my blessed life

"Is your acceptance by God based on your own goodness or on His goodness and mercy?"   This was a quote I heard this past weekend at a homeschool convention in Nashville.  It really struck home with me....because it was followed up with this question: "In light of how you view your acceptance by God, how do you parent your children?"   Ouch. Do I parent my children as God parents me?  Do I readily give grace and mercy, love and compassion when they miserably fail--just as God does for me? I am so very sorry to say that often I don't.  When the conference speaker asked that question, I cringed inside, hearing my own voice saying things like, "Well, I'm glad you're sorry, but next time....."  or "If you would/wouldn't have done such-n-such then......"  I need to learn to say more readily, "I forgive you, I love you...no matter what!" Not that I mean to say I think of my love for my children as conditi...

It's that time of the year!! I've been busy making my lists and crossing them off as I buy all the books I need for our next school year.  I've hit up a couple of used book sales and then last week I was able to go the Nashville homeschool convention and check out all those vendors.  Now I'm so pumped that I have everything we need to start our year!  There are a only a few books I'll need to order part-way through the year. Soon I'll be sharing all of my plans for next year, but right now I'm still getting organized.  I won't get my new school planner until next month and I can hardly wait for that!  Plus we're still finishing up this year. If you homeschool, are you busy planning for next year or are you just trying to get this year in the books? :)

(local field of wheat) Last week I took a little break from the menu plan.  I just didn't see the point since I was only going to be home to cook one night of that week.  It was kind of nice, I must say, but then again it was nice to cook on that one night.  We had breakfast burritos (a family fave!) and, oh, they were SO good!  We like to serve them in the create-your-own style, so the table was full of choices: tortillas, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, guacamole, salsa, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese.  Mmmm....  We all love these, so it doesn't matter if it's breakfast, lunch or dinner we'll eat them whenever.   We also took a week-long break from homeschool last week.  We were out of town Monday through Wednesday, although we were able to squeeze in a field trip on the way home on Wednesday.  Then on Friday I attended a homeschool convention in Nashville.  So I was at home all of one day this week...well, two ...

We're actually taking this week off from school since we had to be out of town Monday through Wednesday and then I'll be at a homeschool convention all day Friday.  However, I was able to squeeze in some education in the form of a fun field trip this week.   On our way back home from the conference we were attending we made a slight detour to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln , near Hogenville, KY. One of our favorite things about visiting the National Parks and Historic Sites is the Jr. Ranger program .  We've been participating since The Princess was in kindergarten and the kiddos have earned quite a few badges.  Last summer I finally conned... er ...talked my mom into sewing up these little sashes for them to pin their badges to and wear when we visit National Park sites.  I think they turned out so cute--and the kiddos loved them:)  We really enjoyed the visitors center.  There was a very interesting film and some nice displays o...

I don't know how you feel about Proverbs 31, but it's always been an inspiring scripture passage to me.  I don't pretend to actually BE The Proverbial Woman, but I think that she represents what I can strive for as a godly woman. Lately, however, I have felt like I've been really falling short of serving my husband and kiddos in the way that I should.  I don't mean by "serving" that I should be slaving away daylight to dusk, but truly making our house a home and giving my all emotionally.  I have felt behind on everything house-wise and very short on patience lately, to just be honest.  I need some serious time-management therapy--even when and especially when our schedule is totally crazy. Because of all of these thoughts floating around in my head recently, I was thrilled when I saw the new summer Bible study that Good Morning Girls and Women Living Well is hosting: The Proverbs 31 Woman, One Virtue at a Time .  It's going to be for 14 we...

(photo taken at our church) Yep.  That's just how I felt on Mother's Day this year!  My family really spoiled me!  Handmade cards, handmade gifts, a hanging basket of petunias for our front porch, a new Scentsy warmer, a handmade plaque, flowers, meals out...the list just goes on.  I am very blessed.  (a handmade paper bouquet from the kiddos) (a lovely bouquet from Vince)  (a lovely surprise from the ladies at our church!) After we came home from a yummy lunch at a local Italian restaurant I was told by my kiddos to get into some comfy clothes, that they had a surprise for me.  And, boy, did they ever!  Out came the electric back massager, the nail polish, the hair accessories...you name it.  They proceeded to tell me it was a *spa day* and placed me in the *spa chair*.  I had The Works, folks!   There was a back massage, a pedicure and a new 'do.  Mr. B even brought me a coloring book and...

And it's Friday again.  Where do these weeks go?!   I don't know about your homeschool, but it's getting harder to stay focused around here--what with the weather being so gorgeous and all!  It's a good thing that we're tapering off here towards the end of our school year.  Yes, I do plan to do some school through the summer even though it will not be our regular schedule.  Just enough to avoid summer brain drain :)  But we are wrapping things up and our schedule is not even full now.   (indoor picnic) Mr. B has completed his math and grammar for the year already.  I am keeping him on his toes with another math workbook a couple of days a week and also some math websites on the other days.  We are also continuing his grammar lessons on an every-other-day basis.   The Princess has really finished her math for the year as well.  However, since we started using Singapore this year and they recommend starting one grad...