School lunches

Do you find yourself struggling with lunch ideas?  Lunch is rough for this home school mom.  We get our lessons done and even fit in a little exercise.  Then comes the infamous words around 11:30, "When is lunch, I am hungry, what are we having?"   AAAAAAAHHHHH!  I don't know.

This year I have a plan to make school lunch a little easier.  For many years I have prepped and frozen food for supper time meals.  I am attempting to do the same for lunches.

My first attempt at school lunch preparation was chicken nuggets.  I have not done any research on the ingredients in store bought/fast food chicken nuggets.I have heard rumors and this is enough for me. I simply do not want to know for myself.  Therefore I am not going to research it.  I do know that I can take boneless chicken breasts, some buttermilk, and some seasoned bread crumbs and make my own.  Cut chicken into small finger-food sized pieces.  Coat with buttermilk then bread crumbs.  Bake at 375 until cooked through. Cool.  Fill a ziplock bag.  Freeze.  When ready to eat.  Put desired amount on baking sheet.  Preheat oven to 375.  Cook, frozen, for about 10 minutes.  Turn nuggets over and cook for another 10 minutes.  Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.  Yum!  These were delicious.  LE  was a little hesitant, but she will come around. 

Overall we do not eat many store prepared meals.  At the beginning of the school year WD requested some Kraft Easy Mac and Cheese. (a rare treat...if you can call that a treat)  That got me thinking.  I could make my own homemade mac and cheese and freeze it.  Mom's Easy Freezey Mac and Cheesey.  Simple.  Boil some whole wheat pasta (under cook so it isn't mushy when reheated).  Make a cheese sauce using cheese and milk.  Mix together.  Fill freezer jars.  Freeze.  Perfect for a school lunch.  Just defrost and heat. 


With cooler weather here it  is nice to have a hot meal at lunch time. We do not have a hot meal everyday.  We fill in with sandwiches, cheese and crackers, yogurt.  Having simple hot lunch options in the freezer is one more step in making the home school day run smoothly...now if we could some how make ahead and freeze long division...

If you have any recipes that you use I would LOVE to hear them.
Di

We made it!

Today, our first day of school, started with our first grader up at the "crack of dawn" and our fifth grader having to be dragged out of bed.  LE (the first grader) was up and ready...chores done and everything...well before WD even made an appearance.  Despite the sleepy son things went well and we were able to start school on time.

School starts with devotions.  Then WD is off to do some independent work while LE and I do some cleaning.  The rest of the school day is spent hopping between both kids.  Things went very smoothly for the first day with only a few minor "melt downs."

This past spring I attended a Homeschool Convention where I was greatly encouraged and learned many things to help me through another school year.  I am so thankful I was able to go and would love to attend another one.  My prayer is that I would be able to implement the things I have learned and allow the Holy Spirit to order my day. 

Just a little thought...if you teach your children at home, do you consider yourself a "home schooler" or a "home educator"  I think I fall somewhere in between.  What does homeschooling mean to you?

As moms we must remember that whether our children are taught at home or in a classroom the best teachers our children will ever have is us.  How are we measuring up?

Take a few minutes each day and ask the Lord to help you be the teacher He would want you to be.  Our ultimate goal should be to raise children that have eternal purpose.

God bless you as you train your children for His glory!
Di

Lists

Yesterday my hubby and I were talking about our camping trip coming up.  I pulled out my notebook and started writing my "to do" list for the week.  Then I turned the page and started my food list.  The other pages contain packing lists and previous "to do" lists.  The comment was made by my husband that I have a list for everything.  I do.  I am a list person.  I love to have everything written on out so I can cross things out as a I do them and yes, it has to be on paper.  I may make an spreadsheet list on the computer, but I must print it.  What fun is a list if you can't cross something off with a pen.  I need my paper!!!

As school and vacation are fast approaching I have many things to do, so my lists increase.  I find myself  wondering,  "does everyone write lists to stay on top of their days?"  If not, what other methods are used?  Are you a pen and paper "lister" or do you prefer electronics? Do you have another method?  I would love to hear your list organization tips.

Going to get my notebook...
Di

August New Month Resolutions

The first two months of summer are always a whirlwind of activity...finishing school, vacations, camp meeting...so much going on.  August comes and I feel like I can breathe again.  I can stop to take time to think about re-organizing, cleaning out. AND getting things ready for school?   Yes, school.  I think a home school mom always has school/education somewhere on her brain.

 I do have to say this year when official school was finished, I was finished.  I have never enjoyed the ending of school and beginning of summer more than I did this year.  Was it because I taught 2 this year?  Maybe it was the early warm weather?  I am not sure why, but it was nice to start summer vacation and it has been nice to be on summer vacation.  No schedule, just down time.  (Well, other than the cooking, cleaning, mothering, and all that regular stuff.)

