I'm Livin' My Dream

Week 8 of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

2012-02-25T18:49:00.001-08:00

This week we are reading through Song of Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. As we head into the prophets, I always pause. This is some difficult reading. It's hard for me for many reasons. Some of it is really dry reading. There is quite a bit of figurative language that makes it difficult to understand. And, the things that are prophesied (and that the Israelites eventually go through) are hard to fathom. Reading through the Bible so quickly does help me to understand this period in Israel's history more. When I've just recently read that God promised His people these very things would happen if they turned against Him, it's easier to see in the prophets- generations later- that they did turn against God and break their covenant with Him.

Leave a comment to let me know you are still reading along. And please let me know if I can pray for you. I would appreciate your prayers this week. We have quite a few missionaries at our church this week for Missions Festival/Global Impact Week. I'm helping with childcare, and my husband (who works at our church) is always very busy this week. Please pray for our visiting missionaries and for our family as we minister.

Bible in 90 Days: Psalms and Proverbs

2012-02-22T10:57:00.001-08:00

Today we finished up Psalms in our reading and headed into Proverbs. The Psalms are very difficult for me to read through so quickly. The Psalms are hymns, poetry; and reading them through in large chunks just doesn't seem right. But, I do read through them when we hit this section in reading through the Bible in 90 days.

I'm always impressed by the honesty we find in the Psalms. Yes, many of them are filled with praise and thanksgiving to God. In fact, so many of our wonderful praise and worship songs come from the Psalms. But, not all of them are happy and positive. Many are so filled with anguish and questioning. Why do the wicked prosper? Why have You forsaken me, God? Why do the wicked pursue me? It is encouraging to me to know that God desires fellowship with me. And, I don't have to pretend to be positive. I can be honest with God. I can express pain and frustration at the way things are. And that's okay. I know quite a few friends through blogging and in real life that are going through some major things now. And God knows what they're going through. When we talk to Him about it, we can be honest. And then we can remember to praise Him in the end.

I love Proverbs. It is another book that may be difficult in large chunks. I recommend a more in depth study of it later if you've never done that. When I was a senior in high school, we had the infamous "Proverbs Project." We were required to go through the book and categorize every verse. We wrote out every verse and put it in the proper category. At the end, we typed it all up in a nice, neat notebook. I still have mine. At the time, it seemed such a tedious chore. I can realize now how much we really learned, not only about the book of Proverbs, but also about in depth Bible study. I definitely recommend something like that for deeper study.

And so we finish up Psalms and head into Proverbs as we officially pass the mid point of our 90 day reading. We are halfway through the Bible in our 90 day journey. May God bless your daily reading!

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2-21-12

2012-02-21T16:36:00.001-08:00

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I haven't participated in this meme in quite a while. But, it seemed a cozy and homey sort of thing to write tonight.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...It has been partly cloudy all day, but the sun peeked through at times, and the weather was mild.

I am thinking...That I've been missing my husband who has been gone most nights lately working on our rental house.

I am thankful...That we have renters for our house and that they are friends who will be good renters.

In the kitchen...Tonight was beef tips with pasta and corn and beans. It wasn't anything new or different, but I cooked it in the crockpot, so it was super easy and ready when we were.

I am wearing...Sweats and a tshirt

I am creating...Ah... nothing at the moment. But, I did print off lesson plans for Charles's next literature unit and the little girls' lapbooks. That should count, hmmm?

I am going...Nowhere tomorrow until the evening when we'll head to church for supper, choir, and youth group.

I am wondering...How soon could I get away with saying it's bedtime and having everyone clean up?

I am reading...Um, a free Kindle read that would definitely be considered twaddle and probably isn't worth my time but is somewhat entertaining.

I am hoping...That Jason gets home soon.

I am looking forward to...Jason coming home (notice a theme here?)

I am learning...More about clean eating. It sparked my interest a few years ago, and we made some changes. We've slipped back into some old ways, but I've been considering it again, and that just happened to be our homemaking topic at Ladies Bible Study today.

Around the house...Right now the schoolroom looks like a crafting explosion, and there are Legos in my kitchen floor. But, it will be cleaned up by bedtime. I promise.

I am pondering...Absolutely nothing meaningful. In fact, the mere phrase brought to mind the old cartoon: "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering." "Yeah, Brain, how do they get the chickens to wear the nylons?"

A favorite quote for today...“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” C.S. Lewis- We were talking about answered prayer at Bible study today, and I thought this was fitting.

One of my favorite things...Having one of my children come up unexpectedly and hug me. Without wanting anything.

A few plans for the rest of the week:.. Church tomorrow evening; Soccer for Charles tomorrow; Ashlyne to the gym on Thursday and Friday; Kathryne to a birthday party Thursday; Kickoff for Global Impact Week at church this weekend

A peek into my day...

Child after my own heart reading and reading and reading.....

Week 7 of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

2012-02-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

This week begins the 7th week of reading through the Bible in 90 days. It is also the week in which we will officially pass the half way mark in our reading. We will be reading in Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon this week. These books are all poetical books (which makes it difficult for me to read large chunks of them at a time).

Around this time, I have found that many people drop out of reading. I would encourage you to press on. Many folks are so behind at this point that they feel they won't catch up. I would encourage you to keep reading a little extra each day. Even if you don't make it by the 90th day, you will have read the Bible through from cover to cover. I also have heard people say that they are quitting because they feel like they are just doing the reading to "get it done" each day. I do think that can happen. And, there are days I finish my reading and think, "What did I just read?" because I was so focused on getting done that I didn't pay attention to what I read. But, there are also days that I go into my reading with that check it off mentality and God really does speak to me through the day's reading. God can bless the reading of His Word even if we come to it with a lack of focus.

I encourage you to keep reading. I pray that God is blessing you as you experience the joy of reading His Word. Please share with me how it's going, and let me know if I can pray for you.

Week 6 of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days (a little late)

2012-02-14T17:12:00.002-08:00

I am a little late posting this week; but I am caught up with my reading, and I hope you all are.

This week we will be reading in Job and Psalms. To be honest, these two books are difficult for me always. Job is just a difficult book to read and make sense of. And Psalms, though some of my favorite Bible reading, are hard to read through so quickly. I think they just all sort of run together when I read so many at one sitting.

So, I've headed into this week with some foreboding and the need to pray that God blesses my reading even more.

Leave me a comment and let me know how your reading is going and if you have anything you'd like me to pray about.

Bible in 90 Days: Kings, Kings, and More Kings

2012-02-10T14:40:00.000-08:00

A couple of things have really made me think as I was reading through the lives of the kings this time:

1. There are so many of the "good" kings that have evil sons. Why is this? Are they too busy with ruling the kingdom to teach their families? Did they marry foreign wives who corrupted their sons? We really don't know. Obviously God's plan ultimately triumphs and His will is done. But, for whatever the reason, it really makes me pause as a parent to consider how well I am passing on what I value to my children? Will I leave a legacy that I was faithful but my children were not? Or will I pass on what God is doing in my life to my kids?

2. I've always wondered about Hezekiah's strange illness and his healing that eventually led to Judah's downfall. I've wondered why God didn't just let Hezekiah die. And then I've wondered what was so bad about asking to be healed. Today, I caught this in 2 Chronicles 32. I don't think I've noticed it before.

²⁵But Hezekiah did not make return [to the Lord] according to the benefit done to him, for his heart became proud [at such a spectacular response to his prayer]; therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

²⁶But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. So, it really wasn't God's miraculous healing of Hezekiah that was the problem or his desire to be healed. It was his pride- instead of giving the glory to God. This is another very sobering thought when I consider the prayers that God answers for me. Do I take credit? Or give Him glory? And, sometimes, when I might think God is answering "no", is His answer really for my ultimate good instead of my immediate good? Hmm, thoughts to ponder.

Anyway, things always strike me new each time I read through God's Word. I hope you are still reading along with us and that God is speaking to you as well.

Bible in 90 Days- Comparing Kings and Chronicles

2012-02-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

As I observed in Sunday's post, Kings and Chronicles look at the same time period in Israel's history with Kings being focused on the divided kingdom and Chronicles being focused on the kings of Judah.

I found this very neat website that has several charts to show the relationship between Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. It is written as a study with questions, but you can skim through and look at he charts if, like me, you are visual and this helps you understand the books.

