Mama to 6~The Large Family Logistics

I need your prayers again........

Home Education & Me

Good Afternoon Friends & Family! I pray that you are all having a great day in The Lord. It has been a really good day here on the homestead. School has finished for the day and we are ready for the weekend.

We had a great time at Homegroup yesterday. We got rained out at the park and ended up doing our yearly planning in a members van. We only had three families show up yesterday because the others had previous engagements. I'm glad that it was a small group yesterday, otherwise we wouldn't have all fitted into the van.

 I am really proud of the 4 children we had. They played in the back of the van for almost 3 hours while we parents discussed the upcoming school year and what activities we wanted to plan. They were ALL so good with no complaints at all. Now that says a lot for our kids. Homeschooled kids are more ready to adapt to whatever their circumstances!

My DD (15) wanted to stay home by herself this time. So I let her have some "alone" time while at the meeting. My other DD (18) had to go to work. I am so going to miss her this year at our Home group meetings. I have no doubt that when the time comes that she will be able to Homeschool her children for the glory of God.

DD (18) has been my "guinea pig," so to speak when it comes to Homeschooling. I have also learned that each one of my children has different needs and different ways of learning. So what has worked with one doesn't mean it will work for the other. Trial and error, prayer and more prayer.  I am so thankful that I have the blessing of teaching my children and not having to hand them over to others for 7 hours a day.

I get the privledge of seeing them grasp a concept for the first time. I got the privlege of teaching my son (9) to read. I got the blessing of seeing my Dd  FINALLY grasp Algebra and move onto geometry all by herself. I also get the privledge of seeing my children grow daily in their walk with The Lord.

It's not always easy. There are days when I think, "they need to get on that bus and let "the professionals" deal with them. Well, God made me their Mom and that's as "professional" as it gets. He who has called me will be faithful.

Most importantly though is what I have learned over the past 9 years. God has used this Homeschoolinhg experience to shape and mold me as well as my children. Being around one's children ALL of the time really makes you realize just what an example you are. The good and the ugly!

All of my strength comes from My Lord though. It's The Lord that I cry out to daily and I am so thankful that He is always there no matter what the situation. He has shown me time and time again that it needs to be Him that  I need to turn to when a problem arises. Homeschooling will really make you see problems and issues that might be easier left to another, but ultimately better left to the professional, Jesus Christ!

To God be the glory now and forever!

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

Can you remove a friends list?

Hello Homestead bloggers.  I'd like to say a special hello to the handfull of ladies that posted on my blog, asking about me since I've been away from the computer.  Thank you Trixi, Farrah and Julia  and of course, Kitty who is a close friend that I keep in touch with in other ways.   

I'm dissappointed that one can go from being a long standing  "top commenter" here  (one who reads and comments on others' blogs) to not blogging at all for a long time and come back to wonder if all those friends from my "friends list" even cared I'd been away.  Plus bunches had removed me as a friend of theirs altogether I noticed.  So I'm hurt but won't stay that way.        Blogging is strange....

On a different note some of the things that have been going on have been:

We took a short trip to Memphis with hubby on business.

My hubby's dad has been really sick and in the hospital.

Our oldest daughter is in hospital passing kidney stones.

Been gathering lots of eggs.  (getting double yolks from our new chickens!  I'll take a pic soon of the pretty baby blues and greens and avacado green and browns and white eggs.)

Got lots of rain from Faye which relieved our parched area.

Gearing up for Gustav here in South Mississippi  : (  When Katrina hit we were without power for over a week and lost all our food in freezers/fridg, waited in long lines to get gas that got higher by the minute, lots of clean up, etc....We're going tonight to the store to stock up on some things for the storm.  We've already got some batteries.  And since Katrina we've gotten a generator and a window unit air conditioner so we can at least stay in the house during 90 plus temps outside if the power goes out. 

Lots of things going on at Church.  I'll be teaching 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School for the new Church year again and it will begin Sept. 1st.

Our 26th Wedding Anniversary is next Wednesday.

Our oldest granddaughter turned 5 this week.  Her party is Saturday.

Our 3rd grandchild is due Thanksgiving day!  It's a boy!

Several little trips planned to flea markets and such.

My first post in so long should be more exciting but maybe next time.   With pictures! 

~God bless everyone~

Going Away...

Graphic courtesy of www.doverpublications.com

Tomorrow morning my ten year old son and I are heading up North. We are going to visit my parents in Kentucky. Friday night, when we arrive, we'll just relax with my parents with a nice home cooked dinner (finally not cooked by yours truly ;0)).

Saturday morning my Mother and I are having brunch with my old Girl Scout troop. Believe it or not after 13 years we are all still good friends. Actually as we have gotten older I think it is very important to grow closer to your childhood friends. With my living over 400 miles away and family obligations I know that I have not made enough of an effort to keep in touch. Now, I am determined that whenever possible, to get together when I am in town (they all live in the same city).