With school only a month away, I am working on getting our home prepared. I made my weekly to do lists and have been crossing things off each week.  It is exciting to see each task completed and crossed off the list.  Some things have had been put on hold (Like re-staining or painting kitchen cabinets...I would love suggestions, but guess that is a different post).  This post is not about "to do" lists, so I will not bore you with those details and get right to the point (ok, so I already blew that...now I will get right to the point)

First, last month resolutions...how did I do? (comments in italics)

Spiritual Resolutions:

1.  To be spiritually minded.  A work in progress.  So hard to do with so much carnality in me.
2.  To be more encouraging.  To praise my children more.  See above note. :)

Physical Resolutions:

1.  Laundry. Going well.  Folding right out of the dryer.  Doing full load...wash, dry, fold...most days.  Now, I just need to put it away everyday.

2.  Ten minute chore. Still working on "to do lists"  These are more like hour chores.  Will start Popsicle sticks back up in September.

3.  Exercise. Ummm....let's not go there. 

4.  Write 2 more blog posts this month. Maybe this month????


Now for August

August Resolutions:

1.   Continue to work on spiritual resolutions

2.  Laundry.  Put folded clothes away daily.

3.  Exercise.

4.  Write 1 more blog post this month.  Is that possible???

What are your goals for this month?  Do you have a summer "to do" list or do you take the summer off from lists?  That makes me panic.  No lists.  How can someone function without lists...lists on clip boards, lists on the computer, lists on the refrigerator...is it possible to be "listless"?  :)

Today is the Lord's Day.  The first day of the week.  What better day to sit down, take a few minutes to pray and ask Him to order your week and give you a fresh start.

Enjoy the day.  Take time to worship and praise the God of new beginnings and fresh starts.
Di

July-New Month Resolutions

How long has it been since I made new month resolutions?  Probably as long as it has been since I have kept them.  Honestly, that is one reason I like to set "New Month Resolutions."  About every 30 days there is a clean slate, a new start, a time to look back and see where I have failed and a time to look ahead and see what changes I need to make.  You can read about my previous resolutions in earlier posts, if you have nothing else to do. 

I am not looking back in this post, though.  I am looking forward.  School is out and has been for about 2 months now.  It has been a whirlwind of vacations, a home school convention, de-cluttering, cleaning, and just plain busyness.  I would like to say things are slowing down now, but looking ahead to our church's Camp Meeting next week I don't think that will happen for a little bit.  I do feel as if things are slowing a little and I am looking forward to the break.  Maybe we will even make some day trips or have pool time at a friend's house.  We will see how all that goes. 

As for my resolutions...

Spiritual Resolutions:

1.  To be spiritually minded.

• Romans 8: 6, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
• Romans 8:13, " For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

2.  To be more encouraging.  To praise my children more.

• Proverbs 25:11,  "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

Physical Resolutions:

1.  Laundry.  One of my resolutions back in February was to do one full load of laundry each day.  Some weeks have gone well with this, others not so much.  Lately, I have been doing well.  One thing that has helped is folding clothes right out of the dryer.  I haven't timed myself, but I would guess it only takes 5minutes to fold a full load of laundry.  Then I just bring it up and put it away or have the kids put it away (a better option).    So my resolution is to maintain.  Keep doing daily loads and folding right out of the dryer.

2.  Ten minute chore.  I have found the popsicle sticks have gone a little by the wayside with our end of school/summer vacation mindset.  I have been cleaning out around the house.  I am trying to take one task in each of the kids rooms most days.  This seems to be working with our schedule.  I do hope to get back to the popsicle sticks once school starts up again.  I like the randomness of it.  I think for summer when I have more time a little more focused cleaning/decluttering is necessary.

3.  Exercise.  I just need to do it.  Period.  I have a treadmill in my family room.  I have no excuse.  I have lost about 10 pounds this year.  I would like to lose 15 more.  I know exercise would help that.  I need to get in gear and do it. 

4.  Write 2 more blog posts this month.  I am not a writer.  It doesn't come easy and I don't really enjoy it (you can probably tell).  I have to be in the mood.   I have a blog though.  There is no sense having a blog if I am not going to write posts.

We are a little more than half way through the year.  How are your goals coming for the year?  Any suggestions or tips?  I would love to hear them.

Enjoy your day!
Di

Counsel

I am in I Kings in my daily Bible reading.  Today I read I Kings 12-13.  One of the things the Lord has been showing me in my Bible reading is seek counsel.  We don't know everything there is to know.  Other people have gone through things and can help us sort out some of the things we are going through.  Get counsel!!! 

Today in my reading the Lord showed me some things about counsel.

I Kings 12 is about Rehoboam, Solomon's son.  Rehoboam has just become king.  His "subjects" come to him and say, "Your dad was a rough king.   Give us a break and we will be your servants."  (my version).  Rehoboam wisely tells them to come back in three days so he can think about it.  During these three days Rehoboam gets counsel. 

Rehoboam starts out right.  He goes to the older, wiser men who counseled his father, Kind Solomon...the wisest man who ever lived...good choice, Rehoboam.   I Kings 12:7 gives their answer, "...If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever."  Isn't that what Rehoboam wanted?  I guess the process of getting to  having loyal servants was the hard part.  It says there that Rehoboam would have to be a servant first before he would have loyal servants...he would have to be humble before his subjects before they would give him their heart, love and servitude.   Rehoboam apparently didn't care for this advice.  He was the king after all.  Why would he serve the people?  They should be serving him.

