Borscht and Bread

Yesterday we had Borscht and Bread for lunch. We were studying Russia. We were reading Chapter 29 (I think) in Story of the World by Susan Wise Bower. It gave us a little Russian history info. I really enjoyed it. After we were done reading this, we ate lunch. I have to say that I liked it and so did 3 out of 4 of my kiddos!



I never liked beets as a kid. In fact I don't think hate is too strong a word for my feelings for beets as a child. But this recipe called for beets, so I bought fresh beets and cooked them, and cut them up in the soup. I was forced to eat one that had accidentally gotten in my bowl. After all I was making my kids eat it, I couldn't very well say "oh, mommy does not like beets" could I? So...I ate it. Wow, here is a shocker. FRESH beets are good. I never knew. I always had canned beets. But fresh beets are quite good it turns out.

So, even Mommy learned something yesterday. Okay, more that one thing...did you know that Ivan the Terrible killed his grandson, and that was the end of that Czar's dynasty??? The things I learn homeschooling.

Friday's Favorites

In my first Friday's favorites I told you how Hershey's Chocolate bars and peanut butter are one of my all time favorites, well Hershey's has done it again...


This new candy bar is revolutionary! Peanut butter IN the Hershey's Chocolate. No more dipping, no more chocolate slivers in the peanut butter. Not only that but this bar is HUGE. This is no regular bar. This is THE candy bar. My new best friend! (Sorry Sarah)

Now for my husbands favorite. Velcro! Not regular fabric store Velcro, no he has this industrial stuff that I'm sure you could build houses with.
He has little pieces of this stuff all over the house. He has some attached to my wine rack to store and charge his phone and ear piece. He has some on the dash of his car to hold his phone. No fancy schmancy car attachments. No just give him some Velcro and he's a happy man. Know what does not make him happy? Me making fun of his Velcro habit. I laughed my head off when I saw his laptop. He has a strip of Velcro across the top of his laptop to hold his stuff; some little computer accutrements to store vital work info, and he also has his phone and ear piece securely attached to the top of his laptop. He often has sticky notes attached to his laptop.

DO you see the look on his face? He loves his Velcro, he does not like me taking photos of him while laughing at his strange love affair with Velcro...

Vacuums and Blogger Dust

A free vacuum, I mean really, what could a homeschool mom want more. (Okay other than an all expense paid trip to Fiji with dh and NO KIDS! :o)

Pop on over to 5 Minutes for Mom at http://www.5minutesformom.com/1343/dyson/ remember you'll have to cut and paste that because I am technically challenged. But it's worth it if you want a free vacuum!

To learn about this amazing vacuum that you could enter to win go to http://www.dyson.com. Again, cut and paste.

One day some wonderful blogger fairy will post and tell me about these magic tricks I need to know. Perhaps I need blogger dust...wait, no more dust till I get a new vacuum!

Scary-me or Me?

Okay, didn't get to the shoes today...but soon...tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow.

Today is co op day. As I have stated several times, co op makes me tired. I read Another Celebrated Dancing Bear to my little kids. They liked it. It is a cute story, but really, it's the illustrations that are amazing. I could sit and look at them for hours. However, my kindergartners don't like to gaze at beautiful illustrations pondering the depth of the God given talent of the artist. They want me to turn the page and stop talking about the pictures. Sometimes I think picture books are wasted on little kids.

I am happy to say that next year's co op is looking up. When asked to teach my classes again, I agreed...with one caveat. I WILL NOT teach a first hour class. The administration will not allow me to show up in my pj's with my hair still sporting pillow dents, with my coffee IV. Because of the rigidity of the policies at my co op, I am precluding myself from first hour classes. Well, I am happy to report, I will be teaching 2nd and 3rd hour classes. OH HAPPY DAY! I don't have to be at co op until 9:30. By 9:30 I can handle life. I am me...not the scary-me who emerges from my bed. I don't know when the change happens, I think it is sometime around the second cup of coffee, but I turn from scary-me into me. I can be me by 9:30. I have learned this year that trying to be me by 8:30 is pushing it. Even one day a week.

Scary-me

It's Shoe Time...

Okay, today's the day. Really, I'm going to do it. The shoes and I are going to have a show down, and I'm going to win!

It simply must be done, they are vomiting out of their box and onto the closet floor...the closet I share with dh. Perhaps share is not quite accurate. Really, I magnaminously allow him one shelf and a small section to hang his few clothes. He does not even need a box for his shoes. He only has 3 pair! How on earth does anyone get by on 3 pair of shoes I ask you?...but, i digress.

