Wordless Wednesday

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Another Vision Forum Give Away!

Kim C. and Vision Forum are at it again. They are having another drawing for $250 worth of Vision Forum products. Go over to http://lifeinashoe.com/ for all the details and check out http://www.visionforum.com/ to see all their products. My list is: So Much More, Passionate Housewives Desperate For God, Six Thousand Years of Earth History in a Box, Entrepreneurial Boot Camp DVD set, and the CD- How to Help Your Husband. Good Luck!

SIGH

I normally don't copy other peoples blog posts but Kim over at http://inashoe.com/ just posted this:

Reasons to Homeschool, #4,391
Posted on October 29th, 2007 by kimc
I know that not all Christians agree, but I wholeheartedly believe that the public school system is no place for a Christian child.
In California, the case has become even stronger. SB 777 has passed the California State Senate and was signed into law. This law, strongly supported by the California Teacher’s Association and the PTA, has a myriad of effects that should horrify any Christian parent who has children in the public school system:
Textbooks, instructional materials and school-sponsored activities must positively portray cross-dressing, sex-change operations, homosexual ‘marriages’ and all aspects of homosexuality and bisexuality, including so-called ‘gay history.’ Silence on the topics will not be allowed.
A person’s gender has been redefined to personal preferance, and not dependent upon the person’s “assigned sex” at birth.
Words such as “mom” and “dad” and “husband” and “wife” would have to be edited from all texts.
Cheerleading and sports teams would have to be gender-neutral.
Prom kings and queens would be banned, or if featured, would have to be gender neutral so that the king could be female and the queen male.
Gender-neutral bathrooms could be required for those confused about their gender identity.
A male who believes he really is female would be allowed into the women’s restroom, and a woman believing herself a male would be allowed into a men’s room.
Even scientific information, such has statistics showing AIDS rates in the homosexual community or statistics relating to births or deaths among various cultural groups, could be banned.
Do you think this doesn’t affect you or your children because you don’t live in California?
Think again. California is the largest purchaser of textbooks in the nation. New editions of textbooks will likely be edited by publishers to meet the new requirements in California.
Even if your child is in a public school in the conservative midwest or in the South, this is going to affect your child and your family.
Please, think about it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More attacks upon the family and Christianity signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in recent weeks:
AB394 creates the circumstances where a parent who says marriage is only for a man and a woman in the presence of a lesbian teacher could be convicted of “harassment,” and a student who believes people are born either male or female could be reported as a “harasser” by a male teacher who wears women’s clothes.
AB14 prohibits state funding for any program that does not support a range of alternative sexual practices, including state-funded social services run by churches. This opens up nonprofit organizations to lawsuits if they exclude members that engage in homosexual, bisexual, or transsexual conduct.
The governor with his signature also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa.

The Science of Candy Making

Today for science we made caramels. The kids had so much fun and really enjoyed the process. They think we should open a candy store. Hmmm... we'll need to perfect our technique. It wasn't saucy and it wasn't rock hard but it was still a little soft. We used BH&G New Cookbook recipe and it said 248 degrees was firm ball stage but my candy thermometer said it was soft ball. I think next time I'll cook it to a little bit hotter stage and see if that helps. Despite the texture it was yummy! We paired with apple slices for dessert.

Homemade Party Invites

We did it! We were able to make party invitations with out having to go buy anything. We had some scrapbook paper and computer paper, colored pens and pencils, glue stick, patterned scissors, glitter, stamp and ink, and the computer. Let me be the first to say we aren't heavily into scrapbooking or stamping so the fact that we had everything on hand was a "happy day" moment. My girls had fun helping and are proud of making something rather then go buying it. I'll be the first to say we have a long way to go if we ever want to produce a product for sale but it was a fun first effort.

Show and Tell Fridays

I love chickens and roosters. These are my favorite decoration pieces. I found them about five years ago on e-bay. They are paperboard and were painted and decoupaged by a crafter and I loved them. I paid about $30 + shipping. Not a frugal purchase but I think to buy them in a boutique would have been much more expensive.