Week 5 of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

2012-02-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

This week we'll be finishing up in Kings and heading to Chronicles. in 1 and 2 Kings, we read of the kings of Israel and Judah. In Chronicles, we read the same time period, but there is a focus on the kings of Judah.

I hope you are still reading along with us. This is a difficult time if you are starting to feel "behind", it is easy to get overwhelmed. If you get behind several days, just try to catch up little by little reading some extra each day.

Please leave a comment letting me know you're still reading and letting me know if I can pray for you specifically this week.

Bible in 90 Days- David and Bathsheeba

2012-01-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

Today's reading included the story of David and Bathsheeba. I'm always impressed by several things in this story, but this is what spoke to me today. It is in 2 Samuel 12: ²⁴David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved [the child];

²⁵He sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and [Nathan] called the boy's [special] name Jedidiah [beloved of the Lord], because the Lord [loved the child].

Now David had sinned with Bathsheeba, committing adultery and then murdering her husband. Their's was not a relationship established on very good things. But, out of their union- not from any of David's other wives comes Solomon, the son of wisdom, the son through whom the kingly line would continue. And his special name was Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.

God can take our frailties and failings and carry out His plan and His purpose. That's good news!

Week 4 of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

2012-01-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

Today is the 21st day of reading through the Bible in 90 days and the beginning of our fourth week. We'll be covering 1 Samuel 16-2 Kings 25 this week. I think that the time period of the kings was a sad one for the country of Israel. So many kings were bad and led Israel in abandoning God and running after idols. These kings that Israel was asking Samuel for in our reading this week really led to the continued downfall of God's people.

If you are still reading along with us, please take a moment to leave me a comment here. Let me know if I can pray for you specifically this week. May God bless you reading as you continue on.

Lessons from Judges- Bible in 90 Days

2012-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's (1-25-12) reading was day 17- Joshua 15:1-Judges 3:27.
Today's (1-26-12) reading was day18- Judges 3:28-15:12.

The book of Judges holds so many interesting lessons. Every time I read it, I am struck anew with the behavior of the Israelites and with God's grace and mercy to them again and again. Now, we just left off in Deuteronomy where Moses was reminding the people of God's laws and warning them not to forsake God. Then in Joshua, God miraculously fought for His people again and again. At the end of Joshua's life, he once more reminds the people of God's laws. And they collectively assure Joshua that they will serve the Lord. Fast forward not too many years to the book of Judges.

Judges 2: ¹⁰And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers, and there arose another generation after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, or even the work which He had done for Israel.

¹¹And the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.

¹²And they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, Who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods of the peoples round about them and bowed down to them, and provoked the Lord to anger.

¹³And they forsook the Lord and served Baal [the god worshiped by the Canaanites] and the Ashtaroth [female deities such as Ashtoreth and Asherah].

My first thought is: Are you serious?! In only one generation, the people did not know God and forsook Him to worship other gods. What a convicting thought for me as a parent. It is not enough for me personally to know God, I must pass that on to my children or they will be the generation that comes along that doesn't know the Lord.

Then, after that convicting thought, comes the realization that God can use messed up, imperfect people to carry out His plan. Barak argued and wouldn't go to war without Deborah the prophetess. Gideon was so afraid that He tested the Lord numerous times and still sneaked out in the night to topple the altar to Baal because he was afraid of his family. Jephthah was the son of a harlot who made a rash vow. Samson had problems with his temper and specifically disobey God on many occasions. But, God used all of these men to be judges who delivered His sinful, unfaithful people again and again.

Judges is an awesome picture of God's plan being fulfilled despite our imperfections!

Week Three of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

2012-01-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

We are heading into week three of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I am currently caught up in my reading; although I must admit that I have a hard time reading through the books of the law. I'm glad that we're headed out of Deuteronomy and into Joshua this week. I enjoy biblical history and always look forward to those books.

Please check in on this post if you can. Let me know you're still reading along. If you have any specific prayer requests for the week. I pray that God is blessing your reading and that you are learning more about Him through this.

Bible in 90 Days- Day 13; Numbers 32:20-Deuteronomy 7:26; Saturday January 21

2012-01-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

Today's reading contains one of my favorite Bible passages. These are our theme verses for our homeschool.
Deuteronomy 6: ⁴Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

⁵And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

⁶And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

⁷You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.

What an awesome responsibility for parents to constantly be teaching their children the things of the Lord. I think homeschooling has been such a great way for us to do this because we are with our children so much that we have many opportunities to teach them all along the way.

As many times as I have read through the Bible, I still see new things each time I read. Today I noticed this in Deuteronomy 1: ²It is [only] eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea [on Canaan's border; yet Israel took forty years to get beyond it]. A journey that should have taken 11 days took 40 years because of Israel's disobedience! How many times do I settle for less than God's best for me and have to learn the hard way because of my disobedience? Ouch!

Bible in 90 Days- Day 10- Leviticus 26:27-Numbers8:14

2012-01-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Today's reading (and indeed all of Leviticus and Numbers) is difficult reading for me. I must confess to not understanding much of the Levitical law and why God gave it to us in His Word. There are just some of the laws that I don't understand. And, why do still think it necessary to follow some of those laws today but not all of them? How do we choose?

What I do get from the books of the law in the Old Testament is that God wants His chosen people to be holy and set apart. The laws that he gave are all designed to set apart His chosen people, to ensure that they act differently form the pagan nations around them. And that is a principle that I think we can hold on to now, despite the confusion of the books of the law. We can remember that God does want us to be holy and set apart for Him. We aren't to "blend in" with everything around us in the ways we act and live and think.

Here is a good article by John Piper explaining the relationship of law and grace. And, here is another article about why God gave the law. Even though I still don't fully understand, these articles help me to have a grasp on the law.

Week Two of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days Check In

2012-01-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

I hope you've gotten off to a great week of reading through the Bible. If you didn't see the terrific resource that Amy from Mom's Toolbox shared earlier in the week, you can find it here. It is a terrific set of pages that help you to see exactly what is going on in the part of the Bible that you are reading.

I hope you are all caught up with your reading, but I must admit that I am a day behind right now. I often find myself missing my Saturday reading and reading extra on Sunday. I broke my own rule by playing on the computer and reading for fun before I finished the day's reading.

It's a good time to talk, though, about what to do when you get behind. When you are reading 11-16 chapters a day, how can you catch up? Just read. Don't worry about reading two whole days at a time if that overwhelms you. Instead read some extra each day until you are caught up. Read in bite sized amounts throughout your day. It can be done. If I can waste away an hour or more stalking Facebook and Pinterest, I can surely read my Bible that long!

If you can, please check in on this post and let me know how you are doing. I'd be glad to pray for any specific requests you have also.

Bible in 90 Days: A great resource!

2012-01-12T18:18:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about reading through the Bible quickly in this program is that you get a really good picture of when things happened. If you've never read through the entire Bible, however, this can be a little confusing. This resource from the creator of the Bible in 90 Days program provides background information to help the reader see exactly where in the Bible (and history) you are. If you're a timeline buff like myself, you will be especially enamored of these great pages! Amy at Mom's Toolbox shares them with us, and they are in handy PDFs if you want to print them out. :-)

Bible in 90 Days- Day 3 (1-11-12): Genesis 28:20-40:11

2012-01-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

Today's reading from Genesis continues to follow the family of Jacob as he journeys to find his wife (wives). We read about Jacob's wives, concubines, and many children.

I'm always impressed when I think that this is the line through which God was planning all along to bring His son, the line that God chose to be His special people. Can you imagine any more dysfunctional family? Jacob and his mother lied and deceived his father, so he had to flee for his life before his brother killed him. Jacob's new father-in-law deceived him on several occasions. Jacob's wives lived in continual disharmony and jealousy fighting over who had the most children and bargaining for sexual intimacy. When Jacob finally left his crooked father-in-law, his favorite wife stole the family idols and lied about it. Jacob, not learning from his own family's mistakes, favored one of sons over all others, leading to the brothers plotting to kill the favored son and eventually selling him into slavery.

Yet, out of all of this dysfunction, God has a plan. And, as we watch the Old Testament unfold, we will see time and time again, that God has chosen to use these faulty, broken people to bring His plans to pass.

