I Am Procrastinating

Will I ever graduate from amateur?

I am procrastinating.  I have not made much progress on my Alabama story. 

I'm a writer, I write.  Why else would I do this when I'm not being paid and no one is making me?  I don't know when I started but I do know I always had a writing notebook going from the time I was a teen.  At first I wrote poetry, bad poetry.  Sometimes I kept a journal and raged against the world on paper.  Once in awhile I just wrote.  Sometimes it was a descriptive piece from my environment, sometimes it was the beginning of a story.  I just wrote. 

This is my brain on writing.

As I grew older and had children my writing didn't happen as often.  I wouldn't write on paper(I always write in my head) for months or maybe a year at a time.  Something always pulls me back to it.  Many times I hate it but I always begin again.

I once read a quote by a famous author(I can't remember who) that went something like this, "You don't choose to write, you have to write.".  Ever since I read that I've been paranoid that I'm making myself have to write.  That it's not actually something I have to do.  That I'm tricking myself into it and maybe that's why I haven't actually even started anything of substance yet. 

Is too much baggage bogging my writing down?

I don't know if I'll come up with a new way to stall next week.  I really can't find the right angle on my story.  I've reworked it twice so far.  I don't know where to begin.  Do I start from where I grew up as that is part of the reason a confederate rally shocked me?  Is anyone not shocked by one? 

Great for God by David Shibley

Great for God by David Shibley

This 144 page softcover book shares the profiles of 23 missionaries.  The author intends to encourage, enlighten, enlarge your heart for others and provide examples for you.  This book will inspire you to live a life that is great for God.  Each chapter, which covers one missionary, begins with a summary of the person's birth, death, legacy and quote.  You will read how each person became inspired to become a missionary, the challenges he faced and how he impacted others in his mission field.  Bible quotes are mixed throughout each chapter.

I chose to review this book so I could share the stories of  missionaries with my children and to be inspired myself.  I am reading this book aloud to my children ages 12, 10 and 8.  It is not a children's book so after the first two chapters I asked them if they would like me to continue because I wasn't sure they were getting anything from it.  They urged me to continue.  After each chapter we talk a little about what we read such as, how difficult life was, new vocabulary words and wonder over each great life.  This book is truly inspiring and even if you never plan to go to the mission file you will be more open to seeing how God wants you to be great right where you are.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from New Leaf Publishing Group in order to write this review and have shared my honest opinion.

Click here to find a preview of Great for God

Three Under 5

See, they do grow up eventually.  Well, this photo isn't the best example of that.

I had two young boys, ages 5 and 4, when my third son was born.  Instead of taking time off to enjoy my baby I got right back to homeschooling.  How much could two little boys have missed if I had taken a month or two off to get used to having three children?  If I could go back in time I would tell myself to chill and just spend some time each day reading aloud to them and listening to them read to me.  

Here are some of the things I did to prepare my children for a stuck on the couch breastfeeding mom:
*I taught the little boys how to get their own breakfast and leave their dishes neatly in the sink.
*I taught them how to make a simple lunch in case I wasn't able to.
*I worked on discipline so they were eager to help me out and responded immediately to any requests I made of them such as grabbing the wipes, a spit up diaper, etc.
*I had them practice holding a baby(doll) and told them what to expect from a new baby so they wouldn't be shocked.
*I had them help with the laundry.  With a step stool a little guy can throw the laundry into the dryer from the washer and turn it on.  He can also drag a clean load of laundry upstairs and even fold some of the easier items.  Our laundry was in the basement so this saved me a lot of trips up and down the stairs.

This isn't a good example either!

And now here are a few things I wish I had done to prepare for a new baby:
*I wish I had planned easier dinners to make.  My husband worked nights part of the time and those evenings were tough to deal with.  I should have let the boys grab something that was ready in the fridge for dinner instead of trying to cook with the baby crying in his swing.
*I wish I had planned to take a month or two off of school and then slowly get back to a full workload instead of jumping right back in and stressing myself out because I couldn't do everything.
*I would have planned right away(we ended up doing this after many fails) to clean the house when dad was home so I would have some help with the baby in case I was in the middle of a job and he started crying.
*I would have cut everything but the absolutely necessary chores out of my routine for about three months.

