Christmas Memories

A gal on FB from my hometown was asking about Christmas memories from there. So I put my list up and thought I'd come share and ask about your Christmas memories.

~ The Goldsmith's in the 'big city' nearby did an Enchanted Forest when I was little and we'd go every year to tour and see Santa

~ putting up and decorating the tree at the Church many years. This was no small project considering our Sanctuary had 20 foot (at least) ceilings. And it had to be done before Advent started which usually meant we were doing it the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

~ Christmas parades in freezing weather, they always seemed to be on the coldest night of the year, I was almost always IN the parade, either with the scouts or later the band. It also never failed that my short legs were always on the wrong end of the row for every turn meaning I had to make the LONG steps to keep the line straight, while our 6'1" section leader was on the short end of the turn.......

~ Christmas concerts, we did portions of Handel's Missiah one year, portions of the Nutcracker one year, and songs from the guy that arranged (and I think wrote) Sleigh Ride one year, Carol of the Bells EVERY YEAR

~ and living on the street I can't forget the lights on the west end of my street every year, totally uncoordinated every body did lights and decorations but no one coordinated anything with any body else. Yet nothing was tacky or gaudy, it was always beautiful every year.

Christmas Goodies

I am working on some crochet creations for sale for the holidays. Some are for sale in my Etsy Shop. However, when I add Avon products to these creations I can't sell them at Etsy. So I am bringing them here before I take them to Ebay.

My first selection I call "Pretty in Pink"



In the bag you have these products:



contents left to right.
Bath Time Body Paints ~ Bubble Gum scent
Disney Princess Snow White Pink Lip Balm
Mnii Bubble Bath ~ Soft Pink



The bag is made with 100% acrylic yarn and measures approximately five inches across and five inches deep. I closes with a pink drawstring.



Pretty In Pink sells for $ $9.00

The Second Selection is "Little Drummer Boy"



The contents include:



from left to right

Bath Time Body Paints ~ Coconut Custard Scent
Lip Balm ~ Candy Cane flavor
Shower Gel ~ Black Cherry and Nutmeg Scent
Moisture Therapy Intensive Hand Cream ~


The bag is made with 100% acrylic yarn and measures approximately five inches across and five inches deep. I closes with a pink drawstring.



Little Drummer Boy sells for $11.00

If you want either comment and let me know! We will work out shipping and payment.

Long time no talk..........

Yeah I know, I know. Things have been busy here. Kiddos are doing pretty well with school and we are beginning to establish some routines. Some good and some not so good. But we are working on it. I am praying that we can get something established. Mostly our days have been taken up with getting used to two big changes in our lives.

First of all we are actively working on going to seminary in the near future. This will be a big change for us and will include at least one move in the next two years. Probably more. We are working on cleaning and fixing up the house. We hope to be able to move it for a family member to use (a single wide mobile home), but maybe having to sell it. Right now we just don't know. There are several more issues that must be taken care of as well.

Secondly meet Baby Noah


I am 20 weeks and everything is looking good. He is going to be a charmer. We are still working on a middle name, I have one that I like but Hubby isn't so keen on the idea.

Score!!

Tommy has finally learned to ride his bicycle!!

First Week

We have finished our first week of school.  It went pretty well, I have to say.  It sure is a lot different than when we did this 4 years ago.  At that time I was only schooling one of the three and because of hubby's works schedule, he was home most of the time we were schooling.  This time around he is working days - some LONG days -- and I am schooling all three.  Needless to say Bug's isn't as nearly involved as the other two, but he is flying through that.  I may start him on first grade work by semester.  We are using Alpha Omega, Saxon, and Mystery of History.  In another couple of weeks I will add Natural Spelling in as well.    The beauty of this is that the oldest two work in their rooms when they can't sit at the kitchen table without sniping at each other constantly.

Today is wonderful weather, we have just finished with lunch.  Yes it is 3 pm, we slept late and didn't eat breakfast until almost 10:30....  Anyway, I just got a call hubby is on his way home so after he eats, we are all going to head to the park for the afternoon.

Staph

Buddy came home from the cabin in the mountains with some bug bites, which he scratched and scratched until they became infected.  A newly discovered allergy to band-aid adhesive didn't help matters either.  Anyway because we couldn't get it under control, and his arm (lymph nodes) started hurting and he just wasn't acting like Buddy (run down, laying around etc,  NOT my hyperactive child) we took him into the doctor this afternoon. 

Turns out it is staph -- yuck -- we have anti-biotics and are under super disinfection protocols with him.  Please pray it doesn't spread.

Thankfully though no work days missed for me nor schooling for the kiddos.  They got all but one lesson done today. 

Catch Up Post

It seems that I have been scattered in my updates and about life in general around here.  I guess the bits and pieces have been scattered so far and wide that it has been hard to figure out exactly what is going on.

