Where does the time go?

Wow! I can not believe it has been a month since I have posted anything! Where does the time go?  I am starting to think my dog eats it with all the rest of the scraps in this house! I have so much going on and we have been so busy with the end of school.... yikes! I have hopped onto my blogger and started several drafts, however none have been completed! Oh well... tis the life of a busy mom and her family!!

We have many changes happening around our house... and beyond.

Our wedding photo - in Maui.

my bracelet

First of all, my hubby and I celebrated our 9th anniversary this month. He took me out to an incredible dinner and bought me a beautiful Pandora bracelet. I just love the idea that he can add charms to it as the years go by. It was such an incredibly thoughtful and meaningful gift. My hubby is not a big gift giver... which is ok, because he is an incredible husband in so many other ways, so I don't mind. But when he does want to do something special - he REALLY does something special. I just love my bracelet! And a night away from the kids - well that was spectacular all by itself!

What else happened this month? Oh... let's see... we bought another new car.... and gave it back again. Not being able to get a car loan has to do with the status of our house. Since losing my income in February 2012, we have been trying to work out a loan mod with the bank. We tried Keep Your Home California, hired a mortgage counselor.... all to no avail. We just couldn't get it modified and they are proceeding with foreclosure. Feeling as though we had no other choice (since the bank waited till 3 days prior to auctioning our home to tell us we were denied!) we have decided to file bankruptcy.

taking our car back 

Not only does this affect our home situation, but we have been unable to get a car loan because we are in default of our mortgage. Doesn't matter that we can afford the payment, the banks only see that we haven't been paying for our house. Crazy how it all works, but we are just glad to be moving forward. We owed double what our house was worth, so getting out from under it will be a good thing. We really wanted to stay, but we know that God must have other plans for us because if He wanted us to stay He would have worked it all out!!

That leaves us as a one car family with my husband driving 100 miles a day to and from work in a gas guzzling truck - ouch!! ...to the tune of $200 a week in gas. Which in turn leaves me car-less. I really don't mind. I just forget that I don't have a car sometimes! This past weekend, my friend called and invited us to a BBQ. I told her sure, we'd be there in a couple of hours. When telling my kids to get ready for the BBQ, my super smart eight year old daughter says, "But Mom, how are we going to get there?" LOL Oh yeah..... I forgot again! We ended up walking. Took us 45 minutes, but hey, we go for long walks all the time.... they are just not always on busy roads. For the most part though, I have just had to become super diligent in writing my menus down and creating a thorough shopping list. Basically, I have had to become super organized! And if there is something we need right away, we live within walking distance from a major supermarket that carries anything we might need at the last minute.

....wrapped each other up like mummies!

We peeked into our Egypt study and....

Thank goodness for the end of the school year. We have this week to finish and then we are done for summer! Even though I say we are done, we still do some studying during summer. I like to do some- thing "schoolish" 2 days a week, just so we don't have to spend the first month or so doing review when we start school again in the fall. This summer we are going to study Egypt, with a few spelling and math lessons thrown in for review. Kids are super excited to study Egypt. We do mostly fun stuff in our summer studies. For example we are building a salt dough map of Egypt, making Egyptian drawings, reading novels about children that take place in ancient Egypt and cooking up some Egyptian foods. We are basing our study off of the "Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Egypt" History for the Thoughtful Child by Rob and Cyndy Shearer. We will end our study by going to the Egyptian museum in San Jose, CA. And to top it all off, I am hopeful that I can start getting school work planned for the next school year too.

To make our schedule even more hectic, I have decided to help out a friend and foster four puppies (yes, that is not a typo I really mean four!) My friend runs a dog rescue and is constantly rescuing abandoned dogs, which requires looking for foster homes. So we decided to help her out since she really needed someone. I figured - what the heck... it's summer, we are still in our house for at least a month or so and the kids will be able to help. The puppies arrive on Wednesday and we are all super excited.

I just hope that in between feeding, cleaning, washing and playing with the puppies I will have time to pack up our house! The new auction date for the house is in three weeks and then if it sells, we will find out when we have to move! So sorting, purging, packing and preparing for a garage sale will start as soon as we finish up school work this week. I really am not looking forward to moving, but I am kind of excited at the same time. My husband is dreading it. I keep saying if we end up in an apartment, at least we will have a pool for the summer! Hey - I'm always looking on the bright side and when our summers are over 100 degrees... I am always wishing for a pool! Kids and I will live in the water if we do move somewhere with a pool. Hint, hint, God, we want a pool!

