Homeschool Memoirs #19: Making A List

THEME
This week I want to set our minds on setting some goals for next year, whether personal, for the whole family, or for school.

Well, I don't normally make resolutions because I just never follow through. But a friend brought to my attention a new way of doing it. 101 things in 1001 days! So I'm super excited about it...I even have a new blog to keep up with what I do and what needs done. You can check them out here. AND if you want join in....leave me a comment with your link so I can follow you! :)

Wishing you a very...

Wishing you a very...

Wow!

I've been slacking! My blog was feeling soooo neglected, but I took care of that tonight. 7 posts in under 3 hours! I hadn't done any of the memes for the month of December. My time has been filled with Christmas preparations and the kiddies.

We put our tree up the day before Thanksgiving. We knew we'd be gone all day and then that Friday a WVU game was on - BTW they kicked USF's butt. It was wonderful but also sad because that was the last home game quarterback Pat White would play. He has been an excellent player and I can't wait to see how he does in the NFL draft. Until then at least I'll get to watch him the 27th playing a bowl game. Yay!

Here's a pic of the tree...


I still have so much wrapping to do. I told Robby I guessed the best time to do it would be at 2 or 3 in the morning. LOL Maybe I'll do that after blogging. Nah, it's already way past my bedtime.

I've been watching holiday movies like crazy. I love that this time of year. So many good family shows on. ABC Family and Hallmark are the best! A couple that come to mind are An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, Moonlight & Mistletoe and The Christmas Visitor. Absolutely Great!

Homeschool Memoirs #18: Winter Treats!

THEME

This week I want to invite you to share one of your favourite winter treats. A treat you look forward to making when the snow falls and include the recipe for it so others can try it out.

Usually when I think of this time of year's sweets I thik of my mom's Peanut Butter Balls or Blossom cookies. I don't make them because she always makes hundreds during the holidays. One thing I do enjoy is fudge - peanut butter and/or chocolate and it's even better when it's chocolate peanut butter fudge. :oD

Here is an extremely easy recipe for it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
1 can condensed milk
1 package of Almond Bark (white or milk chocolate)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups peanut butter

Melt chocolate in microwave.
Mix: milk, melted chocolate, and vanilla in a pot
Bring to a boil and boil 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Add: peanut butter
Beat thoroughly and pour into buttered glass dish.

Enjoy!

Homeschool Memoirs #17: Chores

THEME:

This week I would you to share how chores are done in your home. How you order your day with school and getting housework done. How do you decide which chores should be done by which child, of which age? I’m looking forward to hearing them!

Schedules? Me? hahahaha :oD Seriously, we are pretty lax around here. I keep the house neat and presentable but it's not spotless.

Laundry gets done everyday or at least every other day. This includes the cloth diapers. Usually what happens is I wash and dry and Robby folds. Gracie will help to fold them if she is feeling helpful. I don't ask her to do too much, or I don't think it's too much. I expect her to clean up her room on a daily basis because if it's not done it will get out of control. I don't expect perfection, but I expect her to try her best. She will help out by bringing me things I need or running items to another room. Vaccuming, dusting, sweeping floors are done weekly. Most of the time. *oopsy* Gracie loves to dust!! Whih is great because I don't like it. :o) Taking out he trash is Robby's thing...though I will gather it all up, but I don't take it to the road. Dishes are split between me and Robby - it's whoever gets to them faster. I'm bad about getting them ready; water, soap, and all and then walking away to do something else. I'm trying to do better though....

Homeschool Memoirs #16: Candy

THEME:

This week it’s seriously going to be just fun. This week share your favourite candies. I know from being on the HSBA Post team that Sprittibee and Dawn love gummy-bears, and maybe Bunny too. Have fun with this… and you’re welcome to post a photo of YOU eating your favourite candy. Haha!

God’s Word is also like sweetness to our souls. His sweet love, forgiveness, comfort, peace, and more is what makes our lives seem a little more bearable when things get rough. Whenever you eat your sweet piece of goodness remember that God loves you and will always be there when life seems sour.

