I am caught up in my reading. We are almost 1/3 of the way through the Bible in 90 days. I began 1 Chronicles today. Chronicles is sort of a repeat of the kingly history in Judah and Israel that is given in Kings, but Chronicles focuses more on the kings of Judah.
The first nine chapters of the book- my reading for today- is mostly names, family lines and genealogies. I'm never sure exactly why. I believe the Bible is inspired, "God-breathed", so why did God lead those people to record all those names. I'm sure there must be a good reason, one I probably won't know until I reach Heaven.
I do know God had a purpose for recording this history, the history of His people, the Jews, and the lines of each family leader, traced all the way from Adam to Christ. I am excited every time I read through the Bible in 90 days as I see the story unfold. It makes so much more sense to me as a whole book when I read this way. And even though I can't imagine the purpose for recording all those names, I am excited once again to see God's plan unfold through His people!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
I created my menu plan in Google this week. You can see the whole plan (alone with some recipe links) here.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update
I am currently caught up in reading through the Bible in 90 days. We are on day 26. I am reading in 2 Kings today. I enjoy reading through Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. This is Israel's history, and I definitely a history buff. Sometimes the kings can be a little confusing. 1 and 2 Samuel deal mostly with the first kings of Israel- Saul and David. 1 and 2 Kings tell the lines of kings in Israel and Judah (the kingdom now divided). 1 and 2 Chronicles retell Kings from a different perspective, focusing primarily on the kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Many of the prophets come during the reigns of these kings.
I found this handy chart that helps to show the overlap of the kings in each kingdom and where the prophets fit in:
Chart of Kings and Prophets
I like to keep it handy to refer to it while I am reading.
I found this handy chart that helps to show the overlap of the kings in each kingdom and where the prophets fit in:
Chart of Kings and Prophets
I like to keep it handy to refer to it while I am reading.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Gabby Mom's Review- True Treasures
And here it is, ladies (and gentlemen)... Drum roll please. My first product review for TEACH magazine (now called Eternal Encouragement)!
I was very excited to receive in the mail a few weeks ago, my first product to review as a Gabby Mom. Gabby Moms are a group of mom bloggers who have the privilege of reviewing products from TEACH magazine throughout this year. I will receive one product each month to review. My first product, as I mentioned, arrived a few weeks ago. It is a beautiful compilation of articles from the past ten years of TEACH magazine's publication, a sort of "best of collection" if you will.
True Treasures is compiled by Lorrie Flem. This beautiful book contains articles on marriage, parenting, homemaking, homeschooling, and godly living. I haven't subscribed to TEACH magazine in the past, but many of the authors were familiar to me. Lorrie Flem, Cindy Rushton, Marybeth Whalen, and Marilyn Boyer were a few of the names I recognized of godly women whose teachings I have read. The articles are nicely divided by subjects (for obsessively organized moms like me) and are surrounded by Scripture. You can sit down and browse through the book at one sitting like I did- because I was so excited to read it! Or, you can savor each article separately and come back to this as a reference again and again.
Parenting, homemaking, and homeschooling are difficult jobs. Being a loving and supportive wife to my husband is not always easy. But, this is what God has called me to be. And it is a high calling. The articles in True Treasures remind me of this. As a mom, wife, homemaker, and homeschool teacher, I often need encouragement. I need practical advice to help me with my marriage, with parenting, with homemaking. The articles compiled in True Treasures do this also. They offer godly advice from godly women to help navigate the sometimes difficult and discouraging tasks we face as wives and mothers. There were articles I read that reassured me that I was doing the right thing. There were articles that convicted me to think about areas I might need to change in my life. There were articles that taught me new things to try in my homemaking and homeschooling life.
If you are already a reader of TEACH magazine, I think you will love the collection of some of "the best of" articles. And, if you're new to the magazine and this ministry, I believe you will be blessed by the encouragement you find in True Treasures.
You can check out True Treasures (and many other resources from Lorrie Flem and TEACH magazine) at www.HomemakingWithTEACH.com. And please stop by the Gabby Mom's website to read other reviews of this product!
I received this product for honest review from TEACH Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I was very excited to receive in the mail a few weeks ago, my first product to review as a Gabby Mom. Gabby Moms are a group of mom bloggers who have the privilege of reviewing products from TEACH magazine throughout this year. I will receive one product each month to review. My first product, as I mentioned, arrived a few weeks ago. It is a beautiful compilation of articles from the past ten years of TEACH magazine's publication, a sort of "best of collection" if you will.