As announced back in May, I resigned from teaching, to once again stay home and homeschool.  And in mid July, I discovered that we were going to be blessed with bug number four.  Which means my blog name is now incorrect. But I will work on that in the future.  My due date is the same as the birthday of my youngest child , March 13th.  But with my history, I won't make it that long anyway.  I figure that we will have a late February baby. 

That all being said, our first day of school was today.  It went well overall.  IT finally dawned on Bug this morning that we weren't "going to school" when he came out of his room with his new fluffy blanket saying "I am going to take this for nap time!"  Once he figured out he wasn't leaving the house he was a bit more contrary.  He is in a hard place, knows quite a bit of the material we are covering, so he gets bored.  But isn't quite ready emotionally for the harder stuff.  He is all boy.  We will figure it out.

Tomorrow

The long awaited day arrives.  We start school.  It has been a challenge getting lesson plans in place for 3 grade levels, but I am sure I will adapt to it quickly.  We have just got to get into a rhythm of the days and it should flow quite easily.  Keep reminding me of that fact as I whine ;-) 

I have everything but Buddy's math curriculum.  It seems the post office has lost it (and some people want the government to run our health care....).  If I have to order it again, can I charge it and the UPS shipping to the Post Office?

I also have a couple of big projects in the works.  I have a BUNCH of my dad's old T-shirts, which he can't wear but won't part with nostalgic person that he is (wouldn't have a clue where he gets it from).  I am going to attempt to make a T-shirt quilt for him for Christmas. 

My MIL has been posting pics of her recent trip on her blog.  I have been pestering her to get prints made so I can make a scrapbook for her.  I don't know if she will or not, but it is something I want to do for her. 

Well to get off of here and enter assignments for the next week.  Talk to you later.

Friday Felicities

 

*Children who allow me to nap after a virtual sleepless night.

*Steven working today, after not being routed for the second day this week

*Children being home after a week @ Grammy's and Grandda's

*Imagination of my boys ~ who tried to make a pool out of our sandbox

*Great Friends who reach out to those who are hurting ~ and check up on me when I have been quiet.

Interesting Experience

WE have been getting better and better about using our reusable grocery bags at the stores.  I have quite a collection of them from various stores and in various sizes.  My absolute favorite are the big tan ones from Krogers.  They are sturdy and hold quite a bit in them.  They also have a pocket inside for things like magazines etc.

When we go in they are normally folded and stuffed in one bag that makes for easy carrying and the checker or bagger can easily pull out one or two at at time to use.

I have also discovered that Kroger gives you a 3 cent per bag discount on your total. Not much but hey every little bit helps.

Well, I tonight, I had only Alli with me and we needed a few department store things as well as groceries so, I braved it and drove past two other grocery stores to the SuperCenter.  When we got to the check out she handed the cashier the bags.  I sat there and watched as the cashier picked through all my bags and found my Wal-Mart bags.  The only non-WM bag she used was the tan Kroger bags, which I realized later had NO store logo on them whatsoever only "EarthSound" which is their green logo, but it doesn't say Kroger on it. 

Friday Felicities

 

Welcome to Friday Felicities, a meme created by Nattie – now a resident of heaven. This meme is all about creating a list of things that make you happy and Nattie knew that when you concentrate on your blessings your sorrows are not as overwhelming.  If you want to participate mae your list and then link back to Becky

Sleeping In

Bible Study

Children who love Praise and Worship music as much as I do and  know more of the words than I do.

Homeschool planning

Scrapbooking - I made a layout yesterday

Facebook -- catching up with old friends and new ones too.

Thirsty Thursday

 

Joy @ Five J's has an educational meme that is right up my alley.  I love this idea and hope to participate every week.   I also will be learning from the many other ideas that are and will be presented, adapting and making them my own.  

Today's submission is a few of my favorite educational links. 

ABCTeach.com  - I used this both in the classroom and as a homeschooler.  It has tons of free stuff.  Plus you can pay a small yearly fee and get the paid site with thousands more as well as work sheet and drill generators for math. spelling, and handwriting.  

EdHelper - is another site with both free and paid services.  Lots of games and worksheets here too

And possibly my favorite site is Carolyn's GuiltFreeHomeschooling. She has tons of ideas and resources available.  She has also starated a printing venture with her own books etc also available with more coming. 

Quotable Quote

“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.” -William Booth- founder of The Salvation Army

Works For Me Wednesday.

Today's WFMW is a themed edition.  Summer Recipes.

Here is my favorite summer recipe.  It drives my kids nuts but I love it.

Fruit and Nutty Tuna Salad

1 small can of tuna - drained
handful of grapes, halved ( I like red of purple)
handful of nuts (I prefer walnuts)
small handfull of shredded cheese ( I use sharp cheddar)
dash of seasoning ( I use Pampered Chef's Citrus and Basil)
enough mayo or salad dressing to make it as creamy as you would like,  ( I use very little)

Mix together and eat.  I can eat the entire thing at one sitting if allowed......;-)

For more summer recipe ideas visit We Are THAT Family

Wordless Wednesday

 

My daughter and her best friend on the last day of school.  Her class was dressed in 80's fashion for the end of the year program.