Candy is sooooooo sweet and yummy. And bad for your teeth - remember that and brush accordingly! Ummmmkay. That was a mommy moment. :-D Now onto telling what my favorite goodies are...

Jolly Ranchers
Twizzlers
Rolos
Sugar Daddys
Gummy Bears
Kit Kats
and plain ol' Hershey bars (which I make even better by adding peanut butter)

BFS #114 Betcha’ Can’t Eat Just One

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Assignment: Tell us about something that you can’t get enough of and what scripture(s) in the Bible you cannot tear yourself away from.

Ok, now this is the second BFS dealing with food. Ya'll are really getting to me! LOL Good food is such a weakness! :o)

I go thru little spurts of wanting certain foods. I'm a really picky eater and there are just times that even if I like the food I just will not want to eat it. Drives my mom crazy, I tell ya! We will go to visit and she'll say "I made spaghetti" and I'll be like "Oh" and she says "But you like spaghetti!" Sorry Mommy! So, anyways, back to my point - I'm going to list a few of my latest cravings of the moment.

cheese crackers
macaroni & tomato salad
grilled cheese sandwiches

As for the Bible scripture that I can't get enough of I would have to say it's the book of Revelation.

BFS #113 Finger Lickin’ Good

Memory Verse: Matthew 14:19…Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.

Intro: Finger Lickin’ Good - You can read about Christ feeding the 5,000 in many places in the Bible (Matthew14:19;15:36; Luke 5:6;9:3-17). I am a fairly new Christian and one of the many things I love about reading the accounts of Jesus’ miracles, is that there was not a big drum roll, fireworks, a thousand dollar suit or an agent building up some big preview of what was about to happen. Jesus would calmly say things such as “have faith”, “believe”, “have them sit and pass out these loaves of bread”, and then the miracles began.

Assignment: Although I am not able to produce miracles, it sometimes feels like I need to when it comes to meal time. There are times when money is tight, groceries are few and I have to feed my family. During the holiday season, you might have so much going on that you need to make a meal quickly with as few ingredients as possible. This week post your favorite recipes that require six (6) ingredients or less. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Now this is something I know! LOL There are times that I need to find something quick and easy (and of course CHEAP!)and I always pick the same things. I can't really give you a recipe because it's that simple. :)

Grilled Cheese sandwiches & Tomato Soup
Usually it's just American cheese on bread but I've added dijon mustard (or regular yellow) and an addition slice of white american cheese to give it a little kick. To "spice" up the can of Campbell's soup you can sprinkle mozarella cheese in the center. Can you tell I like cheese? :oP

Breakfast!
This is sooo easy cause you almost always have a loaf of bread in the house. Add eggs of your choice and a side of bacon or sausage and you're good to go. You can also make sandwiches (eggs, bacon, and tomato w/ mayo or plain eggs). Again with the bread you can mix up a quick mixture (eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla) to coat it and have French Toast.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
For this all you need is about 1 lb of cooked chicken tenders (you can use breasts but the tenders are already cut :? whatever you prefer) and a box of Suddenly Salad Bacon Ranch flavored pasta and 1 cup mayo. Super easy and tasty meal that will last a day or two. Now this is good even without the chicken and I can eat it as a meal instead of just a side as some do.

Well, there are some of my fast fixes. Now I'm getting hungry. :)

BFS #112 America’s Favorite Dessert J-E-L-L-O

Memory Verse: Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Assignment: Write about your favorite ‘faith food’. Tell about the books of the Bible that you read that help to build your faith. Nurture the seeds of faith inside you. ex: Acorns become Oak trees.

It's so hard for me pick just one. I think there are so many that help me to build faith...but if I had to chose it would be the book of Genesis, Proverbs, and Psalms.

I've tried reading the Bible through and somehow just never seem to make it. My great-aunt Ruth, who is in her 90s and taught many years of bible school, told my mom that the best way to read and understand the Bible is to read the New Testament first and then the Old Testament. I believe I am going to try this and see if it works.

Proverbs 2:1 - 2:5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.