he takes my breath away...

I've been struck lately at how fast time flies..

and how slowly my heart and mind keep the pace.

I look at my children every single day...

but do I really see them?

My heart sees this...

and my mind agrees...

however...

my vision is faulty 

and my perception is skewed

this is the new reality

and I can barely keep up.

so much less the child

and more the man

I say "no" less

and "I don't know"more

less black and white

and a lot more gray

parenting is now about 

heart's issues... heart's cries

I thought this road of parenting

would get easier as we journeyed...

instead...

it's just a different kind of hard

I don't know how to do this...

I only know he takes my breath away

apples and popcorn...uno!

One of the greatest fall snacks is apples and popcorn.  

Pair that with a rousing game of Uno! 

... you can't beat it for a fun family night!

Simple Woman's Daybook...

It's been a while since I linked up with The Simple Woman's Daybook and today seemed like a great day to join in...


For today, September 28, 2010...


Outside my window... 

...it's the last of a beautiful, soaking rain from last night.  

I am thinking... 

...of how thankful I am for two slow days in a row!  

This is what I found when I went to take the sheets off of my bed... 

apparently Ebony is thankful for slow days as well.

From the learning rooms...

...with one in bed with an upset tummy and another congested with a cold, it's pajama day at school today!  I love seeing my kids snuggled under blankets 

working on their school work!

From the kitchen... 

...the aroma of sourdough bread baking.

I am wearing... 

...jeans, an old long sleeved white tee and 

a very old comfy fleece shirt.  

Seriously, I bought this fleece shirt when I was expecting Emme

...almost 12 years ago!  I still love it!!  

After I run to the store today, 

I am seriously considering putting my pj's back on... 

it's just that kind of day.

I am creating... 

...if I were diligent, I could say I am creating a cross-stitch blanket 

for my new niece or nephew due to arrive at the end of December.  

I haven't been very diligent and thus, it isn't very far along.  

Perhaps I should add this to my list of things to do today...

I am going... 

...to the store.  

We are almost out of dishwasher soap 

and I highly dislike washing dishes by hand.

I am reading...

...The Wrecker by Clive Cussler.  

Love, love, love reading Cussler.  

He has written over 40 books and I have read most of them.  

Nothing better to do than read on a rainy day!

I am hoping...

...I have so many hopes and dreams.  

Thankfully, I serve a God who is the God of Hope!  

Today my heart hopes and prays that my children 

grow up to be people who love the LORD their God 

with all of their heart, their mind, their soul 

and love their neighbor as themselves.  

I don't think I could hope for anything better.

I am hearing...

...the snap, crackle and pop of bread cooling

and Ellen rummaging through the "junk drawer"

looking for a screwdriver...

not sure why!

(I think a drawer of odds and ends in the kitchen

is one of those "universal" things...

it seems everyone has one)

Around the house...

...aside from Ellen digging frantically

for a screwdriver, it seems to be

a quiet day around here.

Currently, Eric is helping her replace

batteries for her microphone 

so that she can be the Diva!

One of my favorite things...

... is quiet, rainy days

just like today!

A few plans for the rest of the week...

...depending on how everyone is feeling,

the kids have art lessons & homeschool cooperative.

Emme has volunteer time at the library and

Eric has two art classes to teach and a 5th grader 

to tutor in math.

Chad and I have a date this week

and the family is participating in another 5K!

...this is why I savor slow days!

multitude of gratitude...

It's been a while since I added to my list of 1000 gifts.  I'm joining Ann at A Holy Experience listing 1000 things for which I am grateful.  Today is one of those days... the kind of day where my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the "little" things in life.  


...starting where I left off at #38, a multitude of gratitude...


