Real Life Monday!

I don't know about you, but here at "The Soup" home we are having a good ol' fashioned knock down drag out, pull out all the stops, typical MONDAY.

The problem with my Monday started on Sunday afternoon when I woke up from my Sunday Slumber feeling refreshed and ready to take on new goals for my upcoming, fresh, clean-slate of a week.

"I'll get up early..............I'll start back up at one of the two gyms to which I belong (long story how that happened...trust me there's a good reason for two memberships)"

"I'll set the alarm for 5:30....wayyy before I really need to be awake so I can finally get that empty spiral notebook I bought last week actually filled in with my prayer list."

"I'll get done with school efficiently and on time......maybe even early all this week so I can take pictures at the zipline and replenish the "Christmas Money" account that I all but cleaned out last month on extra bills and all the things that require money that seem to keep creeping up."

And then MONDAY came and brought with it--REALITY:

I woke up late to a sink full of dishes.

Confession: Sometimes I go to bed knowing that in my sink, I'm leaving a strong prescription for a really bad morning.  I mean who wants to be greeted by crusty peanut butter knives and noodle laden colanders?  Why couldn't my coffee maker be the one to tell my "Good morning, welcome to your Monday?"

And then I remembered another horrifying fact...........

Mondays are the dreaded "Sheet Changing Days!"

and bi-weekly "throw-laundry-on-my-bed-so-I-HAVE-to-fold-it-only-to-put-it-back-in-baskets-at-11pm-because-I'm-too-tired" day!

Notice that I don't write a "Housekeeping Blog!"

Mondays always look so "do-able" on Sunday don't they? 

I don't really have a deep, meaningful purpose in sharing this today.  I guess I just wanted to give others a look into the trenches of a typical Monday in this Missouri mamma's life.

What have I learned?  It's always best to look for the lesson in a struggle right? 

-I've learned to think carefully before setting expectations too high. 
-I've learned that you can sit and dream up goals 'till the cows come home, but you have to put a plan into place in order to make those goals a reality....or you'll be like ME...sitting still bra-less in your pjs at 12:30pm wearing too much elastic and not nearly enough make-up!
-I've learned that it's wrong to allow full sinks, stripped beds, and clean-but-already-wrinkled laundry taunt you into feeling defeated.

Happy Monday to You All.  May your sinks be empty, your beds be made, and your laundry folded and put away...............................at least by Tuesday morning right?!

Gentle Strength

My Grandma was gentle strength.

She was a sweet song softly singing peace to the hearts of little grandchildren.

She was practical creativity as she rubber bands bread bags to dry sneakers on a wet, muddy day.

She was delicate grace in her matching knit suit for Sunday services.

She was youthful exhuberance sitting in her den in her ball cap rooting for the Detroit Tigers.

She was the picture of love both given and longed for.

She was strength in weakness.

She loved one man with an intensity so strong it will burn bright enough to warm all those around her for generations to come.

She was wisdom and kindness and gentleness and weakness and love and loss and life and trust and hope for the future.

She was my Grandma.  My friend.  My hero.

My best memories of my childhood always include her.

She was 93 years of life and all the wisdom that comes with it.

She is complete now in Heaven sitting at her Bride Groom's feet.

In loving memory of my Grandma Gertrude Mizener who passed away suddenly, yet peacefully on October 19th, 2010. 

Object Lessons for Kids

I admit it.  I have caught myself ranting, "Stop Fighting!" rather than attempting to get to the heart of the matter.  It's sometimes so difficult to remember that God allows us these challenges with our children to give us opportunities to seize teachable moments. 

Why so often do we forego teachable moments for the easy (and so much less effective) method of a quick punishment or empty scolding?  I can't speak for you, but I know in my own parenting, the times I choose the latter are when I am looking for the easy way out............feeling selfish...........feeling tired..............feeling inconvenienced by their bad behavior and how it adversely affects ME.  I foolishly forget how adversely my children's poor choices are affecting THEM.

Object lessons are powerful tools to drive home life changing concepts.  Sometimes it is hard to think of them on the fly though isn't it?  Over the years I've heard and used various lessons that I would like to share below:

Complaining/Arguing/Negotiation Attempts/etc:
I have one child in particular who has a difficult time just saying, "Yes Ma'am" when I ask *him* to do something.  It seems he always has an idea of how to better "tweak" my request.  One night I was particularly perplexed at this trend and asked God for some creative ideas as to how to help rid him of this bad habit.
The next morning I asked him to pour some sugar into a small bowl.  I explained that sugar is sweet and it is also pure and white.  I then asked him to also go outside and get me a bowl of dirt.  At first I just had the bowl of clean, pure, sweet, white sugar and the bowl of "dirty" dirt on the counter next to each other.
He finished his bowl of cereal for breakfast and wanted more.  I told him, "No, please have a piece of fruit instead."  He complained and tried to change my mind.
I then told him to add a handful of dirt to his bowl of sugar.  Every time he challenged me that morning I had him do the same thing.  We then talked about what happened to our clean, pure, sweet white sugar.  It had been tainted.....dirtied by a sour and disobedient attitude.
**I didn't do this, but I think it would be a great wrap up if you actually went ahead and took the time to make some basic sugar cookies or something with this dirty sugar.  Ask if he wants to eat any?  Why NOT???  We are not as effective or "tasty" to our Savior or others when our lives are marked by disobedience.
*Memorize Phil. 2:14 together and post in a prominent place.