For more Show and Tell Fridays go to http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/

Frugal Friday- paper shreds

So we all know to shred our personal documents right? What to do with the shredded paper? Yes it can be turned in for recycling but did you know you can reuse it at home. 1. Use it to stuff gift baskets. 2. Use it to pad items you are shipping. 3. Create your own home made paper with it 4. Use it as fire starter. 5. Use it as confetti for parties.

If you want to add color use wrapping paper, construction paper or tissue paper in the shredder.

I'm really not to worried about anyone trying to piece together my info.

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday photos go to www.wordlesswednesday.com

Great Give Away!

Kim over at http://inashoe.com/ has a great give away going on in league with Vision Forum http://www.visionforum.com/ . You have a chance to win up to $150 of Vision Forum products! Here's my wish list... So Much More (To inspire my girls to Godly lady like living), Passionate Housewives Desperate For God (For me), Entrepreneurial Bootcamp DVD collection, How to Help Your Husband CD set. Go check it out!

Wordless Wednesdays

For more wordless Wednesdays go to www.wordlesswednesday.com !

Life can take over

Sorry for the lack of posts for a week. I've been dealing with sleep issues ( my not sleeping to be precise). I went to the doctor Monday and he, along with some new medication that seems to be really helping, suggested that I might want to consider putting the children in public school. (Private is out of the question due to cost.) So now the husband and I our on our knees seeking God's direction in this. A huge load would be lifted off me if I stopped schooling but I'm willing to carry that load if it is the direction the Lord wishes us to go. The doctor is a Christian otherwise I wouldn't take stock in his suggestion. Luckily I have a wise pastor to seek counsel from and a former elementary school teacher in our little church body to get input from. We also have another homeschooling family in church that I will talk with. I am so thankful we have a great and glorious God to be on our knees in front of and that he will direct our paths when we seek him.

Wordless Wednesday

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Passionate Housewives

Passionate Housewives- Desperate For God is soon to be released. If you are interested in this book, Crystal over at http://www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/ is having a drawing for not just one copy but 10! Go to her site and leave a comment to be entered. See also how you can be entered twice. Best Wishes.

Fall Decor

I received this wonderful "pumpkin" as a thank you to hospitality. It is sooo.... cute and it's made from- drum roll please................ A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER! The main body is a roll of toilet paper with some additional padding on the sides. (Feels like quilt batting.) The fall fabric is just gathered up and around it (folds in the fabric give it a more pumpkiny look) and pinned along with the ribbon at the top (cleverly hidden) and some curly floralist vine is stuffed down the middle for the stem. Simple, Beautiful and Frugal! I wasn't intending to share with my kids what it was made from as I didn't want the Curious Georges unwrapping it to see. But alas I let it slip and then had to have a "talk" with them. "Yes, it's a roll of toilet paper. Unwrap it on pain of death! We have plenty stocked up in the bathroom." The giver also safety pinned a simple yet wonderful thank you note to the front. It is one of the best gifts I've ever received. Thank you Linscott Family!

For more pumpkin decor ideas go to http://www.likemerchantships.blogspot.com. Meredith is amazing!

A walk in the woods

Yesterday after church we went for a drive to admire the beautiful fall color that Michigan has. We stopped at one of my husband's fishing spots and took a hike down to and by the Pere' Marquette River. It was peaceful and pretty but this summer was hot and dry so the color wasn't as vibrant as it could have been and the river was low both in water and fish. Still it was fun to be hiking around in shorts and t-shirts and sticking our feet into the river in October. In the Grand Rapids area we still haven't had a hard frost and yesterday was in the mid-eighties and humid. We very much enjoyed the car's air conditioning during our drive.

