)

3. I am not a huge fan of sports (I could honestly care less who wins the Super Bowl;-), but I like soccer.

4. I love to climb trees (yes, even now).

5. I would live on a farm if I could.

6. I don't like assumptions.

7. I think processing deer into sausage is unbelievably disgusting, and I helped.

8. I like doing things myself and hate having to ask for help.

9. I am very "greener is better" but just because it's healthier, not because I think we are killing the ozone.

10. I have a hard time reconciling my sentimental side with my practical side.

11. I love cleaning, organizing, and interior design.

12. I love to read....in fact, I'm useless if I ever really get into a good book, until it is finished.

13. I am afraid of heights, spiders, and snakes.

14. I love airports and airplanes.

15. I am super non-confrontational.

16. I am a huge fan of independent thinking.

17. My favorite Scripture passages are Psalm 91, Phil. 1:6, and 1 Cor. 13.

18. I am addicted to coffee and dark chocolate.

19. I find it easier to communicate on paper than in person.

20. I think being married to my best friend, and raising our children and following the LORD together, is the best life there is.

21. Oh yeah, and I have never ridden on a roller coaster but I would like to sometime (I think).

Kyla

Kyla loves to sing and one of her favs right now is "o be careful little eyes what you see". Except her version goes "foy da Fader uppa sairs is looking downa sairs, o be ca-ful litta feet whe you go". It cracks me up every time I hear her. =)

housewise

I've been meaning to post about this too:

I know I mentioned in an earlier post that I wanted to get a grip on my house again as it just seemed out of control. Well, right after that, Ed and I were talking and the Lord just brought to mind a good way to accomplish that.

I don't know if I've said before but our house is pretty small (3 bedroom,1 bath) and as much as we love it, I sometimes feel like we are about to push the walls out. We do have a huge back yard which I'm soooo thankful for, but anyway...back to what I was talking about. We discussed it and decided it would be a good idea to put all the kids in one of the rooms (using a couple sets of bunkbeds) and put all the clothes and toys in the other room, instead of having your traditional boys room/girls room. We were spending so much time just on clean-up and rewashing clean laundry that never made it to the drawers. I desperately need to be efficient if I'm ever going to make any progress and we figured this would be a good way to accomplish that. Sooo, first week of January we were busy rearranging our entire house. As of last week sometime I finally got it all sorted out and I have to say I LOVE it. The washer and dryer were already in the boys room so we made that the dressing room/toy room, and the other room is the sleeping room. I allow nothing in there except the beds and blankets and an occasional book. It has made a huge difference in my laundry already. I can stand there and fold and put away everything within just a few steps. And it has made the kids toys available again but they can only pull out a couple things at a time. I already feel so much more organized because it sort of consolidated alot of miscellaneous stuff too. For example, I now have a drawer for all the girl's hair stuff and jewelry. Another drawer for hats, gloves, and backpack/purses. Just little things like that. They don't seem like a big deal in themselves but it all adds up. =)

Ed and I still have our own stuff in our room and Asher's stuff is in the hall on the changing table. It is already helping and I'm looking for the day when I can see the bottom of my laundry baskets. hahaha. Yeah, I know I'm dreaming on that one.

Anyway,... so far I've made a decent start on some of my goals for this year.

Feeling very thankful!

Miracles still happen...

It's true...I know, because this week we have gotten school done EVERY day. Don't laugh. I'm sure that for most of you that wouldn't qualify as a miracle but for me it sho' nuff is. =)

We started back doing school the 2nd week of January and it has actually been going pretty good. I'm really enjoying our curriculum for a couple of reasons. 1) it's easy to use, 2) it reinforces natural ways of learning and is classical in style, and 3) I'm seeing improvement in my kids.

We still haven't settled on a Math curriculum though...we ruled out Saxon for now as it was just way too much for me to handle, but are looking for a good alternative that will be user friendly as well as something that will move the kids forward quickly. I'm terrible at Math so it needs to be fairly self-explanatory. =) A friend just recommended Math-U-See so I want to check that out.

I was talking to Mom last night and we were discussing the possibilities of an end-of-school production the kids can put on. Somewhere around the first of June. I do realize that is still down the road a ways but I have to start planning for it now. =)I think it would be alot of fun as well as encouraging to them to see how far they have come and get to show off some of what they have learned. I'm hoping and praying we can finish our goals in time to have the summer off. So far we've never had that, but as I said...miracles still happen. =)

Looking Forward...and back

I know I have said this before, but I just love New Year's. Not because we do anything in particular to celebrate, but because it is a new beginning. It's kind of like Mondays only way bigger. To me it sort of symbolizes a chance to try again and get more things right this year than last...to grow more and learn more and maybe even have some new adventures.

I have several goals for myself this year:

- I want to get on track with homeschooling (as I had expected we lost alot of time with the baby and off and on throughout the pregnancy).

- I want to start working out again as soon as it is safe.

- I want to get a grip on my house again. ( I'm kind of feeling like everything is out of control..clutter, etc.)

- I want to have specific times once a week for scrapbooking and blogging.

- I especially want to be more consistent in a daily quiet time, which I know will help me in accomplishing my other goals.

- And I have several specific prayer requests that I would like to see answered. ( I will share them as they happen, ok. )

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Then in looking back over the past year I realize how many blessings we have had.

The most recent, of course, being our little Asher. He is such a joy and we all love him to no end.

The salvation of 2 more of my children right before Asher was born and Alyssa's baptism back in Jan. ( I actually had to check back through my archives to see if that was this year or not. lol. Sure glad I have this blog. )

Ed's photography business seems to be picking up a bit. He hopes to see that take off more in this new year as well.

I have so enjoyed having my family here in the States again and living close by.

We have had a jam packed year of stuff that I would be hard put to record all of it. There's been lots of fun and good times but there's been tough times and tears too.

Last Christmas I miscarried our twin boys and more recently we lost my Grandfather on my Mom's side. We typically think of these things as only bad but in alot of ways they can be blessings because of what they teach us. It's taught me to value the people in my life more and not to take things for granted as much. It's teaching me to trust the Lord more.

There have been the frustrations any normal Mom faces of trying to be all that you need to be and not always succeeding...and there have been the joys of my children's hugs and "I love you's". The challenges of how to deal with one more mess when the day has already been a disaster, and the sweetness of getting a brownie and hot chocolate as your breakfast in bed. The feeling of, "will I ever get this Math concept through their heads?" and the delight when they excitedly tell you the newest thing they learned in History. The despair of ever getting your son to think before he says whatever is on his mind and the emotion when he shares his burden for lost souls.

It's everything in our lives...the good and the bad..that works together to make us into a people that can bring glory to the God who made us and saved us.

Looking forward to what this new year brings!