Nothing Catchy Today!

If writing titles to draw the reader was hard, today feels worse.  Thankfully, I am not necessarily trying to win anyone over with my writing ability.  Not trying to earn a living by drawing you in or click on affiliated links.

Another beautiful day for the books.  Although VERY frigid, single digit/low teens frigid, it was a gorgeous day.  As the sun came up, through the trees, it was a vibrant orange; warm, glowing, inviting.  There was also the wind, gusting and making it feel colder than the already low numbers.  Sitting on the warm side of the window, it was wonderful to watch.

The joy of the day:

• bible classes starting again
• sunshine for miles
• time with extended family
• brief chats with friends
• general feeling of JOY

Getting Back to Normal

It started with the week between Christmas and New Years.  No schedule, no outside activities, nothing to mark the days.  Even the first week of January had a number of things canceled or rearranged.  Today, most things were back on the schedule and I was doing the teen shuffle!

Here are things that gave be pause to think about or just a moment of joy:

• teen on top of the schedule
• fairly full tank of gas
• beautifully arranged Romain Lettuce
• Individual pizzas
• time out with one teen and laughing hysterically
• time out with Kevin

Thankfulness, Pure and Simple!

My brain is racing today!  And in a good way.  Just pondering so much! Thankful for so much.  Here's the run down:

• so many folks, at our church, give so much of their time, for an average Sunday.  Then we have VBS week.  I am amazed how much the "regulars" give of their time and talent and all the other folks come out for the weeks leading up to VBS week and the actual week.
• I was cleaning up, post dinner, and my brain wander to various pastors we've had and what they've meant to us.  Mark Green making me laugh because we're one of the few homeschooling families without a globe in the house.  Nace Lanier's sermon with Matthew 7:3; I often go back to that before I correct our children or bring something up to a friend.  TJ V. and always saying Quest kids can get squirrely or things go "sideways".  I love those polite phrases and use them often. Matt Watson's VBS plug last Sunday and mentioning Matthew 20:28; I have been more aware of serving, even in the little things, and trying to do more.
• Thankful that my aching body held out day, as I tried to keep up getting things done
• Thankful that my husband noticed the crockpot was off in time, that dinner was still had at a descent hour
• Thankful for a husband taking the 16 yo shoe shopping, so I could stay home and clean
• Thankful for power, during a warm spell, so we have A/C and running fans
• Thankful for time to just sit and veg
• Thankful for the fine young men our boys are turning into.
• Thankful for a friend, who's husband is encouraging her to hang out with friends more.  We both need it more.  Look forward to whatever we plan.
• Thankful for Sunday evenings and time to rest.

With that, dear readers, I log off, to enjoy dessert with my lovely family.

Truly! I mean it!!

I have really do have every intention of trying to blog more often.  It is such a "therapy" counting the joy, the good.  Days come and days go, things are noticed, counted, and some are remembered while some forgotten.  Suppose I need to work on this like kicking a bad habbit with remembering the good.

So far, between the last blog post and today's:

1. finishing school up for the year
2. first trip to the community pool
3. school books for next year coming in
4. visiting my folks
5. first tomatoes coming in
6. first batch of ice cream for the summer
7. scout being inducted into "Order of the Arrow"

 As this is a "I'm still alive and counting post", not sure what pictures would fit here!

Back to Sunday . . .

. . . in this stretch of blogging.  Last Sunday mulled over how I might keep thing interesting here.  One was sharing my knitting.  My latest idea, which I haven't followed up on, is the Sky Scarf.  Still looking into it; will follow through, but kinda thankful I haven't started just yet.  We're in unusual raining season ~ that scarf would have a lot of gray!  :)

The knitting of the day has been plugging away at this "Three Way Wrap" I found over at Raverly.  I am actually ripping out a sweater I knit about 8 years ago and had worn once in that time.  I just didn't like it, at all.  The color and yarn are fine, just the style of sweater, for me, was all wrong.  Hoping this will be a better thing for me.  Wanted something easy to make and didn't want to spend money on it.

Here's what I have so far:

sorry about the blurry spot at the bottom
need to clean the lense well!

It is 33 inches long, so I have another 24" to go according to the directions.  Think I have enough yarn, hope so anyway.  Haven't settled on buttons yet, but have some time.