Bible in 90 Days- Monday January 9- Day 1

2012-01-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

Today's reading covered creation through some of Abraham's life. I am reading from the Amplified Bible this time. I like using different translations to get more clarity. Today I used Biblegateway.com to read. I like to pull up the day's reading on my computer at the beginning of the day and have it ready to read throughout the day as I have time. One thing about this reading method is that there is not much time for in depth study. I like to write down any questions I have, so that I can study them in more detail later.

Week One of Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days Check In Post

2012-01-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

Woohoo. Here we are. Tomorrow we start our journey through the Bible in 90 days. Please check in in the comment section below with any prayer requests you may have and just to let me know you're jumping off with us tomorrow.

This week, we'll be reading in Genesis and Exodus. Amy from Mom's Toolbox has hosted Blogging through the Bible in 90 Days many times now and has a great page for week one telling you what to expect and linking to her daily devotional for each day's reading. You can check it out here.

Each week, I'll try to give you a suggestion/encouragement along your reading journey. This week's tip: Don't read anything else for the day before you read your Bible. This was a big help to me because I'm an avid reader and always have at least one other book going along with my Bible reading. When I choose not to pick up another book before I read my Bible, I make it a top priority and help ensure that I complete the day's reading.

Bible in 90 Days: Ready, Set, Read

2012-01-07T15:46:00.001-08:00

On Monday will begin our spring session of reading through the Bible in 90 days. So, what do you need to do to get ready?

1. Download your reading schedule here.

2. Pray. As you read each day, ask God for guidance and ask Him to speak to you through His word.

3. Be prepared to read some every day. Even if you are short on time, read something. If you cannot finish the reading for the day, at least you will not have so much to make up the next day. For this program, listening to the Bible will not count. To read through the Bible in 90 days, you need to read God's Word from cover to cover. To find out more about this, you can read this great post from Amy at Mom's Toolbox.

4. Plan to check in here with me each Sunday. I will have a post telling you what to expect in this week's reading and let you know how I'm doing in my reading. Just leave me a comment on that week's post to let me know how you're doing and how I can pray for you.

5. Let me know how to get in touch with you. If you don't have a blog or don't blog regularly, leave me an email address. I'd love to be able to touch base and see how your reading is going and see how I can pray for you.

6. Grab a button if you'd like. You can put the button above on your own blog to show your followers that you are reading through the Bible in 90 days.

What day is it anyway?

2012-01-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

I am so utterly confused about what day it is. It started with Christmas Eve. We watched football and went to church. Now, that seems like Sunday. But, the next day (which was really Sunday), we didn't go to church, and there wasn't any football until the evening. But, Jason wasn't working, so that seemed like Saturday. Then I have no idea what days happened between Christmas and New Years because Jason wasn't working half the time and we weren't doing school. Then we didn't start back to school yesterday, so today was really Monday, right? But, apparently not. Because our Wednesday night dinners start tomorrow night. Arrgh!

All I really know is that I am beyond ready to get into a routine. Life is changing slightly for us. I am going to keep a baby three days a week beginning this week. We're very excited about having a baby around (and about making a little extra money). I want to slow our pace down and stay home more, and keeping the baby should help with that. I'm also hoping to get some chances to keep the little girl that I kept full time year before last. We had her today, and at almost 3, she's lots of fun. So, there may be some days we have a baby and a toddler here!

We're heading off into a new year. Here we come!

Bible in 90 Days- Starts Monday, January 9

2012-01-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

I'm still planning to begin reading through the Bible in 90 days next Monday, the 9th of January. If you'd like to read along, please check out this post. So far I don't have anyone signed up to read with me.

Amy at Mom's Toolbox has some great information as we head into week one. You can check it out here. If you'd like to read but don't have a Bible in 90 days Bible, you can download the reading schedule here. And, if you'd like to read with a group but don't want to read with me, you can find other sites hosting a read along here.

Reading through the Bible in 90 days is a big task but one that is so worth it. If you're thinking about it, come and join me.

2011 Year in Pictures

2011-12-31T10:22:00.000-08:00

January: Snow! And the completion of the Harry Potter Lego set from Christmas.

February: A valentines party with homeschool friends and a Mother/Daughter party at Chick Fil A

March: Ashlyne's gymnastics class meet- She placed first in three events and in overall.

April: Easter

May: Warm weather and the end of baseball season

June: Kathryne stars in Frog and Toad at the Community Theater and we participate in Kidshine again.

July: The beach

August: Rachel's 6th birthday

September: Big Read is totaled when a tree falls on us. On a happier note, Ashlyne loses both front teeth and can sing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."

October: Windy Hill Orchard trip and pumpkin carving

November: I go to the midnight premier of Breaking Dawn.

December: Merry Christmas!

And More Plans for the New Year

2011-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

I love to plan. Sometimes I love the planning lots more than the follow through. I've had more free time the last couple of days since the Christmas decorations are down and the house is finally clean. So, I've been planning. One goal I have this year is to get back to basics- to start doing again some of those organizational things I've done in the past that really helped me but that I've let slip away.

Several years ago I read Managers of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores. Even though even I am not quite as structured as the books suggest, I did get some valuable information from them. For instance, I schedule our homeschool days out in blocks. I don't have an every 30 minute breakdown. And we really work more in routines than in a timed schedule. But, the basic concept is there.

Another great idea I got from Managers of Their Chores was breaking down all the required household chores into what is needed for daily/weekly/quarterly chores. From that, you can assign chores to various children. I had a nice chart done like this several years ago. But, as in all things, we are in a different season of life now. I am more physically limited. My children are older and are more capable. And, I have different priorities. So, I've redone our master chore list. If you are as crazily bit by the organizing bug as myself, you can see it here.

Now, I'm all set for the new year. If only I can execute as well as I've planned.

New Year New Goals

2011-12-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Lamentations 3 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

I love new beginnings. A new day, a new month, a new season (except winter), a new school year, a new calendar year all make me feel new. I get the chance to re do, to re plan, to re think things. I'm a great fan of new year's resolutions- not because I think we can't change any other time of the year, but because I love that clean slate feeling that comes from hanging up a new calendar and knowing I have a fresh new set of twelve months. What's done is done. It can't be undone. But, I can start new and fresh for the new year.

This year, I'm tracking all of my goals on SparkPeople- a resource I've used more or less consistently in the past. Even though it is specifically a weight loss/fitness site (which I need), there is a place to track any goals you list. So, I've listed all my goals for the new year on my SparkPeople profile to check up each day and week.

I'm using this verse from Luke 2 to help categorize my goals for the year:

⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

In wisdom (personal growth):

1. Read 5 classics for the year.

2. Read 5 devotional/doctrinal books for the year.

3. Attend homeschool convention in March.

4. Develop more resources for Teachers Pay Teachers website.

In stature (physical growth):

1. Exercise 5 days a week.

2. Go to bed earlier- by midnight. (I know this may sound late, but I am a night owl and tend to read at night and not go to sleep.)

3. Get up by 8am every morning.

Favor With God (spiritual growth):

1. Read through the Bible twice in the year.

2. Pray daily and regularly using ideas from In Constant Prayer. (This was a great book about praying the hours that I read this past year.)

3. Complete one in depth Bible study.

4. Memorize 4 Bible chapters throughout the year- one per quarter.

Favor With Man (social growth):

1. Blog 5 times a week.

2. Read and respond to blogs 5 times a week.

3. Get together with godly women in real life once a month.

Bible in 90 Days: Coming Soon

2011-12-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Reading through the Bible in 90 days will begin again two weeks from today. I plan to start reading on Monday, January 9. It's not too late to let me know if you'd like to read along with me. You can find the information post here. And you can still look for other mentors at Mom's Toolbox. I plan on posting details for reading on Monday, January 2 (and some resources to help you). Let me know if you'd like to read along.

And To All a Good Night

2011-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day 2011 is drawing to a close. I have loads of great Christmas pictures, but these will show you exactly what my house looks like in the aftermath of Christmas.

We open our presents on Christmas Eve, so this was from this morning. The tree actually has twice as many opened gifts now because we did our present opening with Jason's family today.

This table is laden with every goodie imaginable. We have cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, cinnamon sugar pecans, fudge, and jello squares (in the fridge).