Fighting with Siblings--Not Being Gentle with Our Words:
This is one that I have not yet tried because I don't have the needed materials on hand, but I do plan to implement soon.  I heard this one from Lisa Whelchel.  Get each child a piece of a 2X4 section of wood.  When one says something mean to the other or purposely tries to annoy the other (PLEASE tell me I'm not alone in this struggle) have the guilty child go out and hammer a nail into that board.  At the end of the day have him/her take the opposite side of the hammer and pull every nail out.  This is a lot of work, which is part of the punishment, but the lesson goes deeper than that.  The lesson is that our words carry power.  They have the power to hurt and to heal.  **Even when apologies have been made and squabbles have ceased, the scars remain.  The wounded, splintered wood left marred by the evidence of past holes will likely drive home a critical truth about how "I was just kidding with him/her, Mom." is NO excuse.  The lesson can be taught that relationships that God places in our lives are meant to be gifts from Him and treated as such.  We are to bless others and not curse them.
Memorize Romans 12:14 together and post in a prominent place.

Potty Mouth:
Oh how tweens LOVE to talk about bodily functions out of context!  While not as definitively all out wrong as swearing, it still is not the best choice of topics for day to day conversations, right?  I can't take credit for this one either, but don't remember where I heard it. 
The next time you hear those gross words and talk come out of your little cherub's mouth, ask him/her to take a clean glass and put it in the (already flushed) toilet.  Swish that toilet water around really well in the glass and then dump it back into the toilet.  Then you can go over and fill it with nice, clean tap water and ask him/her if they want a drink.  NO---DON'T LET THEM DRINK IT.  Chances are----they won't want to drink it.  And there it is:  The Point.  Drinking water is meant to be clean so it will nourish us just as our speech is meant to be clean so it can uplift and edify others.  When dirty water even touches the vessel (glass) from which we are to drink, it spoils everything.  In the same way, when filthy potty talk even touches our tongues it can spoil our testimony to others and make even the good things we try to say in the future not nearly as credible to others.
Memorize Proverbs 15:4 together and post in a prominent place.

The above ideas are just a few of the many that are out there.  What are some ideas that you have?  What have you done that has worked for you?  I would love to hear your ideas as well.  Please leave a comment if you'd like to share.  After all, parenting isn't for wimps, and we need to stick together!

The Winding Road Ahead

So many questions, Lord

So many fears

As my anxiety wells

I hear Your Word in my ear,

"Child, this road I've paved for you...

These mountains I've formed.

My plans are for your good.

Walk in them and you'll be transformed.

You will walk this road, child, these mountains you'll climb.

You must remember I'll be here with you all the time.

Walk this road with Me, child, with every step trust in Me.

You can let go of your fears and watch Me take the lead."

I wrote that poem during a time of huge transition for our family.  We had moved away from all that was home to us..........moved halfway across the country without much of a plan as to what we would do.  We were in a time of transition.

Living with my Mother-in-law.

She was so gracious......it was so humbling.

Trying to acclimate to this strange and beautiful new state of NC where I found myself in awe of the mountain against the horizon one minute and the next hearing myself saying to my six year old daughter, "Honey, don't get too close to that snake."

Everything was new.

Nothing was certain.

I was afraid.  I felt forgotten by God. 

Have you ever felt that way?  Most of us don't want to admit it when those thoughts creep into our heads and attempt to take root in our hearts.

I have found that it is in those times when God allows us to be stripped bear of all the THINGS onto which we hold so tightly and to which we attach so much (false) hope that is when His voice is most clearly heard. 

He tenderly binds the wounds our self sufficiency has inflicted.  Allows us to be quiet at His feet.  And then He speaks true hope into our souls once again. 

He is always faithful. 

He always woos us back to His side though we stray and are so easily enthralled--sometimes by the very blessings He places in our lives. 

May we never allow His blessings to become our idols.

May we always trust Him though we cannot see beyond the curve in that winding road ahead.

Teaching History Chronologically

Story.


It's one of the most powerful things in this life.


It was Jesus' preferred method of teaching crucial truths to His followers.


Over the years in our homeschool there have been many ideas that have been attempted and then pitched because they just didn't work for us, but one thing that has withstood the test of time and change is teaching the kids history (His-story) in the order that it all unfolded.


I will share with you what we do and my absolute favorite tool for doing it.  Here's the cool thing...my favorite tool is so simple that it can be used even if you don't homeschool your children.  I'll warn you that it does take some time and effort to set it up, but once that is completed it is smooth sailing from there.

I was previously introduced to this resource when we lived in Charlotte, NC at a weekly co-op called Classical Conversations.  Since we've moved to Missouri I've decided not to go to the actual classes any longer due to the expense.  We have continued some of the daily memory practice regimens by using our Veritas Press Timeline Cards.