Saturday evening my youngest cousin, not second cousin mind you, is getting married in an outdoor ceremony. It is not supposed to rain, but dear me, it is supposed to be 90 degrees! She is getting married young, but she has such a good head on her shoulders that I know she and her intended will do just grand.

Sunday morning we will probably attend church (if we are not too tired from the wedding and subsequent one and one-half hour return drive) then we usually go to lunch after church. Late that afternoon we are to go to my paternal Grandmother's 87th birthday party! I have a great relationship with both of my Grandmother's and for that I am thankful and blessed.

Monday morning Bryson and I will headed back home to the Peach state! I hope we have time either on the way up or on the way back to stop in my favorite little town, Bell Buckle, Tennessee. If you are ever travelling down I-24 you need to stop!

I hope to be able to announce the winner of the No Greater Joy prize on Monday, but if I cannot then it will be announced first thing Tuesday morning! Good luck to all who have and will continue to enter. Also next week I think it is time to talk about Fall fashions. I want to talk about what is "in" for this fall and also talk about how we can wear what is "in" modestly.

Have a wonderful weekend and Labor Day!

Blessings!

Monthly Measuring/Weigh-In

Time for my monthly measurements... Overall, I'm happy.  Sure, I wish it was a bit bigger difference, but I know some muscle building is going on and my arms are not as flabby, even if they haven't gone down a whole lot.  You can kind of see a trend... second month measurements went up, most likely due to muscle increase.  This month my hips went down just slightly which I was surprised, because I did alot more biking with a bike with no speeds and I could feel it with my upper thighs and buttocks.  Figured they'd be bulging!  LOL.  I see that I am trimming from the top down.... reminds me of those weight loss commercials where you see both man and wife gain weight (cartoons), and then they lose weight and the woman loses her arms and *****, yet keeps her tummy and hips.  Hope that trend doesn't continue... at least the difference isn't large and overall I am not loosing ***** yet, LOL, considering I gained a bit of muscle underneath when I started exercising more regularly.    I was smiling big a couple weeks ago when the doctor's office visit confirmed some weight loss.  I know my pants are getting looser in places, but my tummy is staying put, so my skirts I don't really see a difference.  I try on old pants every so often just to see if I can fit into them or how different they fit.  Last year's capri's were too tight to fit into, but now I can fit into them as I did last year (even though I weighed less last year). 

August 28:

Upper Chest: 34.25, Breast: 36, Waist: 36.5, Hips: 41.75, Upper Thighs: 23.75, Lower Thighs: 18.75, Calves:  15, Upper Arms:  12 1/8,  Weight:  144.5 (Two weeks ago at Doctor's office). 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Previous Measurings:

June 26: 

Upper Chest:  34, Breast: 36,  Waist:  36.5,  Hips:  42,  Upper thigh: 24.25, Lower thigh:  17.5, and Calves:  15 inches, Upper Arm 12-7/8ths.    Weight:  150 pounds. 

July 28th:

Upper Chest 34.5,  Breast 36.5,  Waist 37,  Hips:  41.5,  Upper Thigh: 23.75,  Lower Thigh:  18.75,  Calves:  14.75,   Upper Arm:  12.5

Camping, College and School Starting...

We've been gone camping and I am about settled into home (about...still much to do, but I am getting into a routine).  We took a spur of the moment trip to camp at Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin.  It is a quiet place, huge campground and a very large state park.   We enjoyed some lazy summer relaxation before heading back home to meet what is there to get done. 

Back home, Kate started college this week.  She is learning her schedule.  Unfortunately we can't get her into ONE more class and she isn't sure she is happy or sad about that.  One more class would give her official full-time status according to the college.  They told us that she was full-time, but this seminar class the financial aid office tells us, does not qualify her for full time.  So, I am researching having her take a correspondence course that will transfer to her 4 year college in religion (which our local college doesn't carry).  She is really struggling with the amount of work with the 3 classes currently and tells me she is not sure another class is a good idea.  She was up until 12:58 am last night (with me by her side for the last hour and a half) doing her chemistry assignment.  An entire chapter in one day and gobs of questions... lots of math problems and formulas...  But she got it done and this morning looked ready to tackle another day.  She will be working after classes today, which will bring her home straight to do homework until bed again. 

We also started gearing up with our homeschool.  Getting out some of those books and beginning a few classes.  I am not totally organized, but this week was a week of organizing and cleaning up from camping and still cleaning out from the kitchen fire.  Our first day of "school" the two older girls painted their baby sister's room.  New to them and they did a great job.  They've watched us paint through the years, now it was time for them.  We also in doing this were moving her into this room, which was previously the "tv room" and in doing it, it has in effect decreased some tv watching time. 

Today the girls are picking some pears from our pear tree.  They are near ripe and need to be picked before they drop and "splat" on the ground.  I wasn't expecting any pears as we didn't get hardly a dozen last year even having bees to pollinate them... but this year... no bees and a full tree. 