So after school was finished yesterday, I went into the girls room UGH, clothes everywhere. I can hardly blame them for the clothes oozing out of their drawers and closet. They have SO many clothes. Again, where did it all come from? Does it multiply at night? Honestly, I know where it comes from. People give us a lot of girls clothes, I like to buy them clothes, They outgrow clothes so I buy them more. There is one crucial step in the process that is gumming up the works. The getting rid of outgrown clothes step. Why am I emotionally attached to dresses? Really, I think I am certifiable.

So last night I did it. I went through ALL their clothes. I saved maybe half of their winter stuff for next year. I got rid of stuff that they don't like but I do. This is progress for me. In years past I'd save it hoping...and it'd sit in there closet taking up space. Well no more...I have decided to much stuff is BONDAGE! I am turning over a new leaf. NO MORE UNNESSARY STUFF!

You should see the stuff I got rid of. I did not take pictures because my ego won't let me. Really, it was bad. But no more. All their winter clothes are stored away in Rubbermaid containers, and all their summer stuff is either hung up or in their drawers. If I could not fit it in their drawers, we got rid of something else.

WHEW! Okay, really, now on to the shoes. Today...shoes. Must do the shoes...my shoes and girls shoes. Interestingly, I don't have to go thorough the boys shoes, or clothes for that matter. Hummmm?

Tuesday's Truths

For todays Tuesday's Truths we are going to join In Other Words. For more info on that click on the Internet Cafe on the right.



"Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before... either into a creature that is in harmony with God ...or into one that is in a state of war with God. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other."
~ C.S. Lewis ~
Mere Christianity


Exodus 32 tells us about the time when the Israelites, began to worship idols because they had not seen Moses for 40 days. Really it is amazing to me that after having seen everything they had seen they so quickly stopped trusting God and made an idol.

He (Aaron) took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

How quickly they were willing to create their own god and attribute to this god the mighty works they had seen buy God the Father. In my Bible study last night we talked about how idol worship was probably the old standby for the Israelites after generations in Egypt. This was something they had seen done for generations one can suppose, and it was easy to fall back into when they were scared.

I have to admit that going into Bible Study last night, I thought “I don’t have trouble with idolatry; I’ve never made a Golden Calf in my life!” Boy did I have a thing or two to learn. I just as easily fall back to the familiar when I am scared. When I forget to trust God, I begin trusting others or things.

My husband or my friends become my sounding board and confidants. Instead of taking things to the Father, I take them to my husband or friends first. I seek their advice before the Fathers.

I trust my savings account, 401K, and my retirement plans to get me by, instead of the One who controls everything. I trust my husband’s ability to work to provide for us instead of the One who created his body with the ability to work. I trust my ability to plan for our future above the One who created my future.

As I read the rest of Chapter 32, I realized how very unhappy this idolatry of the Israelites made God. Many of them were killed, and God sent the rest plagues.

I am so glad that I have Jesus! I am so glad that I have the Holy Spirit to guide me. I am so glad that I have a merciful God who is slow to anger.

I think idol worship is something we all do. As a baby Christian, you start to understand that the love of money may be an idol you need to let go of. You begin working on that with Gods help. Then as you grow He begins to show you other areas of idolatry. I think as we grow as Christians we begin to let go of the things we trust more than God. It is a process, it is growth.

Just like David I pray…Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I Love Rain!

I know to some people rain is depressing. I have to admit, to many days straight of rain gets to me too. However, I love a warm spring rain. It is just so refreshing. It washes away all the dirt and grime and leaves everything so very green.

I am not the only one in my family who loves the rain. Here is my little Annika, playing in the rain. She loves that raincoat and boot set. It was a gift to her and she seldom gets to wear it. This is TX after all.



Oh, to be a kid again. While I was inside paying the bills, she was outside catching raindrops in her mouth.

Just to update you on some of my recent blog entries...the shoes are definitely NOT getting done today, and those brownies were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! :o) Although, not so good for my diet. I've had 2 already this afternoon.

A Day in the Life...And Where the Heck Did All These Shoes Come From?

This is what we look like during our homeschool. I am usually at the end of the table behind the laptop. Evelyn, and Gunnar are moaning their way through math, and Annika is doing her copywork.
I am not sure why Gunnar felt compelled to wear his motorcycle gear to do his math. Perhaps he is entertaining the fantasy that his motorbike will come to life and ride up to take him away from all this.


