Organizing Organization

I love organizing. I love organization. Knowing that, think it not odd that I would be drawn to this. Just Mommies, a website for Moms and Moms to be, has a page dedicated to helping in the area of organization, and in fact, you can print off month by month, a plan to help with the daily, weekly, and monthly/seasonal needs of a home. Here is the planner page for the month of APRIL. Now, wanting organization and keeping organization are two different things. I so admire of those for whom this is not overwhelming. It simply comes naturally to them. I desire it, but follow-through dogs me day in and day out. Sometimes I don't know where to start. When that happens I make a list, and onto the planner or sticky note it goes.

Just Mommies plan doesn't have to be done item by item, but it atleast provides a structure I think I can live with for the long haul. So, to the printer I'm going. This can be printed and posted, or printed and 3-hole punched and put in a binder. Since I like office supplies, I think I'll 3-hole punch it.Or, you can always save it on your favorites bar and bring it up at the beginning of the day for your "assignment." Even if only 50% of the items on the calendar are completed, atleast 50% are done! If you're curious, need extra help like me, or just want to pass this on to someone else, then have at it.

Praying for the World

A couple of weeks ago I had an idea that we would take a country, lay hands on that country name on the globe, and pray for them. We finally remembered to do that today. My country was Venezuela, Daniel chose Columbia (right next to Venezuela), and Bethany chose China. She said her strategy is to go from the biggest to the smallest country. So, China it is.

It was really a special time. We didn't pray long, and we mainly prayed for the saved and the lost of the country. That is the most important thing to pray about for anyone. We also prayed for provision for the people, we prayed against corruption, we prayed that they would see the One True God, and we also prayed for "the faithful", as Daniel put it.

We love the world the Lord made, and I am confident He has heard our prayers. I look forward to the day when Jesus Christ shows us the results!

This is how we began our time with the Lord today.

Sweet Jesus

A song for the weary, a song for the thankful. A song for both. Lord, may today be Your day in a true and pure way. We desire to bring undivided hearts to Your sanctuary. We surrender. You know best.

Tug of War

There's a little tug of war that goes on in me almost non-stop. One moment I'm tugged like this, "You can do it. That work book on planets is really interesting. Just pick it up, divide the number of lessons out at two per week, and just begin. The children will like it. It's okay if it's not in the curriculum you bought this year. Use what you have." Then the other side gives it a yank, "You've wasted so much time. Start fresh in the Fall. Maybe you'll really know what you want to do by then. Maybe you'll have it all mapped out. Maybe you'll have it all together." Yielding to that particular side I can tell you that maybe will never come, and then more time gets wasted because I didn't pick up that book and just get after it.

Then there's the whole topic of purchased, but un-used or partially used curriculum. I wonder how long I could go and actually use what I have; no, not the stuff that really won't work, but the ones I've started and haven't finished. Then to add to the dilemma, I do more curriculum research and find another kind of curriculum or approach to lesson plans (which has happened in the last 48 hours) that I love. Impressive, huh.

Part of this can be explained by my new found love for learning. I am enjoying exploring what is out there. I am so thrilled that we have this great opportunity and calling to homeschool. Danny and I have even joked that someday I may just do something in the world of homeschooling consulting once my own are grown. But what about the balance? There has to be a balance found between the time spent "looking" and researching, and really getting down to the nitty-gritty, hard-core part of teaching. The greatest satisfaction is sure to come by applying consistency and commitment to teaching. I can trust God for the results.

Lord, help me to seek your face as wife and mother, instructor and mentor. I love this beautiful world of homeschooling. I love the many ways learning happens. I love the varied approaches of Classical, Charlotte Mason, Eclectic, and the like. Please teach and instruct me, your student Kathy, in how I can be a better manager of the many resources at my fingertips here in my own home. I also ask that You help me redeem any hours that I have wasted. You blessed me with two precious jewels, and I want nothing more than to please You.

How To Home School Today | The 16 Greatest Mistakes Homeschool Moms Make

This is one of the best articles I've seen on homeschooling, so I'm passing it on. I'll be printing this one out and putting it in my binder ASAP!

How To Home School Today | The 16 Greatest Mistakes Homeschool Moms Make

Menu Minuet

You'll notice I didn't say Monday Menu Minuet Moment!