As soon as the puppies arrive I will post pics with links to the rescue if anyone is interested in a puppy or with donations. Thank you for your support!

Thrifty Tip #3 Cleaning Wipes

Thrifty Tip #3

Make your own "Cleaning Wipes"

 

I have a confession.... I am a cleaner junkie! I love buying cleaners. Many women have shoe, clothing or handbag addictions. Not me! I love to buy cleaners and cleaning products. I currently own 3 vacuums, 4 different types of mops, 2 steamers and an endless supply of cleaning agents.

I guess I am on an endless hunt, searching for the latest and greatest product that will make my life easier. I just love the smell of cleaners.... except for plain bleach. That one makes me gag. There is just something in the smell of a good cleaner. I have cleaners for the bathroom, the kitchen, the floor, dusting, etc... No matter what store I am in I enjoy perusing the cleaning aisle!

There are many, many blogs, articles and more about making your own cleaners and the benefits of doing so. I have tried to make several different types of cleaners. I have been happy with some and disappointed with others. I have found that most homemade cleaners just don't clean as well or smell as good as I would prefer. I do realize that all those chemicals are not healthy for the family, and yet, I have trouble using a homemade product that just doesn't get the job done!

Being a pinterest junkie, I am constantly finding new cleaners to try or to make homemade. I came across this cleaning wipe recipe and have never looked back. If you want to read the original blog and why she chose to use these particular ingredients follow this link: Living on a Dime

For this recipe you will need:
old rags
an empty wipes container (store bought cleaning wipes or baby wipes work well)
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
2 TB Dawn dish soap (I have found that the original blue works best for cutting grease, however if you use one of the others you can choose a fragrance)
1 cup water
container for mixing (I have found a larger size liquid measuring cup works great and makes it easier to pour)

Fill up your empty wipes container with the old rags.... just stuff as many in there as you possibly can!
Then mix the rubbing alcohol, Dawn dish soap and water. Stir gently as you don't want to create too many bubbles. After the solution is mixed, pour over rags in your wipes container. Pour SLOWLY as it will take time for the solution to soak into the rags and you don't want it to overflow all over your counter! (Ask me how I know this....) Now put the wipes in your cleaning cupboard for when you need them!

That's it! Easy, right? And they are great for cleaning just about everything!!! We use them for wiping down the bathrooms, counters, sticky spills, wiping off door handles and light switches (a chore my kids do weekly) and so much more!!!

For the most part, these are reusable. We have a bucket just for the used rags and then I wash them in HOT water and make new ones. If the job is a really gross one, such as cleaning up poop, I make sure to use one of the holy socks that are in the container and we just throw it away when we are finished.

This cleaning wipes solutions is pennies to make and yet saves you from buying the real thing which can be as much as $9.00 per container. HUGE savings!

I hope you try these cleaning wipes and love them as much as I do! 

Getting to Know Me

 

 

Recently this came through on facebook so I thought... Alright... I'll play... And I thought I'd share with you too!

These were the instructions) You've been tagged! If you are reading this, you have the honor of copying all these questions, writing your own response, and tagging 25 other "victims". You have to tag me, too. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you as a friend. To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your title as "Getting to know each other!", tag 25 people including me (tagging is done by typing in the box below labelled 'Tags:') then click 'Publish'.



What time did you get up this morning?
4:30


How do you like your steak?

Medium



What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Men In Black 3 - last year on my birthday



What is your favorite TV show?

Game of Thrones... for now



If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Maui - where we got married



What did you have for breakfast?

A KIND bar - Almond and Apricot


What is your favorite cuisine?

Mexican.... Italian.... Chineses.... American... Can't choose I like them all!



Foods you dislike?
MUSHROOMS



Favorite place to Eat?

Home - I know what is in the food



Favorite dressing?

Thousand Island



What kind of vehicle do you drive?

GMC Sierra



What are your favorite clothes?

Jeans and a Tee


Where would you visit if you had the chance?

I would love to travel across the USA



Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Always half full



Where would you want to retire?

Maui


Favorite time of day?

First thing in the morning when no one else is up and the house is quiet!



Where were you born?

Stockton, CA - before it was bankrupt, lol



What is your favorite sport to watch?

Football



People watcher?
Absolutely!!



Are you a morning or night person?

Definitely a night owl!!!!!