And, I left dirty dishes in my sink this morning. Yes, I didn't wash them. And, I'm not ashamed. :-)

Tonight, we've played with Christmas toys, watched one of our DVDs and now are settled in to watch the Packers beat the Bears on Sunday night football. Tomorrow will be a recovery day, then I suppose the cleaning up will have to begin, so that next week we can get back into a school routine.

But, for now- Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

It Happens in December

2011-12-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas a strange phenomenon happens at our home. I forget that I cannot cook. You see that gorgeous table in the picture? It's not my table. But, every year in December, I seem to think it could be.

There's a form of selective amnesia involved here too. I think it is akin to pain in childbirth. I seem to forget every year that I still can't cook. It's as if I think the cooking fairy has come to visit throughout the year.

This year, we've made or attempted to make gingerbread houses, two sets of three dozen cookies, white chocolate snack mix, oreo truffles, chocolate dipped pretzels and fudge. The gingerbread houses are collapsing. The oreo truffles fell apart in the white chocolate dip. I'm afraid to cut my fudge because last year it never hardened. Each time we've done this "cooking" I've felt on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Can I just admit that Christmas isn't my favorite holiday?

Next year, all I want for Christmas is a personal chef. Seriously.

Why Read Through The Bible in 90 Days

2011-12-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

If you're thinking about signing up to read through the Bible in 90 days, you might be pondering why this is a good idea. I've heard critics of the Bible in 90 Days program argue that the reading is done too quickly to really take in what is read, that reading becomes something just to get through, and that the program is competitive.

When I first read through with the program in January of 2010, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was motivated to read through in 90 days because I had been reading through the Bible in a year since high school and really wanted a new challenge. For me, reading through in a year made it too easy to skip days. I'm a very avid reader, and I could easily skip many days and "make them up" later. So, even though I was reading through in a year, I wasn't developing consistency. I also was having trouble connecting the stories of the Bible when I read through in a year. What I read in January in Genesis, I had "lost" by the time I was reading through Revelation in December. There was no flow, just a disjointed collection of chapters and verses.

Reading through the Bible in 90 days demands consistency. If I miss a day, there is so much to make up. I am careful to stay faithful! Reading through the Bible in 90 days also helps the reader to maintain a steady flow of reading from Genesis to Revelation. Now, when I struggle through the long hard reading of the law, I can relate that to God's plan for His chosen people. And when the people fall into sin and are taken into captivity, I can relate the sometimes difficult reading of the prophets to those very laws and how God's people have broken them. I love the way my reading flows.

I will admit that you cannot read slowly or to study the Bible in this program. You will be reading through quickly with a large chunk of reading each day. I have solved this for myself in this way. In January-March, I read through in 90 days. Then I take some time to do a more in depth study of a book or a topic for a few months. Then I read through in July-October again, leaving a few months for more in depth study.

I also admit that there are days that I don't feel like reading, and I just read to be done. As with any physical discipline, spiritual disciplines are not based on feelings. I don't do the right thing because I feel like it. I do the right thing because I know it is right. Yes, there are days that I don't really want to read. I'd rather be on Facebook. Or blogging. Or reading fiction. But, when I do read anyway, I am blessed. God's Word speaks to me. And, I am thankful that I read. So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

I don't think this program is competitive. I do think it works better with accountability. If you are reading along with others who are going to ask you to check in each week, you'll read more consistently and have a better chance for success. Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

If you are considering reading through the Bible in 90 days with me, please leave me a comment along with you email address on this post. I am going to start my reading on January 9.

Bible in 90 Days Spring Session

2011-12-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

As many of my readers know, I've been reading along with Mom's Toolbox for the last four Bible in 90 Days reading sessions. In this last session, beginning in July, Kathryne who is 12, joined me in reading. I've so enjoyed reading and mentoring with Amy at Mom's Toolbox.

We'll soon be approaching January, and I am planning to read through the Bible in 90 days again. And, this time, Amy is doing things a little differently. This time, she has invited us to host the read through on our own blogs! This is a big thing for me. I've never even tried to host a meme- much less something as large as a reading program. But, I feel very strongly about the impact of reading through the Bible in 90 Days. So, here I go. I plan to begin my program on January 9. For the next few weeks, I'll be posting more about why I think the Bible in 90 Days program is great and why I hope you'll consider it if you never have before.

For now, here are some details:

What: Read through the Bible in 90 days.

When: Begin on January 9 and complete reading by April 7.

Where: Sign up here in the comments to read with me. Please leave me some way to contact you. If you'd like to read, but would like to read with someone else, please visit this post at Mom's Toolbox to find another group you'd like to read with.

How:
1. Read through the entire Bible using any version you'd like. I'll be posting a link to a downloadable schedule.
2. For the sake of this program, you need to read, not listen to, the entire Bible. This is meant to be a reading program, not a study program.
3. You will need to commit to check in with me at least once a week here on my blog. I'll have a weekly check in post to make that easy.

Feel free to ask any questions. I plan to post links to resources and more information by the first week of January. For now, please pray about joining me this spring. And sign up in the comment section if you know you're in.

December Molly Digest- Molly Saves in the Powder Room

2011-12-04T07:46:00.001-08:00

Every month when I know that the current Molly Digest has been posted, I am excited to read it. I don't consider myself a very good homemaker, and I'm certainly not a very creative one; but reading the digest makes me feel like a homemaker. Each issue has inspired me to be more creative and encouraged me to be frugal and to save my family money. I don't often "gush" about a book or product that I review, but I have been truly impacted by the digests I read each month.

So, enough gushing. December's Molly Digest is about saving money in the "powder room." I thought the title was so cute. We all have a bathroom, but somehow we don't like to talk about it!

My house is older, and both of our bathrooms are sooo small. Storage is a big issue for us with four children sharing the bathroom. So, I was excited to see some ideas for storage in small bathrooms in this issue. I especially liked the idea of repurposing an old dresser as storage. I can definitely see a way that I could use this in my small hall bathroom. I think I'll be on the lookout for a dresser at the thrift stores.

I've often contemplated making some of our cleaners instead of using harsh chemicals, but I haven't attempted it. This issue has ingredients and recipes for homemade bathroom cleaners, and there is even a great idea for putting these cleaners and recipes in a gift basket for a gift idea. Wouldn't that be a great shower gift for a new bride!

Another very interesting article was the one about keeping the air in your home moisturized during the dry winter months. There are several of us in our family prone to really dry skin and the dry night time cough. I've never thought of alternative ways to keep moisture in the air (other than a humidifier). I'm definitely going to try these.

The book review this month was for 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way. I tend to be a Martha, caught up in the need to "get things done", and I confess that I often neglect the better things, like worshiping and seeking God each day. I'm going to look up this book for sure!

All of these great articles are included this month as well as all the usual great links and printables, a recipe for basic broth, a meal of the month planned out with recipes and supplies needed, a so cute idea for making homemade decorative soaps that my daughter is going to use for Christmas, Tightwad Training Camp, and the pet care article. You can purchase this month's digest at The Old Schoolhouse Store or subscribe to be a Molly Member at the Econobusters website.

E-Mealz: A Meal Planning Wonder?

2011-11-10T13:59:00.001-08:00

In my never ending search for some meal planning tool that will hop right into my kitchen and actually prepare my family's supper, I have stumbled on to yet another tool- E-Mealz.

E-Mealz, like many other online meal planning tools I've tried, is a subscription program that allows the user to pay a three month at a time fee and access a weekly menu and shopping list. Because I've tried so many of these programs now, I feel that I am quite the expert. So, here is the good, the bad, and the simple facts about E-Mealz.

The Good:
* At $15 for three months, this is a fairly reasonably priced meal planning program. That breaks down to $5 a month- much less than the cost of eating out once.
* E-Mealz, unlike some other plans I've tried, allows the user to choose a grocery store from among a few offered. If a store is chosen, the meal plans will match the sale items for that store that week.
* The grocery list is divided into categories, making it much easier to find items in the store. Items that would regularly be found in the pantry are listed separately. And, there is space to add items on the list.
* Another really nice thing about the list: items are labeled with the meal they are used in; so if you decide not to use a meal one week, you can eliminate those grocery items easily.
* There are a variety of programs offered for different sizes of families and different food allergies/diets.