Wednesday:
Tuna Casserole

Thursday:
Tacos

Friday:
Breakfast for Dinner: Pancakes & Sausage

Saturday:
The thrill of the grill: Steak & Potatoes

Sunday:
Chicken Enchiladas

Monday:
Taco Salad

Tuesday:
Chili Dogs

And that wraps it up for Menu Minuet.

My New Do!

It's here. It's a techno up-do! I am so thrilled with the results of my new blog header from Simply Yours. Their service was amazing, and the results are equally so! Thank you, Hilary!

The Unveiling

Looking forward to this:



I'm always on the look for the freebie blogger templates of which there are many. I decided to go for it and pay for it, but not too much. I'm looking at it like a fresh coat of paint! I should get my download code in about 48 hours. Can't wait. Can you say, "Experiment. Hope it works." I trust it will.


For your own fresh coat of paint, go here.

Great Defender

Feeling vulnerable or unprotected? No more, my friend. You have Christ if indeed you do know Him. Romans 8:31 says, "If God be for us, then who can be against us." This is the same God who "works all things together for our good, to those that love Him, and are called according to His purpose." I find it wonderful that Romans 8:31 is tagged onto the passage we are all so familiar with in Romans 8:28. Be encouraged, strengthed, and at rest in the sovereign hand of the Father.



Leann's beautiful music here.

I am going to make a list for you to read. What is on this list are the victories I have had so far today. I love how Jesus takes a day that Satan wants to use to overwhelm and discourage us, and He turns it into a victory day.

1. We had school.

While we're not quite done, we're doing it. We're doing it! Am I rejoicing? Yes, because I know that this is our calling and the enemy of my soul has been trying to intercept God's plan with his, and we're not falling for it.

2. I made the menu for the rest of the day.

What? You mean you don't have your menu planned for the MONTH? Yep, I do not have the menu planned for the month. No I don't, and I was overwhelmed by even that. One of the lines in the song of my mind was, "Let me....overwhelm you!...." Remember the song, ""Let Me Entertain You"....same tune, just different words.

3. I got to speak the word, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" over my son while he was doing school.

He is an excellent reader, speller by nature, but cannot stand getting a handle on the dictionary. His English assignment was dictionary work. I said that word over him and by the time I was done he was laughing! : ) I loved it.

4. I got to pray for my husband over the phone.

I saved this one for last because it's where my victory came in. I was able to pray over him and bless him by blessing the choices he's made for our family eventhough he feels most of them have failed. No, I choose to bless. I'm not being an ostrich, but I am simply blessing Him as being created by God with the mind of Christ. When I prayed for him (not for myself) is when I began to have the release into the victories of the day that the Lord already had planned.

I am practically embarassed to even list these things that I've struggled with today. I can live with that. Maybe someone else can relate to this. I'm just thrilled to get to experience God's strength even in doing the simplest and most ordinary of tasks. To God be the glory.

A Favorite Childhood Memory

Today I told my children about one of my favorite childhood memories. In fact, I tried to demonstrate it.

My Dad is an identical twin to an identical red-headed fella who looked....just like him. Having a twin for a Dad was cool, but at times it was confusing. When they both had on their sunglasses, well, it was any man's guess on who was who. Or any child's guess!

The twins, as they were called by some, were both gifted athletes, and played college-level sports. I'm sure they had their favorite sports, but in my view there was nothing they couldn't conquer. They both excelled in football. Their love for the sport continued off the field and beyond their college days.

One of the things I remember so well was, after an evening meal it was not uncommon for my Dad and my Uncle to run down the lane of our house, across the highway, into another pasture area (we lived on a ranch about 10 miles from town, and my Uncle lived on the property as well), and all the while they were running they would be passing the football back and forth, back and forth, talking the whole time, running the whole time. Wow, their stamina! I don't recall anything that was ever said, but I remember trying to tag along as far as our feet would carry us for as long as possible. I even remember trying this on dry-crusted over mud/dirt with no shoes! This was their time. I'm not sure how often it happened, but I can say it left a permenant record in the joy of my childhood memory bank. So, today, I made my effort to instill the memory and the skill into my children out in our backyard.

Out we went, football in hand, and I demonstrated. I wonder if Dad and Uncle Don had lots of holes to dodge then like I did today? 'Course, that's what backyards are for; digging, running, kicking soccer balls, making memories. The children loved it. They have a fascination with Danny's and my childhood, and it was fun to dust off one of the many highlights of my own and give it a whirl. They plan on practicing! I'll have to check in with our Grandkids someday, (yes....out there, waaaay out there) and see if it took!