Do you have any pets?

dog, cat, leopard gecko... the hamster died :0(



Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?

not really... hmmmm......



What did you want to be when you were little?

a mom


What is your best childhood memory?

Ummmmm.... hard to choose one I have so many happy memories



Are you a cat or dog person?

Cat


Are you married?

Yes... to an incredible man who treats me like I am the Queen (cuz he knows its the easiest way to get along! lol)



Always wear your seat belt?
Absolutely!!



Been in a car accident?

2 huge ones... both totaled the car... bad injuries (I was only driving in one and it wasn't my fault, the other guy ran a stop sign.)



Any pet peeves?

Oh man... people get on my nerves.. hahahaha
I think my biggest is other people's naughty children!



Favorite pizza toppings?

all meat combo - add black olives



Favorite flower?

Daffodils



Favorite ice cream?
Daquiri ice from Baskin Robins



Favorite fast food restaurant?

In N Out



How many times did you fail your driver's test?

zero



From whom did you get your last email?
The Old Schoolhouse (a homeschool publication)



Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

The Travel Agency... or a scrapbook store if travel doesn't count!



Do anything spontaneous lately?

yup



Like your job?

My job is raising some incredible children to be of good character and faith in Christ



Like Broccoli?

Yum



What was your favorite vacation?

Honeymoon in Maui



Last person you went out to dinner with?

husband



What are you listening to right now?

my 2 year old playing with his cars


What is your favorite color?

Purple



How many tattoos do you have?
zero - just not for me



Coffee drinker?

Can you start my IV now?

Have you considered signing this petition?

Maybe you have heard this story already or maybe you haven't.

Maybe you agree or maybe you don't.

My fellow homeschooling families... it is of super importance that you consider signing this petition. Please take the time to follow the link and read about this German homeschooling family that the U.S. government is trying to deport.

There are many home schooling families that have not signed thinking it has nothing to do with them... but this could affect all of us. Please follow the link and consider signing. The easy to follow instructions are also on the link.

Help the Romeike Family


As of the time I am writing this blog, we need 12,700 more signatures with only 10 more days to go.

To those of you that have already signed, thank you!

Avoidance (AKA procrastination)

As of right now, I am doing everything possible to avoid cleaning the hall bathroom. I have found so many things to do around the house... none of them necessary. I have also read the kids extra stories, we did a science experiment that wasn't in the plans, checked my emails, posted on facebook, looked some things up on the internet, wrote in my blog, made a bigger lunch than normal... the list goes on and on. But in the back of my mind, my conscience keeps nagging at me, "Get that bathroom done already!"

My sister, her two boys and baby girl came and stayed with us last week. Let me tell you, with three boys, that bathroom is a mess! Moms, of boys, you know my pain. Pee dribbling down the side of the toilet or missing it altogether. Boys and bathrooms equal messy! Then after they left, we were all sick, and then so busy running around I never had time to get in there to clean it. Or maybe that was just more avoidance....

Can I blame this one on my Mom? My job growing up was to clean the bathrooms and now I completely detest it! Yes Mom, I know, I can't blame everything on you! Hee hee! Maybe it's because I am sort of a germ freak, so when I do clean the bathroom I always feel like I need a shower. I know... wack-o! At least I admit it!

I don't know why I procrastinate about certain things so much. Once they are done, I feel so accomplished... like a weight has been lifted. I spend more time avoiding the work than just getting it done and over with. Hmmmm.... sounds like something I tell my kids!

All right already...

I am off to clean the bathroom...



Unless something else distracts me along the way...


As a matter of fact, I think it's time to start dinner...

April Fool's Day

I am going to rant for a minute....

I can't stand April Fool's Day! Or as some call it, All Fool's Day. 

I don't like that people use it as an excuse to play mean tricks on other people! When I worked retail, customers thought it was okay to be mean just because it was April first (although some were mean no matter what day it was.) What one person considers a funny innocent joke, another might consider cruel or mean, so why joke with someone you don't know. When I worked, I would try to arrange for this day off... I don't like it that much. I want to stay home where no one can play their mean pranks on me.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not a stick in the mud. I can take a joke - even on me. However some people use today as an excuse to be mean and that is the part I don't like. Why would we want to be mean to another person and blame it on a date anyway. I just don't like it... I really don't! Okay, I am done ranting now. hee hee

Go to April Fools History for information on how this holiday began and how people celebrate it all over the world. You might learn a thing or two. For example, in England jokes are only played in the morning and in Portugal many people throw flour at their friends.