So if you are a mom of a baby and have other little ones to take care of just relax and enjoy the journey.  It will get easier and soon your homeschool and household will be back to normal.  Until then enjoy your little babe, for you know the well used cliche'- They grow up too fast!

Some Fruits of Solitude by William Penn

Some Fruits of Solitude by William Penn is a hardcover reprint of the 1907 edition printed in London by Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.  I appreciate that Master Books retained the look for the original book.  They even reproduced the rough page edges.

Some of the topics covered in Part 1 are Pride, Discipline, Friendship, Moderation and Religion.  Part 2(More Fruits of Solitude) includes The World's Able Man, Of Envy, Of Conduce in Speech, Of Jealousy and many more.  Each section contains from a few to many maxims on each topic.  The original introductions and prefaces are included.

I have enjoyed reading a few maxims from this little book each day.  I find the maxims a helpful tool to think over a topic.  I read a bit from the book as part of my morning Bible study and journal time.  This is a book I will use over and over gain especially when I need something to push me towards living a better, more thoughtful life.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in order to write this review and have shared my honest opinion.

Fit Pregnant Mommy!

I have to report a gain in my measurements this week.  I was hoping to stay the same size for a few weeks, not start growing a tummy at five weeks!  Oh, well.  As my husband says my body knows what to do and is good at it.  I am going to look for some belly bands or something this weekend.  My shorts still fit but I know I will want something comfier on the tummy soon.  I will track my measurements and weight gain and report on my fitness goals each week to help me stay motivated. 

Waist +.25
Abs +1
Hips +.25
Weight +.8 pounds

My goal is to walk for an hour each day and workout M-F.  Here is my workout schedule:
M-T-Tapp Basic Workout Plus(BWO+)
T-Weights
W-Intervals
T-T-Tapp BWO+
F-Weights

Each afternoon I will spend time doing yoga, visualization of the upcoming birth and relaxation.  I used this plan when I was pregnant with baby 5 which was my first homebirth.  I have slacked off with the babies born after #5 and can tell the difference in my flexibility, energy, attitude, mental preparation for birth, and ability to relax in labor.  I can also take a quick nap if I need to during my afternoon relaxation time which will help me finish the day well.

I am sticking to the Specific Carb Diet(SCD).  I have added 1/2 cup of yogurt, some pecans and a little extra fruit to my usual eating plan.  That seems to be as much as I need for extra calories so far. 

My energy has been better than usual for early pregnancy and I haven't had to cut back on anything yet.  In fact, I have increased my exercise! 

I hope you had a fit week!  I'm linking up at Tea Time With Annie Kate for Fit Mommy Friday

Babies and The Nursery

When I was trying to write up my garden column this week I was complaining to myself about how much we are not harvesting yet. I headed outside to search the garden for signs of future harvests and here's what I found.

Baby spaghetti squash



I did something to my photos and now I can only enlarge the first two.

Baby pumpkin



It doesn't look consistent so now I have to leave them all small.

A pickling cucumber

Baby honeydew(I think)

And here's the nursery I started last week.  It's behind the house in a spot that gets a little afternoon sun but mostly bright shade.  I have potted echinacea, crepe myrtle, dianthus, shasta daisy, and my 8 year old daughter potted a daylily.

Why didn't I just plant these in the garden?  I'm going to grow them in a cold frame all winter so they will flower early and then I can give them as gifts or sell them.  I already transplanted about 20 echinacea plants to other areas in my garden and I still have volunteers in my veggie garden to pot up.  When I planted the shasta daises many seeds came up together so they can be divided and spread throughout the gardens.  Below you can see two big clumps of shasta daisies.  When I separate them I plant a few back into my garden and pot up the rest.  I will make a cold frame out of hay bales covered with plastic to keep the babies warm over the winter.