The cards are sold individually and separated into 5 different groups (disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for my support of this resource).  Each card contains a picture (usually a famous painting, bust, or other form of art) representing the historic event on the front side while the back of the card has an explanation of the event and a list of resources to use for further study.  The individual titles of each pack of cards are as follows:

1.  Old Testament and Ancient Egypt (blue stripe)
2.  New Testament, Greece, and Rome (green stripe)
3.  Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation (orange stripe)
4.  Explorers to 1815 (red stripe)
5.  1815-Present (yellow stripe)

The really cool thing is that if you click here, you can see the correct way to intersperse key Biblical events as they fall into Ancient History.  Once I had all my cards shuffled into the correct order, I laminated them and put them into two stacks with two large notebook rings at the bottom for easy flipping.

We use these cards as a daily drill with the goal of helping the kids to see the big picture and flow of world history.  In depth study of the events is done in a 4 year chronological cycle that repeats itself.  The second time through our study of the Ancients, for example, will lend itself to more critical thinking because the kiddos will be older and more capable of asking an evaluating the whys of certain key events.

So how are these cards used on a daily basis?  We start out with the first week of school (but you can start anytime) with the goal of memorizing only the first 8 card titles, and each week we add 8 more titles to the list.  This exercise does not require a lot of time and can be used in conjunction with any program you are currently using (I currently use The Story of the World series for my main history curriculum, but am seriously considering Tapestry of Grace for next year), and can also be a nice supplement to whatever your children are studying in "traditional" school if you do not happen to be a homeschooler.

Please click here for a video clip example of our daily drill yesterday.  Sorry for the poor quality, but I did it from my phone.

So Long Speed-Dating!

"Didn't you think about the fact that I was coming too?  Where is my chair?" I inquired in my most controlled yet incredibly annoyed voice.  It seemed that even though it was only 11:30am, I had allowed the events of this past Saturday to sour my attitude.  Due to work issues, I had arrived 20 minutes late to my daughter's soccer game.

My husband just answered matter-of-factly, "You can have my chair. I have to leave."  And then he was off--taking our son to his warm up for his football game.  It wasn't until I got home from our crazy busy Saturday that I realized I hadn't had a meaningful, loving, and purposeful conversation with my husband in quite some time.  

Our lives had turned into chaos management.  We have become experts at texting and quick "can-you-bring-a-gallon-of-milk-home-with-you" type conversations.  Sure, we would often sprinkle in "I love you's" and other such sentiments, but the days of true knowing had vanished faster than my hubby did after I snapped at him.

Then we went to church yesterday and this realization took on a much deeper meaning for me.  I realized that my relationship with my Heavenly Father had become an on-the-go relationship as well.  Our pastor made the comment that in our society "We try to speed-date God."  

 Wow!  Just like in that scene from the movie, "Hitch" when a group of singles sat there at tables in a large room and had quick 2 minute surface conversations with strangers until the bell rang and it was off to the next one.......How often do we have quick 2 minute conversations with our God who, many times if we were honest feels a bit like a stranger as well, until the "bell" rings and we are off to the next pressing issue in our lives?

Have we filled our lives with so many "things" that we no longer have time to actually dedicate to simply sitting at His feet? Are we no longer comfortable with talking with Him for any real length of time?  Do we fear the vulnerability that comes from being face to face with our Savior? 

I know for me, I justified my haphazard, on-the-go relationship with my Lord by using the "Pray without ceasing." verse.  I would pray all day long while I was driving, schooling, working.  Yes, we are instructed to be in an attitude of prayer throughout our day, but I wonder why many of us (including me) aren't willing to give more. 

The closeness of my marriage will not survive with quick texts and surface conversations.  If we continue with this busy pace, we will start to feel like we no longer really know each other.  You can't trust someone you don't know.

Likewise, my relationship with my Heavenly Father will not be a close one if I am not willing to give Him my t i m e. 

Dedicated time.......to really get to know him. 

I can't truly trust my God if I don't really know Him intimately.

So this week I am seeking to make     t i m e    for my most important relationships--the one with my Bride Groom and my earthly groom. 

So long Speed Dating!

Fearless

Here I sit in my basement hideaway.  I finally have some time to think straight.  I've been longing to blog about so many things.  Why is it so hard to start?

So many people are on my mind.
An acquaintance of mine lost a dear family member in a tragic accident yesterday.  She had two elementary aged daughters.
The old friend whose sweet daughter (who I still see as that carefree 6 year old swinging on the playset) went away to college this year.
My sweet mother who is trying to find her way after the death of her husband, companion, friend of her whole adult life.
My son who seemed to all at once hit puberty yesterday.  How in the world can you sprout armpit hair, the famous tip-of-the-nose zit, and have your voice crack and go high all in the same day?

All of these situations have been swirling around in my mind.......in my heart and have left me with those kind of deep feelings and thoughts that are so longed to be shared that you feel you'll explode if you don't give audience to them.

God is sovereign over all situations.  When I reflect on the prominent thoughts in my heart, the overriding theme is change.  Time has a way of changing us.  Of bringing new circumstances into our routine little lives so as to remind us not to get too comfortable on the soft couch of life-as-we-know-it.