No matter how you celebrate this date on the calendar... whether you are a jokester or not, remember why it is important to NOT be caught as a fool. We must turn our eyes to the Lord seeking His wisdom in all things. "The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools." Proverbs 3:35

Happy April Fool's Day!

Whirlwind (part 2)

Until....

We had to take the car back. Yes, that's right, we had to take the car back. We had the car for 2 days shy of one month. As a matter of fact, we didn't even have a chance to make a first payment when the dealership called and said that the bank financing us decided they couldn't finance us after all due to our poor credit. I couldn't believe it. We had to take the car back to the dealership. We got our down payment back at least, but now we have no car - well one for my husband to take to work and one for me. (How spoiled we are!)

We still have the truck I drive around town, but taking that to work everyday (100 miles a day) is going to be a killer on gas!! And this will leave me car-less! UGH!!!

At first, I was pretty bummed. As a matter of fact, I was depressed. I was so frustrated with how our life was turning out. From the horrible tradgedy our family had suffered the last couple of years, to my job loss, possibly losing our home, and now this... I was asking, "How much more do we have to go through God?" I was beginning to feel God had forgotten about us.

After thinking it through, it really isn't that big of a deal. We are a homeschooling family which means I do not have to take my children to and from school. I have the truck on the night my children go to our church for Awanas. We have a friend that can take us to church on Sundays. We live within walking distance to a grocery store. It is a quick 10 minute walk to pick up any items we might need during the day. Anything else we need can wait. I have found that I am saving money by not running to the store everytime we have a whim that we need something. This has definitely been a lesson in living more simply and making sure I am organized with my errand list on my hubby's days off.

I think the feeling that I "can't" go somewhere is the depressing part. In reality, I often stay home and don't go anywhere for several days. It was just knowing that I "can't" that makes me feel confined. Isn't that silly?

I'm not sure of the reason, but I know that God has one for not letting us keep the car. Maybe the car we bought was a lemon. We already had a couple of problems with it. Nothing with the motor, more to do with the body, hinges, windows, etc. I truly believe that God was rescuing us from something bigger. We can't always see or understand his plan, but if we wait patiently it will be revealed to us.

Many, many, many times over the last couple of years I have looked back on the things we suffered through and could see each moment with 20/20 clarity! I have had so many "ah-ha" moments when I have realized God's plan and purpose for the way things turned out. While I was in the middle of all the muck it was difficult, but my family and I are so much stronger for it! And now I can see why things happened the way they did.

I know that someday I will reflect back on this time with clarity and be able to say, "So that is why it happened that way." Until then, I just continue to pray and thank God for the wonderful things He is doing in our lives. I thank Him for the incredible love and understanding of His Word that the Holy Spirit has provided in my children. I know that each experience we face as a family, makes my children stronger and ready to face the obstacles they will face in their lives. I hope they will be able to look back on their child hood and say, "Wow, we were able to make it through all of that, I can face anything with God on my side."

"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

I know that God has a plan for us. At first I was mad that God allowed all of this to happen, starting with the accident itself. I have since remembered, God knows what he is doing. We have no idea the trouble from which we have been saved or what our future has in store.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Whirlwind (part 1)

We have had a crazy six weeks. And we have spent it......

Sick, Car Shopping, Depressed and Celebrating a Birthday!

Right in the middle of these crazy six weeks, our family was super sick. I was first to be sick, vomiting and.... well, let's just say I spent a lot of time in the bathroom. It was awful. I stayed in bed for two days drinking Gatorade and ginger ale. After I was better, my six year old son started... I was up all night with him, shoving a bucket under him every 15 minutes or so. No sleep for me. The following night it was my two year old son's turn... and another night of no sleep for me. For the next five days, my two year old would be fine one night and sick the next. When he was finally well, my eight year old daughter was the last to be sick. For two weeks, this awful sickness swept through the family but thankfully never made it to my hubby. He was able to avoid us and go to work!!

Before we were sick, we spent the first two weeks of February car shopping. Not what we wanted to do... however, my dear sweet hubby was in a car accident. He was fine, maybe just a little whiplash the next day, but overall perfectly fine. It was a simple fender bender. One driver cut off a line of cars resulting in the chain of cars slamming on their brakes and my husband just couldn't stop in time. The car he hit had one tiny scratch on the bumper, so we didn't think it was a big deal. We have excellent, full coverage insurance so we figured our car would go to the shop, we would get a rental while it was being fixed and then all would be well. In the end, our car was totaled.  Basically, since the car was 13 years old, it would have cost more to repair it than it was worth. Yikes!

