Back to School 2011-12

Above Rubies

I've been reading Nancy Campbell's '100 Days of Blessing' (you can find it here).  Today she spoke about being positive and speaking positive things into our lives.  Positivity is SO important!  Here's a snippet of my morning devotion:


One of the greatest secrets to live above your daily problems is your confession.  What you speak has power to affect your life, your circumstances and the lives of your children in your home.  Make sure your confession is positive.  Here are some affirmations for you to speak OUT LOUD today...and every day!

~I am ABOVE grumbling, complaining and self-pity!
~I am ABOVE listening to negative thoughts about my husband and my marriage.  I am bound by covenant.
~I am ABOVE the lure of being squeezed into the mold of this world's system.
~I am ABOVE being intimidated by the antagonists of God's truth.  I am on a narrow road that leads to life.
~I am ABOVE the fallacy that I am 'just a housewife.'  I am in the perfect will of God as I train my children to affect the course of this nation.
~I am ABOVE the deceiving humanistic philosophies that infiltrate the media and society around me.
~I am ABOVE the trials and frustrations that encompass me about.
~I am ABOVE the tales and petty talk of gossipers.
~I am ABOVE self-preoccupation.  I give room in my heart and mind for the needs of others.
~I am ABOVE the pressure to 'keep up with the Joneses.'  I don't have to have everything everyone else has.

"Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies."  Proverbs 31:10

Lord, help me today to speak positive words.  Help me to speak only words of victory.  Amen

Coupons, really?

I've always wondered who had time to clip, use and organize coupons. I thought it was a useless 'hobby.' BUT...since moving to 'the city' I admit I've caught the coupon-bug! All these great stores and restaurants are around me and they all have great sales/deals, I figured it was time. I found a bunch of great sites (through FB mostly) and started learning the art of couponing. I organized a binder for 'the binder method' and jumped right in.

It's been a few weeks now and I decided to transition into the 'clip-less' method. I still have my big binder though with loose coupons and lots of page protectors for the coupon inserts. And then yesterday, on one of my favorite sites, I found this:



Woohoo! Exactly what I needed, another bag- for my binder of course! *Don't tell my husband* LOL

Speaking of binders, I've also been busy organizing/creating my stash of binders for our new school year. Binders for the kids and their schoolwork, a binder for my college classes, my stylish binder (in binder bag) for couponing, a binder for my reviews through the Schoolhouse Crew, a binder for each of the TOS Planners I purchased (AWESOME!) and last but not least, a binder for the OAMC group I'm hosting. I think it's safe to say we like binders...think I can find a coupon for some more?

Everything happens in threes!

We traveled up north for yet another birthday- this time it was Angel Baby's turn! She's now 3 years old...wow, where did that go? This was from birthday party #1. She couldn't contain herself while we sang "Happy Birthday!"

This new outfit became her 'Printess, Printess' outfit for the rest of the week. I had to steal it in the night just to get it washed...


Birthday party #2 at Timm's Hill


Good choice, Grandma! You can never go wrong with something "Printess, Printess."

Birthday party #3! She shared this celebration day with her cousin. Double the cake, double the ice cream, double the presents, double the trouble! :)



"I do it myself..."

And last but not least, the rest of the crew:

Legoland

I do suppose there are some perks living in (and near) a big city. We have been promising the kids since before the move, that we would take them to Legoland. This has been a dream especially for the boys as they are AVID Lego-lovers! What an adventure, what a blast. Even I had fun! :)

In the thick of it

Do you ever get wrapped up in life and struggle to keep up? Funny how this post follows the 'new beginnings' post where I openly list 10 things going on in my life at once...hmmmmm... oh, and (p.s.) I started the exercise thing too.

I read this post this morning and found comfort in her words as well as His words. Moving has thrown me off my axis. Most days we're doing good and even enjoying summer! But other days I get caught up in the unorganized chaos still laying around and get overwhelmed by what is left to be done. Those days are when I lose sight of the big picture. Moving has whipped me out of my routine and my schedule, now I have to make a new one...urgh.

Psalm 139: 23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties."