Tackle-It-Tuesday

It has been a LONG time since I posted a Tackle-it-Tuesday project.  I would go look it up but I won't.  It would take too long.  But in my effort to get back into this blogging thing. I decided that several memes would get me started.  Besides with one of my goals this summer being to clean up and clean out I decided that my book project would be a great place to start.

I needed to move this stack of books away from the side of my bed.  You see there is a small space between the books and the bed.  That small space is left for the only.air.vent.in.the.room.  And as we lay in the stillness of the night my hubby asks,  "Is the vent covered?" At  least once a night, usually more.  I resolved today to do something about that.  I needed to get these books out of there.

But there was a small problem.  MY bookcase was already full.

 

 This is the bookshelf my grandfather made for a wedding gift to us.  It is already packed full, all three shelves are  two deep already.  And the top of it is out of the question.  There is no picture.  But trust me, it is packed full of hubby's stuff for work.  So I looked around and saw this!

Okay so it wasn't in this shape when I saw it.  I thought about "Tackle It" in the middle of the project.  I had already cleaned out and straightened  the four shelves.  The top two are already full and the bottom getting close to it.  But notice the middle area.  There is a shelf missing. One of the supports holding it is missing so I took it out. But I figured I could stack the books just as easily on that shelf.

 

So I did.  And notice the room left.  I could get more books there!!  Oh and the original problem........

 

That is what it looks like now.  You can also see my book stacked night stand. And in infamous air vent.

Oh and the added benefit?  This stack of books listed on my bookshelf @ Paperbackswap.

Oh and the added benefit

Friday Felicities

Welcome to Friday Felicities, a meme created by Nattie – now a resident of heaven. This meme is all about creating a list of things that make you happy and Nattie knew that when you concentrate on your blessings your sorrows are not as overwhelming.

In no particular order
*books, books, and more books
*FaceBook -
*McDonald's Sweet Iced Tea
*Boys who sleep past 8 am

Me, Myself, and Lies - Day 1

I won't promise a post every day or even every week.  Heck, I won't even promise another post at all on this study.  But what I will say is this, I believe I am going to like Jennifer Rothschild's study and it has a lot to say to me at this point in my life. 

Day one deals with descriptors that one uses to describe oneself.  After looking at several instances of Biblical characters, we began looking at the words we use our selves.  Honestly categorizing these descriptors was hard.  However, there were two truths which Jennifer pointed out that I will cling to in the coming hours, days and weeks.  The first comes from Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:10 -  "But by the grace of God, I am what I a, and His grace is not in vain.....".  The second  "Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing"

Wordless Wednesday

 The Thinker

Sorry it is small but this is what I saw coming down the hallway the other day.

For more go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Wild Ride

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations,so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

~ The Book of Common Prayer.

The above comes is quoted in the book I am reading (also noted above).  I stated to a friend of mine in a chat the other night that I needed to get back into reading and study of the Word. And as ashamed as I am to admit it, I didn't really know where to start.  So I did what I knew I could do.  I picked up two different Bible studies that I have around here.  Both of these I have because I am supposed to be doing them anyway.  The first one is Experiencing God.  Steven and I joined a nearby Corps for their young adult Bible Study, though because of holidays, trips and summer schedules, we have only been once, they are doing this study.  Because we joined a couple of weeks into the study, I was going to start where they were.  However, because I haven't been faithful in even that.  I decided to start at the beginning for myself.  So I did that earlier this week. 

The second book I picked up is Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rosthschild.  I am actually going to do this one along with readers of the Living Proof Ministries Blog.  Yes, that is a blog written by Beth Moore and her daughters and one son-in-law.  Anyway, I haven't actually started this one yet because the kick off has not happened yet. I think it is supposed to happen next week.

I think that both of these studies are timely for me.  The last memory verse for my second graders this year was Matthew 5:13-16. I have been drawn repeatedly to verse sixteen.  "Let your light before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven".  That verse, going hand with my personal memory verse for June (Matthew 10:18-20).  Though this is talking about Jesus' arrest and trial, the same reassurance, "you will be given what to say, for you will not be speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you", can be ours as well.  However this all can only be achieved by remaining in and with God (John 15:5), through His word, prayer, and meditation.  I want to experience God in such a way that He is visible through me all the time.  And in order to do that I must work on myself, cleaning up His temple (1 Cor 16:19).  And, with the bouts of depression that I have suffered in recent months, caused by listening to the lies of the enemy. I know a study about lies and self talk is in order.

I invite you to join me on this wild ride.  Because I know it will be.