What happens now?  Verse 8, "But he forsook the counsel of the old men...and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him..."   So, now he didn't like the older, wiser counsel so he goes to his friends and says, "What counsel give ye that we may answer this people?"  In verse 10, his friends basically tell him, "Make it hard for these people.  They thought your dad was tough!  Just wait. they haven't seen bondage and servitude." (my version, again). 

Rehoboam has his counsel.  What does he choose?  Verse 13 tells us that he forsook the counsel of the old men.  The result...The people reject David's (Rehoboam's grandpa) house from being king (verse 19).  Israel is now going to have a man named Jeroboam for a king.  There is more to the story, but I really want to focus on the fact that Rehoboam didn't listen to the counsel of the older men.  What does this teach us?  Seek counsel among the elders

BUT...

Then I continued my reading in I Kings 13.   The people of Israel have rejected Rehoboam from being king and established Jeroboam to be king.  (You really need to read this for yourself.) Chapter 13 opens with a man of God coming out of Judah to prophesy to King Jeroboam.  It is important what he said, but I can't go into all the details because I don't have time to write a book.  Anyway, Jeroboam has made idols and has the people worshipping them and the prophet comes and speaks against Jeroboam (see chapter 13:1-11). 

I am going to switch our focus from King Jeroboam to the prophet.  Here comes this prophet.  God has not only given him what to say, but He has given him some other instructions.  Verses 7 tells us, "And the king (Jeroboam) said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward."   The man of God answers him in verses 8-9, "If thou give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat...nor drink...For so it was charged me by the Lord..."  The next verse tells us this man leaves "another way." 

Something interesting happens next.  Verses 11-13 tell us there was an old Prophet...old, elderly, older and wiser?...in Bethel (where all this is taking place).  His sons tell him about the man of God who came and prophesied to Jeroboam.  Their father then sets out to find this other prophet.  The older prophet finds the prophet and in verse 15 we see he says, "...come home with me, and eat." 

In verse 16 the prophet tells the older prophet (I should give them names it would be easier) that God told him not to eat and stuff in that place(vs, 16-17).  Now pay attention to the next verse.  Verse 18...the older prophet is speaking...you really need to pull out your Bible and read this yourself...the older prophet says, "I am a prophet...an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house...But he lied unto him."   Wait a minute!!!  I thought this was the older, wise man...the older, wiser counsel.  I won't take the time to tell all that happens you can read it for yourself in I Kings 13...basically this younger prophet is killed by a lion.  WHY????  He listened to the older, wiser prophet.

Ok, Lord, I am confused.  First Rehoboam rejects the older, wiser counsel and he is rejected from being Israel's king.  Now the prophet listens to the older, wiser counsel and he is killed by a lion.

Remember I said in a previous post I read a Proverb daily.  Well, today I read Proverbs 28.  Verse 5 says, "Evil men understand not judgement: but they that seek the Lord understand all things."

"They that SEEK the Lord"  I get it, Lord!!!  What was missing?  The seeking the Lord part.  Neither Rehoboam nor the prophet sought GOD's Counsel.  Counsel is good.  But seeking the Lord is where it is at.  What does HE say about our situation?  Is the counsel we are receiving in line with HIS word or are we "leaning to our own understanding."  Choosing what we want and how we think things should be handled instead of seeking what God wants us to do.  Seek counsel.  Seek counsel from the older and wiser...even seek it from your friends.  BUT ultimately we must filter it through God's counsel. Remember, Proverbs 19:21, "...nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand."

I know this is kind of long.  I again say this is a personal blog.  It is for me.  I can keep my thoughts here.  If someone reads it and gets a blessing...well...Praise the Lord!!!  If not, God showed this to me.  It was for me.  We have a God that wants to speak to us, use us and have a relationship with us.  Take some time today to see what He has for you.  This was for me, but I know he has something for you.

Seek Him today.
Di

Guest Post by WD-Take Your Child to Work Day

Today I have a guest blogger.  WD wrote a post about his experience at the hospital with Dad for Take Your Child to Work Day.  He and dad had a great time as you will read.  He also had fun with his cousin who went to work with Grandpa for the day.  Dad and Grandpa work at the same hospital.  Thanks for being a "guest poster" on my blog WD. 


April 26, 2012

Today was take your child to work day. Dad took me with him to work!!  We inspected a machine that measures your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.  We also worked on a thermometer that was electric, a blood warmer, and a feeding pump.  My Grandpa called us and said that life star had landed.  We went up a little while later.  I got my picture taken in front of it.  A man told us what you do a in hospital if their is a fire. We saw its generators, one was a BULLDOZER engine!!!!!!! I also saw where the OR is.  My dad gave me an ECG.  I had wires going under my shirt. What was really cool was that I got to go in an ambulance!!!!!!:):):):):)