So, today is a new day...and His mercies are new. I'm starting over and am going to try and not get overwhelmed by the floors that need cleaning, the library that needs organizing, the desk that needs de-cluttering and the move-in projects that still need attention, the food menu that needs creating, the groceries that need to be purchased, the bills (yuk!) that need paying, the broken-down boxes that need to be stored (please God, I don't want to move again!!!), the grass that needs mowing, the overgrown flowerbeds that need weeding, etc.

It's Friday. That means it's the start of a weekend and family fun time! So let it begin. The rest will be here waiting for me on Monday, right? Enjoy your weekend!

New beginnings

I have some new insight this morning about new beginnings, my new beginnings. I go through periods in my life when I start something new- it probably happens many times a year (never stopped to count). I always think to myself "Man, you sure are piling it on. Do you think you've crossed the boundary for what is humanly possible? Don't you think you're overextending yourself just a bit? How do you plan on pulling all this off? Are you going to do this half-way because you don't have the time and energy to fully devote yourself to this?" And the list goes on and on... My new insight is that yes, I may jump in to new things with both feet and do 10 things at once BUT it's because of the motto that I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE ON PURPOSE. I have so many things that I want to do and experience, I just can't wait to do one at a time. I want to get out there and experience life and see what I can do next. There you have it, that's it...my new insight. So yes, I may be tapped out, overwhelmed at times and extreme but I'm beginning to be comfortable with that's just me and how I roll. Trying to do something different would be like tying me up and telling me to be comfortable sitting there. Yea, not so much. I enjoy busting outside the box and living my life (albeit even when I'm thrown some wicked curve balls)!

So without further ado, my current new beginnings list:
New house/community/church/friends/everything.....
TOS Homeschool Crew (Review team for the next school year)
Young Living Essential Oils business (source of income from home and a major interest of mine)
Continuing education for BSN (future income and back-up-plan) & Medical Transcription degree (source of income from home)
Survey team (source of *tiny* income)
Couponing (fun and a challenge)
Planning a womens retreat for Sept 2012 (because I want others to be blessed as I have)
New homeschool year, new ideas (starting planning/lessons) *Lots of new curriculum
Online bible study leader

*Yet to be started: daily exercise, eating/nutrition overhaul and weight loss (ewww, I'm dragging my feet here)


I'm sure there's more, that's all my brain could remember this morning (and on 3/4 cup of coffee). I'm excited...new things and ideas bring on a renewed energy for me to lunge forward in my life and not let things get stale. There are other things I want to do but I'm trying to restrain myself. 10 is an even number...instead of one thing at a time, ten should hold me for awhile. Maybe. Philippians 4:13!!

The bible study I'm doing this summer is put on by Good Morning Girls and we're reading Sally Clarkson's book "The Ministry of Motherhood." Good stuff and good reminders. I'm glad my nose has to stay the course as leader of my FB group...great way to NOT become sidetracked. Such important thoughts and realities, so glad I jumped in there! I've wanted to post to their Women in the Word Wednesdays for weeks now...nothing like today to do it! :)

He speaks...again

Where oh where have I gone?

I'm beginning to ask myself that very same question! :)

We've moved (again). In effort to be near Hubby's work, I packed up our crew and we moved all our 'stuff' last weeekend. Wow, what a job! I said that 18 months ago...and I'm saying it again...moving 7 people is just brutal!

In the midst of the sea of boxes, I'm trying to get things back together. So many things are swirling around in my brain- I thought of making a list. I'm second guessing myself, I'm afraid it will further overwhelm me.

We're SW of Chicago now. This weekend we hope to make our very first family trip to IKEA. We're on the search for lights/lamps. What do you think of these for above the kids' beds? Aren't they cute?



I'm thinking they may be to large for 2 in each room, we'll see. The kids love them...of course.

What are you up to this weekend? I'll be unpacking boxes...

Yes, I am that random...

This song popped into my mind this morning, why you ask? I have no idea. Maybe it was because I saw the book "Pokey Little Puppy" as I was packing the kids' bookshelf. Why that has any relevance, I don't know. I had to chuckle a little because I remembered my grandma teaching me this song at about 5 years old. I remember singing it and being so proud- poor little dog.