Most of today has been pretty good.  Seeing friends, going to church, baking banana bread, making meatballs, and a lot of knitting.  Run down of the joy would be:

• catching up with a "kindered sole"
• seeing glimmers of our kids totally happy and content
• spending time in the kitchen
• smells of homemade banana bread and meatballs (but not at the same time)
• lazy dinner because my energy was spent on the above
• playing in water while it rained
• lots of time knitting
• watching "This Old House" and "Ask This Old House" with our oldest, reminds me of times with my dad
• making time to blog, today it feels good ~ not a chore
• an audio book comes coming, through local library (get to add to the reading tab here)

What has brought you joy lately?  Time alone?  Time with friends?  Crafts?  Share your joy!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday Already?!?

Friday came and went, just like that, and no post.  Had ideas of things to blog about and things to be reminded of, but the day just got away from me.

It's Saturday now.  Folks are starving (not literally, but feels like it somedays).  Had just gone to the butcher yesterday and picked a nice variety of beef and pork.  Thinking it's a chili dog type of day, but the beef we buy from the butcher was frozen.  I used one of my "kitchen hacks" to quicken up the thawing.  As soon as it was thawed enough to cut, I'd slice off sections (large or small, didn't matter). 

Larger chunks of meat

Once everything was cut down, I diced up the bigger pieces to smaller ones.

Smaller cuts

By doing so, there is more surface area to brown and thaw at the same time.  We didn't need to wait a couple hours for the meat to thaw, make the chili, and then have lunch.  Good thing, as I was starting about 11:00 AM and we were already HUNGRY.  By cutting down the frozen ground beef, I was able to brown the meat and onions, drain, at tomatoes and seasonings, and have chili simmering in about 20 minutes.  I like that kind of turn around.  And the chili, cheese hot dogs were good! 

It's been another dreary day here, so no visiting a happy place of out doors!  Oh well!  We did get chores done, shopping accomplished and had some down time.  Not such a bad thing, really.

The joy for the day would boil down to this:

• quickly made chili
• good lunch
• grilled dinner (even in the rain)
• good snacks
• vegging
• ice cream with caramel sauce

Hope you had a lovely Saturday.

A Stumbling Sort of Day!

Yes, stumbling!

        a definition of stumbling ~ to almost fall, to trip, to loose balance for a moment

That has been me finding the joy in the ordinary today!  So many things, probably more than I can recount today; probably more that I forgot than remembered because I haven't been noting them today.  Maybe I should do that, but probably won't.  (glimpse of a life with an easily distracted brain).

Big picture today starts with a lack of sleep.  My day actually started with a late night because we celebrated a birthday today.  There are things I like to do for our kids before they wake on their birth day.  Streamers put up, poster board decorated, few other things put out.  Man cub prayed for.

As for the day and the counting, it goes like things:

• another year celebrated with our oldest, now 16
• having enough, various forms of chocolate, in house to make ice cream, cake, and frosting
• a good attitude from children (mostly, with only minor correcting) pretty much all day
• easy to fix dinner
• realizing how much food we have in the freezer and pantry (just need to meal plan off of that)
• keeping the house warm without much electricity
• a child bathing our dog for me
• cake and ice cream before dinner
• commiserating, with a friend, over raising boys
• body holding out, as a lot of time spent standing and washing dishes
• watching the smiles on 16 yo as he opened gifts and mail today
• husband coming home early to celebrate life as a family

 Yes, more York Peppermint Patties!

 What's left of his cake and ice cream.

Also visible is a Celtic Thunder CD; one of his favorite groups.

It's been awhile since I took photos regularly.  Took a number of them this afternoon, but most turned out blurry.  Need to keep on taking them and learn the settings on my camera better!

Finding Time vs. Making Time

Do you see the struggle already?  The conflict of finding time in what we consider important versus making time for what truly IS important.  So many things that need to get done, should get done, want to get done, and the things we ought to get done.

As we've lived through the a portion of the summer already, I've missed countless opportunities to joint down the good, the moments of gratitude, those markers that serve as reminders of where we have been and accomplished.  Glimpses that are now a memory that may be remembered or may be forgotten.  In this, I'm often reminded to come back here to write, to make notes, to remember, to be thankful.  Most of the good this summer surrounded a few of our military friends moving back to the area.  So enjoyable to sit with friends, one on one, and catch up.  Pleasant surprises at church, as I connect with one friend and see a friend who's back in the area.  It felt like days of catching up . . . squirrel . . . as another friend walked in.