If God is sovereign, then the change He allows bears his stamp of approval as well.  If He approves it and will walk through it with us, then there should be no room for dread on this trip, right?  Then I wonder:

~Why am I gripped with fear for how my friend's family member must have felt moments before her tragic death?  Why am I scared for how the daughters reacted when they learned that mommy was not here on this Earth anymore?
~Why am I scared for my mom.....afraid of her pain yet drawn to it because I'm drawn to her and committed to helping her grieve through this loss.  Longing for signs of healing.........sometimes searching for them prematurely.
~Why does the thought of my children leaving for college leave me panicked?  Will I have taught them everything they need to know to make it on their own?  Am I adequately preparing them for adulthood?
~Why does my son hitting puberty freak me out?  My little boy is gone.........being replaced by a handsome young man.  Will we be able to help him navigate the challenges, temptations, and pitfalls of the teen years?

As these questions fill my heart, it strikes me that my fears allow no room for God.  But what if........
And then there is that still, small whisper that says, If ........then I am. 

Indeed, He is able to take any situation and bring beauty from ashes.  Even my greatest fears, the ones I don't even voice audibly, even those are covered by HIM.  The question He is asking is whether or not I will decide to trust Him.......with every last fear.  Only when every last fear is surrendered to Him, and I lay bare, helpless, vulnerable in His hands.....only then will I be FEARLESS.

Motivation, Positive Reinforcement, and Putting TIME on Your Side

Ah the art of bribery "positive reinforcement"!  I must admit that this doesn't come naturally to me.  My default settings with regard to discipline are more along the lines of, "Do this because I'm your mom and I said so.  And if you don't do it there will be consequences!!!!!"  Believe me....those exclamation points are appropriate there.  We learn in grammar that an exclamatory sentence is one that shows strong feeling.  I am usually showing very "strong feelings" when I am singing this "song" to my kids.

So far this year, I have created and carried out a pretty academically rigorous schedule with my kids.  They are getting older, and I so want to maximize our time and their education while I have them here under my "tutelage" (I just LOVE that word.  It's so Anne of Green Gables)!!

The problem that we are running into (or I guess it should read, "into which we are running") is that we are all feeling a bit bogged down, overwhelmed, and defeated.  I am striving to find the balance between providing an education that is academically challenging, but that doesn't snuff out the love of learning in the process.  I'm feeling a "white stag" hunt again.......

Luckily, just when I was feeling particularly down trodden about this lack of balance, I stumbled upon a very cool blog from someone who has been on this journey longer than me.  By the way, I just love God's perfect timing! He is always so faithful.  His timing is always perfect.  Indeed, He is sovereign over all things!

Here is a new game plan that I have developed as a result of perusing her blog:
-I put more breaks into my schedule.  Why that hasn't occurred to me sooner is beyond me!
-Every subject is being put onto a magnet.  One side of the frig (we do school at the kitchen table) will be labeled "TO DO" and the other side will be labeled "DONE."  Every time we complete a subject, the kids will get to move that subject to the "DONE" side.  Who doesn't love to check items off a list, right?!

This picture is not mine.  This comes from the blog mentioned above.  I promise you that mine will not be as cute and creative.  Mine will be the words only, typed up, printed off, and laminated. 

-Another idea that I actually came up with myself is that I plan to give the kids "Time Wallets" (envelopes) and every time they finish a subject conscientiously and on schedule (this is HUGE for me) they will get a "5 Minute" clock.  These will be cut out and laminated.  With my schedule, there are 9 different subject changes throughout the day.  That's an opportunity to earn 45 minutes of parent approved screen time daily. I am not planning to allow them to bank up time into the next day.

I am planning on implementing this new system tomorrow morning.  It will likely need to be tweaked a few million times before I feel it's workable, but it's a start.  Nothing happens without having a point of beginning.  I am just glad that I am embarking on this new week armed with a solution to a problem that was plaguing my spirit by late last week.

I will let you know how it goes!

In Honor of my Dad

On May 27th, 2010 my dad passed away after a tough battle with cancer.  His name was Armando Carnesecchi, but we always called him Mick.  Today would have been his 63rd birthday. 

My family members who still live in Michigan are spending the day remembering him in meaningful ways.......taking flowers and homemade cookies to those special 6th floor nurses at U of M who took such good care of him, then going to Spicer's apple orchard which he loved to do, visiting his grave, and basically spending the day together as a family remembering him lovingly.

I am having such a hard time today.  Life has crowded in on me this Saturday.  I am sitting at work.  I have a few minutes.  I so want to honor him in a meaningful way.  All I can think to do is write. 

I love you.  I miss you.  Thank you for raising me as one of your own even though I never really gave you any real thanks or real signs that I fully accepted you and thought of you as my dad.  I regret that I never called you Dad.  I call you that now.  It took losing you to remember all the many was that you treated me as your flesh and blood.

Thank you for your goofy spirit.  Thank you for the way you always reminded me to wear my seatbelt.  Thank you for teaching me to drive.  Thank you for being strict.  Thank you for being proud of me and my accomplishments.  Thank you for allowing me to marry Jared after only dating him for a couple of months.  Thank you for trusting me and my seemingly crazy judgment. 