The Wonders of Ancient Egypt

The kids have been studying Egypt in school. Of all the wonders and incredible things to take away from this ancient civilization, do you know what their favorite thing they learned is? That during the process of mummification the deceased had their brains pulled out through their nose! Oh, and they are glad they didn't live back then. They thought the furniture looked uncomfortable, the bathroom facilities crude and the food (we made some) "disgusting". In all fairness to the Egyptian culture... I'm sure I didn't do the food justice. I agree with the furniture and bathroom conclusions though. I like modern plumming and my comfy mattress and pillows. I had to remind the kids though that a lot of the modern world isn't as "cushy" as most of America/The West. Even in my travels through Europe there are a lot of "interesting" bathroom facilities.

If you are crafty...

In the good way (enjoying making things with your hands) not the bad way (cunning) then I have just found a sight for you to peruse: http://www.youcanmakethis.com/ . Mostly it is a sight for you to buy patterns/ideas from but you can garner inspiration just by looking through all the different projects and they also have a few free patterns too. Have fun. Thanks to Dana over at http://mysimplegifts.blogspot.com/ for pointing to the website.

Manly Crafting

My husband ties fishing flies for fun, relaxation and to save money not having to buy them at the store. (Even after purchasing all the supplies- some were gifted to him by a friend- it is cheaper to make your own rather then buy them.) Here is part of his collection of work. The only bummer for him is that he has more time to tie them then to use them.

Like father, like son...

John asked the boy if he wanted to learn how to tie fishing flies last night and the boy said "yes"! I have never seen him sit still and quiet and patient and attentive for such a long period of time. How come he can't do that in school? John and I were very proud of him and he did really well. He was proud of himself as well. Now, the boy has to learn how to fly fish. That may take patience on daddy's part. I love watching the "men" spend time together.

Show and Tell Fridays

This is my collections of quilts: The outer two were made for my two older girls by their Grandma Lewis, the inner two were started by my grandmother and finished by my mom after my grandmother's passing. My mom gave them to my girls.

For more Show and Tell Friday pictures please visit Kelli at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com .

Multi-purpose sprout lids

I love these lids. Not only do we grow sprouts in a jar with them but they also are used for cookie cutters (for sugar cookies) biscuit cutters (instead of having to buy some) craft templets (for a just right circle) and colorful toys for toddlers. I'm not especially gifted at seeing past an objects intended purpose but for some reason I can do lots with these. Look around your home... what do you have that can serve another purpose?

Roles of women in the home

Kim, over at http://www.inashoe.blogspot.com/ has a great post on the roles of women in the home. Check it out.

Wordless Wednesdays

To find more wordless Wednesday pictures go to www.wordlesswednesday.com

Great Book! Check it out!

I did... literally... from the library. Mothers and Daughters at Home - Written by Charlotte Lyons. See my post below for more on this great book.

P.S. Sorry for all the blurry photos as of late... I'm having trouble getting a clear shot for some reason.

Of all the rights of women...

... the greatest is to be a mother. - Lin Yutang

The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. - Henry Ward Beecher

You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. - Charles Buxton

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. - Helen Keller

One of the secrets of a happy life is small treats.- Iris Murdoch

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. - Dorothy Canfield Fisher

There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. - Edith Wharton

A homemade friend wears longer than one you buy in the market. - Austin O'malley

Some pursue happiness- others create it. - Anonymous

Diamonds are only chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs, you see. - Minne Richard Smith

The mark of a good parent is that she can have fun while being one. - Marcelene Cox

It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones. - Jean Webster

Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out. - anonymous

Most new discoveries are suddenly seen things that were always there. - Susanne K. Langer

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cooking may be as much a means of self-expression as any of the arts. - Fannie Farmer

These quotes all came from a great book I just checked out at the library: Mothers and Daughters at Home by Charlotte Lyons. It is inspirational and encouraging and also gives you great ideas of craft/cooking projects moms and daughters can make together broken down by time available- one hour, half a day, all day, over the weekend, and as long as it takes. Another book I highly recommend.