My making time:

• to connect with my husband
• to connect with those who are important - even a quick hello, hug, face book note, whatever
• to lesson plan ahead so I'm not rushed
• to connect with our kids, one on one

My finding time:

• to go through various things and purge
• to attend to things around the house
• to decorate more simplistically
• to find easy and good recipes

The take on all of my pondering is that there are things you just need to make time for; faith, family, and friends.  Just about everything else is a "find the time".

Sleep

What more can I say about the day.  Both kids woke up later than I would have liked and are now napping.  Yes, in the "real world" or in a "school building" they would be moving around numb with tiredness.  Well, if they are working, were this tired, hopefully they could take a sick day.  It is a perk of home schooling ~ allowing sleep to happen and still get their work done.  It just means that their free time has been used up by sleep instead of electronics and we're okay with that.

Otherwise, it's been a good day, a quiet day, a fast and slow day.  Windows open, birds chirping, planes flying, dog barking, regular neighborhood noise kind of day.

What I'm choosing to be thankful for today:

• extra, quiet moments
• shower
• remembering what's in our cabinets and making a good lunch
• being able to meal plan "on the fly"
• a working vacuum cleaner
• kids happy with getting hair cut at home
• looking forward to summer
• being available for our boys

And to close out this quick post, a photo of daisies ~ I should buy some this year!

What Brings Out Your Focus?

Your drive?  That "Type A" side we all have to varying degrees.

    My "A" side strikes every once in awhile, but not nearly often enough.  It's here this afternoon though.  In just a couple hours at home, alone, I'm able to get chores done in crazy time.  Though, those two hours are not enough time to get the WHOLE house done, it is just enough time for noticeable progress, and that will have to be good enough.

As is my "nature", I enjoy taking pictures of things that strike me as cool, beautiful, or unique.  I've also been know to take photos of things that tie into a blog post that is rattling around in my head.  That is what happened with today's writing and photos.

 Just warm enough for Charlotte to hang out

on the deck while I cleaned.  As I was focusing on a good

vacuuming, things got moved of the floor.  I took

her bed outside and she slept half on, half off.

 My desire for cute planner.  Making my own or finding one to down

load and print, just didn't happen.  I wanted to much out of a home made

and it was taking to long.  Store bought, with a plastic front and a place

change change out a cover, to the rescue.  Bonus ~ under $8.00.

 Must have ~ month view with just enough room to get a good over view

of what is going on that month.  Yes, April is still blank, will be updating that soon.

 Week view ~ again, enough room for all that needs to be in there.  I will still have a 

homemade school calendar (via Donna Young's website) with detailed notes on that.

I'd hate to see how big the calendar would be if I combined home and school on one calendar.

I also tied ribbons on the top spiral loop, to further personalize it and to add in finding the 

exact page I wanted.  When I do fill things in, some will be in pen, some in pencil.

I'll color code, either with highlighters or colored pencils, so a quick glance

I can see who's items are who's.

My list of joy and thankfulness (today and random last few months):

• store bought planner to personalize
• time to clean
• talent show for 5th & 6th graders
• warmth and sunshine
• boys earning their advanced red belt in TKD back in February (next belt is black)
• boys getting second stripe, yesterday (two more to go)
• breakfast for dinner

Another Day, Another Birthday

Yes, our boys birth dates are only a week apart!  It makes for some crazy times over the years.  When they were younger, their friends were mostly sets of brothers, their age.  Made it so convenient to have a friends party ~ 3 hours or so, 10 to 12 kids in the house, along with a few extra adults, and we were done till the next year.

Having seen this years round of birthdays, it was a bit more work, a bit more baking, more cleaning, but less parental involvement.  The boys each did their own thing with their friends.  We just provided food.  The kids ages, for both parties, were between 12 and 18; that made cooking easy - pizza, chips, lemonade, cake, and ice cream.  All things we can do well!  DONE!!!

Anyway, today is about Ian.  He's officially 12!  He seemed quite happy to have gotten exactly what he wanted: cash, Lego's, Duct Tape, Crunch Bars, and an Itunes gift card.  So easy!  Especially when friends took care of some of it without know what he REALLY wanted.  Love when things work out that way.  It's just cool.

The good for the day:

• almost finishing our bathroom
• seeing color combinations I liked (see photo below)
• train whistle (it truly never gets old for me), for some reason it helped me focus today
• seeing delight in my child's eyes
• lunch out with the family
• easy dinner ~ catered to the 12yo ~ hot dogs and chips

 Barn Yard Red Ipad easel, Yellow ware bowl,

and green scale in the back ground.