I'm hoping to make a little extra $ from my garden to support our homeschool and add some new perennials next year.  I have not tried this before and I hope it goes well.  I'll keep you updated if I remember and you are interested.

How is your garden growing?  Have you tried anything new this year?

The Christian Home Magazine

Taste Test

My husband and I like to watch Hell's Kitchen and we stole this idea from the show.  We paired the children up by age and gave them each four different foods to taste.  They did really well and actually thought the challenge was too easy.

Isaac and David went head to head to taste hardboiled egg, baby carrot, almond, and banana.  They got them all correct.  Not bad for a 6 and almost 4 year old.

They are holding up their fingers to show me how many they got right.

Sarah was the only person to miss any.  She thought the strawberry was an apricot.

I didn't think Nathan and Hannah would get the pecan but they did.

They think we should try some proteins next time.

This was a quick and fun after dinner activity.

After they each passed their tests with their super palates they enjoyed fruit for dessert.

Do you have any fun family activity suggestions for me?

Announcement Dinner

My husband and I wanted to make an announcement to our children in a creative way.  We decided to cook a themed dinner and decorate the living room and then see if they could guess our big news.

We sent them to walk their friends home and while they were gone set the table and decoarted.

It took about 5 minutes before our 8 year old daughter guessed correctly. 

They couldn't believe it was true and happily started making plans for next Spring.  They have been very helpful since they found out!

Living in Alabama

Good afternoon,
I was going to write about living in Adalusia, Alabama for a year but I find it difficult to word it just right.  Especially the story of how we walked downtown with our children to explore and ran into a Confederate rally on the courthouse steps.  We saw and learned about the Oldest Living Confederate Widow(she is no longer living) that day.  Yeah, my words won't do for that story. 

That is all.

Explore Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest with Noah Justice

Explore Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest with Noah Justice DVD from Awesome Science.

Episode 3(30 minutes long) of the Awesome Science DVD series will take your children on a visit to Arizona to check out the Petrified Forest and the Meteor Crater.  As in the previous videos Noah explains the conflict between an old Earth and young Earth philosophy.  He uses evidence from the Petrified Forest to support a young Earth view of creation and a world-wide flood.  The video is a collection of footage, photos and art work with Noah speaking to you about what you are viewing. 

I think this video would make a good overview of the Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest for children ages 6- early teens before a visit or just to learn how they fit into a Biblical worldview.  My children enjoyed watching it and learned more about the flood and creation.  It is a useful tool to have on hand to help children understand more about Creation and the Biblical account of the Flood.

I received a free copy of this DVD from Master Books in order to write this review and have shared my honest opinion.

Making Teachers Out of My Students

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for All About Learning Press which means I get a commission of every sale that comes through my links.

He is writing "A" in cornmeal.

I am trying something new with teaching my youngest two children.  I'm teaching my 12, 10, and 8 year old children how to use the Teacher's Manual to instruct the little boys.  Today was my almost 4 year olds first lesson in All About Reading Level Pre-1.  He enjoyed learning about A and had fun playing with Ziggy.  My 8 year old found it easy to follow the Manual and teach David with a little help from me.  She is an excellent reader so I knew she'd be able to follow the lesson plan.  She will probably only teach a lesson or 2 a week so she will be able to help me out when I need it.

Ziggy giving a hug goodbye until tomorrow.

Hannah, my 12 year old, worked with Isaac today.  She is a capable reader but a little below her grade level so I think working on All About Reading Level 1 will be a good review without her even realizing she is learning too.  She will only teach once a week but I will have Isaac read to her from his reader when he needs to.  I am in the room with them to make sure the lessons are being taught properly. 

Listening to their older siblings will help the little guys have a better relationship with them and will hopefully help everyone get along better.

When it's time to spell I let them choose paper, white board, or letter tiles.