Thank you for being such a great grandpa to my kids.  For taking them on the yearly Christmas shopping trip to buy a special gift for their parents.  For taking them fishing---for morphing a simple fishing trip into a full blown tournament complete with categories and prizes for winners!  Thank you for reenacting the Polar Express for them---punching their tickets...setting the room up like the inside of a train.....convincing all the uncles to come in the back door dancing with hot-hot-hot hot chocolate in their hands!  Some of their best childhood memories will include you and your fun spirit.

Thank you for always coaching my teams and staying involved with who my friends were.  Thank you for fighting so hard to get Chris and me back from Arizona when my real dad (who never deserved that name) tried to keep custody of us illegally.  Thank you for going to IL and working so hard to keep our family together.  Thank you for turning the fact that you had Diabetes into a true cause that has touched so many lives for the better.

Thank you for fighting so hard to stay alive.......Thank you for the courage you had to know when it was time for hospice.  Thank you for lifting your arm that one last time to hug me before you lost consciousness and started your long and mysterious week long journey to death............to eternal life.

Thank you for being my dad.  Thank you for making that dvd that we played at your funeral that clearly and humbly gave the gospel message.  Thank you for yielding to the Holy Spirit and giving your life to Christ.

Happy Birthday Dad.  I love and miss you.  One day we'll be together again.

Friday Funny - ALMOST a Cowboy!

My son is fully embracing the fact that we now live as far west as we ever have.  He loves the rough and tough cowboy look.  He had the privilege of being invited to the PBR Rodeo with his good friend recently, and it's all he has talked about. 

On the way home from our homeschool co-op today he says, "Well Mom, I have a cowboy hat and cowboy boots.  Now all I need are some tight jeans!"

I guess I can't judge him too much..........the word "Jordache" still brings back painful memories of laying flat on my back with the tines of a fork stuck into my zipper........struggling with my makeshift "handle" to get those darn things zipped only to bust them open when I sat upright!

Happy Friday, ya'll!!!!!!

My Top 10 Favorite Fitness Helps

I'm almost done with my first week of a new healthy lifestyle, and I've found that I depend on certain favorite things to help me make it through without going completely crazy.  I thought I'd share 10 of my favorites (in the order they popped into my head):

1.  Raw Almonds- I keep these in my purse, my car, and my pantry.  They are delicious and they really help to stave off hunger.

2.  Celestial Seasoning's Sleepytime Tea-I love to have a cup of tea before bed, and it's good for me too!



3.  South Beach Living Protein Fit Bars-These are so sweet,  but unlike other "desserts" they are high in protein---not just a bunch of empty calories!



4.  Jillian Michaels Banish Fat Boost Metabolism workout dvd-I love this because I hate it----does that make sense?  You will sweat and heave and think you're about to die, but when you finish you will feel as fit as Jillian herself.  No nonsense approach!

Girl Meets Tree

It's been a while since I've posted anything frivolous!  I've been so busy trying to get my butt in gear (literally) with this new 30 Day Fitness Challenge with which I've "challenged" myself.  Between that and all the new fall scheduling, it's been hard to find the time.  But oh how I do love rambling.  I love the idea of being able to share my thoughts.......sometimes deep......sometimes just bragging about a kiss from Elvis and I don't have to feel like I'm imposing on anyone.  Reading is VOLUNTARY!  I love the arrangement! :)

I wanted to post this picture of this tree because it is my absolute favorite tree.  I am one of those people who is always seeing a great "picture" as I'm going through my day.  I can't tell you how many times I think to myself, "I wish I had my camera!"

On the day this picture was taken, I was half asleep walking the dog early on a Sunday morning....hair a mess, no bra (oh come one, I'm not the only one who walks my dog bra-less early in the morning right??), shoes that were two sizes too big for me...you get the picture.  It wasn't until I walked to the end of my street and turned back around that I noticed my "favorite" tree on the corner of my street framed in the sunlight, clouds hovering over the distant mountains.

Well if you thought I looked silly at the beginning of my walk, try to imagine me running (still no bra...oh my) back to the house and then running back with a big digital slr around my neck and no more doggie!  I must have taken a dozen pictures of that tree.

It just made me stop and think.  It was breathtaking.  I wanted to remember it.

I'm seriously considering bringing my cool red couch out there and having our family Christmas picture taken underneath that tree.  My neighbors already think I'm crazy right?

30 Day Fitness Challenge!

Most of the greatest victories in life are born out of complete failure.  That's where I was with my health and my weight last December.  Like many of us women, I was (still tend to be when I'm feeling weak) a stress eater.  My husband had just taken a job out of state, and I felt the added stress of being a single parent.  By the way....all you single parents out there....YOU ROCK!  I don't know how you do it, but you do.  My hat is off to you!

Anyway, back to me and my big butt and gut.....  One thing I found that I did (quite mindlessly) was take a little snack (usually some sort of Weight Watcher's dessert type snack that I'm pretty sure wasn't meant to be consumed in the fashion in which I was consuming) into my master bathroom and lock the door.  Ah.....the fleeting bliss of uninterrupted undercover SNACKING.  I'm being transparent here, just like my Snack Wells issue I mentioned in a previous post.  Confession is good for the soul, right? 

So, as the story goes, I was in a state of complete failure.  Little did I know at the time that this moment would lead to one of my greatest victories.  It was the beginning of December and I knew that even though all the holiday goodies were on the horizon, I had to do something about my weight.  So.......I called my sister and vented to her. 