The girls already have a mindset of completing their school year on time... which means every time I break off for school to do something constructive, I am finding a not so welcome front from the girls.  They pestered me about picking pears and really needing to do some "book work".  My 13 yo isn't like that so much, she's been homeschooled from the start, but I fought this mentality all the way through with my oldest and my second (still) likely because they went to school and consider school just that... book work.  While we have followed the Moore Formula and tried alternate forms of teaching, the two older girls have always come back to school meaning "text books".  And with not having many other than math and occasionally an English textbook, they have really struggled with feeling like they have accomplished something.  It  took my oldest getting a good score on her ACT to realize she actually learned something without the regimented school routine.  She has always felt behind her classmates who remained in school.  Just because she was different.  Not every day was a struggle though, she enjoyed homeschooling, but every so often the "oh, no, Mom's not a real teacher... thought would creep in and we'd be in for a rough day or two until they worked through that again".  (Usually spurred on my an educational event at her previous school.)  Anyways, I don't mean to make it sound like we don't accomplish things, it just doesn't seem that way when we don't school traditionally to the kids at times.  I think that means I need to put in some more praise days for completing a project or unit study. 

Organizing is going more quickly since the girls are back to help watch their sister.  I have to remind myself to break away and spend time with little Paige doing "Nothing" so that she will have her Mommy time.  WHile I'd love to have the house put together in a week or so... it likely won't be that quick.  But happy kids are worth more than a Martha Stewart House. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Tasha Tudor turns 93 today please read..

I got this in an email this morning.. Please read and remember Tasha Tudor she was such a wonderful lady..

Sister Brenda

Dear The C Farm, Celebrating a birthday is an especially important tradition. The opportunity for friends and family to focus on one person and consider what makes them unique is an important one. August 28th would have been Tasha's 93rd birthday.  Today, we are celebrating Tasha's life with close family and friends.  A beautiful cake graces the table and honey-lavender ice cream is being cranked by hand in the old-fashioned freezer.  After the cake and ice cream, we'll spend the afternoon needle-felting and reminiscing about Tasha. As we celebrate her birthday and consider the gifts she offered everyone, we encourage others to do the same: take a moment for tea, plant a special flower or read through a favorite Tasha book.

Public Memorial Service

Please join us to celebrate Tasha Tudor's life on Friday September 12, 6:45-8:30 pm at the Adams Family Farm in Wilmington, Vermont.  The event will begin just before dusk.  We'll take a short walk to the pond where there will be a brief ceremony. Those who wish may take part in floating candles on the pond in the twilight. After this ceremony, you may continue to reminisce around the beautiful bonfire.  There is no charge for admittance, but you do need to reserve a spot ahead of time by calling 802.257.4444.  We'll begin taking reservation on Tuesday, September 2nd

Following Christ~ No Turning Back!

Dd has been doing really well with her FAR studies. This week she has been chronicling the lives of women in the Old Testament. She is studying about different women in different books and how they served God. How were they faithful to God? What were their daily activities like? What was it about them that made God pen their names in His word?

All of these women showed such strength and courage in following God. Obedience was the main theme in these women's lives. I pray that can be said of my life and that of my daughters. That is what I strive daily to teach my children. (oh, how satan loves to trip me up though.)

I did not grow up in a Christian home. I was about as heathen as a person can be without Christ. I was saved about 15 years ago. So everything that I have learned in the past 15 years and (more even recently) has been sort of "trial & error" where it concerns my children. It's like what my Pastor said the other morning. He said that when we are saved, we still have some really bad habits in our lives that need to be changed. Ways of thinking that are contrary to God's word (thinking like the world) that needs to be brought under the authority of Christ.

I said that to say this. Bringing every thought captive to The Word of God WILL change your life! It has mine and I am so thankful that The Lord has shown me this. It affects every aspect of your life and how you do things. From the places I go, to the education my children receive. That's the point I am trying to make here.

Whenever a decision is made in the life of my children, I have to look to The Word of God and see what it says. What does it say about men,women,mothers,daughters,sons, fathers? What does it say about the way I dress? The way I worship? The way I educate my children? So much to consider and so much to learn.

What I have also learned lately more than anything is that TOTALLY leaning on Christ and using the Bible as your guide will make you an object of ridicule and scorn for the choices you are making. ALL because you choose to serve God and NOT man. 

Father please give me strength when those trials come and help me to remember that no matter what, you are in control. I also need to remember that when those trials come, you are the one letting them come. For your glory and honor.

To God be the glory, now and forever! Amen!

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

APRONS RULE!

Awhile back someone askd me to post a few pictures of my many gingham aprons. Here are a few.  love the ones with the "Chicken Scratch" worked in them.

Oven Fried Chicken

Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 cup corn flake crumbs or bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten or 1/4 cup milk
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In pie plate, combine crumbs, thyme, oregano, paprika and salt. Pour egg whites into second pie plate. Dip chicken in egg whites, then into crumb mixture, coating evenly. Place chicken in greased shallow 1 quart baking dish. Drizzle butter over chicken. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle.