I can't believe it has been almost a year since my last post.  I have really been struggling with many different things.  The school year flew by and my oldest son just graduated.  I was so busy the last school year that blogging was last on my list of priorities.  I have now decided that blogging will move up on my list :)  I need a place to come and write down my thoughts.  Our family is changing so much.  We have so much to be thankful for.  God is opening new and exciting doors for us.  Stay tuned..... for many new posts and pictures :)

Fall Into Reading

I saw this posted on another homeschooling website and wanted to do it too!  We love reading in our home.  My 15 year old daughter reads at least 3 or 4 books a week.  I have a few books that I would love to read this fall.  My list is:

1. Courageous
2. Power of a Praying Wife
3. A Woman After God's Own Heart
4.  The Sun Coast Chronicles.   It is a series of 4 books by Terri Blackstock

I would also like to read more and more to my kids.  We usually spend an hour or 2 a week, but I would would like to make it at least 30 minutes a day.

Slow Cooker

I do believe my slow cooker is my best friend in the kitchen.  With so many things going on, if I didn't have my slow cooker, dinner would be late every night and I would be running around like crazy trying to get it on the table.  I have many recipes for my slow cooker.  My favorite recipes are found in this wonderful e-book.  http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=166&products_id=14184

I would highly suggest getting this!  It has some great ideas for new dinners and desserts.  They are low in cost and easy to make :-)   I just love trying new recipes on my family each week.  I like seeing their responses to them and getting their opinions :-)

A Blessing from the Lord

My daughter Amanda has a tremendous gift that God gave her.  She can sing and play the guitar beautifully.  She writes her own music and lyrics.  Her songs have such wonderful meanings.  The lift the soul.  I wanted to share the links to her You Tube videos with all of you.  Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVE3PEhSnx8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn45cSBWujA&feature=related

Games

We love playing board games in our family.  It is a great time to talk and just spend time together.  Our kids learn a lot from playing these games too.  They learn math and reading, as well as character qualities such as honesty, patience, and kindness.  It is very important to us to have children who know how to get along and solve issues that come up.  We want them to do everything they do to the glory of God.

Our Thinking Chairs....

I have chosen to call our time out chairs by a new name..... they are now our thinking chairs.   I place my children on time out so they can think about what they did wrong.  After their time is up (1 minute for each year they are old)  I talk with them about what they did and use it as a time to train them on what they should have done.  Most thinking times occur at our house as a result of selfishness.  They want their own way, and will try anything to get it.  Most infractions happen with my 2 youngest, who are still very much in the early stages of their character training.  They tend to get upset with each other when one wants something the other has, or if one wants to be the boss over the other.  It gets frustrating at times, but  we have to keep up our training.  We have to be consistent.  We have to train them to have good character :) 

Our Thinking Chairs!!!

Seeking God's Face

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You


To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy


Today this is my prayer.  I want to seek the Lord's face, not His hands.  I don't want to just ask God for things.  I want to know Him!   I want to worship Him with all that I am.