The Bad:
* This program auto renews after three months using your credit card information, so if you decide you don't want to continue, you have to remember to cancel- not an easy feat for those of us who are memory challenged.
* Weekly menus are not sent by email. The user has to log into the site each week to access the menu- a minor inconvenience, but it is an extra step.
* This one was a big deal to me- only two menus are ever available at a time- the current week and the previous week. This is a pain because if I don't like a week's plans, I like having an archive of menus to choose from. I can print each week's menus and grocery lists and save them, but that takes printer ink. And, if we're on vacation, I miss a week.
* The grocery store options are VERY limited. I don't shop at Walmart for a variety of reasons, and the only main stores I do use- Food Lion and Target were not choices. In fact, none of the other stores listed are even available in my area. There is an "any store" list, but that sort of defeats the purpose of matching store sales to menu planning.
* There is no trial period offered. There are sample menus and shopping list for each meal plan, but seeing one list doesn't really help me to know whether or not I like a plan.

The Simple Facts:
* This program STILL doesn't prepare my meals for me. Yes, I know this shouldn't come as a surprise anymore, but the fact remains that any meal plan program I use is only as good as the cook-me.
* I have seen many, many (many) meal planning programs online, and this one just doesn't measure up. The cost, compared with the features offered, just isn't comparable. I've seen similarly priced programs with archives, trial periods, and a month by month payment system that makes it easier to cancel.

I've been pretty disappointed with the program. I signed up about three weeks ago and really haven't made much use of it. I have already made a note on the calendar to cancel before my three months are up. You can get more information and check out the sample menus at the E-Mealz site.

But, unfortunately, it still won't cook my dinner.

NovemberMolly Digest Review- Molly Saves in the Laundry Room

2011-11-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Laundry, laundry, laundry. In my house it seems never ending. So, I was thrilled to see this month's Molly Digest- Molly Saves in the Laundry Room.

Although I am thankful to not have to cook Thanksgiving Dinner (but to eat two of them), I do contribute a side or two to the dinners we attend. So, I was interested to see the recipes for traditional Thanksgiving sides.

Because I am often guilty of complaining about the laundry I have to do and the space I have to do it in, I was encouraged and inspired by Eleanor Joyce's article about changing our perspective about where we do laundry when we think about what doing the laundry looks like all over the world. And, yes, it was a little convicting to realize how good I have it even when I'm frustrated by my tiny laundry space. I also loved Eleanor's idea for using an old shopping cart to make a rolling laundry hamper. What a great idea, and what an easy way to make it possible for everyone in the family to have a turn bringing the laundry to the laundry room!

Another favorite article of mine in this digest was the ideas for using common household products to remove stains. With four children, we have plenty of stains in our house, so I need plenty of ideas for how to remove them.

These were some of my favorite articles this month. All of this along with Molly's usual pet care column, Tightwad Training Camp, printables, links, and plenty of recipes make this month's digest great!

You can purchase it at The Old Schoolhouse Store or buy a Molly Membership at the Econobuster's website.

Review of Molly Digest- October- Molly Saves in the Dining Room

2011-10-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

This month's Molly Digest- Molly Saves in the Dining Room- is once again full of some great ideas. From a recipe for the perfect gravy- which fascinated me because I didn't know there was a recipe for gravy!- to links for holiday decorating and gift ideas, I was very pleased with the Digest.

I loved the party decorating and buffet ideas- perfect for the not so creative me. And I cannot wait to try to the recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Impossible Pie. Peanut butter is its own food group around here, so this is sure to be a favorite.

There are some great book recommendations for sprucing up the presentation of your dining room and what you serve in it. I'm not really a decorator, so some of these were over my head. But, some are practical enough even for practical me. I also loved the repurposing idea of creating a glass carafe for a guest room using old jars. Again, I'm not sure how practical this craft is for my noncrafting self, but I would love to make one.

There are some very practical ideas for accommodating guests with food allergies and some great natural beauty treatments. Frugal dining room table decorations, a great idea about "eating your Bible", and the usual great articles involving pet care, Tightwad Training Camp, and a book review are also in this month's digest.

Once again, I would definitely recommend this month's Molly Digest. You can find it in The Schoolhouse Store here or find out about becoming a Molly Member on the Econobuster's website.

I received a free issue of the digest for review purposes. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Preventing Forest Fires (Sort Of)

2011-10-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

No this post isn't really about fire prevention. Sorry to mislead. It's actually about over scheduling- which does seem to be like an all consuming fire. But, that's not really the reason behind my title.

One of Jason's favorite sayings is "Smokey the Bear says, 'Only you can prevent forest fires.'" Meaning of course that when I complain about being tired after reading until 1am, he says, "Smokey the Bear says, 'Only you can prevent forest fires.'" When I am feeling not so hot because I've been too busy and haven't eaten lunch, he says, "Smokey the Bear says, 'Only you can prevent forest fires.'" When I am exhausted because I've over scheduled yet again, he says... well, you get the idea.

And he's absolutely right. Yet, here I am again. In the last two weeks, we have had only four days that we were at home most of the day. Four. In 14 days. And in the next two weeks, I counted six that we will be home most of the day. Six. In 14 days. This is crazy. It wreaks havoc on school time, and meal planning, and, don't even think my house is clean. Something has to change. And I am determined to reevaluate my schedule and cut out something, anything. As soon as I have time to sit down and do it.

Bible in 90 Days- Week 10

2011-09-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

I was behind after yesterday, so I read two days worth today to catch up. I am currently reading in the prophets. Today's reading covered Daniel to Amos. I read one of my favorite Old Testament books tonight- Hosea. The love story in Hosea between Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer is a beautiful picture of God's faithful love for His people even when they (we) are unfaithful to Him.

Kathryne was caught up as of yesterday, but I think she may have skipped today.

Very soon we'll be headed out of the Old Testament and into the New- just a little over 20 days left to read!

Molly Digest Review- September- In The Family Room (And a Contest!)

2011-09-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am more than pleased with this month's Molly Digest- Molly Saves In the Family Room. In this month's digest I found frugal ideas for decorating and organizing the family room as well as frugal ideas for family entertainment. Along with all these great ideas were the usual meal idea for the month, pet tips from the vet, frugal teaching for teens, and all the exciting links and forms to print. After you read about this month's awesome features, enter to win your own copy.

There were two ideas for repurposing old pieces of furniture to make beautiful coffee tables for the family room. One used a child's train table and the other an old drawer. I read these two articles especially carefully because I haven't had a coffee table since my children were tiny, and I would love to use one of these frugal ideas to make my own. There are some definite possibilities.

This month's Meal of the Month was very appealing also. I would love to try the Honey Lime chicken on the grill. And, any recipe that only involves a few ingredients is always a favorite for me.

My family is always looking for new ideas for family nights, and this month's digest has several good ideas for fun family times that are still frugal. Movie nights are fun, and there are several suggestions for dinner and a movie without breaking the bank.

I'm loving my monthly Molly Digest and look forward to putting some of this month's ideas into practice! You can check out this month's Molly Digest at The Old Schoolhouse Store and find out more about becoming a Molly Member at the Econobuster's website.

You can also enter to win a copy of this month's digest. Please comment here and let me know what your favorite, frugal family night is. Enter before September 15th and win a copy of this month's digest!

Bible in 90 Days Update

2011-09-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

I didn't post on Monday, but I am currently caught up in my reading. Kathryne is also caught up. We both had a few days to make up this week because of Labor Day and the car difficulties.

We are reading through the prophets- always some difficult reading. I've found that reading in The Message Bible makes this part of the Old Testament a little easier. At Biblegateway, you can read in different translations and even in parallels. I like to type in the reference for the day's reading and parallel The Message with the New American Standard.

Not long before we head into the New Testament reading.

The Good, the Bad, and the Really Bad

2011-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Talk about a week of highs and lows!

Sunday night, Kathryne and Charles were invited to spend the night with friends, so the little girls went to grandparents and Jason and I had a date night.- The Good.

On Monday evening (Labor Day) we headed home from supper at Jason's mom and dad's and ran full on into a bad storm. Heading down a dark and stormy road, we were attacked by a falling tree- Bad.

No one was severely injured by said tree. I was covered in glass. I've never seen so much car glass. But, all of us were safe.- The Good.