Parenting, homemaking, and homeschooling are difficult jobs. Being a loving and supportive wife to my husband is not always easy. But, this is what God has called me to be. And it is a high calling. The articles in True Treasures remind me of this. As a mom, wife, homemaker, and homeschool teacher, I often need encouragement. I need practical advice to help me with my marriage, with parenting, with homemaking. The articles compiled in True Treasures do this also. They offer godly advice from godly women to help navigate the sometimes difficult and discouraging tasks we face as wives and mothers. There were articles I read that reassured me that I was doing the right thing. There were articles that convicted me to think about areas I might need to change in my life. There were articles that taught me new things to try in my homemaking and homeschooling life.
If you are already a reader of TEACH magazine, I think you will love the collection of some of "the best of" articles. And, if you're new to the magazine and this ministry, I believe you will be blessed by the encouragement you find in True Treasures.
You can check out True Treasures (and many other resources from Lorrie Flem and TEACH magazine) at www.HomemakingWithTEACH.com. And please stop by the Gabby Mom's website to read other reviews of this product!
I received this product for honest review from TEACH Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
No fancy online tools used in meal planning this week. I am trying to use up some of what is in my pantry and not have a big grocery trip this week, so I am making dinner based on what's on hand.
Sunday- Chili and corn muffins (My football favorite!)
Monday- We will be at Great Wolf Lodge with my mom. We're taking sandwiches and snacks and may eat at Cracker Barrel on the way home.
Tuesday- BBQ chicken, corn, mac and cheese
Wednesday- Eat at church
Thursday- Crockpot shepherd's pie
Friday- Homemade pizza and breadsticks
Saturday- Leftovers and sandwiches
Yea!! I think I can make do with what I have!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Just Marking Time
I stop myself when I look at how fast time has actually gone. I now have an almost teenager and a son who hit double digits last week. Time flies! Before I know those spring days I am wishing for will be here, and my children will be that much older. I am reminding myself to slow down, enjoy each and every minute of every day, and stop marking time!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update- Judges
I am still on track reading through the Bible in 90 days. I have just finished reading through Judges and Ruth and beginning Samuel.
The book of Judges is always very shocking. The things that go on in the nation of Israel at the time are appalling- idol worship, immorality, murder. The list is long and the recurring phrase is: "The people had no king and did what was right in their own eyes." The people God sent to deliver Israel weren't much better. The judges were liars, cowards, murderers, and idolaters in their own right. What a picture of what the nation of Israel has become just a few hundred years after pledging to always obey God no matter what!
Right in the middle of all this is the story of Ruth. At first glance, we might not understand why God would include this. What does the story of a foreign woman and her devotion to her Israelite mother-in-law have to do with the story of God's people and the thread we are following through the Bible? The answer lies in the final chapter of Ruth. In the story of faithfulness and devotion that we find smack dab in the middle of the atrocities of Judges, we find the ancestors of King David who would one day be the ancestors of Jesus Christ! Wow! What a plan God has!
I am starting into Samuel and the books of the kings now. This is a very "historical" section in the Bible- one of the easiest for me to read and one of my favorite sections- because I like history.
The book of Judges is always very shocking. The things that go on in the nation of Israel at the time are appalling- idol worship, immorality, murder. The list is long and the recurring phrase is: "The people had no king and did what was right in their own eyes." The people God sent to deliver Israel weren't much better. The judges were liars, cowards, murderers, and idolaters in their own right. What a picture of what the nation of Israel has become just a few hundred years after pledging to always obey God no matter what!
Right in the middle of all this is the story of Ruth. At first glance, we might not understand why God would include this. What does the story of a foreign woman and her devotion to her Israelite mother-in-law have to do with the story of God's people and the thread we are following through the Bible? The answer lies in the final chapter of Ruth. In the story of faithfulness and devotion that we find smack dab in the middle of the atrocities of Judges, we find the ancestors of King David who would one day be the ancestors of Jesus Christ! Wow! What a plan God has!
I am starting into Samuel and the books of the kings now. This is a very "historical" section in the Bible- one of the easiest for me to read and one of my favorite sections- because I like history.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Weekly Wrap Up- The I'm So Ready for Spring Edition
So, I'm not really sure what that title has to do with school, but there it is: I am so ready for spring. Thankfully, mixed in with the serious cold and miserable rain this week, we had one beautiful gem of a day when the sun came out and the temperatures reached almost 50. It reminded me that spring will one day come again. Even if they are forecasting MORE snow next week. Uggh.