Oh man, this was not the news we wanted to hear. What were we going to do? We are not in a good credit position since we have been struggling with my income loss and possible home foreclosure. Financing a car was going to be difficult. The small amount of money we were getting from the insurance company wasn't enough to find something reliable with low mileage from a private party. Neither my husband nor myself are mechanically inclined, so buying an old, used car that could break down was a scary thought.

Of course, I was praying that God would send the right car our way. I searched online, in the paper, had family and friends looking, but what we found just didn't make us comfortable. We went to a few dealerships and left more depressed than before. Searching for a car consumed every spare moment we had each day for two weeks. Until finally, we found someone willing to work with us.

We were able to find a 2011 Toyota Corolla. Super cute, clean, a little high on the mileage, but the main thing was that we found a dealership that was willing to help us buy this car. When everyone else said no, they told us that they would make it work. It was a great commuter car getting great gas mileage which was on the top of our priority list since my hubby drives 100 miles a day for work. Since the car that was totaled was a 13 year old car, we worried it would break down at any time. Although it was not an ideal time to shop for a car, a newer more reliable car sounded fantastic!!

I was incredibly happy our car search was over..... until......

(stay tuned for part 2!)

Organization Tip # 3

I get a little bit crazy when my house starts to explode around me. Being a home schooling family, we are home a lot! This means that we are readily available to mess it up all the time! And we do!!! And it makes me crazy! I am the type of person that has trouble functioning in messy surroundings. I need organization.

So how do I beat the house explosion blues?

We have a simple phrase we use: house sweep. This simply means we quickly sweep through the house picking up any items that are out of place. All items are placed in the appropriate bedroom, room or area of the house where the item belongs.  We pick up anything that is not where it is supposed to be - even if it belongs to someone else. We don't actually take the time to put everything away during the house sweep; we put them away during our afternoon chore/responsibility time. This is just a quick (five minutes or less) straightening up of the house.

Dad or I can call a house sweep at any time. Whenever we feel things are getting out of control or the toys are starting to trickle down the hallway, the kids know a house sweep is on its way. Sometimes my kids will even see the house getting messy and do a house sweep on their own. Each night, each child is responsible for a house sweep before bed, during their evening responsibilities/chores. This is really just to help me so that I don't have to pick up the house after every one is in bed.

A house sweep is great for any family, home schooling or not, with or with out kids, and at any time. It is a great way to quickly pick up and keep your house neat, tidy and better organized.

Reset Your Day

Have you ever had a day where you wish you could just crawl back into bed and start over? I think we have all been there once or twice or hundreds of times... especially when you have children.

There are days when we as humans just wake up on the wrong side of the bed, hence the reason that phrase came about. At least that is true for my family. Sometimes, as the day progresses, we get grumpier and grumpier. As a homeschooling family this can be extremely difficult when it is important that children cooperate to get the work done. I get frustrated when 20 minutes of work turns into 2 hours of struggling noncooperation.

What can you do in those moments of frustration and grumpiness?

Something that I do to help either myself or my family combat a grumpy day is to Reset the Day. If it is me that needs a reset, I will have my children go to their rooms so mommy can have a timeout. Then I will read a bit in my bible or inspirational book and pray. By praying, I am reminded exactly "why" we have chosen to be a home schooling family, in spite of the bumps in the road. This gives me just enough "oomph" to keep on going and change my attitude.

When it is my children that need a reset, we essentially do the same thing. First I determine if it is one or all that need a reset. If it is just one, that particular child and I will go into his/her room and read the Bible and pray for God to reset his/her day. If it is all of us that need a reset, we curl up on the couch, read the Bible and pray as a family.

Whether we are resetting the day together or separately, we talk about what might have made the bad mood start and what we can do in the future to prevent being mean, grumpy or uncooperative just because we are grumpy.

I only spend 5-10 minutes to reset the day, but in the end it saves me so much more time. It is amazing that something so simple is all that it takes for a recharge and to reset attitudes. After we take a few minutes to reset the day we can get back to our routine and continue, without the fighting or noncooperation. And the best part, is that I don't have to discipline bad behavior by letting it get out of control.