#38~ fall!
#39~changing seasons
#40~serving a creative God!
#41~sunshine
#42~cool breezes
#43~a man who comes home to me each and every night
#44~3 growing children
#45~abundant food to feed 3 growing children
#46~"store bought" lasagna
#47~home-made bread sticks
#48~dinner together
#50~great friends for each of my kids
#51~incredible friendships for Chad and I
#52~a camping trip to look forward to
#53~sleeping under a down comforter with the windows open on cool fall nights
#54~Bible study
#55~a Bible study that challenges me to my very core
#56~free Fantasy Football that connects cousins across the miles
#57~a living room large enough for 2 big dogs to wrestle
#58~the privilege to uphold friends in prayer
#59~knowing the journey is not alone
#60~a homemade ice cream freezer
#61~the yummy stuff that comes out of that freezer
#62~friends who challenge me in my walk
#63~blogging and the internet to keep up with family & friends
#64~a day at home
#65~spending my days with 3 amazing individuals
#66~Grandma's sewing lessons and the joy that it has brought
#67~days of quiet reflection
#68~a sure diagnosis for Ellen's foot
#69~an amazing homeschool cooperative
#70~a church community where all five us feel like we belong
#71~a man who teaches my kids the meaning of working hard
#72~candles
#73~hot chai in a comfy mug
#74~early morning fog
#75~a few extra minutes buried under the covers in the morning
#76~Honeycrisp Apples for $1.99/lb this week!
#77~warm baths before bed
#78~chores done well today
#79~my computer for which I prayed


...to be continued...

shhh.... can you hear it?

shhh... I want to share something with you.  

You will probably have to be really, really quiet to hear it... 

but, if you listen closely...  

It's the melody of peace, joy and contentment and it has been playing its symphony all day around here.  


It's the harmony of three children gathered around the table for Bible and Greek (an upcoming review that we are LOVING!) this morning.


It's the solo sounds of each one working on their own individual assignments.


It's the melodious laughing as they now each play with a friend... three extra kids' voices blending in the mix.


It's the sweet sounds of encouragement of a dear sister in Christ this afternoon.


It's the notes of fall in the air... the warm sunshine and the cool breeze.

It's all this...

...and so much more...

blending into a perfectly harmonious day.  

Thank You LORD!

Can you hear it?

remember the hoodie...

Just in case there has been any miscommunication...

...in case you misunderstood...

...just so we completely understand each other.

...enjoy a real life true story at my expense...

While at a birthday party this afternoon, a couple of women from church approached me to help straighten out a problem of an overcrowded nursery.  Seriously, this is NOT my area of expertise... I can handle the overcrowding part of the issue... nursery, though...YUCK!  I don't do little people well.  So, why come to me?

...because you are in charge of the kids...

...because you always get things done...

....because you know what you are doing.

Seriously about five minutes after I was told I know what I'm doing... I grabbed my hoodie and managed to put it on backwards... much to the amusement of all.

...so...

If I act like I know what I am doing... remind me of the hoodie.

And, if you think I have it all together... remember the hoodie.

...and I will thank God for hoodie moments that keep me humble!

sewing lesson....

Last year, Emily bought her own sewing machine.  She was super excited until she got it home.... This mom doesn't know much about sewing machines... doesn't know much about sewing... and doesn't want to ever know much about either. 

Fortunately, my girls know who to ask when they want help with something that Mom can't handle.... Grandma!

Grandma came for a visit today and brought her sewing machine and a bag of goodies... thread, fabric, patterns, etc.  She taught the girls how to sew a straight line, how to lay out and cut a pattern and how to thread your machine.

She even managed to keep them both busy with their own individual projects.

An hour and a half, or so, was all the lessons that either of the girls could handle.  So they packed everything up for "next time" with Grandma.

Before Grandma's sewing machine got put away, Ellen decided she had learned enough to be able to teach her brother a thing or two... she's telling him to be sure he doesn't get his fingers in the way... definitely a good lesson to learn!

Thanks Grandma!!

a day like today....

Some days it's just too hard to be indoors...

After a few days of really warm September air,

today is a cool, cloudy, breezy day

and it's been just too hard to stay in the house

to do our school work...

...and if you are 7 years old

it's equally hard

on a day like today

to do your school outside as well...

 on a day like today

you might as well just

be a princess!