Poor Big Red our van was totaled by the tree.- Really Bad.

My dad went in to the hospital for a heart cath. No major blockages were found, and he was released home with only medication.- Really Good.

On the way home from sitting with my parents in the hospital, Jason's car broke down, leaving us with no working vehicle.- Really Bad.

So, here we are. Jason has readied the van for towing away. He has (mostly) fixed his van. We are borrowing a vehicle through the weekend and need to go van shopping soon.

Wow!

Here is my verse for this week:
“Hurry with your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God— you're my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.” Psalm 143:10 MSG

Very appropriate, don't you think?

Bible in 90 Days -Week 8

2011-08-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am currently caught up on my reading and am now reading in the prophets. Admittedly, the prophets are some dry and difficult reading for me. I often wonder why the Israelites never got it right- even after repeated warnings. But, I suppose I often don't get it right myself. I also wonder about the crazy things these people did. What did their contemporaries think of them? They sure did have some interesting lives!

Kathryne is also currently caught up, and we are on the downhill side now- over halfway through!

Something to Think About

2011-08-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

As you look on the church landscape, youth are leaving the faith in droves. The modern church, overall, is struggling to reach the next generation with the gospel. What has happened? Whether for good or bad, men, for many years, have been inventing solutions or brainstorming ideas without fully relying upon the foundation of God’s Word. God, however, is greater than man, and as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than ours and His thoughts than our thoughts (Is. 55:8-9). We have substituted the greater for the lesser – God’s wisdom for man’s ideas. Jesus said that he who hears His Word and does it, is like a man that built his house upon a rock, and when the storm came, it stood firm. On the other hand, he who rejects His Word, is like a man who built on the sand and when the storm came, the house fell (Matt. 7:24-25). Shouldn’t the church, as a whole, abandon the sandy ideas of man and shamelessly return to the firm rock of the Word of God? God’s Word sufficiently identifies how youth are to be reached. For more information on this issue, please see the film Divided, which is a documentary on age-segregated youth ministry in America. Watch it for free (for a limited time) at www.dividedthemovie.com. For an in-depth study, the book A Weed in the Church delves into the topic and more thoroughly handles the Scripture passages that address ministry to young people. For other details or to help spread the message, visit www.dividedthemovie.com.

I saw the link for this video on a homeschool fellowship site and was compelled to watch. Jason and I have pondered these very ideas for quite a while now. It was interesting to hear some of these things from a fresh perspective - inspiring and convicting. I'm still not sure we as a family have all the right answers, but at least we're thinking.

I encourage you to follow the links and watch the movie. It is about an hour long, very fast-paced, documentary style. I'd love to know what you think.

Bible in 90 Days -Week 7

2011-08-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

When I turned on my Kindle to read yesterday, I realized that we are almost half way through the Bible! Today is day 43 in our reading. Kathryne and I are both currently caught up in our reading and are reading through Psalms.

I find it difficult to read through Psalms quickly. Because the Psalms are poetry, it is difficult to read so many at one sitting. When I have time to read more slowly, I can take time to read and then pause before the next Psalm. When I am in more of a hurry, I have to just read - even though it is all in a jumble.

Bible in 90 Days -Week 6

2011-08-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that I am over one third of the way through the Bible in 90 days again. I am currently caught up on my reading and Kathryne is also right on track.

We just read through the book of Esther today- one of my favorite books of the Bible, and we are headed into Job. Job is one of those difficult books for me. I sometimes struggle with really seeing the big picture of Job and get bogged down in all the suffering and blaming. We'll soon be headed into the prophets- some of the most difficult reading of the Bible in my opinion. It does help me get through the prophets easier when using this 90 day plan. Because I am so recently out of the history books, it is easy to relate what the prophets are saying with what was going on historically for the Israelites. It is also encouraging to know that in only a few weeks I'll make it through the prophets and their messages of gloom and doom and into the New Testament with the fulfillment of the promise of a Savior.

Meal Plan Monday

2011-08-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

I am glad to be getting back into a regular routine. I'll be really glad when Wednesday night dinners at church start back next week.

Monday- Crockpot Shepherds Pie

Tuesday- Frozen Pasta shells with sauce and cheese; garlic bread

Wednesday- Grilled Italian chicken and fettucine with alfredo sauce; green peas

Thursday- Top your own pasta; fruit

Friday- BBQ chicken; mac and cheese; corn

Saturday- Leftovers and Sandwiches (I'll probably take Charles to the football game.)

Bible in 90 Days -Week 5

2011-08-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am right on track reading through the Bible 90 days. I began 1 Chronicles today. 1 and 2 Chronicles is another telling of the kings- focusing on the kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. I found this handy chart to help keep all those kings straight in the reading.

Kathryne is all caught up with her reading also. She's had a few days that she has skipped, but she always doubles up and catches up in the next few days. She's quite a reader!

Review of August's Molly's Digest

2011-08-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

This month's Molly's Digest is all about closets. Molly Saves in the Closet can be purchased at The Old Schoolhouse Store here.

This was another great Molly's Digest issue. With articles on repairing the clothing you already have, how to buy inexpensive clothing, and even redecorating an old, cluttered closet, there are plenty of great ideas in this month's digest.

One of my favorite articles this month deals with making a "cloffice"- an office space made out of an old closet. In my house of lots of stuff and not lots of room, I can always use ideas like this. I was quite inspired. Unfortunately I'm not a very good seamstress, but an article on repairing clothing and recycling old things to make new clothing accessories was full of some great ideas also. And, it's not all work this month. I can't wait to try out the recipe for homemade ice cream using ziploc bags. I've heard of this before but never seen the recipe or tried it for myself. Looks like something fun to do with the kids!

All of these great articles and the typical Molly fair- recipes, a craft idea making something new out of something old, pet care advice from a vet, and many other great ideas make up this month's digest. You can purchase the digest at The Old Schoolhouse store. Or find out more about a Molly Membership at the Econobusters website.

I received a free copy of this month's digest for review purposes. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Bible in 90 Days -Week 4

2011-08-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't make it to check in yesterday, but I am currently on track for reading through the Bible in 90 days. I am reading in 2 Samuel. I always enjoy reading about the time period of the kings of Israel. I'm sort of a history buff, and this bit of Israel's history always intrigues me. I think it is interesting how so many events are just recorded in the Bible without a spin. Actions of the various players in the drama that unfolds are just written, often without commentary of their morality. The big focus is not on the people or the events, but on the God that is over and above all things. It really gives some perspective to see how big God is and how small we actually are.

I recently received a book from New Leaf Publishing that I am going to review over on my Good Reads blog, Unveiling the Kings of Israel. It is a look at the Old Testament history and leaders from an archeological perspective. It looks great so far, and I can't wait to look at it in light of where I am reading in the Old Testament right now!

Kathryne is all caught up in reading right now also. She is really impressing me with her ability to keep up- especially when she read four days last week to catch up!

Moving Right Along

2011-07-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that Monday begins the month of August. Every year I complain that summer flies by and vow that I won't be so busy the next summer, but, alas, I find myself here again.

Life has been moving right along also.

The week of July 18-22, Jason and Charles were gone to Cleveland, Ohio all week with a father son missions trip with our church. They put on a Ben Watson football camp for inner city kids. Ben Watson, for those, who may be illiterate in the ways of NFL football, is a Cleveland Browns player. He is actually from our small hometown here, and his dad is a pastor. He sponsors football clinics for kids in our town each year where the kids come, play football, hear about God's love, and receive a Bible. This was sort of a week long extension of that. Besides running the football camp, the guys did a few local service projects and got to do some fun stuff like tour the NFL Hall of Fame. I was very jealous!

While the guys were in Cleveland (and I was missing them terribly!), we girls went to VBS at our church. I helped in the 1st grade class, Kathryne helped with 5K, and the little girls participated. We enjoyed Pandamania and learned that God is Wild About Us! Kathryne's birthday always falls during the week of VBS, so on Friday, we celebrated with some of her friends and a pool party. I can't believe my oldest child is 12 now!

This past week, we regrouped, and I planned for school. We have taken off most of July, and next week we'll be slowly starting back. We turned in final library reading records for the summer reading program. I also took the kids up to the Barnes and Noble to turn in reading records and get a free book.

