planting seeds

My five year old found great joy in planting a few seeds yesterday. We used egg shells, and placed them in dixie cups. He filled each shell with dirt, placed a few seeds in, and watered each, just a bit. He is watching closely for seed development. What a marvelous way to demonstrate God's creation to our little guys and gals.
Have a great day.

Stretching the dollar

Okay, it's obvious to conserve car trips, take a list to the grocery and stick to it, etc. For the average American family, these minor steps may not be adequate. Assuming that your home is affordable, and you've had no major crisis hit recently, lets discuss some other budget cutting measures. First of all, cell phones are a luxury that we have quickly become dependent on. I have a tracphone that I use for urgent needs only. Initially, this was quite a change, but now the kids have gotten used to calling home first, and leaving a message if needed. When we travel, I use a calling card from our hotel room. Again, an adjustment, but a great way to save $50.00 per month.
Secondly, with daylight hours increasing, consider holding off on your satellite t.v. I recently learned that up to twice per year, you may put your satellite service on hold. This would increase your childrens imaginations, help the whole family to become more fit by getting off the couch, and save a minimum of $40.00 per month.
Thirdly, try increasing the air temperature in your home by at least 2 degrees for summer. A little hotter, yes, but the energy savings would be great.
Fourth, plant a garden. In the midwest, it is now time to set out your plants, and sow your seeds. You can grow your own produce, and cut down on the amount of lawn you need to mow. Next time, lets discuss some money-saving meal ideas.

Another Childrens Book Report

Its me agian the 11 year old girl that likes to tell you about books. Today the book I would like to tell you about is called: The Bad Begininning, witten by Lemony Snicket. It is about the three Baudelaire children, Viliot, klause and sunny. In one day they hear lots of heartbreaking news. I won`t spoil the whole book for you but a little to tell you about It. Then the kids keep hearing more and more bad news. This book can get pretty sad and sometimes scary, but it is a very good written book. It is great for kids about 8 and up.

A Childrens Book Report

I am an 11 year old girl who would like to tell you about a book I just finished reading. The book is called Miranda and Sarlight, the book is about a girl that lives with her grandparents and then comes to love one horse. Miranda is the childs name and she does get in a good amout of trouble during her journey to owning a horse. Miranda has a friend, Chris who takes her to Shady View Boarding, where Miranda first sees Starlight. There are 6 books of this series. The first one is called Miranda and Starlight. You can purchase these books at www.Ravenpublishing.com or at www.Amazon.com . I strongly recommend this book for your children.

Finish Strong

We are in our final 6 weeks of the current homeschool/school year. Encourage your student(s) to finish strong! Despite lengthening daylight hours, keep regular bedtimes to the best of your ability and maintain your normal, daily routines. Encourage your students to eat healthy breakfasts. Ward off the temptation to complete assignments quickly, rather than ensuring quality work is done. Continue to make time for family dinners. Communicate with your children in a language they readily understand (note my writing on the love languages). Lastly, look forward to the rewards at the end of the school year-maybe a family trip, a celebration dinner out to eat, a few days to sleep in, summer camp, or visits with grandparents. Summer will come soon enough, but help your students to finish the school year strong!

Family Vacation

Spring break is typically a stay-at-home vacation for us. However, we ventured westward this year. Many of the mountain regions have experienced LOTS of snow this year. As midwesterners this was quite a treat for us. We enjoyed skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and beautiful scenery. I cherish each moment that we have together as a family, for with teens, I am fully aware that all too soon, these group outings will not be so frequent or even possible. Be creative, plan a trip together that fits your budget. If leaving home will not work for you, plan a vacation at home-no laundry, minimal dishes and cooking, little driving, no cell phone, phone, or email, and even let friends and family know that you will be on vacation. It's amazing how refreshing the time away from regular activities can be.