Salem Ridge Press... TOS Crew Review

It's that time again... time for another review for The Old Schoolhouse's Review Crew and I must say, once again, that I love that I get to do this!


I love books... new books... old books... used books....  Needless to say, when I saw my name on the list to do a review for Salem Ridge Press, I was thrilled and when I got an honest-to-goodness brand spanking new book in the mail from Salem Ridge Press, I was ecstatic!


Salem Ridge Press was established in 2005 distinctly dedicated to republishing some of the classical children's literature from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Literature that is chosen for republication by Salem Ridge Press is both well-written and morally excellent.  This company has taken great pains to find books that teach godly character and high moral values and then to republish them so that children of today can learn from the characters of these classic books.

Daniel Mills, publisher of Salem Ridge Press, chose to send me a copy of Dearer Than Life (softback $14.95/hardcover $24.95) by Emma Leslie for review.  This is the story of Dr. John Wycliffe.  In the mid 14th century, Dr. Wycliffe began to question the Church's authority to pardon sin.  This book is the story of the political and religious strife and upheaval throughout England and Europe in the mid 1300s.


Dearer Than Life is one book in the Emma Leslie Church History Series published by Salem Ridge Press.  The Emma Leslie Church History Series is a 12 title fiction set that spans the time of Paul to the beginning of the Reformation.  All twelve titles were written by Emma Leslie in England in the mid to late 1800s.  


In republishing these classics, Salem Ridge Press has done a wonderful job of keeping the original language of the books. They have also expanded each volume to include... historical notes, timelines, word definitions and maps to help today's children understand more of the background and historical significance of the book that they are reading.

Here's what my 11 year old daughter thought of Dearer Than Life... 


         Dearer Than Life is a book about Dr. Wycliffe.  He                         went around Europe sharing the word about Jesus Christ.  This book is in the setting of the late 1300s.  I thought that the book would be boring.  Actually the first chapter was but the rest was not.  I liked Dearer Than Life.

Salem Ridge Press also sent me two ebooks to review...

The Sign Above The Door by William W. Canfield and

The Captives, another book in the Emma Leslie Church History Series.

Honestly, I am not a fan of ebooks.  Perhaps if I had a more portable way to read them (ie a Kindle or an iPad) I may be more apt to use them in our homeschool.  As it is, we tend to use actual books rather than ebooks or internet sources. 

(However, I am planning on bringing my computer on future road trips and having Eric and Emily read both of these books.  They are definitely worth the effort to incorporate them in our home education.)


Overall, I LOVE these books published by Salem Ridge Press.  The only issue I have with their website is that it is most certainly geared toward the homeschool family.  I would highly encourage those who do not homeschool and yet are interested in these great historical children's books to wade through the many comments toward homeschoolers when you peruse the Salem Ridge Press website and continue in ordering these books for your children.  I don't think you will be disappointed.


You can see what other members of TOS Crew thought of Salem Ridge Press here.


**disclaimer: I received these products free of charge for my honest review.

crumbling walls...

I'm currently working through Beth Moore's Breaking Free Bible study.  I've finished the homework for the first week.  It's been awesome and awful... all at the same time.  

I know that this is going to be the kind of in depth Bible study that quakes my heart and crumbles walls that I've carefully erected.  It is also the type of study that makes me dig deep and face strongholds in my heart and life.  It's awesome because the God I know and love crumbles the walls in my heart like he tumbled the walls of Jericho.  It's equally awful because I am facing walls that need to come tumbling down and strongholds that need to release my heart.  

At our first Bible study meeting last week, I bravely prayed silently that my LORD would show me strongholds that I have allowed in my heart that are holding me back from complete freedom and reckless abandon.  My heart has been heavily weighed down with "stuff" that I couldn't quite recognize and articulate.  I needed the Holy Spirit to intervene. 

He is always, Always, ALWAYS faithful.  He is also gracious, loving and kind.  Slowly and kindly He is revealing those things that are weighing me down.  Things that I've let creep in until roots have taken hold and walls have grown up.  Honestly, it's ugly stuff... heavy stuff... 