If we notice a bad mood setting in...
We acknowledge the bad mood and why it started.
We read the Bible to see what God has to say about getting along, obeying parents, etc.
We pray and ask God to help us reset the day and change our hearts with a better attitude.

If you are having a bad day, take a few minutes right now to Reset Your Day.

God Bless!

Organization & Thrifty Tip #2

Yep, that's right, my next organization and thrifty tip are all wrapped up in one neat little blog post!

Ready? This one is super easy!

Plan your meals ahead of time.

Yep, that's it! It's that easy. Plan them ahead of time and you will save time and money.

It's up to you how you decide to plan your meals. I know some people that plan a month at a time, 2 weeks at a time, one week at a time, or just a few days at a time. Only you can decide what will work best for your family. I tend to plan only a few days at a time since my hubby's schedule is so sporadic and our family is a little spontaneous with our activities (because we never know when we can do fun things with him!) I need to make sure our dinners coincide with his schedule, which changes rapidly.

After deciding on a few meals, I write them down on my daily dockets for the week. This keeps me on track each day. (You can find the download for the daily docket I use as well as several other great organizational tools -all FREE- here: http://simplemom.net/tools/downloads/ ) If I have a busy day planned, I make sure my meal is one I can throw in the slow cooker. That way, after a super long busy day, when it is time to fix dinner it is already done - for the most part anyway.

When I was a full time working mom, my sister called me the "Crock Pot Queen." I used my crock pot EVERY DAY, even days when I didn't work. I found that after a long day of work, I was in no mood to "figure out dinner" and instead would drive through the nearest burger joint. However, if the main part of my dinner was already cooked, it was easy to boil noodles, cook rice, steam some veggies, etc. Most of the thinking was already done and all I had to do was to pull it all together. Plus it is wonderful to walk in the house with the scrumptious smells of dinner making everyone hungry and ready to eat.

Another way planning your meals will help you save time and money is less trips to the grocery store! Obvious time saver! Plus, less chance to spend money on impulse items. Stores are known to place items right in front of you to help fill that basket. If you are there less, then there is less chance to make those impulse purchases... money saver!

Hope you can use my thrifty organizational tip!

Blessings to you!

Never Say These 10 Things to a Mom

I wanted to share this article on Redbook's website that is just - oh so true - on both sides of the coin. 10 things never to say to a Stay at home mom and 10 things never to say to a working mother. I have been on both sides of these conversations. I always want to say to people, "You worry about your family and I will worry about mine."

Follow this link to read the lists here:

http://www.redbookmag.com/kids-family/advice/stay-at-home-mom-pet-peeves?src=soc_fcbk

 

The truth is we are all meant to be right where we are. We all have our own choices to make. And if we choose to be a working mom or a stay at home mom, that is our prerogative. Why is it anybody else's business anyway? Big pet peeve of mine.

 

Now if only I had a list of 10 things never to say to a home school family....

 

Have a great weekend.

 

(Do you thing Puxatawny Phil will see his shadow or not? I hope not, I am ready for spring to be on its way!!!)

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

I know, I know... all those great tips I promised I'd blog and here it's been almost a week... and no blog!  Please be patient, this has been a CRAZY week for us. I don't think one single day went according to our routine/schedule - we just had so much going on!!!

I just wanted to drop a little note and tell you about a couple of the blessings that filled our days and that I have some great blogs in the works.

One of the activities on the top of my priority list was a mother/son date on Tuesday. My six year old son worked super hard to earn this date and he chose to go to Red Lobster for lunch. He ordered Snow Crab Legs and Clam Chowder. What can I say? He loves seafood!!

My hubby and daughter had a date on Wednesday and she chose to go bowling and then go to the music store to look at guitars. She is saving up to buy a new one. She also worked super hard this week to earn her date with Daddy.

We also had the priviledge of watching our friend's one year old for the day today. He was the sweetest little fellow and super good. Of course my eight year old daughter thinks all babies are just live dolls to carry and dress and love. It was a fun day.

So.... please be patient.... as you can see I have had much more important things going on this week. More important than sitting at the computer. However, I have several blog posts that are in process. One of them is about how my kid's earn their special dates with Mom and Dad. I am working on a 3 part series explaining how we use our responsibility (chore) chart, one on tax time organization and one on helping kid's to whine and complain less! I know that one appeals to just about everybody!!! I also have a couple homeschooling blogs in the works - how we set up our history time line, how I break up the day, and another about how to encourage your kiddos to keep going!  I just haven't had a chance to fine tune, add pictures or post them yet.