The next day I had an email from one of our mutual friends who is a personal trainer and has the gift of godly encouragement.  She had a challenge for us.  Yep....I'm finally getting to the challenge part of it!  The challenge was very simple:
1.  Work out for at least 40 (preferably 60) minutes every day for 30 days. 
2.  Eat clean, real foods.  Eat 6 small meals/snacks a day.  Never starve yourself.  Journal what you eat.  Report to her how we did every day and what we were feeling each day.

I will tell you right off the bat that I did the challenge.  Here were my results:

-Though working out 30 days straight (first time I EVER worked out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) seemed extreme (and I think I did miss one or two days), I realized that she was trying to create within me a healthy habit.
-After the 30 days, I still continued with the eating plan and worked out most days as part of my normal lifestyle.
-I experienced the thrill of actually wearing the clothes that used to hang in my closet and mock me!
-I was more confident and able to tackle other goals that I previously thought were impossible.
-I LOST 17 pounds (by about 10 weeks later)!!

Before:

After:

Well, as sometimes happens with flawed human beings, I slowly crept away from that healthy lifestyle, and now I look a bit more like the before pic than the after again.  Now it's time to revisit what I KNOW works. 

I figured, why not share my challenge with whomever might be reading this! This will add accountability for me, and hopefully give others the added push as well.

If YOU are up for the 30 Day Challenge, here's what you will need to do:
1.  Print off the plan.
2. Follow it!
3. Go to the "30 Day Fitness Challenge" page of my blog.  Follow my journey and leave comments of how it is going with you.

Please pass this on to anyone you want to.  Also, if you are IN--please consider following my blog as I will plan to be sharing more on this in the future.  To follow, you will need to set up a google account, but it's quick, painless, and free!

The challenge officially starts tomorrow (9/17) but remember you can start anytime!  Wishing you all the best!

In Relentless Pursuit of Organization

Everyone---I don't care WHO they are or what they say......EVERYONE loves organization.  Even people like me who seem to find it as elusive as the White Stag in Chronicles of Narnia, love love LOVE organization!  Perhaps, dare I say, people like me love it the most because when we finally achieve it (alas even if only for a short time) we absolutely revel in it.  We love it so much.....we stand a little taller....carrying with us the vow that we will never let things get out of control again.  We have won the battle.....conquered the clutter.......

No, unfortunately this is NOT a picture of my kitchen drawers.  In fact, we are going to leave my drawers out of this altogether.  I just had to post this picture because it makes me happy to see organization.  It motivates me to pursue it relentlessly.

I am currently chasing down a workable daily schedule that allows time for Bible reading and prayer, exercise, school, chores, errands, practices, games, work........oh....there's that white stag again!

This pursuit is still very much a work in progress, but I want to share some things that I've found so far that have proven to be helpful to me.  I figure if I can share resources and help others in their pursuits it might keep me on "the hunt" until I've "bagged the beast" of disorder and chaos!

One thing that I've found is a time and money saver is weekly meal planning.  This seems a simple enough concept, but I know that many people (myself included until recently) just don't do it.  We get so busy with our lives that we don't give much thought to dinner until the time is upon us.  That is how many of us end up at the drive thru (budget and belly buster).  I found a great website called The Project Girl.  There are a lot of cool ideas, but the ones that caught my eye are the great meal planning worksheets:

You might prefer this one if you want to plan all three meals.  I typically only plan dinners.  It's sort of "every man for himself" at breakfast and lunch.

Another tip:  Make a master list of all the meals that you ever make for dinner.  Then evaluate it----are they healthy?  Do many of them take too long to prepare?  This is what causes many people to get into a "frozen fish stick or microwaveable meal" rut.  If your list is too short or has other problems, then get some new recipes.   The best way to do it is to just google what you want.  If you prefer a pretty cookbook (mine always end up collecting dust in the basket at the top of my frig) there are plenty to be found.

Once you have your master list of at least 10-14 recipes, then you can start to rotate them and switch them around a bit so that you aren't cooking the same things every week. 

Another tip:  Substitute ground turkey for ground beef.  I love the Deceptively Delicious cookbook which contains "sneaky" ways to get some healthy ingredients in popular dishes..  Be creative, and have fun!

Another huge tip with busy schedules comes from Tosca Reno and her Eat Clean Diet book.  She suggests that everything hinges on planning ahead.  She says that a cooler is your best friend when it comes to eating real food with a busy schedule which includes being on the go more often than you would like..

So < BABY STEPS> this week I'm focusing on meal planning and reintroducing a healthy/clean eating lifestyle (we have gotten WAY off track recently). 

My kitchen drawers can wait until another week!

10 Things I LOVE About Fall

Yes sirree--We are almost here.........only 11 more days until the official start of Fall. But pardon me if I start to celebrate a bit early.  I'd like to narrow down the many many reasons that I LOVE Fall...........

1.  Burning Leaves-- I love the smell of burning leaves..........now we used to live in the city where there were all those annoying laws against such Fall activities.  We now live in the boondocks, so I can't wait to get lots of these smells again.  The smell of burning leaves is so quintessentially Fall.........so different than the smell of my neighbor burning his trash every week!