We(my 12, 10, and 8 year olds) are on step 9 of All About Spelling Level 2.  We finish 1-3 steps a week depending on how our other subjects go.  My children like the challenge of trying to get all of their words correct and keeping their review lists short.  I have noticed that they are more confident in their spelling.  We are still mostly reviewing what they already know but we have run into a few areas they needed help on. 

I hope to start All About Spelling Level 1 with my 6 year old when he finishes All About Reading Level 1.  Isaac enjoys the activity pages and reading from the level 1 books.  When we have quiet reading in the afternoon I have him read from book 1 which he finished many lessons ago to work on review and fluency.  The books are hardcover and should last for many children!

If you are looking for a phonics or spelling program check out All About Learning Press.  We've been using and loving their materials for two years!

A Fit Pep Talk

I don't have much to report this week.  I still weigh the same, getting the same amount of exercise, still haven't lifted weights, etc.  Boring!  At least I'm holding steady and not gaining. 

I hope you are all working hard towards your goals!  Every difficult step that you take is worth it.  You will have ups and downs but don't give up.  You know what you want and you just have  to have the drive to get there.  You may have to change course or study or work harder but if you never give up you will make it.  Is this what you really want?  Do you feel better than when you started?  You can do it!  Believe in yourself.

I just felt like giving a pep talk today.  I told and tell myself the same things all the time. 

Join Annie Kate for Fit Mommy Friday.

Albuquerque Garden in July

Let's start our tour with the new garden. My hubby stained the arbor last week. I like it!  He wants to put in some kind of solar lighting to show it off at night.  I still need to fill in the two front beds.  My goal is to make them herb beds with lots of flowering herbs.  I have transplanted thyme and echinacea to them and need to buy rosemary, sage, and lavender.

So far, so good on the squash this year.  Last year squash bugs ate everything in the squash family.  We have only found two bugs this year and now I think I will have too much squash!  But that will make me happy.  I should have taken a photo of the huge pumpkin blossoms in there.  I can't wait to get our first summer squash and melons.  I planted late to avoid the bugs so my vines are just taking off.

I have tomatoes in two different areas.  These are in the raised bed garden.  I have carrots(which you probably can't see) planted in the center of the two rows with marigolds along the outside.  There are also 4 peppers at the other end beyond the tomatoes.  We finally have some fruit growing and should start harvesting in a week or two.  Oh, all of these tomatoes were brought back from Arkansas by my parents.  My grandpa used to grow this variety.  It's called Arkansas Traveler. 

The grapevines are loaded!

This sunflower came up under the grape arbor.  Part of the plant grew up through the wire so we have sunflowers above and below the arbor.

Not much going on here.  I'm trying to wait 'till August to start filling in the empty spots with fall plants.  I can't find carrot or beet seeds in the stores right now!  I may have to order some.  I have some carrots that have gone to seed and will save those but I don't have any beets producing seeds yet.

I actually weeded the paths.  The dandelions decided not to come up but that's OK.  They are edible and will make nice spring greens.

I have one bed full of strawberries which are starting to produce well.  The green beans are taking off.

I'm hoping next month that this will look more like a green bean house than an empty space.

More squash on the left and my asparagus patch overrun with morning glory and sunflowers on the right.

The potatoes.  I'm hoping we'll get something out of here.

The rest of the tomatoes.  We've been harvesting plum and pear tomatoes for a few weeks.

The flower border.  The brown patches in the grass are winter rye.  If we don't water often enough it turns brown.

Yellow wax beans.

Bush beans growing in the lettuce bed.  This is working well.  The bean plants shade the lettuce which slows it down from going to seed and I'm still harvesting lettuce.

The fallow bed.  I do weed this once in awhile and throw the weeds on top for mulch.

The asparagus bed which needs to be cleaned up.  I let this go fallow last year but the soil still needs some work so all the extra plant mulch will make it richer.

Cosmos

Crepe Myrtle

Catnip

I hope we get a nice harvest of corn this year!

And that's the end!  How is your garden growing this summer?

Your garden columnist for The Christian Home Magazine,
Briana