In all things school:
Monday- We had our science group over. Due to sickness and snow, we missed one meeting this month, so we doubled up this week and talked about atmospheric pressure and moon phases. The moon phase activity was the most popular because it involved oreo cookies (and some milk).
On Tuesday, Kathryne and Charles had Junior Master Gardner. This has turned out to be a very unpopular activity with Charles especially because he has to sit for three hours. While I am sure they don't really just sit, the subject matter- horticulture- has not been interesting for him at all. I am making them stick it out for a few months. They only meet once a month, and the class ends in May.
While the big kids were in their class, the little girls and I went to the library and the children's museum. I love the library. I show them I love them all the time by paying them astronomical fines because somehow I forget the day the 60 and 20 movies books we have checked out currently are due. Oh well. They love me anyway. The children's museum is new to our town. It opened right before Christmas is geared to preschoolers and younger, but even the big kids can usually find some interesting things to do there. The little girls just love having so many new toys to play with!
Wednesday was a fairly normal school day. It also happened to be the one sunny and warm day of the week, so after we finished school work, we all went outside!
Thursday we took a trip to Discovery Place in Charlotte- about 40 minutes from home, we love this science museum and have enjoyed a membership for several years now.
Today, Friday, was a stay at home day. We actually got lots of school done today, including finishing up our geography book, A Child's Geography; studying several works of art from The Art Auction Mystery; and listening to a radio program about Beethoven on Classics for Kids.
To see what we do each day, you can check out The Courtney Homeschool Blog. For more weekly wrap ups, check out Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update
I am caught up with my Bible in 90 Days reading- reading now through the book of Deuteronomy. I haven't read today's reading yet, but I plan to do that while I'm making supper.
Deuteronomy marks the end of the reciting of the law. Moses is retelling the Israelites all that God has done for them and how He has led them through the years in desert. This was especially necessary because all the original Israelites had now died off and this was the new generation of their children.
This verse (and a repeat of it in several different phrases) caught my eye as I have been reading through Deuteronomy:
26:16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.
This was the agreement between God and Israel. They had pledged to FULLY keep His laws and decrees and commands. Wow! I'm surely glad for what I know is to come in the New Testament because that is a pretty big order!
Deuteronomy marks the end of the reciting of the law. Moses is retelling the Israelites all that God has done for them and how He has led them through the years in desert. This was especially necessary because all the original Israelites had now died off and this was the new generation of their children.
This verse (and a repeat of it in several different phrases) caught my eye as I have been reading through Deuteronomy:
26:16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.
This was the agreement between God and Israel. They had pledged to FULLY keep His laws and decrees and commands. Wow! I'm surely glad for what I know is to come in the New Testament because that is a pretty big order!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
Still using DinnerTool to plan our suppers (even though it still isn't cooking for me!).
This week:
Monday- Chicken casserole; corn; green beans; crescent rolls
Tuesday- Tacos and fruit
Wednesday- Eat at church
Thursday- Easy Baked Spaghetti; salad; breadsticks
Friday- Homemade pizza
Saturday- Baked potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Friday, January 14, 2011
Weekly Wrap Up- The Snowy Day(s) Edition
We had snow this week. For some of you in colder climates, this may not be a big deal. But, here in the South, school was out for three days and all the stores were out of milk and bread. I did not cancel our school, but I did do a more "relaxed" schedule on Monday and Tuesday so the kids could get out and play.
We picked up with a regular schedule on Wednesday. But we did finish by lunch time, so we could go and meet Daddy for lunch at Donatos. It was Charles's birthday!
During our regularly scheduled school time, we read about the American revolution and watched several related Schoolhouse Rock videos. I love Schoolhouse Rock.
Kathryne, Charles, and I read along in The Horse and His Boy. I am finding it very interesting. It is the one I have read the least.
Ashlyne and Rachel and I read The Mitten. We are reading snow books (but maybe I should stop if it keeps bringing snow). We talked about the Ukraine and had fun discussing all the animals in the story. We finished off the week by making our own mittens, so we could retell the story.
In math, Ashlyne, Rachel, and I discussed graphing this week, so we made a large graph showing the number of family members in families we know.