I'm looking forward to the day the strongholds are gone... supernaturally removed forever.  I'm looking forward to the day my heart weighs much less.  I'm looking forward to crumbled walls.

to write or not to write...

...to write... or not to write... that is the question of my heart...

I just finished writing my next homeschool review.... (you'll see it on Wednesday when it goes live.)  At any rate, I'm realizing how much I really enjoy writing for TOS.  Just today I sat down and had an hour to write and ninety minutes later, I realized that I had lost all track of time as I was including photos, links and personal testimony.


I had to walk away from it for a few hours and when I got back to it, Chad came in and glanced at me and my computer.  

"Is that your next review?"

"Yep!"

"Wow!  That's really cool!"

Yep, it is!  It's a really cool thing to do... and I'm really, really glad I have the opportunity to do it.   I enjoy it.  It gives me great pleasure and fulfills a deep need in my heart.  I find myself wanting to write more and more... to pursue other avenues of writing... to investigate publishing other things I've written. 


However, there is much to do each day in my world...things that I also love to do that take my time and energy... I am wife, mother, teacher, children's ministry facilitator, homeschool cooperative member, wife of church elder and friend.  


I think every woman struggles in finding balance in her life... her marriage... her family.  I'm looking for balance... finding the right mix of pleasure vs. responsibility... searching for the balance of doing stuff for others and stuff for me... knowing how to best manage the 24 hours in a day that God has given me.

Is pursuing more writing right now the best choice for me and my family?  

THAT is the true question!

**a small disclaimer... this post is 100% rhetorical.  I'm not looking for an answer from each and everyone that may read this.  I'm just "talking" aloud...working through things in my heart and mind... thanks!

not above bribery...

I'm not above bribing my kids... today we went to Wal-Mart and all three kids had their "own" money.


I had visions of getting in to Wal-Mart... getting my shopping done... and getting out.  There isn't a Mom on this planet who doesn't know what it is like to go to Wal-Mart (or KMart... or Toys R Us... or the mall... or... or... or...) with kids who have their "own" money.... multiple trips between the toy section, the clothing section, the candy section and the craft supplies section... makes me exhausted just typing about it.  Multiply 3 kids with their own money and a mom who hates Wal-Mart and you've a disaster in the making.


Is it okay to praise the LORD for bribes?  hmmm....  that may be a doctrinal question for another time.  Today, though, I was seriously saying THANK YOU LORD!  


This is what is right next to Wal-Mart...

Eric reminded me of this fun fact about Steak 'n Shake...

This mom had an "ahhhh" moment and offered a bribe...

if we can get in and out of Wal-Mart in 35 minutes, we can have Happy Hour

I don't think I've ever had a faster, more enjoyable shopping experience with 3 kids, their own money and Wal-Mart!

So glad I'm not above bribery!

mmmmmmm.....

treading water but never alone!

Sometimes the days feel like treading water 

and yet the years looked back upon show a steady wake of swimming forward.  

Sometimes in the midst of treading water, I tend to forget to look back at the wake of His providence... His sustenance... His hand all over my life...

...and I forget to look forward to His goodness... His faithfulness... His kindnesses to come...

...and I fail to see those He brings alongside of me to encourage me... love me... spur me on.

When I feel like I tread alone

and am getting no where...

...it's time to open my eyes and look around

for He is always there!

a little wine with that, please...

Whine... there's been a lot of that around here today...


My children are amazing.  All three were born with a 6th sense... the sense to know when Mom isn't feeling well and the ability to turn up the whine exponentially.  


Do you see this pouty face...

that is the face of a 7 year old who has whined a great deal about writing thank you notes.


Not to make it too much of a chore, I even brought everything we needed with us to the library so that she could write them here while Emily was doing her volunteer time.

Honestly, I don't feel well.  I seem to be struggling through another sinus infection.  Someone should tell my children to develop a 7th sense... the sense to keep their whine to themselves when Mom doesn't feel well.


or... I just may have to ask for a little WINE myself when they turn up the whine on days like today!