Tonight, we're headed to more birthday partying- a combined family birthday party for Kathryne, Rachel (who turns 6 in August) and Jason's dad. Moving right along...

Bible in 90 Days -Week 3

2011-07-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today is the beginning of week 3 of this session of reading through the Bible in 90 days. Amazingly enough, I am still on track even after a busy week of VBS last week. Kathryne is all caught up as well. We are currently in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy holds many reminders for us as parents. Over and over Moses reminds the Israelites to pass on the teachings they are hearing to their children. How true that is for us as parents today! One of my favorite passages (and one of my inspirations to homeschool) is from Deuteronomy:
⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^[a] ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Bible in 90 Days- Week 2

2011-07-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

We are into the second week of reading through the Bible in 90 days as of today. I am currently caught up and am reading in Leviticus- laws, laws, and more laws.

During last session's reading, I found a great website that explored the relationship between the law and the gospel. Here is another good article about that relationship, though, from a reformed point of view. I find it helpful to have these things to keep in mind when reading through the books of the law.

Kathryne has also decided to join me in reading through the Bible in 90 days. She is all caught up with today's reading also. I'm impressed.

Meal Plan Monday

2011-07-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

This week is a little strange because Jason and Charles are both gone on a missions trip with our church, and the girls and I will have VBS this week. We also have quite a few days that we are doing things with friends or family while the boys are gone. I have several days I don't have to plan this week.

Monday: Pizza in a Pot(I planned it for last week and posted the recipe but didn't make it.); fruit

Ingredients

3 cups dry pasta
4 Tbsp oil
1-2 onions diced
2 stalks celery diced
2 carrots diced
1 chopped green bell pepper
1-1.5 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp salt
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
2 cups tomato sauce
¹⁄₈ tsp pepper
2 tsp Italian seasoning
¹⁄₄ tsp crushed fennel seed
2 cups mozerella cheese

1. Grease a slow cooker and set aside.

2. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water to al dente (cooked through but still firm), following the
directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and bell
pepper and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until no longer pink.
5. Stir in the garlic, salt, tomato paste, tomato sauce, pepper, Italian seasoning, and fennel.
6. Simmer for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
7. In a slow cooker, place a thin layer of the beef mixture in the bottom. Layer the cooked pasta, beef
mixture, and cheese, ending with the cheese.
8. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Tuesday: Grab and Go Pizza Roll-Ups; fruit

Ingredients

refrigerated crescent rolls
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
pepperoni
string cheese (Mozzarella)
pizza sauce for dipping

Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles along the perforations.

Sprinkle each crescent roll lightly with the garlic powder and Italian seasonings.
Put pepperoni on the roll, then place half a length of string cheese on top.
Roll up (from wide side to point) and put on baking sheet.
Bake according to crescent roll instructions, until light golden brown.
Remove from oven and allow to cool on a rack.
Serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Wednesday: Eat with friends- birthday party

Thursday: Eat with family- birthday party

Friday: Kathryne's birthday party

And, when I look at it that way, it looks like a pizza themed week- which I am sure won't draw complaints from my crew, and lots of birthday parties. :-)

Book Review for The Family Illustrated Bible

2011-07-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Once again, Blogger is giving me a hard time posting today. I was not able to post; then I was able to post; now I can't post. Arrgh. But, I digress.

I was able to review The Family Illustrated Bible (previously The Children's Bible from DK) published by New Leaf Press. This is a beautiful hard back book. The illustrations are very well done. Besides illustrations, the Bible has real photographs of places and objects that are relevant. There are maps of Bible places also. This Bible would make a beautiful addition to a family library.

Negatively, I don't like children's Bibles that have an adapted text. I would really prefer to see the actual text of the Bible used along with the beautiful illustrations. I had high hopes for this Bible- published by New Leaf Publishing because the publisher has a reputation for high standards of Biblical truth. Unfortunately, this was just a repackaging of the DK Children's Bible which I think we already own. I think the adaptation makes the Bible seem more story like and not absolutely true and infallible.

So, my review is mixed. If you are looking for a beautiful Bible story book to add to your family library, this one's great. The Biblical accounts seem very accurate and the illustrations are a very nice touch. But, if you are looking for the actual Bible text to share with your children, don't choose this edition. You'll be disappointed.

I received a free edition of this book for review purposes from New Leaf Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Two Book Reviews

2011-07-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm having some technical issues on my Good Reads blog and am not able to compose a new post. I'm not exactly sure what is happening, but as I work to resolve the issues and post there, I thought I would post my most recent book reviews here and move them to Good Reads when I can post again.

Lately I finished reading two free Kindle books, both Christian fiction, historical romance novels.

Breathe by Lisa Bergren is the story of Odessa, a consumptive patient who makes her way to the new town of Colorado Springs to seek healing for her consumption in the famed mountain air. At the sanatorium she meets two men who become her friends and finds love and a mystery even as her body heals.
Breathe is a good, light, easy read. It was a little predictable, nothing very exciting. But, the story line was good. And the characters were believable. It wasn't particularly mesmerizing, but it was an entertaining read. (BTW, I noticed that it is no longer free. I'm not sure it was good enough to pay to read...)

Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall is another Christian, historical romance set during the war of 1812. Marianne needs to marry in order to release her dowry money. Noah is engaged to her because of his father's plans. When Marianne ends up on his merchant ship by accident they find themselves drawn to each other even as they are drawn into the war.
I thought this one was a well-written book. Still light and easy to read, the characters were interesting and believable. The storyline was compelling. The historical setting was interesting. I enjoyed the tension in the relationship between Noah and Marianne and thought the resolution of the story was good. It wasn't so predictable as to become boring. In fact, I finished it in two nights because I was so interested, I couldn't wait to find out what happened! This one is still a free Kindle read as I write, but it would be worth paying for. I'll be looking for more books by this author.

Further Up and Further In

2011-07-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today marks the completion of yet another reading through the entire Chronicles of Narnia for Charles and Kathryne and myself. I think this is our 4th reading through the series.

The first time I read through the entire series, The Last Battle was my least favorite book. If you've never read the entire series, a brief synopsis is in order:
The Magician's Nephew- details the creation of Narnia by Aslan the lion; Polly and Digory are the two human children who end up in Narnia
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- the most well-known Narnia book; The Pevensie children end up in Narnia through a magic wardrobe in an old house and, with Aslan's help, defeat the White Witch who has held Narnia under her evil powers.
The Horse and His Boy- takes place entirely in Narnia; This is the story of Shasta and Aravis, children from Calormen (near Narnia) who discover their true identities and help to save Narnia from invasion.
Prince Caspian- The Pevensie children travel back to Narnia and help Caspian recover ancient Narnia from his evil uncle.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader- Lucy and Edmund Pevensie again return to Narnia, this time with their annoying cousin, Eustace, and sail to the world's end with Caspian.
The Silver Chair- Eustace and his friend, Jill Pole, head to Narnia to free King Caspian's son from an evil enchantment.
The Last Battle- A devious ape named Shift joins with the Calormens to take over and destroy Narnia.

The Last Battle is sad. It is depressing. It made me angry because evil continued to triumph. The first time I read it, I thought it a horrible end for such a magnificent series. But, as I read my opinion changed. Now, having finished The Last Battle for the 4th read through, I can truly say it may be favorite of all the Chronicles of Narnia.

The Last Battle is so rich in symbolism. From Shift the Ape who is tricky and shifty to Puzzle the Donkey who always uses his stupidity as an excuse, the characters are well-called. This book, even more so than the others (which are all very spiritually symbolic), contains so many references to a battle of worldviews. There are characters that represent true believers, characters that clearly represent those who turn to other religions, characters that represent atheists or those who claim they have no faith. So incredibly rich in meaning and inspiring deep thoughts, I get more and more out of this book each time we read it.

I am still saddened when I read. I am sad that the Narnians allow themselves to be deceived. I am sad that evil seems to triumph. I am sad that Aslan is reduced to a cruel tyrant and is misunderstood by almost all. But, isn't this a picture of what we really see in the world today. Doesn't evil seem to triumph. Hasn't our God been reduced to a tyrant or, even worse, a fable in the minds of many. But The Last Battle doesn't end on that note. Oh no. Redemption comes through a stable, a stable which looks so small on the outside but contains much more than anyone could imagine. And, even though Narnia as we know it may be destroyed, there is hope and joy beyond imagination as we all discover that that Narnia was just a shadow of things to come. And as we move further up and further in, we will see more clearly and live more freely than ever before. Hallelujah!

