A package....

I have spent the past two weeks being sick. Nothing horrible...just a really annoying cold. Not even sick enough to get sympathy, but enough to want it!! Some hours I feel great, some hours I feel not so great. However, most hours I need to just suck it up and go about the routine. There are things to do, people to see, gifts to buy, meals to cook, underwear to wash, toilets to scrub, hair to wash, toes to pick ....uh, you get the picture.

Last week I was so excited to see this on my front porch!

You see, I participated in Smoochiefrog's Christmas Ornament Giveaway!! It was so much fun and I look forward to it next year. I love getting mail. I love getting gifts. I LOVE getting gifts IN the mail!!

Shall we take a closer look??

Yep, it's for me! Look at the pretty silver fluff. I love silver fluff. :) This is so exciting!!

Well, what do we have here?!?

It's handmade in Egypt by a professional Egyptian glassblower and it's very pretty! I love things that are different and have a little story. :)

It's all kinds of wonderful on my tree! (even if my picture didn't turn out so great!)

A great big Thank You to Shannon Rogers!!!

Homeschool Memoirs #16: Candy

This week it’s seriously going to be just fun. This week share your favourite candies. Have fun with this… and you’re welcome to post a photo of YOU eating your favourite candy. Haha!
God’s Word is also like sweetness to our souls. His sweet love, forgiveness, comfort, peace, and more is what makes our lives seem a little more bearable when things get rough. Whenever you eat your sweet piece of goodness remember that God loves you and will always be there when life seems sour.



Share a scripture for this week as well. One that lifts you up when you’re feeling discouraged.





I have trouble, serious troubles, when it comes to picking a favorite. ;) My tastes seem to change hourly at times. However, when it comes to candy, I can usually count on one thing.....it must be C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E. Dark chocolate is a favorite, but I also love creamy, smooth chocolate. So, one candy that I would have to say is consistently in my top 3 is.....

Oh, yeah. I love Lindt Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles. I can eat way, way too many of them...so I don't often buy a bag!! :)

Encouragement - Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Here is a short video with lots of encouraging verses!

painting fall....

In art class, they made salt dough models of leaves and mini pumpkins.

Painting them was the fun part. Don't you just love fall colors??

the rainforest project...

Over a year ago, K took a class at the National Zoo. We went weekly for a month and the whole class was on the rainforest. She absolutely loved it!! We met in a classroom and the teacher had them work each week on their big rainforest art project. Then they had circle time and she would go over the lesson for the week. After that, we would hike to a different part of the zoo and look at animals from the rainforest. There were handouts to work on while they observed the animals. All this for an animal loving kid was just about a dream come true. Add in the fact that two friends took the class with her and you just know she was beaming.

Anyway, her project came out way cool and we displayed it proudly in the school room. A few weeks ago, I was working on organizing a bit in there and discovered that the display was getting a little ragged and it was time to let it go. Now, I do happen to have a very level headed child and after taking pictures and gathering all the clay creatures to keep, we did dump the rest. I thought I would share the pictures....because after all, we loved that little project. :)

Here is her little scene right out of the rainforest! The tree even has buttress roots.

This is a better look at Mr. Ocelot.

A rainforest scene isn't complete without snakes!!

Ok..so maybe this bird doesn't exist...but in her rainforest, it did!!

Thanks for checking it out!!!

BFS #112 - America’s Favorite Dessert: J-E-L-L-O

Assignment: Write about your favorite ‘faith food’. Tell about the books of the Bible that you read that help to build your faith. Nurture the seeds of faith inside you.

Every time I finish reading a book in the Bible I think to myself, "That it is my favorite book." :) How can you not just love them all? Exodus, Joshua, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, Oh...I should just stop. I am glancing through my Bible now and I just want to name them all! ;o) There is so much there that just speaks to you in whatever situation you are in. There are times that one Book, one Chapter, even one verse may speak the loudest and clearest and hit me right in the heart. When I know that that verse was for me to read at that moment. I love those total ah-ha moments, when you have read something 20 times and suddenly it takes on a whole new, REAL meaning. One where you can almost hear God speaking to you. Yep, I love those moments.

However, they don't always happen on a regularly scheduled program...at least not for me. I can only just keep turning to the Word and praying that I see, hear and understand what is meant for me. I always come away better then when I started reading, but maybe not with a major eye-opening.

There is one book in particular that I just LOVE! Yes, I said I love them all and I do...but one that just was one after another full of Ah-Ha moments. Every single verse was just so full of truth and conviction. I re-read it often and meditate on these verses. They are definitely worth keeping them tucked in your heart!

Here are just a few....it was impossible to pick out all my favorites, because I really would just be copying the whole book.

James 1:22-25

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:14-19

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Homeschool Memoirs: #15 A Thankful Heart

This week, you guessed it, is going to be about having a thankful heart! Yes, of course, we should always be thankful for everything we’re blessed with, but it’s not too often we actually sit and ponder what. This week please join me in writing 27 things you’re thankful for.

1. A very real relationship with Jesus

2. A wonderful husband who also happens to be a great dad

3. My children

4. My family and family in laws

5. Supportive friends

6. A house that fits us perfectly

7. A new mattress

8. Chocolate....a must have on some days

9. The opportunity to stay home and homeschool

10. A craft/school room that is just for my daughter and me

11. Hot showers (heading in there, soon!)

12. Warm summer days

13. Sunday Family Dinners

14. A wonderful church family

15. My new kitchen

16. My new computer

17. Trader Joes

18. Avocados

19. My warm blankie that is wrapped around me now

20. Chick-fil-a lemonade (that I am hoping will help fight my cold)

21. Tissues

22. A great group of women that I email regularly with

23. Our stuffed pantry

24. Our two cars that we are fortunate enough to have

25. Games (spent most of the day playing with family)

26. Sushi (I love that stuff)

27. My wonderful 9 year old daughter that wrote her own Thankful post right under mine. :)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

K's list of thanks....

K wrote this list yesterday and I thought I would share it with you!

I may be small, but I still have a lot of things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for:

A Mighty Lord
Loveable Pets
A great father and mother
Brothers and sister in law
Family and Friends that care
The World
Clothes that keep me warm
My home and shelter
A bed to sleep in
Water and food to keep me from starving
Electricity
Someone to play with me
A Name
A wonderful church
My eyes, feet and hands
My head, heart, brain and nose
Great teachers (she's homeschooled!) ;o)
Things to learn
Great neighbors
Entertainment
Games
Movies
Soft, warm blankets to snuggle in on a cold night
My stuffed dog, Brownie
Somebody to love
People that help me
Inventors
My Dad's Job
Living
Me to like things that I like
Everything around me
My belongings

Thank you, Lord, for everything. You are the greatest! Happy Thanksgiving, Amen.