As usual, things around here are moving at lightning speed. I finished up my semester classes last Friday and also got an email from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper that I am being published today. I sent in a letter to the editor as part of an extra credit assignment in my Eng Comp class & now they're publishing my letter. I actually find this funny, who'd a thunk it?

The kids are done a tad early with their homeschooling- thanks to all the moving mess we've got going on. They're happy to be outside- because spring has finally showed up- and not stuck inside doing BORING schoolwork. I wonder how excited they'll be to start all the BORING stuff again in August? LOL

Guess what I've been doing? Packing. Is this only the second time I've told you about it? Or maybe the third. Just in case you forgot- I feel the need to tell you again that I LOATHE MOVING. Yes, I loathe it. We're getting good at it though. And this time, I'm going through E.V.E.R.Y S.I.N.G.L.E T.H.I.N.G. because I'm just sick and tired of so many boxes. I think living in a small home will do that to a person. I wonder what it would feel like to give away TOO much. Maybe that's not possible with 7 people. I'm trying to find out. Goodwill loves me right now.

I started a summer reading group through Good Morning Girls. You should check them out, fall groups will be forming at the end of summer. It's been an awesome thing for me to be part of a bible study online. So, so good!

My sister-in-law & I are in the beginning stages of planning an Above Rubies Retreat near the Chicago area ( in 2012). I toured the retreat center (awesome!), now I just have to decide on a date and book Nancy Campbell! I'm totally excited about this, it's been about 6 years in the making.

I've been using FlyLady's moving tips. She is helping me stay sane- so far anyway. I keep a copy of the tips right next to my chair so after my devotion each morning I can remind myself not to freak out- BABY STEPS she says. I'm trying.

I am not a fan of road construction. Here, there or anywhere. It is not my friend.

My Tom-Tom is my friend.

The kids are with grandma doing a little spring shopping trip. I am sitting here, still in my pajamas, looking at my CHAOS. Ok, it's been nice but I gotta go before I lose the ambition I barely have. Did I mention I loathe moving? Oh yea, I think I did.

Knowing my limits...

It's no secret that I tend to bite off more than I can chew- jump in with both feet- and then expect not to choke or sink. Most times, I admit, I'm just down right unrealistic. I'm actually chuckling as I write this because in print I sound pretty crazy! Do you know many people who admit they're quirky or crazy? If not, allow me to be the first! Happy Monday!

This is just one of the things I've been staring at for the past 4 months...in Jan. I returned back to school.


There's 2 weeks left to this semester so my brain is feeling quite mushy & I'm sure my eyes have that glazed over look...

Now I've begun adding this into the mix:


Talk about a recipe for complete mayhem! But in the midst of the madness I've had a revelation, the revelation that I too, have limits. Really? Seriously? I'm not Wonder Woman? This is a hard concept for me to grasp cause I want to do everything (I know my family is falling out of their chairs laughing right now)! My original plan was to take classes over the summer (and move). It kind of dawned on me yesterday that is going to be a bit much. So, with the realization of my human-ness I withdrew from my summer courses (but then added another for the fall!). Yes, yes I did- I can't help myself...

I've also reacquainted myself with FlyLady. I don't know why I ever 'forgot' about her-she's been a lifesaver lately! I'm following her moving tips...I really want to survive this! Go figure.
Am I getting more wise in my 'old' age? Probably not...

Who doesn't love a platypus?

Nope, it's not Perry the Platypus...it's even better! Introducing my very first review on a downloadable unit study by The Old Schoolhouse: The Curiosity Files- Platypus. I am a huge fan of downloadable unit studies, especially this time of year. Spring is here and the kids are restless, they need variation in our every day school routine.

I have to say it caught them a little off guard when I told them we were going to be doing a unit study on Platypus(es). Once we got started, my kiddos were in awe of the platypus. This unit study was 87 pages of fun filled, excitement packed learning. The Curiosity Files are presented by 'Professor Ana Lyze' in a fun manner for ages 8-13. However, while using this unit study I was able to adjust the material to comfortably include our 5 year old as well.