This is my oldest son doing his algebra. He likes to do his work in his room or in the backroom. He is not doing much schoolwork with the younger kids so this works out fine.
I am really pleased with the boys new beds. There are 2 like this in their room. They both have a bed up top and a desk on bottom. This has worked out really well, as they both have their own space.

After school, I need to go to the store...this annoying family I have likes to eat 3 or more times a day!
Then I need to change the sheets on my bed and finish up the last few loads from our camping trip. YES! I am still doing laundry from our camping trip.
Then I must do my bible study for tonight.
Then my one extra for the day is going through my shoes. I have SOOOO many shoes. It is really ridiculous. I don't wear most of them, I just can't seem to get rid of them. Well, today is the day (or maybe tomorrow :o)
I'll try to get up the nerve to post a before and after photo of my shoes. Really, it is shocking gluttony! (can you have gluttony with shoes, I don't think so, I'm not going to eat them, but there does not seem to be a better word do describe this type of shoe madness)

My List...

Okay, I am finally getting around to making my list for the Spring Reading Thing. It has been a long day. A good day, but a long one. I have quite long list. I very well may take me longer than Spring to finish this. Oh well, it is good to have goals, right? I'll add my reviews in italics next to the books as I finish them and maybe re post this post now and then.

So here are my categories…

Non Fiction, for my edification –
Sonlight catalog, (does this count :o)
Loving God with all your Mind by Elizabeth George
Magazine Article Writing by John M. Wilson
The Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published
The Idiot’s Guide to Getting Your Articles Published
I scanned the previous 3 books and returned them to the Library. None of them were earth shattering, but interesting none the the less.


Non Fiction Parenting books –
The Mission of Motherhood
The Ministry of Motherhood -
I had to take these books back to the Library so I could not READ them closely. I had to skim. These are such great books I should really buy them.
The Mom Walk all by Sally Clarkson
The Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp
Keeping Your Family Together When the World is Falling Apart by Kevin Leman


Fiction – Just for fun!!!
Monday Morning Faith by Lori Copeland
It didn't grab me. I have set it aside for now. Maybe I'll pick it up later. So far it has been Ho Hum.
Scoop by Rene Gutteridge -
This was a cute book. The book was dragging a bit at the end. Not earth shattering or hilariously funny. But a cute easy read.
Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins - Very good. This booked freaked me out a bit. I had nightmares. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but I felt like I was there!
Sweet Violet by Catherine Palmer -
Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker
This was a cute book. I it was a nice change of pace. Being that I'm not a size 4 either! :o)
Black Ice by Linda Hall - This book got it's own review here.
Split Ends by Kirsten Billerbeck -
This book I really liked. I gave it it's own review here.
Daughter of Silk
Written on Silk both by Linda Chaikin
I am usually a huge fan of Linda Chaikins books but for some reason I just could not get into this series. I may try again later.


To the Kids –
Finish Peter Pan
The Secret Garden
The Tangelwood Secret (can’t remember author)
Come Look With Me, Exploring Landscape Art with Children
Come Look with Me, Enjoying Art with Children
Come Look with Me, Animals in Art all by Gladys S. Blizzard-
These are great books! I think we'll slowly go through these books through the summer. I HIGHLY recommend these books.
Dangerous Journey The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress retold by Eerdmans

Because I am computer illiterate I can not figure out how to make that photo above a link. In fact, I can't figure out how to put a link in my blog at all. I have tried using the little insert link button above but it does not work. I am hopeless. So instead of doing this Spring Reading Thing like it should be done, I'll have to improvise. Please bear with me.

Over at Callapidder Days you can check this challenge out. You'll have to cut and paste because of my lack of computer savvy. But do it, really it's worth in. http://callapidderdays.blogspot.com/2007/03/spring-reading-challenge-are-you-in.html

I will be listing my reading later today. First I must get all my children doing what they are supposed to be doing (this could take a while) then I must go find all the books I want to read this spring (that could take even longer)

SO this post is TO BE CONTINUED...

BTW, if any of you computer nerds, ah I mean whizzes, would like to help me with the link thing you're welcome to leave me a comment sharing your great knowledge on how to put a link in my post, or really where I can find out these little blogging secrets myself. Is there a secret place in the World Wide Web where these little nuggets are stored? Is there a secret handshake or password I need to know to get in. Really, I want to know! I promise if you let me in the club I won't embarrass you...much. :o)