Good things come to those who wait! I hope your week is filled to the brim with blessings as well. Thank you for your patience!!! There is so much more to come!!

Its All About Nutrition

My FREE Raley's Something Extra Try It Kit has arrived. Can't wait to use it and try my FREE products. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

This kit is all about healthy eating and using Raley's NuVal program. Many items in the store are labeled with a NuVal Score. This score is determined by the amount of nutritional value in that particular item. The scores range from 1-100 with 1 being the lowest nutritional value and 100 being the highest. You can go to Raleys.com for more information regarding this scoring system and how the nutritional values are determined or how you can join the try it kit program too.

I jumped at the chance to join this Try It Kit program since it fits right in with my family's life change for this year - being healthy and making healthier choices. (See my post titled "New Year Resolutions (or in our case Life Changes)" in December 2012.

On my most recent shopping trip I was watching my scores and my highest NuVal Score was frozen blueberries (for our smoothies) with a score of 100. My lowest score was 2 for butter. What can I say, we like our butter, especially on popcorn.

Now its time to go and pick up my FREE items - Raley's flavored lettuce, infused broth and quick grains. I will let you know my thoughts after we try them.

(Raley's is a supermarket chain here in northern California. If you don't live here in northern Cali, ask at your local store and see if they have a similar program.)

Thrifty Tip #1

Thrifty Tip #1:
Invest in a nice set of micro fiber towels.

I found a great set of micro fiber towels online. They came in a set of 24 in multiple sizes. I use them for just about everything. They are especially wonderful to soak up liquid spills - and with kids and pets that is an everyday occurrence in my house it seems!

I started using micro fiber towels in place of paper towels and have found that I save quite a bit of money. One roll of paper towels lasts so much longer. Plus I like that it is a step towards a more "green" life style. What I love about the micro fiber towels is that they can just be thrown right into the wash and reused. Plus, they are great for scrubbing stubborn spots that won't come clean with anything else.

I still use paper towel for dirty jobs - bathroom and pet messes, etc. Things that are just gross that I wouldn't want to put in my washer and would rather throw straight into the trash.

Hope my thrifty tip can help you save money... watch for more to come this year.

Saving money on the little things can add up which produces big savings over all.

A few of my micro fiber towels - I keep them in the kitchen and laundry room for easy access.

Stop and Listen Once in a While

Recently, my husband shared with me the following story that was posted on facebook:

“A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people.

The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”

That story really hit home. I have set aside many of the things I love to do, whether with my children, my husband or for myself and replaced them with the busy-ness of life. I don't want to be so busy that I don't have time to enjoy beautiful music or stop to smell the roses or most of all, be in the moment with my children.

My mother in law loves to tell my husband and me that when we are older, we will look back on our lives and realize that THIS is the best time of our life. The time when our children are young; watching them grow and experience many of life's firsts. I would have to say that I agree - this is the best time of life. I love watching my children grow up, learn, discover and explore. I really wouldn't have it any other way!!!

And for those of you that say, "Sure, you are a stay at home... you have time to enjoy your kids. I work all day and then barely have time to make dinner, give baths and get the kids into bed, let alone spend 'quality' time with them." Let me tell you, I understand COMPLETELY!!! I used to be a full time working Mom. As a matter of fact, I, more often than not, was at work 60+ hours a  week. So I get it. Believe me, I get it. That is when I started to look for time saving tips. What I find so silly is that we live in a world full of time saving gadgets that are meant to hurry us along and yet, we are still in such a hurry that we can't stop and smell the roses once in a while.

Enjoying a moment at one of our favorite hiking spots.  We watched this family grow last year - amazing memories.

When we found out I was pregnant with our third child, my husband and I made a very deliberate, conscious decision that I should be home with our children instead of working outside the home. We tried having an in home child care, however after some complications we decided to close it and I became a full time stay at home Mom. Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been easy. We have made MANY sacrifices as a single income family. I overheard someone say, "Yeah, now they'll just go on public assistance." Ummm... first, get all your facts straight, and second, no, we are not on any type of public assistance. Not that there is anything wrong with it if you need it - we made a choice to cut our income, therefore we have made choices to trim down our spending.  You might think my husband has a great job so I can afford to stay home. That would also be inaccurate. A friend of mine once asked me what my husband's income is and she just about fell over and said, "How do you survive?"  I just smiled and said, "I am frugal and thrifty and have faith that God will provide. And so far, He has!"