One of the new things I am doing with Ashlyne and Rachel this quarter is ABEKA phonics. I actually started out homeschooling using all ABEKA materials with Kathryne and Charles for the first few years. But, as we started using more Charlotte Mason style learning and reading more real books, I abandoned the ABEKA workbooks. Now, with a second set of children learning phonics and reading, I am finding nothing to work better than ABEKA. So, over Christmas break, I ordered the Letters and Sounds workbooks for K5 and 1st grade. I know we'll still be working on them over summer break, but they are doing very well with them.
I am looking forward to a week with no snow next week and hoping for an early spring!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update- Bogged Down in the Law
It never fails to happen. I'm reading along quite well in Genesis and the first part of Exodus, very interested in the story of Israel, God's chosen people. And then it happens: I come to the Ten Commandments, and all the later law. The whole second half of Exodus, Leviticus, most of Numbers and parts of Deuteronomy will continue to relate the law to the people.
Why? Why is so much of the Old Testament devoted to writing down these laws? And what sense can I make of the law today as a 21st century Christian? Why are there laws against sexual sins that i can obviously agree are wrong written just verses away from laws about mildew in your house? Huh?
I've found three very interesting sources to help me study this in some more depth. I've already perused the two websites, and I sent the PDF file to my Kindle to read. Much of what I'm reading makes sense and helps me to see how the law fits in to the narrative of history and what it means for us as Christians today.
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?
Applying the Old Testament law today
Why the Law Then?
Why? Why is so much of the Old Testament devoted to writing down these laws? And what sense can I make of the law today as a 21st century Christian? Why are there laws against sexual sins that i can obviously agree are wrong written just verses away from laws about mildew in your house? Huh?
I've found three very interesting sources to help me study this in some more depth. I've already perused the two websites, and I sent the PDF file to my Kindle to read. Much of what I'm reading makes sense and helps me to see how the law fits in to the narrative of history and what it means for us as Christians today.
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?
Applying the Old Testament law today
Why the Law Then?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update
We are on Day 8 of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I am on track, having finished reading Exodus and will begin Leviticus today. I always get bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers, but reading through so quickly helps me to get through those more difficult books of lists of laws and rules and helps me to see the bigger picture of why God was giving all those rules.
One thing I've noticed about reading through the Bible in 90 days is that, while I don't have time to stop and do more in depth study, I am often drawn to things I want to study more. This past time I read in the summer, I was very drawn to study more about those Old Testament books of law and the history of Israel. I purchased a Genesis study and an Exodus study. I have completed the Genesis study and look forward to studying Exodus more in depth also.
No matter how many times I read through the Bible, I always catch something new. Reading through the other day in Exodus, I noticed something I don't think I've noticed before. I've always wondered about Aaron and the Israelites building the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain. I can almost sympathize with them as they wait in vain for Moses to return day after day, and the begin to get frustrated and to question the reality of God. I've always felt sort of sorry for them. But, reading the other day, I caught this:
Exodus 24:9-11 Then they climbed the mountain—Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel—and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires—pure, clear sky-blue. He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.
12-13 God said to Moses, "Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I'll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I've written to instruct them." So Moses got up, accompanied by Joshua his aide. And Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
Before heading up the mountain alone, Moses had been with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 elders. They had seen God and eaten and drank there on the mountain. Then Aaron and the others headed back down the mountain to build the golden calf within a short time! Could any one of those 73 people not taken a stand when the Israelites complained and verified that they knew God was with them because they had been with Him? Could Aaron really be persuaded to make an idol to replace the God that had just communed with on the mountain? Really? It made me think.
So, here I go heading into Leviticus and the law.
One thing I've noticed about reading through the Bible in 90 days is that, while I don't have time to stop and do more in depth study, I am often drawn to things I want to study more. This past time I read in the summer, I was very drawn to study more about those Old Testament books of law and the history of Israel. I purchased a Genesis study and an Exodus study. I have completed the Genesis study and look forward to studying Exodus more in depth also.
No matter how many times I read through the Bible, I always catch something new. Reading through the other day in Exodus, I noticed something I don't think I've noticed before. I've always wondered about Aaron and the Israelites building the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain. I can almost sympathize with them as they wait in vain for Moses to return day after day, and the begin to get frustrated and to question the reality of God. I've always felt sort of sorry for them. But, reading the other day, I caught this:
Exodus 24:9-11 Then they climbed the mountain—Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel—and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires—pure, clear sky-blue. He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.