Of Silly Putty, and Glitter, and Various Other Craft Items

2011-07-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be the mean mom, but I am seriously considering banning certain types of craft supplies from our house. I mean, how many times do I have to scrape silly putty out of clothing before I learn my lesson?

When my children were born, I was going to be the "cool, crafty mom." You know, the one whose children paint and craft continuously. Things went along just fine for the first few years. Playdo was messy but tolerable. Markers were messy, but wasn't it cute to see that little marker smudge on that cute little face? Paint was messy, but after all, we only used watercolors, so it washed out pretty easily. Then they progressed to glitter. I'm not sure who invented glitter, but I've thought of some fairly creative means of torture for them if I ever find out. And beads- the little plastic beads that are placed very carefully on to a plastic mold and then ironed into a design. The inventor of those deserves extra special torture. How about a gift of 1, 000,000 of those babies with four kids to go along?

But, silly putty has to be the worst. I thought we had "lost" all of our silly putty a while back. But, apparently the little girls found some. Before we left for the beach last week, Ashlyne had managed to get it stuck on her shorts and on the couch. Kathryne creatively tried some alcohol based hand cleaner on it, and we were able to get most of it out. After coming home from the beach, Rachel has managed to get it on a gown and a robe. I just don't know where it is still coming from! It's like they have a secret stash in their room or something.

So, I think I'm ready to morph into the uncool, craft hating mother. Family members take note: no crafts for Christmas! Bah Humbug!

Bible in 90 Days Kick-off

2011-07-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day. Reading through the Bible in 90 days will begin again. I am reading along with Mom's Toolbox again. I am very excited to read through again and finish in 90 days. I'll be mentoring again this time, and I will head up a team of mentors.

If you've ever thought about reading the Bible through in 90 days, I would recommend that you go for it! It is definitely a blessing! As I read through, I'll be posting what I'm reading about and my thoughts.

And we're off!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-07-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

We are going to have some company from out of town this week, and Charles and Jason are leaving on Friday at noon for a missions trip, so I made sure to have all my ducks in a row for meal planning this week.

Monday: BBQ chicken in the crockpot; mac and cheese; peas

Tuesday: Sub sandwiches; chips; fruit

Wednesday: Pizza in a Pot (from the Molly Digest)

Thursday: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak; rice; corn

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
¹⁄₂ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
¹⁄₄ cup milk
¹⁄₄ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (1 ounce) packet dry au jus mix
³⁄₄ cup water

Directions | Numbered...

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, and milk using your hands. Shape into 8 patties.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the patties in flour just to coat, and quickly brown on both sides in the hot skillet. Place browned patties into the slow cooker stacking alternately like a pyramid. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, au jus mix, and water. Pour over the meat. Cook on the Low setting for 4 or 5 hours, until ground beef is well done.

Friday: Take the girls out to supper.

Saturday: Leftovers and sandwiches

Review of July's Molly's Digest

2011-07-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

Even though I am a stay-at-home mom, I am most definitely not a homemaker. I need all the help I can get. For months now, I've been considering a Molly Membership from Econobusters. So, I was more than thrilled to have a chance to join the review team for the Molly Digests.

July's digest is all about babies- Molly Saves in the Nursery. There are ideas for hosting a frugal baby shower, an article about getting pet medications for less, a comparison of different types of diapers, treatment ideas for rashes of all kinds, tips for making the most of your blender, and much more. As this was my first Molly's Digest, I was excited to see a monthly meal idea, calendar printables, and printable recipe cards.

Seeing that the issue was all about nursery things, I was a little disappointed. I'm beyond the baby stage, so I wasn't sure how applicable this month's digest might be for me. Happily, I didn't need to worry. There were some great ideas for throwing a baby shower inexpensively. I was amazed at the pictures from the shower that only cost around $50 to put on. I was also excited to see the ideas for homemade baby gifts- especially since there were some that didn't require sewing.

The monthly meal idea is something I know I will look forward to every month. This month's main dish- Pizza in a Pot- looks yummy and kid friendly. The forms, printables, and links section will also be a favorite I am sure. This month's section included some great links for things to make for the nursery and the printable monthly calendars.

I was very pleased with my first month's digest. I'm amazed that the digest is only $4.95 to purchase individually from The Old Schoolhouse. There is definitely enough content here to make the ebook well worth that! You can also check out the Econobuster's website for more information about the Molly Digests.

No, I Haven't Fallen Off the Edge of the World

2011-07-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have been conspicuously absent from all social media this week. It is not, I assure you, out of a deliberate choice to refrain from all computer activity. It was simply a lack of internet access.

Back in the "good old days"- at least five or six years ago- I wouldn't have thought much of anything of being without the internet for a week or more. My email inbox was usually more empty than full, blogging was not yet in my vocabulary, and only crazy, yuppie college kids were on Facebook. But now things are different. And when I found myself at the beach this week without the usual available pirated wireless link, I panicked.

The past few years, I have been able to "share" a wireless network with the neighbors at the house where we stay. By pointing my computer out the window and holding my nose just right, I could pick up a pretty decent signal and at least check my email and shoot out a quick blog post. But, this year, when I happily took out my laptop upon arrival to let all my facebook friends know I was safely away on vacation while they were tailing away at home, I was shocked. The new neighbors had wireless alright, but it was password protected! How dare they protect their wireless network and not share with me!

Needless to say, I went into immediate withdrawal. I did have two brief afternoon trips to Atlanta Bread Company to check email, but I didn't think my family would appreciate my sitting in the restaurant for most of our beach trip. So, I was sadly disconnected from the greater world this week.

After a loooong car ride yesterday, we are thankfully home again and settled in. So, while I wash my mountain of beach laundry, I plan to catch up today with all my blogging friends, my facebook friends, and my email list.

Welcome home to me!

Welcome And An Explanation

2011-06-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to I'm Livin' My Dream! For those of you who are coming over from one of my other blogs, you may think, "Why another blog?" The answer is simple. As I try to do more and more in the homeschool community- both local and online, I am finding the necessity to have a specific homeschool blog to which to refer those who want or need to read homeschooling information but who don't really care to read my rambling thoughts on a particular subject or know what my menu plan for the week will be. Thus the birth of I'm Livin' My Dream.

I thank you for stopping by for my debut post, and I hope you'll come back often to this and my newly renamed The Courtney Six Homeschool Blog. Here, I'll be sharing what's up with our family, homemaking tips (not that I have many), an occasional devotional, product reviews (that don't have to do with homeschooling), and personal thoughts. On the homeschool blog, I'll be sharing what we're doing in our homeschooling, homeschooling tips (I have MANY more of these!), curriculum information, and product reviews that have to do with homeschooling. And, in all your remaining free time, you can drop by my Good Reads blog where I post about what I'm currently reading- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

So why call it "I'm Livin' My Dream?" Cute story that I laugh at- on a good day. Before I married my dear husband, I shared with him my deep dreams- to have many children and to be a teacher. Thankfully, he was in agreement- at least theoretically, and so we began our married life. I was teaching in the Christian school in which I had grown up. Fast forward a few years to the birth of our first child. She was born in July, and I was scheduled to go back to teaching the first of October. I remember a date with my dear husband just a few weeks before that scheduled return to work. We had left our daughter for the first time. I sat there finishing my supper and talking with Jason, and suddenly I began to cry. He very sweetly asked me why, and I managed to stammer out that I didn't want to go to work and leave my baby. Very calmly and patiently (He's a wise man!), he said, "Who told you you had to go back to work?"

Thus began my greatest journey as a stay-at-home and later homeschooling mom. As the years have passed and the children have grown, I have realized that what I thought was just my dream was in fact God's leading and prompting to be home with my children and then to homeschool them. It is a privilege and a blessing to do this. But, there are days, oh yes, there are days! And on those days when I think I am losing my mind, I call that dear, sweet, patient husband of mine, and he reminds me, "You're livin' your dream, Babe, livin' your dream." And, after I recover from the urge to choke him, I remember that he is correct. I am indeed livin' my dream. Praise God!