Do I want my children to remember a Mom that never had time for them? Or a Mom that took time to share the simple pleasures of life WITH them. I learned several years ago, that the dusting, mopping and cleaning will keep, but my children will not. They will only be small for RIGHT NOW. If I need a rest after a long day, we take one together. If it is a beautiful, sunny day, we stop at the park and play. I put more importance on the "quality" of the time I spend with my kids verses the "quantity." A 20-30 minute trip to the park where we play, go down the slide, sit on the swings and giggle is more important than 2 hours of them playing and me watching saying, "hmmmm? OK.... just a sec...." as I check my phone the entire time.

My children and I love to stop and observe the wildlife.

So take a challenge with me:
Every day for the next week, take time to be in the moment with the ones you love. Listen to music. Take a walk. Color in a coloring book. Read a few extra stories or chapters at bedtime. Enjoy life together. And if you hear someone playing music, stop and listen for a little while... you just might be listening to one of the greats!

Love One Another

Today I have read many, many quotes said by Martin Luther King Jr. on facebook and other media. We continue to learn from him,even though he is no longer here with us on earth. His quotes still ring true today. There are so many forms of discrimination and slavery that bind us even now.  My heart is saddened by the hatred, meanness and discrimination in this world.

My favorite quote is this:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Growing up I went to a school with a rainbow of students. I only saw classmates for classmates. I had all types of friends, from nerds to jocks and every race, nationality, color in between. I just didn't see all of that. I met an interesting person and if we got along, we were friends.

Later in life, my rainbow of friends has remained a constant and my view of people the same. I always laugh when someone asks me to describe what someone looks like... I never seem to get it right. I am asked what nationality they are and I will shrug and say, "Uh..... let me see...." I think I don't get it right because that is not how I see people. I look in their eyes and capture the essence of their being, not their skin, hair color or age.

In the Bible, Jesus commands us to love one another. He didn't say to love only the people that look like you. He didn't say to love only people that believe the same things as you. He didn't say to love only people who have as much or less sin as you. He didn't say any of that!!! He said to LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!! I try to live by this commandment and to teach it to my children.




"We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

I try to teach my children to love all people. The first time we learned about MLK in our homeschool, I had a hard time explaining to my kids why he was so important. Why? Because like me, my children just love people - they don't see colors, just people. Finally, I decided to use one of their friends in the neighborhood as an example. I said, "You know Henry and his little sister that you like to play with? Well, it used to be that kids couldn't play together if they weren't the same color. So kids like..." And I continued to divide the kids in the neighborhood as to who would have been able to play together - according to color.

Their response was pure astonishment. "Why? We're all kids. And Henry's nice. We like Henry." That made my heart happy. Then we went on to discuss the importance of MLK and how he helped our country to overcome discrimination. Although I am not sure they really "get it" yet, I am just glad they see people for people. They know that God said to love all people. I hope that as they grow, they will continue to live by these principles. I try to make an emphasis on how we are all created EXACTLY the way God wants us. We are all special. We are all different. We are all God's children. We are commanded to Love One Another.

My Dilemma

So... it's been a while since I posted and I have been going through a bit of a dilemma. I have been trying to decide if I should continue blogging or not. I have so many things on my plate that I have been really going through my day to day activities and trying to decide which ones are important and which ones to eliminate.
I recently read a quote by Joyce Meyer that said something like this: If you have to hurry to do everything then you are doing too much.  That is so true! Am I always in a hurry? I don't intend to be!

Back to my dilemma. To Blog or Not To Blog?

Just recently I had 2 friends say thank you for the hope that my post titled "Miracles" provided for them. Another person asked if I would share some of my organization, thrifty living and some of my child rearing philosophies. So....  After much deliberation, I have decided to continue blogging.

Plus, I like blogging! Writing has always been a form of therapy for me. And if I can share the hope that gets me through the day to day trials of my life, then I think my mission has been accomplished.

Here are some things you can look forward to seeing from me this year:

• tips on thrifty living
• tips on organization
• cleaning tips and tricks that save time
• how we homeschool
• how we use our chore chart, give allowance and dish out discipline
• crafty tips and projects I am working on
• new time saving healthy recipes - well... most of the time
• my love for Christ and how I try to live by His commandments (To Love God and To Love One Another)
• hope, love, happiness and toss in a little bit of craziness

...directly from my family to yours!