12-13 God said to Moses, "Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I'll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I've written to instruct them." So Moses got up, accompanied by Joshua his aide. And Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
Before heading up the mountain alone, Moses had been with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 elders. They had seen God and eaten and drank there on the mountain. Then Aaron and the others headed back down the mountain to build the golden calf within a short time! Could any one of those 73 people not taken a stand when the Israelites complained and verified that they knew God was with them because they had been with Him? Could Aaron really be persuaded to make an idol to replace the God that had just communed with on the mountain? Really? It made me think.
So, here I go heading into Leviticus and the law.
Menu Plan Monday
Sunday- Chili and cornbread
Monday- Baked mac and cheese; fruit
Tuesday- Grilled chicken and pasta; salad and fruit
Wednesday- Dinner at church
Thursday- Cheese quesadillas; grilled corn
Friday- Order pizza for Charles's party
Saturday- Chicken tortellini soup
These recipes and planning come from yet another menu planning sight I found- Dinner Tool. Too bad I have yet to find a sight that will plan AND cook my meals!
Friday, January 7, 2011
An Exciting Opportunity!
I am excited about something I have the opportunity to be involved in this year. I am a Gabby Mom! I am going to be a product reviewer for TEACH magazine. TEACH magazine- recently renamed Eternal Encouragement- encourages women to be godly wives, mothers, and homemakers.
I've never had a subscription to the magazine, but I have been aware of the ministry and am very excited to be able to review products and to get to know more about this valuable resource for women. I was recently checking out the TEACH magazine website and was very impressed at the resources offered there.
I received my first product for review last week, and it is great! I'm not going to reveal it yet, but I am really looking forward to doing my review on this one the last week of January. It is a beautiful and very helpful resource. And that's all I'll tell you for now! Stay tuned for the product review coming soon.
I've never had a subscription to the magazine, but I have been aware of the ministry and am very excited to be able to review products and to get to know more about this valuable resource for women. I was recently checking out the TEACH magazine website and was very impressed at the resources offered there.
I received my first product for review last week, and it is great! I'm not going to reveal it yet, but I am really looking forward to doing my review on this one the last week of January. It is a beautiful and very helpful resource. And that's all I'll tell you for now! Stay tuned for the product review coming soon.
Weekly Wrap Up- The First Week Back to School
We started back to school this week! I was very ready for the routine. The kids were not so ready.
Our week started rather roughly. On New Year's Eve, I took Kathryne to the doctor. She had run fever and felt bad since Christmas Day. She tested negative for all the normal things, but her white blood counts and platelet counts were very low. We headed to the ER. The general consensus after consulting with two doctors and a hematologist was that we were probably looking at a virus but that she needed her counts rechecked within the week. Of course my mother's mind skipped to all the worst case scenarios. Thankfully, we had many many folks praying for us! I took her today to be retested and all counts were normal. Praise the Lord!
Despite illness, we started back with a mostly regular school schedule on Monday.
The little girls and I read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats this week. We worked on story sequence; we compared the book with the Usborne TheSnowy Day book using a Venn diagram; we made snowflakes; and we watched the scholastic video of The Snowy Day. Here's our large Venn Diagram.
The big kids and I began reading The Horse and His Boy. This is one of the Narnia books we've read the least, so we are spending a little more time on it. This week we read four chapters; we discussed suicide (because of the choices of one of the characters); we outlined information about horses to practice creating an outline; and we read about the seven wonders of the ancient world.
We also continued with Story of the World vol.3 reading about the Chinese Empire. We read about the tectonic plates and discussed shifts in the earth's crust in A Child's Geography. We continued on with Latin, but we are also watching the Muzzy Spanish videos for a little introductory Spanish. We picked up our Little Pilgrim's Progress and continued on with part two reading about Christiana's journey. We studied a picture by Joseph Turner in The Art Auction Mystery. We also began reading The American Patriot's Almanac with a daily reading form American history.
Everyone continued with independent work on math, reading, phonics (for the little girls), copywork, Bible reading, and AWANA.
I think we had a very successful back to school week. Next week we are looking forward to our science co-op group coming, and I think we may take a trip to Discovery Place.