 Someone had asked if I would make 12 number 12's

and hide them around the house for him to find.

A tradition that got started a few years ago, that he

really enjoys.

 Cupcakes for the final round of sweets!  Just a quick

glaze of icing.  The ratio of cake and icing

was much better with these.  And

not much left as most went to Scouts tonight.

 Recycled a bag, for his gifts tonight.

Can you see the pile of 12's.  He found them all,

but needed a hint for two of them.

Can I have a candle please?

Odd day for photos

So let me just jump right into the photos today:

 odd combination of things, on the smallest counter

in the kitchen.  Something from each of the three members

at home!

 Mentioned some time before Christmas that we needed

new kitchen hand towels to my MIL and showed

her the ones I really liked.  She

picked these out for me.  I like how

bright and cheery they are.

They seem super absorbent too.

 Passing into the kitchen, saw a cheek needing to be

kissed.  It made him laugh.

 a visiting lady bug!

 The owner of the blue water bottle, busy at school.

Not sure if he was aware I was taking photos.

What is that, Jennifer S., the "Mamarazzi"?

Someone was so excited by the

word cheese, she came with her blanket

and begged awhile.

Even though the day was long; lots to get done; things to wash, dry & fold; there is much to be thankful for.  Counting it all joy.

• leftovers for lunch and dinner
• fun picture day
• starts of a new play
• getting most of a to do list done
• being okay with what didn't get done
• feeling tired at the end of the day (both physically and mentally, in a good way)
• looking forward to the last of the celebrations tomorrow
• thankful for a teen keeping laundry going

What has brought you joy today?

First Post of 2015

It is January 1st of 2015.  Won't honestly be long till I hit a milestone, age wise, that ends in a 5 and begins with a 4.  Being the the youngest of 5 kids, the mile stones never seemed that big.  I looked to my siblings, their spouses, and their friends and saw beautiful people getting older and the the big numbers never seemed so big.  I have my own friends, too, that have experienced a bit more life than myself as well, and they have weathered the storms of life with grace as well.

So it's the morning after New Year's Eve; the boys made it, I didn't.  They are sleeping, I'm typing out my first post of the year.  Curled under blankets, watching the shades of sunrise change the landscape.  Listening to something "quiet" on Pandora.  Seeing my neighbor (who reminds me a lot of my dad) scrape the windshields of their cars and rearrange the driveway because someone needs to leave.  Coffee is ready to be poured, just can't quit muster the desire to move the computer and uncover from the blankets.  (lol!  I made it, I am back, only slightly chilled, with coffee & white chocolate syrup).

The limbs have an orange hue;

the sky a brilliant light blue;

the sky still!

Beautiful beginnings to a beautiful year

Little Boy Pockets

If you are, or have been, a mom of a little boy, you may already know where this post is going!  The contents of boys pockets and the treasures they hold.  We have been spared the worst case scenario - animal or critter going through wash and dry - eek and gage!  There has been many other things ~ have had a wrapped tootsie roll make it through wash dry fully in tact!  Many things have been found before the wash ~ mostly rocks and sticks, but many don't.  Here's a picture of just a few:

Other miscellaneous things:

• day off from school
• sleeping in
• watching "Beauty and The Beast" Cast One video
• starting work on our bath (never turns out to be an easy project does it)

Got photo's added to my Christmas Post if you want to take a look!!!

Just a list kind of day!

• everyone one home by dinner
• boys napping
• reading on sunlit deck for second day in a row
• serving boys by doing their laundry
• making it to the early service

If You Give a Moose . . .

a Muffin.  It's that kind of day.  Yes it is!

     bunny trail first ~ here's a video of the book, in case you don't remember!

My distractions began with making home made salad dressing.  Got it made, put in fridge for later; found a spot, in the cabinets for the new Pyrex; got spices put away and cold stuff (mayo and sour cream, if you care); and went to put old mayo canister in recycle bin.  Managed to spill some of the contents all over the counter and floor, so of course I had to clean it, which lead to cleaning more of the floor, which lead to cleaning the lower cabinets.  At least it was cleaning right?

Anyway, still a good day with cleaning, schooling, errands, rehearsals, packing, taxi services, and all those other Mom Duties!  I am definitely seeing more joy in each day!