2.  Friday Night Football Games--- Or any night for that matter. Now I don't pretend to act like I actually understand the game, mind you.  I just love all that is associated with it.....the band....the cheerleaders....the touchdowns and interceptions (see I do know a little of the jargon)....the fans.....the announcers.  You get the picture.

3.  Candy Corn ---'nuf said!

4.  Making Chili --Chili is one of my favorite meals.  I absolutely love it with sour cream, cheese, and Fritos on top!  We always make a big pot on Halloween.  It's the best cold weather dish.  I'm passing the chili making on to my daughter.  I'm really trying to be more purposeful about teaching her to cook and all the other things that go along with managing a home.  Isn't she too cute?

5.  Fall Clothes--After a long HOT summer and being practically required  to wear shorts unless I wanted to have the "sweaty jeans" feeling which is SO not good.........it's simply glorious to put on a pair of jeans and a sweater.  It's so much easier to look cute and feel confident in jeans and a fall colored/earth tone sweater.  I mean....who really looks good in shorts once you pass age 35??  Anyone?  Anyone?

6.  The Changing Colors --Breathtaking!

7.  Cider and Donuts --  OK by now you are probably noticing a common theme......FOOD!  I can't help it.  I don't care WHAT kind of a diet or the more PC term I've preferred recently "Healthy Eating Plan" I'm on....when Fall comes around and I am near a Cider Mill/Apple Orchard.........It's GAME ON!  There is nothing better than a hot, crispy, greasy cinnamon donut washed down with cider.  Not....Even....CHOCOLATE.  Yes--you heard it here!  Here's a picture for picture's sake and because I know that pictures help to keep

readers' attention and if you're still reading this by now.......you NEED a picture!

8.  Busy Fall Schedules -- Every Fall I tend to get myself and my schedule a little over extended.  I don't know why I do it or why I can't resist saying yes to every wonderful opportunity.   Sometimes you just need to succumb to the way things are and go with it.  Every year there are so many exciting new things starting up....school...ladies' Bible studies at church....Awana's......dance....football.......the list goes on!  I just LOVE all the newness.  It's sort of strange how Fall signifies newness with me, but in nature it is a time of endings and dormancy.........hum........it's too early for me to get too philosophical or spiritual about that one.....you're off the hook! :)

9.  Holidays are a Comin' ---My real favorite time of year starts on the first day of Fall and ends on New Year's day.  I love all the festivities and excitement that all the Holidays offer.  

10.  Yankee Mackintosh Candle ---Strange--but it's become a tradition to purchase and almost ceremonially light this particular scent of candle.  We are currently out of it, so we have plans to go out the the Landing (an awesome waterfront shopping area here) and buy one on......you guessed it....the first day of Fall.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

SUET! The Adventures of Actually DOING the Experiments!

Those of you who know me best know that I tend to be a bit scatter brained and flighty.  I have a very hard time with follow through...........which is why my house is usually in complete disarray.  I might start to pick up the living room---take some shoes to my closet---see some dirty clothes there---take them to the laundry room----see the calendar on the wall in there and realize I need to check on the location of a game---go downstairs to the computer to look it up----get in front of the computer and wind up on Facebook instead.  Meanwhile......the only thing I've done so far to clean up the living room is remove my shoes from the floor in there!!

Anyway, unfortunately this distractability has been known to, at times, carry over into my teaching methods.  In the past, I had a full time job in direct sales that took a lot of my time (and was "open" all times of the day and night), so I felt very "pulled away" from dedicating my time to planning and carrying out all those cool projects and experiments in the science book.

This year, I've had to let go of some things in order to focus on the areas in my life (homeschooling being one of them) that are most important and most deserving of my time and dedication.  I have committed to buying and using a planner.  This has helped tremendously.  I also have a set time to do my planning......imagine THAT!

This year in Science we are studying Zoology.  We are currently learning about birds.  Sounds a bit boring, I know....but let me tell you we are all having a blast.  Yesterday we spent $4 on a hummingbird feeder.  We are having so much fun observing and recording information about these funny and gorgeous birds!  Their behavior around the feeder has had us all laughing.  I highly suggest you get a hummingbird feeder! Best $4 I've spent in a long while!

Today, we made "Smart Suet" for a feeder.  It was fun letting the kids make a mess and figure out the recipe themselves.  It was the first time I've ever bought LARD in my life.  YUCK!  The recipe made 8 snack sized baggies of suet.  I figure that will be enough to last us a while.  We are all excited to see the new birds that this will attract to our yard.

Perhaps more pics to come later.  When I get my nice camera from the office I hope to get some cool pics of all the hummingbirds.

Too Much of a "Good" Thing.............

When I started this blog, my goal was to write about things that would encourage others.  I hoped to post all the great ideas I had related to homeschooling (I must admit...somewhat selfishly as a means of holding myself accountable and on track).  I also hoped to share any spiritual insight or growth I experienced so that my entries would be edifying and help others to grow in the Lord.

The danger with that lofty goal is that I could easily end up with a collection of blog entries that make it appear that I have it "all together"  In fact, that was the exact quote that my sister emailed to me after reading my "Why I Homeschool" post.  The last thing I want is a blog that is full of great ideas and insights, but that in any way puts its author on a pedestal. 