There were so many activities jam packed in this unit study, we weren't able to get through the whole thing in a week. We look forward to finishing it up next week- the kids want more! **They adoringly named the Platypus on the front cover, Perry.** Have a look on all the cool stuff available in this study (for the price of $6.95):

• Bible study and memory verses
• Math, history, and geography investigations
• Literature and suggested book list
• Writing, spelling, and vocabulary activities
• Beautiful copywork pages (manuscript and cursive)
• Science observations, projects, and experiments
• Discussion questions
• Art, crafts, drawing, and coloring pages
• The Curiosity Fact Files collectors card and booklet
• Internet resources and video links
• Complete answer key

One thing I really appreciated in The Curiosity Files unit study was everything at your fingertips. I didn't have to go anywhere and hunt down additional information, crafts, questions or answers to questions. Talk about a comprehensive collection! My kiddos and I look forward to more of these unit study gems. There's lots to chose from, go and check them out and if you just can't decide on one or two- they come in a bundle! The 9 pack bundle saves you 35% off the regular price of $6.95 each.

Here's one on Puffer Fish.

What about Quicksand?

Our boys are gonna LOVE Zombie Fire Ants!


Happy Shopping!

His love is deep...

You know how you get a song stuck in your head? Well, I woke up singing this song this morning. You could say it's stuck in my heart...



Such an amazing song, especially following an amazing weekend. It's one thing to get the gravity of what He did for us, it's another to watch children FULLY understand it for themselves. It's a look of soberness and reality of how huge a thing it really was. And to fully grasp what a sacrifice He made for each of us individually can be overwhelming. Such a precious thing when a child says, "Mama, Jesus is so awesome- I want Him to be with me forever and ever."

How was your Easter? The week before Easter (starting Palm Sunday) we began daily readings explaining the things Jesus did that particular day. The kiddos really understood what Jesus did the last week of His life, they were shocked that Jesus went into the temple and got mad and starting flipping tables over. When I explained that He was mad because the people there were disrespecting God and it hurt Jesus' heart to see them being selfish in selling things to try and make profit a in His Father's house. I then likened that to sometimes we do stuff that disrespects God when really we should just be worshiping Him. Our 8 year old said, "Whoa..."

The kiddos were so adorable (ahem...and handsome) in their new duds. Grandma and Grandpa have graciously provided the Easter outfits the past 2 years. What a blessing!

Think on these things

As I was reading through Philippians this morning-quite a few things jumped out at me...isn't that interesting when that happens?
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

~Do you ever get in the middle of some situation and think, "I'm not content with this. Why do I have to do this? I don't like what's happening. Why is this happening like this? Should I do this?" Well, if not then it's just me...because I basically say something to this effect EVERY DAY! :)

~First of all, I find it hard sometimes to NOT be anxious. God tells us to NOT be anxious, pray, be humble, be thankful and ask, and then He will in return give His amazing peace and guard our hearts. Hmmmmm, sounds like a pretty good plan doesn't it? Sounds to me like it just may help my anxiousness and help bring about the peace I always seem to be looking for. Now, if I can just remember this before a freak-out session....

Lord, help me to remember Phil 4: 6-7 BEFORE I freak out next time!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

This might not look like more than a bunch of gnarly branches to you- but I see something very exciting just around the corner! Some tiny, baby buds just starting to turn a yellowish-green. It won't be long and these buds will explode into beautiful and fragrant lilac flowers. I can't wait, this bush is right next to our back porch- the flowers smell SO yummy!

I'm so proud to announce my 30 baby garlic cloves made it through the winter. They starting shooting up out of the dirt even before all the snow was gone! I kept watching them hoping they'd make it after that second (2 ft) snowfall. I'm so excited to see what's under that dirt- to see if I'll get a good harvest...it's amazing to me that after such a harsh winter, life waits patiently until it's safe to jump forward and say, "I'm here!!!" Hello spring, nice to see you again!