Pet Ownership

Considering whether or not to adopt a pet is no small task. Sure, pets are great companions, very forgiving, and sometimes protective. However, we all know they eat a lot, need exercise, and a shovel/scoop is standard equipment for most. We have found that owning pets helps our children by fostering responsibility, observing the result of God's marvelous creation of animals, and builds self esteem/confidance. Too often today, children have few responsibilities outside of themselves. There are so many important lessons to be learned in life, and animals are a perfect opportunity for children.
Learning to love AND feeling the grief and pain of loss are very important lessons. In our culture of cell phone texting and email, communicating normal emotions are often left out of the equation. Owning and caring for a pet will allow your children to come face to face with these emotions. Depending on your living situation, consider adopting a cat, dog, fish, hamster, rabbit, horse, goat, sheep, or bird.

Family Farm

I just read a very informative book by Carol Ekarius, Small-Scale Livestock Farming. It is an educational starting point for those of us considering small scale livestock farms, or expanding what we currently have. She covers every aspect of grass based livestock farming including background information, animal husbandry, marketing, and planning. Published by Storey Publishing (www.storey.com), the author includes many helpful resources, tables, and diagrams. Having been raised on a "hobby farm," this book would have been quite helpful in the day, and saved us work and heartache.
If you're considering "homesteading", or just curious about small livestock operations, this book is a must read for you.

Staying Focused

Mid-February is always a tough time of the year to maintain solid focus on work, school, home, but most importantly, on Christ. Deuteronomy 4:29 tells us "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Looking past the chaos of life, directly to Christ, can often be challenging. I challenge each of us today to seek Him first. One only needs to read Psalm 62 for renewed hope and inspiration. "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2.
Spending quiet time with God, will renew our focus on Him, even though there is constant chaos all around us. Let's teach our children to turn off the "noise" of the world, and listen to God, rather than what the world tries to tell them! There are wonderful Bible studies for adults and children that can be found at www.CBD.com. Walmart even carries devotional Bibles and studies. Renew your heart and mind today!
Have a great day.

Maple Syrup Time

Natural maple syrup has so many uses in the kitchen. I recently purchased a gallon jug of fresh syrup from a local farmer. Not only is maple syrup the "gold standard" for waffles and pancakes, it is also used in baked french toast recipes, with oatmeal, and in baked beans. Because the maple syrup is fresh and natural, it is much better for us nutritionally. I usually use the maple syrup or honey, in place of granualted sugar, in most of my cooking.
For more information on maple syrup try out Leane and Michaels's Sugarbush @ www.lmsugarbush.com. They even have a unit study included in their website. Their Annual Maple Syrup Festival takes place the last weekend in February, and the first weekend in March. They are located just outside of Salem, Indiana.
Here's my favorite baked french toast recipe:

4 eggs beaten
3/4 cup fat free, organic mild
1/2 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2" thick slices fresh bread

Sauce: 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup maple syrup, and 1/4 cup chopped pecans.

In medium bowl, mix first 4 ingredients. Place bread slices in bowl and set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a 9" x 13" glass baking dish and mix in remaining sauce ingredients. Add bread slices. Bake in 350 oven for 30-35 minutes, until puffed and brown.
You may also soak bread overnight, in refrigerator if you wish.

Sledding

Wintertime sledding reminds me that I'm not a teenager anymore. You know those hard, plastic sleds actually leave bruises nowadays! Though I exercise regularly, muscle fatigue and soreness are the operative words for me, while my kids run around the next day ready for more. It's probably a blessing for parents that snow melt is coming soon!

Winter Recreation

Besides the obvious, there are many outdoor recreation choices for wintertime, regardless of where you live. If skiing is not feasible (like where we live), try going for a hike in the rain or snow. Temperatures are moderating, birds are plentiful, and because the leaves are not on the treees right now, wildlife is much more visible. Local parks usually have marked trails. Playing sports outside may be a little messy, but fun will be had by all. Working in the garden or yard can also be good exercise and family time. Make sure to remove dead or uneeded plants from garden or landscaping. Spring planting season is right around the corner.
The key is it's time to come outside, get a little exercise, turn off the media, and enjoy creation! Have a great day.