The list would go as such today:

• bunny trails
• memories of fun books
• being able to provide fun things for the boys
• last of the summer flowers
• leaf storms
• guys having a good weekend ahead of them

Joy Through Family ~ Kevin's Parents

Kevin's folks are pretty cool people too!  They're quiet natured and kind.  Living only about 45 minutes away, we're able to make quick trips to seem them, all though not as often as we used to.  Here's why they're special:

• they love spending time with their grand kids
• they've taken our kids, for weekends, before, because they want to.  There was one time Ian was upset because he had to leave!
• they're both avid readers - a trait that has filtered down through the generations - and thus they spoil the boys with books
• will help out when we need someone to hang out with the boys
• Kevin's dad has a dry sense of humor, at least I know where Kevin gets his from!
• Kevin's dad worked for the same company most of his career.  Though Kevin's been at his current company a long while, he still has a while to go to catch up to his dad!
• Kevin's mom likes to make sure everyone has what they'd like at family meals!  She's almost a short order cook, but it's appreciated! 
• they love being retired - it gives them plenty of time to travel and to spend with family

Got to love the informal, older photos.

Simon is 3 and 1 week!

Ian is still a new born < 24 hours old!

Joy Through Family ~ Jennifer's Parents

Thought I'd take time to write about both sets of parents as they've done a lot for each of us, throughout our lives.  You could say I flipped a coin to pick a set to write about first, but that wouldn't exactly be true, I've just known my folks a tad longer ~ about 26 years longer!  :)

There are many little things I remember about my folks, that always brought a smile, things like:

• my dad always seemed to have change in his pocket for me to get a soda after the basket ball games I played in
• I remember my mom skipping some breaks, when she worked, so that she could leave early and watch a Brownie cross over to Girl Scouts
• one year they gave me a "boom box" and my dad rigged it to play while it was all wrapped up in the box, thought that was really cool
• when I think about it, Mom usually had change, too, after shopping at the commissary and stopping by a produce stand on the way home
• remember one year in college, did not have the best set up for roommates, my folks made the effort to come back down, only 3 weeks after school started, to help me move!
• they've been wonderful grandparents to our kids, giving boat rides, having worms to fish off their dock, and always having pink lemonade
• before kids, I always remember walking into their house to the smell of fresh bread (in a bread maker) and home made chocolate chip cookies.  Both smells are a warm fuzzy for me.
• the smell of fresh cut wood or stain reminds me of my dad because he loves to work with wood
• mom seemed to be able to sew anything, while dad could fix just about anything
• while my folks sill lived in our area, mom and I would sit on our front stoop and watch the storms come in ~ fun times
• even though it's hard to get five kids, their spouses, and all the grand kids together for Christmas, love seeing "the stockings" hung by the fireplace with care!
• sitting in their back yard, either on the porch or on the gentle hill to dock, and watching life go by!  And the occasional boat!
• jet noise as they live near a couple naval bases.

Joy Through Family ~ Ian

Ian by definition means compact, ball of energy, that never stops talking, and eats slower than a snail.  That's just the one liner for him, things that bring joy about this young gentleman are:

• see's life in black and white, which can be a great thing
• wants to right the injustice in the world
• asks a lot of thought provoking questions - especially deep theological questions right before bedtime
• has a deep hunger for knowledge
• will read through a stack of books, in no time flat, if you let him
• makes connections between subjects that is totally amazing
• very easy to make laugh ~ he tries so hard, not to laugh, that he makes himself laugh
• his favorite verse is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
• desires to include the new person or outcast 

Our "ham"!  He loves to "act up!"

 Loves doing school in the cool, outdoors!

Joy Through the Family ~ Simon

Simon, our every growing teenager.  How things have changed in over 14 years.

• always felt like a side kick, wants to come along for the ride, walk or whatever
• good sleeper ~ falls asleep quick and usually wakes up happy as a lark
• maturing into a fine young man
• goal driven to get his Eagle Scout Rank
• willing to try new things and will give a polite review (or outstanding review if he really likes it)
• loves to tinker with Legos or my dad's wood shop
• finding his own set of friends and learning how to maintain them (so thankful for free long distance phone calls.  He loves to check in with a friend in Kentucky about once a week for an hour).
• learning to be an overcomer
• has a goofy sense of humor 
• loves the group "Skillet"
• enjoys serving on the youth group tech team!

 What a great photo!

 Busy finishing up a Hardy Boys book

and drinking chocolate milk!

Good combination, right?