For more weekly wrap-ups, check out Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Our week started rather roughly. On New Year's Eve, I took Kathryne to the doctor. She had run fever and felt bad since Christmas Day. She tested negative for all the normal things, but her white blood counts and platelet counts were very low. We headed to the ER. The general consensus after consulting with two doctors and a hematologist was that we were probably looking at a virus but that she needed her counts rechecked within the week. Of course my mother's mind skipped to all the worst case scenarios. Thankfully, we had many many folks praying for us! I took her today to be retested and all counts were normal. Praise the Lord!
Despite illness, we started back with a mostly regular school schedule on Monday.
The little girls and I read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats this week. We worked on story sequence; we compared the book with the Usborne TheSnowy Day book using a Venn diagram; we made snowflakes; and we watched the scholastic video of The Snowy Day. Here's our large Venn Diagram.
The big kids and I began reading The Horse and His Boy. This is one of the Narnia books we've read the least, so we are spending a little more time on it. This week we read four chapters; we discussed suicide (because of the choices of one of the characters); we outlined information about horses to practice creating an outline; and we read about the seven wonders of the ancient world.
We also continued with Story of the World vol.3 reading about the Chinese Empire. We read about the tectonic plates and discussed shifts in the earth's crust in A Child's Geography. We continued on with Latin, but we are also watching the Muzzy Spanish videos for a little introductory Spanish. We picked up our Little Pilgrim's Progress and continued on with part two reading about Christiana's journey. We studied a picture by Joseph Turner in The Art Auction Mystery. We also began reading The American Patriot's Almanac with a daily reading form American history.
Everyone continued with independent work on math, reading, phonics (for the little girls), copywork, Bible reading, and AWANA.
I think we had a very successful back to school week. Next week we are looking forward to our science co-op group coming, and I think we may take a trip to Discovery Place.
For more weekly wrap-ups, check out Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Bible in 90 Days Update
I'm reading through the Bible in 90 days again! We began Monday. Today I am caught up reading in Genesis about the life of Joseph.
I've posted before about reading through the Bible in 90 days, but I cannot say enough good things about this program. I have read through the Bible every year since high school. I grew up in a church and a Christian school that taught the Bible in an expository way, so I've always known the Bible, not just known about the Bible. But reading through in 90 days was a new experience for me last year, and I really benefited from it.
I can see the flow of history through Scripture so much better when I read in this short period of time. Things really tie in when I am reading so quickly. Often when I study portions of the Bible, the big picture gets lost. When I read the whole thing in a short period of time, I get the big picture. I've had lots of aha moments as I've seen how things fit together. I've also come across things I wanted to study more in depth, and I've done that after my reading.
I am reading along with others at Mom's Toolbox, but you can buy the Bible in 90 days Bible and read anytime. It is helpful to be a part of a group for the encouragement and accountability.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
I found Monthly Meal Planner, a website that plans out an entire month's worth of meals, complete with recipes and grocery list. You can use the given menu suggestions to add your own meals and produce lists based on those. This is a totally free website. I'm not sure how I missed this in all my previous searches for online meal planning, but I'll be using this one! I have all of January's meals planned now.
Monday- Baked Potato Soup; fruit salad; grilled cheese sandwiches
Tuesday- Chicken casserole; peas; corn; rolls
Wednesday- Eat at church
Thursday- Baked ziti; breadsticks; salad and fruit
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Tacos and fruit
Sunday- Deli Sandwiches; chips; fruit
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Years Resolutions?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
I love to plan. I love to schedule. I love to be organized. I really love for everyone else to just follow the plans that I have made. Unfortunately life doesn't always work out so neatly.
I spent yesterday in the hospital with my daughter. That was certainly NOT my plan for New Year's Eve. I'm going to spend this week waiting until I can take her back to the pediatrician for a blood count check. That was NOT my plan either. Things don't always go the way I have planned.
Does this mean I shouldn't plan? I don't think so. I believe God is a God of order and He created us with that need to feel orderly (at least most of us :) ). It does mean that I need to accept the fact that my plans are never final. My plans are never absolute. My plans are always subject to God's plans. And I am thankful for that. I am thankful that He does always have the final plan because He knows sooo much more than I do, and He can see much farther than I can.
So, here are some of my New Year's plans/goals/resolutions:
Spiritually:
* To read through the Bible in 90 days again, at least once. I'm reading along with Mom's Toolbox beginning Monday.