I admit, I've read blogs that do just that......I read them because they have great ideas and gorgeous pictures of perfectly organized homeschool bookshelves, impeccably dressed kiddos who are involved in so many worthy activities (not watching Spongebob like mine were earlier today).  The trade off is that I often walk away with great ideas, but feeling deflated because I must be missing the mark.

So why the picture of the empty box of Snack Well's Devil's Food "FAT FREE" cookies??  Because this was one of the many battles lost today.  There I was, standing in the kitchen with the last (of twelve mind you) delectable cookie in my hand, poised to take one of the final bites......and my daughter walks up and asks me if she can have it.  I want you to know that I struggled for a moment and didn't want to give it to her! For SHAME!  Never mind the fact that I had already had the other 11 (not all in one sitting....but definitely in one day....I ate them in little "families of 4"....just like they are situated in the package).

If you're anything like me...and you're honest with yourself....you are morbidly encouraged by the realization that people whom you thought had it all together don't.  Is that really so wrong?  I don't think so.  The truth is that so many of us women beat ourselves up about our failures and completely forget about all the victories. 

The Enemy wants us right there....wallowing in our self defeat.  In order to soothe our defeated feelings, we turn to so many counterfeit cures.  Some put on a facade to the world that we have all the answers.  We tell ourselves that others depend on our "wisdom" so we'd better not let them know about the piles of laundry.....the cluttered pantry......the empty box of Snack Well's Devil's Food Fat Free Cookies!

I treasure my relationships with others where I can be real and take off the mask.  I can admit my weaknesses and failures and accept those of others.  It is my prayer that anyone reading this.....(by the way...the jury is still out on whether or not anyone even IS reading this......but that's OK...I know God wants me to write it) will seek to know Him more purely and intimately and in that vulnerability that only comes from time spent at His feet, she will then be strong enough to be comfortable letting her weaknesses show to others.  In our weaknesses, He is made strong.. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "...My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

So I am boasting in my weakness for Snack Well's Devil's Food Fat Free Cookies!  Not because I think it's OK to eat a whole box in one day and almost deprive my child of that last one, but because it reminds me of how weak I really am.  It reminds me of my intense need of Him in ALL areas of my life.  It reminds me that I don't need "Devil's food" to feed my soul.....but I need the Living Water and the Word of God to satisfy me.

Just for Fun!

Guess what I did last night!!  We got free tickets to The Legends in Concert.  The performers were Little Richard, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Alan Jackson, and ELVIS! 

Sometimes I feel like my life is like a Sienfeld episode......the strangest things happen to me I tell you what....there I was minding my own business and.......eye contact from Elvis......then he motioned for me ...and well.....

and then...

So this middle aged, homeschoolin' soccer mamma got a kiss from Elvis on a Monday night......  Now tell me-who can top THAT?!  :)

Mid Life Crisis......or Mid Life CHRIST-Follower?

I don't know when it hit me.......Maybe it was.....
--When I got the invitation this past June to my TWENTY year high school reunion 
--When I realized that I was the OLDEST person at work (out of 30+ people)
--When the guy who led my zipline tour told me he was born in 1991 (when I was in COLLEGE)

At any rate, I must confess that I never used to understand people making such a big deal about getting older.  I have realized lately that it really has been bothering me.  So this led me to ask myself WHY.  Why am I so hung up about getting older and reaching that "brick wall" (aka....40)?

I am very happily married and am loving being a Mamma bear to my kiddos.  I love where I live and love my job....so it can't be due to any "unaccomplished dreams or what ifs"  I realized that, if I'm honest......really honest with  myself (which unfortunately doesn't happen very often----all too often life crowds out such tedious inward reflections) it is because I love this life a little too  much. 

I have been very convicted lately about this.  As Christians, this world is not our home.  This life is not to be lived for our glory -- our accomplishments--our satisfaction.  Am I really living this life for God's glory?  Do my decisions and how I daily spend my time really reflect that I am a Christ-Follower?  Or have I been living as a Kate-Follower?

Oh Lord, please help me live wholeheartedly for YOU and YOUR glory--not my own.  Please help me to realize that every wrinkle, every year, every gray hair is only evidence of the fact that I'm mortal......that this life is fleeting......that you have me here NOW at this age for a reason.  There is more value in that than in any vain treasure of youth.

My Favorite New Planner

I'm so excited about my favorite new planner that I had to share.  I know I have a lot of fellow Mammas who, like me, have struggled to find a good, all inclusive, planner.  Look no further! 

I found this planner at a recent homeschool conference.  The first thing that jumped out at me and screamed, "BUY ME...I'm the ONE for which you've been earnestly searching." was how darn pretty the cover is!  I love pretty things.  In fact...I must confess here that I've been coveting some more experienced blogger's super pretty blog pages.  Oh my my...they are so much more fun to read when they are PRETTY.  But.. I digress.

The website is full of great ideas, additional planners, as well as a magazine (they let you have a free trial issue).  They also have a fabulous blog.

When I find a treasure, I like to pass it on.  I hope you enjoy this resource as much as I do!

Now,  if I could just get a workable cleaning schedule that appropriately incorporates my kiddos in a good portion of the work.......maybe a future blog post!