Snow Days

What awesome beauty God has provided for us this week! The midwest has been coated in layers of ice and snow, alternately, over the last three days. Consequently, my two homeschoolers have had company this week from their two big brothers home from high school. Besides sledding, watching movies, exercising together, and playing cards has kept the crew "tame" so far. Even my littlest person can't help but enjoy the family being together this week. Remember, boredom is not a bad thing....it fosters creativity. It's amazing what kids will create when they have a little extra time on their hands. Just keep all that creativity directed in a constructive direction, so that it doesn't turn destructive! Those are words of wisdom from my grandmother, who was blessed with raising 4 children too.
Have a great day out there.

Have you planned your garden?

With Valentine's Day near, I am reminded that it is time to plan our spring and summer gardens. Family tradition is to put some lettuce seed out on Feb. 14th, even if there's snow on the ground. I have always gardened, regardless of the size. Therefore, my kids have grown up playing in the garden. A favorite memory of mine, is that when the soil was tilled, my boys would bring out their little, green army men to play with. They also loved to make roads, ponds, and plant something in their own little space. Of course, weed control by July was non-exsistent. However, the valuable life lessons that they have learned is worth all the fuss.
Potatoes are a fun crop for children, and require little work. This year, we're looking forward to some strawberries for the first time. Tomatoes, beans, and peppers are always regulars in our garden.
Never gardened? Start small, find a good gardening book, and dive in. I have used the same book for 20 years and find it to be an invaluable resource. Garden Way's Joy of Gardening, by Dick Raymond may be at your local library. Many times a friend or neighbor can also get you started. Like any other hobby or job, it requires work, but the rewards are wonderful!

Valentines for Loved Ones

Valentine's Day is 6 days away. Grandparents love a little special gift. In past years, the kids and I have baked and decorated sugar cookies and mailed them to our grandparents. Quantity is not important here....They love getting that wonderful treat from your children! Other ideas would include a piece of candy along with homemade valentines. One year we made valentines on the computer with a photo of the kids attached. Be creative.
While you're at it, plan a special day with your children for next Wednesday. I usually bake them each a special cookie. Even if you can't sit down and have dinner together, even giving them a special valentine before they rush off to school, will start their day off just right!
Have a great Thursday.

Rainy Day Homeschooling

On a rainy, dark winter day homeschooling it can be hard to motivate the family. How about having a game day? There are so many math, language, or geography skills to be learned through board or card games. We always love a good game of monopoly-even my teen boys still enjoy this game. We've also purchased the ESPN trivia game. For the younger kids, Scrabble Junior has been a favorite. Yahtzee, Uno, Bingo, and Candyland are also popular around my home. You can create multiple math games using regular playing cards too.
Aside from games puzzles can be challenging too. For a new spin, mix pieces from several puzzles, together, then work together to solve each of them. Although the puzzles might have been easy before, mixing several together might be fun to try.
Lastly, after lunch, have a long reading time. Even most middle schoolers enjoy being read aloud too. There are so many books that are wonderful to read to children of all ages. My kids used to work on legos, play play-dough, or even GI Joe while I read to them.
Although cabin fever may abound, many educational games and activities can substitute for regular curriculum for a day. These are the days memories are made by!
Have a great day.

Mailing care packages overseas

Many of you have family members serving in our military overseas. For $8.95 you can send a nice sized box of love from home. Simple suggestions would include: throw away cameras, paper, pens/pencils/envelopes, powdered drink mixes, gum, hard candy, baby wipes, magazines, playing cards, or toiletry items. Your local post office can supply you with "flat rate" boxes. This means that you may fill that box, and regardless of weight, it will only cost $8.95 to ship. While you're there, pick up a customs declaration and dispatch note so that you can have this form filled out ahead of time. Most packages will arrive to your loved one within two weeks.
Have a great day, and thank you for loving a soldier today.