* To work toward living "radically." I discussed David Platt's book and his plan for a radical year of living here. To that end, I have already begun using a devotional by Beth Moore that is written by Christians around the world, leading me to pray for those in other countries. We have also discussed and set in motion some plans for giving and praying as a family this year.
Homemaking:
* To always look for ways to cook and eat more healthy and more frugally. To that end, I am going to try to change our menu planning. I am going to try to do monthly planning that will hopefully enable me to be more effective at the grocery store and more prepared at home cutting down on unnecessary trips to the store or eating out. I am also going to attempt to do more couponing. I began strong last summer and have sort of tapered off. I need to find what works best for us and stick with it.
* To work to improve my knowledge of/skill in one homemaking area. I think I would like it to be cooking. I have attempted sewing, and I honestly just do not enjoy anything about sewing. I can do basic repairs and sew on buttons (or AWANA patches), so I think I'm covered in the basics. But, I would REALLY like to be a better cook. I'm not sure if I can take a class (or maybe recruit a talented cooking friend to help), but I'm going to work on this skill!
Physically:
* To be more physically fit. I think this is a goal every year, and there are times I am more consistent with this than at other. I am going to continue using Spark People as a guide and motivator.
Personal Growth:
* To continue to broaden my reading spectrum. Last year I branched out and read some classics I had never read. I read in a genre I hadn't read much from- memoirs. I really enjoyed reading and learning some new things. I want to continue that this year, not reading so much in the same old genres but trying new things.
* Work on developing relationships/friendships that will help me grow spiritually. I'm not exactly sure what this one is going to look like yet, but I feel the need to do this, so I'm going to pray about this one and let God lead me.
Realizing that my plans are always subject to God's plans, these are things I purpose to do for the next year.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
I love to plan. I love to schedule. I love to be organized. I really love for everyone else to just follow the plans that I have made. Unfortunately life doesn't always work out so neatly.
I spent yesterday in the hospital with my daughter. That was certainly NOT my plan for New Year's Eve. I'm going to spend this week waiting until I can take her back to the pediatrician for a blood count check. That was NOT my plan either. Things don't always go the way I have planned.
Does this mean I shouldn't plan? I don't think so. I believe God is a God of order and He created us with that need to feel orderly (at least most of us :) ). It does mean that I need to accept the fact that my plans are never final. My plans are never absolute. My plans are always subject to God's plans. And I am thankful for that. I am thankful that He does always have the final plan because He knows sooo much more than I do, and He can see much farther than I can.
So, here are some of my New Year's plans/goals/resolutions:
Spiritually:
* To read through the Bible in 90 days again, at least once. I'm reading along with Mom's Toolbox beginning Monday.
* To work toward living "radically." I discussed David Platt's book and his plan for a radical year of living here. To that end, I have already begun using a devotional by Beth Moore that is written by Christians around the world, leading me to pray for those in other countries. We have also discussed and set in motion some plans for giving and praying as a family this year.
Homemaking:
* To always look for ways to cook and eat more healthy and more frugally. To that end, I am going to try to change our menu planning. I am going to try to do monthly planning that will hopefully enable me to be more effective at the grocery store and more prepared at home cutting down on unnecessary trips to the store or eating out. I am also going to attempt to do more couponing. I began strong last summer and have sort of tapered off. I need to find what works best for us and stick with it.
* To work to improve my knowledge of/skill in one homemaking area. I think I would like it to be cooking. I have attempted sewing, and I honestly just do not enjoy anything about sewing. I can do basic repairs and sew on buttons (or AWANA patches), so I think I'm covered in the basics. But, I would REALLY like to be a better cook. I'm not sure if I can take a class (or maybe recruit a talented cooking friend to help), but I'm going to work on this skill!
Physically:
* To be more physically fit. I think this is a goal every year, and there are times I am more consistent with this than at other. I am going to continue using Spark People as a guide and motivator.
Personal Growth:
* To continue to broaden my reading spectrum. Last year I branched out and read some classics I had never read. I read in a genre I hadn't read much from- memoirs. I really enjoyed reading and learning some new things. I want to continue that this year, not reading so much in the same old genres but trying new things.
* Work on developing relationships/friendships that will help me grow spiritually. I'm not exactly sure what this one is going to look like yet, but I feel the need to do this, so I'm going to pray about this one and let God lead me.
Realizing that my plans are always subject to God's plans, these are things I purpose to do for the next year.
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