Mom @ Work

Superbowl Sunday

Pull out an old bedsheet or tablecloth, fix your family's favorite, fun foods, and have a picnic dinner in the living room during the superbowl on Sunday. As a football mom, some of our family memories are made doing just that! If you're not a cook, or need a break, why not order out? Big kids and little kids will enjoy the food and fun time together. Finish up with "make your own" ice cream sundaes; a special wintertime treat.
For the younger set of children, after the game has started, pull out some favorited games and make it a family fun night. You can still catch a glimpse of the game, AND have some great time together with the kids.
Good luck to all you Giant and Patriot fans out there.

Mom at Work (even on Saturday)

Caregivers

Many times we have family, friends, or simply aquaintances who are in need of a hug, a meal, help with children, or running an errand. Keep in mind a few simple suggestions:

1. Offer specific assistance verbally, then follow through.
2. When I am in need, the last thing I will do is ask-just do it for them.
3. A completely unexpected gift of your time means more to a person in need than we'll ever know, especially in our fast-moving culture today. Relationships are really still important, and needed more than ever.
Others suggestions to help include driving someone to their doctor's appointment, picking up medication for them, doing their grocery shopping, writing a short note including your phone number or ways/times to contact you, having their children over to play for a couple of hours, placing a prepared dish or loaf of bread in their freezer for a tough day, transporting their children to an activity.
For someone who is bed bound or challenged visually sit with them and read them the newspaper, or an uplifting magazine article. Holding their hand or giving a hug can fill their heart full of love too. We often take these acts of kindness for granted. Remember, if you ask if you can help them, most of us are going to say no-it's a pride thing you know!

Have a great day,
Mom at Work

Leaving a Legacy

Once there was a mother walking with her little girl. They were talking about growing up. The little girl looked at her mom, and said, "when I grow up, I want to be just like you." These may be scary words for us, but the reality is that our little boys and girls will someday grow up and be very much like us in many ways. What legacy do we really want to leave for our children?
Starting with the very basics, do we show our children, daily, that we love them? Is that love shown to them in a way that they can understand? In The five Love Languages of Children, Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D. define for us the five languages of love. They teach us how to discover the primary love language of each of our children. For us moms with more than one child, guess what? You've got it; they may be completely different from one another. For example, one child may like it when you praise them, cheer for them at a game, or writing them an encouraging note. The authors call this "words of affirmation."Alternatively, another may respond predominantly to seeing that you love them by doing things for them, like making their breakfast or folding their clothes a certain way. This book is a wonderful addition to the family library and extremely insightful in raising healthy children. See www.MoodyPublishers.com for further information on this book, or others by these authors.
Do we live our life in the Truth of God on a daily basis, before them? Do we exercise with them, and demonstrate healthy nutritional choices? Do we play games with them or have a "family movie night?" Do we show them by our actions that they are very important to us as moms? Do we set reasonable boundaries for them? Do we teach them life skills such as cooking, money management, laundry, and childrearing?
Moms, I can assure you that the world around our children will TELL them how much they care for them, virtually everywhere. I can assure you that it is purely for selfish reasons. We have been given the opportunity to SHOW our children that we love them. This is a huge calling that we must rise to the occasion for, if you will. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Only through God' s love and forgiveness for us, are we able to love our children, and others. For further reading, try Deuteronomy chapter 6.

Have a great day,
Mom @ Work

A Lesson in History

In her book, Women's Voices from the Oregon Trail, Susan G. Butruille paints a living picture of families who were following their dreams, and moving westward. The author begins her narration at the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence, Missouri. The book presents a compilation of quotes from women and children traveling the Oregon Trail in the 1840's and 1850's, along with pictures, and guides for travel along the trails today. Included are state-by-state finds of markers, signposts, landmarks, and historical sites that serve today to educate us on the history of women in the massive westward expansion of our United States.

I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud to elementary and middle school aged girls. Take a few hours this week to read to your daughters, share some hot tea or cocoa, and learn about some heroic women, in their own right, who were instrumental in the growth of our great nation.

Why not plan a summer trip now, to experience history together, by traveling to places like Fort Laramie, Wyoming, or Register Cliff in Guernsey. Research your own family and discover if some of your own relatives traveled these early pioneer trails. Learn TOGETHER.
Have a great Monday Moms!

Mom at Work